Editing Basutoland (section)

===As a crown colony===
Moshoeshoe had been succeeded as paramount chief by his son, [[Letsie I]], and he in turn was succeeded in 1891 by [[Lerotholi Letsie I]]. These chieftains acted in concert with the British representative in the country, to whom was given the title of resident commissioner. The first commissioner was Sir [[Marshal James Clarke]]. The period of warfare over, the Basotho turned their attention more and more to agricultural pursuits and Christian [[missionary|missionaries]] entered the territory. Trade increased, and in 1891 Basutoland was admitted to the customs union, which already existed between Orange Free State, Cape Colony and [[British Bechuanaland]]. When [[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner|Alfred Milner]] visited Basutoland in 1898, on his way to [[Bloemfontein]], he was received by 15,000 mounted Basotho. The chiefs also attended a large meeting at Maseru. On the outbreak of the [[Boer War]] in 1899, these same chiefs proclaimed loyalty to the British Crown. They remained passive throughout the War and the neutrality of the country was respected by both armies. One chief alone sought to take advantage of the situation by disloyal action, and his offence was met by a year's imprisonment.<ref name="EB1911"/>

In pursuance of the policy of encouraging the self-governing powers of the Basotho, a national council was instituted and held its first sitting in July 1903. In August 1905 the paramount chief Lerotholi died. In early life he had distinguished himself in the wars with the Boers, and in 1880 he took an active part in the revolt against the Cape government. Since 1884 he had been a loyal supporter of the imperial authorities, and carried a reputation for high diplomatic gifts. On the 19th of September following Lerotholi's death, the national council, with the concurrence of the imperial government, elected his son [[Letsie II]] as paramount chief. The completion in October 1905 of a [[Maseru branch line|railway]] connecting Maseru with the South African railway system proved a great boon to the community. During the [[Bambatha Rebellion]] in 1906 the Basotho remained perfectly quiet.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=Basutoland| volume= 3 |last2= Hillier |first2= Alfred Peter |author2-link= Alfred Peter Hillier |last1= Cana |first1= Frank Richardson |author1-link= |pages = 503–506 |short= 1}}</ref>