He was now anxious to carry out a similar scheme in South Africa, and Froude offered to find out for him how the land lay.

His visit was not to be in any sense official.

He would be ostensibly travelling for his health, which was always set up by a voyage.

He was interested in extending to South Africa Miss Rye's benevolent plans of emigration to Canada; in the treatment of a Kaffir chief called Langalibalele; and in the disputes which had arisen from the annexation of the Diamond Fields.

Thus there were reasons for his trip enough and to spare.