It must be confessed that the town seems to have contained some very querulous and unreasonable people.
The New Year found the beleaguered city reduced to a quarter of a pound of meat per head, while the health of the inhabitants began to break down under their confinement.

Their interest, however, was keenly aroused by the attempt made in the De Beers workshops to build a gun which might reach their opponents.

This remarkable piece of ordnance, constructed by an American named Labram by the help of tools manufactured for the purpose and of books found in the town, took the shape eventually of a 28 lb.

rifled gun, which proved to be a most efficient piece of artillery.

With grim humour, Mr.Rhodes's compliments had been inscribed upon the shells--a fair retort in view of the openly expressed threat of the enemy that in case of his capture they would carry him in a cage to Pretoria.
The Boers, though held off for a time by this unexpected piece of ordnance, prepared a terrible answer to it.