The First Boer War that is referred to lasted only from December 20, 1880 to March 23, 1881 with a Boer (Dutch) victory and resulted in the creation of two separate countries: the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State. The Second Boer War, which is predicted by several of the characters, lasted much longer: from October 11, 1899 to May 31, 1902. Britain and her Commonwealth allies, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, defeated the South Africa Republic (Transvaal Republic) and the Orange Free State in what became an insurgency and guerrilla war with atrocities on both side. Britain combined the countries into the Union of South Africa and annexed it.
African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness is a parasitic disease of humans and other animals. It is caused by protozoa of the species Trypanosoma brucei and is spread to humans by the tse-tse fly.
This episode takes place in 1898.