The Standard publishes a curious paper upon the policy of
the Transvaal Boers. The writer, who evidently knows his subject thoroughly, and does not sympathise with the Boers, declares that the great and fertile region between the Limpopo and the Zambesi, north of the Transvaal, is now in the hands of the Matabele, a warlike and agricultural tribe, whom the English have not met. Their legitimate chief, Kuru man, was some years ago compelled to fly, and is now in the hands of M. Kriiger. He offers assistance to the Boors if they will assist him, and they are waiting for the result of this campaign. If they can keep their independence, they will remain in the Trans- vaal; but if not, the writer thinks they will once more " trek " northwards, out of the way of British power, and found a new Republic beyond the Limpopo, where they will once more reduce the natives to virtual slavery. They may possibly adopt this policy, but they may this time find themselves mistaken, the Matabele being represented as numerous, well armed, and singularly daring. If we are not mistaken, Sir Bartle Frere considered them a distinct danger in the way of that Empire of South Africa which he desired to stretch from Simon's Bay to the Zambesi.
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