With Irregulars in the Transvaal and Zululand. By W. H.
Tomasson. (Remington.)—Mr. Tomaseon's reminiscences are, in fact, much more occupied with Zululand than with the Transvaal. His book was written before the Boor revolt commenced, and its only bearing on this matter is to bo found in its incidental references to the condition and character of the Boers. The writer's opinion of them is very unfavourable. " Morals he [the Boor] has none," lie says, with sententious brevity ; and ho draws a very unpleasing picture of their domestic arrange- ments, which are, indeed, as bad as those of many English labourers. Yet he finds exceptions, of whom he speaks in high terms. Such were Mr. Piet Uys and his sons, killed in the deplorable Zlobane affair. It is a curious thing, if it is true, that our victory at Kambula saved the Transvaal from a Zulu invasion, and that " if it had boon lost, the Boors would have been annihilated." There are some very interesting details about the Prince Imperial. He seems to have been very much in earnest about his profession. "The Prince's passion for information was boundless, and the questions he used to put, searching in the extreme. For instance, he would ask, "How many biscuits in a bag ?" Of course, the unhappy commissariat officer thus tackled broke down. Tho next question would be, " How many in a barrel, then ?" "Are there more in a barrel than in a bag ?" To all, the answer would be the same ; the Prince would then remark, " Great want of organisation," and down would go the whole thing in his note-book. Then, perhaps, he might begin to query about the different qualities of the grass around him, and.soon know the difference between sweet and sour veldt, what animals would do best on the former, and what on the latter. As to the composition of the Irregulars, we are told that the Danes make the best soldiers end the Americanised Irish the worst, a consolatory statement, should these latter gentlemen leave off subscribing money, and take to fighting for Ireland. As to fighting qualities, we hear but little good of our young regiments. If it had not been for our old and seasoned regi- ments, everything, thinks the writer, must have collapsed. His description of a scare in the camp is very disagreeable reading indeed.
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