*J^ >1 C « -<^ ^ >^ <- "> A „ \ 1 B . -^ " ' •• c" .■> 0- .^°i.^^;% "oo^ '^^ v^' .^ -tC, .V' > ^ f. ^ ^-^' O^ _>. ^^ V^ ^ 'V ^oo^ "oo^ vOo. '^%'^.* aV .^■^^ <->, oV^ ^3 N^ ^- ^: % OO^ ^S^^'- = ..<^ '^c SOUTH AFRICA GATEWAY OF THE CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE. THE STORY OF THE NATIONS SOUTH AFRICA (THE CAPE COLONY, NATAL, ORANGE FREE STATE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, RHODESIA AND ALL OTHER TERRITORIES SOUTH OF THE ZAMBESI) GEORGE M'CALL THEAL, D.Lit., LL.D. NEW YORK G. p. PUTNAM'S SONS LONDON : T. FISHER UNWIN 1900 0° ^ ,.<= PREFACE TO FIFTH EDITION. The chapters in this volume upon the Cape Colony before 1848, Natal before 1845, and the Orange Free State, South African Republic, Zulu- land, and Basutoland before 1872, contain an outline of my History of South Africa, which has been published in England in five octavo volumes. In that work my authorities are given, so they need not be repeated here. The remaining chapters have been written merely from general acquaintance with South African affairs acquired during many years' residence in the country, and have not the same claim to be regarded as absolutely correct, though I have endeavoured to make them reliable. In preparing the book I was guided by the principle that truth should be told, regardless of nationalities or parties, and I strove to the utmost to avoid anything like favour or prejudice. The above was the preface to the first edition of this book, which was published in September, 1893. As successive editions appeared the volume was enlarged, and now it has been my task to add the saddest chapter of the whole, the one in which is recorded the beginning of a war whose results IV PREFACE. no man can foresee. That Great Britain with her enormous resources must conquer is obvious ; but what then ? Only when the last shot has been fired will real difficulties commence. The Dutch-speaking people of South Africa have increased from 30,000 according to the census, or possibly 40,000, in 1806, to 400,000 in 1899. The military strength of the northern republic is now more than double what it was in 188 r. This rate of increase may not be so large in the future, but it is reasonable to suppose that it will not be much less. I have shown how these people, or rather those of them who reside in the republics, came to be attached to independence as to life itself ; what force then will be needed to keep them in subjection if they are made British subjects ? It is altogether fallacious to suppose that English families will ever settle there permanently in sufficient numbers to keep the earlier inhabitants in check. They are miners and traders and professional men who come and go ; the Dutch are fixtures on the soil. If, on the other hand, independence is conceded, it will have to be full and complete to create any- thing like real friendship ; and if that is to be the result, for what purpose is this outlay of blood and treasure ? Complete independence for the South African Republic would mean a government like the present, and the Englishmen are few who would consent to perform burgher duties in return for burgher rights. To preserve order among the Bantu the Dutch would not maintain a standing paid military force, to which they have a deeply rooted PREFACE. ' V objection ; hence the old dissension would appear again in tenfold intensity. That a way may be found out of the difficulty and permanent harmony between the present combatants be restored is therefore at this anxious time the hope rather than the expectation of the author of this volume. ^ GEO. M. THEAL. London, 3 November^ 1899. PREFACE TO FOURTH EDITION. In the second and third editions of this work a supplementary chapter was inserted, in which were recorded the chief events that occurred from Sep- tember, 1893, to the dates of issue. As another addition of the kind would tend to confuse the reader, I have rewritten the last five chapters, en- larged them to a considerable extent, and brought the history without a break down to the present month. GEO. M. THEAL. February f 1897. CONTENTS. I. Ancient Inhabitants of South Africa Hottentots — Bantu — Constant warfare. 1-7 II. Discovery of the South African Coast by the Portuguese 8-16 Discoveries of the Portuguese — First ships in Table Bay — Portuguese maps. III. Events that led to the Occupation of Table Valley by the Dutch East India Company 17-24 Rise of the Dutch Republic — The Dutch East India Com- pany — The Eastern trade route — Wreck of the Haarlc7n — Advantages of Table Valley — Loss of life by scurvy — Mr. Van Riebeek. IV. Formation of a Refreshment Station in Table Valley by the Dutch East India Com- pany 25-31 Trade with Hottentots — The first cattle raid — Extension to Rondebosch. CONTENTS. V. PAGE Foundation of the Cape Colony , . . 32-44 Introduction of slaves — Introduction of Asiatics — The first Hottentot war — The first Church — Purchase of territory. VI. The Second HoiTENTOr War and its Conse- quences 45-59 Origin of the cattle farmers — Extension of the settlement — Arrival of Huguenots — Form of government — System of taxation — Exploration. VII. Progress of the Cape Colony from 1700 to 1750 ....... 60-79 Life of the early settlers — Wilhem Adrian van der Stel — First outbreak of small-pox — System o. Administration — Effort to improve TaW Bay — Growth oi the settlement. VHI. Course of Events in the Cape Colony from 1750 TO 1785 8o-9S Second outbreak of small -pox — Exploration of Namaqua- land — Villages in the colony — Tour of Governor Van Plet- tenberg — First Kaffir war — Arrival of French troops — Com- plaints of the colonists — Agitation in the colony. IX. The End of the East India Company's Rule in South Africa .... . 96-112 Reckless expenditure — Second Kaffir war — Churches in the CONTENTS. XI PAOfi colony — Affairs in Europe — Arrival of a British force — Fruitless negotiations — Feeble defence of the colony — Re- view of the Company's rule. X. The First British Occupation • . .112-128 Character of the colonists — First days of British rule — Sur- render of a Dutch fleet — Insurrection of Graaff-Reinet — The third Kaffir war. XI. The Colony under the Batavian Republic 129-137 Dealings with Kosa chiefs — Attack by the English — Capitu- lation of Capetown — Departure of General J anssens. XII. Early Years of English Rule in South Africa 138-147 Powers of the governor — Condition of the Hottentots — Fourth Kaffir war — Establishment of a circuit court — Ces- sion of the colony. XIII. The Administration of Lord Charles Somer- set . 148-161 Slachter's Nek rebellion — Fifth Kaffir war — Arrival of British settlers — Success of the British settlers- Signs of progress — Resignation of the governor. Xll CONTENTS, XIV. PAGB The Wars and Devastations of Tshaka . 162-174 Genius of Tshaka — The Mantati horde — Murder of Tshaka — Rise of the Matabele power — Genius of Moshesh — Con- dition of the tribes in 1836. XV. Events in the Cape Colony from 1826 to 1835 175-194 Injudicious measures — The Kat river settlement — Condition of the slaves — Emancipation of the slaves — Effects of the emancipation — Treaty with Waterboer — Sixth Kaffir war — The province of Queen Adelaide — Action of earl Glenelg. XVI. Great Emigration from the Cape Colony. Ex- pulsion OF Moselekatse from the Terri- tory South of the Limpopo . . . 195-2 Fate of the first party — Attack by the Matabele — The first constitution — Defeat of the Matabele. XVII. Destruction of the Zulu Power and Founda- tion OF the Republic of Natal . . 204-218 Natal and Zululand in 1837 — Arrangement with Dingan — Massacre of emigrants — Desperate fighting — Invasion of Zululand — Death of Pieter Uys — Destruction of the Natal Army — Arrival of Andries Pretorius — Defeat of a Zulu army — Revolt of Panda — Destruction of the Zulu power — Final defeat of Dingan. CONTENTS. XIU XVIII. I'AGE Seizure of Natal by British Forces. Creation OF Treaty States along the FrcIntier of THE Cape Colony 219-231 Conduct 01 the Natal government — Siege of the British Camp— Relief of the British Camp— Project of treaty states — The Griquas— Effects of the treaties. XIX. Events to the Close of the Seventh Kaffir War . 232-243 Expedition to aid Adam Kok — Arrangement with Adam Kok — Marks of progress — Seventh Kaffir war — Course of the war — Results of the war. XX. Events during the Administration of Sir , Harry Smith 244-25;: End of the treaty states — Battle of Boomplaats — Anti-con- vict agitation — Eighth Kaffir war — Settlement of British Kaffraria. XXI. Acknowledgment by Great Britain of the In- dependence OF THE South African Re- public, AND Abandonment of the Orange River Sovereignty 258-270 First Basuto war — The Sand River convention — Condition of the Basuto tribe — Battle of Berea — Wise action of Moshesh— Arrival of Sir George Clerk — Abandonment of the Sovereignty — South Africa after 1854. XIV CONTENTS. XXII. PACE The Constitution of Cape Colony . . 271-276 The Cape parliament — The Dutch language. XXTII. The Province of British Kaffraria . . 277-289 Policy of Sir George Grey — Self-destruction of the Kosas — Annexation to the Cape Colony. XXIV. The Colony of Natal and the Dependency of zululand 290-312 Influx of Bantu — The Hlubi tribe — Rebellion of Langali- balele — Importation of Indians — Mode of life of Europeans — Constitution of Natal — Cetewayo — Isandlwana — Invasion of Zululand— Battle of Ulundi. XXV. The Orange Free State and Basutoland . 313-331 Presidents Hoffman and Boshof — Second Basuto war — Con- duct of Moshesh — President Brand and Moshesh — Discovery of Diamonds — Orange Free State and Basutoland — President Brand's visit to England — Basutoland. XXVI. The South African Republic . . . 332-352 Lawlessness — Dr. Livingstone — War with the Baramapu- lana — President Burgers— Rebellion of the Bapedi — British rule— Struggle for independence — British disasters— Rich goldfields — Railways. CONTENTS, XV XXVIL PAGE. Rhodesia , . 356-376 Occupation of the territory— War with the Matabele — Rapid progress — Native insurrection. XXVIII. The Portuguese Possessions .... 377-390 Formation of trading stations — Attempted conquests — Mis- sions — Native wars — Present condition. XXIX. The British Protectorate. The German Pro- tectorate. Walfish Bay and the Guano Islands . , . . ... 39i'"399 XXX. The Territory between the Kei River and 'Natal 400-414 Description — Reasons for annexation to the Cape Colony — Ninth Kaffir war — Rapid increase of population. XXXI. The Present Condition of the Cape Colony 415-429 Industries — Annexation of British Bechuanaland — Exports — Population — Recent improvements. Chronological Table of Events . . -431 Supplementary Chapter . . . . -435 Index 445 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE MAP OF SOUTH AFRICA, 1 893 . . . Facing I GATEWAY OF THE CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE . Frontispiece SOUTH AFRICA AS OCCUPIED BY BUSHMEN, HOTTEN- TOTS, AND BANTU IN 1650 7 CROSS ERECTED BY DIAS ON PEDESTAL POINT . . 9 THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE II PORTRAIT OF A BUSHMAN 1 6 TABLE MOUNTAIN AS SEEN FROM ROBBEN ISLAND . 24 PLAN OF THE CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE . . . . 41 EXTENT OF THE SETTLEMENT IN IJOO ... 58 SOUTH AFRICAN TENT WAGGON 62 HOUSE ON W. A. VAN DER STEL'S ESTATE ... 66 EXTENT OF THE CAPE COLONY IN 1750 . . . 78 THE OLD BURGHER WATCH-HOUSE, CAPETOWN . . 84 CHURCH OF LAST CENTURY IN CAPETOWN . . . I02 SIMONSTOWN IN 1795 I06 SOUTH AFRICAN FARMHOUSE OF THE BETTER CLASS IN 1795 114 EXTENT OF TERRITORY UNDER EUROPEAN RULE IN 1800 . . 127 VIEW^ IN THE KOWIE VALLEY, BELOW GRAHAMSTOWN 144 FORT WTLLSHIRE. BUILT, 1 820 ; ABANDONED.. 1837 . 1 54 A ZULU WARRIOR IN UNIFORM ..... 163 PORTRAIT OF DINGAN ..... , 168 xvii XVlll LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE THABA BOSIGO ......... 172 PORTRAIT OF HINTSA -...,.. 190 UMKUNGUNHLOVU 2o6 SCENE IN PONDOLAND 226 GRIQUA MAN AND WOMEN 229 SCENE IN MONTAGU PASS 238 PORTRAIT OF SIR HARRY SMITH ..... 245 EXTENT OF TERRITORY UNDER EUROPEAN RULE IN 1850 256 THE GIANT'S CUP, AS SEEN FROM THE SEAWARD SIDE OF THE DRAKENSBERG 264 PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CAPETOWN 273 THE GREY HOSPITAL, KING- WILLIAMS TOWN . . . 278 PORT NATAL AND DURBAN IN 1860 . . . 298 SCENE IN ZULU LAND 3II PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT BRAND 319 COMMON STYLE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FARMHOUSE . 329 COMMON SOUTH AFRICAN BOULDER . . . . 4OI THE BOYS' SCHOOL, LOVEDALE MISSIONARY INSTITU- TION 424 INNER DOCK, CAPETOWN 428 EXPLANATION* OF TERMS. Explanation of words in common use in South Africa, but that may not be understood elsewhere, at least in the same sense : — Assaj^az, a javelin or dart used by the Hottentots and Bantu in war and the chase. The word is a corruption of the Portuguese " azagaya," which was derived from the Latin '"hasta." Boer^ Dutch for a tiller of the ground. The word is applied in this country to cattle-breeders as well as to agriculturists, and is frequently used in the plural form to signify the whole rural' population of European blood speaking the Dutch lan- guage. Burgher, a European male, no matter where resident, who is in possession of the franchise and liable to all public duties. It corresponds to the civis Romanus of old. Calabash, the hard rind of a gourd, used by the Bantu for various purposes, such as water-pots, jars, dishes, basins, snuff- boxes, &c. Commando, a body of burghers called out for military pur- poses. Heeinraden, burghers appointed by the government to act as assessors in the district courts of justice. A Dutch word. Induna, an o3icer of high rank under a Bantu chief. The word is Zulu. Kraal, a cattle-fold. The word is a corruption of the Portuguese "curral." It is also used to signify a collection of xix XX EXPLANATION OF TERMS. either Hottentot or Bantu huts, as these are usually built in a circle, within which the cattle are kept at night. Lager^ a Dutch word meaning an enclosure for protective purposes, such as a circular wall of stone, or a number of waggons lashed together. La7iddrost^ a stipendiary magistrate, who administers justice and receives the revenue of a district. The word is Dutch. Tsetse, a fly whose sting destroys domestic cattle, but has no effect upon wild animals. The word comes from one of the Bantu dialects. The tsetse disappears from a district when the game is exterminated or driven away. Volksraad, a Dutch word meaning the people's council, an elected legislative body. SOUTH AFRICA. THE STORY OF SOUTH AFRICA. I. ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA. The aborigines of South Africa were savages of a very low type. They were pigmies in size, yellowish-brown in colour, hollow-backed, and with skins so loose that in times of famine their bodies were covered with wrinkles and flaps. On their heads were rows of little tufts of wiry hair hardly larger than peppercorns, and leaving the greater portion of the surface bald. Their faces were broad in a line with the e}'es, their cheeks were hollow, and they had flat noses, thick lips, and receding chins. They anointed their bodies with grease when any was obtainable, and then painted themselves with soot or coloured clay. The clothing of the males was the skin of an animal hung loosely over the shoulders, and often cast aside ; that of the females was little more than a small leathern apron. To the eye of a European no people in any part of the world were more unattractive. 2 ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA. These savages were thinly scattered over every part of the country from a very remote period, for implements — such as arrow-heads and perforated stones similar to those which they had in use when white men first met them — have been found in posi- tions where the overlying materials must have been undisturbed for an incalculable time. The Bushmen — as the pigmies are termed by Europeans — had no domestic animal but the dog, and they made no effort to cultivate the soil. They lived by the chase and upon wild plants, honey, locusts, and carrion. They were without other government than parental, and even that was not respected after they were able to provide for themselves. So weak in frame as to be incapable of toil, they possessed great keenness of vision for detecting objects at a distance, and marvel- lous fleetness of foot and power of endurance in the chase. Their weapon of offence was a feeble bow, but the arrow-head was coated with poison so deadly that the slightest wound was mortal. In addition to the Bushmen there lived on South African soil, from a period long anterior to the arrival of Europeans, a body of people much more ad- vanced towards civilisation, the people now known as Hottentots. Where they came from, and how they got here, are questions that no one has yet been able to answer. Some have supposed that they sprang originally from a Bushman stock, others that the Bushmen were simply Hottentots who became degraded by the loss of their domestic cattle, but neither of these theories is now tenable. It has been ascertained that their languages are differently HOTTENTOTS, 3 constructed, though both abound with clicks. The Bushman was a strict monogamist, the Hottentot customs admitted of polygamy. Then their skull measurements do not correspond. The head of the Hottentot is longer and narrower than that of the Bushman, and his face is more prognathous. The lower jaw of the Bushman is only surpassed in feeble- ness by that of the Australian black, while that of the Hottentot, though far from massive, is much better developed. The Bushman ear is without a lobe, which the Hottentot ear possesses, and the cranial capacity of the Hottentot is higher. On the other hand, against these differences several points of resemblance can be placed. The colour of the skin is the same, and the little balls of wiry hair with open spaces between them are in general common to both, though sometimes the head of a Hottentot is more thickly covered. The one has small hands and feet, and so has the other. Their power of imagination is similar, and differs greatly from that of other Africans. All this seems to point to the supposition that at a time now far in the past an intruding body of males of some unknown race took to themselves consorts of Bushman blood, and from the union sprang the Hottentot tribes of Southern Africa. There are other reasons for this conjecture, but they need not be given here. The Hottentots were never very numerous, and they occupied only the strip of land along the coast and the banks of the Orange river and some of its tributaries. There was a constant and deadly feud 4 ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA. between them and the Bushmen. Only in one locality — along the banks of the lower Vaal — are they known to have mixed in blood with those people in modern times, and in that case the amal- gamation arose from wars in which the vanquished males were exterminated and the females were seized as spoil. They lived in communities under the government of chiefs, who, however, possessed very limited authority, for public opinion was freely expressed, and was the supreme law. They depended mainly upon the milk of cows and ewes for their subsistence, and did not practice agriculture in any form. Their horned cattle were gaunt and bony, and their sheep were covered with hair — not wool — and had fatty tails of great weight. Their only other domestic animal was the dog. The men lived in almost perfect indolence, moving with their herds and flocks from one place to another as pasture failed ; and when the supply of milk was insufficient it fell to the lot of the women to gather bulbs and roots with which to eke out an existence. The huts in which they slept were slender frames of wood covered with mats, and could be taken down and set up again almost as quickly as tents. These nearly naked people, living in idleness and filthiness indescribable, were yet capable of improve- ment. During the last century a vast amount of missionary labour has been ccucentrated upon the natives of South Africa, and though to the present day there is not a single instance of a Bushman of pure blood having permanently adopted European BANTU. 5 habits, the Hottentots have done so to a considerable extent. They have not indeed shown a capacity to rise to the highest level of civilised life, but they have reached a stage much above that of barbarism. Before the arrival of Europeans yet another branch of the human family was beginning to press into South Africa. Tribes of stalwart people practising agriculture and metallurgy, under strict government and with an elaborate system of law, were moving down from the north, and by the middle of the seventeenth century had reached the upper tributaries of the Orange river and the mouth of the Kei. These people formed part of the great Bantu family, which occupies the whole of Central Africa from the Atlantic to the Indian ocean. They were certainly of mixed blood, and one branch of their ancestors must have been of a very much higher type than the other. This is shown in various ways. Among them at the present day are individuals with perfect Asiatic features, born of parents with the negro cast of countenance. In almost any little community may be found men only moderately brown in colour, while their nearest relatives are deep black. Here and there one may be seen with a thick full beard, though the great majority have almost hairless cheeks and chins. And a still stronger proof of a mixed ancestry of very unequal capability is afforded by the fact that most of these people seem unable to rise to the European level of civilisation, though not a few individuals have shown themselves possessed of mental power equal to that of white men. b ANCIENT INHABITANTS OF SOUTH AFRICA, These Bantu were of a healthy and vigorous stock and were probably the most prolific people on the face of the earth. The tribes were seldom at peace with each other, and great numbers of individuals perished yearly through charges of dealing in sorcery, but the losses thus sustained were made good by a custom which provided that every adult female should be married. There was no limit to the number of wives a man could have, and thus in a state of society where the females outnumbered the males, all were provided for. The three classes of people referred to in this chapter enjoyed the lives they were leading quite as much as Europeans do, though their pleasures were of a lower kind. Given freedom from disease and a slain antelope, and there could be no merrier creature than a Bushman. He was absolutely devoid of harassing cares. A Hottentot kraal in the clear moonlight of Africa, with men, women, and children dancing to the music of reeds, was a scene of the highest hilarity. The Bantu woman, tending her garden by day, and preparing food in the evening which she may not partake of herself until her husband and his friends have eaten, is regarded as an unhappy drudge by her European sister. In her own opinion her lot is far more enviable than that of the white woman, whom she regards as being always in a state of anxiety. The chief element of disturbance in their lives was war. The hand of the Bushman was always against every man, and every man's hand was against him. The Hottentot tribes were continually robbing each CONSTANT WARFARE. 7 other of cattle and women, and on their eastern border were struggling in vain against the advanc- ing Bantu. Every Bantu clan was usually at feud with its nearest neighbours, whoever these might be. But life without excitement is insipid to the savage Wa///s^ Bay. S^//e/e/?aBayJ SOUTH AFRICA AS OCCUPIED BY BUSHMEN, HOTTENTOTS, AND BANTU IN 165O. Bushmen were the only inhabitants of the parts unmarked, and they lived also in all the rugged and mountainous sections of the parts occupied by Hottentots and Bantu. The territory in which the Hottentots roamed with their cattle is maiked /^ , and the territory occupied by the Bantu ^^0 as well as to the civilised man, and these wars and animosities, though sometimes causing great suffering and loss of life, in general provided just that excite- ment which was needed to prevent the minds of the people from sinking into complete stagnation. II. DISCOVERY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COAST BY THE PORTUGUESE. In i486 two little vessels, under command of an officer named Bartholomeu Dias, sailed from Portugal in search of an ocean road to India. Pushing his way down the western coast, Dias passed the farthest point previously known, and sailing onward with the land always in sight came to an inlet of no great depth with a group of islets at its entrance. There he cast anchor, and for the first time Christian men trod the soil of Africa south of the tropic. The inlet has ever since borne the name Angara Pequena, or Little Bay, which its discoverer gave to it. The surrounding country was a desolate waste of sand, and no signs of human life were seen, nor was other refreshment than seabirds' eggs obtainable. Having set up a cross as a mark of possession for his king, the Portuguese commander proceeded on his voyage. He tried to keep the land in sight, but when he was somewhere near the mouth of the Orange river a gale from the north sprang up, and for thirteen days he was driven helplessly before it. DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. g As soon as it abated the prows of the vessels were turned to the east, with a view of getting near the shore again, but after saihng a long time without reaching land Dias began to think that he must either have passed the end of the continent or have entered a great gulf like that of Guinea. He therefore changed the course to north, and after a while came in sight of the coast, which he found trending away to the east. The exact spot- where he made the land cannot be stated, but it was CROSS ERECTED BY DIAS ON PEDESTAL POINT. [From a Sketch by H. M. Piers.) one of the curves in the seaboard between Cape Agulhas and the Knysna. Large herds of cattle were seen, which the natives drove inland w^th haste, as they seemed in terror of the ships. It was not found possible to open intercourse with the wild people. Sailing again eastward Dias reached an islet where he found fresh w^ater and where he set up another cross. It was the islet in Algoa Bay which is still 10 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. called on that account Santa Cruz, or, as it is usually written in the French form, St. Croix. Here the sailors objected to proceed farther, and it was with difficulty that they were induced to press on a couple of days longer. At the mouth of a river — either the Kowie or the Fish — the expedition turned homeward, and on its way back discovered a bold headland which Dias named the Cape of Storms, but which .was renamed by King John the Second the Cape of Good Hope. As seen from the sea this cape is much more conspicuous than Agulhas, the true southern extremity of the continent. Ten years passed away after the return of Dias to Portugal before an expedition was fitted out to follow up the discovery he had made. Four small vessels were then made ready, and were placed under command of Vasco da Gama, a man of proved ability. It was not quite five years after Columbus sailed from Palos to discover a new continent in the west, when Da Gama's little fleet put to sea from the Tagus. Five months and a half later he reached a curve in the African coast about one hundred and twenty miles north of the Cape of Good Hope, to which he gave the name St. Helena Bay. Here he landed and by a little strategy managed to obtain an interview with a party of natives, whose friendship he tried to secure by making them presents of trinkets. All went well for a time, but at length a misunderstanding arose, which resulted in the Por- tuguese attacking the natives, and in a skirmish Da Gama himself and three others were wounded with 12 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. assagais. Such was the first intercourse between white men and Hottentots. On the 17th of November 1497 Da Gama set sail from St Helena Bay, and three days later doubled the Cape of Good Hope in fine weather. Turning eastward, he anchored next within a bend of the coast, which he named Agoada de S. Braz, the present Mossel Bay. There he found a number of natives similar in appearance to those he had first seen, but who showed so little symptom of alarm that they crowded on the beach and scrambled for any- thing that was thrown to them. From these people some sheep were obtained in barter, but they would not sell any horned cattle. Keeping within sight of the shore, on the 25th of December Da Gama passed by a beautiful land, to which he gave the name Natal, in memory of the day when Christian men first saw it. On the 6th of January 1498 the fleet reached the mouth of a river which enters the sea on the northern side of Delagoa Bay. Here the Portuguese landed, and found a friendly people, black in colour, who brought copper, ivory, and provisions for sale. During the five days that the fleet remained at this place nothing occurred to disturb the friendly intercourse between the Portuguese and the Bantu residents. Sailing again, Da Gama next touched at Quilimane, where he found people who had dealings with Arabs, and thence he continued his voyage until he reached India. The highway to the East being now open, every year fleets sailed to and from Portugal. In a short FIRST SHIPS IN TABLE BAY. I3 time the Indian seas fell entirely under Portuguese dominion, and an immense trade was opened up. In 1503 a small fleet, under command of an officer named Antonio de Saldanha, put into a bay on the African coast that had never been entered before. On one side rose a great mass of rock, over three thousand feet in height, with its top making a level line more than a mile in length on the sky. This grand mountain was flanked at either end with peaks less lofty, supported by buttresses projecting towards the shore. The recess was a capacious valley, down the centre of which flowed a stream of clear sweet water. The valley seemed to be without people, but after a while some Hottentots made their appearance, from whom a cow and two sheep were purchased. Saldanha himself climbed to the top of the great flat rock, to which he gave the name Table Mountain The bay in which he anchored was thereafter called after him the watering place of Saldanha, until nearly a century later it received from the Dutch sea-captain Joris van Spilbergen its present name of Table Bay. No effort was made to explore the interior of the country, and, indeed, setting aside danger from the natives, it would have been beyond the power of any man to have gone far from the coast at this period. The land rises in a series of steps from the seashore to a great interior plain, and until that plain was reached the traveller would have had everywhere a rugged and seemingly impassable range of mountains before him. If by great exertion he had made his way to the summit of one, he would have found him- self on the edge of a broken plateau, with another 14 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. range — the front of another terrace — shutting in his view. It follows from this conformation of the country that there are no navigable rivers. The streams — even the very largest — are all of the nature of moun- tain torrents, obstructed with rapids and falls, and varying in volume with rain and drought. There is an utter absence of secure natural harbours on the coast, except in positions where they could be of little service in the early days of exploration. And, in addition to all this, a very large portion of the land along the western seaboard, as well as of the interior plains, is so arid that it could only be traversed by degrees, as its slender resources became known. In returning with the fleet which left India at the close of 1509, Francisco d'Almeida, first Portuguese viceroy of the eastern seas, put into Table Bay for the purpose of obtaining water and refreshing his people. Some natives appeared on the beach, and a party of ships' people went ashore to barter some cattle from them. Trafific was carried on for a time in a friendly manner, but at length a quarrel arose, and two white men were badly beaten. This caused an outcry for vengeance, to which D'Almeida unfortunately lent a willing ear. Next morning, ist of March 1 5 10, the viceroy landed with one hundred and fifty men armed with swords and lances. They marched to a kraal and seized some cattle, which they were driving away when the Hottentots, supposed to be about one hundred and seventy in number, attacked them. The weapons of the Portuguese were useless against the fleet-footed natives, who poured upon the invaders PORTUGUESE MAPS. I5 a shower of missiles. A panic followed. Most fled towards the boats as the only means of safety ; a few, who ^^ere too proud to retreat before savages, at- tempted in vain to defend themselves. The viceroy was struck down with knobbed sticks and stabbed in the throat with an assagai. Sixty-five of the best men in the fleet perished on that disastrous day, and hardly any of those who reached the boats escaped without wounds. After this event the Portuguese avoided the southern coast as much as possible. With them the country had the reputation of being inhabited by the most ferocious of savages, and of furnishing nothing valu- able for trade. Their fleets doubled the continent year after year, but seldom touched at any port south of Sofala. They made a practice of calling for re- freshment at the island of St. Helena, which had been discovered in 1502, and then pressing on to Mozam- bique without a break, whenever it was possible to do so. They never attempted to form a station below Delagoa Bay. Now and again, however, their ships were driven by stress of weather to seek a port, and occasionally a wreck took place. Curiosity also prompted some of them, and orders from the king required others, to inspect the coast and make tracings of it. The prin- cipal bights and headlands thus acquired names. Nearly all of these have been replaced by others, Dutch or English, but a few remain to our day. With the belt of land bordering on the sea north of Zululand the Portuguese were well acquainted, and they had an intimate knowledge of the territory i6 DISCOVERIES OF THE PORTUGUESE. along the lov/er course of the Zambesi. But of the interior of the country south of the tropic they knew absolutely nothing, and what they imagined and laid down on their maps was so very incorrect that after the territory was explored the whole of their delinea- tions of Africa were regarded as valueless. PORTKAJr OF A BUSHMAN. III. EVENTS THAT LED TO THE OCCUPATION OF TABLE VALLEY BY THE DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY. After a long interval English, Dutch, and French ships followed the Portuguese to India. Drake and Candish passed in sight of the Cape of Good Hope when homeward bound on their celebrated voyages round the world, but did not land on the African coast. In July 1591 the English flag was seen there for the first time. Three ships — the pioneers of the vast fleets that have since followed the same course — then put into Table Bay on their way to India. Their crews, who were suffering from scurvy, obtained good refreshment, as in addition to wild fowl, shellfish, and plants of various kinds, they bartered some oxen and sheep from Hottentots. One of the ships, commanded by Captain James Lancaster, reached India in safety, another returned to England shorthanded from Table Bay, and the third went down in a gale at sea some- where off the southern coast. In 160 1 the first fleet fitted out by the English East India Company, under command of the same Captain James Lancaster mentioned above, put into 3 ^^ 1 8 RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC. Table Bay on its outward passage. Thereafter for several years the fleets of this Company made Table Bay a port of call and refreshment, and their crews usually procured in barter from the natives as many cattle as they needed. During the closing years of the sixteenth century the people who were destined to form the first European settlement in South Africa were engaged in a gallant struggle for freedom against the powerful Spanish monarchy. The northern Netherland pro- vinces had entered the sisterhood of nations as a free republic which was rapidly becoming the foremost commercial power of the age. While the struggle was being carried on, Portugal came under the dominion of the king of Spain, and the Dutch were then excluded from Lisbon, where they had previously obtained such eastern products as they needed. Some of their adventurous merchants then thought of direct trade with India, but it was not until 1595 that a fleet under the republican flag passed the Cape of Good Hope. It consisted of four vessels, and was under an officer named Cornelis Houtman. This fleet touched at Mossel Bay, where refreshment was pro- cured, the intercourse between the strangers and the natives being friendly. After lloutman's return to Europe, several com- panies were formed in different towns of the Nether- lands, for the purpose of trading with the Indies. No fresh discoveries on the African coast were made by any of the fleets which they sent out, but to some of the bays new names were given. Thus Paul van Caerden, an officer in tjie service of the New Brabant THE DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY. I9 Company, when returning to Europe in 1601, gave their present names to Mossel, Flesh, and Fish bays, all of which he entered. The fleets sent out by the different small companies gained surprising successes over the Portuguese in India, but as they did not act in concert no perma- nent conquests could be made. For this reason, as well as to prevent rivalry and to conduct the trade in a manner the most advantageous to the people of the whole republic, the states-general resolved to unite all the weak associations in one great company with many privileges and large powers. The charter was issued at the Hague on the 20th of March 1602, and gave the Company power to make treaties with Indian governments, to build fortresses, appoint civil and military officers, and enlist troops. The Company was subject to have its transactions reviewed by the states-general, otherwise it had almost sovereign power. The subscribed capital was rather over half a million pounds sterling. Offices for the transaction of business, or chambers as they were termed, were established at Am^sterdam, Middelburg, Delft, Rotter- dam, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen. The general control was confided to an assembly of seventeen directors, whose sessions were held at Amsterdam for six successive years, then at Middel- burg for two years, then at Amsterdam again for six years, and so on. The profits made by the Company during the early years of its existence were enormous. The Portuguese ships, factories, and possessions of all kinds in India were fair prize of war, and the most valuable were 20 THE EASTERN TRADE ROUTE. shortly in the hands of the Dutch. Every year fleets of richly laden ships under the flag of the Nether- lands passed the Cape of Good Hope outward and homeward bound. In 1619 the directors of the English East India Company proposed to the assembly of seventeen that they should jointly build a fort and establish a place of refreshment somewhere on the South African coast. This proposal did not find favour in Holland, and each company then resolved to form a station of its own. Instructions were issued to the commanders of the next outward-bound fleets of both nations to examine the seaboard and report upon the most suit- able places for the purpose. Thus it happened that in 1620 two English captains, by name Fitzherbert and Shillinge, inspected Table Bay, and believing that no better place could be found, they proclaimed the adjoining country under the sovereignty of King James. They did not leave any force to keep posses- sion, however, and the directors in London having changed their views with regard to a station in South Africa, the proclamation of Fitzherbert and Shillinge was never ratified. English ships still continued oc- casionally to call for the purpose of taking in fresh water, but from this time onward the island of St. Helena became their usual place of refreshment. The assembly of seventeen also allowed its resolu- tion concerning the establishment of a station in South Africa to fall through at this time. Some of the advantages of such a station were already in its possession, and the expense of building a fort and maintaining a garrison might be too high a price to WRECK OF THE HAARLEM. 21 pay for anything additional that could be had. Its fleets usually put into Table Bay for the purpose of taking in fresh water, giving the crews a run on land, catching fish, and getting the latest intelligence from the places they were bound to. Letters were buried on shore, and notices of the places where they were deposited were marked on conspicuous stones. • Table Valley was also sometimes occupied for months together by parties of Dutch seal hunters and whale fishers. Among others, in i6i i Isaac le Maire, after whom the straits of Le Maire are named, left his son with some seamen here for this purpose. Early in 1648 the Haarlem^ a ship belonging to the East India Company, put into Table Bay for refresh- ment, and in a gale was driven on the Blueberg beach. The crew got safely to land, and succeeded in saving their own effects and the cargo. When everything was secured against stormy weather they removed to Table Valley as a better place for an encampment, leaving only a guard with the stores. Beside a stream ot fresh water, somewhere near the centre of the present city of Capetown, they made themselves huts, and threw up an earthen bank for shelter around them. The rainy season was setting in, and as they happened to have various seeds with them they made a garden and soon had abundance of vegetables. They were fortunate also in being able to procure in barter from the natives more meat than they needed, so that their experience of South Africa led them to believe that it was a fruitful and pleasant land. After they had been here nearly six months a 22 ADVANTAGES OF TABLE VALLEY. fleet returning home put in, and took then on to Europe. Upon their arrival in the Netherlands, Leendert Janssen and Nicholas Proot, two of the Haarkfjis officers, drew up and presented to the chamber of Amsterdam a document in which they set forth the advantages that they beh'eved the Company might derive from a station in Table Valley. This docu- ment was referred by the chamber of Amsterdam to the directors, who, after calling for the opinions of the other chambers and finding them favourable, in August 1650 resolved to form such a station as was proposed. A committee was instructed to draw up a plan, and when this was discussed and approved of, three vessels were made ready to bring the men and the materials to South Africa. The post of commander of the station about to be formed was offered to Nicholas Proot, and upon his declining it, a ship's surgeon named Jan van Riebeek, who had been for some time in the Company's service and had visited many countries, was selected for the office. A better selection could hardly have been made. Mr. Van Riebeek was not a man of high education or of refined manners, but he was indus- trious and possessed of good natural ability. He had been in Table Bay with the fleet in which the Haar- lems crew returned home, and upon the document drawn up by Janssen and Proot being submitted to him for an opinion, he endorsed all that was in it con- cerning the capabilities of the country. Things were not done in such haste in those days as they are now, and the year 165 1 had nearly come LOSS OF LIFE BY SCURVY. 23 to an end before the three vessels set sail from Texel. It must not be supposed that they were bringing people to South Africa with the intention of founding a colony, for nothing was then further from the thoughts of the directors of the East India Company. Their object was merely to form a refreshment station for the fleets passing to and from the eastern seas. Six months was considered a quick passage between the ports of the Netherlands and the roads of Batavia, where their ultimate destination was made known to the skippers by the governor-general and council of India ; and it was no uncommon circumstance for one-third of the crews to have perished and another third to be helpless with scurvy when the ships arrived there. The loss of life was appalling, as the Indiamen were fighting as well as trading vessels, and usually left Europe with two or three hundred men. The crews were very largely composed of recruits from Germany and the maritime states of Europe, or the population of the Netherlands could not have borne such a tremendous drain of men for any length of time. Table Bay was regarded as two-thirds of the dis- tance from Amsterdam to Batavia, and the directors thought that by establishing a refreshment station on its shores many lives could be saved and much suffering be avoided. The design was first to make a large garden and raise in it vegetables for the supply of the fleets, secondly to barter oxen and sheep from the Hottentots for the same purpose, and thirdly to build a great hospital in which sick men could be left to recover their health. 24 MR. VAN RIEBEEK. Every man at the station was to be a servant of the East India Company. Mr. Van Riebeek, who had the title of commander, was to hold a position similar to that of a sergeant in charge of a small military out- post at some distance from the head-quarters of a regiment. Every admiral of a fleet that called was to supersede him for the time being, and he had hardly any discretionary power even when no superior officer was present. TABLE MOUNTAIN AS SEEN FROM ROBBEN ISLAND. IV. FORMATION OF A REFRESHMENT STATION IN TABLE VALLEY BY THE DUTCH EAST INDIA COMPANY. In April 1652 Mr. Van Riebeek and his people arrived, and at once set about the construction of a fort by raising banks of earth round a hollow square, within which they erected some wooden sheds brought from Holland. The rainy season at and near the Cape of Good Hope usually commences in the month of April, but this year the summer drought lasted until towards the close of May, and consequently there was a good deal of suffering among the people. Scurvy was showing itself and no sorrel or wild plants of any kind could be found, nor could a garden be made. The only permanent inhabitants of the Cape pen- insula when the Dutch landed were some sixty Hottentots, who were without cattle, and who lived chiefly upon shell-fish. Where as many thousands now exist in comfort, these wretched beachrangers — as Mr. Van Riebeek styled them — were barely able to exist at all. The chief man among them was 25 26 REFRESHMENT STATION IN TABLE VALLEY. named Harry by the white people. He had once been taken to Bantam in an EngHsh ship, and he spoke a little broken English, so Mr. Van Riebeek employed him as an interpreter. The others made themselves useful by carrying water and gathering firewood, in return for which they were provided with ships' provisions. Two large clans of Hottentots, consisting together of about five thousand souls, roamed over the country within a radius of fifty miles from Table Bay, but they were then far from the peninsula, and very little could be ascertained concerning them. When the winter rains at last set in, much dis- comfort was the immediate result. The tents and wooden buildings were all found to be leaky. With the change of weather came dysentery, which the people were too weak to resist, and now almost every day there was a death from that disease or from scurvy. By the beginning of June the party was reduced to one hundred and sixteen men and five women, of whom only sixty men w^ere able to per- form any labour. Fresh meat and vegetables and proper shelter would have saved them, but these things were not to be had. They were almost as solitary as if they had been frozen up in the Arctic sea. The two largest of the vessels had gone on to Batavia, leaving the other — a mere decked boat — at Mr. Van Riebeek's disposal, and for many weeks no natives were seen except Harry's miserable followers, from whom no assistance of any kind was to be obtained. But the rain, which had brought on the dysentery, TRADE WITH HOTTENTOTS. 27 in a very short time brought also relief. Grass sprang into existence, and with it appeared various edible plants. They were all correctives of scurvy, and that was mainly what was needed. The strong and the feeble went about gathering wild herbs and roots and declarinof there was nothinsf in the world half so palatable. As soon as the first showers fell, a plot of ground was dug over, in which seeds were planted ; and soon the sick were enjoying such delicacies as radishes, lettuce, and cress. Then they found good reeds for thatch, and when the buildings were covered with these instead of boards and torn sails, they could almost bid defiance to the rains. The pleasant weather wliich in South Africa is termed the winter passed away, and in October a large Hottentot clan — called by the Dutch the Kaap- mans — made its appearance in the Cape peninsula with great herds of horned cattle and flocks of sheep which were brought there for change of pasture. These people and the Europeans met openly on the most friendly terms, though each party was so sus- picious of the other that a constant watch was kept. A supply of copper bars, brass wire, and tobacco had been brought from the Netherlands, and a trade in cattle was now opened. On the European side the commander conducted it in person, assisted only by a clerk and the interpreter Harry. All intercourse between other white men and these Hottentots was forbidden under very severe penalties, with the two- fold object of preventing any interference with the trade and any act that might lightly provoke a quarrel. 28 REFRESHMENT STATION IN TABLE VALLEY. Parties of the Kaapmans remained in the Cape peninsula nearly three months, during which time Mr. Van Riebeek precured in barter over two hundred head of horned cattle and nearly six hundred sheep. Before they left, they proposed that the commander should help them against a tribe with whom they were at war, and offered him the whole of the spoil whatever it might be. Mr. Van Riebeek replied that he had come to trade in friendship with all, and he declined to take any part in their quarrels. By the end of the first year's residence of the Europeans in Table Valley the station had made very satisfactory progresSo A large garden had been planted, and the stream that ran down from the mountain had been dammed up in several places, so that the whole of the cultivated ground — several acres in extent — could be irrigated. A plain hospital had been built of earthen walls and thatch roof, large enough to accommodate two or three hundred men. And another clan had visited the peninsula, with whom a cattle trade had been opened, so that there was plenty of fresh meat for the crews of all the ships that put into the bay. The second winter was uneventful. Some building was carried on, oxen were trained to draw timber from the forests behind the Devil's peak, and much new ground was broken up. Wild animals gave more trouble than anything else. The lions were so bold that they invaded the cattle pens by night, though armed men were always watching them, and leopards came down from the mountain in broad daylight and carried away sheep under the very eyes of the herds- THE FIRST CATTLE RAID. 29 men. One morning before daybreak there was a great noise in the poultry pens, and when the guards went to see what was the matter, they found that all the ducks and geese had been killed by wild cats. The country appeared to be swarming with ravenous beasts of different kinds. A good look-out was kept over the sea, for the Netherlands and the Commonwealth of England were at war, and it was necessary to guard against being surprised by an English ship. The Europeans had been living in Table Valley about eighteen months when the first difficulty with the natives occurred. One Sunday while they were listening to a sermon Harry and his people murdered a white boy who was tending the cattle, and ran away with nearly the whole herd. As soon as the event became known pursuing parties were sent out, but though the robbers were followed to the head of False Bay, only one cow that lagged behind was recovered. This occurrence naturally produced an ill-feeling towards the Hottentots on the part of the European soldiers and workmen. One of their com- panions had been murdered, and his blood was unavenged. The loss of their working oxen im- posed heavy toil upon them. The fort was being strengthened with palisades cut in the forests behind the Devil's peak, and these had now to be carried on the shoulders of men. Then for some time after the robbery the pastoral clans kept at a distance, so that no cattle were to be had in barter ; and the want of fresh meat caused much grumbling. The directors had given the most emphatic orders 30 REFRESHMENT STATION IN TABLE VALLEY, that the natives were to be treated with all possible kindness, and so, after a few months, when the run- aways began to return to Table Valley, each one protesting- his own innocence, no punishment was inflicted upon them for their bad conduct, but they were allowed to resume their former manner of living by collecting firewood and doing any little service of that nature. As everything was now in good working order at the station, Mr. Van Riebeek began to send out small exploring parties, not so much to learn the physical condition of the country, however, as to make the acquaintance of Hottentot clans who could be induced to bring cattle to the fort for barter. This object was attained without crossing the nearest range of mountains, and therefore no one tried to go beyond that formidable barrier. During the next few years names were given to the various hills scattered over the western coast belt as far north as the mouth of the Elephant river, the Berg river was inspected from its source to its mouth, and acquaintance was made with several Hottentot tribes ; but there was little or no advance in the knowledge of South African geo- graphy. By this time nearly every garden plant of Europe and India was cultivated at the Cape, though potatoes and maize were not yet introduced. Oaks and firs, fruit trees of many kinds, several varieties of vines from Southern Germany and from France, and straw- berries and blackberries were thriving. The foreign animals that had been introduced were horses from Java, and pigs, sheep, dogs, rabbits, and poultry from Europe. EXTENSION TO RONDEBOSCH. 3 1 Every season wheat and barley had been sown, but the crop had always failed. Just as it was getting ripe the south-east wind came sweeping through Table Valley, and destroyed it. But it was noticed that even when it was blowing a perfect gale at the fort, nothing more than a pleasant breeze was felt back of the Devil's peak. The commander therefore tried if grain could not be raised in that locality. At a place where a round grove of thorn trees was standing, from which it received the name Rondebosch, a plot of ground was laid under the plough, and some wheat, oats, and barley were sown. The experiment was successful, for the grain throve wonderfully well, and yielded a large return. The Cape establishment was thus answering its purpose admirably, but the expense attending it was found to be greater than the directors of the East India Company had anticipated, so they cast about for some means of reducing its cost. After much dis- cussion they resolved to locate a few burgher families on plots of ground in the neighbourhood of the fort, and instructed Mr. Van Riebeek to carry this des'gn into execution. They were of opinion that the men, though not in their service, would assist in the defence of the station, so that the garrison could be reduced, and that from such persons vegetables, grain, fruit, pigs, poultry, &c., could be purchased as cheaply as the Company could produce them with hired servants. The plan was to select a few respectable married men from the workpeople, to send their wives and children out to them, and to give them a start as market gardeners or small farmers. FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY. In February 1657 ^i^e of the Company's servants took their discharge, and had small plots of ground allotted to them along the Liesbeek river at Ronde- bosch. They were the first South African colonists in the true sense of the word. They were provided on credit with everything that was necessary to give them a fair start as agriculturists, and in return they bound themselves to deliver the produce of their ground at the fort at reasonable prices until the debt was cleared off Within a few months thirty-eight others took their discharge on the same conditions. But it soon ap- peared that many of these men were not adapted for the life of independent gardeners, and it became necessary to take them back into the Company's service, when the ground that they had occupied was given to others on trial. In this manner a selection was constantly being made, in which only the steady and industrious remained as permanent colonists. There was a rule that only married men of Dutch or German birth should have land assigned to them, 32 INTRODUCTION OF SLAVES. 33 but it was not strictly observed, and single men who were mechanics or who would take service with gardeners were frequently discharged by the Com- pany. As soon as a man proved himself able to make a competent living, he had only to apply for his wife and children to be sent out from Europe, and with the next fleet they were forwarded to him. The descendants of many of those who at this time became colonists are now scattered over South Africa from the Cape of Good Hope to the Zambesi and Benguela. In this manner the colonisation of South Africa was commenced, but as yet there was no intention of forming a European settlement of any great extent. A few gardeners, fruit growers, and poultry breeders within four or five miles of the fort comprised the whole scheme which the East India Company had in view. These people were to pay tithes of any grain they might produce after twelve years' occupation, but were otherwise to be left untaxed. It was still supposed that as many cattle as were needed could be obtained from the Hottentots. In 1658 the great mistake of introducing negro slaves was made, a mistake from which the country has suffered much in the past and must suffer for all time to come. There was no necessity for the intro- duction of these people. The climate for nine months in the year is to Europeans the pleasantest in the world, and even during the other three — excepting from twenty to thirty excessively hot days — white men can labour in the open air without discomfort The settlement could have been purely European. 4. 34 FOUNDATION OF 7 HE CAPE COLONY, But in the seventeenth century it was the custom of all colonising nations to make of the negro a hewer of wood and drawer of water, and the Dutch merely acted in the spirit of the age. From a Portuguese slave ship captured at sea the first negroes brought to the Cape settlement were taken, and shortly afterwards a number arrived from the coast of Guinea in one of the Company's vcbsels. Some of them were sold on credit to the burghers, but the greater number were kept by the government to do whatever rough labour was needed. This fixed the character of the colony, for the system once entered upon could only with great difficulty be altered. The white man and the black cannot work side by side on equal terms, hence manual labour came to be regarded by the Europeans as degrading, a sentiment that has not died out at the present day. The Dutch laws at that time made manumission extremely easy, and freed negroes had all the rights of colonists, though they were without the hereditary training necessary to enable them to make proper use of their privileges. As soon, however, as it was ascertained by experience that they were too indolent and thriftless to put by anything for sickness or old age, when they became a burden upon the community, a law was made that any one emancipating a slave under ordinary circumstances must hot only give security that he or she would not become a depen- dent upon the poor funds within a certain number of years, but also pay a sum of money into the poor funds as a premium on the risk of his or her requiring INTRODUCTION OF ASIATICS. 35 aid after that period. This checked manumission considerably, still as many slaves were emancipated by the testaments of their owners, and others obtained their liberty under special circumstances, the free negroes would have become a large body in course of time if they had not been swept away by imported diseases, to which their habits of living made them an easy prey. Besides negroes, the East India Company at this time began to introduce Asiatics — chiefly natives of Malacca, Java, and the Spice islands — into the settle- ment. These persons were criminals sentenced by the high court of justice at Batavia to slavery either for life or for a term of years, and were then sent to South Africa to undergo their punishment. In in- telligence they were far above the natives of Guinea or Mozambique, many of them being able to work as masons, harness makers, coopers, and tailors. They all professed the Moslem religion. Being without women of their own nationality, they formed con- nections with African slave girls, and thus arose one of the many classes of mixed breeds in the country. At a little later date the Company made of South Africa a place of banishment for Indian political prisoners of high rank, who were often accompanied by their families and numerous attendants, male and female. These people had fixed allowances from the government for their support. Sometimes families of their dependents became attached to the country, and preferred to remain here when the time came for their return to Java if they had chosen to go back. A race of pure Asiatics thus arose, never very 36 FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY. numerous, though for more than a century political offenders continued to be sent from Batavia to Cape- town. The last were some natives of high rank in the islands of Tidor and Ternate, who made their escape from this country in 1781. One of these exiles was the Sheikh Joseph, who took a leading part in the Bantamese civil war of 1682, and who was a determined opponent of the Dutch. He was a man of great repute for sanctity, and was believed by his Moslem followers to have performed some extraordinary miracles. He died near the head of False Bay, and his tomb there is still a place of pilgrimage for Mohamedans in South Africa. Thus early in the history of the Cape Colony three varieties of human beings were introduced : Euro- peans, negroes, and Javanese. The aboriginal Hottentots formed a fourth variety. As years passed away mixed breeds of every colour between these four extremes were to be seen, side by side with the pure races, so that nowhere else could such a diversity of hue and of features be found as in the Cape peninsula. The crosses between Europeans and the lower races did not increase in number as rapidly as pure breeds, however, owing to a lack of high fertility among themselves, and unless connected again with one of their ancestral stocks, they often died out altogether in the third generation. The same may be said of the half-breed Asiatics and negroes, but the cross between the others was more fertile. The pastoral Hottentot clans looked upon the THE FIRST HOTTENTOT WAR. 37 European settlement along the Liesbeek with a good deal of jealousy. It was not alone the ground under cultivation that was lost to them, for the government had given the burghers a free right of pasture, and thus the ancient owners were excluded from the best patches of grass along the base of the mountain. Early in 1659 the two clans that had always been accustomed to visit the Cape peninsula in the summer season with their flocks and herds appeared there as usual, and were informed that they must keep away from the grass that the Company and the burghers needed. This aanouncement was not at all to their liking. They had ample pasture left in the peninsula for ten times the number of cattle in their possession, and all the country stretching away beyond the isthmus as far as could be seen was theirs to roam over ; but they were like other people, they did not relish being depriv-ed by force of any- thing that they regarded as their own. So they commenced to drive off the burghers' cows, and murdered a white herdsman. The beachrangers in Table Valley, though they were certainly gainers by the presence of the Europeans, and though they had a long-standing feud with the pastoral clans, now joined their countrymen. In this manner what the colonists termed the first Hottentot war began. In fact, however, it could hardly be termed a war, for the natives were careful to avoid a pitched battle, and the Europeans were unable to surprise any large body of them. On two occasions only were small parties met, when six or seven were killed and a few more were wounded. The pastoral clans then 38 FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY. abandoned the peninsula, and the beachrangers, upon begging for peace, were allowed to return to Table Valley. A strong fence, through which cattle could not be driven, was now made along the outer boundary of the settlement, three watchhouses were built to defend it, and in these were stationed companies of horse- men, whose duty it was to patrol the border. Some powerful dogs were imported from Java, and the Europeans then considered themselves secure. The Hottentots were the first to make overtures for a restoration of friendship. About a twelvemonth after the first breach of the peace they sent messengers to the fort to propose a reconciliation, and as these were well received the chiefs followed, when terms were agreed to. These were that neither party was thereafter to molest the other, that the lately hostile clans were to endeavour to induce those living farther inland to bring cattle to the fort for sale, that the Europeans were to retain possession of the land occupied by them, that roads were to be pointed out along which the Hottentots could come to the fort, and that any European who molested a Hottentot should be severely punished. After the conclusion of peace the cattle trade went on briskly. Bartering parties were sometimes sent out, but Hottentots often came from a distance of eighty or a hundred miles with troc^s of oxen and flocks of sheep for sale. They were very eager to obtain bright coloured beads and other trifles. The quantity of beads given for an ox cost only from eight to ten pence, but there were other and larger expenses THE FIRST CHURCH. 39 connected with the trade. Presents, consisting of flat pieces of copper, wire, iron rods, axes, tobacco, pipes, and other articles, were frequently made to the chiefs to secure their friendship, and all who came to the fort were liberally entertained. The burghers were strictly prohibited from holding intercourse of any kind with other Hottentots than the beachrangers, but in defiance of the law some of them found means to carry on a petty cattle trade. After ten years' service in South Africa Mr. Van Riebeek was sent on to India, where he received promotion, and Mr. Zacharias Wagenaar took his place at the Cape. During this commander's term of office— which extended over four years — a few events occurred that are worthy of notice. In earlier years a catechist, who was also a school- master, held services on Sundays, and the chaplains of ships that called administered the sacraments. But now the settlement was provided with a resident clergyman. From this time onward there was a fully organised church, subject to the spiritual control of the classis or presbytery of Amsterdam. In 1664 the island of Mauritius was taken into possession by the Dutch East India Company to keep it from falling into other hands, and it was made a dependency of the Cape station. A few men were sent there to cut ebony logs, and once a year a packet took supplies to them from Table Bay and brought back a cargo of timber. Owing to the threatening attitude ot England, the directors resolved to build a strong fortress in Table Valley, as the walls of earth, which were 40 FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY, considered ample protection against Hottentots, would be a poor defence if a British force should land. The castle of Good Hope, which is still standing, was commenced in 1666, and was completed in 1674. It is now useless for military purposes, but for some time after its construction it was considered almost impregnable. The directors, who were be- ginning to realise that the French and the Enghsh might prove formidable rivals in the eastern seas, had come to regard their station in the Cape peninsula as a strategic point of great importance. " The castle of Good Hope," they wrote, " is the frontier fortress of India," and as such they provided it with a strong garrison. Commander Wagenaar's successors for some time were men of very little note, and nothing of much con- sequence occurred to disturb the quiet course of life in the settlement. All was bustle and activity when the outward or homeward bound Indian fleets were in the bay, but after their anchors were raised there was nothing to create excitement. The workmen engaged in building the castle and the garrison when it was completed increased the demand for food, so that more servants of the Company took their discharge and set up for themselves as market gardeners. Soon the best plots of land within the boundary fence were all taken up, and then the fence was disregarded and the settlement spread out to the present village of Wynberg. The proportion of men who took their discharge and succeeded in making a living on their own account was, however, always very small. It was probably not ten per cent, of the whole. The 42 FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY, others after a trial had to be taken back into the Company's service as soldiers or sailors, most of them with debts that they could never wholly clear ofif. The system was thus a very unsatisfactory one. The directors thought of improving upon it by sending out families accustomed to agriculture in the Netherlands, who would serve as models for the others ; but though they offered free passages, grants of land without payment, exemption from the tithe for twelve years, and supplies of necessaries on easy credit, very (gw people of the class required could be induced to migrate to South Africa. The Cape was too far away and too little was known of it to tempt men and women to leave a country where there was no difficulty in making a comfortable living. In 1 67 1, however, five or six families arrived, and thereafter during several years one or two came out occasionally. Twenty years after Mr. Van Riebeek landed and took possession of as much ground as he needed, without thinking of asking the consent of any one, a member of the high court of justice at Batavia on his way back to Europe called at the Cape, and being superior in rank to any one here, took command during his stay. This officer — Arnout van Overbeke by name — considered it advisable to make a formal purchase of territory from the nearest Hottentot chiefs, and these petty potentates, on being applied to, very readily gave their consent If they reasoned at all about the matter, they probably thought that the price offered was clear gain, for the white people PURCHASE OF TERRITORY. 43 would certainly take as much ground as they needed, whether sold to them or not. At any rate the principal chief of one tribe and the regents of another affixed their marks to documents that are still in existence, in which they ceded to the East India Company the whole territory from Saldanha Bay to False Bay, reserving to themselves and their people, however, the right to move freely about and make use of any part of it not occupied by Europeans. They received nominally in return goods to the value of i^ 1,600, actually — according to the accounts furnished to the directors — the articles transferred cost £g 1 2s. Qd. A few months after this transaction an outpost was formed at Hottentots- Holland, near the head of False Bay, on the eastern side of the isthmus. One of the objects in view was to raise a large quantity of wheat, fc-i" which purpose the ground at that place appeared specially suitable, but the chief design was to pro- vide a retreat for the garrison in case it should be needed. The Free Netherlands were then engaged in the most unequal struggle that modern Europe has witnessed, for Louis XIV of France, Charles II of England, and the ecclesiastical princes of Cologne and Munster were united against them. On two occasions shortly before the war broke out the admirals of French fleets had taken possession of Saldanha Bay, though without leaving any men there to guard it, and it was believed that the French king might make an effort to seize the Cape penin- sula. An attack by the English was equally probable. As events turned out, the Dutch got the better of 44 FOUNDATION OF THE CAPE COLONY. their opponents in Europe, and the Cape settlement was not molested, so that the outpost at Hottentots- Holland became simply a farming establishment where the wheat needed by the Company was grown. By this time the belt of land along the sea coast as far eastward as Mossel Bay had been thoroughly explored by parties sent out to obtain cattle. In 1658 some members of a trading expedition climbed to the top of the mountain barrier near the ravine through which the Little Berg river flows ; but the land as far as they could see appeared to be un- inhabited, so there was nothing to induce further search in that direction. Nine years later another way over the barrier was found at the place now known as Sir Lowry's pass, sixty miles south of the ravine of the Little Berg river. The Hottentot tribes termed the Hessequa, Gauriqua, Attaqua, and Oute- niqua were then successfully reached and traded with. Those previously known along the western coast were the Chainouqua, the Goringhaiqua (or Kaapmans), the Cochoqua, the Grigriqua, and the Namaqua. Bushmen had been met on several occasions, and their manner of living was pretty well known. Some of these wild people had once attempted to seize the merchandise belonging to a European trading party, when a number of them were shot down, greatly to the satisfaction of the Hessequa and other Hottentots who lived in the neighbourhood of the place where the event occurred. VI. THE SECOND HOTTENTOT WAR AND ITS CON- SEQUENCES. One of the most powerful of the Hottentot tribes near the Cape peninsula was called the Cochoqua, or by some name which the Europeans wrote in that form, for probably it had clicks in it. This tribe was composed of two great clans, the larger of which was under a chief named Gonnema. Gonnema had an evil reputation among all the other Hottentots with whom the Dutch were acquainted, for he was in the habit of swooping down upon them unawares and helping himself to their daughters and their cattle, and they were too weak to resist him. He had sold a good many oxen to the white people, but they did not like him either, for his bearing was never very friendly. They usually termed him the black captain, on account of his habit of using soot instead of clay to paint himself with. In 1673 a war broke out between Gonnema and the Europeans, the only war that has ever taken place between white people and natives in South Africa of which we have not the versions of both parties to 45 40 THE SECOND HOTTENTOT WAR, form a judgment from. The Cochoqua clan has left no story, nor is there a plea on its behalf on record. But the Dutch accounts are full of details, and it is easy from them to ascertain how Gonnema came to feel himself aggrieved. The country was teeming with game, antelopes of many kinds, elephants, rhinoceroses, and hippopotami. Hunters were sent out from the fort, and brought back waggons laden with dried meat, which was supplied to the garrison instead of beef The hippo- potamus, or sea-cow as it was called, was specially sought after, for its flesh was regarded as equal to pork, and whips made of its hide commanded a very high price everywhere. Parties of burghers were in the habit of getting leave from the government and going out hunting elands and sea-cows, sometimes being away from home three or four weeks together. It never seems to have occurred to the white people that the Hottentots might object to the destruction of scT much game, but very Hkely that was the cause of Gonnema's hostility. In 1672 he came upon some hunters at Riebeek's Kasteel, and took their waggons and other property, but allowed them to escape with their lives. In the following year he made prisoners of eight burghers and a slave who were hunting near the same place, and after detaining them some days murdered them all. At the same time one of his sub-captains surprised a little trading outpost of the Company at Saldanha Bay, plundered it, and murdered four Europeans. A mixed force of soldiers and burghers was then THE SECOND HOTTENTOT WAR, 47 sent against the Cochoqua clan, and as it was partly composed of horsemen it had the good fortune to cut off Gonnema's people from a strong position to which they tried to retreat and to seize eight hundred of their horned cattle and nine hundred sheep. The Hottentots followed the expedition when returning to the fort, but did not succeed in recovering their stock. Ten or twelve of them were shot, and on the other side one burgher was wounded. Various clans now offered their aid against Gonne- ma, and were accepted as allies by the Europeans. For several months the Cochoqua kept out of the way, but at length they were so nearly surrounded that they barely managed to escape, leaving all their cattle behind. The spoil was much greater than on the first occasion, and was divided between the Europeans and the Hottentot allies. Gonnema after this loss kept to the mountains for nearly two years, avoiding his enemies, but preventing all intercourse between them and the tribes beyond. Then he pounced suddenly upon some of the Hottentot allies of the Europeans, and with the loss of only fifteen of his own men killed a good many of them and swept off the greater part of their herds. He was pursued by all the soldiers and burghers that could be mustered, but he got safely away to his mountain fastnesses. No expedition sent against him after that time managed to surprise him, for his scouts were always on the alert. The Europeans found that they were wearying themselves to no purpose in trying to find him, so they desisted from the fruitless task. 48 THE SECOND HOTTENTOT WAR. For four years the settlement was kept practically in a condition of blockade on the land side, when Gonnema sent to ask for peace, as he was tired of living like a Bushman in the mountains. His messengers were well received, and were followed by three of his chief men, who agreed in his name to the terms proposed. They were that there should be peace and friendship between all the parties engaged in the war, and that Gonnema should pay to the Company a yearly tribute of thirty head of cattle. Presents were then exchanged, and the land was once more at rest. Perhaps it was never intended that tribute should really be paid, at any rate it was considered prudent not to refer to the subject again, and the Cochoqua clan was left untroubled about it. This was the last war with Hottentots during the rule of the Dutch East India Company in South Africa. It was a trifling affair if considered by the number of combatants or the quantity of spoil, and not a single hand to-hand engagement had taken place ; but it had very important consequences. During four years Gonnema had cut off the cattle trade, so there was no fresh beef or mutton for the crews of the fleets that called, and even the hospital could not be supplied, as the oxen and sheep that were captured and that the clans in alliance with the Europeans were able to furnish were soon exhausted. The Company was not disposed to run the risk of a second experience of this kind. The expense of the station had grown very far beyond original expectations, there was now a huge fortress to be ORIGIN OF THE CATTLE FARMERS. 49 kept up and a large garrison to be maintained in addition to victualling charges properly so called ; and such an outlay could only be justified by the perfect efficiency of the establishment. If a supply of fresh meat could not be depended upon, one of the main objects of its existence was a failure. And as trade with the Hottentots might at any time be cut off again, European cattle-breeders must be intro- duced. The great difficulty in the way was the scarcity of Europeans with the habits needed. They would be obliged to live far apart, and would be exposed to plunder by the natives and losses from the ravages of wild animals. The country was swarming with lions, leopards, hyenas, and jackals ; and with the clumsy firelocks of those days it was a risky matter to go out alone into the wilds. As a commencement the Company established several cattle posts on its own account on the eastern side of the isthmus, to which cows and ewes were sent as they could be procured in barter, and at each a corporal was stationed with a few soldiers to guard the stock. Then offers were made to the gardeners at Ronde- bosch and Wynberg to improve their prospects by turning cattle breeders. They could select land near the Company's posts, so that they would not be alto- gether without companionship, no taxes of any kind would be demanded from them till they were in a good position, and breeding cattle would be lent to them to take care of, half the increase of which would be their own. The view of the government was that if gardeners and small farmers could not be procured 5 50 EXTENSION OF THE SETTLEMENT. as emigrants from Europe, they must be trained in the old way of selection to take the place of those who should become stock-breeders. The prospect, however, did not appear very attrac- tive, for before the close of 1679 only eight burghers accepted the Company's offer, and took up their residence beyond the isthmus. At this time a very energetic man, named Simon van der Stel, arrived from Amsterdam as commander. No one could have been better qualified to carry out the new project, and he threw himself heart and soul into it. He had, however, a particular desire that only Netherlanders should settle in the country, for he believed that whatever was Dutch was good, and whatever was not Dutch was not worth bothering about But the directors in Holland were not of this opinion. They were very glad to obtain the services of competent men of all nationalities, and provided the majority of the settlers were Dutch they were quite willing to give equal privileges to others. Except in this respect Simon van der Stel was allowed to carry out the plan in his own way. He began by inducing a party of eight families to re- move from Rondebosch to a fertile and beautiful valley beyond the isthmus, where he gave them large plots of g**ound in freehold, with extensive grazing rights beyond. This settlement, which was named Stellenbosch, he intended to be the centre of a dis- trict in which all kinds of farming pursuits should be carried on, where vineyards should be planted and wine be made, where wheat should be grown and cattle be reared. When the fleets from India ARRIVAL OF HUGUENOTS. 5I put into Table Bay on their way home, the com- mander's agents ingratiated themselves with the people on board, and whenever a man likely to make a good colonist was discovered, inducements were held out to him to remain in the country. In this way the vacancies were filled up in the Cape peninsula as fast as they arose, and many new-comers could be located beside experienced men at Stellen- bosch. A few years later a settlement was formed in a similar manner at Drakenstein, in the valley of the Berg river, one of the most charming situations in South Africa. The directors were doing all that was in their power to get suitable people to migrate from the Netherlands. Among others they sent out a few young women from the orphan asylums in Amster- dam and Rotterdam, who were carefully protected and provided for until they found husbands in the colony. And now an event took place in Europe which enabled them to secure over a hundred families of the very best stamp. This was the revocation by Louis XIV of the edict of Nantes, which drove many thousands of Protestant refugees from France into Holland. Their presence in some of the pro- vinces so greatly reduced the demand for labour that industrious Dutch families were more willing to remove than they had previously been, and the Company was able to send to South Africa nearly two hundred Huguenots and about the same number of Dutch people of both sexes and all ages. Upon 52 EXTENSION OF THE SETTLEMENT. their arrival they were scattered over the country between the Groenberg, the Koeberg, and Hotten- tots-Holland, the larger number of the French being located in the valley of the Berg river. Care was taken, however, to mix them together, so that the nationalities would speedily become blended. Having now a base to fall back upon if necessary, a few stragglers began to push their way in one direction down the Berg river, and in another beyond the Koeberg. Still, at the close of the seventeenth century there was no white man living more than forty-five miles from the castle, and the whole terri- tory occupied by Europeans was within the range of mountains visible from ships at anchor in Table Bay. The colonists, with their wives and children, were then some fourteen hundred in number. The French Huguenots were about one-sixth of the whole, a rather larger proportion consisted of Germans from the borderland between the high and low Teutons, and nearly two-thirds were Dutch from the different Netherland provinces. The Germans were, almost without exception, men who were married to Dutch women. Intermarriages between the Huguenots and other colonists were common, and in another genera- tion distinctions of nationality were entirely lost. The language used in common conversation was Dutch made as simple and expressive as possible, so as to be understood by slaves with only the mental capacities of children. Grammatical rules were dis- regarded. In the pulpit and in family devotions, however, correct Dutch was used, as it is very generally to the present day. FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 53 There were three churches provided with clergy- men : in Capetown, at Stellenbosch, and at Draken- stein. At each of these places there was also a public school, in which children were taught to read the bible, to cast up simple accounts, to repeat the Heidelberg catechism, and to sing the psalms. The Dutch reformed was the state church, and no other public services were allowed, but in their own houses people might hold any kind of worship that they pleased. The head of the settlement was now termed the governor. Public matters of all kinds were regulated by a council of eight individuals, who were the highest officials in rank in the country. In this council the governor sat as president. In Capetown there was a court for the trial of petty cases, and a high court of justice, from whose decisions there was an appeal to the supreme court at Batavia. Three burghers had seats in the high court of justice whenever cases affecting colonists were tried. They were the spokes- men between the colonists and the government, and were consulted upon all matters affecting the settle- ment, but they had no votes outside the court of justice. They were called burgher councillors. At Stellenbosch there was a court which had cog- nisance of all petty cases beyond the Cape peninsula. It was presided over by an official termed a landdrost, who also collected the revenue and looked after the Company's interests generally. Eight burghers — termed heemraden — had seats and votes. This court acted further as a district council, in which capacity it saw to the repair of roads, the distribution of water. 54 FORM OF GOVERNMENT, the destruction of noxious animals, and various other matters. It raised a revenue by erecting a mill to grind corn and leasing it to the highest bidder, by- collecting a yearly tax of one shilling and fourpence for every hundred sheep or twenty head of horned cattle owned by the farmers, and by sundry other small imposts. Further, it had power to compel the inhabitants to supply waggons, cattle, slaves, and their own labour for public purposes. In Capetown there was an orphan chamber, which acted as trustee of property belonging to children when a parent died. There was also a matrimonial court, before which every person in the settlement — male and female — who wished to be married had to appear and show that there were no legal impedi- ments to the union. All these bodies — burgher councillors, petty court of justice, heemraden, orphan chamber, and matri- monial court — as also the consistories of the churches, were in a manner self-perpetuating corporations. Every year some of their members retired, but before doing so double lists of names were sent by the boards to the government, and from these lists their successors were appointed. Such a thing as popular election to any office was unknown. The system worked well on the whole, and the people were satisfied with it. The burghers were required to meet at stated periods for drill and practice in the use of arms, and all were held liable for service in case of the appearance of an enemy. They were formed into companies of cavalry and infantry, each with its FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 55 standard of a particular colour. Most of them were excellent marksmen, owing to their habits of fre- quently hunting g:ame ; but their firearms were very clumsy weapons compared with those of our day. To reduce the cost of the garrison, numbers of soldiers were permitted to engage as servants to burghers, on condition that they could be called back to their colours at any time. Capetown at the close of the century contained about eighty private houses. The great garden of the Company, which Simon van der Stel had partly converted into a nursery for European, Indian, and native plants, was regarded as something marvellous by visitors of all nations, so great a variety of vege- tation was to be seen and admired there. This governor, upon his retirement in 1699, went to live upon a beautiful estate which the Company gave him a little beyond Wynberg, where he planted the vine- yards that in later years produced the celebrated Constantia wines. He was an enthusiast in the matter of cultivating oak trees, and during the twenty years of his government many scores of thousands were planted by his orders all over the settlement. The system of taxation was as bad as could be devised, so far as effect upon the character of the people was concerned. The exclusive right to sell various articles — among others spirituous liquors — was sold by auction as a monopoly to the highest bidder. Upon anything that the government required— such as beef and mutton — a price per pound was fixed to the residents in Capetown, and a much higher price to foreigners ; the monopoly was then put up for 56 SYSTEM GF TAXATION. sale, and whoever offered to supply the Company at the lowest rate became the purchaser. Thus beef might be a penny a pound to a mechanic in Cape- town, twopence a pound to the captain of an English ship, and a halfpenny a pound to the Company's hospital. The tithe of grain and the district tax upon cattle were both paid upon returns made by the farmers themselves, so that a premium was offered for falsehood. This system was soon discovered to be vicious, but it was continued without modification until towards the close of the next century. The government exercised the right of fixing the price of anything that it needed, and prohibiting the sale of the article to any one else until its own wants were supplied. Thus, if half-a-dozen Dutch ships and two or three English Indiamen were lying at anchor in Table Bay at a time when the meal in the Com- pany's stores was exhausted, the Englishmen would certainly get no bread until the Hollanders' tables were covered. But, upon the whole, strangers were much better treated here than the Dutch were treated in foreign ports, and it was only in times of scarcity that they had cause to complain of anything except high prices. The Company was supposed to be the only whole- sale merchant in the country. From its stores in Capetown shopkeepers were supplied with imported goods, and everything that was exported in bulk passed through its hands. But in point of fact a large proportion of the trade of the country was carried on with ships' people, Dutch and foreign. From the captain of an Indiaman of any nationality SYSTEM OF TRADE. 57 down to the youngest midshipman, every one had some Httle venture of his own that he was always ready to trade with. It might be a bale of calico, or it might be a slave, for many bondsmen were brought to South Africa in this way. Even among the fore- mast hands the spirit of commerce was strong. A sailor when homeward bound was commonly accom- panied by monkeys and parrots and cockatoos and various descriptions of birds and beasts till the fore- castle was often like a menagerie, in his chest he had fancy articles from Japan, silk handkerchiefs from China, or perhaps some curiosities picked up at an Indian isle. This kind of commerce was very petty, but in the aggregate it must have amounted to some- thing considerable, for the inhabitants of Capetown during more than a hundred years lived and throve upon it Nowhere in the world, we read again and again in accounts of travellers of many nationalities, could a greater variety of goods be purchased and sold. The traffic was carried on openly, for though there was a law that goods should not be imported by foreigners, it was not applied to ventures by ships' people — English, French, or Danish — on their own account. By this time the knowledge of South African geography had very greatly increased. Simon van der Stel himself with a large party of attendants had visited the copper mountain of Little Namaqualand, and had received information from the natives there of the great river now known as the Orange. Some Dutch and English sailors, shipwrecked on the eastern coast, before they were rescued had travelled in one EXPLORATION. 59 direction to Delagoa Bay, and in the other to the Buffalo river. From them as accurate an account of the southern Bantu tribes was obtained as any we have at the present day. Parties of cattle traders had brought back information of every Hottentot tribe in existence except the Korana. But as yet no white man had set foot upon the plain of the Karoo, and consequently nothing was known of the far interior. VII. PROGRESS OF THE CAPE COLONY FROM IJOO TO 1750. In the first year of the eighteenth century the second terrace upward from the sea began to be occupied by Europeans. Wilhem Adrian van der Stel, eldest son of Simon van der Stel, was then governor. He made a tour of inspection through the settlement, and afterwards crossed the mountain range close to the ravine of the Little Berg river, for the purpose of examining the country beyond. It was the beautiful tract of land now called the Tulbagh basin which the governor and his party entered, and it seemed to them to invite human occupation. The settlement on the coast belt had been a success, but it had not been able to supply many cattle. The land was adapted for cultivation, there was a market within easy reach, and the ideas of the people favoured the plough. To this day the inhabitants of that part of the country depend upon their crops of wheat, their fruit, and their wine, and keep no more oxen and sheep than are required for their own use. 60 LIFE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 6l On the other side of the mountain range agriculture was not then possible. The Tulbagh basin is fertile ; its extensive corn lands, its vineyards, and the gar- dens and orchards round its homesteads form now a pleasant sight in the early summer ; but in those days, u^hen there w^as no other way of access to it than over a mountain that could only be crossed with the greatest difficulty, no man would think of making a living by the plough. Cattle breeding alone could be depended upon there. A small military outpost was formed in the basin to protect the settlers from the Bushmen who had their haunts in the surrounding mountains, and then several families were induced to try their fortune in the lonely vale. A few individuals were still being sent out from Europe every year, and the old system of discharging servants of the Company continued in practice, so that settlers were obtainable. But as a rule new-comers were located near the Cape penin- sula, and young people born in the country com- menced life for themselves beyond the mountain range. Gradually they spread beyond the Tulbagh basin, down the valley of the Breede river, and over the Witsenberg to the high plateau called the Warm Bokkeveld. Others crossed the range at Hottentots- Holland, and pushed their way along the banks of the Zonderend and down towards the sea at Cape Agulhas. Others again kept up the western coast belt, passed the Piketberg, and in course of time reached the mouth of the Elephant river. The life led by these pioneers of civilisation was LIFE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 6.3 rough and wild, but it had its own pecuh'ar charm. Cattle breeding was found to pay fairly well. Some- times Bushmen would drive off oxen or sheep, and a little excitement was caused by the pursuit of the marauders, but otherwise the time passed away quietly. The best of health was commonly enjoyed, and there was the most perfect freedom. The only direct tax towards the general revenue was £$ a year, which each grazier was required to pay, and for which he had a legal right to the use of six thousand acres of ground, with the privilege of moving into the Karoo for a couple of months every year to give his stock a change of pasture. During these migra- tions he and his family slept in a great tent waggon, and passed the day in the open air, usually selecting a patch of trees on the bank of a stream for a camping place. A distaste for town life, with its restraints and all the nameless annoyances to which simple people are exposed when in contact with men of sharper intellect, soon became part of the nature of a cattle breeder, and grew stronger with each succeeding generation. The children and grandchildren of Dutch gardeners, German mechanics, and Huguenot trades- men by force of circumstances reverted in habits and in thought to the condition of semi-nomads. In the language of South Africa these people were called trekboeren, that is wandering farmers. Many of them became expert elephant hunters, and travelled great distances in search of ivory. Behind them, as they moved onward, a more settled class of people occupied the country, though very thinly. These built better houses than the others, as 64 CAPE COLONY FROM 1700 TO 1750. soon as rough roads were made they combined agri- culture with cattle breeding, and generally they led more stable lives. In this manner hardly a year passed by without an expansion of the settlement. Wilhem Adrian van der Stel, who was governor when the colonists crossed the first mountain range, was a man of culture and ability, but he had an inordinate passion for making money, a fault that was common to many of the Company's servants. To get together a fortune with which to return to the Nether- lands was an object ever before the eyes of these men, and the system under which they served favoured the accomplishment of their plans. The Company paid its officers the smallest of salaries, but allowed them perquisites of various kinds. In the preceding chapter mention has been made of the trade carried on under its sanction by the people of its fleets. Its officials on shore had even greater privileges. Some of them received commissions on sales and purchases of goods, others held monopolies of lucrative duties, others again were allowed to trade in specified articles on their own account. Spices only were guarded with the most extreme jealousy, and if any one had ventured to buy or sell a pound of pepper or a dozen nutmegs except at the Company's stores, dismissal from the service would have been the lightest part of his punishment. It followed from this system that in the early days of the settlement the officials in South Africa were in general exceedingly anxious to get on to India, because there was little or nothing to be made here. Some of them had been allowed to carry on farming WILHEM ADRIAN VAN DER STEL. 65 on their own account, the landdrost of Stellenbosch had a monopoly as an auctioneer, the secretary of the council had a monopoly of making out certain legal documents, and several others had exclusive privi- leges ; but what were these petty gains, they thought, to the w^ealth that was gathered by others in the Indian isles. Wilhem Adrian van der Stel looked about for some means to fill his purse, but could devise nothing else than a farm. Of course he could not take ground for himself; but an officer of higher rank who called was obliging enough to give him a tract of land at Hottentots-Holland, to which he afterwards added by granting a plot of the adjoining ground to one of his dependents, and then purchasing it from the grantee at a nominal price. At this place he erected exten- sive buildings, planted nearly half a million vines, and laid out groves, orchards, and corn lands to a corres- ponding extent. In the open country beyond the mountain he kept from six to eight hundred breeding cattle and eight or ten thousand sheep. Of this extensive establishment the directors were kept in entire ignorance, and there is no mention whatever of it in any official document until complaints against the governor reached Holland. The burghers looked upon the big farm with very lively indignation. Their principal gains were derived from the sale of produce to foreigners, and they saw that market being practically closed to them. The governor, they believed, would manage to secure the larger part of any profitable business for himself, and whatever escaped him would fall to his father, who 6 WILHEM ADRIAN VAN DER STEL, 67 was farming at Constantia, or to his younger brother, who was farming below Stellenbosch. There have never been people less willing to sub- mit silently to grievances, real or imaginary, than the colonists of South Africa. In 1705 some of them sent a complaint of what was going on to the governor-general and council of India, but at Batavia nothing was done in the matter. Probably they did not expect redress from that quarter, for before there was time to receive a reply, a memorial to the directors was drawn up and signed by sixty-three of the best men in the settlement. In this document VVilhem Adrian van der Stel was accused of miscon- duct and corrupt practices tending to the serious loss and oppression of the colonists. Similar charges, but in a lower degree, were made against the officer next in rank to the governor and against the clergyman of Capetown. These persons also had been neglecting their public -duties, and devoting their attention to farming. With the arrival of the homeward-bound fleet at the beginning of 1706 the governor learnt of the com- plaint sent to Batavia, and immediately suspected that a similar charge would be forwarded to Holland. The danger of his position now drove him to acts of extreme folly as well as of tyranny. He caused a certificate to be drawn up, in which he was credited with the highest virtues and the utmost satisfaction was expressed with his manner of ruling the colony. The residents in the Cape peninsula were invited to the castle, and were then requested to sign this cer- tificate. The landdrost of Stellenbosch was directed 68 CAPE COLONY FROM I70O TO I750. to proceed with an armed party from house to house in the country, and get the residents there to sign it also. By these means two hundred and forty names in all were obtained, including those of a few Asiatics and free blacks. Many, however, refused to affix their signatures, even under the landdrost's threat that they would be marked men if they did not. The governor suspected that a farmer at Stellen- bosch named Adam Tas was the secretary of the dis- affected party, and the landdrost was directed to have him arrested. Early one morning his house was surrounded by an armed party, he was seized and sent to the castle, his premises were searched, and his writing-desk was carried away. There could be no truce after this between the governor and his op- ponents, for if a burgher could be treated in this manner, upon mere suspicion of having drawn up a memorial to the high authorities, no man's liberty would be safe. Bail was at once offered for the appearance of Tas before a court of justice, but was refused. He was committed to prison, where he was kept nearly fourteen months. In his desk was found the draft from which the memorial to the directors had been copied. It was unsigned, but papers attached to it indicated several of those who had taken part in the matter. Within the next few days seven of these were arrested, tw^o of whom were committed to prison, one was sent to Batavia, and four were put on board a ship bound to Amsterdam. The governor hoped to terrify them into signing the certificate in his favour and denying the truth of the charges against him, but not one of WILHEM ADRIAN VAN DER STEL. 69 them faltered for a moment. Their wives petitioned that the prisoners might be brought to trial at once before a proper court of justice, and when it was hinted that if they would induce their husbands to do what was desired, release would follow, these true- hearted women indignantly refused. In the mean- time the memorial had been committed to the care of a physician in the return fleet, and after the ships sailed he gave it to one of the burghers who were banished. The governor continued to act as if his will was above the law of the land. Further arrests of burghers were made by his direction, the properly constituted courts were abolished, and in their stead his creatures were appointed to office. The people of Stellenbosch, men and women, announced their determination to maintain their rights, upon which a body of soldiers was sent to support the landdrost. Meantime three of the burghers sent to Europe arrived at Amsterdam, the other having died on the passage, and they lost not a day before presenting the memorial to the directors and making their own complaint. In a matter of this kind it was necessary to act with promptitude as well as with justice. The Company had numerous and powerful enemies ahvays watching for a chance to attack it before the states-general, and a charge of oppression of free Netherlanders in one of its colonies would be a weapon of which they would not fail to make good use. A commission was therefore appointed to investigate the matter, and a report was presently sent in by it that the charges were very grave. In 70 CAPE COLONY FROM lyOO TO I750. consequence the governor, the officer next in rank, the clergyman of Capetown, and the landdrost of Stellenbosch were suspended from duty and ordered to return to Europe to undergo a trial. The colonists sent delegates home to maintain their charges, and the result was that the offending officials were all dismissed from the service and Wilhem Adrian van der Stel's farm was confiscated. From the documents connected with this case the views of the directors and of the colonists concerning the government of the country and the rights of its people can be gathered with great precision. The directors desired to have a large body of freemen living in comfort, loyal to the fatherland, ready and willing to assist in the defence of the colony if attacked, enjoying the same rights as their equals in Europe, and not differing much from each other in rank or position. They issued orders that no official, from the highest to the lowest, was to own or lease a tract of land larger than a garden, or to trade in any way in corn, w^ine, or cattle. The burghers were to be governed in accordance with law and justice. On their part, the colonists claimed exactly the same rights as if they w^ere still living in the Nether- lands. They expressed no wish for a change in the form of government, what they desired being merely that the control of affairs should be placed in honest hands. In their opinion they forfeited nothing by removal to South Africa, and the violence displayed by the governor towards Adam Tas and his associates was as outrageous as if it had taken place in the city FIRST OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX. 71 of Amsterdam. They asserted their undoubted right to personal liberty, to exemption from arrest unless under reasonable suspicion of crime, to admission to bail, to speedy trial before a proper court of justice, to freedom to sell to any one, burgher or foreigner, except under special circumstances when restriction was needed for the good of the community, whatever their land produced, after the tithes had been paid and the Company's needs had been supplied. And these claims, made in as explicit terms as they could be to-day by an Englishman living in a crown colony, were not challenged by the directors or even the partisans of the late governor, but were accepted by every one as unquestioned. In 1 7 10 the island of Mauritius was abandoned by the Dutch East India Company, the directors having come to the conclusion that it was not worth the cost of maintaining a large garrison, and that with a small garrison it was not secure. A few colonists who were there had the choice of removal to South Africa or to Java, and nine families elected to come to this country. A few months later the French took possession of the island, and under them it soon became a place of importance. In 17 1 3 a terrible evil came upon the country. In March of that year the small-pox made its first appearance in South Africa. It was introduced by means of some clothing belonging to ships' people who had been ill on the passage from India, but who had recovered before they reached Table Bay. This clothing was sent to be washed at the Com- pany's slave lodge, and the women who handled it >j2 CAPE COLONY FROM I7OO TO I750. were the first to be smitten. The Company had at the time about five hundred and seventy slaves of both sexes and all ages, nearly two hundred of whom were carried off within the next six months. From the slaves the disease spread to the Euro- peans and the natives. In May and June there was hardly a family in the town that had not some one sick or dead. Traffic in the streets was suspended, and even the children ceased to play their usual games in the squares and open places. At last it was impossible to obtain nurses, though slave women were being paid at the rate of four and five shillings a day. All the planks in the stores were used, and in July it became necessary to bury the dead without coffins. During that dreadful winter nearly one- fourth of the European inhabitants of the town perished, and only when the hot weather set in did the plague cease. The disease spread into the country, but there the proportion of white people that perished was not so large as in the town. It was easier to keep from contact with sick persons. Some families living in secluded places were quite shut off from the rest of the colony, and the farmers in general avoided moving about. The death rate among the free blacks was very high, but it was among the Hottentots that it reached its maximum. Whole kraals in the neigh- bourhood of the Cape peninsula disappeared with- out leaving a single representative. The unfortunate clans when attacked, believing that they were be- witched, gave way to despair, and made no effort FIRST OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX. 73 to save themselves. The beachrangers in Table Valley did not even remove the dead from their huts, but sat down and awaited their own turn without a gleam of hope. When the disease ceased there were only dejected remnants left of the old tribes of the Hessequa, Chainouqua, Goringhaiqua, Cochoqua, and Grigri- qua. Beyond them it had not spread. After this date these tribal titles are not found in official records or accounts by travellers, and the Hottentot clans that remained within a hundred miles of the castle ceased to be regarded as of any importance. They continued as before to be governed by their own chiefs without interference from the European authorities except when they committed crimes against white people or slaves, there were reserves specially set apart for their use, and they were at liberty to roam over any land not occupied by colonists ; but they were without influence or power, and their friendship was no longer courted nor their enmity feared. It does not appear that the Bushmen suffered from the small-pox, for by some chance they did not come into contact with other people while it was prevalent. In general there was war between them and the colonists. As the game was destroyed or retreated, they turned to the oxen and sheep of the graziers for sustenance, and it was then a matter of necessity to expel them from their haunts. They would not, or could not, accommodate themselves to the new order of things that was growing up around them, and therefore they were doomed to perish. But the 74 CAPE COLONY FROM 1700 TO I750. struggle was a severe one, and there were times when it almost seemed as if the wild people would be able to turn back the wave of colonisation that was spreading over the country. They managed to inflict heavy losses upon the Europeans by burning houses and driving off cattle, and occasionally a man or a woman died from the poison of their arrows ; but in the long run the combined action of the farmers and the superiority of the flintlock over the bow decided the question against them. In 1 72 1 the Company established a station at Delagoa Bay, with the object of opening up a trade along the eastern coast. This station was a de- pendency of the Cape government, just as Mauri- tius had been. But the place proved exceedingly unhealthy, and the trade in gold, ivory, copper, and slaves was very much smaller than had been antici- pated. On one occasion also the factory was sur- prised and plundered by pirates. Attempts were repeatedly made to explore the country and find the place from which a little alluvial gold was brought by occasional black visitors, but the parties sent out never succeeded in getting beyond the Lebombo mountains, as either fever attacked them or hostile natives barred the way. In every respect the station was a failure, and, therefore, after maintaining it for nearly ten years at a great sacrifice of life and money, the Company abandoned it. After the punishment inflicted upon Wilhem Adrian van der Stel and his associates, the govern- ment of the Cape Colony was conducted for nearly three-quarters of a century in a fairly honest manner, SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION, 75 and no complaint of tyranny or oppression was made by the people. The system of administration, indeed, opened a door to abuses that in the same form would not be tolerated now, and they were certainly of a grave nature. Thus a perquisite of the storekeeper was to buy at one rate of exchange of silver money and to sell at another rate, by which he gained a commission of nearly eightpence in the pound. The victualler was allowed to require a few pounds over- weight in every bag of grain that the Company purchased from a farmer, and to place the surplus to his own credit. The police magistrate, as his perquisite, kept half the fines which he inflicted for contravention of simple regulations as well as for crimes. The governor himself and the officer second in rank had as perquisites a fixed sum deducted from the purchase amount of every cask of wine brought to the Company's stores. But as this was the established order of things, the colonists submitted to it without complaint. Some- times they grumbled about bad seasons, or the destruction of their crops by locusts, or the low prices given for farm produce ; and cattle diseases of one kind or other often caused them much loss. When foreign vessels were in Table Bay, too, there was always much dissatisfaction if the Company required anything that was saleable at a large profit. There was never any distress, however, through want of the necessaries of life, nor was there any inter Terence by the government with the recognised rights of the people. Experiments in the cultivation of various plants 76 CAPE COLONY FROM 170O TO I75O. were frequently made by order of the directors, in the hope of finding something beside wheat and wine that would pay the farmers to grow and the Company to export. The oHve was tried again and again, but always without success. Tobacco, indigo, and flax were also fruitlessly experimented with. Great expec- tations were once raised by the production of eight pounds of raw silk, but that also proved a failure, as the returns were so trifling that people would have nothing to do with it. In the winter season Table Bay was unsafe, being exposed to the fury of north-west gales, and the Company had often sustained heavy losses by ship- wreck there. Thus, in a terrible gale during the night of the i6th of June 1722 seven Dutch and three English vessels were driven ashore, and six hundred and sixty men were drowned. On this occasion property valued at nearly ;^2 50,000 was destroyed. And on the 21st of May 1737 nine vessels belonging to the Company were wrecked, and two hundred and eight lives were lost. The cost price of the cargo alone which was strewn on the beach was ^160,000. These and many other disasters caused the directors to issue orders that a mole should be constructed in Table Bay, so as to form a safe harbour, and in the meantime their ships were to refresh at Simon's Bay from the 15th of May to the 15th of August, the season when gales from the north-west are common. Simon's Bay offered secure shelter during the winter season, but there was a drawback to its use in difficulty of access by land, EFFORT TO IMPROVE TABLE BAY. J J which made the supplying a ship with fresh provisions very expensive. In 1742 it was first used as a port of call. A village then sprang up on its southern shore, which received the name Simonstown. The mole in Table Bay was commenced in February 1743. As it was held to be a work of importance to the colony as well as to the Company, a tax was levied upon all the white people in the settlement. Those in the Cape peninsula were assessed at the labour of one hundred and fifty-three stout slaves for two months in the year, and those in the country at ;^293 in money or provisions. All the Company's slaves and all the waggons and cattle that could be spared from other work were employed upon the mole. A strong gang of convicts was sent from Batavia to assist in its construction. By the close of 1746 it was three hundred and fifty-one feet in length from the shore, but the work was then stopped. The convicts from Java had nearly all died from change of climate and excessive fatigue, and the burghers declared that they could not pay their quota any longen The expense was found to be beyond the means of the Company, though it was believed that if the work could be completed Table Bay would be a perfectly safe harbour. The base of the mole is still to be seen like a reef running out from the shore, and its site is called Mouille Point on that account to the present day. By this time the settlement extended so far that it was considered necessary to provide two more churches in the parts most thickly populated and a court of justice for the colonists on the frontier. In GROWTH OF THE SETTLEMENT. 79 1743 a clergyman was stationed at Roodezand, now the village of Tulbagh, and a church was established there. Two years later a clergyman and a schpol- master were appointed to Zwartland, and went to reside at the warm bath, the site of the present village of Malmesbury. In 1745 a landdrost was stationed at a place thereafter known as the village of Swellendam, and a board of heemraden was ap- pointed, just as at Stellenbosch. A dividing line was laid down between the districts of Stellenbosch and Swellendam, and also between the Cape and Stellen- bosch, but on the north and the east the boundary was declared to be " where the power of the honour- able Company ends." VIII. COURSE OF EVENTS IN THE CAPE COLONY FROM 1750 TO 1785. From 175 i to 1771 the colony was governed by Ryk Tulbagh, a man of very high moral character and considerable ability, who had risen by merit alone from the humblest position in the Company's service. Though two great troubles fell upon the country within this period, it was always regarded by the old colonists as the brightest time during Dutch rule in South Africa. The governor was firm, but just and benevolent, and was so beloved that he was commonly called Father Tulbagh. One of the troubles referred to was an outbreak of small-pox, that terrible scourge having been intro- duced at the beginning of the winter of 1755 by a homeward-bound fleet from Ceylon. At first it was supposed to be a kind of fever, but after a few days there were cases that admitted of no doubt. It assumed, however, various forms, and among some of the distant Hottentot tribes differed in appearance so much from what was held to be true small-pox that the Europeans termed it gall sickness. 80 SECOND OUTBREAK OF SMALL-POX. 8l In Capetown hardly a single adult who was attacked recovered. In July the weather was colder than usual, and during that month over eleven hundred persons perished. If that death rate had continued, before the close of the year there would have been no one left, but as soon as the warm weather set in the disease became milder. Two great hospitals were opened : one for poor Europeans, supported by church funds, the other for blacks. To the latter all slaves who were attacked were sent, the expense being borne by their owners. Those who recovered were employed as nurses. In Capetown from the beginning of May to the end of October nine hundred and sixty-three Europeans and eleven hundred and nine blacks died. In the country the white people did not suffer very severely, as they kept so secluded on their farms that for several months hardly a waggon load of produce was taken to town for sale. The government excused the muster of the burghers for drill, and even the services in the churches were not attended by people from a distance. With the Hottentot tribes that escaped on the former occasion the disease created fearful havoc. Not one was left unscathed, except the Korana along the Orange and its branches. On the coast north- ward to Walfish Bay and eastward until Bantu were reached, the tribes as such were utterly destroyed. The individuals that remained were thereafter blended together under the general name of Hot- tentots, and their old distinguishing titles became lost even among themselves. 7 82 CAPE COLONY FROM 1750 TO 1785. How far the disease extended among the Bantu cannot be stated with certainty. These people had pushed their outposts as far westward as the Keis- kama, and at least one Hottentot tribe — the Damaqua — had been incorporated by them, while another — the Gonaqua — was beginning to be assimilated. According to Tembu traditions the territory between the Kel and the Bashee was almost depopulated by the small-pox, and the clans between the Kei and the Keiskama must have suffered severely, but to what extent those beyond the Bashee were affected is not known. The other trouble was a depression in the price of agricultural produce, especially of wine, that brought the colonists to the verge of bankruptcy. The Company had been in the habit of purchasing a considerable quantity of wine for sale and consump- tion in India, where it was served out instead of spirits to the soldiers and sailors, but so many com.- plaints were made about its quality that in 1755 its use there was nearly abandoned. By some chance just at this time very few foreign ships put into Table Bay, so that the market was glutted with produce for which there was no demand. Prices fell lower than had ever been known before, and the farmers saw nothing but ruin before them. But South Africa has always been a country of sudden reversions from adversity. In this instance matters were at their worst when in December 1758 a large fleet of French men-of-war and transports with troops arrived from Mauritius, purposely to refresh and lay in a supply of provisions. At once EXPLORATION OF NAMAQUALAND. 83 the price of produce doubled or trebled, and all the surplus stock was disposed of. There was then war between Great Britain and France, and the repre- sentatives of both nations in India soon came to look upon the Cape Colony as a convenient source of supply. The officers of French packets from Mauritius and of English packets from St. Helena bid against each other in Capetown for cattle and meal and wine, so that until March 1763, when tidings of the conclusion of peace were received, the farmers enjoyed unusual prosperity. During Mr. Tulbagh's administration some pre- viously unexplored parts of the country were care- fully examined. One expedition travelled along the coast eastward to the Kei, and in returning kept as close as possible to the foot of the Amatola mountains and the Winterberg. West of the Tyumie river this party found no inhabitants except Bushmen. A botanist who was with the expedition brought back many specimens of plants then strange to Europeans, which he afterwards cultivated in the garden in Cape- town. Another exploring party made its way far into Great Namaqualand. Among its spoils was the skin of a giraffe, an animal that never roamed south of the Orange river, and consequently was unknown to the colonists. The skin was sent by Governor Tulbagh to the museum of Leiden, together with many specimens of the animals and plants of South Africa. Capetown at this time contained six or seven thousand inhabitants, rather more than half of whom were slaves. It had but one church building, but VILLAGES IN THE COLONY. 85 there were three clergymen. The houses were com- modious, though commonly but one story in height. In front of each was an elevated terrace, called a stoep, on which the inhabitants lounged in the evenings. In the principal streets were miniature canals, that served for drainage purposes, and along which were rows of trees as in the Netherlands. The town was patrolled at night by a burgher watch. The watchhouse, built while Mr. Tulbagh was governor, is still standing, and now serves as municipal offices. The village of Stellenbosch had grown to be a very pretty place, and was quite embowered with oak trees and rose hedges. It was a custom for old people to live there, so as to be near the church and to provide homes for their grandchildren attending school, while men and women in the prime of life were occupied in their vineyards or on their farms. Simonstown contained several large buildings be- longing to the Company, but had not many private residences of much importance. Most of the families, indeed, moved to Capetown for the summer, and the place was then almost deserted. Swellendam and Paarl were mere hamlets, con- sisting of large gardens, orchards, and vineyards along a single street. Both were in charming situations as far as scenery was concerned, and their beauty was increased by a row of oak trees on each side of the road. Swellendam had no clergyman, but was provided with a school, and the teacher conducted religious services. Its most prominent building was the drostdy, as the courthouse and 86 CAPE COLONY FROM I750 TO 1785. residence of the landdrost was termed. The clergy- man of the Drakenstein congregation resided at Paarl, and the church building was there. The hamlet had a school, but no courthouse, as it was within the magistracy of Stellenbosch. While Mr. Tulbagh was governor the colonists spread out eastward to the Little Fish river and northward to the head waters of many of the streams that flow into the Orange. They did not indeed occupy one-tenth of all the land embraced within these limits, but they took possession of the choicest spots for grazing cattle, and went beyond extensive tracts that were less suited to their needs. Governor Tulbagh died in 1 771. His successor, Mr. Joachim van Plettenberg, was a man of very different character. He was not devoted to money making like Wilhem Adrian van der Stel, but he allowed his subordinates to do what they pleased, and many of them were not ashamed to resort to nefarious practices to increase their possessions. In consequence the residents in Capetown and the burghers who lived by agriculture were soon in a state of unrest. The graziers, who seldom came in contact with an official, were much less subject to oppressive treatment, and in general did not concern themselves much with what went on at the seat of government. In 1778 the governor made a tour through the colony. On the Zeekoe river, near the present village of Colesberg, he set up a beacon to mark the extent of his journey and the north-eastern limit of the colony. When returning to Capetown by another TOUR OF GOVERNOR VAN PLETTENBERG. 87 route, he inspected the bay which still bears his name, and caused another beacon to be erected there. At Willem Prinsloo's farm on the Little Fish river, the site of the present village of Somerset East, the governor stayed several days. There the frontier graziers and hunters assembled to meet him and make him acquainted with their condition and wants. Their principal requests were very commendable, for what they desired most earnestly was that a magis- trate and a clergyman might be stationed with them. The governor forwarded a report of this interview to the directors, with a recommendation that the desires of the frontiersmen should be complied with. The result was that in 1786 a landdrost — as head of a new district — was stationed at a place which received the name Graaff-Reinet, and soon afterwards a clerg}^man went to reside there. From Prinsloo's farm Governor Van Plettenberg sent messengers to invite the nearest Bantu chiefs to visit him. The Bantu tribe farthest in advance was the Kosa, and some of its clans were then living on the Tyumie and Kat rivers, while nearer the sea the remnant of the Gonaqua tribe of Hottentots, whose territory was between the Fish river and the Keis- kama, had by mixture of blood become practically incorporated with it. Several of the chiefs accepted the governor's invitation, and a friendly conference took place, at which it was arranged that the lower course of the Fish river should be a dividing line between the Bantu and the Europeans. In Novem- ber 1780 this agreement was formally sanctioned by the council, and thereafter for many years the lower 88 CAPE COLONY FROM 1750 TO 1785. Fish river was regarded as the eastern boundary of the colony. On the northern border the struggle between the colonists and the Bushmen was incessant. The wild people had been obliged to retire before the ad- vancing wave of colonisation, and they seemed now to be massed in the mountains bordering the great plain south of the Orange river, while the graziers were scattered over the choicest pastures along the same range. Horned cattle, sheep, and goats were driven off in hundreds together, the herdsmen were murdered, and from several places the Europeans were obliged to retire. In May 1774 a commandant was appointed for the northern border, and a plan was made to eject the Bushmen from their strong- holds and restore the farmers to the places from which they had been driven. At the beginning of summer a combined force of burghers, half-breeds, and Hottentots, in three divi- sions acting in concert, took the field. The country for more than three hundred miles along the great mountain range was scoured, and all the Bushmen found who would not surrender were shot. Accord- . ing to the reports furnished to the government, five hundred and three were killed and two hundred and thirty-nine taken prisoners. Some of these were afterwards released, and others were bound to the farmers for a term of years. It was hoped that this punishment would deter the Bushmen from thieving, but it had no such effect They became even more troublesome than before, and it was with difficulty that the graziers held their own. FIRST KAFFIR WAR, 89 Another enemy also had now to be reckoned with, for the extension of the settlement had brought the Europeans face to face with the Kosas, a people who might be called civilised when compared with Bush- men, but who were almost as expert stock-lifters. The arrangement made by Governor Van Plettenberg and the chiefs who met him at Prinsloo's farm was not observed for a single year. In 1779 several Kosa clans crossed the Fish river and spread themselves over the present districts of Albany and Bathurst. They said they did not want to quarrel with the Europeans, and to prove the truth of their assertions they murdered a number of Hottentots and took their catt.le, without molesting the colonists. But shortly they began to drive off the herds of the white people also, and in September 1779 the far- mers of the invaded districts, together with those along the right bank of the Bushman's river, were obliged to withdraw to a place of safety. Two commandos took the field against the intru- ders. The Kosas were attacked and defeated on several occasions, but they were not entirely driven to their own side of the Fish river. In the winter those who were supposed to have been subdued crossed again into the colony, together with many others, and it became evident that a grand effort must be made to expel them. The government then appointed a farmer named Adrian van Jaarsveld commandant of the eastern frontier. He gave the Kosas notice that they must retire at once, or he would shoot them. One of the clans thought it prudent to remove, and was therefore 90 CAPE COLONY FROM 1750 TO I785. not molested, but the others remained where they were. The commandant thereupon collected all the European and Hottentot families of the frontier in a couple of lagers formed by drawing up waggons in a circle and filling the spaces between the wheels with thorn trees. Leaving a few men to defend these camps, with ninety-two burghers and forty Hottentots, all mounted and well armed, he fell upon the Kosas and smote them hip and thigh. He was in the field less than two months, and when he dis- banded his force there was not a Kosa west of the Fish river, and the first Kaffir war was over. While the colony was in a state of disaffection and confusion, owing to misgovernment and strife with barbarians, tidings were received — March 1781 — that Great Britain had declared war against the Nether- lands, and that the republic was in alliance with France. The East India Company at this time was declining in prosperity, and was unable to maintain a large garrison in this country, where its yearly outlay was greater by about ;^25,ooo than its income. Practically, therefore, Capetown was almost defence- less, and Great Britain had cast a covetous eye upon it as a half-way station to the great empire she was building up in Hindostan. As soon as war was proclaimed, an Lnglish fleet with a strong body of troops was despatched under Commodore George Johnstone to seize the colony, but the object of the expedition was made known to the French government by a spy, and a squadron was hastily fitted out to thwart it. Pierre Andr6 de ARRIVAL OF FRENCH TROOPS. QI Suffren, in later years vice-admiral of France, was in command of the French ships. Commodore Johnstone put into Porto Praya to take in a supply of fresh water, and anchored without any arrangements for defence, as he believed his destination was unknown to every one except the British government and himself. One of Suffren's ships was also in want of water, so he too steered for Porto Praya, and not expecting to find the Enghsh fleet there, made no preparations for action. Upon rounding a point of land he caught sight of his opponent, and in his ardour pressed on with only half his ships to secure the advantage of surprise. A sharp action followed, which ended by the French being beaten off, but some of the English ships were badly damaged. Suffren now pressed on under all the sail his vessels could carry, and upon his arrival at the Cape landed a strong body of French troops, who speedily made the peninsula secure against attack. As soon as his fleet was refitted Johnstone followed, but learning the condition of things from the crew of a prize, he made no attempt upon the colony. He inflicted great damage upon the East India Com- pany, however, by seizing several richly-laden India- men that were waiting in Saldanha Bay for men-of- war to escort them homeward. To the great losses sustained during this war the bankruptcy of the Company has usually been attri- buted, but it may be doubted whether the corruption of its officials in the Indian islands had not as much to do with its downfall. As far as South African 92 CAPE COLONY FROM 1750 TO 1785. history is concerned, the cause is immaterial, the fact remains that the government of the Cape Colony now found itself unable to meet the calls upon it. It tried to borrow money on interest, but did not succeed in getting as much as it needed, and it then issued paper notes without any security excepting a promise to pay when possible, at the same time declaring these notes a legal tender for payment of debts. Some of them were redeemed a few years later, but others were afterwards issued, and then gold and silver disappeared from circulation and unsecured paper took their place. The disaffection of the colonists in the vicinity of Capetown towards the government of Mr. Van Plettenberg was openly and fearlessly shown. In 1779 they sent four delegates to Holland to represent their grievances and endeavour to obtain redress. And now for the first time the burghers asked to be represented in the government, for they had been told by travellers of the events that had taken place on the other side of the Atlantic, and had begun to apply to themselves the political doctrines which the young republic was teaching. They asked also for free trade with the mother country and its eastern dependencies, and liberty to sell their produce to foreigners without a license from the fiscal, as the chief law officer of the colony was termed. The practice of requiring a license had grown from a simple quarantine regulation to a source of great oppression, as the fiscal would do nothing unless he was heavily bribed. Many of the officials were openly keeping shops, and the burghers asked that this COMPLAINTS OF THE COLONISTS. 93 should be prohibited. Besides these they had several other grievances, most of which, however, can be summed up that they desired closer connection with Holland and less dependence upon Batavia. But matters in the Netherlands were not as they had been in the time of Wilhem Adrian van der Stel. Then the East India Company was prosperous, and had many enemies always attacking it and bring- ing its transactions to light, so that there was a guarantee for the good government of its possessions. Now the Company was tottering to its fall, and men of all shades of opinion were doing their utmost to prop it up, as its crash might ruin the state. The directors, therefore, did not enter with alacrity into the unpleasant matter brought before them, though they appointed a committee to investigate the com- plaints. This committee sent copies of all the docu- ments received from the delegates to the officials in the colony to report upon, and awaited the replies without doing anything further. The officials natu- rally tried to put their case in as good a light as possible, and the war gave them ample time for con- sideration. Thus four full years elapsed before the committee sent in a report, and then it was to the effect that the charges had not been proved. Almost the only relief recommended was that the high court of justice should consist of an equal number of officials and of burghers. The directors adopted this report, and thus the efforts of the burghers to obtain redress were so far a failure. At this time the colonists were thriving, and it was 94 CAPE COLONY FROM I750 TO I785. supposed by the directors that they would not make much effort to disturb an order of things in which money was easily made. There had never before been such a demand for produce as that created by the large garrison and the French forces in the East. The Company's needs were very small during the war and for some time afterwards, so that Httle was taken at low prices. Many new trading houses had been opened by burghers. In Capetown there was a display of prosperity which astonished strangers. European and Indian wares in the greatest variety were introduced in large quantities by Danish ships, and though the prices asked were very high, they commanded a ready sale. But the burghers of South Africa, though relishing keenly the pleasure of making money, have at every period of their history shown a firmer attachment to what they hold to be their political rights and liber- ties. If at times a few men have been found to waver between money and freedom from misrule, the women have never hesitated to reject wealth at the price of submission to wrong. On this occasion neither men nor women were disposed .to let the question rest. The government resorted to various petty acts of tyranny, but the party opposed to it grew in strength, and resolved now to appeal to the states- general. The delegates were still in Holland, so documents were sent to them from the colony to be laid before the supreme authority of the republic. But as the directors now announced that they intended to replace the principal officials with other men, and to AGITATION IN THE COLONY. 95 make a few small changes in the system of govern- ment and of carrying on trade, the states general declined to take up the cause of the burghers until the effect could be seen. The colonists sent home other delegates to push their case, but these quarrelled with each other, and could therefore effect nothing. The agitation in South Africa did not cease, however, until the rule of the East India Company came to an end. IX. THE END OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY S RULE IN SOUTH AFRICA. Though the condition of the East India Company was that of hopeless insolvency, as was afterwards seen, the directors managed to obtain large sums of money on loan, and among other expensive projects they resolved to fortify the Cape peninsula so that it should not again tempt an invader. With the consent of the states-general they sent out as governor an engineer officer named Cornells Jacob van de Graaff, in order that he might direct the work, and they stationed here a large body of mercenary troops, chiefly German and Swiss regiments in their pay. Colonel Van de Graaff took as little trouble to restrain the officials from acting unjustly as his pre- decessor had taken, and the new men were soon as corrupt as the old. They all knew that the end^ of the Company was at hand. Most of them were trying to make as much money as they could before the final crash, no matter by what means, and the governor, though free of that vice, had no scruple in 96 RECKLESS EXPENDITURE. 97 squandering the property entrusted to his care. No one at the Cape had ever before Hved in such style. The horses, carriages, and servants at his town and country houses would have sufficed for the governor- general of India. There was reckless waste in every- thing that he took in hand. The public expenditure was made to exceed the revenue by nearly ;^92,ooo a year, and though much of this was expended on military works, more was utterly thrown away. In 1790 the money borrowed by the Company was exhausted, and as it was impossible to raise another loan, an immediate and great reduction of expendi- ture was unavoidable. The spendthrift governor was recalled, military works of every kind were stopped, and nearly the whole of the troops were sent to India. The states-general now appointed a commission to examine the Company's affairs and report upon them, with the result that a supreme effort was made to prevent a collapse. Two men of ability — Messrs. Nederburgh and Frykenius — were sent to South Africa and India with power to reform abuses, increase revenue, and reduce expenditure. In June 1792 they arrived at the Cape and assumed control of affairs. By increasing some of the old taxes and imposing new ones, the commissioners raised the revenue to rather over ^^30,000 a year. The white people in South Africa of all ages at this time were about fifteen thousand in number, so that on an average each paid £2 a year to the government. With this increase of revenue, and by reducing expenses in every way that 8 98 END OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE. seemed possible, the balance of loss to the Company was brought down to ^,'27,000 a year. Distress, consequent upon the reduction of the garrison and an almost total cessation of trade, was now general. Professedly to relieve it, and at the same time to increase the revenue, the commissioners established a loan bank in connection with the government. Paper was stamped to represent different sums, amounting in all to ;^i 35,000, was declared a legal tender, and was issued through the bank to applicants at six per cent, interest on good security. By this means relief from pressure of debt was obtained by many landowners ; but the effect of adding such an amount to the cartoon money already in circulation, with no gold to redeem it, was highly disastrous. The commissioners redressed a few of the grievances of which the burghers complained, but they made no change in the form of government. They fixed the price at which the Company could demand as much wheat as it needed at about five shillings the hundred pounds, and gave the colonists permission to export the surplus to India or the Netherlands, provided it was sent in Dutch ships. They also threw open the trade in slaves with Mada- gascar and the east coast of Africa. At the same time they forbade the landing of any goods whatever from foreign vessels. Trade with strangers was restricted to the sale of provisions for money, un- less special permission was first obtained from the government. Against this order the residents in Capetown pro- SECOND KAFFIR WAR. 99 tested in the strongest language. "We live from God and the foreigners," they said, " and if the trade is stopped we must perish." The commissioners declined to cancel the regulation, but they were at length induced to suspend it for three years, which, as events turned out, amounted to the same thing. The graziers on the eastern frontier were in as great trouble as the residents of Capetown. A powerful Kosa chief had recently died, leaving as his heir a boy of tender years, named Gaika. The coun- cillors of the tribe selected Ndlambe, an uncle of the lad, as regent, but some of the clans refused to sub- mit to him, and in March 1789 they suddenl}^ crossed the Fish river into the colony. The farmers fled before them, but were unable to save the whole of their cattle. The landdrost of Graaff-Reinet then called the burghers of the district to arms, and sent an express to Capetown with a request that the government would assist him with a hundred soldiers. The government decided that war with the Kosas must be avoided at any cost. A commission was appointed to induce them to make peace, and was plainly instructed to purchase their good will. In the meantime the burghers had taken the field, when the Kosa clans, without waiting to be attacked, fell back to the Fish river. They were lying on the western bank, and the burghers were approaching, when the instructions of the government were received by the landdrost. The commando was at once discharged. Not a shot had been fired, nor a single head of cattle recovered, so the burghers were 100 END OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE. indignant and almost mutinuous when they were required to disband. The commission then sought an interview with the Kosa chiefs, and tried by means of large presents and smooth words to induce them to retire to their own country ; but as this did not succeed, an arrangement was made that they might occupy the land between the Fish river and the Kowie during good behaviour. Of course they attributed such a concession to the weakness of the white people, and in a short time they sent out parties to steal cattle far and wide. This condition of things lasted four years, until May 1793, when a reprisal was made upon a kraal by a party of farmers. The clans in the colony were then joined by many of their tribe beyond the Fish river, all eager for plunder, and in a very short time they spread over the whole of the coast lands as far as the Zwartkops river, burning the houses, driving off the cattle, and murdering all the farmers that fell in their way. There were fully six thousand warriors west of the Fish river, and over sixty-five thousand head of cattle, taken from colonists, had been driven across that stream. The government therefore had no option, but was obliged to call out the burghers of Swellendam, and attempt to drive the intruders back and recover the booty. The control of operations, however, was entrusted to a man who professed to believe in the guilelessness of children of nature and who had more sympathy with the Kosas than with the Europeans, so that the campaign ended in utter failure. The commandant then managed to CHURCHES IN THE COLONY. 101 » get the chiefs to promise that they would live in peace with the white people, and upon this the government declared the second Kaffir war at an end. The burghers were naturally dissatisfied, but the government took no notice of their request that some one in whom they could have confidence should be placed in command, and the war be prosecuted until the intruders were expelled from the colony. They were obliged to disperse, and they did so in a spirit which needed very little provocation to induce a revolt against the East India Company. The Dutch reformed still continued to be the state church, but it was not now the only one in the colony. In 1780 the Lutherans were permitted to have a clergyman in Capetown, and in 1792 the Moravians founded the mission station Genadendal for the benefit of the Hottentots. This society had sent an evangelist to South Africa many years before, and he had met with nothing but kindness until he baptized some converts, when the government inter- fered, as in its opinion religious strife would follow the creation of a rival church. Now, however, more liberal views were entertained, and the Moravian clergymen met with hearty encouragement A great change was taking place in the Dutcn reformed church itself, by the introduction of the teaching usually termed evangelical. The reverend Helperus Ritzema van Lier, a correspondent of the reverend John Newton, of Olney, and who was imbued with the same spirit as that celebrated clergyman, created almost a revolution in Capetown. 102 END OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE. For the cold formal services of two or three hours' length, which constituted the principal duty of the earlier ministers, he substituted shorter sermons and prayers, more visitation of parishioners, frequent meetings for religious purposes, and incitement to acts of benevolence and charity. At this date mission work among the heathen was commenced by CHURCH OF LAST CENTURY IN CAPETOWN. {From a Sketch by G. Thonipsoji) the colonial church, and it has ever since gone on increasing in volume. At this time also the philan- thropic labours of a band of ladies in Capetown began, which resulted a {(i\Y 3-ears later in the establishment of an orphan asylum, a mission chapel and school, and a fund from which to the present AFFAIRS IN EUROPE. lOJ day aged women in poor circumstances draw weekly allowances. The reverend Mr. Vos, ot Tulbagh belonged to the same school of thought as Mr. Van Lier, and his congregation set an example in mission work, which was shortly followed by others in the country. Western Europe was now in the throes of the mightiest convulsion of modern times. France had become a republic. The people of the Netherlands were divided into two parties, one of which was in sympathy with the French, while the other favoured a stadtholderate with very large powers and the con- tinuance of the alliance with England which had existed since 1788. The first was termed the patriot, the second the Orange party. An appeal to arms was unavoidable, and on the ist of February 1793 a declaration of war with Great Britain and the stadt- holder's government was issued at Paris. Upon tidings of the outbreak of hostilities reaching South Africa, the commissioners formed all the clerks and junior officers in the civil service into a military company, which they termed the pennist corps, and they raised a company of half-breeds and Hottentots, put them in uniform, and set them to learn to be soldiers. This corps was termed the pandours. No other means could be devised of strengthening the colony. Messrs. Nederburgh and Frykenins then appointed an old Indian official, named Abraham Josias Sluysken, head ot the Cape government, and as soon as he took over the duty they proceeded to Java. During 1794 the complaints ot the burghers of 104 E^D OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE. Graaff-Reinet were unceasing with regard to the paper money, the stagnation of trade, the new taxes, and, above all, the arrangement with the Kosas which the authorities termed peace. The landdrost took no notice of their statements, so they requested the government to recall him, but Mr. Sluysken would not even listen to them. By this treatment their patience was at length exhausted. In February 1795 they expelled the landdrost, and set up a republic of their own. No more absurd form of government than that which they established has ever existed, but it served their purpose. Adrian van Jaarsveld was appointed military commander of the new state. The burghers declared that they were not in rebellion against the Netherlands, but that they would be governed by the East India Company no longer. Mr. Sluysken had no force to send against them, so they had everything their own way. In June the people of Swellendam followed the example of those of Graaff-Reinet. They too expelled their landdrost, declared themselves a free republic, and elected a governing body which they termed a national assembly. In Stellenbosch and in Capetown there were many persons who sympathised with these movements, though they themselves did not proceed to the length of open rebellion. It is highly im- probable that the puny states thus called into existence could have held their own for any length of time, as their commerce could easily be cut off; but, on the other hand, the East India Company could not establish its authority over the distant colonists ARRIVAL OF A BRITISH FORCE. I05 again. The country was really in a state of anarchy. The troops in the Cape peninsula consisted of six hundred and twenty-eight infantry, four hundred and thirty engineers, and two hundred and ten pandours. The head of the whole force was Colonel Robert Jacob Gordon. The infantry regiment was termed the national battalion, though it was composed of men of various countries. It was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel De Lille. While matters in South Africa were in this condition the French were meeting with astonishing success in Europe. The winter of 1794-5 was so severe that towards the end of January the rivers were frozen hard, and their armies crossed into Utrecht and Gelderland, compelling the English forces to retire to Germany. The patriot party in the Netherlands gave them an enthusiastic welcome. The government was changed in form, the stadtholder made his escape to England in a fishing boat, and the Batavian Republic, as the country was now named, entered into close alliance with France. The British government immediately fitted out an expedition to seize the Cape Colony, and in hope of facilitating the conquest a mandate was obtained from the fugitive stadtholder requiring the authorities in Capetown to admit English troops into the castle and forts. In June 1795 the expedition arrived in Simon's Bay. Admiral Elphinstone and Major-General Craig, who were in command respectively of the sea and land forces, presented the mandate to Mr. Sluysken and the FRUITLESS NEGOTIATIONS. IO7 council, who were in entire ignorance of recent events in Europe. With hardly an exception the officials in South Africa sympathised with the Orange party, but they could not in decency openly obey an order issued in a foreign country by a fugitive prince. They therefore made many protestations of their duty to their country and of their determination to resist an invading force to the utmost, but their actions did not correspond with their words. There was but one way in which they could oppose the British forces with any hope of success, and that was by repudiating the East India Company and declaring for the patriot faction. The colonists, almost to a man, favoured that faction, as did the engineer corps and the few Dutch soldiers in the national battalion. The toreign soldiers in that battalion were disaftected, owing to being paid in paper money, and would not fight under any circumstances. But, with the engineers, from five to six hundred trained men were available, and at least two thousand burghers would have responded to an appeal to aid the patriot cause. Rather than this, however, Sluysken, Gordon, and De Lille were willing to let the English get possession of the country. A long correspondence with the British officers followed, but it ended in nothing. Eighteen days after the arriv^al oi the fleet in Simon's Bay the Dutch abandoned Simonstown, and concentrated their force at Muizenburg, a very strong natural position on the road to Capetown. A fortnight later eight hundred English soldiers were landed, and were quartered in deserted buildings. I08 END OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE, On the 7th of August General Craig, at the head of sixteen hundred men, marched from Simonstown to attack the Dutch camp at Muizenburg. That position could easily have been made impregnable, but little or nothing had been done to strengthen it. De Lille, who was in command, did not even attempt to defend it, but fell back towards Capetown as the English approached. He would not resist the friends of the prince of Orange, and indeed, shortly afterwards entered the English service. Some artillerymen, under Lieutenant Marnitz and some burghers made a brief stand, but being abandoned by their commander and the national battalion, they were driven from the post. Besides securing the only obstacle to an advance upon Capetown, General Craig thus got possession of the greater part of the Dutch military stores and of a quantity of provisions, w^hich he much needed. Two days later three hundred and fifty soldiers arrived from St. Helena to strengthen the force under his command. Up to this time the burghers believed that the government was in earnest in opposing the English, and though they had little confidence in the military leaders and none at all in the national battalion, nearly fifteen hundred of them assembled in arms and were eager to defend the country. Even Swellendam sent a contingent, for the people there knew very well that if the English were masters of Capetown their republic would not last long. But now a belief began to spread that they were being betrayed, and in consequence every day some of those in arms left their colours and returned home. FEEBLE DEFENCE OF THE COLONY. I09 On the 4th of September a fleet of English ships entered Simon's Bay with three thousand soldiers on board, under command of General Sir Alured Clarke. Some of them were destined for India, but as matters stood, they were all landed and sent on to Muizenburg. On the 14th two columns were formed, together between four and five thousand strong, and marched towards Capetown, sixteen miles distant by the road to be followed. The Dutch forces, military and burgher, under Captain Van Baalen, were stationed at Wynberg, half way between Muizenburg and Capetown. Some burgher cavalry tried to harass the English troops on the march, and succeeded in killing one man and wounding seventeen, but the force to which they were opposed was too strong to be checked by any efforts that they could make. Van Baalen drew up his troops as if he meant to stand firm, but as soon as the English were within range of his guns he retreated with the greater part of the national battalion. The burghers cried out that they were being betrayed and sold. It was a scene of confusion. One company of infantry and most of the engineers made a stand for a few minutes, and then fled towards Capetown, abandoning the camp with everything in it. The burghers, strongly impressed with the idea that Mr. Sluysken and Colonel Gordon, as well as the officers of the national battalion, were traitors at heart, and considering that if they fell back to Capetown they would be in a trap and must become prisoners of war, dispersed and returned to their homes. no END OF EAST INDIA COMPANY'S RULE. The council then sent a messenger to the British officers, requesting a suspension of arms in order to arrange conditions of surrender, and at midnight General Clarke consented to an armistice for twenty- four hours. Next morning General Craig met the Dutch commissioners — Messrs. Van Ryneveld and Le Sueur — at Rondebosch, and after some discussion articles of capitulation were agreed to. These provided for the surrender of the Dutch troops, but the officers were to be at liberty either to remain in Capetown or to return to Europe, upon giving their word of honour not to serve against England while the war lasted. The colonists were to retain all their rights, including the existing form of religion. No new taxes were to be levied, but the old imposts were to be reduced as much as possible. Everything belonging to the East India Company was to be handed over to the English officers, but all other property was to be respected. The lands and buildings belonging to the East India Company were to be con- sidered as security for the paper money in circulation. At three o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, the i6th of September 1795, fourteen hundred British soldiers under General Craig arrived at the castle and drew up on the open ground in front. The Dutch troops marched out with colours flying and drums beating, passed by the English, and laid down their arms, surrendering as prisoners of war. In the evening General Clarke arrived with two thousand infantry and a train of artillery. Thus ended the rule of the Dutch East India Company in South Africa, after an occupation of a REVIEW OF THE COMPANY'S RULE. Ill little over a hundred and forty-three years. The Company itself had ceased to exist before the symbol of its authority disappeared from the castle of Good Hope. Its administration until a quarter of a century before its fall, though by no means admirable, was as just and honest as that of any English foreign possession at the same time, because it had powerful opponents who kept a vigilant eye upon its proceed- ings ; but when that wholesome restraint was removed, its rule became corrupt and ruinous. Yet none of its acts even then were so unjust as prejudice has made them appear. Thus one English writer of eminence — Sir John Barrow — represented a regulation con- cerning the apprenticeship of children of slaves and Hottentot women living on farms as if it applied to the whole Hottentot race, and succeeding compilers copied his statement without question or doubt. Worse still, two English commissioners of inquiry, without taking the trouble to investigate the matter, reported upon a law concerning degraded Hottentot women and vagrants in Capetown as if the Hottentots everywhere had been made subject to its provisions ; and their report has been quoted again and again as proof of the merciless misgovernment of the East India Company. Now that its records are open to inspection, such charges are known to be incorrect. It governed South Africa with a view to its own interests, its method of paying its officials was bad, its system of taxation was worse, in the decline of its prosperity it tolerated many gross abuses ; but it cannot in fairness be accused of overbearing tyranny or cruelty towards either Europeans or Hottentots. X. THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. The surrender of the Cape Colony to the British forces brought together two branches of the same race, for conquerors and conquered were of one stock. Of all the nations of Europe the inhabitants of the northern Netherlands are the closest in blood to the people of England and Scotland. During the cen- turies that they had been separated, however, their training had been different, so that many slight vari- ations had arisen. Though in the most important features their characters were the same, each regarded the variations in the other as blemishes, and often made more of them than was fair or honest. If this can be said of Englishmen and Dutchmen in Europe, it can be asserted more strongly of Englishmen and Dutchmen w^hen they first came in contact in South Africa, for in this country circumstances had tended greatly to develop a few^ traits. The system of taxation had been pernicious in its effects upon the character of the people. There were exceptions, but in general the farmers had come to regard very lightly the giving in the number of their CHARACTER OF THE COLONISTS. II3 cattle and the produce of their lands at less than a third of the true quantity. A man, whose word under other circumstances might be depended upon, in this matter would utter deliberate falsehoods without any twinges of conscience, and even thought he was justified in doing so because the returns he was supplying were for taxation purposes. This trait in the character of the burghers was at once detected by the Englishmen with whom they came in contact, and made a very bad impression. On the other hand, the habit of most Englishmen of that time of distorting accounts of national events made an equally bad impression upon the South African burghers, and thus each regarded the other as untruthful. The system of perquisites by which the East India Company's officials were paid had caused another ugly trait to be unduly developed in the character of many of the colonists. Accustomed to be mulcted of petty amounts in every transaction, they had come to consider it rather a proof of clever- ness than an immoral act to get the better of those with whom they were bargaining. It was regarded as nothing more than fair retaliation to cheat the government and its officers whenever and by what- ever means it could be done. The tendency to dis- honest and deceitful practices was made much of by unfriendly critics, though it was far from general, and at its worst was not greater than that of traders else- where who sell a bad article at the price of a good one. The burghers were charged with being very igno- 9 CHARACTER OF THE COLONISTS, II5 rant Excepting those in Capetown, they had hardly any education from books, and knew nothing more than how to read, write, and compute a Httle. All had bibles, the psalms in metre, and the Heidelberg catechism ; but few possessed any books on secular subjects. Yet no people on earth were less stupid. They filled the offices of elders and deacons in the churches, of heemraden in the courts of law, of commandants and fieldcornets in war, with as much ability as educated people in Europe could have shown. The colonists at a distance from Capetown were described as living in a very rough style. Their houses were small, poorly furnished, and untidy, said English visitors. It was true that the frontier farmers did not build large houses, for they were constantly liable to be plundered and driven away by savages. As soon as a district became tolerably safe, however, comfortable dwellings were put up by all who had means. The untidiness complained of was the result of the employment of coloured servants. The ancestors of the colonists brought to South Africa the cleanly and orderly habits of the people of the Netherlands ; but in many instances families had been unable to sustain the effort of compelling their servants to be neat and clean, and had fallen into the way of letting things take their course. But this was not peculiar to the Cape Colony : it was the case wherever coloured people were employed as domestics. Mrs. Stowe's picture of Aunt Dinah's kitchen is just as faithful with the scene laid in Louisiana as if it had been laid in South Africa. Il6 THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. The other faults attributed to the colonists were those of country people all the world over. They were inclined to bigotry in religious matters, were very plain in their language, and loved to impose marvellous tales upon credulous listeners. They were accused of indolence by some English visitors, but that was not a charge that could fairly be made. The man who managed either a grain or wine or cattle farm so as to make it pay had sufficient occupation without doing much manual labour. On their side, the colonists found just as great faults in the English character. They pictured Englishmen as arrogant above all other mortals, as insatiable in the pursuit of wealth, as regardless of the rights of others, and as viewing everything with an eye jaundiced by national prejudice. And yet, with all these harsh opinions of each other, there was really so little difference between English people and South Africans that as soon as they came together matrimonial connections began to be formed. The attractions of blood were stronger after all than prejudices born of strife and want of knowledge. In the blemishes of the colonial character that have been described, there was nothing that education of a healthy kind would not rectify, and against them could be set several virtues possessed in a very high degree. The colonists were an eminently self-reliant people, and seldom lost heart under difficulties. In tenacity of purpose they were without equals. Their hospitality was admitted even by those who were determined to see in them nothing else that was FIRST DAYS OF BRITISH RULE. II7 praiseworthy, and their benevolence towards persons in distress was very highly developed. There was no part of the world where a well-behaved and trust- worthy stranger more readily met with assistance and genuine friendship. Though the British troops were in possession of Capetown, the people of the country districts were not disposed to acknowledge the new authorities. The greater number of the farmers retired to their homes, declaring that they did not consider them- selves bound by the acts of the late government. Under these circumstances every possible effort to soothe the colonists was made by the English com- manders. The people of Capetown were treated in such a manner as to dispel their anxiet}% and they were assured that they would presently be in the enjoyment of such liberty and good fortune as they had never known before. Many of the old servants of the East India Company, who were willing to take an oath to be faithful to the king of England as long as he should hold the colony, were retained in employment, and most of the clerks in the different offices were allowed to keep their situations. The paper money in circulation amounted to rather more than a quarter of a million pounds sterling, and was a source of much anxiety to its holders. The British commanders announced that it would be received at the public offices at its full nominal value. They also abolished a very obnoxious tax on auction accounts, and substituted for the old burgher coun- cillors a popular board termed the burgher senate. Two days after the capitulation they sent a document Il8 THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. over the country, in which a promise was made that every one mJght buy from whom he would, sell to whom he would, employ whom he would, and come and go whenever or wherever he chose, by land or by water. The farmers were invited to send their cattle and produce to Capetown, where they could sell whatever they wished in the manner most profitable for themselves, and the English would pay for any- thing purchased in hard coin. They were also invited to send persons to confer with the British commanders, if there was any matter upon which they wished for explanation. These measures had the desired effect in the Cape and Stellenbosch districts, and no opposition was made there to the new authorities. In Swellendam also, after a short time, the people decided to abolish the republic, and to submit to the English. An attempt to hold out was, however, made by the burghers of Graaff- Reinet, acting chiefly under guidance of a man named Jan Pieter Woyer. Sup- plies of ammunition and goods of every kind were therefore cut off from them, with the result that before the close of 1796 they too were obliged to tender a nominal submission, though they were in hope that before long aid from abroad would enable them to recover their independence. Woyer had left the country in a Danish ship bound to Java, that put into Algoa Bay, where vessels were then very rarely seen. Six French frigates happened to be at anchor in Batavia Roads when he arrived there. The admiral sent one with a supply of powder and lead for the Graaff-Reinet farmers, but when she SURRENDER OF A DUTCH FLEET. IIQ reached Algoa Bay an English ship of war happened to be there, and after a short action the frigate was obUged to retire. The government of Java also sent a vessel laden with munitions of war, clothing, sugar, and coffee, for the use of the farmers. It was intended that her cargo should be landed at Algoa Bay, but in a storm the vessel was so much damaged that she put into Delagoa Bay to be repaired, and in that port was seized by the crew of an English whaler aided by a few Portuguese. A fleet of nine ships, sent from Holland under command of Admiral Lucas, also failed in the object of aiding the colonists against the English. The admiral put into Saldanha Bay, and was there caught as in a trap between a much stronger British fleet on one side and a large British army on the other. On the 17th of August 1796 he was obliged to surrender his ships and nearly two thousand soldiers and sailors, without even an attempt to resist. Admiral Elphinstone and General Clarke only remained in South Africa a few weeks after the capitulation. They then went on to India, leaving General Craig at the head of the Cape government. This officer did his utmost to place English rule before the colonists in as favourable a light as pos- sible, and though as a conqueror he could not be loved, as a man he was highly respected. When tidings of the conquest reached England, the high authorities resolved that the Cape Colony should be ruled by a man of rank, who should have all the power held by the governor and the council under the Dutch East India Company. A very strong garrison 120 THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION, was to be maintained in Capetown, and the officer in command was to act as administrator in case of the governor's death or absence. Accordingly the earl of Macartney, an old Irish nobleman who had done good service in India, was sent out as governor, and took over the duty in May 1797. His administration was free of the slightest taint of corruption, but was conducted on very strict lines. Those colonists who professed to be attached to Great Britain were treated with favour, while those who preferred a republic to a monarchy were obliged to conceal their opinions, or they were promptly treated as guilty of sedition. There never was a period in the history of the country when there was less freedom of speech than at this time. All the important offices were given to men who could not speak the Dutch language, and who drew such large salaries from the colonial treasury that there was little left for other purposes. An oath of allegiance to the king of England was demanded from all the burghers. Many objected, and a (qw did not appear when summoned to take it. The governor was firm, dragoons were quartered upon several of those who were reluctant, and others were banished from the country. The free trade promised in 1795 also came to an end. Com.merce with places to the east of the Cape of Good Hope was restricted to the Enghsh East India Company, and heavy duties were placed upon goods from the westward brought in any but English ships. British goods brought from British ports in British ships were admitted free of duty. The government INSURRECTION IN GRAAFF-REINET. 121 resumed the power to put its own prices upon farm produce, and to compel delivery at those rates of all that was needed for the garrison and the ships of war frequenting Simon's Bay. The prices fixed, however, were fair and reasonable, and the burghers did not object to sell at such rates, though among themselves they spoke very bitterly of the arbitrary rule to which they were subjected. In November 1798 the earl of Macartney returned to Europe on account of his health. Major-General Francis Dundas then acted as administrator until December 1799, when Sir George Yonge arrived from England as governor. During this interval there was a petty insurrection by a party of farmers in Graaff-Reinet. The arrest of Adrian van Jaarsveld on a charge of forgery and setting a summons of the high court of justice at defiance was the immediate cause of the outbreak. The old commandant was being conveyed to Cape- town for trial when he was rescued by a band of frontiersmen, the same who had been the last to submit to British authority. A strong military force, consisting of a squadron of dragoons, a regiment of infantry, and a Hottentot corps, was at once sent to quell the disturbance. This was an easy matter, as the great majority of the people of the district of Graaff-Reinet declined to aid the insurgents, who thereupon sent in a petition for pardon. The officer in command of the troops replied in writing that they must lay down their arms before he would have any dealings with them, and named a place where they could do so. 122 THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. One hundred and thirteen men appeared at the place appointed, and gave up their arms to the troops. There was no promise of any kind in the document sent to them, but they were under the impression that pardon was impHed in its terms, and therefore pro- tested when they were made prisoners. Ninety-three were released upon payment of fines, and the remain- ing twenty were sent to Capetown, where they were placed in close confinement Forty-two others after- wards gave themselves up, and were pardoned ; but seven of the most violent fled into Kaffirland, where they were joined by a band of deserters from the British army, and li\ed for several years under pro- tection of a powerful chief Those who were sent to Capetown were brought to trial before the high court of justice, when two were condemned to death and the others to various kinds of punishment ; but with the exception of one w^ho w^as flogged and banished and two who died in confinement, they were all released by the high commissioner De Mist in 1803. The appearance of the pandours on the frontier o-ave rise to a disturbance of another kind. Some of the Hottentots of that part of the country, seeing men of their ow^n class in arms against colonists, very naturally felt an inclination to aid them, and began to plunder the farmhouses of guns, pow^der, and clothing. They shed no blood, how^ever, and when they had secured what appeared to them to be sufficient booty, they repaired to the British camp with their wives and children, in the belief that they w-ould be regarded as having acted in a praiseworthy manner. General Vandeleur, the officer in command, did not know THE THIRD KAFFIR WAR. 1 23 what to do with them. He allowed a hundred of the young men to enlist in the Hottentot regiment, and the others — about six hundred of both sexes and all ages — he sent to Algoa Bay with an escort to wait there until he could receive instructions concerning them from the government in Capetown. A matter of much greater importance than either of these petty insurrections had unexpectedly arisen, and was claiming all his attention. Gaika, who was a boy at the time of the second Kaffir war, had recently attained manhood, and had then claimed the chieftainship to which he was by birth the heir. His uncle, the regent Ndlambe, was unwilling to resign, and a large party in the tribe declared its readiness to support him. Gaika appealed to arms, and a battle was fought, in which he was not only victorious but had the good fortune to take his uncle prisoner. Ndlambe was carelessly guarded, however, and in February 1799 he managed to escape, when with a great number of followers he crossed the Fish river into the colony. All the clans that had been living between the Fish river and the Kowie since the previous war, except one, joined the po\\errul refugee. The white people who were in or near the line of his march took to flight, some losing all they had, others who could collect their cattle in time driving them off" and leaving everything else behind. In a few days the invaders were in full possession of the whole country along the coast to the Sunday river. General Vandeleur had no intention of employing British soldiers against the Kosas, but as he was marching towards Algoa Bay, with a view of return- 124 ^^^ FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. ing to Capetown, he was attacked by them in a thicket on the bank of the Sunday river. He beat them off, and then fell back a little and formed a camp to enable a patrol of twenty men to join him. But this patrol had already been surrounded, and after a gallant defence all were killed except four men who managed to escape. The camp was hardly formed when it was attacked by the Kosas, who rushed on in masses with their assagai shafts broken short so that they could be used as stabbing weapons. These charges were met with volleys of musket balls and grape shot, that covered the ground with bodies, until at length the Kosas turned and fled. The general then marched to Algoa Bay. After fortifying a camp on the Zwartkops river, he sent some of his soldiers to Capetown by sea, and called out a burgher commando to expel the invaders. The Hottentots who had plundered the frontier farm- houses were still at the bay drawing rations, and he thought it prudent to disarm them ; but upon the attempt being made they fled in a body and joined the Kosas. At the beginning of June a burgher commando assembled at the Bushman's river, but instead of attacking the intruders. General Vandeleur tried to persuade them to retire. Thus the tarmers lost heart by being kept waiting, and many dispersed, while the Kosas came to believe that the white men were afraid of them. They and the insurgent Hottentots then overran and pillaged the country far and wide. By the close of July twenty-nine white people had lost their lives, there was hardly a house left standing east THE THIRD KAFFIR WAR. IZ^ of the Gamtoos, and nearly all the cattle were in the hands of the marauders. In August a large burgher force was got together, and five hundred soldiers were sent to Algoa Bay. General Dundas, however, was determined to make another attempt to come to a friendly arrangement, so he proceeded to the disturbed district himself, and sent a confidential agent named Maynier to parley with the hostile chiefs. Six or seven hundred soldiers and three strong divisions of burghers were in the field. There was nothing left within reach to plunder. So when Maynier offered not to molest the Kosias in the coast belt east of the Bushman's river, if they would promise not to trespass beyond that territory, they readily pledged their word, and accepted as a mark of friendship the presents which he offered them. To get a parallel to either this transaction or the dealings of the East India Com- pany with the Kosas in the previous war, we must go back in English history to the time of the heathen Danes. The hearts of the farmers sank within them when peace was proclaimed, but they were obliged to abide by the decision of their rulers, and thus for a short time there was a kind of truce which was observed in an indifferent manner. Things remained in this state for nearly three years, during which time the farmers of Graaff-Reinet were in a condition of great poverty and distress. The depredations of the Kosas and Hottentots were then carried so far that for very shame's sake it was necessary to renew hostilities. A burgher force was called out, and placed under a very brave and highly 126 THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION. respected farmer named Tjaart van der Walt. Some success attended the early operations of this force, but in August 1802 the commandant was killed in action, and the burghers then dispersed. Five months later they were brought together again, but as the Kosas now asked for peace and promised to return to their own country as soon as possible, terms were concluded with them. They and the Hottentots engaged not to roam about and plunder, and the Europeans engaged to give them time to remove without disturbing them. The government of Sir George Yonge was thoroughly corrupt. It could not indeed be proved that he received bribes for his own benefit, but he could only be - PROJECT OF TREATY STATES, 227 they thought would be safe against attack by Great Britain. They halted on the head waters of some streams flowing into that bay, and built a village which they named Ohrigstad. There, however, they suffered very severely from fever, so that they were obliged to move again. They then divided into two parties, one of which founded the village of Lyden- burg, and the other, under Potgieter himself, went away north to the Zoutpansberg and settled there. In England the conduct of the emigrants in thus persistently retiring from British authority was regarded as very objectionable. The opinion was general that something should be done not only to compel the wanderers in the interior of the continent to return to their old homes, but to prevent others from abandoning the colony and joining them. The project of forming a barrier along the colonial border, by means of the creation of a chain of large native states, had for some time been advocated by the great societies, and was now determined upon by the government. Such a barrier, it was imagined, would cut off commercial communication with the emigrants, and leave them no alternative but to retrace their steps. In carrying this scheme into execution, Sir George Napier followed the method suggested by the reverend Dr. Philip, who made the preliminary arrangements. His plan was to select in a given area the most competent chief, that is the one supposed to be most amenable to missionary guidance, to enter into treaty with him as a sove- reign, and to support him with all the influence of the British government. 228 CREATION OF TREATY STATES. At Thaba Bosigo one such chief was found in the person of the wise and able Moshesh, the friend and patron of missionaries. He had already built up a considerable power, which it was the great object of his life to increase and solidify. Nothing, therefore, could have been more in accordance with his desires than the scheme which was proposed : alliance with the British government, a subsidy in money, a vast extension of territory, and supremacy over all other chiefs within the area assigned to him. In 1843 a treaty was concluded, in which he was acknowledged to be the sovereign of a large vacant tract of land north of the Orange river, of the basin of the lower Caledon, where European farmers were settled, of the territory along the western bank of the Caledon higher up, which was occupied by various clans brought there by Wesleyan missionaries, and of all the land on which his own people lived. He was to have a subsidy of ^75 a year, payable either in money or in arms and ammunition, as he might choose. It will be seen in future chapters that no other document ever signed in South Africa cost so much blood and treasure as this, or was so productive of evil in various ways. West of the territory assigned to Moshesh there were no Bantu, but at and around a mission station of the London society, named Philippolis, there were some fifteen hundred or two thousand Griquas, under a captain named Adam Kok. These people were of mixed European, Hottentot, and negro blood, and most of them had recently migrated from the Cape Colony. They were supposed to be under missionary THE GRIQUAS. 229 guidance and to be partly civilised, but the men lived chiefly by hunting, and their character was far from stable. It was not then known that they were a perishing race. For one or two generations the hybrid offspring of Europeans and coloured people GRIQUA MAN AND WOMEN. {From a Sketch by Mr. Thos. Bairns.) possess a fair amount of fertility, but they must then intermix with one of the pure original stocks, or die out. Within fifty years the Griquas, by attempting to live as a separate people, have decreased to little more than one- fourth of their original number. 230 CREATION OF TREATY STATES. There were more white people than Griquas living in the territory between the Modder river and the Orange, but at the same time that the treaty was made with Moshesh a similar one was made with Adam Kok, and thereafter this petty captain was officially regarded by the British government as the sovereign of all the land from the new Basuto boundary to the territory claimed by Andries Waterboer under the treaty of 1834. He was to receive a subsidy of £100 a year in money and the use of a hundred stand of arms with a reasonable quantity of ammunition. The London society was to receive ;^50 a year for the maintenance of a mission school. Thus, as far as paper treaties could make states, there was now a barrier along the whole northern border of the Cape Colony from the Kalahari desert upward. A little later, by another treaty, the Pondo chief Faku became the nominal ruler of all the terri- tory between the Umtata and Umzimkulu rivers, the Drakensberg and the sea, and thus the girdle was made complete. But it was soon found that for the purpose intended the treaty states were useless. The emigrant farmers ridiculed the idea either of their removal or of their subjection to the puppet sovereigns thus set up, and matters went on pretty much as before, so far as they were concerned. In the territory assigned to Moshesh trouble of an unexpected kind immediately arose. The chiefs of the clans along the Caledon indignantly refused to acknowledge him as a superior, and the Wesleyan missionaries took part with them in doing EFFECTS OF THE TREATIES. 23 1 SO. The French missionaries, on the other hand, did their utmost to support and build up the Basuto power. Thus jealousies and quarrels were fomented, and the clans were kept in perpetual disturbance. In the territory assigned to Adam Kok many of the white people had come to fear that such anarchy as had prevailed in Natal was inseparable from a republican form of government, and they were not only willing but anxious to see the country annexed to the British dominions. There were circumstances in their condition and in the manner of their removal from the colony that made them the least disaffected of all the Dutch-speaking people of South Africa. But they, too, repudiated the sovereignty of Adam Kok, and refused to acknowledge him as anything but a Griqua captain. Besides these people ther^ were two large parties of emigrants in the country bitterly hostile to England, and they at once declared that if Kok attempted to interfere with them in any way whatever they would resist with arms. The treaty states were thus no barrier to commer- cial intercourse with the emigrants in the interior, they did not prevent further emigration, nor did they cause a single individual to retrace his steps. They provoked disputes and quarrels among people who were before friendly, and they enabled Moshesh to build up a power antagonistic to the interests and welfare of South Africa. XIX. EVENTS TO THE CLOSE OF THE SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. Sir Peregrine Maitland, who succeeded Sir George Napier as governor of the Cape Colony, determined to support Adam Kok with a military force if he should be attacked, and a promise to that effect was made to him. Thereupon he assumed a very haughty tone towards the white people, and shortly afterwards sent a band of his followers to arrest a farmer who ignored his government. The farmer was not at home when the Griquas arrived at his house, so they poured a storm of abuse upon his wife, and took possession of his guns and am- munition. Upon this the burghers formed a lager about thirty miles from Philippolis, and having placed their families in safety within it, they left a guard for its defence and took the field. There was at the time a body of British troops stationed at Colesberg, on the colonial side of the Orange river, two hundred of whom now marched to Philippolis to aid the Griquas, Adam Kok was also supplied with muskets and EXPEDITION TO AID ADAM KOK. 233 ammunition from the military stores. He was thus able to defend himself until a regiment of dragoons, with some artillery and a company of light cavalry, could march to his support from Grahamstown. As soon as the force reached Philippolis, Colonel Richardson, who was in command, issued a pro- clamation calling upon the farmers to surrender un- conditionally ; but they took no notice of it. He then marched towards their lager, and by a stratagem drew two hundred and fifty men out of it, who were nearly surrounded before they were aware that British troops were acting against them. Taken by surprise, they did not attempt to make a stand, but in their efforts to escape three were killed. A little later in the same day possession was taken of the lager with- out resistance, when all the arms found there were confiscated. Colonel Richardson next called upon the emi- grants to take an oath of allegiance to the queen, when all those — three hundred and sixteen in number —who have been mentioned as not ill-affected towards the British government did so. The others were not arrested, as there were no means of supporting them in detention, so they moved away to Winburg, beyond the territory claimed by Adam Kok. By this time Sir Peregrine Maitland had become convinced that the Griqua treaty state, as originally planned, could not be maintained without the constant presence of a considerable military force, and in that case to regard Kok as a sovereign would be an absurdity. But he did not know what change to make, and so he visited the country in order to learn 234 ^^ CLOSE OF SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. its condition by personal intercourse with the different people there, and to devise some plan of action. At Touwfontein, where the emigrant lager had been, he met a great number of farmers, all the chiefs between the Orange and Vaal rivers, and most of the mission- aries. During several days matters were discussed, and the views of the different parties were laid before the governor. Adam Kok contended that he was a sovereign in alliance with Great Britain, that every one within his dominions who did not implicitly obey his orders was a rebel, and he requested that all the white people should be removed. The farmers contended that as there was no one living in the territory claimed by Kok whose parents had been born there, all being recent immigrants, their right was equal to that of the Griquas. Much of the land they occupied was vacant when they took possession of it, and the remainder had been purchased or leased from individual Griquas who by an earlier selection had prior claims. They could not return to the colony, where they had no ground, nor could they submit to such a government as that of Adam Kok and his missionary. Moshesh contended that as he was acknowledged to be the sovereign of the territory assigned to him by treaty, no one within it should be communicated with except through him. The chiefs along the Caledon contended that their independence of Moshesh ought to be recognised, and declared that they would rather die with arms in their hands than submit to him. ARRANGEMENT WITH ADAM KOK, 235 Each of the missionaries supported the claims of the particular chief with whom he was living, so that their opinions differed greatly. Out of this confusion Sir Peregrine Maitland saw but one way of establishing order. He gave up all idea of the return of the emigrants to the Cape Colony, and endeavoured to arrange for the proper govern- ment of those who were living in the treaty states. He proposed to Adam Kok that the land between the Modder and Riet rivers should be allotted to Euro- peans, and that between the Riet and Orange rivers to Griquas. The Europeans were to be governed by an English officer whom he would nominate, and to whom Kok was to give a commission. Quitrent was to be levied on their farms, one half of which was to be devoted to the payment of the English officer and his assistants, and the other half was to be handed over to Kok, whose sovereignty over the whole terri- tory was in this manner still to be recognised. The Griqua captain at once closed with the offer, for it relieved him of a great difficulty and gave him an addition to his income. The Europeans also accepted the proposal, though some of them grumbled at having to pay tribute to a man whose right to the ground was no better than their own. Major Warden was selected by the governor to rule the European community between the Riet and the Modder, and fixed his residence at a place named Bloemfontein. A few soldiers of the Hottentot regi- ment were stationed there to support his authority, and he received all his instructions from Capetown, so that practically the territory was a British depen- 236 TO CLOSE OF SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. dency, though writs and other public documents ran in the name of Adam Kok. This arrangement worked fairly well, and a short period of peace and prosperity followed in that part of South Africa. A similar proposal was made by Sir Peregrine Maitland to Moshesh, but that chief was in a very different position from the Griqua captain, and was loth to exchange power for money. He wanted to keep on good terms with the governor, however, and so he made an appearance of consenting to the plan while really thwarting it. He offered for the use of Europeans a tract of land in the angle of the Orange and Caledon rivers, so far away from the possessions of his own people that there was no likelihood of its ever being of value to him, and so small that no revenue derived from it could cover the salary of a British official. This offer he could not be induced to enlarge, and though negotiations were carried on with him after Sir Peregrine Maitland's return to Cape- town, nothing came of them. Thus within the Basuto treaty state matters remained in a most unsatisfac- tory condition. At this time the eastern frontier of the Cape Colony was exposed to depredations as it had never — even in the worst times — been exposed before. Earl Glenelg, through his agent Lieutenant-Governor Stockenstrom, had given up to the Kosas the whole country east of the Kat and Fish rivers, and had entered into treaties with the chiefs as sovereign rulers. This action they considered a proof of weakness, and in consequence they laid aside all respect for the British authorities. Within the next ten years over a hundred murders were MARKS OF PROGRESS. 237 committed by their people on colonial ground, and the country as far west as the Sunday river was harried and wasted almost as in a time of war. The unfortunate British settlers of 1820 were the principal sufferers, but their prayers for relief were altogether disregarded in England. Modifications of the treaties were made by Sir George Napier and Sir Peregrine Maitland, but the position was not improved, for it was the system itself that was the cause of the evil. In other respects this period was marked by many beneficial changes. The cost of government was greatly reduced, so that every year a surplus could be applied to the reduction of the public debt. By the sale of the old drostdies, the conversion of a number of quitrent farms into freehold, and licenses for the removal of a quantity of guano from some small islands off the western coast, by 1847 the debt was entirely paid off Magistrates were increased, and churches of various denominations were multi- plied throughout the colony. Municipal government of the towns and villages was introduced. An ex- cellent system of schools was brought into operation. Good waggon roads were made — principally by con- vict labour — through many mountain passes, where previously produce could only be transported with the greatest difficulty. The value of the exports was rapidly rising by increase in the produciion of wool. More than all, four or five thousand English, Scotch, and Irish agriculturists and mechanics were brought into the colony by a system of aided immi- gration, and partly filled the places of those who had moved into the interior. No people in any country tWt^¥^ « SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. 239 have thriven better than these. About seven hundred destitute children sent out from London by a bene- volent society were apprenticed to carefully selected persons, and though a few turned out badly, most of them became useful and prosperous members of the community. Unfortunately, however, these were not the only immigrants. The Cape was made the station where all slave ships captured by British cruisers south of the equator were brought, and the negroes were apprenticed here for short periods, after which they became merged in the general coloured population. The farmers and townspeople, who were without a sufficient supply of labour, were very glad to get them, and the missionary societies welcomed them as material to work with ; but they were not a class to add permanently to the prosperity of the country. After the frontier colonists had been exposed for ten years to the depredations of the Kosas, an event took place which brought on open war. A Kosa, who was detected in an act of theft at Fort Beaufort, was arrested, and was being conveyed to the nearest magistrate's office for trial, when a party of his clans- men crossed the border, and after overpowering the constables and murdering a Hottentot, released their friend. Sandile, the legal heir of Gaika, was then the principal chief of Western Kaffirland. The governor applied to him to surrender the raiders for trial, as "their crime had been committed on colonial ground, and he had bound himself by treaty to give up offenders of this kind. But he made light of the matter, and refused to carry out his engagement. 240 TO CLOSE OF SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. A military force was then directed to enter Kaffir- land and occupy Sandile's kraal, so as to bring him to terms. A very long waggon train accompanied it, conveying provisions, tents, baggage, and ammuni- tion ; and, as if to invite attack, this tempting prize was almost unguarded. The movements of the expedition were, of course, closely watched by the keen eyes of Kosa scouts, and when in a spot con- venient for the purpose, while the main body of the English troops was some miles distant, a strong band of warriors rushed upon the train, and without any difficulty made themselves masters of a great portion of it By this disaster the British force was compelled to retreat precipitately. After considerable loss it reached the Lovedale mission station, just within the colonial border, and hastily fortified a large stone building used as a boarding school, which enabled it to stay there in safety. At once a great body of Kosa warriors poured into the colony, swept off all the cattle east of Uitenhage, burned many dwelling-houses, and murdered several individuals who had not time to escape to villages or lagers. Their success encouraged a large portion of the Tembu tribe to join them, and these people laid waste the country north of the Winterberg just as tTie Kosas had done south of that range. Thus the European settlement in the eastern districts was reduced to the towns and villages, w^hich were crowded with helpless and destitute people. The farms — except a few where there were lagers — were abandoned. COURSE OF THE WAR, 24 1 Another disaster followed. The garrison of the most advanced fort on the frontier was in urgent need of supplies of food and ammunition, and a train of waggons, under military escort, left Grahamstown for its relief In a thicket the train was attacked, the guard was obliged to retire, and the supplies fell into the hands of the Kosas. The whole burgher force of the colony was called out, and every soldier that could be spared from duty in Capetown was sent to the front. Hottentots and other coloured people were enrolled, waggons and oxen were everywhere impressed, and in a short time a mass of combatants sufficiently large for offensive operations was assembled on the frontier. A greater difficulty than that of collecting men, however, was that of collecting provisions. It was not only the army that the government had to feed, but the unfortunate European women and children whose property had been destroyed, and the families of all the Hottentots of the frontier. Some successes were gained, but operations were stayed by the collapse of the transport service, and the army was obliged at one time to encamp on the coast, w^here supplies could be obtained by sea, in order to escape starvation. After a while several regiments of soldiers arrived from abroad, the trans- port service was organised on a better plan, and provisions were sent from the western districts. Then a kind of lull took place, in consequence of a professal of submission by most of the hostile clans, whose object was to get a crop of maize and then renew the war. 17 242 TO CLOSE OF SEVENTH KAFFIR WAR. During this lull Sir Peregrine Maitland was re- called, as every governor since Lord Charles Somer- set has been in whose term of office war has broken out. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Pottinger, who was also appointed high commissioner for the purpose of dealing with matters beyond the colonial border. All succeeding governors of the Cape Colony have been high commissioners also. The crops of maize were gathered, and the war was resumed. But soon afterwards Sandile found himself hardly pressed, and surrendered, upon which there was another general profession of submission. In later years the Kosas laughed at the ease with which the white people were deceived, and ridiculed the idea of their being beaten in this war. But the governor, judging them by a European or an Indian standard, believed that they were subdued, and was about to proclaim peace when he received news of his transfer to Madras. The enormous expense of the war had brought home to the imperial government the folly of the treaty system, of which it was the result, in a manner that the prayers of the colonists had never done. The ruined eastern farmers were clamouring for com- pensation from the British treasury for their losses, on the ground that they had protested against the measures which led to the war, and earl Glenelg had accepted tlie responsibility of carrying them out. They did not get what they asked for, but the whole military and commissariat charges were of necessity borne by England. Both Sir Peregrine Maitland and Sir Henry Pottinger had come to the conclusion that RESULTS OF THE WAR, 243 Sir Benjamin D'Urban's system of dealing with the Kosas should be reverted to, and even Sir George Napier was of the same opinion. The imperial authorities then resolved upon another complete change, and to carry it out they selected as governor and high commissioner Sir Harry Smith, who, as Colonel Smith, had been Sir Benjamin D'Urban's most able lieutenant in South Africa, and who had recently won high military renown in India. But while making this resolution they were beginning to comprehend that it was impossible at a distance of six thousand miles to direct the affairs of a country either safely or satisfactorily, especially under such pressure as could be brought by the great societies to bear upon a government in England ; and they were already impressed with a belief that the best course they could adopt would be to let the affairs of the Cape Colony be settled by its own people. To the Kaffir war of 1846-7 more than to any other event is due the liberal constitution that was granted a few years later. I®^^ XX. EVENTS DURING IHE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH. No governor has ever been more heartily welcomed in South Africa than Sir Harry Smith. Every section of the inhabitants of the colony hailed him as an old and tried friend, and there was a general hope ihat better days had now set in. He was not long in making known the details of the changes which he came to effect. Hurrying to the eastern frontier, he issued a proclamation, extending the Cape Colony on the north to the Orange river from its mouth to the junction of the Kraai, and on the east to the Keiskama and the Tyumie. The territory between the Keiskama and Tyumie on one side, and the Kei on the other, he then pro- claimed a British possession, but to be kept entirely for the use of the western clans of the Kosa tribe, just as Sir Benjamin D'Urban intended when he annexed it under the name of the province of Queen Adelaide. Colonel Mackinnon was appointed a commissioner to exercise general authority over the clans, an office which the governor himself had once \ .-^/^. --■«,^»-\.t SIR HARRY SMITH. 2|6 ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH. held. The chiefs remained the rulers of their people in many matters, but vicious customs were no longer to be tolerated, and punishment of persons accused of dealing in witchcraft was to be suppressed. A strong body of troops was to garrison various forts in the territory, and to support the authority of the commissioner and his assistants. The new province was named British Kaffraria. The whole of the chiefs who had been in arms agreed to this arrangement, and those who resided within the province took an oath to maintain it. The others, who lived east of the Kei, were left perfectly independent. The governor, the colonists, and the missionaries — whose views were greatly modified by the late war — alike considered this settle- ment satisfactory, and to all outward appearance the Kosas were pleased with it ; but within three years the chiefs declared that they had only agreed to it as a truce, in order to get material together for another trial of strength with the Europeans. As soon as these arrangements were made. Sir Harry Smith proceeded to the territory north of the Orange river. Treaties between the British govern- ment and Bantu chiefs he regarded as agreements between a full-grown man and little children, and he repeatedly and emphatically declared that there should be no more of them. As for the treaty states on the northern border, he looked upon them as the creations of supreme folly, and he therefore intended to destroy them. But as neither Adam Kok nor Moshesh had violated any of the conditions of the treaties, he could not declare the documents annulled, END OF THE TREATY STATES. 247 and it was thus his object by some means to induce those persons to consent to their own effacement as sovereign rulers. The emigrant farmers between the Riet and Modder rivers gave him an enthusiastic reception) for many of them had fought under his command thirteen years before, and they had ahvays Hked him as he had Hked them. They had no complaint to make against Major Warden, but they had a griev- ance, in that half of the land tax which they paid went into the pocket of Adam Kok, and they had no return for it. Was it not scandalous, too, they asked, that they should be officially termed subjects of that petty captain of a mongrel band ? By the governor's desire, Kok went from Philip- polis to Bloemfontein to meet him. At the conference Sir Harry stated that he was about to place the white people in the territory under the direct rule of the queen of England, but he would not interfere with Kok's government of his Griquas. The whole of the land between the Riet and Orange rivers — which was ten times as much as the Griquas could make use of— would be regarded as their reserve, the captain should have a perpetual pension of ^200 a year, and as some of his people had leased farms north of the Riet river, which would now be lost to them, they should have among them ;^ioo a year in perpetuity as compensation. The captain demurred to these terms, and spoke of his dignity in such a way that the governor lost all patience and threatened him with speedy punishment. He then submitted, and affixed his name to a document which put an end 248 ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH. to the Griqua treaty state, but left him far more than he had any reasonable claim to. A little later the governor had an interview with Moshesh, to whom he made some valuable presents, at the same time professing his friendship in the warmest language. He then announced his intention as regarded the white people, and asked for the co-operation of the chief. Probably Moshesh felt somewhat overawed in the presence of the impetuous governor, and it is improbable that he fully compre- hended what the proposals laid before him would lead to, but he attached his mark to a document which destroyed the Basuto treaty state. These preliminaries having been settled, on the 3rd ot February 1848 Sir Harry Smith issued a proclamation, adding to the British dominions the whole territory between the Vaal river, the Orange river, and the Kathlamba mountains, under the name of the Orange River Sovereignty. The Europeans in it were placed under the immediate rule of the queen, and a staff of officials was appointed to administer justice and collect taxes in her Majesty's name. Major Warden was appointed head of the new administration. The coloured people were left under the government of their chiefs, and the land then actually in their occupation was to be reserved for their use and secured against encroachment What might be termed their foreign relations, that is everything affecting the dealings of one head chief with another, or of any chief with Europeans, were to be under the control of the British authorities. Here, at last, was a policy such as nearly every BATTLE OF BOOMPLAATS. 249 man in the Cape Colony approved of. Unfortunately, however, it came too late. The vast majority of the white people living between the Modder and Vaal rivers were indisposed to submit to British rule in any form, and prepared to fight for the independent government they had lived under for twelve years. Moshesh, who had by this time built up a power far greater than Sir Harry Smith was aware of, began to devise schemes for the destruction of the Sovereignty government as soon as he found that he was to be confined to a reserve covering only the actual ground on which his people lived, that his practice of incor- porating members of other tribes with his own was likely to be severely checked, and that the clans along the Caledon were treated as independent of him. Sir Harry Smith had not long returned to Cape- town when he received intelligence that the farmers in the north of the Sovereignty had elected Mr. Andries Pretorius to be their commandant and had risen in arms, that Major Warden with the little garrison of Bloemfontein had been obliged to capitulate, and that the whole of the English officials had been driven over the Orange river and were then in a camp near Colesberg. The energetic governor at once directed a strong body of troops to march to the Orange, and followed himself to take command in person. Commandant Pretorius did not attempt to defend the passage of the river, but made a stand at a strong position called Boomplaats, where on the 29th of iiugust 1848 a severe engagement took place, which ended in the defeat of the farmers. All who were inveterately opposed to British rule 250 ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH, now made their way in haste across the Vaal river, and there was no attempt to follow them. The Sovereignty government was re-established, and a much larger garrison than before was left in Bloem- fontein. The places of those white people who had moved away were filled by fresh emigrants from the Cape Colony, many of whom were Englishmen, so that from this time forward the European population of the territory consisted of people either well affected to the British government or not very bitterly opposed to it. Leaving now the region beyond the Cape Colony for a short time, an event must be related which caused intense excitement throughout South Africa. This was a project of the imperial ministry of the day to make of the Cape a convict settlement. The tidings caused a feeling somewhat akin to what a proposal would have done to introduce a dreadful disease. Men and women or respectability every- where raised their voices against it, tor if a class of people that had either by choice or of necessity become criminal, and whose self-respect was destroyed by conviction, were once allowed to mix with the coloured races, the country would no longer be fit to live in. Petitions and protests against the measure were sent to England in great number, and when the ship Neptune with convicts on board arrived in Simon's Bay, the people of the Cape peninsula — with few exceptions — bound themselves together under a pledge not to supply anything whatever to persons who had dealings with her, nor to have any inter- course with them. ANTI-CONVICT AGITATION, 25I This pledge was so strictly carried out that not a particle of food could be obtained for the convicts, and it was with much difficulty that supplies for the troops in garrison were procured. Any one who opposed the popular will in the matter did so on peril of being assaulted and having his property destroyed. Sir Harry Smith was very much opposed to the scheme of making the country a convict settlement, but he was obliged to carry out the instructions which he received from England, and so he could not send the ship away, though the colonists were very anxious that he should. Five months the Neptune lay at anchor in Simon's Bay. Her crew and the convicts on board could get nothing to eat but provisions out of ships of war. If the plague had been in her she could not have been more carefully avoided. All this time the greatest excitement prevailed in the colony, and great caution had to be used by the government to prevent a collision with the people. At' length, to the joy of every one, instructions were received from England that the convicts should proceed to Tasmania, as the secretary of state had changed his mind, owing to the numerous petitions of the colonists. The anti-convict agitation had hardly died out when the country became involved again in war with the Kosa and Tembu tribes. The principal chiefs of these people had never regarded the cessation of hostilities at the close of 1847 as anything but a truce, though they were crafty enough to conceal their views from even those Europeans who were most intimately acquainted with them, and it was only at a later date 252 ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH. that this became known. The common people were ready to support their chiefs with their Hves as well as their substance, and, from their point of view, they had at least one very serious grievance against the European authorities. The Bantu believe most implicitly that diseases and disasters of all kinds are caused by wizards and witches, and in every clan there is a recognised witch- finder who, whenever any trouble occurs, goes through certain forms called " smelling out," and then points to an individual whom he pronounces guilty of having caused it. The individual thus accused is, without further investigation, subjected to torture of different kinds, often resulting in death, and may consider himself fortunate if he escapes with a few scars and the loss of all his property. The British authorities suppressed the practice of "smelling out," and punished the witchfinders. They believed that by so doing they were conferring a benefit upon the people, who would be grateful for relief from the danger ot being despoiled and tortured without cause or guilt. But the people supposed to be relieved looked at the matter in a different light. The English, they said, are giving us over to the wizards and witches to do as they like with us. Their view was what ours would be if a government were to suppress punishment for murder and imprison the constables who arrested a man for committing it. Only a slight pretext was therefore needed for a renewal of the war, and any accident might have precipitated it, but, as it happened, the frontier colonists received timely warning of what was EIGHTH KAFFIR WAR. 253 coming. It became known that a man named Umlanjeni, who was credited by his people with great magical knowledge, was issuing charms which he asserted would turn bullets fired at their wearers into water, and the Kosa warriors were repairing to him in hundreds at a time to procure them. On receiving a report to this effect, Sir Harry Smith proceeded to King-Wii!iamstown, and convened a meeting of all the chiefs in British Kaffraria, in order to discuss matters with them. Sandile, the most powerful among them, did not appear. Still, as the others made no complaints of any kind, and seemed to be prosperous and happy, the governor thought they could not have war in their minds. He returned to Capetown, but reports followed him that there would surely be a speedy outbreak. With all the soldiers that could be mustered. Sir Harry was soon back in King-Williamstown, and as Sandile was known to be in one of the forests at the sources of the Keiskama, a body of troops was sent to arrest him. On the way the troops were attacked in the Boomah pass by thousands of Kosas, and lost twenty-three men killed and as many wounded in fighting their way through. A few hours later in another part of the country a patrol of fifteen soldiers was met by some of Sandile's people, and all were put to death. On the following morning — Christmas 1850, three villages named Auckland, Woburn, and Johannesburg, close to the colonial side of the border, were surprised by Kosas, when forty-six men were m.urdered in cold blood, and the houses were burned to the ground. 254 ADMINISTRATION OF SIR HARRY SMITH. In this manner the eighth Kaffir war commenced^ and it was the longest and most costly in blood and treasure that the Cape Colony has ever been engaged in. The frontier districts were ravaged once more, and the burghers of all parts of the country were obliged to leave their homes and take up arms. The Kosas were joined by a great part of the Tembu tribe and by several hundreds of Hottentots from the settlement at the Kat river and other places. Even some of the soldiers of the Hottentot regiment deserted and went over to them, as the colonists had always feared would some day happen. A very sad event was the loss of the transport steamship Bij^kenhead, which was sent from England with troops to assist in the war. She was proceeding to Algoa Bay when in the middle of the night she struck on a reef running out from Danger Point. The women, children, and sick people were put into the boats, while the soldiers were drawn up on the deck as on a parade ground. The sea was swarming with sharks, the shore was so far distant that the strongest swimmer could not hope to reach it, and the wreck was breaking up fast. Yet those brave men stood calmly there till the boats with the help- less ones got away. Then, just as the ship fell to pieces and sank, they leaped into the sea, and a few, by clinging to floating wreckage, got to land. Four hundred perished. There had never before been so strong a force in South Africa as there was in Kaffraria at this time. For more than two years the soldiers, burghers, and auxiliaries of various kinds were employed against EIGHTH KAFFIR WAR. 255 an enemy that could not be brought to a decisive action, but that seemed to go from one forest to another with the faciHty of birds, and that carried on war by doubHng upon pursuers, cutting off stragglers, and seizing everything that was not strongly guarded. At length, however, the food of the hostile clans was completely exhausted, and the chiefs then asked for peace, which was gladly granted. It was not Sir Harry Smith's fault, but his mis- fortune, that the war had taken place. It would have been beyond the power of any man to have staved it off permanently, for even the settlement made at its close, as will hereafter be seen, was only regarded by the Kosas as a truce. But, following the invariable custom in such cases, the secretary of state recalled the governor. Sir George Cath- cart, who was sent out as his successor, took over the duty on the 31st of March 1852, and thereafter directed operations in person until the conclusion of peace. He located the Tembus— who were really subdued — in the district that is now called Glen Grey, and gave much of the remainder of the land they had occupied for the last quarter of a century to colonists to be held under military tenure. It was for a time called North Victoria, but subsequently became known as the district of Queenstown, from the neat and flourishing village that was built near its centre. The Fingos, who had fought well on the European side, received the best of the land along the foot of the Amatola mountains and some ex- tensive tracts forfeited by the Tembus. The in- SETTLEMENT OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. 257 dependent section of the Kosa tribe, under the chief Kreli, was left in possession of the territory between the Bashee and the Kei ; and the western clans of this tribe, who had been British subjects since 1847, had all the open ground from the Kei to the Keiskama assigned to them. The government of British Kaffraria was re- established with a strong and reliable force to support it. Before the war there had been a large body of Kaffir police, but at the commencement of hostilities the men composing it had gone over to their own people. Their place was now taken by a corps composed chiefly of young colonists, with a few Fingos attached to it as detectives. The men, who were armed with the best weapons, were mounted, and proved a most useful body for either military or police purposes. Several regiments of British troops were also stationed in the province. 18 XXI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT BY GREAT BRITAIN OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RE- PUBLIC, AND ABANDONMENT OF THE ORANGE RIVER SOVEREIGNTY. . For a short time after the restoration of British rule in the Orange River Sovereignty, everything went on smoothly, and the people appeared to be prosperous. But this satisfactory state of affairs did not continue long. Moshesh was unwilling that the growth of his power should be restricted, and as he did not wish openly to break with the British government, he endeavoured secretly to foment such disturbances as would destroy the arrange- ments then existing. He — a self-made Bantu ruler — cannot be blamed for doing this ; but what can be said of the treaty system which enabled him to build up sufficient power to do it? It was easy for him to bring about a collision between one of his vassal captains and the chief Sikonyela, while all the time he was professing to be an advocate of peace and apparently making sacrifices to secure it. Presently other clans became 258 FIRST BASUTO WAR, 255 involved in the quarrel, and Major Warden, who had done all that was possible to restore order by advice and expostulation, then tried to quell the disturbance by force. This course of action was regarded by the Euro- peans in the Sovereignty as a mistake. They main- tained that the government ought not to meddle with matters affecting only Bantu clans, as it had no spare strength to squander, and should reserve its interference for occasions when Europeans were threatened with damage. But Sir Harry Smith thought differently. He had no idea that the Basuto power was as great as it afterwards proved to be, nor indeed had any other European in South Africa. He was of opinion that by adding the English soldiers at Bloemfontein and an equal number of farmers to any side in a quarrel in the Sovereignty, he could turn the scale against the other side. And so it was by his instructions that Major Warden attempted to punish the disturbers of the peace. With one hundred and sixty-two soldiers, one hundred and twenty farmers, and from a thousand to fifteen hundred blacks, the major marched against Molitsane, the vassal of Moshesh who was held to be the cause of the disturbance, and at Viervoet was drawn into a trap and suffered a crushing defeat. No one was more surprised than Moshesh himself at the issue of the battle, for he had not believed that the troops and farmers under Major Warden's command could have been driven from the field so easily. He at once threw off the mask he had 26o INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, hitherto worn, and laid aside his assumed respect for British authority. It has before been stated that the majority of the farmers in the Sovereignty were well affected towards England, but a strong minority were at heart opposed to English rule, though up to this time not inclined to offer open resistance. These last were hardly less surprised than Moshesh at the decisive success of the Basuto in the battle of Viervoet. They knew that no aid could be sent to Major Warden from the Cape Colony, which was then involved in a war of its own, and so, as a matter of self-protection, they set aside their duty to the Sovereignty govern- ment and entered into an engagement with Moshesh. They promised not to take part in hostilities against him, and he engaged not to allow his people to molest them. On both sides this agreement was faithfully kept. The Europeans who were loyal to the British government, on the contrary, were sought out by bands of Basuto and plundered mercilessly. The clans along the Caledon were dispersed, and were reduced to great distress. Major Warden was perfectly helpless, for without a strong military force order could not be restored, and he had only men enough to guard the fort in Bloemfontein. Some of the farmers now sent a request to Com- mandant Pretorius to come and devise some plan to put an end to the prevailing anarchy, and Moshesh joined in the invitation. Since the battle of Boomplaats Pretorius had been living north of the Vaal, with a reward of ;£"2,ooo for his apprehen- THE SAND RIVER CONVENTION. 261 slon hanging over his head all the time. When urged to interfere in matters in the Sovereignty, he wrote to Major Warden announcing his intention to do so, but intimating that he would prefer to make a treaty of peace with the British govern- ment, in which the independence of his adherents should be acknowledged. Major Warden hereupon reported to Sir Harry Smith that the fate of the Sovereignty depended upon the movements of a proscribed man. He had been instructed to act strictly on the defensive until troops could be spared from the Kaffir war to aid him, but if Pre- torius and the emigrants north of the Vaal united with the Europeans who ignored his authority and with Moshesh, he would be entirely at their mercy. Under these circumstances the governor decided to acknowledge the independence of the Transvaal emigrants, as the imperial ministers had announced their determination not to add another square inch of ground in South Africa to the queen's dominions, and advantages which could be obtained by a con- vention were not to be had in any other way. Two assistant commissioners — Major Hogg and Mr. Owen — were therefore sent to make the necessary arrange- ments with Commandant Pretorius and a number of delegates from the Transvaal people. The con- ference took place on a farm in the Sovereignt}^, and there, on the 17th of January 1852, a document — known ever since as the Sand River convention — was signed, in which the British government guaranteed to the emigrants north of the Vaal the light to manage their own affairs without inter- 262 INDEPENDENCE OF SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC ference. The convention was confirmed by the secretary of state for the colonies, and was ratified by the volksraad, so that thereafter the South African Republic — as the country was named — had a legal as well as an actual existence in the eyes of the British government. The Sovereignty was thus preserved from inter- ference by Mr. Pretorius, and its government became somewhat stronger than before, because a good many of those who had ignored Major Warden moved over the Vaal. But Moshesh's people still continued to plunder and harass the loyal farmers, and the clans that had opposed him remained in great distress. This was the state of matters until Sir George Cathcart was able to spare a strong body of troops from British Kaffraria, with which he marched north- ward to restore order. He reached Platberg on the Caledon with a splendidly equipped force, consisting of nearly two thousand infantry, five hundred cavalry, and some artillerymen with two field-guns, hoping that the mere presence of such a body of troops would enable him to settle everything to his satis- faction, without having recourse to hostilities. From Platberg, after a minute investigation of affairs, he sent an ultimatum to Moshesh, demanding that chiefs compliance with certain conditions and the delivery within three days of ten thousand head of horned cattle and one thousand horses, as compensa- tion for the robberies committed by the Basuto people. Moshesh personally was willing to accede to the high commissioner's terms, for he dreaded a struggle with the British power now that the Tembus had CONDITION OF THE BASUTO TRIBE. 263 been subdued, the Kosas were ceasing to fight, and the Transvaal farmers were pacified. He knew that the army at Platberg w^s only a small portion of the force at Sir George Cathcart's disposal, and he was in that condition that any serious reverse might ruin him. The great tribe that called him master was composed of the fragments of many others that had not yet thoroughly blended, and disaster would cause its disintegration. There were numerous indi- viduals in it of higher rank by birth than he, so that elements of discord were present, though they did not show themselves in times of prosperity. In short, to save his dynasty it was necessary for Moshesh to avoid defeat. But the Basuto people preferred a trial of strength to the surrender of so many cattle and horses as the high commissioner demanded, and the great chief could not afford to act in opposition to their wishes, as a ruler by hereditary right could have done. The result was a kind of compromise. Moshesh sent in three thousand five hundred head of cattle, with a faint hope that they would be accepted as sufficient, and then assembled his warriors at Thaba Bosigo to resist the British army if it should advance. The country of the Basuto is an exceedingly difficult one to penetrate. It is the Switzerland of South Africa. Resting on the interior plateau of the continent, five thousand feet above sea level, it rises like a gigantic billow in successive waves of moun- tains until the summit of the Drakensberg is reached, the highest peaks of which are over eleven thousand feet above the ocean. The lower valleys are remark- BATTLE OF BEREA. 265 ably fertile, so that the country can support a large population, though no other use is made of the higher lands than to pasture cattle in summer. There are many hills with flat tops and precipitous sides that can easily be defended against an enemy, and of all these Thaba Bosigo, the seat of Moshesh's government, is the strongest. On the 20th of December 1852 Sir George Cath- cart crossed the Caledon from Platberg, and entered Basutoland, with the intention of occupying Moshesh's mountain. He made the great mistake of under- estimating the strength and courage of his opponent, and not giving him any credit for ability as a strate- gist. His officers took no thought about the matter, but looked upon their occupation of Thaba Bosigo as a certainty, and their march as a pleasant excursion. The army entered the Basuto territory in three divisions. By a simple stratagem — that of exposing an immense herd of cattle in a position on the Berea mountain where their capture appeared easy — one of the British divisions was drawn into an ambush, and after suffering considerable loss was obliged to retreat to the camp at Platberg. It drove before it, however, some four thousand horned cattle, with a few horses and sheep, which the enemy was unable to recover. Another of the divisions, under Sir George Cath- cart in person, suddenly found itself face to face v/ith about six thousand Basuto horsemen armed with European weapons, and though the discipline of the soldiers enabled them to keep the untrained mass from breaking their ranks, no further advance was 266 WISE ACTION OF MOSHESH. now thought of. A little before dusk the third division managed to join the commander-in-chief, and a defensible position among rocks was then taken for the night. At daybreak next morning the army commenced its retreat to the camp at Platberg. It had lost thirty-seven men killed, fifteen wounded, and one prisoner, who was murdered by his captors. Though he had gained such a success, the wise Basuto chief's first thought after the battle was to obtain peace. He sent for the reverend Mr. Casalis, one of his missionaries, and after consulting with him, the most politic document that has ever been penned in South Africa was written. It was as follows : — " Thaba Bosigo, ''Midnight, 20th December, 1852. " Your Excellency, — This day you have fought against my people, and taken much cattle. As the object for which you have come is to have a com- pensation for Boers, I beg you will be satisfied with what you have taken. I entreat peace from you — you have chastised — let it be enough, I pray you ; and let me be no longer considered an enemy to the Queen. I will try all I can to keep my people in order in the future. " Your humble servant, " MoSHESH." It was some time before a messenger could be found who would venture near the English sentries, and when at length one left Thaba Bosigo with a flag of truce, Sir George Cathcart was retiring to his camp ARRIVAL OF SIR GEORGE CLERK. 267 at Platberg. The messenger followed and delivered the letter. The English general, on his part, was not less anxious for peace. In his opinion there was every- thing to lose in a war with a tribe so strong as he had found the Basuto to be, and so he eagerly availed himself of the opening for escape from a grave diffi- culty which Moshesh's letter afforded. He announced that he was satisfied with the number of cattle cap- tured, that he considered past obligations fulfilled, and that he would at once retire. There was much murmuring in the English camp when this announce- ment was made, but the general shut his ears to it all, and before the end of the month the army reached the Orange on its return march. For some time the imperial government had been undecided whether to retain the Sovereignty as a British possession or not, but as soon as intelligence of the engagement with the Basuto reached England a decision was formed. The next mail brought a despatch from the secretary of state for the colonies that the territory was to be abandoned. To carry this resolution into effect, Sir George Clerk was sent out as special commissioner. He called upon the European inhabitants to elect a body 01 representatives to take over the government ; but when the representatives assembled, they objected in the strongest terms to be abandoned by Great Britain, for even while they were debating, Moshesh was crushing Sikonyela and another of his opponents, and adding their territory to his own. In effect, the representative assembly said to Sir George Clerk that 268 ABANDONMENT OF THE SOVEREIGNTY. they held England in honour bound to reduce the great barbaric power she had done so much to build up. When that was done, they would not need military assistance, and would be prepared to take over the government of the country, though they wished to remain permanently connected with the British empire. The special commissioner, however, was prevented by his instructions from paying any attention to language of this kind, and was obliged to term those who used it "obstructionists." The assembly then sent two delegates to England to implore the queen's government and the parliament not to abandon them, but those gentlemen met with no success in their mission. Sir George Clerk now encouraged the remnant of the party that was at heart opposed to British rule to assert itself openly. With his concurrence, one of its ablest leaders returned from beyond the Vaal, and went about the country addressing the people and arguing that connection with England meant nothing but restraint, for no protection whatever was received. In the special commissioner's phraseology, Mr. Stander and those of his way of thinking, who used language to that effect, were " well-disposed." This party elected a body of delegates, who met in Blocmfontein, and opened negotiations with Sir George Clerk. The " obstructionist " assembly pro- tested, and was thereupon dissolved by the special commissioner, when most of its members and sup- porters, finding resistance to the will of the British government useless, went over to the "well-disposed" side, and tried to get as good terms as possible. SOUTH AFRICA AFTER 1854. 269 Gold was freely used to suppress complaints — it was termed part compensation for losses, — and nothing that was possible to be done was neglected to make the abandonment acceptable to the people generally. The result was that on the 23rd of February 1854 a convention was signed at Bloemfontein by Sir George Clerk and the members of the "well-disposed" assembly, by which the government of the territory previously termed the Orange River Sovereignty, thereafter the Orange Free State, was transferred, and its future independence was guaranteed. There were now in South Africa five distinct European governments, namely of — British Possessions. 1. The Cape Colony, 2. Natal, 3. British Kaffraria, 4. The South African Republic, j Independent 5. The Orange Free State. ) Republics. In 1854 the Cape Colony comprised all the land between the Orange river on the north, the Indian ocean on the south, the Atlantic ocean on the west, and British Kaffraria and the rivers Indvve and Tees on the east. Natal comprised the territory between the Buffalo and Tugela rivers on the north-east, the Umzimkulu river on the south-east, the Kathlamba mountains or Drakensberg on the west, and the Indian ocean on the east. British Kaffraria comprised the territory between the rivers Klipplaats, Tyumie, and Keiskama on the 270 SOUTH AFRICA AFTER 1854. west, the river Kei from the junction of the KHp- plaats to the sea on the north-east, and the Indian ocean on the south-east. The boundaries of the South African RepubHc were undefined, but, roughly speaking, they were the Limpopo river on the north; the Vaal river and a Hne a Httle above Kuruman on the south, the Kalahari desert on the west, and the mountainous country corresponding with the Drakensberg on the east. The Orange Free State comprised the territory between the V^aal river, the Orange river, and the Drakensberg, except Basutoland and the reserves set a.part for coloured people. XXII. THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CAPE COLONY. The story of the Cape Colony from this time onward is very different from that of the preceding period. Arbitrary rule is henceforth a thing of the past, and a constijtution of a liberal nature, granted by Great Britain, gradually removes the memory of old grievances, and creates a strong feeling of loyalty to the throne and the empire in all sections of the civilised inhabitants. The imperial authorities having resolved to confer upon the Cape people the privilege of parliamentary institutions, the details were referred for arrangement to the legislative council, and when everything was settled, on the nth of March 1853 the constitution was promulgated by an order in council. By it two chambers — termed the legislative council and the house of assembly — were created, both of which are elective. The upper chamber for some years consisted of fifteen members, but in course of time this number was increased to twenty-three, beside the chief justice as president. For the purpose of elect- ing the members, the colony was divided into two 271 272 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CAPE COLONW provinces, more recently into nine circles. The members hold their seats for seven years. The house of assembly on its creation consisted of forty- six members, elected by twenty-two divisions, Cape- town having two more representatives than any of the others. It now consists of seventy-nine members, elected by thirty-nine divisions, and holding their seats for five years. Parliament is summoned to meet by the governor, but a period of twelve months must not elapse between the sessions. The right to vote for members of both chambers was conferred upon every male British subject over twenty-one years of age, who occupied a house or land worth £2^, or was in receipt of a salary of £2^ a year with board and lodging or ;^50 without. There was no distinction as regards race, or colour, or religion, or manner of living. In course of time, however, it was found expedient to alter these qualifi- cations, as in the Cape Colony there is a large class of people unable to comprehend the nature of repre- sentative institutions, and yet in possession of sufficient property to bring them within one of the conditions specified above. In 1892 the right to vote was re- stricted to such adult male subjects as are able to sign their names and write down their addresses and employment, and who either occupy property worth i^75, or receive £^^0 a year as salary or wages. Parliament met for the first time in June 1854. Since that date no law can be made without the approval of both houses and the sanction of the governor. The right is reserved to the queen to disallow any law so made within two years of its THE CAPE PARLIAMENT 273 reaching England, but in practice this right is very rarely used. The ordinary yearly sessions of tne parliament usually last about three months, from early in June to the end of August. Naturally the colonists were gratified with the change from arbitrary to representative government, PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CAPETOWN. but there was still much to wish for. The officials of highest rank, who formed the executive council and were therefore the governor's advisers, continued to be sent out from England, and held their appoint- ments during the pleasure of the secretary of state for the colonies, no matter whether parliament liked IQ ;^74 ^^^ CONSTITUTION OF THE CAPE COLONY. them or not. They framed all government bills, and no measure involving the expenditure of money could be brought before the house of assembly unless introduced by them. They possessed the right ot discussion, though not of voting, in both chambers. This condition of things lasted eighteen years. In 1872 responsible government was introduced, and the ministers — as the high officials are termed — have since that time been the leaders of the party in parliament that can command the largest number of votes in support of their measures. They are the colonial secretary, the treasurer, the attorney-general, the commissioner of public works, and the secretary for agriculture. There is also the premier, or prime minister, who may hold any of these appointments, or none of them ; but who, in any case, has all matters connected with the aboriginal races directly under his care. When any important measure, in- troduced by the government, fails to secure the support of a majority of the members of parliament, the ministers must resign, and the leader of the opposition is entrusted by the governor with the task of forming a new cabinet. In practice this system gives to the men who are chosen by the people the power of making and altering laws, of levying taxes and controlling the manner of using the public money, and of creating and doing away with offices. But it is a system adapted only for races of high civilisation. The majority of the day possesses supreme power, and if it came to consist of men whose constituents were THE DUTCH LANGUAGE. 275 incapable 01 acting with moderation, the minority could be more grievously oppressed than under the purest autocratic rule. There are many thinking people in the colony who regard the franchise as still too low for pertect satety, with the existing form of government and the political equality of the various races that compose the population. Until 1882 the English language only could be used in debate in parliament, just as in the pro- ceedings of courts of justice or in transactions in the public offices. This was decidedly unfair, for Dutch is habitually spoken by fully three-fifths of the white people in the colony, and by a still larger proportion of the coloured inhabitants, exclusive of Bantu. It will be remembered that its suppression as the official language was one ol the chief grievances that rankled in the breasts ot the old colonists. The parliament could not be said in truth to represent the people as long as the language oi the majority was pro- scribed, and in point of fact comparatively few of the old stock sought admission into it. It was some time before they realised the full significance of responsible government, but when they did, one of their first acts was to secure the same rights for their own tongue as for the English. Either can now be used in parlia- ment, courts 01 law, and public offices, at the choice of the speaker, and no one is admitted into the ordinary branches of the civil service without a perfect knowledge of both. It would be incorrect to say that this measure has raised the tone of debate in parliament or improved the administration of justice in the slightest degree. 276 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CAPE COLONY. but it certainly has made the parliament more truly representative of the people, and it has removed a serious obstacle to the perfect blending of the colonists of Dutch and British blood, which is now happily in rapid progress. XXIII. THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. Before 1857 there were hardly any Bantu in the Cape Colony except the Fingos who had been in- troduced by Sir Benjamin D'Urban and the Tembus of Glen Grey, while British Kaffraria —the territory between the Keiskama and the Kei — had very few white inhabitants except soldiers, as the land there was reserved for the section of the Kosa tribe that was under English rule. After that date many thousands of Kosas were scattered over the country as far west as Port Elizabeth, and a population of European blood occupied a considerable portion of the land eastward to the Kei. This change in the position of the two races was caused by an event more astounding than anything in the pages of the wildest romance. The chiefs had accepted the terms imposed upon them at the close of the last war, but resolved to renew the struggle with the white people as soon as circumstances would permit it. Shortly after the conclusion of peace, Sir George Cathcart was suc- ceeded as governor and high commissioner by Sir POLICY OF SIR GEORGE GREY. 279 George Grey, one of the ablest administrators the country has ever had, and he immediately took steps to prevent, as he hoped, another outbreak of hostilities. As high commissioner he exercised supreme con- trol in British Kaffraria. Provided with a large amount of money from the imperial treasury, he attempted to pacify the chiefs by giving then pensions, payable monthly, as compensation for the power they had apparently lost, and he tried to break the belief in witchcraft by building a large and beautiful hospital in King-Williamstovvn, where any sick black person was attended by skilful medical men and provided for free of charge. Further, he commenced to make roads in the province, and to build a great sea wall at the mouth of the Buffalo river — called the port of East London — with the express object of teaching the Kosas the advantage of earning money by labour. In the same spirit he encouraged the Wesleyan and Free Church mission- ary societies to establish industrial institutions, where young Fingos and Kosas could be trained as gardeners, carpenters, blacksmiths, and waggon-makers, and where a number of the most intelligent boys could be educated as interpreters, schoolmasters, and evan- gelists. One of the institutions which he thus assisted with funds is still in existence. This is Lovedale, an establishment of the Free Church, where an ex- ceedingly good training has ever since been given, and where at the present time some five or six hundred youths of both sexes are living as pupils. These truly philanthropic measures, however, re- 28o THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. quired many years to produce a good effect, and even then a very small proportion of the people would be benefited by them. They had not well been taken in hand when tidings reached the high commissioner in Capetown that cattle in unusual numbers were being slaughtered in and beyond British Kaffraria, and that the Kosas were assuming a defiant attitude. Colonel Maclean, who had succeeded Colonel Mackin- non as head of the local government, was not long in finding out and reporting the cause. One morning in May 1856 a girl named Nong- kause went to draw water from a little stream that flowed past her home. On her return, she stated that she had seen by the river some men who differed greatly in appearance from those she was accustomed to meet. Her uncle, whose name was Umhlakaza, went to see the strangers, and found them at the place indicated. They told him to return home and , go through certain ceremonies, after which he was to offer an ox in sacrifice to the spirits of the dead, and to come back to them on the fourth day. There was that in their appearance which commanded obedience, and so the man did as they bade him. On the fourth day he went to the river again. The strange people were there as before, and to his astonishment he recognised among them his brother who had been many years dead. Then, for the first time, he learned who and what they were. The eternal enemies of the white man, they announced themselves as having come from battle-fields beyond the sea to aid the Kosas with their invincible power in driving the English from the land. Between them and the chiefs SELF-DESTRUCTION OF THE KOSAS. 281 Umhlakaza was to be the medium of communication, the channel through which instruction would be given. For strange things were to be done, stranger than any that had ever been done before, if the proffered assistance was welcomed. And first, he must tell the people to abandon dealing in witchcraft, to kill fat cattle and eat. Such is the tale which the Kosas told each other of the manner in which Umhlakaza and Nongkause became acquainted with the secrets of the spirit world. Umhlakaza and Nongkause ! What terrible visions of suffering and death are called forth in Kaffirland now at the mention of those two names ! Kreli, the paramount chief of the tribe, hailed the message with joy, and indeed it is generally believed — though it cannot be proved — that he was the instigator of the scheme. His word went forth that the command of the spirits was to be obeyed, that the best of all the cattle were to be killed and eaten. Messengers from him hastened to the chiefs in British Kaffraria to inform them of what had taken place, and to require their co-operation. Instantly the clans were in a state of commotion. Most of the chiefs commenced to kill, but one, Sandile, timid and hesitating, for a time held back. The high com- missioner sent word to Kreli that though in his own territory he could do as he pleased, he must cease from instigating those who were British subjects to destroy their property, or it would become necessary to punish him. But he cared little for such a threat, as the time was at hand when it would be for him to talk of punishing. 282 THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. The revelations communicated through Umhlakaza grew apace. The girl, standing in the river in pre- sence of a multitude of deluded people, heard strange unearthly sounds beneath her feet, which Umhlakaza pronounced to be the voices of spirits holding council over the affairs of men. The first order was to slay- cattle, but the greedy ghosts seemed insatiable in their demands. More and more were killed, but still never enough. And thus the delusion continued month after month, every day spreading wider and embracing fresh victims in its grasp. After a while Sandile gave way to the urgent applications of his brother Makoma, who asserted that he had himself seen and conversed with the spirits of two of his father's dead councillors, and that they commanded Sandile to kill his cattle if he would not perish with the white man. Before this time the last order of Umhlakaza had been given, that order whose fulfilment was to be the final preparation of the Kosas, after which they would be worthy of the aid of a spirit host. Not an animal out of all their herds must be left living, every grain of corn in their granaries must be destroyed. But what a future of glory and wealth was predicted for the faithful and obedient ! On a certain day myriads of cattle, more beautiful than those they were called upon to kill, were to issue from the earth and cover the pastures far and wide. Great fields of millet, ripe and ready for eating, were in an instant to spring into existence. The ancient heroes of the race, the great and the wise of days gone by, restored to life on that happy day, would appear and take part in SELF-DESTRUCTION OF THE KOSAS. 283 the joys of the faithful. Trouble and sickness would be known no more, nor would the frailties of old age oppress them, for youth and beauty were to return alike to the risen dead and the feeble living. Such was the picture of Paradise painted by the Kosa prophet, and held before the eyes of the infatuated people. And dreadful was to be the fate of those who opposed the will of the spirits, or neglected to obey their commands. The day that was to bring so much joy to the loyal would bring nothing but destruction for them. The sky itself would fall and crush them together with the Fingos and the whites. Missionaries and agents of the government tried in vain to stay the mad proceedings. A delirious frenzy possessed the 'minds of the Kosas, and they would listen to no argument, brook no opposition. White men who attempted to interfere with them in any way were scowled upon and warned to take care of themselves. Yet these fanatics, with their imagina- tions fixed on boundless wealth, were eagerly pur- chasing trifles from English traders, bartering away the hides of two hundred thousand slaughtered cattle. Most of them acted under the influence of supersti- tion alone, though there is no doubt that some of the leaders viewed the proceeding as calculated solely foi purposes of war. To throw the whole Kosa tribe, fully armed and in a famishing state, upon the colony, was the end kept steadily in view by these. The terrible odds against the success of such a venture they were too blind to see or too excited to calculate. Some there were who neither believed the predic- tions of Umhlakaza nor looked for success in war, 284 THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA, and who yet destroyed the last particle of their food. Bukhu, Kreli's uncle, was one of these. " It is the chiefs command," said he, and then, when nothing more was left, the old man and his favourite wife sat down in their empty kraal and died. Kreli's prin- cipal councillor opposed the scheme till he saw that words were useless. Then, observing that all he had was his chiefs, he gave the order to kill and waste, and fled from the place a raving lunatic. Thus it was with thousands. The chief commanded, and they obeyed. In the early months of 1857 an unwonted activity reigned throughout the country from the Keiskama to the Bashee. Great kraals were being prepared for the reception of the cattle, so soon to appear like stars of the sky in multitude. Enormous skin bags were being made to contain the milk shortly to be like water in plenty. And even as they worked some were starving. East of the Kei the prophet's com- mand had been obeyed to the letter, but the resur- rection day was still postponed. It was in mercy to the Gaikas, said Umhlakaza, for Sandile had not finished killing yet. Nothing surely was ever more clumsily arranged, more blindly carried out than this mad act of the Kosas. One section of the tribe was literally starving, while another section was still engaged in destroying its resources. The government did all that was possible to protect the frontier. Every post was strengthened, and every available soldier was sent forward. The colonists, too, were prepared to meet the expected shock, come when it would. And then, after defence SELF-DESTRUCTION OF THE KOSAS. 285 was provided for, stores of food were accumulated for the purpose of saving life. For there could be no heart so cold as not to feel pity for those misguided beings who were rushing so frantically into certain destruction. At length the morning dawned of the day so long and so ardently looked for. All night long the Kosas had watched with feelings stretched to the utmost tension of excitement, expecting to see two blood-red suns rise over the eastern hills, when the heavens would fall and crush the races they hated. Famished with hunger, half-dying as they were, that night was yet a time of fierce, delirious joy. The morn, that a few short hours, slowly becoming minutes, would usher in, was to see all their sorrows ended, all their misery past. And so they waited and watched. At length the sun approached the horizon, throwing first a silver sheen upon the mountain peaks, and then bathing hillside and valley in a flood of light The hearts of the watchers sank within them. " What," said they, " will become of us if Umhlakaza's predictions turn out untrue ? " But perliaps, after all, it might be midday that was meant, and when the shadows began to lengthen towards the cast, perhaps, they thought, the setting of the sun is the time. The sun went down — as it often does in that fair land — behind clouds of crimson and gold, and the Kosas awoke to the reality of their dreadful position. A blunder, such as a child would hardly have made, had been committed by the managers of this horrible tragedy. Under pretence of witnessing the 286 THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. resurrection, they should have assembled the warriors of the whole tribe at some point from which they could have burst in a body upon the colony. This had not been done, and now it was too late to collect them together. An attempt was made to rectify the blunder, and the day of resurrection was again post- poned, but fierce excitement had gtven place to deepest despair. The only chance ot life that re- mained was to reach the colony, but it was as sup- pliants, not as warriors, that the famished people must now go. The horrors that succeeded can only be partly told. There are intelligent men living now, then wild naked fugitives, who cannot recount the events of those days. The whole scene comes home to them as a hideous nightmare, or as the remem- brances of one in a state ot delirium. In many instances all the ties were broken that bind human beings to each other in every condition oi society. Brother fought with brother, lather with son, for scraps and shreds of those great milk sacks so care- fully made in the days when hope was high. The aged, the sick, the feeble, were abandoned by the young and vigorous. All kinds oi wild plants, and even the roots of trees, were collected for food. Many of those who were near the sea coast endea- voured to support life upon the shellfish found there. Being unaccustomed to such diet, they were attacked by dysentery, which completed the work of tamine. In other instances whole families sat down and died together. From fifteen to twenty skeletons were afterwards often found under a single tree, showing SELF-DESTRUCTION OF THE KOSAS. 287 where parents and children met their fate when the last ray of hope had fled. A continuous stream of emaciated beings poured into the colony, young men and women mostly, but sometimes fathers and mothers bearing on their backs half-dying children. Before the farmhouses they would sit down, and ask in the most piteous tones for food, nor did they ask in vain. Between the first and last days of 1857 the official returns of British Kaffraria showed a decrease in the population from one hundred and five thousand to thirty-eight thousand of both sexes and all ages. Sixty-seven thousand had perished or dispersed. In the centre of this territory was King-Will iamstown where the government had provided a quantity of corn, by which the lives of thousands were saved. Between the Kei and the Bashee there was no such storehouse, and flight, except to rival and unfriendly tribes, was next to impossible. The death-rate there was consequently higher than in British Kaffraria. The lowest computation fixes the number of those who perished on both sides of the Kei at twenty- five thousand, ordinary calculations give double that number. The power of the Kosa tribe was for the time completely broken. Large tracts of land in British Kaffraria having become waste by this mad act of the Kosas, Sir George Grey allotted farms of about fifteen hundred acres in size to a considerable number of selected individuals from the Cape Colony, to be held under tenure of military service and a small quitrent. A strong body of European settlers was thus stationed 288 THE PROVINCE OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA. in advance of the most formidable Kaffir strongholds. Some regiments of the German legion, raised by Great Britain during the Crimean war, were sent out, and were disbanded in the province, where plots of land were assigned to the officers and soldiers on a military village system. Many of these men prospered, and they were undoubtedly of great service to the country, but on the whole the villages were failures. The proportion of women was too small to give reasonable hope of permanency to the settlem.ents, and the men were better adapted for life in towns than as tillers of the soil. Most of them dispersed as soon as the issue of rations ceased. A body of agricultural labourers selected from the hardy peasantry of Northern Germany was intro- duced shortly afterwards. The men were accom- panied by their wives and children, and were inured to toil and accustomed to rough living. In 1858 and 1859 these people, in number rather over two thou- sand, landed at East London. They were sent out under a contract between Sir George Grey and a merchant in Hamburg, and were bound to refund within a certain period the cost of their transport and to pay twenty shillings an acre for the ground allotted to them. They were located in different parts of the province, but chiefly in the valley of the Buffalo river. No better settlers couM have been introduced. By their industry, in the course of a few years they became possessed of a considerable amount of stock and brought their little farms to a high state of cultivation. As market gardeners they were unrivalled in South Africa. Frugal, temperate ANNEXATION TO THE CAPE COLONY. 289 industrious, and religious, they contributed vary- largely to the prosperity of the province. King-Williamstown soon grew to be a place of no little importance. It was garrisoned by a strong body of British troops, and was the centre of a large trade, besides being the seat of the local government. In theory the Cape parliament had no power to legislate for British Kaffraria, but in practice as soon as an act was passed in Capetown the high com- missioner proclaimed it of force in the province, and thus secured uniformity in the laws. The revenue was small, and required to be supplemented by grants in aid from the imperial treasury. But now that the territory had ceased to be occupied exclu- sively by Bantu, it seemed to the queen's ministers that it might with advantage be incorporated with the Cape Colony, and this burden be removed from the British taxpayer. Proposals to that effect were therefore brought before the Cape parliament on several occasions, but were always rejected. At length the imperial parliament passed an act of union, which was, however, only to take effect after the lapse of a certain period, and provided the Cape parliament did not in the meantime annex the province. Armed with this document. Sir Philip Wodehouse, Sir George Grey's successor as governor and high commissioner, introduced a bill which provided for the incorporation of British Kaffraria as two electoral divisions — King-Williamstown and East London— and after much opposition it was passed by a majority of both houses of the Cape legislature, and in 1865 was carried into effect. 20 ^1 XXIV. THE COLONY OF NATAL AND THE OF ZULU LAND. DEPENDENCY Natal became a British possession at a very unfortunate time for the crood of the country. Senti- ment in England was then running so strong in favour of black people, that this beautiful and fertile country, which might have been made the home of many thousands of industrious European families, was given away to any Bantu who chose to enter it. There are, of course, different ways of looking at this matter. The Bantu themselves, who regard their mode of life as vastly preferable to ours, inasmuch as it is comparatively free of care and toil, certainly think their possession of Natal proper and desirable. The missionary looking for raw material to work with is naturally of the same opinion. But the man who believes that the strengthening of the European element would be a blessing to Africa itself, who is convinced that the native tribes of the continent can never become civilised except under European government and under the guidance and control of a strong body of European settlers, must INFLUX OF BANTU. 29 1 look Upon the alienation of the soil of Natal to the Bantu as a very great mistake. As soon as Great Britain was dominant there, all who were in fear of Panda made their way into the country, where they were sure of being protected and of being allowed to live as they chose. Their birth- place and that of their fathers might be far away, but they were all termed natives by the government, and as soon as arrangements could be made tracts of land were assigned to them to live upon. Mission- aries settled among them, and in course of time a few became converts to Christianity and made some advance towards civilisation. But the great majority remain what their forefathers were, for it cannot be said that their use of a few articles of European manufac- ture is an indication of any real change. There are no people in the world more prolific than the Bantu of South Africa, and though their death rate in towns partly occupied by Europeans is high, in their own kraals where they live after the custom of their ancestors it is low. The consequence is an amazingly rapid increase of population, wher- ever the old checks of war and punishment for dealing in witchcraft are removed. At the present day there are no fewer than half a million of these people within the borders of Natal. They are per- mitted to live according to their own laws and customs, but they pay a small hut-tax, and the government exercises general control over them. Owing to their presence in such numbers the country has failed to attract European settlers, and only one large body of white immigrants has ever 292 NATAL AND ZULU LAND. entered it since the British conquest. Between 1848 and 1 85 1 some four or five thousand EngUsh people arrived, to whom small plots of ground were given ; but many of them afterwards removed to Australia, and few remained as cultivators of the soil. White people from abroad settle in the country every year, but never in large numbers. At the present day they are not more than forty-four thousand all told, that is, for every twelve African blacks there is only one white person. Although the disparity in number is so great, the Bantu have not often disturbed the peace of the country, and only on two or three occasions has it been necessary to use military force against defiant chiefs. They have as yet ample space for living comfortably in their own way, and taxation is so light that they do not feel it as a burden. But this condition of things cannot be permanent, for they are multiplying so rapidly that there must some day be a struggle for more room. What form it may take cannot, of course, be foreseen. Only once since the British occupation of the country has there been a serious disturbance within its borders. In 1848 a section of the Hlubi tribe fled from Zululand, and had a location assigned to it at the sources of the Bushman's river, under the Drakensberg. The Hlubi had once been the largest tribe in South-Eastern Africa, but in Tshaka's wars most of its members weve killed, and those who sur- vived were dispersed far and wide. " There was a white mark from the Tngela to Thaba Ntshu, and that mark was our bones," said once an old Hlubi to THE HLUBI TRIBE. 293 the writer of this volume, in recounting his personal adventures. He might have added that there was a similar line from the Tugela to the Kei. Along both these routes a few fugitives were scattered, and these have multiplied so greatly that if their des- cendants could all be collected together to-day the Hlubi would again stand out as the largest tribe of the country. The great chiefs had perished in Tshaka's wars, and the one of highest rank that was left was Langalibalele — in English " The Sun is burning " — the head of the clan that sought refuge in Natal. A stranger visiting his location in 1873 would have regarded him as a man of little importance, with a following of not more than ten thousand souls, all told ; but those acquainted with his history knew that he was held in strong attachment by clans as far away as the Caledon in one direction and the Fish river in another. There was a law in Natal, required for public safety, that no Bantu should have guns in their possession without being registered. In other parts of South Afi'ica guns were obtainable, and Langa- libalele, setting the law at defiance, sent his young men away to earn money and purchase these weapons, which were brought by hundreds into his location without the necessary formalities being observed. When this became known, the chief was called upon to account for his guns, but he declined to do so. Message after message was sent, requiring him to appear at Maritzburg, but he made excuses, and never went. It was subsequently proved that he 294 NATAL AND ZULULAND. was in treasonable correspondence with other chiefs, and he must have felt himself strong enough to main- tain his independence against the Europeans. Peaceable means having failed to secure his obedience, an armed party was sent to enforce the demands of the government. Upon its approach Langalibalele abandoned his women and children, and with his cattle and most of his warriors fell back upon the mountains. In the Bushman's pass Major Durnford and a small party of volunteers overtook the rearguard of the rebels. The chief was in advance, and as the volunteers had orders not to fire first, they attempted to communicate with him. The induna in command pretended to send for the chief, and while waiting for him to arrive, the volunteers were being surrounded. At the same time threatening gestures and language, coupled with taunts, were used towards them. They fell back in a panic, when too late, and as they did so five of them were shot down. The colonists at once awoke to a sense of their danger. They did not know how far the inclination to rebel extended, but of one thing they were certain : that nothing but the prompt punishment of the Hlubis would prevent all who were disaffected from rising in arms. Volunteers at once came forward. Everywhere in South Africa the Europeans were ready to help. The government of the Cape Colony took immediate measures to render effectual assis- tance, and the two republics expressed a willingness to give aid if needed. It was recognised that not only the peace of Natal, but of the entire country, was REBELLION OF LANGALIBALELE. 295 imperilled, for if time was given for all the sections of the Hlubi tribe to unite with the clan in rebellion a general war of races might ensue. Langalibalele and his warriors cro-sed the Dra- kensberg to Basutoland, in expectation of being joined there by one of Moshesh's sons ; but such prompt measures were taken by the governments of the Cape Colony and Natal that the rebels were sur- rounded before they reached their destination, and the chief, with some of his principal men, who were in advance, were obliged to surrender to the Cape frontier armed and mounted police. The main body made an attempt to resist, but were dispersed after a sharp action, and all the cattle were captured. During this time the excitement of the Natal colonists was naturally very high, and what, under ordinary circumstances, would be regarded as undue severity was exercised towards the people Langali- balele had left behind, as well as to another clan that sympathised with him. But as soon as the danger was over, violent measures of every kind ceased. Langalibalele was tried by a special court, which sentenced him to banishment for life ; and as Natal had no outlying dependency to send him to, an act was passed by the Cape parliament authorising his detention on Robben Island. His clan was broken up, and the ground it had occupied was resumed by the government. This event attracted a great deal of attention in England, chiefly through the action of the Aborigines Protection Society and of Bishop Colenso, who repre- sented the conduct of the white people and of the 296 NATAL AND ZULU LAND. government as in the highest degree cruel and unjust towards the Hlubis. The Natal clergy, some sixty ministers and missionaries of different denominations, did their utmost to show that it was not so ; but their opinions were in general unheeded, as were also the statements of the South African press. The imperial ministry reflected the sentiments of the people. Sir Benjamin Pine, the governor of Natal, was recalled. Compensation was ordered to be given from the colonial treasury to the clan that had suffered loss owing to its sympathy VA'ith the rebels ; various Hlubis who had been condemned to terms of im- pris(;nment had their sentences commuted ; and it was required that Langalibalele should be removed from Robben Island to a farm on the mainland, where he could have the society of his wives and be treated as a prisoner of state. These orders were of course promptly carried out. Langalibalele remained an exile for twelve years, during which time he was provided with every possible comfort. He was then permitted to return to Natal, and died there shortly afterwards. The belt of land along the coast north of the Umzimkulu has a tropical vegetation, though it is perfectly healthy for Europeans. It seemed therefore to present a favourable field for the production of coffee, sugar, ginger, arrowroot, cotton, and tea, and no long time elapsed before experiments began to be made. Not a plant among them all but throve wonderfully well, so that, it was hoped and expected that Natal would shortly become one of the most valuable dependencies of Great Britain. Here was a IMPORTATION OF INDIANS, 297 favourable soil and a favourable climate, and here, thought people at a distance, in the teeming Bantu locations was a great reservoir of labour that could be utilised for the good of both employers and employed. But the Bantu declined to be utilised in this way. Some of them were willing to work for a while when the whim seized them and they had a particular object in view, but they could never be depended upon, and were prone to leave service just when they were most needed. The planters then turned to India for a supply of labour. Coolies were engaged there, and were brought over under contracts for a term of years. By their assistance the soil was made to bring forth tropical products in considerable quantities, but eventually some were destroyed by diseases and others were found not to pay. Sugar has succeeded best. After providing for home consumption, in 1895 sugar was exported to the value of ;^58,725, tea to the value of ^1,553, coffee to the value of ;^i,352, and arrowroot to the value of ;^ 1,634. It was supposed that the coolies would return to India when their contracts expired, as they were entitled to free passages back ; but they had found a goodly land, and many of them had no mind to leave it. Some of their countrymen of the trading class were next attracted by the accounts spread by those who returned, and soon quite a little stream of Indian immigrants set in. As they can live upon the merest trifle, European competitors were rapidly driven out, and retail dealing, with all kinds of light labour, fell into their hands. They contribute nothing « > Q -o < a < S 2 o MODE OF LIFE OF EUROPEANS. 299 towards the military strength of the country and very little towards its revenue. They are now equal in number to the white people, so that Natal cannot be regarded as an English colony in the same sense as Canada or Australia. It is more like a miniature India, a country occupied chiefly by alien races, but with a government and upper caste of Europeans, ^ The circumstances under which they lived deter- mined the mode of life of the white people of Natal. They became for the most part traders and forwarders of goods to the interior republics. There are planters and farmers among them, but more than half of the whole number reside in the two towns, Maritzburg and Durban, and a large proportion of the remainder occupy villages along the trade routes. Their spirit and sentiments are largely affected by this circum- stance. It has been observed as something strange that an Englishman long resident on a farm in the Cape Colony feels himself perfectly at home if he visits the Orange Free State, yet is like an alien in Natal. But the cause is easily explained : in the one case he is among people of familiar instincts, in the other he is not. Maritzburg and Durban have thriven greatly of late years. Durban is the gateway through which passes the commerce not only of the colony itself and of Zululand, but of part of the Orange Free State and the South African Republic. Extensive works have been constructed to improve the entrance to the inner harbour, and large ships can now cross the bar and lie beside a wharf as safely as in a dock. Numerous handsome buildings, chief among which 300 NATAL AND ZULULAND, is the grandest municipal hall in South Africa, em- bellish this town. From Durban a railway has been constructed to the heart of the South African Republic, where it meets the line from Capetown to Lourengo Marques. It passes through Maritzburg, and also through the villages of Estcourt, Ladysmith, and Newcastle farther inland. From Ladysmith a branch line runs by way of Van Reenen's pass in the Drakens- berg to Harrismith in the Orange Free State, and taps the trade of the eastern part of the republic. It goes up the Drakensberg in a series of zigzag sections, but in places the gradients are very heavy, as they are likewise on the main line. It is in contemplation to continue the railway from Harri- smith until it meets the great north-eastern line through the Cape Colony and the Orange Free State, which will give shorter unbroken communi- cation between Capetown and Durban than by the way of Johannesburg, as at present. Close to the coast there is a branch line northward to the village of Verulam, and one southward to Isipingo. The main branch of this system of railways has the great advantage of passing through an extensive field of coal of fair quality, from which fuel can be obtained at a cheap rate. It is on the plateau at the foot of the Drakensberg, so that it is centrally situated, and the coal, which is easily worked, is con- veyed to the coast along a descending gradient. It is not the least important of the natural riches of Natal. Besides furnishing fuel for the railways and CONSTITUTION OF NATAL. 3OI the towns, in 1895, over seventy thousand pounds' worth was exported. The legislature of the colony has undergone many changes. For some years there was a council entirely of nominees, but in 1856 a charter was granted by the queen, when it became chiefly elective. From that date until 1893 the proportion of elective to nominee members was frequently altered, and then responsible government was introduced. There are now two chambers : a legislative council of eleven nominee members, holding their seats for ten years, and a legislative assembly of thirty-seven elected members, holding their seats for four years. The franchise differs in principle from that of the Cape Colony, or representative government of any kind would be an impossibility. Male British sub- jects, not being Bantu, who own land worth £^0, or who pay i^io a year for rent, or who have lived three years in the country and are in receipt of salaries of £(^6 a year, are entitled to vote. Bantu are excluded, except those who possess the above qualifications, and in addition have been by their own desire for seven years exempted from tribal and subject to colonial law. This provision secures equal rights with Euro- peans for the few who have embraced Christianity and live in a civilised manner, while it withholds from the great barbarous mass a privilege of which they are incapable of making proper use. The public debt of Natal is rather over eight million pounds sterling, apparently a very large sum for a colony of only forty-four thousand Europeans to owe. as it means an indebtedness of /"182 for each 302 NATAL AND ZULULAND, individual. But the Indians should count for some- thing in apportioning the public debt, though it would be difficult to say in what ratio they should be classi- fied with Europeans. The great mass of Bantu, if reckoned at all, must appear on the other side of the ledger. The railways are public property, and a con- siderable portion of the debt was incurred for the purpose of constructing them. The history of Zululand is so closely connected with that of Natal that it can conveniently be in- cluded in the same chapter. Panda, who became independent of foreign control in 1843, was much less intelligent than either of his predecessors, Tshaka or Dingan. Soon after his accession to power he grew so stout as to be unwieldy, and never after- wards displayed activity of any kind, bodily or mental. Two of his sons, however, Umbulazi and Cetyvvayo by name, grew up to be men of superior ability. Though the discipline of the army was greatly relaxed, the military system introduced by Tshaka was still kept up, and the regiments were divided in their attachment to the young chiefs. " Two young bulls cannot live together in the same kraal," said Panda; "one must drive the other out or be gored." The brothers were of the same opinion. In December 1856 a battle was fought between their adherents on the northern bank of the Tugela, which resulted in complete victory for Cetywayo. His brother must have been killed, though the body was not found, for he was never seen again. Then a dreadful massacre of the defeated chief's adherents took place, when not only the men, but the women CETYWAYO. 303 and children related to them, were put to death. About one-fourth of the Zulus perished. From that day Cetywayo was the real ruler of the tribe, though his father lived until 1872. The young chief was a man of prepossessing appearance, digni- fied in manner, and gifted with mental power in a high degree. But he was as pitiless as a piece of steel, and human life under his government was sacrificed with as little compunction as the life of oxen and cows. Much as one could wish it other- wise, observation shows that this is the kind of rule which brings out what is best in the Bantu character as well as what is worst, and under Cetywayo the Zulus were recognised by every one as the most intelligent, the most active, and the most fearless of all the blacks in South Africa. They were the most handsome too, for constant exercise in arms and in military drill greatly improved their appear- ance. Discipline had become relaxed during the fifteen years following Panda's accession, but by Cetywayo it was restored to the same condition as under Tshaka. As time went on the Zulus became more and more a menace to their neighbours. Hemmed in between the South African Republic, Natal, and the sea, if they used their arms at all, it could only be against a civilised power. In 1877 Sir Bartle Frere became governor of the Cape Colony and high commissioner for South Africa. No man had a kinder heart or a more earnest desire to promote the welfare of the people of the country, white and black, the Zulus as well as British subjects. 304 NATAL AND ZULULAND. But war with Cetywayo had become a necessity, and he could not avoid it without betraying his trust. It was his duty to protect the queen's subjects, and there was no question that many of them were in imminent peril, and must so remain until the Zulu military system came to an end. Unfortunately he did not know how strong the Zulu army really was, and none of those upon whom he depended for informa- tion were able to tell him. Cetywayo gave him more than one provocation. A powerful Zulu force paraded along the British border, and the chief spoke of it as a mere hunting party. English officials who were sent into Zululand as envoys were treated by the indunas in a contemptuous manner. Zulu subjects crossed the boundary, seized two women on Natal soil and carried them away to death, and Cetywayo, when called upon for redress, treated the matter as of trifling importance. In several serious disturbances by Bantu tribes in distant parts of South Africa the agency of the Zulu chief was clearly traced, and in many other respects he showed himself an enemy to the civilised governments of the country. In December 1878 Sir Bartle Frere, having col- lected a military force in Natal which every one believed to be strong enough for the purpose, sent an ultimatum to Cetywayo, in which he demanded re- dress for the injuries sustained, and called upon the chief to disband his army. As no notice was taken of the message, on the loth of January, 1879, an Enelish army entered Zululand in three divisions, consisting partly of British soldiers, partly of colonists, and partly of blacks. ISANDLWANA, 305 Ten days after crossing the Buffalo the central column formed a camp at the foot of the hill Isandlwana — that is The Little Hand — within sight of the Natal border. The country was so rough that it needed all that time to construct a road along which provisions could be conveyed. On the following morning part of the column, with Lord Chelmsford, the conimander-in-chief, left the camp and moved away to attack a kraal several miles distant. Some Dutch farmers had advised the English officers to take precautions against surprise, and had told them of the encounters with Dingan, but their warnings were disregarded. Nothing was done for protection at Isandlwana, though there were waggons enough to form a lager. Not a trench was dug nor a spadeful of earth thrown up in a bank. No one there even dreamed of danger until a little before noon on the 22nd of January 1879, when the horns of a Zulu army about twenty thousand strong were closing around the camp. The fight for life was stubborn, but the odds on the enemy's side were too great, and all was soon over. A [ew, principally mounted irregulars, managed to make their way out of the circle of Zulu spears before it was quite closed, but the ground was full of boulders and dry beds of occasional torrents, so that many of these even were overtaken and killed. With them were Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill, who were trying to save the colours of the first battalion of the 24th regiment, and who reached the Natal bank of the Buffalo before they were struck down. The colours were found in the river some days afterwards. 21 306 NATAL AND ZULULAND. At Isandlwana nearly seven hundred British soldiers and over one hundred and thirty colonists perished, for the Zulus gave no quarter. The victors lost about three thousand men. Information of the terrible disaster reached Lord Chelmsford in the afternoon. An officer had ridden towards the camp, and had seen it in possession of the Zulus. The party with the general, though weary from marching in the hot sun, at once com- menced to retreat, for all its stores of every kind were lost. Isandlwana was reached shortly after nightfall, and there, among the corpses of their slain comrades, officers and men, alike worn out with anxiety and fatigue, lay down and tried to rest. The Zulus, after plundering the camp, had retired. At early dawn the retreating band resumed its march, and reached Natal without being molested. At Rorke's Drift, where the column had crossed the Buffalo, there was a small depot of provisions and a hospital, and there a hundred and thirty soldiers, under Lieutenants Bromhead and Chard, had been left to keep open communication with Natal. About five o'clock in the afternoon of the day of Isandlwana this post was attacked by between three and four thousand of the very best of the Zulu soldiers, commanded by Dabulamanzi, a brother of Cetywayo. Fortunately the garrison had received warning in time to enable them to make a lager of sacks of maize and boxes of biscuits, behind which they maintained such a gallant defence until four o'clock in the morn- ing of the 23rd that Dabulamanzi then thought it prudent to retire. Over three hundred of his men INVASION OF ZULULAND. 307 were lying dead around the lager. Of the garrison seventeen were dead and ten were wounded. This splendid defence saved Natal from invasion, for if the post had fallen the colony would have been open to the Zulus. The other columns fared better than the one whose fate has been told. Colonel Pearson, with about two thousand European combatants and the same number of blacks, crossed the Tugela near the sea, and marched towards Ulundi, the Zulu capital, where the whole of the invading forces intended to unite. At Inyesane he was attacked by a Zulu army between four and five thousand strong, but beat it back with heavy loss, and on the 23rd of January reached the Nor- wegian mission station Etshowe. Here he learned of the disaster at Isandlwana, so he sent his cavalry and blacks back to Natal, and fortified the station, where he remained until reinforcements arrived from England. The third column consisted of about seventeen hundred British soldiers, fifty farmers under Com- mandant Pieter Uys, and three or four hundred blacks. It was commanded by Colonel Evelyn Wood. This column was not attacked on its march, and after Isandlwana fortified a post at Kambula, where it remained. Colonel Wood managed to inflict much damage upon the Zulus in his neighbour- hood by frequent sallies, but on one occasion, at a mountain named Hlobane, his patrol was nearly surrounded, and ninety-six of the party were killed. Among them were Commandant Uys, Colonel Weatherley, and the son of the latter, a mere youth, 308 NATAL AND ZULULAND, who died at his father's side just as Uyss brother had died by his father's side forty-one years before. On the day after this event the lager at Kambula was attacked by a great Zulu army, which suffered tre- mendous loss before it retired discomfited. In the beginning of April Lord Chelmsford, with a strong force of soldiers and sailors, marched from Natal to the relief of Colonel Pearson at Etshowe. On the way he was attacked at Ginginhlovu, but beat back his assailants, and succeeded in reaching the station. As soon as intelligence of the disaster at Isandlwana reached England strong reinforcements were sent out, and before June some nine thousand soldiers, cavalry and infantry, with a vast quantity of munitions of war and provisions, reached Natal. With them came the young prince imperial of France, who was fated to lose his life a few weeks later in a lonely dell in Zululand. He went out from a camp with a small reconnoitring party, which was surprised by a band of Zulus while it was resting, and the prince, being unable to mount his horse, was stabbed to death, his companions having abandoned him and ridden away. Despatches now reached South Africa announcing that Sir Garnet VVolseley had been appointed com- mander-in-chief of the forces, high commissioner for South-Eastern Africa, and administrator of the territories bordering on the seat of war. Lord Chelmsford was at the time just completing his arrangements for an advance upon Ulundi. It seemed as if he was to be deprived of the satisfaction of bringing the war to an end, and, as actually hap- BATTLE OF ULUNDI, 3OQ pened, Sir Garnet Wolseley arrived before the 4th of July, when Ulundi was reached and the final battle was fought ; but Lord Chelmsford was still in com- mand of the column. It is estimated that about ten thousand Zulu soldiers had been killed before the end of June. Some twenty thousand more had lost heart, as they had not succeeded in taking a single lager during the war, and they had consequently deserted and dispersed. With from fifteen to twenty thousand who were true to him still, Cetywayo awaited the British army at Ulundi. Lord Chelmsford formed his troops in a hollow square, upon which the Zulus dashed them- selves in vain. Beaten back by a terrible storm of bullets, and having no hope of breaking the British square by even the heaviest sacrifice, they turned to retire, when the cavalry was let loose upon them. They dispersed, never again to rally, and Cetywayo was a fugitive seeking only concealment. After Ulundi and the military kraals near it were burned, the army fell back upon its base of supplies, and Lord Chelmsford resigned his command. The war was over, the colonial volunteers were allowed to return home, and part of the large regular force in the field was sent to England, though until Cetywayo's person could be secured it was not con- sidered advisable to remove the whole of the troops from the country. The people — all honour to them for it — were so loyal to their chief that for many weeks not one could be found to betray him, though thousands must have been acquainted with his hiding places. At length, however, a man, who was threat- 310 NATAL AND ZULULAND, ened with death if he did not divulge the secret, pointed out a secluded kraal on the border of a forest, and Cetywayo became a prisoner. No captive ever conducted himself more decorously than the fallen chief of the Zulus. He was sent a prisoner to Capetown, and, after a short confinement in the castle, had a small farm close to the one occu- pied by Langalibalele assigned to him as a residence. There he was attended by servants of his own choice, and was well cared for in every respect. Zululand was divided by Sir Garnet Wolseley into thirteen districts, each of which was placed under the government of a chief independent of all the others, and nominally guided by the advice of a single British resident. But this plan of settlement did not answer at all, and in 1883 Cetywayo was allowed to return. In the meantime he had visited England, where he was very well received, and by his sensible observa- tions and dignified deportment had acquired the favourable opinion of every one with whom he came in contact. It was thought that after the experience hx2 had gone through he might without imprudence be allowed to return to his own country, upon making a promise to observe conditions that would prevent his power from becoming dangerous again. Some of the people welcomed him back, but others adhered to a rival chief named Sibepu, who had found means to secure a large following. War at once broke out between them, and when Cetywayo died in the following year, it continued between his son Dinizulu and Sibepu. Dinizulu secured the aid of a body of farmers, in return for which he ceded to them 1 .1^^ ;:Mi i JliT 'li- : I 1 fijlili. ':i 1 i'i'iiiM'i, 1 I liiiiif "' ill '.'i' \t*m%v\ ^M'^h 312 NATAL AND ZULU LAND. a large tract of land, which was afterwards united to the South African Republic, and is now known as the district of Vryheid. With their assistance he subdued his rival, but confusion and strife still continued, so that in 1887 what remained of the country was of necessity annexed to the British Empire. It was divided into six districts, and a European magistrate, supported by soldiers and police, now has charge of each. Not unnaturally Dinizulu objected to this arrange- ment, and he caused such disturbances against the English authority that order could not be maintained while he was in the country. He was therefore arrested, and in 1889, with two other chiefs, was sent to reside on the island of St. Helena, where he is still living. Zululand has not been annexed to Natal, but the governor of the one country is also governor of the other. Settlement by Europeans in the territory is not practicable to any large extent. XXV. THE ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. The history of the world may be searched in vain for an instance of a community in a more unenviable position than the burghers of the territory between the Orange and Vaal rivers when they were aban- doned by Great Britain. They were scattered thinly over a great plain, and beside them in a mountain land like a strong fortress was a hostile tribe armed to the teeth, under the ablest chief in South Africa, exulting in its recent victory over a British army, and vastly exceeding them in number of combatants. To the poHcy of forming a powerful Basuto state they had been resolutely opposed, yet now they were made to bear the consequences of its creation. Their country was without roads or bridges, almost without churches and schools, so that these were to be pro- vided as well as the ordinary machinery of govern- ment, while they received no share of the customs duties on their trade levied in the ports of Natal and the Cape Colony. That they surmounted these difficulties and made their state one of the most flourishing in South Africa is something that they are justly proud of 313 314 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. The form of government that they adopted vfas repubHcan. There is a president, who is the prin- cipal executive officer, and who is elected by the burghers for a term of five years. He must carry out the resolutions of the volksraad, and has no veto upon its proceedings. He is assisted by an executive council. The volksraad is the supreme authority, and consists at present of fifty-six members, one for each fieldcornetcy and one for each seat of magis- tracy. They are elected for four years. The presi- dent and the state secretary have the right of debate, but not of voting, in the volksraad. All European males of full age born in the State are electors, and also all European immigrant males of full age who have become burghers and are in possession of unmortgaged landed property to the value of ^^150, or are lessees of landed property at a yearly rental of £s^y or are in receipt of a fixed yearly income of ;£"200, or have been resident in the State for three years and possess movable property worth ^300. Men of coloured blood who live in all respects as Europeans may have the privilege to vote accorded to them by special resolution of the volksraad, and some of very dark tint living in the same way go to the polls unquestioned. But the principle is kept clearly in view that the government is to represent the civilised inhabitants of the country, and that those who are uncivilised can have no voice in its formation, though they are to be protected equally with electors and have the same right in courts of justice. The fundamental law of the State, like that of all other European communities in South Africa, is the PRESIDENTS HOFFMAN AND BOSHOF. 315 Roman as modified by the legislature of Holland before 1652. The official language is Dutch, and the courts of law are after the Dutch pattern, though considerably modified. In each district there is a landdrost, with a body of heemraden to assist in settling important cases, and over all is a supreme court of judges, who must previously have been qualified barristers. When the British flag was withdrawn the com- munity was split into factions, but the common danger forced them to unite in choosing a president acceptable to Moshesh. Mr. Josias Hoffman, a farmer who was intimately acquainted with the great chief and on excellent terms with him, was therefore elected. During his short tenure of office, however, the burghers felt that concession to the Basuto power was carried further than was consistent with the dignity of an independent state, and early in 1855 the volksraad took advantage of his having made a present of a keg of gunpowder to Moshesh without reporting the circumstance and clamoured so loudly against him that he was compelled to resign. Mr. Jacobus Nicolaas Boshof, a man of education, of high moral character, and of considerable ability, was then elected president. Having had a training in official work in the civil service of the Cape Colony, he was able to put the different departments of the government in good order. But from the day of his assuming duty he was so incessantly harassed by the all-important question with Moshesh that he could do little or nothing else for the general welfare of the country. 3l6 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND, Moshesh's object, from a Bantu point of view, was so praiseworthy that his followers were ready to do everything in their power to promote it. He wished to recover for his tribe the whole of the territory south of the Vaal and west of the Drakensberg that had been in occupation of black people before the wars of Tshaka. The remnants of the tribes that in olden times had occupied the ground were now his followers, and he wanted the soil that once was theirs. Sir George Napier had given him by treaty a large portion of it, and that much, at any rate, he was determined to have. The object of the Free State government and burghers was to retain the boundary fixed by Sir Harry Smith, which, in their opinion, was a fair one. When white people moved into the territory it was a vast waste, and if they had not come Moshesh could never have had a quarter of the land that was now in his possession. Certainly Bantu had at some former period occupied ground nearly as far west as Bloem- fontein, but they had irrecoverably lost it during the Zulu wars. To admit Moshesh's claim would be to consent to the annihilation of the State, and the burghers had no mind for that. Here, in brief, was the cause of the long and desperate struggle between the Orange Free State and the Basuto tribe. For several years Moshesh directed his efforts towards the south, leaving the farmers on his other borders undisturbed. In that direction the herds oi the white people were plundered mercilessly by his followers, and as a rule he would give no redress. Sir George Grey once tried to arrange matters SECOND BASUTO WAR. 317 amicably between the two parties, and through his agency an agreement of peace and friendship was signed ; but Moshesh did not long observe it. At length actual possession of occupied farms was taken by parties of armed Basuto, and hostilities could be staved off no longer. In March 1858 the burghers of all parts of the State were called out, and entered Basutoland in two divisions, the object being to try to confine the war to the enemy's country. But Moshesh was much too skilful a strategist for their commanders to cope with. He kept them closely occupied until after some severe fighting they arrived in front of Thaba Bosigo, where they learned that swarms of his light horsemen were ravaging their farms. Before them was a moun- tain stronghold which could not be taken by storm, and they had not the means of laying siege to it. Under these circumstances the burghers dispersed, and made the best of their way to the localities where they had left their families. President Boshof had already applied to the South African Republic for aid, but as the burghers of the northern state were holding out for special terms of union, and there was no time to be lost, he requested the mediation of Sir George Grey. Moshesh con- sented to an armistice, and promised to abide by the decision of the governor. He was wise enough to recognise that if he pushed his advantage too far he would have to deal with the northern republic as well as the southern, and he felt certain that the governor would give him, as the conqueror, a good strip of territory. jlS ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. Sir George Grey accepted the office of mediator. He took from Moshesh a far outlying mission station which was a kind of semi-independent fief of the Basuto chieftainship, but gave him a large extent of territory south of Sir Harry Smith's Hne. Thus the first struggle with the Basuto ended in very serious loss to the Orange Free State. Shortly after this Mr. Boshof resigned, and was succeeded as president by Mr. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, son of the famous commandant-general. He represented a strong party that desired the union ot the two republics, but as there were many con- flicting interests in the way, besides the declaration of the high commissioner that union would dissolve the conventions with Great Britain, every attempt at amalgamation failed During these years the Free State was continually growing stronger. The Griqua captain Adam Kok sold his territorial rights to the republic, his people sold their ground to farmers from the Cape Colony, and then the whole clan moved away to a new country below the Dralvcnsberg and south of Natal, given to them by Sir George Grey. With the excep- tion of a little tract of almost unoccupied land belonging to the Griqua captain Nicholas Waterboer between the Modder and Orange rivers and a loca- tion belonging to the Barolong chief Moroko, the whole territory between the Vaal and the Orange up to the Basuto border was now in possession of white people, and sheep farming and cattle rearing could be carried on in a large portion of it with greater profit than in any other pan of South Africa. CONDUCT OF AlOSHESH. 319 Along the Basuto border, however, there was a continual state of unrest. Moshesh had conquered the clans on the northern bank of the Caledon, and had annexed their ground. The white people main- tained that the boundary should remain as before, but the chief said contemptuously that he had never PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT BRAND. agreed to it, and he showed clearly that he would not respect it President Pretorius did all that was possible to induce him to act fairly in the matter, but in vain. His people pressed across the line, settled on farms, and plundered the country for miles in front of them. In 1865 Advocate Jan Hendrik Brand was elected 320 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. president. Of him it may be said that South Africa knows no worthier name, for no one has ever con- tributed more to the welfare of the people than he. Sir Philip Wodehouse had succeeded Sir George Grey as governor of the Cape Colony and her Majesty's high commissioner for the regions be}'ond. President Brand requested him to mark off the northern boundary between the Free State and Basutoland, and the volksraad empowered him to alter Sir Harry Smith's line if he saw fit to do so, as they were willing to lose some ground if only they could secure peace. Sir Philip was no lover of republics, and he never concealed his dislike of the South African farmers ; but in a matter of this kind he could be depended upon to act with the strictest justice. Moshesh very reluctantly agreed to abide by his decision. He visited the country, carefully inspected it, heard the arguments on both sides, and after much consideration confirmed Sir Harry Smith's line. The president then called upon Moshesh to withdraw his followers from the farms they had taken possession of, and upon the chief's failure to do so, the burghers were called out to drive them back by force, when open war began. The laying waste of a large extent of territory in the Free State by Basuto horsemen could not be prevented, and a number of people were massacred in a shocking manner ; but, on the other hand, the burgher forces were victorious in several engagements and took some mountain strongholds by storm. Thaba Bosigo, however, resisted every attack upon it. After ten months' fighting Moshesh asked for PRESIDENT BRAND AND MOSHESH. 331 peace, and offered to cede a considerable part of his country, but a year later he declared that he had only done so in order to secure a harvest. The president and the burghers were deceived, and in April 1866 terms were agreed to and a treaty ot peace was signed. His gardens were planted, and when his harvests were gathered Moshesh threw off the mask. He declined to fulfil the terms of the treaty, and in July 1867, President Brand was obliged to call the burghers again to arms to compel him to observe his engage- ments. Both sides recognised that the struggle must now be a final one, and each put forth its utmost strength. But Moshesh no longer possessed the mental vigour of his earlier years, and in his tribe there was no one who could take his place as a strategist. His sons were mere ordinary barbarians. Soon fragments of the tribe began to drop off and move over the Drakensberg. Then one after another all the Basuto strongholds fell, except Thaba Bosigo, Moshesh's own mountain, which defied attack. The granaries were destroyed, and the bulk of the tribe, driven into the mountains, was suffering severely from hunger and disease. The Free State was in a fair way of being able very shortly to dictate its own terms when Sir Philip Wodehouse interfered. At Moshesh's request he proclaimed the Basuto tribe British subjcct<=, and sent an armed force to protect them. British interests, he declared, would not permit of their being dispersed over the country as fugitives. Naturally the people of the Free State regarded 22 322 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. this action as unfriendly and unfair, and the volksraad sent deputies to England to protest against it ; but the imperial authorities left the matter entirely in the governor's hands. The president then tried to secure as good terms as possible, and in February 1869 an agreement was concluded by which the Free State obtained all the land north and west of the Caledon and south of a line almost identical with that of Sir Harry Smith between the Caledon and the Orange. The republic sorely needed rest when the struggle with the Basuto was over, though it was less exhausted than its opponent Paper money had been issued to a large amount, and the notes were greatly depreciated in value. Farming operations had been neglected, and individuals as well as the state had been compelled to incur heavy debts. There was hardly a homestead in the land which did not bear evidence that a crisis of no ordinary nature had been experienced. The loss of life too had been heavy in proportion to the population. But the hearts of the people beat high, and government and burghers alike set to work resolutely to repair their losses A little before this date a discovery was made that created a perfect revolution in South African life. One day in 1867 a child on a farm in the north of the Cape Colony was observed to be playing with a remarkably brilliant pebble, which a trader, to whom it was shown as a curiosity, suspected to be a gem of value. It was sent for examination to a qualified person in Grahamstown, who reported that DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS. 323 it was a diamond of twenty-one carats weight, and that its value was ^^500. Search was immediately commenced in the neighbourhood by several persons in odd hours, and soon another, though much smaller, was found. Then a third was picked up on the bank of the Vaal river, and attention was directed to that locality. During 1868 several were found, though as yet no one was applying himself solely to looking for them. In March 1869 the Star of South Africa was obtained from a Korana Hottentot, who had been in possession of it for a long time without the least idea of its value except as a powerful charm. It was a magnificent brilliant of eighty-three carats weight when uncut, and was readily sold for ;^i 1,000. From all parts of South Africa men now began to make their way to the banks of the lower Vaal to search for diamonds, and trains of waggons conveying pro- visions and goods were to be seen on every highway to the interior. Some of the diggers were fortunate in amassing wealth, but this was by no means the case with all. Diamond digging, in fact, was like a great lottery, with a few prizes and many blanks. But it had a powerful attraction, and shortly many hundreds of adventurers from Europe and America were also engaged in it. The quiet, simple, homely life of the South African farm and village in olden times — rarely disturbed except by wars with Bantu tribes — had passed away for ever, and a bustling, struggling, restless mode of existence was rapidly taking its place. The wealth of the country was enormously increased, for dia- 324 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. monds soon attained a high place in the exports ; but it may be questioned if the people are on the whole as happy as they were before. The southern bank of the lower Vaal was Free State territory, but the ownership of the northern bank was disputed. Before the discovery of diamonds it was regarded as of so little value that no actual government existed there, though the South African Republic, the Orange Free State, the Batlapin tribe, and the Griqua captain Nicholas Waterboer, all claimed the ground. The consequence was that each mining camp on that side of the stream formed a kind of government for itself, and a great deal of confusion and lawlessness was the result. After a while much richer diamond mines than those along the Vaal were discovered on some farms to the southward, and most of the diggers removed to them. The public offices of the district in which they were situated were at a considerable distance, but as soon as arrangements could be made by the govern- ment, a resident landdrost was appointed, a post-office was established, and some policemen were engaged. In the minds of people at a distance the various camps were confused with each other, and all were supposed to be in the lawless condition of those north of the Vaal. Most of the diggers were British subjects, so that her Majesty's high commissioner considered it his duty to interfere in the interests of order. At that time one of the shrewdest men in South Africa was agent for the Griqua captain Nicholas Waterboer, and on behalf of his client had laid claim to a large part of the Orange Free State, ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. 325 including the locality in which the diamond mines were situated. No pretension could be more shadowy, but when Mr. Arnot, on behalf of Waterboer, offered the territory to the British government, it came to be regarded, on one side at least, as having some real foundation. The high commissioner proposed arbitration, which President Brand declined. The territory which Mr. Arnot claimed south of the Vaal, he said, had been part of the Free State ever since the convention of 1854. Before that date it had been part of the Orange River Sovereignty, and some of the farms in it were held under British titles issued at that time. Nicholas Waterboer and his people lived far away, and, as well as could be ascertained, had never occupied ground there. Under these circumstances he would not admit that there could be any question of ownership. The right of the state to land beyond the Vaal, however, he was willing to submit to arbitration, as it had been acquired by purchase, and the seller's title might be open to doubt. While the high commissioner and the president were corresponding on this subject, Mr. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius, who was then president of the South African Republic, agreed to submit some disputes between that country and the Barolong, Batlapin, and Griquas, to arbitration, in consequence of which a court was appointed, with Mr. Keate, governor of Natal, as final umpire, and proceedings were opened at the little village of Bloemhof, on the northern bank of the Vaal. The Free State govern- ment was not represented in the court. 326 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. The interests involved were greater than were recognised at the time. It was supposed that the sovereignty of some of the diamond mines was the great question at issue ; now it is seen that access by Great Britain to the distant interior was also involved. On one side the proceedings were a perfect farce. President Pretorius and his attorney did nothing whatever to work up their case ; they did not attempt to meet evidence that might have been disproved with the greatest ease ; they even put in a spurious document given to them by one of their opponents purposely to befool them. On the other side was Mr. Arnot, who knew exactly what to withhold as well as what to bring forward. The result was that Mr. Keate, acting solely on the evidence before him, gave judgment against the South African Republic, and in defining the territories of the disputants included within Nicholas Waterboer's boundary the part of the Free State which that captain claimed. As soon as the Keate award was issued — October, 1 87 1 — Sir Henry Barkly, who was then high commissioner, proclaimed Waterboer's country a British dependency, with boundaries enclosing the mines along the Vaal, and at Dutoitspan, De Beer's, and Kimberley. An armed force was sent to take possession of it, and the Free State officials withdrew under protest. The territory, which was named Griqualand West, then became a crown colony. It remained in that condition until 1880, when it was annexed to the Cape Colony, of which it now forms part. Some time after Griqualand West came under the PRESIDENT brand's VISIT TO ENGLAND. 327 British flag, a special court was created to decide upon conflicting claims to ground. For many weeks evidence was taken, and the most minute research was made into the history of the land and its people. When at length judgment was given, all claims within the diamond mining area that rested on grants by Waterboer were thrown out, because that captain never had any rights there. President Brand then went to England and laid his case before the Imperial authorities. In brief it was this — that Great Britain had taken the land from the Free State under pretence that it belonged to Waterboer, and that a British court, after careful examination, had since decided that Waterboer had no right to it. The reply which he received was to the effect that it was a necessity for the paramount power in South Africa to be in possession of the diamond mines, but he would receive ;^90,000 from Griqualand West as a solatium. The president wisely accepted the offer, and with the money reduced the public debt of the state. The sore feeling entertained by the burghers passed away, and they began to reflect that perhaps after all it was better for them to be relieved of the respon- sibility of maintaining order among the diggers. A diamond mine at Jagersfontein had been left to them, and it was turning out much richer than had once been anticipated. Then they had all the advantages which the other mines offered as markets for farm produce, so that they might have a good deal of gain with no risk. Since this settlement the Free State has enjoyed 328 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. constant peace. Roads, bridges, and good public buildings have been constructed, and an excellent system of public schools is maintained by the govern- ment. The railway from Capetown to Pretoria, in the South African Republic, passes through the state, and there are lines to Port Elizabeth and East Lon- don. From Harrismith there is a line to Durban. These were taken over by the government in January, 1897, and others are being constructed. The Free State is without a public debt, except for the pur- chase of the railways. Its boundaries on every side are undisputed, and it has no semi-independent clans within its borders. Tfie Barolong of Moroko, the last who were in that condition, came completely under the government after a feud in which the chief was killed by one of his brothers. The Cape Colony, the Orange Free State, and the smaller British de- pendencies in South Africa, except Natal, forms a customs union. President Brand was elected again and again until 1888, when he died in office. Mr. F. W. Reitz, previously chief justice, was then chosen to fill the vacant place. Owing to ill health he retired in 1895, and early in 1896 was succeeded by Mr. M. T. Steyn. According to the census of 1890 the population con- sists of seventy-eight thousand Europeans and one hundred and thirty thousand coloured people. The industries of the state are almost entirely pastoral and agricultural, but there are valuable coal fields which are beginning to be worked, and there are diamond mines at Jagersfontein and Koffyfontein : the last-named, however, not being of great im- portance. 330 ORANGE FREE STATE AND BASUTOLAND. When Basutoland was taken over as a British possession, an agent was appointed by the high commissioner, who, with a few magistrates and some police, guided rather than governed the tribe. ]\Ioshesh died soon afterwards, and his principal heir, Letsie by name, had none of the old chief's ability. Molapo and Masupha, two other sons, were at the head of considerable sections of the tribe. All were unwilling to part with any real authority over the people, and gave just sufficient obedience to the British officials to ensure protection, but carefully avoided conceding more. In 1 87 1 the territory was attached to the Cape Colony, which thus became responsible for the preservation of order within it. The system of administration continued as before. Bantu law was recognised, except in a few of its worst features, but it was intended gradually to assimilate it to the law of the colony. Sufficient hut-tax was easily collected to cover the cost of administration and to leave a small amount for public works, besides providing for liberal allowances to the chiefs. In a short time the tribe recovered from its losses in property, and increased in number as only Bantu can in a period of peace. Europeans believed that the British officials were gaining control over the people, and that the power of the chiefs was waning ; but it was soon to be proved how little foundation there was for such a belief In 1877 a wave of disturbance began to pass along the Bantu tribes connected with the Cape Colony, and when it sub- sided the government resolved upon a general dis- BASUTOLAND. 331 armament. As soon as the measure was applied to Basutoland, the people rose in rebellion. Some clans, indeed, professed to be loyal, but only because others with whom they were at feud were on the opposite side. The colony spent a vast amount of treasure in trying to reduce the rebels to submission, but failed in the attempt, and the end was that in 1884 Basutoland was transferred back to the imperial government. The country since that date has been nominally under the direction of a British administrator, with magistrates to assist him ; and these officers appear to have some moral influence, though the people obey only when it pleases them. Letsie died recently, and was succeeded by his son Lerothodi, who is now the actual ruler of the tribe. Basutoland contains at present about two hundred and twenty-five thousand Bantu, and six hundred Europeans. The white people are officials, mission- aries, or traders. No others are permitted to settle in the country. XXVI. THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. The vast tract of land north of the Vaal, that became the property of the emigrant farmers after the expulsion of Moselekatse, contained ground suit- able for almost every variety of agricultural and pastoral industry, and, though the circumstance was then unknown, in mineral wealth it is not surpassed by any country in the world. Its eastern and northern valleys, well watered and of great fertility, had for a time a strong attraction for settlers, but experience proved them to be less healthy than the open highlands, and they were therefore partly aban- doned. In some places the tsetse fly abounded, and this scourge of domestic cattle prevented settlement in its neighbourhood until the large game was ex- terminated, when it disappeared. The fev^er too, that was once so prevalent on the borders of forests and streams in the lowlands, in course of time became almost unknown in the same localities if the ground was cultivated and the rank grass burnt off before it began to decay. The farmers were only fifteen or sixteen thousand 332 LAWLESSNESS. 333 in number, all told, so tbey naturally selected what appeared to them the choicest spots, and no one considered it worth his while to settle on the great plains of the west. There was no such thing as union among them. An attempt was made to form a kind of common government, by the election of a single volksraad for legislative purposes, but with four executive heads, one for each of the principal factions. This system, as may be imagined, was accompanied by much disorder, and was soon suc- ceeded by four republics, independent of each other : Potchefstroom, Zoutpansberg, Lydenburg, and Utrecht. Matters were not mended by this arrangement, and it may almost be said that the white people beyond the Vaal were without govern- ment at all. A notable evil that resulted from this condition of things was that the outskirts of the occupied area offered a refuge to vagabonds of every stamp, who resorted to them from other parts of South Africa. Men capable of the most abominable cruelty and meanness, but possessing the quality of brute courage, roamed along the frontier nominally as hunters and traders, and their lawless deeds were attributed by people at a distance to the whole community. When Europeans first entered the country, it was in a similar condition to Mashonaland in 1890. North and west, as far as it was known, the native tribes had been destroyed by the Matabele, and only a few wretched remnants were living either along the margin of the Kalahari desert or among almost inaccessible mountains. The greater portion of the 334 ^^^ SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. territory south of the twenty-second parallel of lati- tude was literally without inhabitants, for Mosele- katse's bands were in the habit of traversing it yearly in one direction or other, and no clan could live in their way. The arrival of the white people and the flight of the Matabele gave new life to the dwellers in the mountains and deserts. They could come out into the open country once more, and make gardens and sleep in safety. The Europeans were masters and owners of the land, but in accordance with the ancient Dutch custom, they permitted each little Bantu community to be governed by its own chief in all matters that did not affect the ruling race. The kraals were made subject to a labour tax, and under a strong government no better tax could be imposed upon a barbarous people. But under the weak rule of the emigrant farmers the system was liable to great abuses, though the Bantu thought lightly of it until the dread of the Matabele was forgotten. Life was now safe, and the occupants of the kraals were multiplying at a prodigious rate, besides which fugitives were coming in from the regions beyond the Limpopo, where Moselekatse was lord. Ten years passed away, and the clans had become so strong that they began to chafe under the re- straints imposed upon them by the white men and to aspire to independence. The anarchy and strife among the Europeans appeared to give them the opportunity they wanted. But among themselves also there was the remembrance of ancient feuds, DR. LIVINGSTONE. 335 which caused so much jealousy that combination was impossible, and instead of rising altogether, it was in succession that the most disaffected among them took up arms. Then, too, as will be seen on a much more memorable occasion at a later date, in presence of an opponent the farmers stood shoulder to shoulder, and were therefore able to suppress the various risings against their authority. These disturbances were brought prominently to the notice of the English people by the reverend Dr. Livingstone, the greatest explorer of modern times, who was then a missionary with the Bakwena under the chief Setyeli, and whose house and furni- ture were destroyed during the war. Dr. Livingstone was a strong partisan of the Bantu, and did his utmost to oppose the claim of the emigrant farmers to dominion over the clan with which he was living, so that his statements are those of an advocate rather than those of a judge. He represented Setyeli as wholly in the right, and the farmers as wholly in the wrong : but any impartial writer who examines Setyeli's own account of the matter, as given by himself personally to the governor in Capetown, must come to a different conclusion. War cannot be carried on without cruelty, but in these contests acts were sometimes performed by the Europeans which exceeded the limit regarded as permissible by civilised nations. It should be re- membered, however, that the provocation on such occasions was very great, as, for instance, when white women and children were murdered in cold blood, or when corpses were mutilated, or captives 33^ THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. put to death by torture. Men belonging to the most refined circles in Europe would probably retaliate under such circumstances as cruelly as the emigrant farmers did. Early in 1857 the Potchefstroom faction adopted a new constitution, under which Mr. Marthinus Wessel Pretorius became president, though with no other power than to carry out the resolutions of the volksraad. In the following year Zoutpansberg gave in its adhesion to this constitution, and, in i860, Lydenburg and Utrecht, previously united, were also incorporated, so that the whole country north of the Vaal became a single republic. The different factions now began to strive for the supreme power in the state, and a civil war broke out, in which some blood was shed. Peace was restored in May, 1S64, when Mr. Pretorius was accepted by all parties as the legally elected president, and Mr. S. J. Paul Kruger as commandant-general or military head. Meantime the Baramapulana tribe, which was living in a mountainous tract of land in the north of the republic, had become very strong in number, owing to an influx of broken clans from beyond the Limpopo. It was in possession of a good many guns, procured from the vagabond whites in the neighbourhood, and was disposed to resent any inter- ference with its actions. In a feud a brother of the chief was obliged to flee, and was protected by the Government, a circumstance which greatly annoyed his opponents. In April 1865, when searching for a fugitive offender, some of the lawless Europeans and WAR WITH THE BARAMAPULANA. 337 a party of blacks who were assisting them committed acts of great violence upon the outposts of the tribe, and a general war was brought on. For more than three years the republic strove in vain to subdue the Baramapulana. There was no money in the treasury, and the government was actually at one time unable to raise funds sufficient to pay for the carriage of ammunition from Durban. The burghers of the southern part of the state re- fused to take part in the war. Commandant-General Kruger did all that man could do with the slender means at his disposal, but he was at length obliged to withdraw discomfited. The village of Schoe- mansdal, the centre of the ivory trade and the residence of a landdrost and a clergyman, was abandoned by its inhabitants when the feeble com- mando retired, and was afterwards burnt by the enemy.' The Europeans were obliged for their safety to withdraw from a large part of the district of Zoutpansberg, to which they were never able to return. The Baramapulana, however, felt the want of commercial intercourse, and in July 1868 ex- pressed a desire for a renewal of friendship, at the same time offering to pay tribute, when peace was gladly made on conditions which by no means secured the absolute supremacy of the republican government. The white people had thus lost ground, and the fact of their having done so made it more difficult than before to preserve order among the Bantu farther south. In one respect only the country showed si;^ns of progress : in the number of churches 23 338 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, built and clergymen engaged. Yet even in religious matters there was constant strife among the sections of what outsiders can only regard as one church, so trifling are the differences that break it into distinct communions. A generation had grown up without a knowledge of books or of events beyond their own little circle. The rivers were unbridged, there were no public offices worthy of the name, the treasury was always empty, and the salaries of the officials, trifling as they were, could seldom or never be paid ivhen they fell due. Commerce was carried on chiefly by means of barter, as gold and silver were exceeding scarce. Still on the farms anything like want was unknown, for the flocks and herds throve and in- creased in the rich pastures, and the fertile soil produced grain and vegetables and fruit in abun- dance. The war with the Baramapulana was hardly con- cluded when fresh difficulties arose through the Barolong of Montsiw^a and other clans on the west setting up a claim to independence and to the possession of a territory of immense extent. The republic was not in a position to assert its authority by force of arms, and indeed the matter was hardly considered worth much notice until the discovery of diamonds along the lower Vaal gave importance to the claim. Then President Pretorius and her Majesty's high commissioner for South Africa arranged that it should be settled by arbitration, and each party appointed a representative to form a court, with Governor Keate, of Natal, as final umpire. The manner in which the case for the PRESIDENT BURGERS. 339 republic was conducted has been related in the preceding chapter. Governor Keate's award gave to the tribes the independence and the territory that they claimed, and even took from the govern- ment at Pretoria a large district that had been occupied by white people ever since the great emigration. As soon as the award was known President Pretorius was obliged to resign, for the volksraad maintained that he had exceeded his authority in making the agreement with the high commissioner, and declared that they were not bound by his action. The high commissioner, however, announced that he would enforce the award, though he did not take possession of the territory cut off from the republic by it. And now there was a general cry that a clever man, capable of conducting business on equal terms with the queen's representative in Capetown, must be found to fill the office of president. The reverend Thomas Frangois Burgers, a clergyman who had abandoned the orthodox church and whose name was then prominently before the public on account of the skilful manner in which he had conducted some difficult cases in the law courts of the Cape Colony, seemed to possess the requisite ability, and he was elected by a nearly unanimous vote. Mr. Burgers was an able and an active man, with large persuasive powers, but he was a dreamer. He dreamed of a powerful and prosperous republic, with colleges and telegraphs and railways, with a high name among the nations of the earth; and he imagined that it could be formed off-hand out of 340 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. a few thousand uneducated men with seventeenth- century ideas and such immigrants as he could induce to join him from Holland. Two years after his election he induced the volksraad to send him to Europe to negotiate a loan for the purpose of constructing a railway from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay and to engage teachers for a number of state schools. In Holland ;^90,ooo was subscribed towards the loan, and with the money railway material was purchased and sent out to rust and rot away at Lourengo Marques, for no more could be borrowed. A superintendent-general of education and a few other officials were engaged, with whom the president returned to Pretoria, to find that during his absence the Bapedi tribe, under the chief Sekukuni, that occupied a wild and rugged tract of land in the valley of the Olifants river, had acted in a manner that no government could tolerate. A large commando was called out to punish the insurgents, but the burghers assembled in fear and trembling. The president was to lead 4t in person, and as he was in religion an agnostic, they — with their thorough orthodox creed — feared much that the blessing of God could not rest upon the enterprise. So strong had this feeling become throughout the country that a large number of families, rather than remain under his government, were moving away to seek a new home beyond the Kalahari desert, and were even then marking the road toMossamedes in the Portuguese province of Benguela, where they ultimately settled, with a line of graves showing the REBELLION OF THE BAPEDI. 341 terrible sufferings of their march. The passionate feeling at the time of his election had passed away, and hardly anything was now remembered except the failure of many of his plans. One strong place was taken, which the president in overdrawn language wrote of as the Gibraltar of the south, but this success did not give heart to the farmers. An attempt to take another stronghold failed, chiefly owing to the conduct of the burghers themselves, and then there was a perfect stampede homeward, which all the efforts of Mr. Burgers could not prevent. Some days later the fugitives reached Pretoria, and no hope of suppressing the rebellion speedily was left. The volksraad was hastily convened, when it was resolved to engage men wherever they could be obtained, at £$ a month, rations, and a farm of four thousand acres when the disturbance was quelled. To meet the expense heavy war taxes were imposed. But the country was quite unable to bear this strain. The ordinary charges of government and the interest- on the public debt could not be met, much less an additional burden. And so the whole administrative machinery broke down. The republic was really in a pitiable state, without money or an army, with rebellion triumphant, and a general election approaching that was feared might be attended with civil war. While things were in this condition Sir Theophilus Shepstone, previously secretary for native affairs in Natal, was sent by the British government as a com- missioner to Pretoria with very large powers. It is 342 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, admitted by every one that a country is entitled to interfere with a neighbour whose weakness is a cause of common peril ; but whether Great Britain was justified in this instance in taking possession of the South African Republic is a question upon which opinions differ. One of the reasons assigned by Sir Theophilus Shepstone for the action which he took was that the territory was in danger of being overrun by the Zulus, and if that was really so, the circumstance would go a long way to support his proceedings. But the farmers never expressed a fear of such a danger, and always alleged that they could repel Cetywayo's armies much more easily than besiege a fortified mountain stronghold. The Zulu chief at the time was trying to play off the republic against Natal, and his declarations to one party concerning the other cannot be regarded as evidence, though the British commissioner seems to have attached much value to them. Further than this, the residents of the villages, who were principally English and Germans, requested the commissioner to declare the country a British dependency, as the only remedy against anarchy, and the farmers did nothing to oppose him and his slender escort. The government managed to patch up a kind of peace with Sekukuni, but otherwise matters remained in the condition described until the I2th of April 1877, when Sir Theophilus Shepstone issued a proclamation declaring the country a British possession, and there- upon assumed supreme control, the president retiring under protest. A considerable military force now entered the BRITISH RULE. 343 Transvaal territory, as the country was re- named, and apparently the new government was firmly established. Trade revived, money flovv^ed in, and property of every kind increased in value. But the farmers were dis- satisfied with the loss of their independence, and sent Mr. Paul Kruger and Dr. Jorissen to England to endeavour to get the annexation withdrawn. The deputation failed in its purpose, and at that time the British ministry appear to have believed that a large proportion of the people of the territory — if not the majority — were in favour of English rule. As a proof that this was not the case, memorials were sent round against the annexation, and received the signatures of over six thousand five hundred individuals, represent- ing practically the whole rural population. Another deputation, consisting of Messrs. Paul Kruger and Pieter Joubert, with Mr. Eduard Bok as secretary, was now sent to England, in hope that with so strong an argument in its favour it would meet with success. But it returned disappointed, and thereafter repeated declarations were made by the highest officials in South Africa that under no circumstances would the British flag be withdrawn from the Transvaal. Sir Theophilus Shepstone was personally not dis- liked, and if any one could have made the farmers contented under English rule he would have done it. But in March 1879 he was succeeded as adminis- trator by Sir Owen Lanyon, a man of haughty dis- position, who was incapable of even attempting to conciliate the people of the country. The feeling now rapidly gained ground that if peaceable means to obtain the restoration of independence did not soon 344 '^^^^ SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, succeed, an appeal to arms ought to be made. The women of South Africa have always had great influence in public affairs, and on this occasion their voice was decidedly in favour of war. Mothers en- couraged their sons, wives their husbands, to act as men, and if they were beaten they could die the death of patriots or move away to the unknown north as their fathers had done before them. At this time Sekukuni again gave trouble, but Sir Garnet Wolseley with a strong body of troops and a band of Swazis marched against him, in- flicted great damage upon his tribe, and brought the chief himself a prisoner to Pretoria. Shortly after this event intelligence reached the country that Mr. Gladstone had succeeded the earl of Beacons- field as prime minister of England, and as the new premier when in opposition had denounced the annexation as unjust, the farmers not unnaturally thought that he would give them back their inde- pendence. For a while therefore the agitation almost ceased. Some of the troops were withdrawn from the territory, and Sir Garnet Wolseley, having been relieved as commmder-in-chief by Sir George Colley, returned to Europe. As soon as it was known, however, that Mr. Gladstone declined to withdraw the British flag, the general discontent came to a head. An atte-npt to seize the waggon of a farmer who refused to pay a tax brought a number ot his friends to the rescue, and the officials at Potchefstroom, though supported by a strong military torce, were openly set at defiance. A great meeting took place at Paardekraal, where STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE. 345 Krugersdorp now stands, and after several days' dis- cussion it was resolved to commit their cause to the Almighty God and live or die together in a struggle for independence. Messrs. S, J. Paul Kruger, M. W. Pretorius, and Pieter J. Joubert were elected a triumvirate to conduct the government, and the volksraad resumed its functions as the supreme legislative power. It was decided that Heidelberg should be the capital until Pretoria could be re- covered, and there, on Dingan's day, the i6th of December 1880, the flag of the republic was hoisted again. The act certainly proved that the European blood has not degenerated in courage by removal to South Africa, as many persons had previously assumed. And here it may be asked how it was that the same men who dared not face danger in the commando under President Burgers went through this war for independence with the bravery and devotion of ancient Spartans, yet afterwards claimed no glory for what they had done. The reply is short : religion caused the change. In one instance they believed that the Almighty was against them because their leader was not of the true faith, in the other they believed most thoroughly that the Almighty was with them, guiding and strengthening them in the unequal fight. It was this, and this alone, that turned the fugitives from Steelpoort into the men of Majuba hill. On the same day that the flag was hoisted the first blood was shed. A party of burghers, under Com- mandant Cronj^, went to Potchefstroom to have a 346 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, proclamation printed, and was fired upon by the soldiers there, when one of them was badly wounded. Colonel Winsloe, who was in command of the soldiers, had a camp outside the village, and had also fortified the landdrost's office and some adjoining buildings, in which a garrison was stationed under Major Clarke. Commandant Cronje returned the fire, and then laid siege to the buildings occupied by Major Clarke, who after holding out two days was obliged to surrender. Colonel Winsloe held the camp throughout the war, and only surrendered it after an armistice was entered into. Disaster after disaster now attended the British arms. Colonel Anstruther was directed to march from Lydenburg with two hundred and sixty-four men to reinforce the garrison of Pretoria, and was warned that he might meet with resistance on the way, but having a very poor opinion of the fighting powers of the farmers he took no precautions whatever. On the 20th of December he was marching carelessly with a long waggon train, when at Bronkhorst Spruit, thirty-eight miles from Pretoria, he suddenly found himself in front of a force of about the same number o[ farmers under Commandant Frans Joubert. The commandant demanded that he should proceed no farther, and upon his replying that he would go on, a volley was poured in by the farmers. The soldiers made a very feeble resistance, and in a few minutes so many were disabled that the colonel — who was himself mortally wounded — was obliged to surrender. From the garrisons in Natal Sir George Colley now BRITISH DISASTERS. 347 collected a body of rather over a thousand men, and set out to assist the troops in the Transvaal, who with the loyalists were beleaguered in the various villages. On learning of this movement, Commandant-General Pieter Joubert, who was one of the triumvirate, entered Natal with a force superior in number, and occupied a strong position at Lang's Nek, on the road along which the British general must march. On the 28th of January 1881 Sir George Colley attempted to force the passage of the Nek, but was beaten back with heavy loss. He then fortified a camp at Mount Pros- pect, four miles' distant, and awaited reinforcements which were on the way from England. On the 8th of February with nearly three hundred men General Colley left his camp to patrol the road towards Newcastle, and near the Ingogo river was drawn into an engagement with a body of farmers under Commandant Nicolaas Smit. Up to dusk neither side could claim victory, but when night fell the remnant of the English patrol returned to camp in a heavy fall of rain, leaving two-thirds of those who went out in the morning dead and wounded on the field. In the three engagements here mentioned the British loss was about six hundred men, nearly half of whom were killed. The farmers had seventeen men killed and twenty-eight wounded. Military critics attribute the difference largely to steady aim and skill in shooting on one side, the farmers attribute it entirely to the working of Providence in their favour. The crowning disaster was yet to come. During 348 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. the night of the 26th of February General Colley left his camp with six hundred men, and climbed to the top of Majuba hill, posting two pickets on the way. From this position he hoped to command the farmers' camp at the Nek two thousand feet below, and when at dawn on the next morning Commandant-General Joubert observed the soldiers on the crest above him, he at once realised the danger. Some hundred and fifty volunteers now offered to try to take the hill, and actually made their way up in face of the superior force above, the bullets passing over them as if they were charmed. A little before noon seventy or eighty men reached the crest at different points, and then the soldiers were seized with a panic and fled. Ninety-two killed, one hundred and thirty-four wounded, and fifty-nine prisoners repre- sented the British loss that day, against one man killed and five wounded on the farmers' side. General Colley himself was among the slain. In the meantime the soldiers and British adherents in the Transvaal villages were closely besieged, and a good many lives were lost in sorties and skirmishes, but none were reduced to surrender. After Sir George Colley's death. Sir Evelyn Wood took command of the English forces, and as troops were fast arriving in Natal, he soon found himself at the head of twelve thousand men. But now came instructions from the imperial government not to advance, and on the 5th of March an armistice was concluded between the general and the triumvirate. This led to the arrangement of terms of peace and the restoration in part of independence to the republic. RICH GOLDFIELDS. 349 The territory occupied by the Swazis was cut out, and on the other side the Keate award Hne was made the boundary, while further the suzerainty of Great Britain was imposed as one of the conditions. Thus reduced in size and restricted in action, the repubhc came again into existence. By modifications of the convention with Great Britain since that date the boundary has been extended considerably on the west, Swaziland has been made a fief of the State, and British suzerainty has been replaced by a mere veto upon treaties concluded with foreign govern- ments. In everything relating to its internal affairs the country is now absolutely independent. Four years after the re-establishment of the republic very extensive and rich goldfields were discovered in the district of Lydenburg, and a little later in the highland that forms the watershed between the Vaal and Limpopo rivers. Long before that time gold mines were worked in different parts of the territory, but the metal produced was not sufficient to attract the attention of the outside world. People now began to migrate to the fields from all parts of South Africa, and shortly from Europe as well. A town, named Barberton, was built in the centre of the eastern mines, and for some months it was the busiest place in the country ; but most of its inhabitants then removed to the more important fields of Witwatersrand. Here the city of Johannesburg arose, almost as by magic, with streets of handsome and substantial buildings and all the appliances of modern times. This city is now the first in size in South Africa, with a population of 3 so THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC. fifty-one thousand Europeans and fifty-two thousand blacks. The production of gold has gone on increasing until it has reached the value of eight million pounds sterling a year, making the South African Republic one of the leading gold-producing countries of the world. The republic possesses also iron in the greatest abundance, coal of good quality and practically limitless in quantity, silver, copper, lead, and several other minerals which will certainly be turned to account at no distant date. The people brought into the country in such numbers by the attraction of gold were mostly English speakers, and between their interests and those of the farmers there was a great difference. The farmers regarded the country as theirs, bought with the blood of their kindred, and converted by them from a waste, such as Moselekatse had made it, into a civilised State covered with peaceful homesteads and places for worshipping God. They were de- termined not to surrender their right of governing it to strangers, who, if admitted into the legislature, would certainly use their power to subvert the con- stitution, if not the independence of the republic. Before 1877 the franchise was probably the lowest in the world, but now it was raised so that foreigners, without renouncing their allegiance to the govern- ments under which they were born and without long residence, could not become voters, ' The burghers regarded the mineral wealth of the country also as something in which the State was DIVERGENT VIEWS. 351 entitled to share largely, and which therefore should not be removed without leaving in its stead public works and buildings and improvements of other kinds. With this view, taxation was so arranged as to bear much more heavily upon the mining than upon the farming industry. The great mass of the miners and speculators they regarded not as men who had come there to make the republic their permanent home, but as men who had come there to make as much money as possible in as short a time as possible, and then to return to their own countries to spend it. The gold, though plentiful, was not inexhaustible, and when the mines were worked out, those strangers would certainly not remain. The newcomers, on the other hand, maintained that as they were the wealth producers, the persons who brought the revenue to a sum that would have been deemed fabulous before, they were entitled to representation in the legislature. They had many other grievances, among which was the discourage- ment of the use of the English language in schools, but all centred in want of representation. A second volksraad was introduced by the govern- ment to meet the difficulty, but it did not give much satisfaction. Of late years the policy of the government has been unfriendly towards the Cape Colony, and by heavy taxation of colonial produce and by an attempt to close the drifts of the Vaal river to colonial trade in order to force importers to make use of Delagoa Bay, so many well-wishers in other parts of South 352 THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, Africa were turned into ill-wishers that the disaffected party at Johannesburg reckoned largely upon outside support. It is not possible now to write a true history of occurrences in December 1895 and the early days of 1 896, because the whole motives of the chief actors in them are yet unknown. It must suffice to say that an effort was made by a large number of the residents of Johannesburg to repudiate the govern- ment at Pretoria, that they rose in armed insurrection, that they failed in their object, and that the republican authorities dealt with the leaders in the mildest manner possible. There was one event in connection with this insur- rection which must be specially mentioned, so calcu- lated was it to create evil throughout South Africa. In the evening of the 29th of December 1895 Dr. Jameson, administrator of Rhodesia, at the head of over five hundred armed horsemen and a strong force of artillery, invaded the republic from the British territory on the western border, and endeavoured to force his way to Johannesburg. A number of burghers, being in readiness to meet the insurgents at that place, were quickly mustered to repel the invaders, and after some severe fighting, in which Dr. Jameson lost a good many men, he was obliged to surrender with his whole band to Commandant Cronje. His defeat produced the collapse of the rebellion, and averted the calamity of a civil war throughout South Africa, which almost to a certainty would have followed had he been successful in reach- ing his destination. EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS. 353 Very wisely the government transferred the cap- tured invaders to the high commissioner, who sent them to England, where the leaders were tried and sentenced to terms of imprisonment. More than this it would not be proper to write as history at present. It has been stated that the policy of the republic was unfriendly towards the British possessions in South Africa. But the unfriendliness was not con- fined to one side, though neither the colonial govern- ments nor the colonial people were to blame in the matter. The long delay in connection with the transfer of Swaziland and the annexation to the British dominions in April and May 1895 ^^ the territory between the Portuguese possessions and Zululand, whereby the republic was shut in from extending to the sea, cannot be ignored as weights in the other scale. After the discovery of gold the revenue of the republic rose by leaps and bounds, and public works could be undertaken that were undreamed of before. A system of state-aided schools was established. Many new villages were laid out, and some of the buildings in them are among the best in South Africa. Telegraphs have been constructed, rivers have been bridged, and waggon roads have been made, though, of course, a great deal still remains to be done in all these matters. A railway has been completed from Pretoria to Delagoa Bay, with a branch line to Barberton. It was constructed from the Portuguese border by a Company called the Netherlands South African, 24 354 ^^^ SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC, which was aided by the republican government. A line from Pretoria to Vereeniging on the Vaal river, passing Johannesburg, has also been constructed by the same Company, with assistance from the Cape government. At Vereeniging it is connected with the trunk line through the Orange Free State, which branches off to the three chief ports of the Cape Colony. From Krugersdorp there is a railway through Johannesburg to the Springs, passing over a great coal mine which supplies fuel to the city and to the quartz-crushing machinery along a route of fifty-four miles. Another line connects Johannes- burg with Natal, and still others are being con- structed in different parts of the country. The republic is not within the customs union of South Africa. The public debt is about six million pounds sterling. The country is governed by a president, who is elected for five years. Since the restoration of in- dependence Mr. S. J. Paul Kruger has uninterruptedly filled the office. He is aided by an executive council, which consists of three heads of departments and two non-official members appointed by the first volksraad. For military purposes a commandant-general is elected by the burghers every ten years. The legislative power is vested in two chambers, each consisting of twenty-four members, elected for four years. The first volksraad is by far the more important of the two. Its members are elected by burghers of European blood, either born in the republic or naturalised after a difficult probation. The second volksraad has very little power, being POPULATION. 355 intended chiefly as an advising body in matters con nected with the mining industry. Its constituency is larger than that of the first volksraad, as foreigners can make themselves eligible after a residence of two years. The population of the South African Republic consists of about two hundred and twenty thousand Europeans and seven hundred thousand Bantu. XXVII. RHODESIA. The vast territory between the Zambesi river on the north, the South African Repubhc on the south, the Portuguese possessions on the east, and the Bechuanaland Protectorate on the west, is called P*.hodesia, after the man through whose ability and energy it exists as a British possession. It came to be very thinly inhabited in exactly the same manner as the country south of the Limpopo river before 1836. When Moselekatse was driven to the north by the emigrant farmers he commenced to destroy the tribes there just as he had destroyed the Bechuana, and Lobengula, his son and successor, continued the murderous practice. Large areas were utterly wasted, and the remnants of the tribes retreated to the hills, where they made their kraals among rocks in places difficult of access. These situations, if they could not be defended, offered facilities for escape when the Matabele bands approached in their yearly raids. By those terrible invaders the lives of the Makalaka and Mashona were held in no more esteem than the 356 GRANT OF A CHARTER, 357 lives of so many antelopes. The ravagers built mili- tary kraals in the best situations, and at Buluwayo, the principal of these, the chief himself resided. This was the condition of the country less than ten years ago. According to modern ideas it is outrageous to enter a country occupied by an inferior race and take pos- session of anything in it by the right of the strong hand, but it is perfectly legitimate and moral to induce a chief to attach a mark to a document, the full pur- port of which he is incapable of comprehending, and thus securing under the name of a concession what- ever is desired. On the 30th of November 1888 Messrs. Rudd, Maguire, and Thompson, after con- siderable negotiation, obtained the mark of Lobengula to a document giving them the right to search for and extract minerals in the territory under his con- trol. Other concessions were obtained by different individuals, and ultimately all were united, when their proprietors became the British South Africa Company. To enable this great association to carry out its projects a charter was applied for, which was granted by the imperial government on the 29th of October 1889. By it a Company was created with a capital of one million pounds sterling, and with a board of eight directors, three appointed by the crown and five elected by the shareholders. Power was given to it to appoint and remove officers, except judges and magistrates, within the sphere of its operations, and to issue ordinances for common purposes. Judges and magistrates were to be appointed by the high 358 RHODESIA. commissioner, who was also to proclaim important laws, in both instances on the recommendation of the Company. Mr. Cecil John Rhodes, the leading spirit in the enterprise, was appointed the managing director. The Company's first object was to take possession of some commanding positions in the country, and for this purpose to send in a strong armed force. Dr. Leander Starr Jameson was directed to proceed to Buluwayo to arrange matters. He had been there before, in 1888, when he had cured Lobengula of an attack of gout, and he had thus acquired much in- fluence. The chief gave his consent to a body of Europeans entering Mashonaland, but it was evident that the Matabele army — especially the young regi- ments — could not be trusted to let the expedition pass onward unmolested. The leaders of the pioneer force therefore resolved to take a circuitous route, so as to avoid the neighbourhood of the principal mili- tary kraals and to do away as much as possible with the danger of a collision. The pioneer party left the Cape Colony in March 1890, and on the 12th of September reached the spot where now the town of Salisbury stands. Dr. Jame- son then explored the country to the eastward, and ascertained that with little difficulty a railroad could be constructed from Salisbury to Fontesville on the Pungwe river, a stream that is navigable for large .lighters from that place to Port Beira, an excellent harbour at the mouth. Forts Tuli, Victoria, Charter, and Salisbury — form- ing a line of posts from south to north — were built THE LIPPERT CONCESSION, 359 and occupied by the Company's police, the pioneers, consisting of one hundred and ninety-two young men, dispersed in search of gold-bearing reefs, and numerous small parties joined them from the Cape Colony and the two republics. But as these parties did not take with them a sufficient quantity of food or medical requisites, and as the summer of 1890-91 was exceptionally wet, they suffered great discomfort, and many died of fever brought on by exposure and want. The occupation of Mashonaland by white people in this manner was not at all to Lobengula's liking. He had anticipated that a few men would have gone there to look for gold, and here they were in hundreds, occupying strong posts and acting as if they were the real masters of the country. Still he did not wish to quarrel with them, for he appreciated the value of his subsidies. He chose rather to create a rival interest to theirs, and without any conception of the consequences of what he was doing, he granted to Mr. Edward Lippert a concession to dispose of farms, townships, and pasture lands within the sphere of operations of the British South Africa Company, the agreement to hold good for one hundred years. When this important concession was purchased by the Chartered Company, whose capital was now doubled, the sovereign power in Mashonaland in name as well as in reality was claimed. That terri- tory was thenceforth regarded as embracing the whole plateau from the Portuguese border on the east to the Shashi streamlet^ which flows in a southerly 360 RHODESIA. direction to the Sabi river, and the Umnyati, a tribu- tary of the Zambesi, on the west. These streams were thereafter commonly termed the boundary, west of which Europeans were not permitted to search for gold and Lobengula's right to do as he pleased was neither disputed nor interfered with. East of it his rights were regarded by the Company as altogether extinguished, though neither he nor his army ac- quiesced in this view of the matter. The Company now considered its hold upon Mashonaland so secure that it could disband the greater number of its police and trust for defence to volunteers and burghers. 1 he European population was increasing, and as there were ample supplies of every kind in the country there was hardly any sick- ness in the summer of 1891-92. On the 20th of February 1892 the telegraph was opened from Cape- town to Salisbury. Farming was tested with good results, and the limits of the part that is healthy for Europeans were soon ascertained. Many appliances of modern times, including even printing presses, were introduced. In July 1892 the first building lots were sold by auction in the villages of Salis- bury, Victoria, and Umtali, when high prices were realised. Prospecting for gold was extensively car- ried on, and mines worked in ages long gone by were reopened and found to contain quartz that would pay for crushing, though until the heavy machinery required for that process could be brought in by rail, it was not possible to do more than make experiments. Meantime some farmers in the South African UNSUCCESSFUL RIVALRY, 36 1 Republic obtained a concession of land from a petty chief in the country, and attempted to move in and form a settlement on their own account, but were met at the Limpopo by a strong force of police, who required them either to turn back or to proceed on their journey as subjects of the Chartered Com- pany. Some of them accepted the Company's terms and moved on, the others drew back, as President Kruger disowned their action and they were without support. Nothing further of much interest occurred until April 1893, when the telegraph wire was cut by the people of a Mashona kraal near Fort Victoria, and a piece of considerable length was carried away. Dr. Jameson, the administrator for the Chartered Com- pany, imposed a fine upon the offenders, which was paid by them with cattle stolen from the Matabele. As soon as this became known Lobengula was informed that his cattle would be restored to him, but his indignation towards the Mashona was too great to be appeased, and he directed a division of his army to punish them. Messengers were sent to tell the Europeans that they need not be alarmed, for no harm would be done to them. But when, on the 9th of July, Mashona fugitives came panting into Victoria with information that their relatives were being murdered, when the ferocious Matabele warriors pursued their victims into the township and stabbed to death servants before the eyes of their masters, English blood was unequal to the task of submission. Accordingly protection was given within the fort to as many Mashona as requested shelter. 3^2 RHODESIA. When the raid commenced Dr. Jameson was at Sahsbury, but as soon as the wire conveyed the intelligence to him he left for Victoria. Upon his arrival he found that the European prospectors and farmers had abandoned the open country, and that the Matabele were still destroying Mashona kraals in the neighbourhood. He therefore sent for the indunas, with whom on the i8th he had a short conference. He informed them that within an hour they must retire towards Buluwayo, or he would drive them away. The indunas would make no promise, but said they could not control their young men, though in point of fact they withdrew^ most of their force, and when a couple of hours later Captain Lendy with a small party of mounted men was sent out to drive away any who were not retreating he found on the Victoria commonage only about three hundred Matabele, who were besieging a hill upon which some Mashona were trying to defend them- selves. Between these and Captain Lendy's party a collision occurred. The Matabele were driven away, and were followed about nine miles, losing nine or ten men in the pursuit. It was then ascertained that the European inhabi- tants of the country had not been altogether unmo- lested, as a farmhouse had been pillaged, and some hundreds of cattle of different kinds had been driven off. No European, however, had been harmed in person. A peaceful settlement of this matter was impos- sible. On the one hand Lobengule dared not punish his warriors for what they had done and could not OVERTHROW OF THE MATABELE POWER. 363 give security against a repetition of the offence, and on the other the white men in the territory with a single voice declared that they could not continue their ordinary pursuits if they were to remain exposed to Matabele raids. But neither party was prepared for immediate war. In June Lobengule had sent a. strong division of his army across the Zambesi against the Barotse chief Lewanika, so that he was for the time being crippled. The British South Africa Company had no horses and no troops even for the protection of its magazine of arms at Tuli. But both parties recognised that a contest was inevitable, and without loss of time began to make preparations for it. The day that Lobengule's people returned from Fort Victoria and reported what had occurred the chief sent messengers to recall his army from the Barotse country, and he refused thereafter to receive his monthly subsidy of ;^ioo from the Company. When a demand was made upon him for compen- sation for the damage done to the farmhouse and for the cattle taken from the white people, he declined to give it until the Mashona who were protected by the Europeans were surrendered to him with their families and all their belongings. He and his indunas displayed the utmost insensibility to any argument thait the Mashona and Makalaka had rights of person and property, and they could not be brought to acknowledge that those miserable creatures were in that respect in any way different from the chief's cattle. The high commissioner was apprehensive that if 364 RHODESIA. open war was commenced between the Chartered Company and the Matabele it might not be possible to prevent it spreading to the British Protectorate, and he therefore exerted himself to the utmost to restore concord. The Company was prevented from pressing the claim for compensation, and was limited to the defence of its occupied territory while he was endeavouring to negotiate with Lobengule. If the chief could have guaranteed that the Mashona beyond a recognised boundary would not again be molested, the imperial authorities would have been satisfied. But Lobengule could not do that, nor could he even long restrain his army from attacking the white people, as the young regiments were clamouring for war. In one instance only the high commissioner acted in a manner that must have irritated Lobengule. Some guns and ammunition were on the way inland to the chief, and by Sir Henry Loch's order they were detained at Palapye. A letter was sent to Lobengule to acquaint him that they would be allowed to go on as soon as all cause of trouble was removed, and expressing a desire for peace, but informing him distinctly that the Mashona protected at Fort Victoria would not be surrendered. Towards a missionary family and the white traders at and near Buluwayo Lobengule acted in a manner deserving the highest commendation. He informed them that he might not be able to protect them after the return of the regiments from beyond the Zambesi, and advised them therefore to leave the country. Not a European who could be regarded as having a claim OVERTHROW OF THE MATABELE POWER. 365 to his protection received the slightest harm. Some he assisted to remove, and those who chose to remain he treated with all possible kindness. Personally the chief was anxious for peace, but as head of the Matabele he was unable to modify his claim that the Mashona should be left to the will of his warriors. The Chartered Company was equally unable to permit his bands to ravage and murder within the limits of its operations. No issue could be clearer. Accordingly on both sides preparations for the inevitable struggle were hurried on. The forts Victoria and Salisbury were made impregnable against any native force, and Charter and Tuli were provided with garrisons. The Company pur- chased a large number of horses, and enrolled a body of the hardiest young men in South Africa. These engaged to serve throughout the war without money payment, but were to be armed and main- tained, and upon the conclusion of peace each was to receive a farm three thousand morgen in extent, twenty gold reef claims, and an equal share in half the cattle captured, the other half to be retained by the Company. By the beginning of October this force was in readiness, but could not advance upon Buluwayo without the consent of the high com- missioner. On the 30th of September a patrol sent out from Victoria to examine the country around ascertained that a Matabele army of six or seven thousand men was encamped in a bushy spot only twenty-five miles north-west of the fort, and two of the European 366 RHODESIA, scouts were fired upon. The Matabele were in a position where it would be difficult to attack them, but as the white people had abandoned the open country and Fort Victoria was impregnable, they could not do any harm where they were. Five days later, on the 5th of October, a patrol of three men of the Bechuanaland border police was fired upon by a party of about thirty Matabele on the southern bank of the Shashi river, near Macloutsie, within the Protectorate and beyond the Chartered Company's territory. The policemen returned the fire, and upon some others riding up the Matabele retired. It was subsequently ascertained that they were scouts of an army seven or eight thousand strong, under Gambo, a son-in-law of Lobengule. This affray made it evident to the high commissioner that the Matabele were incapable of distinguishing between the Chartered Company's forces and those of the imperial government, and brought all hope of a peaceful settlement to an end. It also showed that Lobengule, reserving only a body guard, had massed his army in two great divisions, to act on the east and on the south. That part of his force which had returned from the Barotse country had been attacked by small-pox, and many of the warriors had died. It had therefore been put in quarantine, but was now released and in the field, though the disease had not entirely disappeared. Intelligence that the imperial police had been fired upon in territory under imperial protection reached Capetown by telegraph the same day, and the high commissioner at once gave Dr. Jameson permission OVERTHROW OF THE MATABELE POWER. 367 to send liis forces forward. There was no time to be lost for in five or six weeks the rainy season might be expected to set in. The plan of the campaign was that two columns should advance directly upon Buluwayo from different directions. The first was under Major Patrick William Forbes as commander in chief, with Major Allan Wilson as next in rank. On the 17th of October this column marched from the Ironmine hill, at the source of the Tokwe river. It was com- posed of between six and seven hundred Europeans, nearly three-fifths of whom were mounted, and it had five maxim and five other field guns of great destruc- tive power. It was provided with a sufficient number of waggons to carry its stores and to form lagers, and it was accompanied by five or six hundred blacks, who were needed to tend the cattle, assist in scouting, cut bushes for strengthening lagers, and do other work of the kind. It kept as much as possible in open country, so that the Matabele army following it might not have an opportunity to attack it by surprise. The southern column consisted of Bechuanaland border police and British South Africa Company's men in equal numbers, only four hundred and fifty in all, but nearly every man was mounted. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Goold- Adams was in command. The column was splendidly equipped with maxims and other guns, and had a sufficient waggon train. It was accompanied by seventeen or eighteen hundred Bamangwato under the chief Khama. On the 1 8th of October an unfortunate incident 3^8 RHODESIA. occurred. Three Matabele indunas, with a European trader as their protector, who were sent by Lobengule to confer with the high commissioner, though they had no. authority to make the concessions necessary for peace, arrived at Colonel Goold- Adams' camp at Tati. The European, without giving any information as to the character of his companions, went to get some refreshment, and during his absence the indunas were arrested on suspicion of being spies. Two of them, without comprehending that a little patience would ensure their release, broke away from confine- ment, and were shot down when attempting to escape. It was a deplorable affair, but it can only be regarded as an accident. The third induna, who was the highest of them all in rank, was afterwards found to be an envoy only in name, as he had no proposals of a practical nature to make. The column under Major Forbes was accompanied by Dr. Jameson, Sir John Willoughby, and Bishop Knight-Bruce. It destroyed the Matabele military kraals along its line of march, and had frequent skirmishes with parties of the enemy, but took such precautions that it could not be attacked by a large force except when in lager. On two occasions only it had encounters worthy of the name of battles, but on the last of these the power of Lobengule was completely shattered. A little before daylight on the morning of the 25th of October the column was in lager on the head waters of the Shangani river when it was attacked by a Matabele army about five thousand strong. Three times within about four hours bands of the savage OVERTHROW OF THE MATABELE POWER, 369 warriors advanced upon the lager, but on each occasion they were driven back with heavy loss by the machine guns. After the fight at Shangani the column continued to advance, and was closely followed by the defeated Matabele. As soon as intelligence of the battle and its results reached Lobengule he sent nearly the whole of his body guard, including the Imbezu and Ingubo regiments, the very choicest of his warriors, to reinforce his army. The Imbezu and Ingubo, pure Zulus, believed that they alone could destroy the advancing whites, and were eager to display their superiority to the mongrel regiments. A little after noon on the ist of November the lager, which was being formed near the source of the Imbembesi river, was suddenly attacked by the Matabele army, that had managed to approach under cover of a thick forest. The Imbezu and the Ingubo were in front, and excited the admiration of the Europeans by their splendid bravery and coolness. But they could not get through the storm of bullets poured upon them from the maxim and other machine guns, and in less than an hour the engage- ment — which proved to be a decisive one — was over. The two gallant regiments had lost half their number in killed and wounded, and some others had also suffered severely. Fugitives from the battle of Imbembesi conveyed to Lobengule tidings that all was lost, when by his orders his principal kraal was set on fire, and with the whole of his people he fled northward towards the Zambesi. On the 3rd of November Major 25 37^ RHODESIA. Forbes had reached a point about eight miles distant from Buluwayo when he heard a tremendous report and saw a column of smoke shoot up to the sky. It was Lobengule's magazine, which the fire had reached and caused to explode. On the following day — 4th of November 1893 — the Chartered Company's force arrived at the still smoking kraal, and found in its neighbourhood only two individuals alive, two white men, traders, whom the chief had protected to the last, and who were still unharmed in property and in person. The column under Colonel Goold-Adams advanced more slowly, and met with no opposition except on one occasion. On the 2nd of November the rear of the waggon train was attacked by a few hundred men of Gambo's army, and an action followed which ended in the defeat of the Matabele. Three days later Khama and his people abandoned the expe- dition, and set out to return to Palapye. The Europeans continued to advance, and shortly after- wards learned that Gambo, having heard of the defeat at Imbembesi of an army superior to his own, had retreated northward with his regiments. Being apprehensive, however, that they might meet with resistance in a range of hills through which they were obliged to pass, they marched slowly and took pre- cautions against surprise, so that they only reached Buluwayo on the 15th of November. Various messages were sent to Lobengule assuring him of personal safety if he would surrender, but as these had no effect, Dr. Jameson resolved to send a part}' to capture him, and so bring hostilities to an OVERTHROW OF THE MATABELE POWER. 3/1 end. As soon therefore as the southern column reached Buluwayo Major Forbes with two hundred and ten of the Chartered Company's men and ninety of the Bechuanaland border police, well provided with maxims, set out in pursuit. The rainy season had now commenced, and the difficulty of traversing the country was greatly increased. The horses soon became unfit for much exertion, and it was necessary to send the greater number of the men back to Bulu- wayo, causing considerable delay before reinforce- ments could arrive. A great many Matabele were dispersed over the country along the line of march, but they offered no resistance, and it was evident that if the chief could be captured they would at once lay down their arms and submit. On the 3rd of December Major Forbes' force was on the left bank of the Shangani river, and it was ascertained that Lobengule's waggons, in which he was travelling, had crossed the preceding day. The chief was known to be ill, and it was believed that there were not many soldiers with him prepared to fight. Major Wilson, with a picked body of men mounted on the best horses of the patrol, was there- fore sent on with directions to follow the spoor, but under any circumstances to return before dark. The main body of the patrol formed a lager on the bank of the stream. Instead of returning before dark Major Wilson remained beyond the Shangani that night, and at daylight on the morning of the 4th rode up to the chief's waggons. The men who were with Lobengule showed fight, and the little band of Europeans was 0^2 RHODESIA. attacked and several of their horses were killed. Some might have escaped if they had chosen to ride away, but no one thought of abandoning his comrades, and so they stood side by side till their ammunition was all expended, and then, with heaps of Matabele dead around them, the last of the brave thirty-four met their fate as became gallant men. While this tragedy was being enacted on the eastern side of the Shangani, Major Forbes was attacked on the western bank, but succeeded in beating off his assailants. The river meantime had come down in flood, and communication between the banks was cut off. The firing in the action with Major Wilson's party was distinctly heard, but it was not possible to give assistance, and without being certain whether any had escaped or not, on the 5 th of December Major Forbes was obliged to retire towards Buluwayo. The return march was attended with much suffering, but without further mishap. An occurrence must here be related, which is the only disgraceful event of the war. Lobengule had sent several messages to say he intended giving himself up, but had taken no steps to make his assertions good. That he ever intended to surrender to an armed force is in the highest degree improb- able, but that he would have been willing to meet Dr. Jameson and other white men for the purpose of arranging terms by which he might retain his position as chief in a modified form is tolerably certain. He had a thousand sovereigns in his waggon when he fled from Buluwayo, and when ill and hard pressed by his pursuers he sent mes- CONCLUSION OF PEACE. 373 sengers with this money as a peace offering to the Enghsh commander, hoping to be granted terms. On the way his messengers fell in with two scouts of the Bechuanaland border police, to whom they delivered their message and the money, and these scoundrels concealed the matter and kept the gold. Whether Wilson's party would have been destroyed if the message had been conveyed to Major Forbes can be only conjecture, but the probabilities are that a satisfactory arrangement would have been made in time to prevent that lamentable occurrence. After all was over the matter was discovered, and the two policemen were tried and sentenced to fourteen years' imprisonment with hard labour, surely a light punishment for a crime of such magnitude. On the 22nd of November Babyane and four other indunas came in to inquire what terms of peace would be granted, and they were followed two days later by fourteen others, whose object was to obtain the like information. They were told that if they would surrender their arms they might return to their kraals and make gardens without being molested. The military huts were, however, destroyed. On the 23rd of January 1894 Lobengula died of fever and gout about forty miles south of the Zambesi, and his death removed the only barrier to a pacification of the country. Before that time the greater number of his people had accepted British rule, and expressed themselves satisfied with the change ; though, of course, at heart they were far from being so. During the campaign nineteen Europeans, besides Wilson's party, lost their lives from all causes. 374 RHODESIA. In this manner Matabeleland, the vast healthy plain in the centre of the continent, from four to six thousand feet above the level of the sea, was acquired by the British South Africa Company, and with Mashonaland took the name Rhodesia. Salisbury remained the seat of government, but on the 14th of November the high commissioner issued a proclamation making Matabeleland a subordinate district, and appointing a magistrate to reside at Buluwayo. Two townships were laid out : one at Buluwayo, and the other at Gwelo, the centre of what is believed to be a rich mining territory some distance beyond. A few building sites were sold at Buluwayo privately before the 30th of July 1894, and on that and the two succeeding days three hundred and fifty-nine plots of ground were disposed of there by auction, and realised on an average rather over ^^104 each. On the ist of August sixty-three building lots were sold by auction at Gwelo, and realised rather over £6'^ each. No town in South Africa, except Johannesburg, ever made such progress in building as Buluwayo in the first two years of its existence. Courts of justice, churches, schools, and telegraph offices took the place of military kraals, and the lives and property of black men, as well as of white, became secure in a region where, just before, the midnight executioner and the ruthless despoiler were the savage agents of a despotic chief The astonishing progress which the country was making was checked in 1895 by a severe drought and by the ravages of swarms of locusts, followed by an outbreak of runderpest in a most destructive DROUGHT AND DISEASE. 375 form among the cattle. The disbanded Matabele warriors, weary of the monotony of hfe under a European government, and longing for excitement of some kind, were under any circumstances unre- liable subjects ; and when the priests or ministers of the mighty spirit that dwelt in a cave announced that the white men were sorcerers and the cause of the disasters, they accepted the statement as true. For various reasons they did not regard themselves as beaten in the war of 1893. They had not been punished in the way they had been accustomed to deal with defeated enemies, and could not understand why a conqueror should spare his opponents, except on the assumption that he was afraid of them. Much discontent also was caused by the manner in which the captured oattle had been disposed of Towards the close of 1895 the country was denuded of the mounted police foice for the purpose related in the chapter on the South African Republic, and when tidings were received that Dr. Jameson, the conqueror of Lobengula, was himself conquered and a prisoner, the greater part of the Matabele tribe rose in rebellion. Many cf the miners, prospectors, and farmers were fortunate enough to be able to make their way to the towns, but some hundreds of men, women, and children were cruelly murdered. In every instance in which the Europeans met them in battle the insurgents were defeated, but a good many white men were killed while fighting. A large section of the Mashona, in the belief that the Matabele 376 RHODESIA- would be the victors, also rose in arms, proving how slender the tie of gratitude is with them. Before December 1896 most of the chiefs had accepted the terms of peace which were offered, and which left considerable power in their hands, but parts of the territory remained in a disturbed condition. Most strenuous efforts are being made to push on the construction of railroads. It is believed that the southern line will be completed to Buluwayo by the close of 1897, and it will give communication with all the ports of the Cape Colony. The eastern line from Beira at the mouth of the Pungwe river is also being rapidly extended towards Salisbury, and will shortly cross the Portuguese border. XXVIII. THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. When the Portuguese at the close of the fifteenth century made their appearance in the Indian sea, they found stations on the African coast as far south as Sofala occupied by Arabs who carried on an extensive trade with Hindostan, Persia, and the adjacent countries. The people among whom the Arabs lived were not subject to them, except on the islands, but tolerated their presence and left them generally undisturbed on account of the benefits derived from trade. They formed many independent communities, generally intensely jealous of each other, and they had greatly deteriorated in blood owing to their ancestors having taken Bantu women as wives, so that they were easily reduced to subjection by the Europeans. Sofala was at that time a place of great reputation throughout the east, on account of the gold that was exported through it. This gold was collected by Bantu in places some distance from the coast, and was then obtained by the Arabs in barter. It is not possible to ascertain what quantity was sent 377 37^ THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. away yearly, but it was probably much greater in the fifteenth century than at a later date, because just when the Portuguese arrived the Makalanga tribe, that occupied the country in which the mines were situated, began to break into fragments bitterly hostile to each other. The paramount chief of this tribe had the title of Monomotapa, a word that by some means became misunderstood hy Europeans, and was afterwards used as the name of the whole country from the lower Zambesi to Cape Agulhas. The ruins of buildings constructed in Mashonaland by some remote race of gold seekers were known to the Arabs and Bantu, but no traditions extended back to their origin. Sofala has not a good harbour ; but, owing to its reputation, the king of Portugal resolved to take possession of it, and in September 1505 an expe- dition under Pedro da Nhaya arrived there with that object. The Arabs at first offered no oppo- sition, and a fort was built before hostilities broke out, when the sheikh was killed, and his people became vassals of the Europeans. The place proved exceedingly unhealthy, but it was maintained from that date onward as a trading station. The mongrel Arabs were provided with goods, and went inland bartering gold and ivory, with which they returned to the Portuguese fort. Supplies were received from the magazines at Mozambique by means of small vessels manned by blacks under European officers, and the gold and ivory were sent to that station, which was the headquarters of the Portuguese on the East African coast. FORMATION OF TRADING STATIONS. 379 For more than a quarter of a century Sofala remained the only post occupied by white people in the country. Then two small forts were built on the southern bank of the Zambesi : one, named Sena, about a hundred and forty miles from the mouth of the river, the other, named Tete, a little over three hundred miles from the sea. Each was a trading station, to and from which merchandise was conveyed up and down the stream in boats. In 1 544 a man named Lourengo Marques ascertained that ivory was to be had from natives on the shores of Delagoa Bay, and thereafter a small vessel was sent yearly from Mozambique and remained for a few weeks trading for that article. But no fort or durable building of any kind was erected there, except by the Dutch, before 1787. After the middle of the sixteenth century also Inhambane was visited occasionally by trading vessels from Mozambique, though permanent occu- pation commenced only in 1730. Colonisation was not even attempted. The forts were guarded by a few soldiers, and the officers were almost the only traders. Whether soldiers or civilians, the Portuguese in East Africa degenerated rapidly. A European female was very rarely seen, and nearly every white man consorted with native women. Fever, when it did not kill them outright, deprived them of energy, and there was nothing to stimulate them to exertion. Cut off from all society but that of barbarians, often, until towards the close of the sixteenth century, without any religious minis- trations, sunk in sloth, and suffering from excessive 380 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. heat and deadly malaria, no lives led by Europeans anywhere could be more miserable than theirs. The gold obtained in commerce was of trifling value, but it was believed that if the mines were in the hands of white men great wealth could be drawn from them. Accordingly, in 1569 a splendidly equipped force of a thousand men, under an experienced officer named Francisco Barreto, was sent from Lisbon to effect the conquest. This expedition ascended the Zambesi to the junction of the Mazoe, and then attempted to proceed up the valley of the last-named stream. In several hotly contested actions with the natives it was victorious ; but fever, loss of all the transport cattle, the nature of the country, and the wiliness of the enemy, soon brought about its destruc- tion. Very few indeed escaped to return to Portugal. A little later another attempt was made, and an army went inland from Sofala, but effected nothing. In 1560 some missionaries of the Society of Jesus tried to establish themselves in South-Eastern Africa. One of them, by name Gongalvo da Silveira, was murdered by the monomotapa, and the others were obliged to withdraw, but successors resumed the work. About 1 5 80 the Dominicans entered the territory, and from that date until 1775 they had numerous stations scattered among the people. Their converts were told by thousands, yet within a single generation after the removal of the European teachers hardly a trace of Christianity was visible. In 1592 the garrisons of Tete and Sena were exter- minated by an invading horde, and when an attempt to recover those places was made by a body of troops GENERAL DECLINE, 38 1 from Mozambique, it failed disastrously. An arrange- ment, however, was made with the blacks by which the stations were reoccupied purely as trading posts. When at the highest point of their prosperity the Portuguese possessed, south of the Zambesi, only the forts that have been named and a few trading stations inland, where individuals were permitted to reside and carry on barter, upon payment to the chiefs of heavy taxes under the name of presents. In 1609, by taking the part of one of the rival claim- ants to the dignity of monomotapa, the Portuguese government appeared to be in a fair way of securing a firm footing, a prospect which was soon destroyed, however, by the incompetency of its officials. After this many Portuguese took part in tribal wars, and there was even an instance of a powerful chief being deposed and replaced by another through the instru- mentality of a few missionaries and traders, but the government never obtained actual control over any large body of Bantu in the territory beyond gunshot of the forts. After the destruction of the Portuguese power in the eastern seas by the Dutch, the stations on the East African coast have no history worth recording until our own times. So low had they sunk that at the beginning of the present century there were only twelve hundred and seventy-seven professing Chris- tians in the whole territory south of the Zambesi, and these included Asiatics, mixed breeds, and blacks, as well as the Europeans of all ages and both sexes. The only occupied places were Louren^o Marques in Delagoa Bay, Inhambane, Sofala, Sena, and Tete; 382 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. but there were a few Europeans and Asiatics scattered about among the Bantu. The old trading and mission stations in the interior were so completely lost that even their sites were forgotten. The wars that followed the establishment of the Zulu power by Tshaka drove two bodies of fugitives northward along the coast, both of whom created fearful havoc. First came the Angoni, slaughtering all before them until they reached the border of the lake Nyassa, where they are living to-day. Follow- ing them came the followers of Manikusa, now called the Abagaza, who remained as lords in the belt of land between the central plateau and the sea, from the Zambesi to Delagoa Bay. In 1833 they captured the garrison of Lourengo Marques, and put every man to death. In 1834 they destroyed Inhambane, and killed all the inhabitants except ten. In 1836 they took Sofala, and left no Portuguese living there. Next they pillaged Sena, but some of the inhabitants took refuge on islands in the river, and were allowed to return upon payment of tribute. Towards the other Bantu they acted as wolves do towards sheep, for none were able to resist them. When the first fury of the conquest of the country by Manikusa was over, the Portuguese stations were reoccupied by feeble garrisons of convicts and blacks, who existed there on sufferance. After 1838, when the emigrant farmers from the Cape Colony began to settle on the highlands of the interior between the Vaal and Limpopo rivers, Dela- goa Bay "acquired a value it never had before. It was the nearest port to the newly occupied territory, MACMAHOJSfS AWARD. 3S3 and efforts were repeatedly made to open a road to it. These did not succeed for many years, owing to the [)revalence of fever near the coast and to the inter- mediate belt of land being infested with the tsetse fly, but the position of the bay made it certain that in time all the difficulties of establishing communication through it between the South African Republic and the outer world would be overcome. In 1 86 1 an event took place which greatly bene- fited the Portuguese. This was the death of Manikusa, chief of the Abagaza, whose name was a watchword of terror in the country. Two of his sons fought with each other for the chieftainship, and the Portuguese, by aiding Umzila, who conquered his opponent, obtained a cession of territory, and what was of more importance, a declaration of vassalage and a friendly neighbour. In July 1869 a commercial treaty was concluded between the governments of Portugal and of the South African Republic, and in it a boundary line — the one now existing — was laid down. This treaty was viewed unfavourably by Great Britain, and that country thereupon put forward a claim to the southern and eastern shore of Delagoa Bay, based on certain documents obtained from native chiefs by Captain Owen, of the royal navy, \n 1823. The Portuguese government refused to acknowledge this claim, and it was referred to the arbitration of the president of the French republic, who in July 1875 decided against Great Britain. In March 1887 a Company was formed in London to construct a railway from Lourengo Marques to the 384 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. border of the South African Republic, under a con- cession from ihe Portuguese government The Hne, when completed, was seized by the authorities, owing to a clause of the concession not having been carried out, and the amount of compensation to be paid to the shareholders has not yet been settled. From the border to Pretoria the line was continued by the Netherlands South African Company, and in July 1895 was opened for traffic. A large proportion of the commerce of the republic now finds its way to Delagoa Bay, and with the vast development of the gold fields during recent years, the traffic is as much as the line can carry. Louren^o Marques has thus become a place of considerable im.portance. A town of some size has sprung up, and is rapidly growing, though the death- rate is exceedingly high. It is believed, however, that with the drainage of a great marsh adjoining it the place will become less unhealthy. There is no commerce of any consequence with the surrounding territory, which is, as of old, in possession of Bantu clans, the existence of Lourenco i\Iarques as a town being due solely and entirely to the transit of merchandise and passengers between the shipping and the railway to the interior. Yet it is to-day much the most important place in the Portuguese possessions in South-Eastern Africa. Next to it comes Beira, a town unknown ten years ago, and which sprang into being as the ocean terminus of a road from a settlement — not Portu- guese — in the interior. Beira is at the mouth of the Pungwe river, not far north of Sofala. It has an HOSTILITIES WITH THE ENGLISH. 385 excellent harbour, capacious, with good depth of water, and easy of access. The Arabs had once a small settlement there, but the Portuguefie never occupied the place in olden times, and when the Asiatics retired it fell into such utter decay that for more than three centuries it was completely for- gotten. When the pioneer expedition of the British South Africa Company was on the way from the Cape Colony to Salisbury in September 1890 Messrs. Colquhoun and Selous, two of its officers, turned out of the road to visit the chief Umtasa at Manika, who was induced by them to place himself under British protection and to grant a concession of mineral and other rights in his country. This chief was claimed by the Portuguese as one of their subjects, and some little time afterwards several Portuguese officials visited his kraal. There, on the 14th of November, they were arrested by Major Forbes, of the British South Africa Company, and were sent to Salisbury as prisoners. There was great excitement in Portugal when intelligence of the events at Umtasa's kraal reached that country. Bands of students pressed forward as volunteers to defend the honour of their flag, and were sent with all haste to Beira. Upon the arrival of the first party at that port, they, with some negroes from Angola, were ordered to occupy a recently- erected trading station named Andrada, about twenty English miles from Umtasa's kraal. They arrived at that station on the 5th of May 1891. Not far distant vv^as a camp of the British South Africa Company's 26 386 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. police, fifty-three in number, commanded by Captain Heyman. On the nth of Maya Portuguese force consisting of about a hundred Europeans and three or four hundred Angola blacks, was sent out to make a reconnaissance, and at two in the afternoon fell in with the English pickets, who retired upon the camp. The Portuguese followed, and an action was brought on, which resulted in their total defeat, with a heavy loss in killed and wounded. There were no casualties on the British side. The whole Portuguese force now fled precipitately to the sea coast, abandoning Andrada, which the British Chartered Company's men occupied on the following day. They found there some stores, of which they took possession as lawful spoil of war, but the most valuable part of the booty consisted of eleven machine guns that had been left behind. Negotiations between the two governments in Europe were shortly afterwards completed, and in June 1 89 1 a treaty was signed at Lisbon, in which a boundary between the British and Portuguese posses- sions was defined,- the same as it exists at present. The treaty provided further that in the event of either of the powers proposing to part with any territory belonging to it south of the Zambesi, the other should have a preferential right to purchase the territory in question, or any portion of it. A very important clause provided for the immediate survey and speedy construction of a railroad from the British territory to Beira, and for encouraging commerce by that route. And now, for the first time, the Portuguese THE MOZAMBIQUE COMPANY. 387 territory in South Africa was defined on all sides, and was secured from invasion by tribes beyond its border. In accordance with the terms of the treaty, a Company was formed for the construction of the railway, which is now open to within a very short distance of the boundary, and whi:h is rapidly being pushed on towards Salisbury. The gauge is only two feet and a half. The line passes entirely through the belt of country infested by the tsetse fly, and until the runderpest in 1896 swept off the cattle, transport from the terminus inland by means of ox-waggons was comparatively easy. Beira, which is built on a tongue of sand extending into the Pungwe river, is the healthiest site on that part of the coast. The town has advanced with rapid strides, and is already a place of considerable import- ance. The whole of Portuguese South Africa between the Zambesi and Sabi rivers, except the district of which Tete is the centre, is now ruled by the Mozam- bique Company. This Company was formed in 1 888 as a mining corporation, the acquisition of the gold- fields of Manika being the inducement to the share- holders to subscribe the capital. In February 1891, however, the Company obtained a royal charter, which conferred upon it extensive privileges. It has a monopoly of all mineral and commercial rights, which it may lease in detail to associations or indi- viduals, it is under an obligation to introduce a limited number of colonists, and it has taxing and 388 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. governing powers subject to the supreme authorities at Lisbon. The chief official of the Mozambique Company in the territory between the Zambesi and Sabi rivers has the title of governor, and resides at Beira. The country is divided into districts, over each of which a commissioner, subordinate to the governor, presides. The officers who administer justice are appointed by the supreme authorities at Lisbon, and are not subject to the Company, but to the governor-general of Mozambique. Sena and Sofala have not recovered their old im- portance, small as that was, and are now insignificant places compared with Beira. The tract of land between the Limpopo and Manisa rivers, from the border of the South African Republic to the sea, is held by another Company under a concession from the crown, dated in Novem- ber 1893, but nothing has yet been done to develop its resources. Inhambane, the port of the territory between the Limpopo and the Sabi, has made some progress of late years, though, as it is dependent upon trade with the Bantu only, it is far less important than Lourengo Marques or Beira. The village consists of a church and a few houses and shops. There remains the territory of which Tete is the seat of government, between the Zambesi and the Anglo-Portuguese border west of the Mozambique Company's district. It is occupied entirely by Bantu, except the village, which contains a church and from twenty to thirty stone houses of European pattern. PRESENT CONDITION. 389 It is protected by a small garrison of black troops with white officers, who occupy a fort overlooking the river. The European residents, officials included, do not number more than twenty-five or thirty, for the commerce of the place is small. The government of Tete, as of all the Portuguese stations in South Africa except those under the administration of the Chartered Company, is military in form, and subordinate to Mozambique. The Jesuits have recently established a mission here and also at a station a few miles distant. There are extensive coalfields in the neighbourhood, and it is possible that, owing to them, the village may some day become a thriving place. Throughout the whole territory from the Zambesi to Lourenco Marques difficulties in controlling the Bantu have been experienced of late years, but Portugal has opened her eyes to the fact that it is necessary to employ other and better forces than convicts and uncivilised negroes, such as were formerly engaged, and she has succeeded in estab- lishing her authority fairly well. Towards the close of 1895 the great chief Gungunhana, son and succes- sor of Umzila, assumed an attitude which compelled the government to bring him to account by force of arms. He was captured and banished in January 1896, and with his defeat the peace of the country has probably been secured, at least for sonie time to come. Lines of steamships now connect the various har- bours with Europe by way of the Red sea, and with the British settlements of Natal and the Cape Colony. 390 THE PORTUGUESE POSSESSIONS. The commerce of the territory has made rapid pro- gress, and the prospects of Portuguese South Africa seem brighter to-day than at any previous time since Pedro da Nhaya built the first fort on the river bank of Sofala. XXIX. THE BRITISH PROTECTORATE. THE GERMAN PRO- TECTORATE. WALFISH BAY AND THE GUANO ISLANDS. The British Protectorate. The territory between the Molopo and Botletle rivers is under the protection of Great Britain, which means that all white people living in it are under the jurisdiction of magistrat-es appointed by the high commissioner, and that the relationship of the native tribes to each other is controlled by the same authority, though the government of the chiefs over their own people is not often interfered with. Much the greater portion of this territory is without surface water, and is very thinly inhabited by Bushmen and wandering Bechuana who were formerly held by the tribes with fixed residences at the fountains in a condition of the most abject slavery. The principal tribes in this territory are the Bang- waketsi under the chief Bathoen, the Bakwena under the chief Sebele, and the Bamangwato under the chief Khama. All of these tribes suffered greatly from Moselekatse, and indeed narrowly escaped complete 391 392 THE BRITISH PROTECTORATE. destruction. The nature of the country to the westward of their principal kraals was such, however, that they were able to take refuge in it without fear of pursuit by the Matabele, who were unacquainted with the places where underground water could be found. Still they lost all their property, and the greater number oi them perished of hunger. The principal kraal of the Bangwaketsi is Kanj^e, and close by is the place where Makaba, Bathoen's ancestor, defeated the great Mantati horde that laid waste the southern portion of what is now the South African Republic. The horde was at the time in a famishing condition, and was encamped in two sections some distance apart, so that Makaba was able to fall upon and defeat one division before the other could come to its aid. This Makaba, who was regarded as a hero by the tribe, was afterwards killed in battle by another enemy, when the best of his warriors were also slain. It was only after Mosele- katse was driven to the north by the emigrant farmers that the Bangwaketsi were able to rally and settle down, but since that time they have lived unmolested. Next to the north are the Bakwena, whose principal kraal is named Molopolole. This is the tribe with which the reverend Dr. Livingstone lived when Setyeli, who collected its fragments together and brought them out of the desert, was its chief Setyeli acted generally with -prudence, and kept his people out of strife as much as possible, so that they grew in number and became prosperous. He died a year or two ago, and was .succeeded by his son Sebele. THE CHIEF KHAMA. 393 The Bamangwato are farther to the north. Mosele- katse committed dreadful havoc with this tribe, but spared the heir to its chieftainship, whom he made a soldier in one of his regiments. As soon as it was safe to do so, the remnant of the tribe came out of 4:he desert, and under the leadership of a man named Sekhomi, who was a member of the ruling house, went to reside at Shoshong, a place which could be easily defended, though it was poorly supplied with water and otherwise an uninviting locality. Years passed away, and Matsheng, the legitimate chief of the Bamangwato, still remained a Matabele soldier. At last, through the influence of the reverend Dr. Moffat with Moselekatse, he was released, and was received with great joy as their ruler by the people at Shoshong. But he had acquired Matabele habits and tried to govern in the Matabele way, so his subjects became dissatisfied, and at length there was a revolution, when he was obliged to seek the protection of the Bakwena chief Setyeli, and Sekhomi became again the head of the Bamangwato. It was not possible for the tribe to grow powerful at a place like Shoshong, yet it dared not move away through fear of the Matabele. It managed to exist, and that was all. Sekhomi's eldest son, Khama by name, grew up to be a man of great ability, but between him and his father and his brother Khamane a feeling of deep enmity arose. Khama, who had embraced the Christian religion, refused to comply with the ancient customs, and this was regarded by Sekhomi as rebellion. The young man with a large party 394 ^^^ BRITISH PROTECTORATE. attached to him then moved far away to the north- west, and settled on the banks of the Botletle river, but sickness carried off many of his followers there. With the remainder he returned, overthrew his father and his brother, and made himself chief at Shoshong. Khamane fled to the South African Republic, where a location was given to him. Khama has proved an exceptionally able ruler, and by his skilful dealing with the British authorities has secured the recognition by the imperial government of his claim to the enormous tract of country stretch- ing from below Shoshong to the Botletle river. As soon as a strong detachment of European police was stationed between him and the Matabele he removed from Shoshong to Palapye, where there is no want of water and ground for gardens. He then permitted Khamane to occupy Shoshong. The Bakalahari and Bushmen who roam over the waste parts of the Protectorate are among the most miserable inhabitants of this earth. The former are Bechuana by blood, but long servitude to pitiless masters has taken all spirit out of them and made them int-e^isely stupid. During the last ten years, that is since there have been European officials in the country, the lot of these poor creatures has been ameliorated, and their lives are now comparatively secure. In well-frequented places they are even able to hold property, but in the desert they have not yet come to realise that their masters have no longer any right to deal with them according to inclination. At the principal kraals in the Bechuanaland Pro- tectorate missionaries of the London society have FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 395 been stationed for many years, and large numbers of the people have embraced the Christian religion. The railroad from Capetown to Buluwayo passes near Kanye, Molopolole, and Palapye, thus bringing the most thickly settled part of this territory into connection with a seaport. The Protectorate is divided into two districts, over each of which an officer presides who receives his in- structions from the high commissioner. All Europeans in the territory and all others who are not subjects of the chiefs, who commit offences, are tried by these magistrates. The chiefs govern their own people without interference except in very serious cases of crime, but their relationship to each other is subject to control, and they are required to collect money to- wards the maintenance of the white officials. At the present time, January, 1897, the people of the terri- tory are in great distress, owing to a severe drought in 1895 and 1896, and the loss of nearly all their cattle from runderpest, but sufficient maize has been imported to prevent starvation and many hundreds of the young men are employed in the construction of the railway. The British Protectorate is within the customs union of the Cape Colony and the Orange Free State. The German Protectorate. In 1884 Germany commenced to secure a footing on the south-western coast of Africa by declaring her sovereignty over Angra Pequena and its shores, and gradually her protectorate has been extended until it 39^ THE GERMAN PROTECTORATE. now covers the territory from the Cunene river on the north to the Orange river on the south, and from the Atlantic ocean on the west to a long dis- tance inland. Walfish Bay, however, the only good port along the whole line of coast, belongs to the Cape Colony. In striking contrast with the opposite side of the continent, the German Protectorate, owing to the dry- ness of its air, is extremely favourable to the health of Europeans. The southern portion is almost rain- less, and fountains are few in number, but as one goes northward the moisture increases, though nowhere can the land be correctly described as capable of supporting an agricultural population. It is never- theless well adapted for cattle rearing. Copper is known to exist, but whether in quantity and quality sufficient to pay for its extraction and removal through so arid a country to the nearest port from which it could be sent to Europe, remains to be proved. It is generally believed that other minerals will also be found. The natives of this territory are Hottentots as far north as Walfish Bay, and beyond that Bantu. The Herero or Damara and the Ovampo tribes, being without a mixture of Asiatic blood in their veins, are blacker in colour and lower in intellect than the Bantu of the east. In this territory is also to be found a class of people who are certainly Bantu in blood, though their language and customs are those of Hottentots, and their mode of subsistence is that of Bushmen. They are usually known as Berg Damaras. How they came into the condition in which they are COLONISING EFFORTS. 397 at present is a mystery that has not yet been cleared up, but probably their remote ancestors were subjected by Hottentots and compelled to adopt the speech of their conquerors. The Germans have already had the same ex- perience as other nations that attempted before them to control the barbarous tribes of South Africa. A long and difficult war with the Hottentot chief Hendrik Witbooi was followed by one with the Damaras, but as a matter of course the Europeans with their boundless resources were in the end successful in these struggles. A military force of over a thousand men is at present maintained in the Protectorate, and it is difficult to conjecture what return there can be for the outlay, as the commerce is very trifling. A large deposit of guano is being removed from the neighbourhood of Cape Cross, but that will soon be exhausted. Great efforts are being made by the German authorities to introduce colonists, though the ter- ritory is ill fitted to receive them in large numbers. A few farmers from other parts of South Africa have moved in, and they may succeed as cattle breeders. Some others may make a living as mis- sionaries and traders, but unless the country should be found to contain great mineral wealth, there can be no opening for many individuals except in these occupations. The want of a harbour is a great drawback to the German Protectorate. Goods are sometimes landed at the mouth of the Swakop river, but only in calm weather, and even then at much risk, for a heavy surf 39^ WALFISH BAY AND GUANO ISLANDS. is usually rolling on the coast. For this reason most of the traffic has hitherto passed through the Cape Colonial port of Walfish Bay. Marine engineers, however, may possibly be able to devise some means of providing a secure landing-place at the mouth of the Swakop. Walfish Bay and the Guano Islands. Walfish Bay was made a dependency of the Cape Colony by the Dutch East India Company, but the circumstance was forgotten by the English administra- tion, and the place was entirely neglected until 1878. In March of that year, on account of its strategical importance, the bay with a small tract of land around it was formally taken in possession as part of the British empire, and a magistrate was sent to reside there. In August 1884 it was annexed to the Cape Colony. A more uninviting spot can hardly be imagined, as the country is nothing but a dreary waste of sand. Within the line which separates the British from the German territory there are living about seven hundred Hottentots of a very low type. The only other inhabitants are the colonial magistrate with his staff of police, a missionary family, and a few traders and forwarders of goods to the interior. Along the coast between Walfish Bay and the mouth of the Orange river there are several rocky islets upon which seabirds congregate in vast flocks, and as there is hardly any rainfall in that region the guano is of considerable value. In 1866 these islets, twelve in number, were proclaimed dependencies of ICHABOE ISLAND. 399 the Cape Colony. The most valuable of them is the one named Ichaboe, which is less than a mile in cir- cumference. The only inhabitants are the men employed by the government to gather the guano, which is sold at a very low rate to colonial farmers. XXX. THE TERRITORY BETWEEN TPIE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. During recent years the territory between the Indwe and Kei rivers on one side and Natal on the other has been annexed to the Cape Colony, but in some respects it is regarded as a dependency rather than as an integral part. It returns two members to the house of assembly, but enactments of the parliament are not in force in- it unless so declared in the body of the enactment or specially proclaimed by the governor. It has a penal code of its own, and civil cases between Bantu residing in it are decided by the European magistrates according to Bantu law. The governor, acting by the advice of his ministers, has power to legislate for its people by proclamation alone. It is a very beautiful and fertile tract of land, resembling Natal in appearance, though the tempera- ture along the coast is not quite so high. On the elevated belt just below the Drakensberg the winter nights are too cold to be pleasant to Bantu, and consequently no one except Bushmen resided there 400 SOUTH AFRICAN BOULDER. 402 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. permanently until quite recently. There are some fine forests on the lower terraces. The rainfall is abundant, and the drainage perfect, the rivers on account of their great slope speedily carrying off all superfluous moisture. The climate is therefore ex- ceedingly healthy, though the grass is so rich and other vegetation so luxuriant that had the country been nearly level fever certainly would be endemic. South Africa abounds in cascades. The most celebrated of these, next to the Victoria falls of the Zambesi, are the great falls of the Orange, the Tugela's leap of sixteen hundred feet over the face of the Drakensberg, and the fall of the Umgeni a few miles from Maritzburg in Natal. But one of the most picturesque is in the Tsitsa river, in the territory now being treated of. Ordinarily the stream tumbles over the precipice in three or four rills, but in times of flood a volume of water from four to five hundred feet wide drops nearly four hundred feet into a narrow chasm. When white men first visited this territory, more than three hundred years ago, there were no Bantu tribes of any importance living in it. A number of little clans, each independent of all the others, occu- pied the land as far south as the Umzimvubu river, and beyond that stream the people were of mixed Bantu and Hottentot blood. They had the same customs and language as the present inhabitants, but the existing tribes were either not yet formed or were too small to attract the attention of travellers. Towards the close of the seventeenth century some SETTLEMENT OF I DUTY W A. 403 shipwrecked sailors found four tribes occupying the territory : the Pondos, the Pondomisis, the Tembus, and the Kosas. All are there at the present day, and the fragments of many others as well. At that time they had advanced southward as far as the river Kei, and one little offshoot was even found at the mouth of the Buffalo. They had partly incorporated and partly exterminated the Hottentots to the north, and were continuing that process with others in their way as they advanced. In preceding chapters sufficient has been related of these people from that date until the destruction of their cattle and grain by the Kosas in 1856 and 1857. As punishment for the part taken by them in that occurrence, in 1858 Kreli and his people were driven over the Bashee by a body of the colonial armed and mounted police. A few hundred Fingos and some Kosas who professed to be attached to the British government were then located in the district of Idutywa, part of the vacant territory, and an English official was stationed there to preserve order among them. The rest of the old Kosa country between the Kei and Bashee rivers continued to be without inhabitants until 1864, when Sir Philip Wodehouse believed it necessary to strengthen the European element west of the Kei, as the military force on the border was being reduced by the imperial authorities. His first plan was to give out the vacant ground as farms to a selected body of young men from different parts of the colony, but as the British government emphatically refused to extend its do- 404 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. minion in South Africa he was obliged to relinquish that project. He then resolved to make room for more farmers within the established border by in- ducing some of the Bantu clans there to move east- ward. In execution of this design it was necessary to attempt to turn Kreli from an enemy into a friend, and with this view he was offered the districts of Kentani and Willowvale, with a pension of ;^ioo a year as long as he should behave himself to the satis- faction of the governor. The chief joyfully accepted the offer, and immediately moved in with his people. This of course was no relief to the colony, and the Gaikas under Sandile, who were next offered land over the Kei in exchange for their location on the western side, refused to move. They professed that they wished to remain British subjects, but in reality their reason for declining the offer was attachment to Kreli, their tribal head, whom they thought they would be wronging if they took possession of land that had once been his. The Tembus of Glen Grey, however, and some of the Fingos west of the Keis- kama had no such scruples, and they accepted the governor's proposal. The former received the dis- tricts of Xalanga and Saint Mark's, the latter the districts of Tsomo, Nqamakwe, and Butterworth. Thus the whole of the land east of the Indwe and the Kei was again occupied by a Bantu population. British officials were stationed with all these people, but as the imperial government would not permit the territory to be formally annexed, they were really only diplomatic agents. ANNEXATION OF TEMBULAND. 405 Sir Philip Wodehouse's object in removing these Bantu was entirely frustrated, for not a rood of ground was obtained by the measure for Europeans. The Tembus and the Fingos in the colony simply threw off swarms, but took care not to abandon any part of their locations, and it was not possible for the govern- ment to use force to drive them away. The main branch of the Tembu tribes lived be- tween the Bashee and Umtata rivers. After 1863 its chief was a man named Gangelizwe, ordinarily a gentle-looking and soft-speaking individual, but subject to outbursts of violent passion. His great wife was a-daughter of the Kosa chief Kreli, and his treatment of her was at times so inhuman that her father was exasperated to the last degree. There was an old feud between the Tembus and the Pondos, so that Gangelizwe had an enemy on the other side also. In 1875, in a mad fit of rage, he murdered one of his concubines, who was an illegitimate niece of Kreli and an attendant upon the great wife. His enemies on all sides were now ready to fall upon him, and as his tribe contained many fragments of others whose fidelity could not be depended upon in such a quarrel, the chief himself and his councillors requested British protection and offered to become subjects of the queen. To prevent a disturbance on the border the high commissioner consented, and in 1875 the districts of Elliot, Engcobo, Umtata, and Mqanduli were added to the empire in the same loose way as those previously mentioned. Living on the eastern bank of the Bashee river, close to the coast, was a clan called the Bomvana, the 406 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. fugitive remnant of a tribe destroyed in the early Zulu wars. This clan was nominally attached to the Kosa tribe, but it did not destroy its substance in 1856 and 1857, and was consequently able to give shelter to Kreli when he was driven over the Bashee in the following year. From that time it was really independent, and remained so until 1878. Then the country around was involved in a war yet to be referred to, and Moni, the chief of the Bomvanas, who was too weak to maintain neutrality, applied to be received as a British subject. The high com- missioner accepted his offer, and took possession of the district of Elliotdale, thus bringing the whole country between the colonial border and the Umtata river more or less authoritatively under the British flag. It was regarded as being under the protection and control of the high commissioner as representing the empire, and no part of it was made subject to the Cape Colony until 1879, when the districts of Idutywa, Tsomo, Nqamakwe, and Butterworth were formally annexed. The districts of Kentani, Willowvale, Xalanga, Saint Mark's, Elliot, Engcobo, Umtata, Mqanduli, and Elliotdale were annexed in 1885. The whole of the territory between the Umtata and Umzimkalu rivers was allotted to the chief Faku, when in 1844 an attempt was made to form a power- ful Pondo state. But that attempt was a failure, for the upper portion of the territory was nearly un- inhabited, and the lower portion was filled with refugee clans from the north, some of whom were almost as strong as the Pondos themselves. The POLICY OF FAKU, 407 country therefore continued to be convulsed with feuds and wars, and Faku became at length only too glad to part with his nominal right to a portion of it that he might have a chance of conquering and hold- ing the rest. He first ceded the land along the coast between the Umtamvuna and Umzimkulu rivers to Natal, thereby getting rid of a number of his opponents, and then in 1861 he offered to the Cape government nearly two-thirds of the remainder. The line which he proposed cut off the Pondomisis — a tribe as old as his own and that had never been subject to him or his ancestors, — the Bacas, the Hlangwenis, and some others of less note, whom he desired to place under such control that they could not molest him while he subjugated the enemies that would be left on his side. His offer was not at once accepted, but thereafter Sir George Grey and succeeding governors looked upon the territory along the base of the Drakensberg, north of the proposed line, as waste land at their disposal as the highest authority in South Africa. Sir George Grey offered a portion of it to Adam Kok and his Griquas, if they would remove from the Orange Free State, and they accepted it. In 1862 Sir Philip Wodehouse located them in the districts of. Kokstad and Umzimkulu, and from them the whole territory north of that which Faku retained for himself became known as Griqualand East. The object of placing the Griquas there was to establish a power, acting under British prestige, 408 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. believed to be sufficiently civilised to set a good example and sufficiently strong to maintain order. But the scheme was an utter failure, and in a few years Adam Kok was obliged to ask that a British officer should be stationed in the country to en- deavour to keep the different sections of the in- habitants from exterminating each other. During the last war between the Orange Free State and Moshesh, some Basuto, Batlokua, and Fingo clans moved in, and were located by Sir Philip Wodehouse in the districts of Mount Fletcher and Matatiele. Some freed slaves and colonial blacks had previously settled in the district of Maclear. Constant quarrels among the various clans at length induced the high commissioner to interfere, as nearly all the chiefs declared their readiness to place themselves under British authority. In 1873 an officer with the title of resident was sent into the country, and the districts of Maclear, Mount Fletcher, Tsolo, and Qumbu — the last two occupied by the Pondomisi tribe — were taken over. In the following year the districts of Matatiele, Kokstad, and Umzim- kulu, with Adam Kok's consent, were also taken over, as was in 1876 the district of Mount Frere, with the consent of the Baca chief Makaula, whose people occupied it. These eight districts comprise the whole of the territory north of the line proposed by Faku. In 1879 they were formally annexed to the Cape Colony. In 1886 the district of Mount Ayliff, occu- pied by the Xesibes under the chief Jojo, was also annexed. It was south of Faku's line, but it became a necessity either to take over the Xesibes, or to PORT ST. John's. 409 stand by and see a brave little clan exterminated by the Pondos. A small tract of land, less than sixteen square miles in extent, on the western side of the Umzim- vubu river at its mouth, together with the navigable part of the stream and the eastern bank from the lower ford to the sea, is called the district of Port St. John's. The mouth of the Umzimvubu, in common with all the streams along the coast, is nearly closed by a shifting bar of sand. When heavy rains fall in the uplands, a channel is sometimes opened across the bar thirty feet and upwards in depth at low water of spring tides, but on other occasions the channel is often not more than three feet deep. Above the bar a sheet of water from two hundred to two hundred and fifty yards across, and from twenty to thirty feet in depth, extends some eleven or twelve miles, when a ford is reached. There are other places along the coast where boats can effect a landing, but the mouth of the Umzim- vubu is the only place worthy the name of harbour between East London and Port Natal. The outer anchorage is fairly good, and the river is usually accessible to boats, coasting vessels, and small steamers. The greatest drawback to its use is not the difficulty of landing and shipping cargoes, but the difficulty of communicating with the back country, owing to the ruggedness of the land near the coast and the want of a good road. In July 1878 the colonial government purchased the ground at the mouth of the river from, the Pondo chief Nquiliso, and in the following month British 410 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. sovereignty was proclaimed over the port. In Sep- tember 1884 the district was annexed to the Cape Colony. The remainder of Pondoland continued under the government of its chiefs ten years longer. Constant quarrels between different clans, when the defeated parties often took refuge in colonial territory and caused endless difficulties there, at length made inter- ference a matter of necessity. In March 1894 a strong body of police was massed on the border, and a commissioner was sent into the country, who required the chiefs to place themselves and their people under British control. The destructive nature of maxim guns, as proved in the recent Matabele campaign, was just at that time a matter of discus- sion by the Pondos, and the chiefs shrank from coming into contact with such weapons. They agreed to receive pensions in exchange for their independence, and the territory was proclaimed part of the British dominions. In September 1894 it was formally annexed to the Cape Colony, and was divided into five districts named Libode, Ngqeleni, Umsikaba, Tabankulu, and Bizana. Thus all the territory from the Indwe and the Kei on one side to the Natal border on the other was brought under colonial rule. The Bantu in these dependencies have given very little trouble during recent years, but there were some serious disturbances in several of the districts before they became accustomed to European guidance. On the 3rd of August 1877 there was a marriage at a Fingo kraal just within the Butterworth border, NINTH KAFFIR WAR. 4I I and two petty Kosa captains, with a small party of attendants, crossed over from Kreli's district of Ken- tani to partake in the festivities. On such occasions custom demands that all who attend are to be made welcome. In the evening, when the guests were excited with dancing and drinking millet beer, a quarrel arose, no one afterwards was able to tell exactly how or why. At any rate the Kosas were ranged on one side and the Fingos on the other, and they used their sticks so freely that the two captains were badly bruised and one of their attendants was killed. The visitors were then driven over the border. Strong bands of Kosas immediately mustered to avenge the insult offered to their friends, and began to sweep off the Fingos' cattle. The excitement on both sides soon became so great that the efforts of the officials to restore order were unavailing. The police were sent to the front, the colonial volunteers were called out, and an imperial regiment of the line marched to the border. Several sharp actions were fought with Kreli's people, who lost some seven hundred men, and then suddenly fled into Pondoland. In the belief that the disturbance was over, the volunteers were now permitted to go to their homes ; but they were hardly disbanded when the Kosas returned and attacked the police. In December Kiva, a relative of Kreli, crossed the Kei, and appealed to the Kosas in the colony to support the head of their tribe. Most of them, with the chief Sandile, responded to the appeal, and the country was involved in the ninth Kaffir war. In February 1878 the colonial camp at Kentani was 412 BETWEEN THE KEI RIVER AND NATAL. attacked by about five thousand Kosas, who charged in dense masses, but were mown down by a fire from heavy guns. Both KreH and Sandile were present in the engagement. The principal column was led by the tribal priest, who had performed certain cere- monies which caused the warriors to believe that they were invulnerable ; but this feeling of confidence being destroyed, they gave way to despair. When they broke and fled, the volunteer cavalry and the Fingos pursued and prevented them from rallying. As far as Kreli was concerned the battle of Ken- tani was a decisive one. He did not attempt any further resistance, but with his adherents at once crossed the Bashee. After the conclusion of peace a small location was assigned to him in Elliotdale, and there he spent the remainder of his life. West of the Kei the Kosas held out for many months, but at length Sandile was killed in action, and they then submitted. In October 1880, just after the Basuto tribe rose in rebellion, the Pondomisis in the districts of Tsolo and Oumbu, the Basuto in the districts of Mount Fletcher and Matatiele, and the Tembus in the districts of Saint Mark's, Xalanga, and Engcobo rose also against the Europeans. They committed some atrocious murders — notable among which was the treacherous massacre of the magistrate Hamilton Hope and the clerks Henman and Warrene by the Pondomisi chief Umhlonhlo, — and they destroyed much property, but within four months they were completely subdued by a combined force of burghers and rival Bantu. FORM OF GOVERNMENT. 4I3 The territory is now divided into two chief magis- tracies. One of these consists of the districts of Idutywa, Butterworth, Nqamakwe, Tsomo, Kentani, Willowvale, Xalanga, ElHot, St. Mark's, Engcobo, Umtata, Mqanduli, ElHotdale, Libode, Ngqeleni, Port St. John's, Umsikaba, Tabankulu, and Bizana. It is presided over by an officer termed the chief magistrate of Transkei, Tembuland, and Pondoland, and in each of the districts there is a subordinate magistrate. The other consists of the districts of Maclear, Mount Fletcher, Tsolo, Qumbu, Mount Frere, Matatiele, Kokstad, Umzimkulu, and Mount Ayliff, and is termed the chief magistracy of Griqualand East. It is provided with a similar staff of officials. The population of the territory consists at present of about seven hundred thousand Bantu, seven thou- sand Hottentots and mixed breeds, and fourteen thousand Europeans. The latter are government officials, missionaries, traders, and farmers on the highlands under the Drakensberg and on ground purchased from Griquas. The chiefs retain consider- able judicial power, are regarded as officials, and are in receipt of salaries, for it would be useless to attempt to govern the people if they were ignored. Persons charged with very serious crimes are tried before a judge on circuit according to colonial law, and in civil cases there is an appeal from the courts of the resident magistrates to a court composed of the chief magistrate and two assessors. The only direct tax paid is one of ten shillings a year on each hut, which brings in sufficient to defray the ordinary cost of government, including a con- 414 BETWEEN THE K EI RIVER AND NATAL. siderable sum expended on mission schools. A strong police force is needed, but against that expen- diture may be set trading licenses and the customs duties on goods sold. The rate of increase of the population is amazing now that all the checks that kept it in bounds in ancient times have been removed. As far as can be ascertained, there is nothing like it out of South Africa. The food of the people consists of maize or millet, with pumpkins, sweet cane, curdled milk, and occasionally flesh plainly cooked. This simple diet, with living mostly in the open air, tends to keep them in robust health, and every girl without exception is married. XXXI. THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE CAPE COLONY. Since the management of its affairs has been in the hands of its own people the Cape Colony has made an enormous stride in prosperity. Its principal industries are still pastoral and agricultural, owing to the nature of the greater part of the country. The Karoo plains, thinly speckled with succulent plants, are covered with flocks of merino sheep and Angora goats, which are kept up to a high standard by the importation of the best foreign blood, and the basin of the Orange river, carpeted in good seasons with long grass, supports large herds of horned cattle. In these parts of the colony agriculture is only possible where there is running water, but a great deal of labour has been expended in making reservoirs from which gardens and orchards can be irrigated, and recently much success has attended the sinking of artesian wells. On the first and second terraces from the southern coast and in the districts adjoining the eastern border the rainfall is ample, and agriculture is carried on conjointly with cattle-breeding. Wheat and maize 41 6 PRESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY, are the principal crops, but oats are extensively- grown for horses, and almost every kind of vegetable and fruit is abundant. In the south-western angle of the colony — the part settled in the seventeenth century — the cultivation of wheat and the vine is carried on. Sufficient wheat indeed is not at present grown, even in favourable seasons, for home consumption and the supply of shipping, because the farmers have not been able to keep pace with the sudden and rapidly increasing demand caused by the mining industry in the north ; but there can be little doubt that in course of time much more will be produced. The quality of the wines and spirits made has been much improved of late years, though these articles do not yet command a ready sale in the English market. Ostriches have been tamed, and their feathers form an important item in the trade returns. On the other hand, skins of wild animals have quite disappeared, for the large game with which the country once teemed has been exterminated. Ivory also has greatly fallen off, and the little that is now exported is brought from the distant interior of the continent. In 1852 rich copper mines were opened in the district of Namaqualand, and the part of the colony previously regarded as the least valuable has ever since been contributing its mineral wealth to the general prosperity. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that South Africa is subject to many drawbacks. Long and severe droughts sometimes occur over very ex- tensive portions of its surface, when everything green DRAWBACKS TO AGRICULTURE. 417 perishes, and animals of all kinds die off in great numbers. Sometimes, though rarely, these droughts produce actual famine among the inhabitants, especially among the coloured people, who are too improvident to lay by anything for a day of distress. The mild climate also favours insect life, so that the farmers and fruitgrowers often have to contend with difficulties unknown in Central and Northern Europe. Myriads of caterpillars sometimes devastate the cultivated land, and vast swarms of locusts appear, when before them the country may be as the garden of the Lord, but behind them it is a naked desert. The cattle also are subject to various diseases. In the summer months, except in a few localities, horses require to be stabled at night, or they contract a sick- ness which nearly always ends in death. Lungsick- ness and red water often create havoc among herds of horned cattle, and other diseases of a less deadly nature are common. During the year 1896 there was much suffering in large areas of the colony from the effects of drought and locusts, and the runderpest ia still threatening to cross the Orange river from the region to the north, where it has destroyed nearly all the cattle. In 1895 the territory previously known as British Bechuanaland was annexed to the Cape Colony. The Keate award was hardly delivered when the clans cut off by it from the South African Republic began to quarrel with each other, and their feuds continued with hardly any intermission until the British flag was hoisted at Pretoria. Then for a time there was comparative order, because the Transvaal authorities 28 41 8 PRESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY. favoured the strongest chiefs and the mihtary force in the country commanded respect. When the repubHc was restored the old quarrels began afresh, and soon became more bitter than ever. Some of the chiefs now professed strong attachment to Great Britain, and as a matter of course their rivals professed equally strong attachment to the govern- ment of the farmers. It is a mistake to suppose that these people have a high regard for English justice and English benevolence, it is only English power for which they have any respect. Why should they like us better than other people ? We do as much — even more — to destroy their national customs and everything else that they hold dear. How is it possible, then, that they can love us ? They certainly respect strength, and they are always ready to profess attachment to that party v/hich can give most. But in cases like that of the Bechuana tribes, if one chief declares himself a friend of the republic, his rival will most certainly announce himself as the devoted adherent of the queen. At this stage a European renegade suggested to the chief with whom he was living that white men should be enlisted to fight for him, and as a result volunteers were called for, each to receive a farm in payment when the war was over. The other side adopted the same course, so that bodies of Europeans — decidedly of the vagabond type, however — were apparently pitted against each other in a cause that did not concern them in the least. In reality there was no fear of such combatants shedding each other's blood, except when an individual made himself par- BRITISH BECHUANALAND. 4I9 ticularly obnoxious ; but it soon became a certainty that unless some power intervened the volunteers would divide the best part of the country among them and- leave little worth having for their em- ployers. The western border of the South African Republic was the base of operations on one side, ajid Pres-ident Kruger's government made little or no effort to pre- vent its being so used. The burghers of that state would not put themselves to trouble to protect clans that had thrown off their authority, and they had also an excuse that volunteers for the other s"de were enlisted at the diamond fields — on British soil — with hardly a show of secrecy. This implication in the disturbances caused people in England to regard the republic as being at the bottom of the whole matter, and public opinion supported the government in sending out a strong military force under Sir Charles Warren to protect the clans from being despoiled. Meanwhile the volunteers — or freebooters — had taken possession of two considerable tracts of ground, and set up an independent government on each. One was termed the republic of Stellaland, the other the land of Goshen. When Sir Charles Warren ap- proached, the people of Goshen, instead of prepar- ing to resist, dispersed to other parts of South Africa, and the people of Stellaland submitted, so that there was no necessity to fire a shot in anger. The expedition, though it had not to fight, was of the utmost service to British interests in the country* 420 PRESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY. It restored the imperial prestige, which had suffered so greatly a few years before, and it secured an open highway to the interior of the continent. In September 1885 the territory which had been the scene of the disturbances was taken under British sovereignty. It was formed into a crown colony, governed by an administrator under Her Majesty's high com- missioner, and was divided into five magisterial districts : Mafeking, Vryburg, Taung, Kuruman, and Gordonia. The best of the land was set apart as reserves for the Bechuana clans, but large tracts are now occupied by European farmers, and there is still much open ground. It is well adapted for cattle runs, though agriculture only succeeds in limited localities, and in general there is a scarcity of surface water. No minerals of any importance except salt have yet been discovered. The climate is exceedingly healthy, and though the days in midsummer are unpleasantly warm, the nights are invariably cool and enjoy- able. After the establishment of British authority order was observed as well as in any part of the world. A railway was constructed from Kimberley, the northern terminus of the line through the Cape Colony, directly through the province, and is now being continued to Buluwayo in Rhodesia. Vryburg and Mafeking, the largest European villages in the territory, are on this route. In 1895, as already stated, British Bechuanaland ceased to be a separate province by being annexed to the Cape Colony. It is impossible to state the quantity of produce EXPORTS, 421 that the colony contributes to the commerce of the world, because much of what is exported comes from the republics, and a little from the territory north of the Molopo river. The value of everything that was sent out of South Africa through the Cape ports during the year that ended on the 30th of June 1896 was as follows : — Gold ;^8,040,485 Diamonds 4,849,868 Wool 1,926,082 Ostrich Feathers 564,683 Hides and Skins 489,147 Angora Hair ... 430,712 Copper Ore 261,156 Wine 20,729 Dried Flowers ... 12,745 Fruit 9,545 Horns 8,847 Dried Fish 8,392 Brandy 3,960 Horses ... 3,421 Aloes 3,342 Argol 2,339 Ivory 2,071 All other Articles 110,234 Total Expo rts ... ;^i6,747,758 These figures show the importance of the mining industry of South Africa, as gold, diamonds, and copper ore make up nearly four-fifths of the total exports. Taking the remaining articles alone into consideration, they are now nearly ten times as great in value as in 1850. The trade passed through the various ports in the following proportion : — 422 PRESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY. Capetown ;^8,4i3,io5 Port Elizabeth 1,911,404 East London 862,058 Port Nolloth 261,315 Mossel Bay 181,523 Kjiysna ... ... 7>865 Port St. John's ... 1,907 Gold and Diamonds sent by Post ... 5,108,581 ;^i6,747,758 The imports from abroad amounted in value during the year that ended on the 30th of June 1896 to ;^i 5,98 1,982. Altogether these figures, added to those for Natal, mean that South Africa has a purchasing power at the present time of about eighteen million pounds sterling, less the interest on the different public debts and on foreign capital invested in the country. The bulk of the trade is with Great Britain, and a large proportion of it originates in the Cape Colony. Excluding the dependencies named in the preced- ing chapter, the Cape Colony has now a population of about three hundred and eighty thousand Europeans and eight hundred and fifty thousand coloured people. Of these last, fully three-fifths are Bantu, the others are mixed breeds, Asiatics, descendants of freed slaves, and Hottentots. All are subject to the same laws, except in a few particulars where it has been found necessary to make special provision for Bantu com- munities, such as the recognition of communal tenure of land in locations, the prohibition of the sale of spirituous liquors in certain defined areas, and the supervision of these people when they live in undue number on farms owned by Europeans. MISSIONARY LABOURS. 423 Among the Bantu missionaries of nearly every Christian society have been labouring for many years, and two or three generations have grown up under their care. The result upon the whole is discouraging to those who look for high improvement, although a considerable advance has been made by a section of these people. Where youths have been separated from the surroundings of the kraals, and have been trained in habits of order, cleanliness, and — as far as practicable — industry, the most good has been effected. In this direction the Free Church of Scot- land led the way, and its noble institution at Love- dale, on the western bank of the Tyumie river, is now a model which other Christian bodies are copying. It has become generally recognised that the system of education carried out by most of the missionary societies was faulty. Their idea was to teach the children of barbarians to read and write, to give them a knowledge of grammar and geography, of arithmetic and history, and especially to instruct them in Christian doctrine and cause them to read the Holy Scriptures. The government subsidised the schools, and the rivalry among the different denominations was so keen that no location of any importance was lost sight of. And now, after a vast expenditure of energy and money, it is seen that education of this kind is by itself of little value, and industrial training is coming to be regarded as a necessity. The mixed breeds, descendants of slaves, and Hottentots have also been the objects of missionary solicitude, and as they have long been in close contact 424 PHESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY. with white people, their mode of Hving is based upon the European model. Most of them profess Christi- anity. They do the rough work of the farms and the towns, but are in general averse to steady labour, and are thriftless to the last degree. The instances are rare of people of this class accumulating pro- perty, though they often have excellent opportunities for doing so. The Asiatics in the colony are chiefly descendants THE boys' school, LOVED ALE MISSIONARY INSTITUTION. of people from the Spice islands, who were sent here in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and are commonly termed Malays. Those of pure blood are almost — if not wholly — without exception Moham- medans. But many Africans and people of mixed blood have adopted that creed, and as they have intermarried, the Malays present every variety of appearance between the pure Asiatic, the pure European, and the pure African, while some fluctuate between Christianity and Islam. They are decidedly of a higher type than the class previously mentioned. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ^2$ Many of the men are good mechanics, and the amount of property that they hold is considerable. They are confined entirely to towns. Some Indians from Hindostan have recently migrated to the colony, among whom are a few who profess the Roman Catholic faith. Owing to the zeal of the missionaries, for many years greater efforts were made to give a good school education to coloured children than to white, and it is a lamentable fact that there is at present a large section of the European rural population without any knowledge of books. This condition of things, however, has attracted serious attention of late, and it will not be permitted to continue. A great diffi- culty in connection with country schools exists in the distance between the residences of families on farms, but in many instances this is overcome by the employment of itinerant teachers. In the towns and villages there are public schools, each under the joint control of a local board of management and the educational department of the government, half the cost being defrayed by the treasury. Those of the first and second class are attended almost exclusively by white children. Then there are several colleges in which higher education is imparted, and numerous excellent schools con- nected with religious societies. The Cape Colony has further a university, which is, however, only an examining body empowered to confer degrees. No expense is spared to bring justice within reach of every one. There are ninety-two stipendiary magistrates, holding courts in as many districts or 426 PRESENT CONDITION OF CAPE COLONY. sub-districts into which the colony is divided. All petty civil and criminal cases are tried by them. The supreme court consists of the chief justice and eight puisne judges, but, as two form a quorum, in practice three of the judges sit in Grahamstown, three in Kimberley, and the others in Capetown. Twice a year a judge of the supreme court visits each district town, and tries cases which are beyond the juris- diction of the magistrates. The towns and villages are supplied with public libraries aided by government, hardly any are without two or three churches of different denominations, and banks, insurance offices, newspapers, and benevolent institutions are found in nearly all. Municipal government — in very rare instances abused — is in force in every community of the slightest note. Each district has a divisional council, with powers over a large area somewhat similar to those of municipal councils in the villages. Good roads have been made even in the wildest parts of the colony, and the rivers on the principal routes have been bridged. There is scarcely a hamlet that is not now connected with all parts of South Africa by the post and the telegraph wire. The railway system has been referred to in other chapters, and a glance at the map at the beginning of this volume will show how extensive are the open lines. Very great improvements have been made in the harbours, especially in Table Bay. Here in olden times the beach, after winter storms, was frequently strewn with the wrecks of costly fleets, now ships lie in a dock in perfect safety, and a magnificent PUBLIC DEBT. 427 breakwater protects the outer anchorage. The cost of these works, including a dry dock capable of con- taining a steamer of the first class, has been about two and a quarter million pounds sterling to date, and the works are still being extended. On the coast numerous lighthouses stand as sen- tinels to warn seamen of danger by night, and the ancient terror of stormy seas off the Cape of Good Hope has long since been forgotten. It arose more from distance from home in the early days of circum- navigating Africa than from the real violence of the sea, for that is commonly trifling compared with the fury of the North Atlantic. The colony is connected with Europe by two sub- marine cables, so that anything of importance that occurs there one day is known here through the newspapers on the next. Splendid steamships carry- ing mails and passengers arrive from and leave for England weekly, often making the run of six thousand miles in less than fifteen days, and the passage is certainly one of the pleasantest in the world. Against the material prosperity which the colony has attained within the last forty years must be placed a public debt of about twenty-eight million pounds sterling, or about £ji per individual colonist, if the coloured inhabitants are excluded. That rate per head, however, must be reduced by taking into account that the coloured people perform the rough labour of the country, and that their presence — except on the eastern frontier — does not constitute a danger : but in what proportion they should be RECENT TROUBLES. 420 classified with the whites as taxpayers it would be hard to say. Over South Africa, in the eventful year 1896 hung black and gloomy clouds, brought there by drought, locusts, runderpest, the raid of Dr. Jame- son, and the Matabele war, but in God's good providence they are passing away, and the future seems full of good hope. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS.- A.D. i486. Discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by Dias. 1497. Doubling of the African continent by Vasco da Gama. 1503. Discovery of Table Bay by Antonio de Saldanha. 1 5 10. Defeat of Portuguese by Hottentots in Table Valley. 1591. First visit of English ships to Table Bay. 1595. First voyage of the Dutch to India. i6o2. Formation of the Dutch East India Company. 1652. Commencement of the European settlement in South Africa. 1655. Introduction of the vine. 1657. Discovery of the Berg river. 1658. Introduction of slaves. 1659. First Hottentot war. 1660. Discovery of the Elephant river. 1672. Purchase of territory from Hottentot chiefs. 1673. Commencement of second Hottentot war. 1679 Foundation of Stellenbosch. 1685. Discovery of the copper mines of Namaqualand. 1688. Arrival of the first Huguenot settlers. 1700. First occupation of land on the second plateau. 1 7 13. First outbreak of small-pox. 1722. Great loss of life by gale in Table Bay. 1737. Wreck of another fleet in Table Bay. 1742. First use of Simon's Bay in winter months. 1746. Foundation of Swellendam. 1752. Exploration of the country eastward to the Kei. 1755. Second outbreak of smallpox. 1761. Exploration of southern part of Great Namaqualand. 1767. Third outbreak of small-pox. 431 432 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS. A.D. 1779- Commencement of first Kaffir war. 1 78 1. Arrival of French troops to defend the Cape Colony against the English. 1786. Foundation of Graaff-Reinet. [789. Commencement of second Kaffir war. 1792. Commencement of the Moravian mission. 1795. Surrender of the Cape Colony to the English. 1799. Commencement of the London Society's mission. Commencement of third Kaffir war. 1801. Exploration of the southern part of Bechuanaland* 1803. Restoration of the Cape Colony to the Dutch. 1806. Second surrender of the Cape Colony to the English. 1809 Subjection of all Hottentot inhabitants to colonial laws. 18 12. Fourth Kaffir war. 1815. Slachter's Nek insurrection. 1818. Commencement of fifth Kaffir war. 1820. Arrival of large body of British settlers. 1822. Commencement of Zulu wars of extermination. 1824. Erection of first lighthouse on South African coast. 1830. Settlement of the Matabele in the valley of the Marikwa 1834. Emancipation of the slaves in the Cape Colony. 1835. Sixth Kaffir war. 1836. Beginning of great emigration from the Cape Colony. 1837. Flight of the Matabele to the country north of the Limpopo. 1838. Dreadful massacres of Europeans by Zulus. 1840. Subjection of the Zulu tribe to the emigrant farmers. 1842. Occupation of Natal by a British military force. 1843. Creation by the British government of Griqua and Basuto treaty states. 1844. Creation of Pondo treaty state. 1846. Commencement of seventh Kaffir war. 1847. Creation of the province of British Kaffraria. 1848. Proclamation of British sovereignty over the territory between the Orange and Vaal rivers. 1850. Commencement of eighth Kaffir war. 185 1. Commencement of first Basuto war. 1852. Acknowledgment by Great Britain of the independence of the South African Republic. CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS. 433 A.D. 1854. Abandonment by Great Britain of the Orange River Sovereignty. Establishment of the Orange Free State. Introduction of a representative legislature in the Cape Colony. 1858. Second Basuto war (first with the Orange Free State). 1865. Commencement of third Basuto war. Annexation of British Kaffraria to the Cape Colony. 1867. Commencement of fourth Basuto war. 1868. Annexation of Basutoland to the British Empire. 1869. Discovery of diamonds in South Africa. 1 87 1. Creation of the province of Griqualand West. 1872. Introduction of responsible government in the Cape Colony. 1877. Annexation of the South African Republic to the British Empire, Commencement of ninth Kaffir war. 1879. British conquest of Zululand. 1S80. Annexation of Griqualand West to the Cape Colony. Commencement of fiUh Basuto war. 1 881. Recovery of independence by the South African Republic. 1884. Commencement of the German Protectorate of the western coast belt north of the Orange river. 1885. Creation of the province of British Bechuanaland. 1886. Opening of extensive gold-fields in the South African Republic. 1887. Annexation of Zululand to the British Empire. 1889. Grant of a charter to the British South Africa Company. 1893. Introduction of responsible government in Natal. Defeat of the Matabele by the British South Africa Company. 1894. Annexation of Pondoland to the Cape Colony. 1895. Annexation of British Bechuanaland to the Cape Colony. 1896. Year of troubles. Insurrection at Johannesburg. Inva- sion of the South African RepubHc by the British South Africa Company's forces under Dr. Jameson. Terrible loss of life and property by explosion of 29 434 CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF EVENTS, dynamite at Johannesburg. Insurrection in Rhodesia. Great distress in many localities from drought and ravages of locusts. Almost complete destruction of cattle by runderpest in a vast extent of territory. Foundering at sea of a passenger steamer from the Cape to England, and loss of all on board except three individuals. SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. When in February, 1897, the last paragraph of the preceding chapter was written, there was every appearance of a return of prosperity to South Africa. But before the close of that year the political sky again became charged with heavy clouds, which have since burst with fury upon the land. Dr. Jameson's raid into the South x^frican Republic at the close of 1895 caused the government of that state to devote all its resources to the increase of its military strength. It had not been neglectful in that respect before, and it would almost certainly have been able to suppress the insurrection at Johannes- burg, even had its opponents there been' armed and ready to unite with the force from outside, which was not the case. But now vast sums of money were ex- pended in the importation of munitions of war and in the construction of forts, until the whole of the burghers were armed with the most perfect modern weapons, Johannesburg, with its people utterly defenceless, lay commanded by the great guns of a battery, and Pretoria was protected as if it had been in the condition of Metz or Strassburg. This, which seemed to the republican government 435 43^ SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. to be merely a prudent measure to maintain its independence if again assailed, was regarded by Great Britain in another light. Here was a state making itself the first military power in South Africa — a position that could not be conceded to it if English prestige was to be preserved. Hence the British garrisons were strengthened, and a word that had not been pronounced for thirteen years was used to denote the relationship of the republic to the British government, the word suzerainty. By far the greatest benefit that the burghers of the republic regarded as gained by them in the sub- stitution of the convention of 1884 for that of 188 1 was the elimination of that word, with whatever it meant or might be made to mean, for nobody could define its exact purport. From the moment it was used again — in 1897 — ^^ difficulty of negotiation was increased a hundredfold, for to the mind of the South African burghers of Dutch descent it seemed as if Great Britain had resolved to withdraw from the agreement she had entered into in 1884, and by some means or other to destroy the independence of the northern republic. In Johannesburg the English residents were seeth- ing with discontent. Apart from the humiliation caused by their want of success in 1895-6, and their being deprived of arms, they had many grievances. They had not even a real miunicipal government, while the want of proper sanitary arrangements caused not only much discomfort, but often much sickness, and a death-rate considerably in excess of what under other circumstances it would have been. This was due to the resolution of the govern- SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 437 meriL to withhold even hmited power from all except burghers of the state. Then there was the question of language in public schools frequented by English children. The govern- ment, forgetting what resentment this question had caused among the Dutch colonists when an attempt was made to force the use of English upon them, made Dutch the principal medium of instruction, and although in course of time this rule was relaxed, the bitter feeling it engendered could not easily pass away. A system of granting monopolies — especially one for the manufacture of dynamite, which raised the price of that necessary article in mining to an exorbitant rate — was another grievance, though perhaps not much felt except by the proprietary classes. Taxation was so adjusted as to fall chiefly upon those inhabitants who were not burghers, and by it the cost of living was enormously increased. The means of obtaining the right of voting for the head of the state and members of the first volks- raad were so restricted that practically Englishmen could not obtain that privilege. To those accustomed to the highly trained and splendidly conducted body of men who preserve order in English cities, the police appeared to be a mere rabble, and many of its members were believed to be corrupt to the last degree. This vice was also said to extend to not a few men in higher positions. Petitions had been sent to the volksraad asking for more liberal treatment, and had been rejected ; even worse, had been received with taunts by in- dividual members. 43 S SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER, Without going further, a position existed here which enabled men of influence to bend the masses easily to their will. An Englishman not allowed to carry arms, with the great guns of a fortress frowning upon him, paying taxes without being represented in the government, unable to send his children to a public school, liable to abuse from an ignorant and corrupt policeman, taunted by an equally ignorant member of the volksraad when petitioning for redress ; such a man needed very little persuasion to induce him to follow any one in opposition to the rulers of the land. There is in brief one side of the question ; but it must be looked at also from the opposite direction. To the foregoing observations the government at Pretoria would reply as follows : In no other country in the world is a foreign language the medium of instruction in state-aided schools. Dutch is the language of the South African Republic, and yet English children are taught in their own tongue Tip to a certain standard. The monopolies complained of and the high import duties on all articles that can be produced in the republic are to encourage home industries. Other countries — notably the United States — have protective tariffs for the same purpose. The system of taxation is not unfair. The burghers have military duties to perform without payment, which fully compensate for the smaller amount of money they contribute. The right of voting carries with it duties which the great majority of Englishmen would not perform. SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 439 The privilege cannot be given without adoption of the burghers' burdens as well as their rights. The police are the best that can be obtained, and it is unreasonable to expect from them the demeanour of those of London. If corruption existed to the extent that is stated there would be no reason for further opposition, because all that is asked for could be bought. The existence of corruption in high places implies the existence of corrupters as well. The taunting language of a few individuals should not be regarded as an offence committed by a com- munity, neither has it been confined to one side only. Nearly all other Europeans are satisfied and submit without demur to the government of the country : it is only Englishmen who complain. There is in brief the other side of the question also, and every reader must decide for himself as to the merits of the respective cases. But at the back of each stands a principle which is really the governing factor of the whole position. According to the authorities at Pretoria the South African Republic is a sovereign state, subordinate to Great Britain only to the extent that treaties with foreign powers are subject to the Queen's approval before they can be put in force, and they rest this claim upon the wording of the convention of 1884. They therefore maintain that they have the same right with regard to English- men in the republic as. for instance, Germany exercises with regard to Englishmen in Metz or Berlin, and whether it is prudent or not for them to exercise such power is for them to decide, the fact that the number of Englishmen in the German cities 440 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. being excee(Jingly small in comparison with the whole population, whereas the number on the goldfields approaches that of the burghers themselves, not affecting the question of right. According to this view Great Britain can interfere only under inter- national law on behalf of any of her subjects who believe themselves to be suffering wrongs, in precisely the same way that France or Germany could. On the other hand. Great Britain maintains that the republic is really a subordinate state, moving in the political sphere not as a primary but as a secondary body, and not justified in attempting to carry out a policy opposed to that of the power whose interests and responsibilities in South Africa are immeasurably greater. There is the real question at issue — a question which sooner or later must have caused an appeal either to arbitration or arms, for neither side would recede from its position by a hair's-breadth. The claim to suzerainty made on behalf of Great Britain in 1897 brought this forward in a striking manner. The negotiations during the present year form a mere episode in this contest of principles. They originated with the long unrest at Johannesburg, and were only brought to a point by a petition to her Majesty the Queen from the great body of English- men on the goldfields, asking for interference on their behalf President Steyn, of the Orange Free State, invited Sir Alfred Milner, governor of the Cape Colony, and President Kruger, the head of the South African Republic, to meet in conference at Bloem- fontein, in hope that an amicable arrangement could be made. The governor proposed that all uitlanders SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 44I (foreigners) should be admitted to full burgher rights after a residence of five years in the republic, and that they should be allowed a certain number of representatives in the volksraad. The president declined, as he believed the concession would jeopardise the independence of the republic, and the conference came to an end. By independence President Kruger meant not only the retention of a separate flag and administration, but the retention of power by the Dutch-speaking burghers of the country. To him and to them the conversion of the state into an English republic, in which they would form a mere party — possibly in time a mere minority — signified a loss of indepen- dence quite as complete as if the four-coloured flag were replaced by the British ensign. The volksraad then passed an act to admit uit- landers to the franchise after a residence of seven years and to increase the number of representatives for the districts in which they resided ; but this did not satisfy the British government. It is difficult indeed to see what advantage would be gained by the intro- duction of a few representatives into the volksraad with views diametrically opposed to those of the great majority of the members, even if they were all Englishmen, and it must be remembered that a con- siderable proportion of the new electors would be natives of continental states far more likely to join hands with the old burghers of the republic than with those of British blood. The negotiations, however, were continued, and at one stage an offer was made in practical agreement with the governor's proposal, provided the suzerainty 44^ SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. claim was withdrawn. This was decHned, but no exact and formal demand embodying everything that Great Britain required was presented in its place, and the government at Pretoria was left to believe that no matter what it conceded short of independence some fresh claim upon it would be made. Meantime troops were being massed on the borders of the state, chiefly in Natal, and an enormous force was in preparation to be sent to South Africa. A great proportion of the British press" was advocating war as the only means by which the supremacy of England could be maintained. Under these circum- stances writing despatches was a waste of time. The Dutch-speaking people of South Africa are not sus- ceptible of coercion unless by an absolutely irresistible force, and the presence of a few thousand soldiers in a threatening position was of itself sufficient to prevent them from making any further efforts in the direction of peace. On the 7th of October, 1899, the British reserves were called out, which was a practical intimation that military force was to be resorted to. As such it was received by the governments of the two republics, now in the closest alliance, and on the 9th an ultimatum was handed to the British agent at Pretoria demanding the removal of the forces from the border, and an engagement that the troops then on the way out should not be landed in South Africa, failure of compliance before the evening of the nth to b^ regarded as a declaration of war. The object of the ultimatum was to bring on hostilities, which were now inevitable, before the arrival of the main body of the army, and thus open a way for the SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 443 destruction of the troops in Natal. The reply of the British government was the recall of its agent, and at five o'clock in the evening of the nth of October, 1899, a state of war existed between Great Britain and the two republics. For South Africa this event is most deplorable. The situation is this : The people of the two republics, excluding the English residents on the goldfields, are animated by a feeling of intense devotion to their cause, and practically every male capable of bearing arms is in the field, while every woman is urging her husband and sons and brothers to fight to the death. With the uitlanders that aid them they can put from forty to fifty thousand combatants in action. With them is the sympathy of a large proportion of the people of the Cape Colony, people who are loyal to the Queen in everything except shedding the blood of their kinsmen. How they will act remains to be seen : they are placed in the most trying position in which men and women can be. The many colonists of English blood who are intermarried with the older stock are also in peculiar distress : with them it is a strife as between brothers. Many thousands of the inhabitants of Johannesburg have been obliged to leave their homes and their employment and seek refuge in Natal and the Cape Colony, where the misery of some of them is appalling. The destruction of property that has been caused is a matter of less importance. Bridges can be re- built, rails can be renewed, the great project of the Right Hon. Cecil J. Rhodes for communication between Capetown and the far north will only be a little retarded ; but the passions that have been 444 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. aroused will not be so quickly allayed, and animosity between men of Dutch and English speech who must continue to live side by side will not so speedily be replaced by friendship. The native tribes between the Zambesi and Cape Agulhas, outnumbering the Europeans as six to one, are looking probably with satisfaction at the deadly quarrel between men who should be standing shoulder to shoulder in working for the good of South Africa. No one can say what effect it may have upon them. They love neither one party nor the other : the last general election in the Cape Colony has proved again, if proof was still needed, that they are certainly not more attached to the English than to the Dutch. That is the condition in South Africa as these lines are being written. Of military movements it is too soon to speak, for no decisive engagement has yet taken place, and the few reverses on each side cannot affect the final issue. But already there is mourning in many an English and many a South African home, and only the great Disposer of events can know what sorrow there is yet in store. This chapter cannot be concluded without refer- ence to one circumstance that must cause a feeling in Englishmen everywhere of satisfaction and pride : the springing to the aid of the mother country of her children beyond the seas. From the wide Dominion of Canada in the west and the island continent of Australia in the east bands of stalwart volunteers are hastening to take their places at the side of regiments from England and Scotland, from Wales and Ireland, and to show to the world that the British Empire is one. INDEX. Abagaza tribe : particulars con- cerning, 382 Adam Kok : particulars concern- ing, 228, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 247, 318, 407, 408 d' Almeida, Francisco : is killed in Table Valley, 15 Angoni tribe : particulars con- cerning, 382 Angora hair : export of, 421 Angra Pequena : discovery of, 8 Anti-convict agitation : account of, 250 Arabs on the eastern coast : par- ticulars concerning, 377, 385 Asiatics : introduction into Cape Colony, 35 and 425 ; introduc- tion into Natal, 297 B Bantu : description of, 5 ; suffer severely from small-pox, 82 ; see Abagaza, Angoni, Bapedi, Bara- mapulana, Basuto, Bathoen, Bomvana, Cetywayo, Damara, Dingan, Dinizulu, Faku, Fingos, Gaika, Gangelizwe, GunguK- hana, Hintsa, Hlubi, Kaffir, Khama, Kreli, Langalibalele, Lewanika, Lobengula, Makana, Manikusa, Mantati, Matabele, Matsheng, Moselekatse, Mo- shesh, Ndlambe, Ovampo, Panda, Sandile, Sebele, Sek- homi, Sekukuni, Setyeli, Tsha- ka, Umtasa, Umzila, Zulu Bapedi tribe : war with, 340 Baramapulana tribe : war with, 336 Barberton : foundation of, 349 Barreto, Francisco : expedition of, 380 Basutoland : description of, 263 ; is annexed to the British Em- pire, 321 ; is attached to the Cape Colony, 330 ; is retrans- ferred to the imperial govern- ment, 331 ; present condition of, 331 Basuto treaty state : creation of, 228 ; destruction of, 248 Basuto tribe : origin of, 171 Basuto wars : account of, 259, 317, 320, 321, 331 Batavian Republic : constitution of the Cape Colony under, 129 Bathoen, chief of the Bangwaketsi tribe : particulars concerning, 391 Beira : particulars concerning, 358, 376, 384, 387, 388 Berea : battle of, 265 Berg Damaras : particulars con- cerning, 396 Bethelsdorp mission station : foundation of, 130 Birkenhead : wreck of the, 254 Black circuit : account of, 146 Bloemfontein : foundation of, 235 445 446 INDEX. Bloemhof arbitration : particulars concerning, 325 Blueberg : battle of, 134 Bomvana clan : account of, 405, 406 Boomplaats : battle of, 249 Boshof, J. N. : presidency of, 315 Brand, J. H. : presidency of, 319 British Bechuanaland : account of, 417 ; is annexed to the Cape Colony, 420 British Kaffraria : creation of the province, 244 ; is annexed to the Cape Colony, 289 British Protectorate : account of, 391 British settlers of 1820 : account of, 156 Bronkhorst Spruit : action at, 346 Buluwayo : particulars concern- ing, 370, 374, 376 Burgers, T. F. : presidency of, 339 Burgher senate. Cape Colony : creation of, 117; abolition of, Bushmen : description of, i ; references to, 44, 63, 73, ZZ Caledon, Lord : administration of, 139 Cape Colony : foundation of, 25 ; first surrender to the English, 113; restoration to the Dutch, 128; second surrender to the English, 135 ; cession to Great Britain, 146; industries of, 415 ; trade of, 421 ; population of, 422 ; courts of justice, 425 ; schools, 425 ; public libraries, 426 ; steamship communication with Europe, 427 ; public debt, 427 Cape of Good Hope : discovery of, 10 Capetown : descriptions of, 55, 83 Castle of Good Hope : erection of, 40 Cathcart, Sir George : adminis- tration of, 2515 Cattle farmers : origin of, 49 Census of Basutoland in 1890, 331 Census of the Cape Colony : in 1700, 52 ; in 1 791, 97 ; in 1805, 132; in 1819, 155 Census of the Orange Free State in 1890, 328 Cetywayo, Zulu chief: references to, 302, 303, 304, 309, 310 Charter : foundation of, 358 Chartered Company, British South Africa : creation of, 357 Churches : particulars concerning, 39, 53, 11, 87, loi, 159, 237 Coal : particulars concerning, 300, 328, 350, 354, 389 . . Cole, Sir Lowry : administration of, 179 Colonists : particulars concerning the first, 32 Complaints of the burghers against the government of the Cape Colony, 92 Constitution of the Cape Colony : description of, 271 Copper ore : export of, 416, 421 Council of advice. Cape Colony : establishment of, 160 Courts of law, Cape Colony : particulars concerning, 176 Cradock, Sir John : administration of, 142 Craig, General : administration of, 119 Customs union : references to, 328, 354 Damara tribe : particulars con- cerning, 396 Delagoa Bay : references to, 74> 197, 225, 379, 381, 382, 383, 384 Depopulation of territory between the Orange and Limpopo rivers, account of, 165 INDEX, 447 Destruction of all their property by the Kosas : account of, 280 I?/ se^. Diamond mines : annexation to the British empire, 326 ; an- nexation to the Cape Colony, 326 Diamonds : discovery of, 322 ; export of, 421 Dias, Bartholomeu : voyage of, 8 Dingan, Zulu chief: references to, 167, 205, 207, 208, 214, 215, 217 Dinizulu, Zulu chief: references to, 310, 312 Dominican missions : account of, 380 Drakenstein : settlement of, 5 1 D' Urban, Sir Benjamin : adminis- tration of, 179 Durban : description of, 299 Dutch East India Company : formation of, 19 ; forms a refreshment station in Table Valley, 25 ; decline of, 90 ; insolvency of, 1 1 1 Dutch language : is prohibited in public offices in the Cape Colony, 158 ; is restored to official equality with English, 275 Dutch reformed church : see Churches Dutch ships : first voyage to India of, 17 Eighth Kaffir vi^ar : account of, 251 English, the : attempt to seize the Cape Colony in 1781, but fail, 90; conquer it in 1795, 105 ; restore it to the Dutch in 1803, 128; conquer it again in 1806, 135 English ships : first visit to South Africa of, 17 Etshowe : reJief 01, 308 Executive council, Cape Colony : creation of, 180 Expansion of the Cape Colony : description of, 61 Exploration of South Africa : particulars concerning, 30, 44, 57, 83 Exports of South Africa : particu- lars concerning, 297, 421 Faku, Pondo chief : references to, 225, 230, 406, 407 Fifth Basuto war : account of, 331 Fifth Kaffir war : account of, 152 Fingos : origin of, 164 ; particulars concerning, 191, 255 First Basuto war : account of, 259 First Hottentot war : account of, 37 First Kaffir war : account of, 89 First Matabele war : account of, 362 Form of government of the Cape Colony before 1795, 53 > ^t present, 271 Fourth Basuto war : account of, 321 Fourth Kaffir war : account of, 143 French, the : take possession of Saldanha Bay, 43; in 1781-3 defend the Cape Colony against the English, 90 Gaika, Kosa chief : references to, 99, 123, 131, 151,152, 187,188 da Gama, Vasco : voyage of, 10 Game : abundance of in early days, 46 Gangelizwe, Tembu chief: refer- ence to, 405 German immigrants : account of. 288 German Protectorate : account of, 395 Ginginhlovu : battle of, 308 Glenelg, Lord : treatment of South Africa by, 193 Gold : discovery of, 349 ; export of, 350» 380, 421 448 INDEX, Government by the Dutch East India Company : particulars concerning, 74 van de Graaff, C. J. : administra- tion of, 96 Graaff- Reinet : foundation of, %"] ; rebellion of the people, 104, 121 Grahamstown : foundation of, 145 ; is attacked by Kosas, 153 Great emigration from the Cape Colony : causes of, 196 ; account of, 195 et seq. Grey, Sir George : administration of, 279 Griqua treaty state under Adam Kok : creation of, 230 ; destruc- tion of, 247 Griqualand West : annexation to the Cape Colony of, 326 Griquas and emigrant fanners : war between, 233 Guano islands : reference to, 398 Gungunhana, Gaza chief: refer- ence to, 389 Gwelo : foundation of, 374 H Haarlem, the : is wrecked in Table Bay, 21 Hintsa, Kosa chief : references to, 152, 189, 190 Hlobane : disaster at, 307 Hlubi tribe : account of, 292 Hoffman, J. : presidency of, 315 Hottentot settlement at the Kat river : account of, 179 Hottentot wars : account of, 37, 45 Hottentots : description of, 2 ; first intercourse with Europeans, 10 ; purchase of territory from, 42 ; particulars concerning, 25, 26, 27, 29, 36, 44, 45, 72, 81, %"], 103, III, 121, 122, 124, 130, 140, 141, 174, 178, 179, 254 Huguenots: arrival of, 51 I Tmbembesi : battle of, 369 Immigration from Great Britain : account of, 155, 237 Ingogo : action at, 347 Inhambane : particulars concern- ing, 379, 381, 382, 388 Inyesane : battle of, 307 Isandlwana: destruction of Eng- lish army at, 305 J Jameson, Dr. L. S. : references to, 352, 358, 362, 366, 368, 370, 372, 375 Janssens, General J. W. : ad- ministration of, 129 Jesuit missions : account of, 380, 389 Johannesburg : foundation of, 349 K KafHr wars : account of, 89, 99, 123, 142, 152, 188, 240, 251, 410 Kaffraria : description of, 400 ; is annexed to the Cape Colony, 406, 408, 410; mode of govern- ment, 413 ; population, 413 Kambula : defence of, 307 Keate award : account of, 326, 338 . Kentani : battle of, 412 Khama, Bamangwato chief: re- ferences to, 367, 370, 391, 393, 394 King-Williamstown : foundation of, 191 Kreli, Kosa chief: references to, 189, 190, 257, 281, 403, 404, 411,412 Kruger, S. J. Paul : references to, 336, 337, 343, 345, 354, 361, 419 Laing's Nek : action at, 347 Langalibalele, Hlubi chief: re- bellion of, 293 Lanyon, Sir Owen : administra- tion of, 343 INDEX, 449 Legislative council, Cape Colony : creation of, i8o Lewanika, Barotse chief: refe- rence to, 363 Lighthouses : mention of, 427 Livingstone, Rev. Dr. : reference to, 335 Loan bank : creation of, 98 Lobengula, Matabele chief: refe- rences to, 358, 359, 361, 363, 364, 365, 366, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373 London missionary society : com- mences work in South Africa, 126 ; assumes a hostile attitude towards the colonists, 145 ; is forsworn by the emigrant farmers, 201 Lovedale missionary institution : foundation of, 279 Lucas, Engelbertus : surrenders a fleet of nine ships of war to the English, 119 Lutheran church in Capetown : establishment of, loi Lydenburg : foundation of, 227 M Macartney, Lord : administration of, 120 Maitland, Sir Peregrine : adminis- tration of, 232 Majuba Hill: defeat of Brilish force at, 348 Makana, Kosa seer : references to, 151, 154 Malays in South Africa : par- ticulars concerning, 424 Malmesbury : foundation of, 79 Manikusa, Gaza chief: references to, 382, 383 Mantati horde : account of, 165 Mashonaland : occupation of, 358 Matabeleland : annexation of, 374 Matabele tribe : origin of, 169 ; references to, 199, 200, 201, 202, 219. See Lobengula, Moselekatse, and First and Second Matabele war Matsheng, Bamangwato chief : reference to, 393 Mauritius : references to, 39, 71 Missionary effort : result of, 4, 186, 291, 423 Mission societies : localities of labour, 173 de Mist, Ji A. : references to, 129, 131 Moffat, Rev. Dr. : reference to, 170 Moravian mission : foundation in South Africa of, loi Moselaketse, Matabele chief: references to, 167, 169, 170, 198, 199, 202, 356 Moshesh, Basuto chief : references to, 171, 173, 228, 230, 236, 248, 249, 258, 260, 262, 263, 266, 267, 315, 316, 320, 321, 330 Mossamedes : emigration of far- mers to, 340 Mozambique Company : particu- lars concerning, 387 N Natal: discovery of, 12; depopu- lation of, 164 ; description of, 204 ; mode of government by the emigrant farmers, 219 ; is taken in possession by British troops, 222 ; popula- tion of, 291 ; Indian immi- grants, 297 ; constitution of, 301 ; public debt, 301 Ndlambe, Kosa chief: references to, 99, 123, 130, 131, 143, 150, 151, 152, 187, 188 Nederburgh and Frykenius : re- ferences to, 97, 103 Ninth Kaffir war : account of, 410 Ohrigstad : foundation of, 227 Orange Free State : creation of, 269 ; constitution of, 314 ; courts of justice, 315 ; present condition of, 327 30 450 INDEX, Orange River Sovereignty : crea- tion of, 248 ; abandonment of, 269 Ostrich feathers : export of, 421 Ovampo tribe : reference to, 396 Paarl : description of, 85 Panda, Zulu chief: references to, 215, 217, 218, 225, 302 Paper money : issue of, 92 ; re- demption of, 159 Physical conformation of South Africa, 13 Pietermaritzburg : foundation of, 215 van Plettenberg, Joachim : ad- ministration of, 86 Pondo treaty state : creation of, 230 Port St. John's : account of, 409 Portuguese discoveries in South Africa : account of, 8 et seq. Portuguese troops : action with, 386 Potchefstroom : foundation of, 213 Potgieter, Hendrik : references to, 198, 201, 210, 213 Pottinger, Sir Henry : adminis- tration of, 242 Pretorius, Andries : references to, 213, 214, 222, 249, 260 Pretorius, M. W. : presidency of, 318, 336, 345 Prince Imperial of France : death of, 308 Progress of South African ex- ploration in 1 700 : account of, 57. Province of Queen Adelaide : creation of, 191 ; abandonment of, 193 Public debt : of Natal, 301 ; of the South African Republic, 354 ; of the Cape Colony, 427 Queenstown : foundation of, 255 R Railways : particulars concerning, 300, 328, 353, 376, 383, 386, 387, 395, 420, 426 Reitz, F. W. : presidency of, 328 Retief, Pieter : references to, 201, 204, 205, 208 Rhodes, Right Hon. C. J. : re- ferences to, 356, 358 van Riebeek, Jan : references tc> 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 39 Rondebosch : is occupied and named, 31 Rorke's Drift : gallant defence of, 306 S de Saldanha, Antonio : voyage of, Salisbury : particulars concerning, 358, 360, 374, 387 Sandile, Kosa chief: references to, 188, 239, 253, 281, 282, 284, 411, 412 Sand River Convention : account of, 261 Schoemansdal : abandonment of, 337 Schools : particulars concerning, 53, 79, 86, 160, 237, 253, 425 Scurvy : effects of, 23 Sebele, Bakwena chief: reference to, 391 Second Basuto war : account of, 317 Second Hottentot war : account of, 45 Second Kaffir war : account of, 99 Second Matabele war : account of, 375 Sekhomi, Bamangwato chief: re- ference to, 393 Sekukuni, Bapedi chief : references to, 340, 344 Sena : particulars concerning, 379, 380, 381, 382, 388 Setyeli, Bakwena chief : references to. 335. 392, 393 INDEX. 451 Seventh Kaffir war : account of, 240 Shangani : battle of, 369 Sheikh Joseph : particulars con- cerning, 36 Shepstone, Sir T. : administration of, 342 Shipwrecks in Table Bay : account of, 76 Simonstown : foundation of, 77 ; description of, 85 Sixth Kaffir war : account of, 188 Slachter's Nek rebellion : account of, 149 Slaves : introduction of, 33 ; eman- cipation of, 180 et seq. Small-pox : ravages of, 71, 80 Smith, Sir Harry : administration of, 244 Sofala : particulars concerning, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 388 Somerset, Lord Charles : admini- stration of, 148 South African Republic : indepen- dence acknowledged by Great Britain, 262 ; description of, 332 ; dissensions of people, 333 ; dealings with Bantu, 334 ; is annexed to the British empire, 342 ; recovers its independence, 349 ; dissensions in, 350 ; form of government, 354 ; public debt, 354 ; population, 355 van der Stel, Simon : administra- tion of, 50 van der Stel, W , A. : oppressive administration uf, 65 ; is recalled by the directors, 70 Stellenbosch : foundation of, 50 ; description of, 85 Stockenstrom, Sir Andries : refer- ences to, 192, 193 St. Helena Bay : is visited and named, 10 Swaziland : references to, 349, 353 Swellendam : foundation of, 79 ; description of, 85 ; rebellion of the inhabitants of, 104 Table Bay : discovery of, 13 ; im- provement of, 77, 426 Table Mountain : receives its name, 13 Taxation of the colonists in the olden times : system of, 55 Tete : particulars concerning, 379, 380, 381, 387, 388, 389 Third Basuto war : account of, 320 Third Kaffir war : account of, 123 Traffic in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries : account of, 55 Treaties : with Andries Water- boer, 187 ; with Moshesh, 228 ; with Adam Kok, 230, 235 ; with Faku, 230 ; between the British and Portuguese govern- ments, 386 Tshaka, Zulu chief: references to, 162, 166, 167 Tulbagh : foundation of, 79 Tulbagh basin : settlement of, 61 Tulbagh, Rvk : administration of, 80 Tuli : foundation of, 358 U Uitenhage : foundation of, 132 Ulundi : battle of, 309 Umtali : foundation of, 360 Umtasa, chief : reference to, 385 Umzila, Gaza chief: reference to, 383 Uys, Dirk Cornelis : death of, 211 Uys, Pieter : death of, 211, 307 Victoria : foundation of, 358, 360 Viervoet : battle of, 259 Volksraad : of the Orange Free State, 314 ; of the South African Republic, 354 452 INDEX, W Walfish Bay : particulars con- cerning, 398 War between the emigrant farmers and the Zulus : account of, 208 Wilson, Major Allan : death of, 372 Winburg : foundation of, 201 Wodehouse, Sir Philip : adminis- tration of, 320 Wolseley, Sir Garnet : administra- tion of, 308, 344 Wool : export of, 421 Yonge, Sir George tion of, 126 administra- Zululand : history of, 302 ; is annexed to the British empire, 312 Zulu tribe: references to, 163, 205, 215, 225, 302 Zulu wars : account of, 208, 304 The Story of the Nations. Messrs. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS take pleasure in announcing that they have in course of publication, in co-operation with Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, of London, a series of historical studies, intended to present in a graphic manner the stories of the different nations that have attained prominence in history. In the story form the current of each national life is distinctly indicated, and its picturesque and noteworthy periods and episodes are presented for the reader in their philosophical relation to each other as well as to universal history. It is the plan of the writers of the different volumes to enter into the real life of the peoples, and to bring them before the reader as they actually lived, labored, and struggled — as they studied and wrote, and as they amused themselves. In carrying out this plan, the myths, with which the history of all lands begins, will not be over- looked, though these will be carefully distinguished from the actual history, so far as the labors of the accepted historical authorities have resulted in definite conclusions. The subjects of the different volumes have been planned to cover connecting and, as far as possible, consecutive epochs or periods, so that the set when completed will present in a comprehensive narrative the chief events in the great STORY OF THE Nations ; but it is, of course, not always practicable to issue the several volumes in their chronological order. THE STORY OF THE NATIONS. The "Stories" are printed in good readable type, and in handsome 12010 form. They are adequately illustrated and furnished with maps and indexes. Price per vol., cloth, $1.50 ; half morocco, gilt top, $1.75. The following are now ready : GREECE. Prof. Jas. A. Harrison. ROME. Arthur Oilman. THE JEWS. Prof. James K.Hosmer. CHALDEA. Z. A. Ragozin. GERMANY. S. Baring-Gould. NORWAY. Hjalmar H. Boyesen. SPAIN. Rev. E. E. and Susan Hale. HUNGARY. Prof. A. Vambery. CARTHAGE. Prof. Alfred J. Church. THE SARACENS. Arthur Gilman. THE MOORS IN SPAIN. Stanley Lane-Poole. THE NORMANS. Sarah Orne Jewett. PERSIA. S. G. W. Benjamin. ANCIENT EGYPT. Prof. Geo. Raw- linsoHc ALEXANDER'S EMPIRE. Prof. J. P. Mahaffy. ASSYRIA. Z. A. Rago2in. THE GOTHS. Henry Bradley. IRELAND. Hon. Emily Lawless. TURKEY. Stanley Lane-Poole. MEDIA, BABYLON, AND PERSIA. Z. A. Ragozin. MEDI/EVAL FRANCE. Prof. Gus- tave Masson. HOLLAND. Prof. J. Thorold Rogers. MEXICO. Susan Hale. PHOENICIA. Geo. Rawlinson. THE HANSA TOWNS. Helen Zim- mern. EARLY BRITAIN. Prof. Alfred J. Church. THE BARBARY CORSAIRS. Stan- ley Lane-Pool. RUSSIA. W. R. Morfill. THE JEWS UNDER ROME. W.D. Morrison, SCOTLAND. John Mackintosh. SWITZERLAND. R. Stead and Mrs. A. Hug. PORTUGAL. H. Morse-Stephens. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE. C. W. C. Oman. SICILY. E. A. Freeman. THE TUSCAN REPUBLICS. Bella Duffy. POLAND. W. R. Morfill. PARTHIA. Geo. Rawlinson. JAPAN. David Murray, THE CHRISTIAN RECOVERY OF SPAIN. H. E. Watts. AUSTRALASIA. Greville Tregar« then. SOUTHERN AFRICA. Geo. NL Theal. VENICE. AletheaWiel. THECRUSADES= T. S. Archer and C. L. Kingsford. VEDIC INDIA. Z. A. Ragozin. BOHEMIA. C. E. Maurice. CANADA. J. G. Bourinot. THE BALKAN STATES. William Miller. BRITISH RULE IN INDIA. R. W. Frazer. MODERN FRANCE. Andre Le Bon. THE BUILDINGOF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. Alfred T. Story, Two vols. THE FRANKS. Lewis Sergeant. THE WEST INDIES. Amos K. Fiske. THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND IN THE 19TH CENTURY. Justin McCarthy, M.P. Two vols. AUSTRIA, THE HOME OF THE HAPSBURG DYNASTY,- FROM 1282 TO THE PRESENT DAY. Sidney W^hitman. CHINA. Root. K. Douglass. MODERN SPAIN. Major Martin A. S. Hume. MODERN ITALY. Pietro Orsi. Other volumes in preparation are ; THE UNITED STATES, 1775 1897. Prof. A. C. McLaughlin. Two vols. BUDDHIST INDIA. Prof. T. W. Rhys-Davids. MOHAMMEDAN INDIA. Stanlej Lane-Poole. THE THIRTEEN COLONIES. Helen A. Smith. WALES AND CORNWALL. Ower- M. EdwardS: %IA^ 6^<# a^^ •W^S^ %* ^m H ^m '^m t Heroes of the Nations, EDITED BY EVELYN ABBOTT, M.A., Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford. A Series of biographical studies of the lives and work of a number of representative historical characters about whom have gathered the great traditions of the Nations to which they belonged, and who have been accepted, in many instances, as types of the several National ideals. With the life of each typical character will be presented a picture of the National conditions surrounding him during his career. The narratives are the work of writers who are recog- nized authorities on their several subjects, and, while thoroughly trustworthy as history, will present picturesque and dramatic " stories " of the Men and of the events con- nected with them. To the Life of each " Hero " will be given one duo- decimo volume, handsomely printed in large type, pro- vided with maps and adequately illustrated according to the special requirements of the several subjects. The volumes will be sold separately as follows : Large 12°, cloth extra $1 50 Half morocco, uncut edges, gilt top . . . I 75 HEROES OF THE NATIONS, A series of biographical studies of the lives and work of certain representative historical characters, about whom have gathered the great traditions of the Nations to which they belonged, and who have been accepted, in many instances, as types of the several National ideals. The volumes will be sold separately as follows : cloth extra, $1.50 ; half leather, uncut edges, gilt top, $1.75. I'he following are now ready : NELSON. By W. Clark Russell. GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. By C. R. L. Fletcher. PERICLES. By Evelyn Abbott. THEODORIC THE GOTH. By Thomas Hodgkin. SIR PHILIP SIDNEY. By. H. R. Fox-Bourne. JULIUS C^SAR. By W. Warde Fowler. WYCLIF. By Lewis Sergeant. NAPOLEON. By W. O'Connor Mor- ris. HENRY OF NAVARRE. By P. F. Willert. CICERO. By J. L. Strachan-David- son. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By Noah Brooks. PRINCE HENRY (OF PORTUGAL) THE NAVIGATOR. By C. R. Beazley. JULIAN THE PHILOSOPHER. By Alice Gardner. LOUIS XIV. By Arthur Hassall. CHARLES XII. By R. Nisbet Bain. LORENZO DE' MEDICI. By Ed ward Armstrong. JEANNE D'ARC. By Mrs. Oliphant. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. By ■Washington Irving. ROBERT THE BRUCE. By Sir Herbert Maxwell. HANNIBAL. By W. O'Connor Mor- ris. ULYSSES S. GRANT. By V^^illiam Conant Church. ROBERT E. LEE. By Henry Alex- ander White. THE CID CAMPEADOR. By H. Butler Clarke. SALADIN. By Stanley Lane-Poole. BISMARCK. By J. W. Headlam. ALEXANDER THE GREAT. By Benjamin I. Wheeler. CHARLEMAGNE. By H. W. C. Davis. OLIVER CROMWELL. By Charles Firth. DANIEL OCONNELL. By Robert Dunlop. RICHELIEU. By James B. Perkins. Other volumes in preparation are : MOLTKE. By Spencer "Wilkinson. JUDAS MACCABEUS. By Israel Abrahams. HENRY V. By Charles L. Kings- ford. SOBIESKI. By F. A. Pollard. ALFRED THE TRUTHTELLER. By F. York-Powell. FREDERICK II. By A. L. Smith. MARLBOROUGH. By C. W. C Oman. RICHARD THE LION-HEARTED, By T. A. Archer. WILLIAM THE SILENT. By Rutl Putnam. JUSTINIAN. By Edward Jenks. G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, Publishers, New York and London. NOV 15 190€ ^^ -^^^ '"^-^ '^ >^. x^'^: "^^/* /■","> ^ "oo^ xO<>,.