A TRANSVAAL OFFICIAL.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."1 Sin,—Reading the letter under the above heading in the Spectator of February 15th, I was very interested in the re- marks regarding the secret telegraphy amongst the African natives, and should like to see it scientifically explained. During the earlier part of the war I was living in Basutoland, and on every occasion we got news through the natives of battles fought on the Colonial border hours before we heard in the ordinary way by telegraph. Even a fast horse could not have brought the news as they had it, and though I have heard it suggested that news is shouted from kopje to kopje in the early mornings, I do not think this is a sufficient explanation. Not only war news, but other important events are heard of through the natives in an incredibly short space of time. The defeat at Isandlwana was common talk amongst the natives a week before it was officially
announced in Basutoland.—I am, Sir, &c., H. RUFFE. . Bloemfontein, Orange River Colony.
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