Transvaal

is about the same size as the United Kingdom, and has a population of about 800,000, of whom about 120,000 are whites. The relations of the Republic to Britain were laid down by the Convention of London in 1884— to the 'effect that, while independent with regard to its internal administration, the State could conclude no treaty or political engagement of any kind with any other nation or tribe except the Orange Free State without the approval of Her Majesty the Queen. The Wit waters rand gold was discovered in 1886, and Johannes burg has now a population of over?7o,ooo. The Republic is ruled by a president elected for five years, with a council of five members and legislation is carried out by a Parliament of two chambers,; each of twenty-four members, called the first and second Volksraad. Bills pa ed by the second chamber must be approved by the first before they can become law. The members of the first chamber are elected by all male whites who were resident in the Transvaal before 1876, or who fought in the war of 1881 and the privilege of voting has been extended to the children; of such. The members of the second chamber are elected by naturalized aliens, and naturalization can be obtained after two years’ residence in the country. The humiliation of Majuba Hill was due to the stupid exaction of a petty tax by military martinets. The Convention of 1880 gave the Boers republican rights under certain restrictions, which were further modified by the Convention of 1884. Compendium of General Knowledge