But with these burghers I was unable to deal on account of Lord Roberts' Proclamations, which made it impossible for me to compel the burghers to join the commando; and I decided that I had better wait until I had done some good work with the men I had, before I made any attempt to bring the others back to the commando.
On the 25th of March we went to Brandfort.

The arrival of the burghers at the village doubled and even trebled its population.

I was forced to close the hotels, as I discovered that my men were being supplied with drink.

From this I do not wish the reader to infer that the Afrikanders are drunkards, for this is far from being the case.

On the contrary, when compared with other nations, they are remarkable for their sobriety, and it is considered by them a disgrace for a man to be drunk.
[Footnote 29: The men I still had with me belonged to commandos from Bloemfontein, Ladybrand, Wepener, Ficksburg, Bethlehem and Winburg.