Lord Carnarvon had carefully to consider this case, and also to decide whether the mixed Constitution of Natal, which would not work, should be reformed or annulled.

A still more serious difficulty was connected with the Diamond Fields, officially known as Griqualand West.

The ownership of this district had been disputed between the Orange Free State and a native chief called Nicholas Waterboer.

In 1872 Lord Kimberley, as Secretary of State for the Colonies, had purchased it from Waterboer at a price ludicrously small in proportion to its value, and it had since been annexed to the British dominions by the Governor, Sir Henry Barkly.

Waterboer, who knew nothing about the value of money, was satisfied.