Mafeking is a small town in the north-east corner of Cape Province (South Africa), where a British garrison was besieged for seven months during the second Boer War, before being relieved on 17 May 1900. That gave rise to the most notorious displays of jingoism back in Britain, for which a new word—‘mafficking’—was coined; and made the reputation of the commander of the garrison, Baden-Powell.

Bernard Porter

Mafeking a town in South Africa, in North-West Province. In 1899–1900, during the Second Boer War, a small British force under the command of Baden-Powell was besieged there by the Boers for 215 days; its eventual relief was greeted in Britain with widespread celebration.