Promoted to major-general on 23 March 1882, Gordon was sent to the Cape to aid in settling affairs in Basutoland, but he returned to the United Kingdom after only a few months. The principle problem faced by Gordon in South Africa was Basutoland (modern Lesotho), a small kingdom whose ruler, King Moshoeshoe had decided to have his nation become a British protectorate rather than be annexed by the Orange Free State. One of Moshoeshoe's sons, Prince Masupha had rebelled in protest against his father's plans. Before settling out on a trip to mediate the end of the civil war in Basutoland, Gordon met with Cecil Rhodes in Cape Town to seek his advice. Rhodes later recalled he and Gordon got along "capitally together".