Part 2

Before the President allowed any word of his intentions to become known, he called a Cabinet meeting and laid the treaty before his ministers.

The majority of the Cabinet approved of the draft of the treaty that was read to them, and it is thought that the Senate will also look favorably on the measure, and that the necessary two-thirds vote will be secured without trouble.

The treaty provides that the United States shall become possessed of all the public lands and buildings, ships, ports, etc., belonging to Hawaii, and shall in return assume Hawaii's debts, which amount to $4,000,000.

This treaty does not provide any pension for the ex-queen, Liliuokalani, nor any gift of money for the Princess Kiaulani.

The treaty proposed in 1893, which was rejected by Mr. Cleveland, provided liberally for both. You can read all about it on page 734 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.

Queen Liliuokalani is not at all disturbed by the talk of annexation. She has been in Washington all the winter, trying to make friends of the Senators, so that they will oppose the treaty when it is brought before them.

It is said that she is perfectly serene and happy in the belief that she has enough influence in the Senate to prevent the bill from being passed.

* * * * *

The Committee of Inquiry into the Transvaal Raid has finished its work.

In the course of the inquiry certain cablegrams were mentioned, which had been sent by Cecil Rhodes to some persons in England.

In courts of law you cannot quote from a book, letter, or telegram, unless you produce the actual paper you quote from, and thus prove to the satisfaction of the court that the book, letter, or telegram really exists.

When reference was made to these telegrams, the Committee asked to see them, but they were not forthcoming. Every one supposed that an order would be issued for the production of these messages, but, strange to say, no such order was given.

People began to be suspicious, and it was whispered that these messages contained information that the Committee dared not make public.

At first, the worst that people suspected was that they would show that Mr. Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary, had known all about the preparations for the Jameson Raid, and that he and Mr. Cecil Rhodes had planned to seize the Transvaal, with its rich gold-fields, and annex it to the English Colonies in South Africa.

Had this been the truth, it would have been bad enough. Mr. Chamberlain was one of the Queen's Ministers, bound to obey the laws and uphold them. That he should have been aware that an attempt was to be made to steal the country of a friendly power, without making an effort to prevent it, would have been disgraceful enough.

Unfortunately, it appears that the blame falls on a personage in much higher position than Mr. Chamberlain.

It is said that no less a person than the Prince of Wales is named in these cablegrams as one of the men who knew all about the preparations for the Raid, and was perfectly willing that they should be carried out. Several other men in high positions in England were also in the plot to seize the Transvaal. (For the story of the plot, see THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, pages 513 and 667.)

The cablegrams were at one time in the possession of Mr. Chamberlain, having been given him by Mr. Cecil Rhodes, in the hope that the names of the men interested in the plot would make him use his influence to prevent any inquiry being made into the Raid.

London is shocked and indignant at these rumors, and insists that the cablegrams shall be produced and the truth known about the Prince of Wales' connection with the matter.

The Committee of Inquiry has, however, decided not to press the demand for the messages, and so the whole affair will be hushed up as far as possible.

Mr. Chamberlain was called before the Committee, and said, in regard to the cablegrams, that he had personally not the slightest objection to their being produced, but that they were unfortunately no longer in his possession. As far as he knew they were now in the keeping of the lawyer for the British South African Company.

Legal proceedings are being taken against this lawyer, to make him give the papers up.

The Committee, after hearing Mr. Chamberlain's evidence, said that the inquiry was at an end as far as they were concerned, but that they would report the refusal to give up the missing cablegrams to the House of Commons.

The chances are that this is the last that will ever be heard about the inquiry into the Jameson Raid.

It has long been suspected that some people in very high position were connected with this very disgraceful affair. One reason for the supposition was that when Dr. Jameson was first put on trial for leading the raid, it was whispered about that he would not be punished very severely, as he had powerful friends in high quarters, who were bound to protect him.

When he and his officers were sentenced to imprisonment in Holloway jail, the rumors died out. They revived again as one man after another was released from jail before his time was up. The various excuses offered were so flimsy that the public began to think that it was true that they had powerful friends protecting them.

All honest Englishmen are feeling shocked that those who ought to be so far above the greed of gain have let their honor be trampled in the mire for the sake of the Johannesburg gold-mines.

There is, however, one gleam of sunshine in the midst of the gloom. It seems that Dr. Leyds, who was sent over from the Transvaal to arrange this unhappy affair, has had several satisfactory interviews with Mr. Chamberlain, and will take back to Oom Paul a proposal from England for the settlement of the troubles.

It is said that the offer made by Mr. Chamberlain is one that will find favor both in England and Africa, and that there is every prospect of the matter being peacefully settled.

Oom Paul, despite the wrong done him by England, has ordered that the day of the Queen's Jubilee shall be observed throughout the South African Republic as a special holiday.

He is certainly a very noble, generous-spirited old man.

* * * * *

We have a good deal to tell you about treaties this week.

The treaty between Great Britain and Venezuela, which was arranged by the United States, has been agreed to by both governments, and now the dispute over the boundary line between Venezuela and British Guiana will be settled by arbitration instead of war.

You will find all about the treaty on pages 52, 196, and 306 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.

You remember that copies of the treaty were sent by the British Minister and the Minister from Venezuela to their respective governments for approval.

Both countries were satisfied with the treaty, and on the 14th of June, Sir Julian Pauncefote, representing England, and Señor José Andráde, for Venezuela, met and exchanged the notes of approval from their governments.

There will be five members of the Arbitration Committee--Baron Herschel and Sir Richard Collins for England, and Chief-Justice Fuller and Justice Brewer for Venezuela.

As in the case of the proposed Arbitration with England, the King of Sweden may nominate the odd man on the Committee. The two sides are to try and agree on a fifth person to act with them, and if they fail to agree the King of Sweden is to have the right to name him.

The Arbitrators are to meet in Paris, and must render a decision within three months after both sides have stated their case.

* * * * *

Several weeks ago we told you about Ellis Island, and the way immigrants were received and handled there.

You will be sorry to learn that the whole of the government buildings on Ellis Island have been destroyed by fire.

No one knows how the accident happened, but just after midnight a watchman noticed smoke coming out of one of the rooms, and gave the alarm of fire.

There were more than a hundred immigrants on the island, as well as a large force of people to care for them. In addition to these people, there were some fifty patients in the hospital. In all, there were two hundred and thirteen people in the buildings when the fire started, but the discipline was so perfect, and the employees of the Island were so well trained, that not a single person was injured.

The patients from the hospital were removed from the wards in quick time, taken on boats belonging to the Island, and brought to the Battery without delay. The rest of the people were put in the tugs and the various kinds of river craft that hurried down the Bay the moment the fire was discovered.

Some anxiety was felt lest the papers and records of the Immigration Bureau had been destroyed in the fire, but it was found that most of them were in safes and had escaped injury.

New buildings will be put up as soon as possible; the work on them will be begun without delay. This time, however, they will be built of brick or stone, and not of wood.

* * * * *

Many of our friends have asked us whether Robinson's Crusoe's Island had really been swallowed up by the sea, according to the report which was given out, and which we mentioned on pages 243 and 290 of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.

To make absolutely sure of the matter, we wrote to Mr. James Dobbs, United States Consul at Valparaiso, Chile.

He has sent us a very kind letter, which we copy for you here, and with the letter a picture of one of the ports of the island (see frontispiece).

You will be glad to know that the report was not true, and that Crusoe's Island still rises out of the sea, just as it did in Crusoe's day.

Here is Mr. Dobbs' letter:

CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, VALPARAISO, CHILE, May 7, 1897.

EDITOR "GREAT ROUND WORLD":

Your letter of March 17th was received by last mail, and I take pleasure in replying that there is not the slightest foundation for the report that the Island of Juan Fernandez has been swallowed up by the sea. During the month of April President Errázuriz and his staff made a trip of inspection on one of the Chilean men-of-war to the island, and spent several days there. A passenger steamer also made regular trips back and forth from this city during the past summer (our winter), and the excursionists, upon returning, have invariably expressed their enjoyment of the trip. You may depend Robinson Crusoe's old home remains intact, and still inhabited by goats. I enclose you a copy of the English paper here, containing a cut of one of the little ports of the island, photographed by Spencer & Co., of this city. Thanking you for the two copies of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD, I am,

Very truly yours, JAMES M. DOBBS, United States Consul.

* * * * *

The latest news from Miles City tells us that the two hundred Indians are still off the Reservation, and that those who remain under Government control are unruly and hard to manage.

Settlers continue to bring their families into the city for protection. The Indians are reported to be riding all over the country in small parties, destroying everything in their line of march.

So far there has been no bloodshed, but the settlers fear that there will be if they attempt to check the work of destruction.

The Sheriff has gone again to the Reservation with an order for the arrest of White Bull. He will probably have some trouble before he lays hands on the unruly Indian, but there is no doubt that the entire band will be returned to the Reservation ere long.

Runaway Indians are always obliged to return to their home, as they can find neither food nor shelter elsewhere, and are sure to suffer if they do not go back. If they appear at the forts they are captured, and every white settler knows that the Indians have no business off the government Reservations, and endeavors to have them driven back where they belong.

The Indians are thus surrounded by enemies, and they can only hope for a short period of freedom; then they must go back home, and take their punishment for truancy.

* * * * *

Word comes from Mexico that the President, General Diaz, has made a treaty with a tribe of Indians called the Yaquis, who have defied the government rule since the Spanish conquest in the sixteenth century.

These people have, for over two hundred years, refused to pay taxes or obey any laws but their own. They have lived in their own mountainous country, and successfully repelled attempts to dislodge them or make them obey the Mexican laws.

It is said that our troubles with the Indians have been slight when compared with those of the Mexicans with the Yaquis.

President Diaz, who is half an Indian himself, has at last found a means of making peace with them.

He has taken a lesson from his experiences in dealing with the brigands, who at one time infested Mexico.

At first he attempted to conquer these robbers by sending soldiers out after them; but finding that this plan was a total failure, he adopted another, which was the old principle of setting a thief to catch a thief. He offered them pardons if they would enlist in a new body of guards, which he created. The duties of the regiment were half military and half police. The President uniformed them, gave them good pay, and in a very short time found that, instead of numberless bands of dangerous robbers, he had a fine corps of vigilant thief-catchers.

This experiment having turned out so well, Diaz decided to adopt a similar plan with the Yaquis.

He offered to enrol them into a militia corps with uniforms and good pay, and asked them to aid in carrying out the laws.

The Yaquis decided to accept this offer, as they are a race of warriors who like soldiering, and so the treaty was made.

It is said that the Chief of the Yaquis rode to the conference followed by eight hundred well-armed warriors. The treaty was made, and the ceremonies were followed by a great feast, in which Mexicans and Yaquis both took part.

It is thought that the making of this treaty will be of great value to Mexico.

It is also reported that a new volcano has been formed in Mexico, on the peninsula of Tehuantepec, which is on the southwest coast of Mexico.

Severe earthquake shocks were felt in the region, and finally a new volcano made its appearance.

No one has as yet visited it, for the Mexicans are too much frightened to go near, but smoke and fire can be seen coming out of the mountain.

The Government has sent a party out from the City of Mexico to find out the truth of the matter.

* * * * *

British India, or Hindostan, has also been suffering from earthquake.

A very severe shock, which lasted nearly five minutes, was felt in Calcutta on June 12th. The disturbance extended over a large area of country, and a great deal of damage was done.

In the town of Calcutta the public buildings were damaged, and the spires of several churches fell. In some parts of the city hardly any of the houses escaped damage.

Throughout the country, railways were destroyed, bridges broken, and an immense amount of property ruined. In one place the earth opened, and a railway train was overturned.

Many people were killed by buildings falling on them, and there was great terror and distress in all the provinces visited by the earthquake.

On the same day, word was cabled that a number of British officers and native soldiers had been massacred on the Afghanistan frontier, at a place called the Tochi Valley.

A government officer, Mr. Gee, was travelling through the district under the escort of a body of troops. The party was attacked by a tribe of frontiersmen, and the British obliged to retreat, their enemies following them for several miles.

Some of the officers commanding the troops were killed, and all of them were wounded.

Mr. Gee had been sent to the frontier to fix the site for a new outpost or fort, and to collect fines that had been imposed on the frontiersmen for past misconduct.

The Waziris, as the tribe is called, did not like Mr. Gee's mission, and so lay in wait for his party, and, when it entered the valley, poured down from the hills on all sides and in great numbers.

Great Britain will send out an expedition to punish the Waziris, but it is expected that it will take some severe fighting to overcome these natives.

They are a powerful tribe which can muster about forty thousand fighting men. They are strong, hardy, and well versed in the use of rifles, and are constantly fighting the other tribes around them, so that they are always ready for war.

Their country extends over a vast tract of land, and they are a very formidable people.

England cannot allow her representatives to be attacked by these people without punishing them, and however severe the task may be, it is necessary to give the Waziris a good lesson.

* * * * *

Of late there has been a good deal of angry talk about the seal question.

It is said that the United States has been acting in bad faith, in not paying Canada the sum of $425,000 for unlawfully keeping her ships out of the Bering Sea.

It has also been frequently stated that the Seal Arbitration Committee, which met in Paris in 1893, decided that we must pay this sum. People are inquiring why we don't pay it before we ask for England's help in protecting the seals.

As a matter of fact, the United States does not owe any such sum.

The Paris tribunal said we had no right to prevent other ships from entering the Bering Sea, and that we must pay damages to Canada for having done so.

No sum of money was, however, agreed on.

Lord Salisbury and Secretary of State Gresham decided that, "subject to the approval of Congress," $425,000 would be about a fair sum for us to pay.

When the subject came up before Congress, it was found that many false claims were being made, and that frauds of every kind were being practised to get damages from us. The entire matter was therefore thrown out, Congress refusing to agree to the payment of the $425,000.

A Committee was appointed to look into the matter, and is now holding its sittings in Vancouver. At the present time no one knows what amount we will have to pay.

When the fair and just demand is presented to our Government, there is no doubt it will be settled without delay.

Mr. John W. Foster has been sent to Europe to try and settle the seal fisheries dispute.

He first went to England, but did not meet with success there, so he journeyed on to St. Petersburg, to see if Russia would not help us.

It is said that he has secured an agreement from Russia and Japan, whereby they promise to close the Bering Sea seal fisheries for a number of years.

With this agreement Mr. Foster hopes to convince the British Government that such action is necessary, and obtain England's consent to the measure. Closing the seal fisheries means that no seals will be caught for a certain period.

It is said that the seals are decreasing every year, and that unless something is done, there will soon be none left in the Bering Sea!

GENIE H. ROSENFELD.

* * * * *

Many weeks ago, when the rumors of trouble in the East between Turkey and Greece caused us to turn our attention to these countries, we found that we knew very little about these people, and it was necessary for us to read about them; then THE GREAT ROUND WORLD published the story of the "Ottoman Empire in Europe" and afterward the relations existing between "Crete and Greece"; but these accounts were not sufficient by themselves; we had to go back further still in order to understand how all of these things came to be; a step taken further into the almost forgotten past increased our interest and led us back further still, and finally the story of "Ancient Greece" was told. Even this was not sufficient, and we have now made up our minds to begin as nearly as possible at the beginning and tell the story of the great-great grandfathers and grandmothers of these interesting people. This story will be told by Mme. Ragozin, who has spent so many years in studying the history of these ancient times.

The first part of this story of "The Great Round World, and the People Who Lived On It," is given in this number.

LETTERS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS.

DEAR EDITOR:

I was ten years old on the 29th of May.

I think THE GREAT ROUND WORLD is fine, and wish it much success.

I wish it was thicker, so I could read more at a time.

It's too bad about Greece and Turkey's war. Do you think there is any chance of Greece winning if the Powers stop their foolishness?

My big brother (who is six feet three inches) was down in Jamaica for a while, and saw a Cuban filibuster and knew the captain of it.

MEREDITH D. GREENWOOD HILL, POTTSVILLE, PA.., June 7th, 1897.

DEAR MEREDITH:

It is very difficult for us to tell anything about Greece and Turkey; many people think that Greece is entirely out of the whole matter, and that if the Powers want Turkey to give up Thessaly they will have to fight her and force her to do so.

EDITOR.

_To the Readers of_ THE GREAT ROUND WORLD.

DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS:--The first part of this letter is for you little ones whose hunger for "stories" is often unappeased because of the lack of books suitable for you--whose ages may be represented by single figures.

If you are not yet ten years old you will be sure to enjoy "The Adventures of a Brownie." It is written by Miss Mulock, and is a delightful tale of a most fascinating Brownie, who lived behind a piece of coal in a dark cellar, but who ventured out occasionally to tease, play with, protect, and amuse six merry little people. He proved to be a kind and ever welcome friend to them, although he was often naughty and played sorry tricks on careless people.

"Little Prince Fairyfoot," by Frances Hodgson Burnett, will prove interesting to all lovers of fairyland, and all who enjoyed "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" will be sure to like "Davy and the Goblin," by Charles Carryl.

You girls whose skirts have almost reached the tops of your boots will find "Mrs. Overtheway's Remembrances," by Mrs. Ewing, very interesting. "Unknown to History," by Miss Yonge, and "Number XIII., the Story of the Lost Vestal," by Emma Marshall, are slightly historical in character, and are stories of absorbing interest, the one containing old English, and the other old Roman characters.

For boys of a corresponding age, no book could be found more enjoyable than "Some Strange Corners of Our Country," by Charles Lummis. The book is comparatively a new one, and should be read by every American boy and girl, as it describes some of the curious customs of our great West, and explains many of the freaks of Nature in this only partially known "New World."

Wishing the readers of THE GREAT ROUND WORLD a bright and happy vacation,

I am your sincere friend, EDITH CHESTER. BENSONHURST, L.I.

WILLIAM BEVERLY HARISON, ESQ. PUBLISHER "THE GREAT ROUND WORLD."

MY DEAR SIR: If, by your valuable paper to be published next week, you will kindly inform me where I can enter into communication with some official of the schoolship _St. Mary's_ as to becoming a pupil of same, and who is the proper person, and particularly if at any place in this city, you will confer a great favor on me, and greatly oblige, Yours very truly,

HARRY B. PHILADELPHIA, PA., June 4th, 1897.

MY DEAR HARRY:

In reply to your inquiry about the schoolship _St. Mary's_ we print the following letter from Mr. McMullin, the Clerk of the Board of Education.