HISTORY OF V SOUTH AFRICA W. C SCULLY I i f :)f^t/ i nvf%A nj» » w„-ig;i i' PRINCE HENRY THE NAVIGATOR, 1 394. A HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS TO UNION V BY WILLIAM CHARLES SCULLY AUTHOR OF "rBMINISCENCES OF A SOUTH AFRICAN PIONEER, "LODGES IN THE WILDERNESS," " BETWEEN SUN AND SAND," ETC. WITH 45 MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS We have our record, — light and shade- Mean — noble — terrible, — inlaid ; Of such mosaic is history made. Should captious critics urge our blame, Ask where that stainless land may be — Beneath what sky, wash'd by what sea, — Whose scroll shews not the same. LONGMANS, GREEN AND CO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON FOURTH AVENUE & 30TH STREET, NEW YORK BOMBAY, CALCUTTA, AND MADRAS I915 Ail rightt reset vfd S3 TO SIR THOMAS MUIR K.C.M.G., LL.D., F.R.S. FORMERLY SUPERINTENDENT-GENERAL OF EDUCATION FOR THE CAPE PROVINCE THIS BOOK IS INSCRIBED IN APPRECIATION OF HIS VALU- ABLE WORK IN DEVELOPING EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA PREFACE This volume embodies an attempt to supply a want felt as much by the general reader as the student. Hitherto there has been available no single work setting forth South Africa's story in a connected form. The book does not pretend to be the result of original research. It is almost wholly founded upon the standard histories — more especially those of Dr. Theal and Professor Cory — and Leibbrandt's precis of the Archives. The limitations of space have not only made it difficult to deal adequately with many significant episodes, but have rendered necessary the exclusion of such important subjects as the rise of the great Zulu Power under Tsliaka and the dispersal of Bantu Tribes which followed. The Author's aim has been to produce a concise, consecutive narrative, suitable as an introduction to those voluminous detailed histories in which so much erudition has been displayed and upon which so much industry has been expended. w. c. s. Authors' Club, London, February, 1916. 3.16479 CONTENTS CHAPTER I (TO 1510) EARLY EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY The Last Crusade — Decline of the Moslem — The Eastern Trade — Prince Henry of Portugal^ — ^An Ancient African Map — Early Ventures down the African Coast — Bartholomew Diaz — " The Stormy Cape " — John Pedro of Cavilhao — ^Vasco da Gama — Discovery of Natal — Attack on Mozambique — Expedition of Pedro Alvarez Cabral — Da Gama's Second Expedition — Antonio da Saldanha lands at Table Bay — Francisco d'Almeida —His Death 1 CHAPTER II (TO 1662) FIRST COLONISATION Wreck of the Sao Jodo — Sir Francis Drake doubles the Cape — The First English Fleet visits Table Bay — The First Dutch Fleet for India — Death of King Sebastian of Portugal — Spain seizes Portugal — Origin of the Dutch East India Company — Its Constitution — Table Bay becomes a *' place of call " — The Ocean Post Office — An English Commodore annexes Table Bay — Wreck of the Haarlem — The Dutch East India Company decides to occupy Table Bay — Jan van Riebeek— Arrival of the Expedition — Building of the Fort — The Beach Rangers — Wild Animals —Hardships of the Settlers — The First Farmers — Introduction of Slaves — Belief in Monomotapa — Exploring Expeditions — Culture of the Vine — Trouble with the Hottentots — A Plot among the Garrison — Further Ex- ploration — Van Riebeek transferred to Batavia — His Cha- racter 13 CHAPTER III (TO 1679) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER DUTCH RULE Religious Controversy — The First School — War between England and Holland — Building of the Castle commenced — Arrival of a French Fleet — Trouble from Beasts of Prey — Arrival of Emigrants from Diisseldorf — Purchase of Territory from the Hottentots — European Coalition against the Netherlands — Renewed Trouble with the Hottentots — The First Farmers beyond the Isthmus — Completion of the Castle — The Objects of the Company — Disabilities of the Colonists — A Census taken 26 Contents vii CHAPTER IV (TO 1691) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER DUTCH RULE Commander Simon van der Stel — His Character — Origin of Stellenbosch — The Company's Garden — Namaquas visit the Cape— Prosperity of Stellenbosch — Extended Stock-farming — A Commission of Inquiry — Reforms — Taxes — Expedition to Namaqualand — Discovery of Copper Ore — Wreck of the Stavenisse — Exploration north-eastward — Growth of the Colony — Oak planting — Registration of Title Deeds — Sump- tuary Laws — An Epidemic — Occupation of the Drakenstein Valley — Arrival of the Huguenots — Their Distribution — They become merged in the Dutch Population — Dealings with the Hottentots — Building of a Hospital — The Ravages of Scurvy— Piracy — Prosperity of the Settlement — Statistics . 34 CHAPTER V (TO 1750) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER DUTCH RULE Wilhem Adriaan van der Stel — The Land of Wavern — Prohibition of Trade with the Hottentots — European Population breaks Bounds — The First Commando — First Church — Character of Wilhem Adriaan van der Stel — His Acquisitions of Land — •* Vergelegen " — His Farming Operations — General Dissatis- faction — Adam Tas — Departure of Wilhem Adriaan van der Stel — Regulations as to Emancipation of Slaves — Conflagration at Stellenbosch — Expansion — Smallpox — Mortality among Hottentots — Laws in force — The Bushmen — The Question of Slavery — Disease among Stock — Table Bay as a "port of call " — Life in Cape Town — Condition of the Burghers — The Pioneer Adventurers— Shipping Disasters — Export of Grain — Delagoa Bay— Its Tragic History — Failure of Silk Culture — Death of Governor Noodt — Decline of Prosperity— Corrup- tion— More Shipping Disasters — Hunting Expeditions East- ward—Illicit Traders cause Trouble — Sedition of Estienne Barbier — The Bushmen — Destruction of Game — The Moravian Society — George Schmidt at Baviaan's Kloof — Establishment of New Churches — Simon's Bay — Swellendam established— A Visitation of Locusts 45 CHAPTER VI (TO 1784) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER DUTCH RULE Governor Ryk Tulbagh— His Character— Visits of the Abb^ de la Gaille — A Census — Slavery and its Effects — Horrible Punish- ments—Sumptuary Laws — Smallpox introduced— Nucleus viii Contents of the South African Library— First Crossing of the Gariep — Smallpox again— The Hottentots— Eastern Boundary defined — Wine-making Industry— Death of Governor Tulbagh— Cap- tain Cook's Description of Cape Town— Governor van Pletten- berg — Building of New Hospital — Wreck of De Jonge Thomas — Woltemaade— Extension of Eastern Boundary- Increased Shipping— Governor van Plettenberg's Tour— The Northern Beacon— Meeting with Kaffirs— The Orange River— The Fish River Boundary — A Lutheran Minister appointed — Official Corruption — General Discontent — A Deputation to Holland— What was called " Freedom "—Recall of Governor van Plettenberg — The First Kaffir War— A Defence Force enrolled — French and English Fleets — Capture of Indiamen in Saldanha Bay — Wreck of the Orosvenor — Unknown White Women found among the Bantu 64 CHAPTEE VII (TO 1805) THE FIRST BRITISH OCCUPATION Governor van de Graaf! — His Character — Another Deputation to Holland — Cape Town garrison — Graaff Reinet founded — The Bushmen— Trouble with the Bantu in the Zuurveld — The Second Kaffir War — A Futile Campaign— Loss of Confidence in the Administration — French Revolutionary Ideas gain Ground — Decline of the Dutch East India Company — Expedition to Namaqualand — Copper Ore — Commissioners Nederburg and Frickenius — Retrenchment and Taxation — Paper Money — Moravians again at Genadendal — Commissioner Sluysken — Jacobinism — Insurrection at GraafE Reinet — Arrival of an English Fleet — France at War with Great Britain and the Netherlands — Political Division in Holland — Flight of the Stadtholder — He hands Cape Colony over to Great Britain — Expedition under Elphinstone and Craig — Muster of the Burghers — Arrival of British Reinforcements — Capitulation of Cape Town — End of the Dutch East India Company's Rule — Administration of General Craig — Submission of the Burghers — Attempt to retake the Cape — Dutch Fleet captured in Sal- danha Bay — Submission of Graaff Reinet — Another In- surrection — Van Jaarsveld — Lord Macartney as Governor — His Tyrannical Administration — Extravagance — The Third Kaffir War — Building of Fort Frederick at Algoa Bay — More Turmoil at GraafE Reinet — Attempt at Settlement of Bushmen — The London Missionary Society — ^Dr. van der Kemp — Hos- tilities with Hottentots and Bantu — Sir George Young as Governor — His Misdemeanours — Captain Adam Kok— Afri- kaner's Freebooters — Commissioner de Mist — Retrocession of the Cape — Governor Janssens — He visits the Eastern Dis- tricts — Districts of Tulbagh and Uitenhage founded — Beneficial Reforms — A Census 82 Contents ix CHAPTER VIII (TO 1814) THE SECOND BRITISH OCCUPATION War again between Great Britain and France— British Expedition to the Cape — Battle of Blaauwberg — Administration of General Baird — The Earl of Caledon appointed Governor — His Large Powers — Slavery — Development of Uitenhage — Bethelsdorp — Mischievous Influence of Exeter Hall — More Trouble on the Frontier — Discovery of the Caledon and Kraal Rivers — The Magna Charta of the Hottentots — District of George formed — Governor Sir John Cradock — Bantu Depre- dations — Murder of Landdrost Stockenstrom — The Fourth Kafl&r War — Establishment of Military Posts — Founding of Grahamstown — Levy of War Contributions — Serious Charges against Colonists — The Black Circuit — Establishment of Circuit Courts — Fixity of Land Tenure— A Punitive Expe- dition — The Governor's Testimony to the Frontier Farmers . 99 CHAPTER IX (TO 1827) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER BRITISH RULE Lord Charles Somerset — His Character — Establishment of a Mail Service — Bezuidenhout's Case — Treasonable Overtures to Gaika — Flight and Death of Jan Bezuidenhout — Slaghter's Nek — The Griquas — Messrs. Anderson & Kramer — Founding of Griquatown — Coenraad Buys — Bands of Freebooters — Formation of Beaufort West and Worcester Districts — Census of 1819 — The Governor visits the Frontier — Meet- ing with Gaika and Ndhlambi — The Spoor Law — More Military Posts established — Unbearable Condition of Frontier — A Pimitive B^id — Growth of Ndhlambi's Power — Makana the Prophet — Gaika attacks Ndhlambi — Battle of Amalinda — Total Defeat of Gaika — Colonel Brereton's Expedition against Ndhlambi — Fifth Kafl&r War — Eastern Districts laid Waste — Battle of Grahamstown — Fate of Makana — The Keiskamma River declared the Boundary — Sir Rufane Donkin — The British Settlers of 1820 — Description by an Eye-witness — The Settlers reach their Locations — Their Ignorance of Agriculture — Establishment of Periodical Fairs — Port Elizabeth — Return of Lord Charles Somerset — Arrival of Scotch Presbyterian Clergymen — The Governor's Tyrannical Methods— Opening of the South African Public Library — More Bantu Depredations — Maqoma — Founding of Fort Beaufort— Disastrous Floods — Arrival of the First Steamship — Commissioners Colebrook and Bigge — Appoint- ment of a Council of Advice— The Currency — Value of the RyksdoUar fixed — The Governor's Arbitrary Conduct — Struggle for the Freedom of the Press — Messrs. Pringle and Fairbairn — The Governor recalled — His Resignation — The Amangwane — The Slaughter at Imbolumpini — Death of Matiwane Ill X Contents CHAPTEE X (TO 1834) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER J3RITISH RULE General Bourke as Acting-Governor — Supreme Court established — Resident Magistrates and Civil Commissioners appointed — Colony divided into two Provinces — The 50th Ordinance — Dr. Philip — His "Researches" — Governor Sir Lowry Cole — Formation of Kat River Settlement — Survey of Land between Koonap and Fish Rivers — "No Dutch need apply" — Ordi- nance regulating the Press — Death of Ndhlambi — Character of Gaika — Development of Missions — Opening of the South African College — Condition of the Northern Border — ^Stuur- man's Freebooters — Andries Waterboer — Sir Benjamin D' Urban appointed Governor — ^ Merino Sheep — Legislative and Executive Councils — The Sixth Kaffir War — Frightful Devastation — "The Province of Queen Adelaide" — The Fingos — A Satisfactory Settlement — Lord Glenelg's Action — Unaccountable Action of Captain Stockenstrom — The Treaty Policy — Difficulties of Captain Stockenstrom — The Governor says what he thinks — Abolition of Slavery — Gross Official Mismanagement — Increase of Vagrancy — Dismissal of Sir Benjamin D'Urban 139 CHAPTER XI (TO 1840) THE GREAT TREK The Great Trek" — Its Causes — Lord Glenelg's Opinion — Sir Benjamin D'Urban's Testimony — The First of the Trekkers — Their Misfortunes — The Rendezvous at Thaba-Ntshu — Lions — Potgieter and Maritz — " The Protectors of the Voice of the People" — The Matabele — Massacre of the Liebenbergs — The Laager at Vechtkop — Kindness of the Barolong — Dis- sensions — The "Grondwet" framed — Great Victory over the Matabele — Flight of Umziligazi — Retief goes to Natal — • He visits Dingaan — A Treaty — The Emigrant Farmers cross the Drakensberg — Massacre of Retief and his Party — The Laagers attacked — Expeditions against Dingaan — Narrow Escape of the Emigrant Farmers — Death of Commandant Uys — Disastrous Expedition from Port Natal — Potgieter retires across the Drakensberg — -Arrival of Andries Pretorius — Great Victory at Blood River — Destruction of Umkun- gunhlovu — Flight of Dingaan — -An Ambush — British Occupa- tion of the Bay of Natal — Departure of the British — Pieter- maritzburg founded — Panda makes Overtures — Dingaan deposed — The Slaying of Tambusa — Nongalaza defeats Dingaan's Army — Panda installed as Chief of the Zulus . . 153 Contents xi CHAPTER XII (TO I860) THE SOVEREIGNTY BEYOND THE ORANOE RIVER 'he Griquas — Andries Waterboer — Adam Kok — Freebooters — Philipolis — The Griquas Split — Gradual Migration of Euro- peans across the Orange River — Return of some of the Emigrant Farmers — A Comprehensive Annexation — Treaties of Alliance with Adam Kok and Waterboer — Treaties with Moshesh and Faku — Resultant Irritation — A Lost Oppor- tunity — Difficulties between Farmers and Griquas — The Fight at Touwfontein — A Settlement arrived at — Major Warden — The Ambitions of Moshesh — Founding of Bloem- fontein — Sir Harry Smith — Adam Kok surprised — Proclama- tion of the Sovereignty — Sir Harry Smith deceived — Pretorius intervenes — The Commandos assemble — The Battle of Boom- plaats — Establishment of Church Consistories — Trouble in Basutoland — The Battle of Viervoet — Moshesh plunders the loyal farmers 1G8 CHAPTER XIII (TO 1854) THE SOVEREIGNTY BEYOND THE ORANGE RIVER Anarchy — Pretorius asked to restore Order — The Sand River Convention — Appointment of an Executive Council — Sinister Attitude of Moshesh — Sir George Cathcart — His Ultimatum to Moshesh — Assembly of a Strong Military Force — The Battle of the Berea — A Politic Submission — Abandonment of the Sovereignty decided upon^A Majority against Abandon- ment — Unfounded Accusations — The Convention of Bloem- fontein 182 CHAPTER XIV (TO 1868) THE ORANGE FREE STATE A Difficult Situation — The Basuto — The Constitution framed — The Griquas — Double-dealing of Moshesh — President Hoff- man's Gift of Gunpowder — Treaty with the Basuto — Its Provisions disregarded — The Border violated — Transvaal Jealousy — Pretorius visits Bloemfontein — Strained Relations — The Verge of War — A Settlement — Basuto Depredations — War with Basuto — An Abortive Campaign — Sir George Grey mediates — Trouble with the Batlapin — Sir George Grey meets Moshesh — Pretorius President of the Orange Free State — Union vetoed — More Trouble with Basuto — Migration of the Griquas to No Man's Land — Basuto Outrages — President Brand — Dutch Reformed Church — Issue of Paper INIoney — Sir Philip Wodehouse arbitrates between Orange Free State and Basutos — War again declared upon Basuto — Strenuous Operations — Moshesh desires Peace — ^Transvaal Commando withdrawn — The High Commissioner intervenes — Basutos xii Contents raid Natal — Renewed Efforts of Free State— Submission of Molapo — The High Commissioner restricts Supply of Ammu- nition — Basutoland becomes British Territory- — ^Death of Moshesh — His Character 190 CHAPTEE XV (TO 1899) THE ORANGE FREE STATE AND GRIQUALAND WEST First Discovery of Diamonds — "The Star of South Africa" — Further Discoveries — The Dry Diggings — Influx of Diggers- Camp Life — Fever — Claims of the Griquas — Waterboer cedes his Rights to Great Britain — Action of the High Commissioner — Keate Award — Government by Triumvirate — Local Dis- satisfaction — The Cape Parliament refuses Annexation — Discovery of Other Mines — Seizure of Guns — An Ultimatum — President Brand proceeds to London — Judicial Decision upon Griqua Claims — A Settlement arrived at — Griqualand West annexed to the Cape Colony — Rebellion — Prosperity of the Free State — Offensive and Defensive Alliance with the Transvaal 204 CHAPTER XVI (TO 1884) THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC Early Dissensions — Ohrigstad — Malaria — Lydenburg — Pretorius and Potgieter reconciled — Native Troubles — The Bapedi — ■ Sekwati — Setyeli — Seizure of Dr. Livingstone's Goods — Death of Pretorius and of Potgieter — Confusion and Discord — Makapan's Insurrection — • Ecclesiastical Matters — New Constitution drafted — The Potchefstrom Volksraad — Lydenburg continues obstinate — Religious Controversy — The "Dopper" Church — Civil War — War between Native Tribes — Apprenticeships — Condition of the People — Intermittent War — Discovery of Diamonds — Extension of Boundaries — Intervention of British Government — The Keate Award — Desire for Union — President Brand's Restraining Influence — President Burgers — Migration of the Orthodox — Discovery of Alluvial Gold — Cutting the Road to Delagoa Bay — Attack on Sikukuni — Unsatisfactory Financial Conditions — Annexa- tion of the Transvaal — Broken/ Promises — Sir Garnet Wolseley — British Conquest of the Bapedi — The Paarde Kraal Meeting — The War of Independence — Majuba — The Transvaal again self-governing — The London Convention . 212 CHAPTER XVII (TO 1902) THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC Further Gold Discoveries — Barberton — The Witwatersrand — Johannesburg — Enormous Gold Output — The Franchise raised — President Kruger's Determination — The " Uit- landers " — Their Grievances — The Reform Committee — The Contents xiii Jameson Raid — Its Results — Sir Alfred Milnor as High Commissioner — The Great Petition — The Ultimatum — The Great Boer War — The Treaty of Vereeniging 224 CHAPTEE XVIII (TO 1848) NATAL The First Englishmen in Natal — Wreck of the Stavenisse — Early Traders in the Bay of Natal — Their Relations with the Zulu King — The Republic of Natal — The Reverend Daniel Lindley — The Emigrant Farmers attack the Amabaca — Action of Faku — Sir George Napier refuses to recognise the Republic — The Emigrant Farmers still regarded as British Subjects — A British Force lands at Durban — Attack by the Emi- grant Farmers' — Richard King's Ride — The Siege — The British Relieving Force — Retirement of the Emigrant Farmers — Commissioner Cloete meets the Volksraad at Maritzburg — Resolution of the Women — The Volksraad accepts the British Conditions — Many of the Emigrants re- cross the Drakensberg — Natal a Dependency of the Cape Colony — Influx of Zulus — Their Lawless Conduct — Despair of the Farmers — Visit of Sir Harry Smith — Appointment of a Land Commission — Evil Results of Land Speculation . . 228 CHAPTER XIX (TO 1899) NATAL Early Immigration to Natal — Business Energy — Bishop Colenso — Natal a Distinct Colony — The Transport Industry — An Unprecedented Flood — Trouble in Zululand — Strife between Cetewayo and Umbulazi — Fertility of Coast Lands — Intro- duction of Coolies — The Franchise — Death of Panda — Return of Langalibalele — Sir Garnet Wolseley — Railway Extension — Cetewayo's Threatening Attitude — Violation of Natal Border by Zulus — The Zulu War — Disaster of Isandhlwana — Defence of Rorke's Drift — Action of Hlobane — Defeat of Zulus at Kambula — Action of Ginginhlovo — Battle of Ulimdi — Sir Garnet Wolseley supersedes Lord Chelmsford — Sub- division of Zululand — Strife among the Chiefs — Return of Cetewayo — Usibepu — Dinizulu succeeds Cetewayo — He calls the Boers to his Aid — "The New Republic" — Zululand annexed — Railway Extension — Responsible Government granted — Fertility of Natal — Menacing Problems .... 238 CHAPTER XX (TO 1862) THE CAPE COLONY UNDER BRITISH RULE Governor Napier — General Depression — Scarcity of Labour — Decline of the Wine Industry — Epidemics of Measles and Smallpox — ^Taxation — Constitution of Municipalities — Im- proved Educational Methods — Dutch Reformed Church xiv Contents Ordinance — Life of the Colonists — Genesis of Villages — Construction of Roads — Governor Sir Peregrine Mait- land — Satisfactory Financial Condition — Separation Move- ment — Economic Development — Erection of Lighthouses — More trouble with the Natives — Treaties with Chiefs — The Seventh Kaffir War, or " The War of the Axe " — Military Mis- management — Threatened Starvation — Submission of Kaffir Chiefs — Governor Sir Henry Potfcinger — Governor Sir Harry Smith — Extension of Eastern Boundary — British Kaffraria — A Histrionic Function — Imposition of Impossible Conditions — Dr. Philip — East London founded — Military Villages laid out — The " Anti-Convict " Agitation — A Serious Situation — Arrival of the Neptune — Departure of the Convict Ship — A Lull on the Frontier — The Governor deceived — The Eighth Kaffir War — Disaster at the Boomah Pass — Massacre of the Tyume Settlers — The Governor besieged at Fort Cox — ^Re- bellion of Hottentots — Attack on Fort Beaufort — Storming of Fort Armstrong — Panda offers Assistance — Kreli's Country swept — Recall of Sir Harry Smith — -Sir George Cathcart Governor — Wreck of the Birkenhead — Mounted Police organised — End of the War — Queenstown District founded . 246 CHAPTEE XXI (TO 1861) THE CAPE COLONY — CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT Desire for Representative Institutions — Claims of the Frontier — A Draft Constitution — Views of the Secretary of State — Constitution granted — 'The First Parliament— Sir George Grey — Enlargement of the Supreme Court — Police aug- mented — Establishment of Divisional Councils — Changes in the Tariff — Movement towards Responsible Government — Ravages of Lung-Sickness — The Mail Service — The Museum — Copper in Namaqualand — British Kaffraria — Policy towards the Natives — European Settlers — Unrest upon the Border — Nongqause — Umhlakaza — The Cattle-kiUing — Terrible Disillusionment — Famine — Results of the Cattle Kill- ing — German Immigrants — Farms in British Kaffraria as- signed to Europeans — Administration of the Province — De- spatch of Troops to India — Origin of the Cape University — Railway Construction — Harbour Works — ■ Lighthouses — Arrival of Numerous Immigrants — Depression — Vine-Disease — Sir George Grey favours Federation — His Recall causes General Regret — His Reinstatement — Weights and Measures — Angora Hair — The Secretary of State vetoes Colonial Ex- pansion — Sir George Grey transferred to New Zealand — His Gift to the South African Library 270 CHAPTER XXII (TO 1876) THE CAPE COLONY — RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT Governor Wodehouse — His Character — Immigration — Depres- sion — British Kaffraria — Movement towards Responsible Government — Ostrich Farming — A Census — Agricultural Development — The Transkei abandoned — Return of the Contents xv OoalekM — The Tembus — The Fingos located in Transkei — " No Man's Land " — Extension of Natal Boundary — Occupa- tion of •' No Man's Land " by Native Clans — Strife amongst Natives — The Griqua Country annexed — Annexation of Transkeian Territories — Annexation of British Kaffraria to Cape Colony — Destructive Tempest at Table Bay — A Period of Droughts and Floods — Friction between Governor and Parliament — Affairs on the Northern Border — The Governor proposes to amend Constitution — Departure of Sir Philip Wodehouse — Destructive Forest Fires — Floods — Sir Henry Barkly as Governor — Responsible Government once more — Federation — Responsible Government introduced — Develop- jnent — Lord Carnarvon favours Federation 287 CHAPTEK XXIII (TO 1899) • THE CAPE COLONY — BECHUAN ALAND — RHODESIA Native Unrest — The Ninth Kaffir War — Defeat of the Gcalekas — Disbandment of Volunteers — War Renewed — The Rebellion spreads — " The Peace Preservation Act " — The Basuto War — War in Griqualand East — Action of the Amabaca — Sir Bartle Frere — Sir Hercules Robinson — The Afrikander Bond — Disannexation of Basutoland — Annexation by Germany — Complications in Bechuanaland — A Protectorate declared — Expedition of Sir Charles Warren — Improved Conditions in Basutoland — Vine Disease — Amendment of the Franchise Law — The Diamond Fields — Growth of Corporations — Cecil John Rhodes — The Mines Amal- gamated — Customs Convention — Treaty with Lo Bengula — Sir Henry Loch — Bank Failures — The British South Africa Company — Rhodesia — The Pioneer Expedition — Census — Export of Fruit — War in Rhodesia — "The Glen Grey Act" — Ajinexation of Pondoland — The Rinderpest — Resignation of Mr. Rhodes — The Matabele Rebellion — Sir Alfred Milner 296 CHAPTER XXIV (TO 1910) THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMONWEALTH Lord Milner as High Commissioner and Governor of the Con- quered Republics — Sir Walter Hely Hutchinson — Death of Cecil John Rhodes — His Career — Death of Paul Kruger — Mr. Chamberlain visits South Africa — The "Premier" Diamond Mine— The Customs Convention — Introduction of Chinese Labour — Unsatisfactory Results — A Census — Re- sponsible Government granted to the Annexed Republics — Native Rebellion in Natal — Commercial Depression — The Asiatic Registration Act — Unrest among the Zulus — !Move- ment towards Closer Union — Union of Dutch Reformed Churches under one Synod — The National Convention — The " South African Commonwealth " created — Death of Mr. J. H. Hofmeyr— The Constitution — The Racial Bar ... 307 Appendix 320 Index 321 LIST OF MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS PAGB Princo Henry the Navigator, 1394 Frontispiece Africa from the Laurentian Portulano, 1351 3 Map to illustrate the Voyage of Vasco da Gama 6 Vaso da Gama 8 The Dutch East India House in Amsterdam 15 Inscription on a Post Office Stone, now in the Museum, Cape Town 16 The Blockhouse on the Devil's Peak 17 Jan van Eiebeek at age about 50. In the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam 19 The First Fort at Cape Town 27 Gate of the Old Castle, Cape Town 28 Extent of Cape Colony, a.d. 1750 46 Wilhem Adriaan van der Stel's House, Vergelegen 49 Western Province Farm-house at Groot Constantia 70 The Wreck of the Young Thomas 72 The Blockhouse built in Algoa Bay by General Vanderleur in 1799 92 Debe Nek, where the Battle of Amalinde took place .... 120 The Settlers going on Shore at Algoa Bay, 1820 125 The Pyramid, Port Elizabeth 129 Grahamstown in 1824 132 Sir Benjamin D'Urban 145 Cape Town from the Castle, about 1840 151 Copy of a Calendar kept by the Voortrekkers 155 Odds Three to One 157 Trekking over Difficult Country 159 Dingaan's Kraal 163 Moshesh 173 Extent of Cape Colony, end of 1847 175 Big Game on the Molopo River 195 ThabaBosigo 199 The Early Workings, Kimberley 205 Sir John Brand 207 Cetewayo 241 Engagement at the Gwanga 252 Boomah Pass 264 Fort Armstrong, Kat River 266 Sir George Grey 274 Table Mountain, from Kloof Neck 294 Wolf River, Amatole Basin 298 The Right Hon. Cecil J. Rhodes 308 President Kruger 309 The Right Hon. Louis Botha 312 General the Hon. J. C. Smuts 313 The Right Hon. John X, Merriman 315 The Hon. Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr 317 The British Possessions in South Africa 318 CHAPTER I (To 1510) Early Exploration and Discovery The Last Crusade. It has been well said that the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope was an incident in the last Crusade. In the fifteenth century the great struggle for world-domination l^etween Christian and Moslem was at its height. The Saracens had crossed the Straits of Gibraltar in 711 a.d. ; soon afterwards they overran the greater part of what is now Spain and Portugal. In 1346 the Turks entered Europe; fifteen years later they captured Adrianople ; in 1458. Constantinople fell before the assault of Mahomet II., Mud the Byzantine Empire came to an end. Decline of the Moslem. — But while the power of the Moslem waxed in the east, it waned in the west. In 1492 Granada, his last sti'onghold in the Iberian Peninsula, fell. The Eastern Trade. — The Mediterranean was the theatre of the great struggle. One important ad- vantage enjoyed by the Moslems lay in the riches accruing to them through their control of the trade between Europe and Asia. All Asiatic merchandise reaching Europe was carried from Moslem ports, where heavy tolls were levied, by ships belonging to either Venice or Genoa. Prince Henry of Portugal. — Prince Henry of Portu- gal, known as "The Navigator," was born in 1394. His father was King John I. of Portugal ; his mother was a daughter of John Plantagenet of England, better known as John of Gaunt. After serving with grent distinction as a soldier in North Africa against the Saracens, Prince Henry devoted his energies to building ships and fitting out expeditions for the exploitation of the west coast of the African continent. It is highly B 2 A History of South Africa probable that the main, object he had in view was the discovery of a sea-route to the East. Could such be found, not alone might the riches of Asia be wrested from the enemies of the Cross, but those enemies could be attacked in the rear. Prince Henry's enthusiasm as a Crusader was sup- plemented by a personal desire for vengeance. A brother to whom he was much attached had been captured by the Saracens, and was languishing in a dungeon. The release of the captive had been offered on dishonourable terms, but was refused with the captive's own concurrence. An Ancient African Map. — There was reason to believe that a route such as was sought really existed. The Prince was deeply learned in the geographical lore of the period, and had probably heard of a certain map in a Medicean atlas in the Laurentian Library at Florence. This map, although quite wrong in detail, showed, more or less correctly, the general shape and extent of the whole African continent. As to the .source of the information from which it was compiled, there exists but the merest conjecture. Early Ventures down the African Coast.— Farther and farther west and south along the unknoAvn African coast the respective expeditions felt their way, but instead of endeavouring to further their master's lofty aims, the different commanders seem to have made the collection of slaves and gold their principal object. It was their habit to load their ships with these as quickly as possible, and then, much to Prince Henry's dissatisfaction, to return. Thus, when he died in 1460, the vicinity of Sierra Leone was the farthest south his vessels had reached. During the last fifteen years of Prince Henry's life, but little exploration was under- taken, but soon after his death expeditions were again organised. The Equator was first crossed by the Portuguese in 1471. King John II., who ascended the throne of Portugal in 1481, was a grand-nephew of the Navigator, and inherited the latter' s zeal for geographical discovery. In 1484 he despatched a fleet under the command of Diego Cam, which reached the mouth of the Congo. During the following year Cam reached a spot but a few miles north of the site of the present town of 4 A History of South Africa Swakopmiind, in German South- West Africa. There he fixed a marble pillar. Bartholomew Diaz. — In August, 1486, BartholomeAv Diaz, an officer who held the apj^ointment of receiver of customs at Lisbon, and who had had some previous exploring experience, started from the mouth of the Tagus with two ships and a small vessel loaded with stores, and made his way southward. The ships were stated to be of fifty tons each. Owning, however, to the different methods of rating then in force, it is probable that they were considerably larger than the figure w^ould imply. In addition to the task of endeavouring to find the southern extremity of Africa, Diaz Avas instructed to try to open up communications Avith Prester John, a mythical monarch Avho was believed to reign in the centre of the continent. For this purpose four negresses, condemned criminals, were handed over to him. These unhappy women, after being charged with messages, had to be landed, separately, at different places on the coast. Diaz, after the manner of the time, hugged the coast on his southward way. Close to the equator he left the store ship with nine men. He next cast anchor in a bay which he called Angra Pequena, close to where the town of Lllderitzbvicht stands to-day. Thence he again sailed south to an inlet which he named Angra des Voltas, but Avhich cannot be recognised. From here he sailed southward once more, in very heavy weather. After thirteen days, and when the Avind had moderated, he altered his course eastward, expecting to see land. He held this course for several days ; then, as no land Avas in sight, he correctly inferred that he had passed the southern extremity of the continent, so laid his course northAA ard. It was not long before he sighted land, and found he Avas approaching a aa ide inlet on a coast Avhich sloped steeply, but to no great height, almost from the AA^ater's edge. Some distance inland, and running parallel to the coast, Avas a chain of lofty mountains. OA^er the pasturage by which the slopes near the sea AA^ere covered, Avere grazing numerous herds of cattle. Diaz named this locality Angra dos Vaquerros, or " The Bay of the Herdsmen." But the herdsmen were filled with alarm at sight of the strangers, and fled inland with their charges. Thus it Early Exploration and Discovery 5 was found ini[)ossible to open communication with th€»in. This bay was almost certainly the one which afterwards came to be known as the watering-plaee of Siu) Bras. But for more than three hundred yeai*8 it lias been called Mossel Bay. Diaz sailed eastward from the Bay of the Herds- men until he reached wliat is called Algoa Bay. Here, on a small rocky island, he caused to be erected a pillar bearing the Cross and the Arms of Portugal. This island is known to-day as St. Croix. A landing was also effected upon the mainland in the vicinity. Here the last of the four negresses was set ashore and left to her fate. One had died on the voyage ; the other two had been put on shore at separate plaees on the barren south-western coast, where they no doubt died of thirst. The Stormy Cape. — The men of all ranks under Diaz' conmiand strongly objected to going any further. They had been battered by tempests ; their health had suffered badly from close confinement and bad food. The stores were almost exhausted, and the voyagers were awed by terror of the unknown seas lying eastward. However, they allowed themselves to be persuaded into continuing the voyage for a few days. The mouth of a large river was thus reached. This was probably the Great Fish River, but it cannot be itlentified with certainty. But Diaz had now ample proof that he had passed the southern extremity of the continent, for he found a current of w^arm water flowing in a south-westerly direction. From here the prows of tlie battered ships were turned homeward. Diaz arrived at Lisbon in December, 1487, after an absence of over sixteen months. It was only on his return journey that what is now known as the Cape Ten insula was discovered. To its southern extremity lie gave the name of "The Stormy Cape"— a name changed by the King of Portugal to "The Cape of Good Hope " — for the great problem had now been solved India could be reached by the Atlantic route. John Pedro of Cavilhao.— Shortly after the dis- covery of the Cape of (iood Hope, one John Pedro of Cavilliao, who liatl been secretly despatched in dis- guise to India, managed to reach Calicut, and frtmi there to cross the Indian Ocean and visit Mozambi(iue Early Exploration and Discovery 7 and Sofala. Thus lit' was enabled to find out a ^reat (leal as to the flourishing trade carried on between the ports of fCastern Afriea and those of Asia. Pedro never returned to EuroiK?. Seeking for Prester .John, he entered Abyssinia, where he took up his residence, and, having been ennobled by the Negus, there spent the remainder of his life. He wrote a letter to the king, detailing his discoveries. The letter, which was in duplicate, was forwarded to Portugal by the,.hands of two Jewish Rabbis. There is, how^ever, nothing to show that it ever reached its destination. Yasco da Gama.— Thus Diaz from the west and Pedro from the east had almost met, for a stretch of only about a thousand miles separates the mouth of the Great Fish River from Sofala. But it was over ten years before the gap was filled. In 1497 a small fleet was fitted out for the purpose of attempting definitely to reach India by the Cape route. It consisted of four ships, two of Avhicli w^ere built under the personal supervision of Diaz. These ships were, respectively, about double the size of the ones with which Diaz himself had sailed. The command of the expedition was entrusted to Vasco da Gama, a son of the chief magistrate of the little town of Sinis. Da Gama was an heroic figure ; in him were epitomised to a great extent the virtues as well as the vices of his race and of the age he lived in. Brave, energetic, and filled with a keen sense of duty towards his king, he was at the same time unsciiipulous, harsh, stern, and easily moved to anger. When enraged he was, as his sub- sequent career proved, capable of the most fiendish cruelty. When selected for the command he was thirty-seven years of age. Da Gama's fleet started from Lisbon on July 8, and reached a bay on the coast of what is now^ the district of Piquetburg, Cape Province, on November 4. This bay he named after St. Helena, and the name has been retained. After a delay of twelve days he again started. Two days later he sighted the Cape of Good Hope, but made no attempt to effect a lauding. On November 26 the little fleet cast anchor in what is now Mossel Bay. Here the Portuguese oi3ened friendly communication with the Natives, ob- taining frt)m them, by means of barter, sheep and ivory 8 A History of South Africa arm-rings. This friendliness was, however, interrupted, but it does not appear that any blood was shed. ■ 1 ■ ^^^^^1 ^^k ^^^1 ^^^H H ^^H ^^H Wmf f 9 ^^F^l H ^H 1 k^ 1 Hm^i y ^^JH VASCO DA GANfA. ^ • Porh.tif lu thf Av.c.>f/ "/ <'f ii'. i Discovery of Natal.— The store-ship, being no longer needed, was burnt, and the fleet started Early Exploration and Discovery 9 ♦'astwaiH. After some very lieavy weather Da Gama iomid hiinsi'lf dose to tlie Bii*cl Islands, in the vicinity of Al^^oa liay. From there light and variable winds uaftiMl the voyagers past the mouth of the river which marked the farthest iK)int reached l^y Diaz; tlicnce a strong current carried them back to Algoa Bay. I^Yom here they started with a favourable wind on December 20. As the vessels passed eastward all on Ijoard were struck by the attractive appearance of the country, the fertility of which was in strong contrast to the barren western coast, with its inter- minable wastes of sand. On Christmas Day Da Gama gave the name of Natal to the country then in sight. From here the ships stood out to sea, and land was not again seen until January 0, 1498, when the mouth of a large river was observed. This river was the one we call the Limpopo. Here the Portuguese for the first time came into contact with the southern Bantu Natives. These were found to be quite friendly and disposed to trade. Attack on Mozambique. — The mouth of the Quili- niane River was the next anchorage. Here the ships were caulked and refitted. While this was in progress scurvy in a severe form broke out among the crew, many of whom died. After weighing anchor once more the fleet again sailed north. It unknowingly passed Sofala and reached the island of Mozambique. Here the Moliammedans were found established. The Governor Zakoeja and his people were at first friendly, believing tlie strangers to be Turks, but when they found themselves to have been mistaken on this iK)int the demeanour of the people changed and hostilities ensued. Da Gama attacked the islanders Avith vigour and inflicted so much damage that the Governor sued for peace, which was gianted. Mombasa was the next j)oit visited ; then Melinda. At each were found am[)le evidences of a flourishing trade with Asia. On May 1(J the coast of India was sighted. Thus success had crowned the long endeavour. On his homeward voyage Da Gama lost one of his vessels through its striking a shoal, but the officers and crew were transferred to the two i*emaining. He touched at various places he had visited on the out- ward voyage and passed the Cape of Good Hope on lo A History of South Africa March 20. The two vessels parted in a storm, and one, the Berrio, reached Lisbon two years and two days after she had sailed on her outward voyage. Da Gama's own ship, the Sao Gabriel, was left at the island of Santiago for repairs. Da Gama finishing his voyage in a hired vessel, in which he reached home on August 29. Of the hundred and seventy persons who sailed with him only fifty-five returned. Expedition of Pedro Alvarez Cabral.— The next fleet sent out with the eastern coast of Africa as its objective was that of Pedro Alvarez Cabral, who started in 1500 with thirteen ships. The main purpose of the expedition was the establishment of a factory, or trading station at Sofala. Cabral was instructed to offer peace and friendship to all he met on condition that they became Christians and consented to trade, but in case of a refusal, war was to be at once declared. In this fleet Bartholomew Diaz held a minor command. As something of the nature of the trade-winds was now beginning to be understood, Cabral shaped his course far to the westward, and, in so doing, incidentally discovered South America. Three weeks after he had set sail from what is now the coast of Brazil, a violent tornado was encountered. In this four vessels foundered with all hands, one being that commanded by Bartholo- mew Diaz. Da Gama's Second Expedition. — In February, 1502, Da Gama, who now bore the title " Admiral of the Eastern Seas," started on his second voyage for India. From this period onward many expeditions were despatched round the Cape of Good Hope, for the route to India was now open and the resulting trade was found to be highly profitable. Soon the Mohammedans were dispossessed of all their trading stations on the East African coast. However, as a rule the fleets kept well to the south, for the reason that the vicinity of the Cape was much dreaded by mariners on account of the tempestuous weather which was believed to lorevail there almost continually. Antonio da Saldanha lands at Table Bay.— In 1503 one Antonio da Saldanha landed at what is now known as Table Bay and called it Saldanha Bay, after himself. Thus it was known until 1601, Avhen a Dutch captain substituted its present name. The name Saldanha was CHAPTER II (To 1602) First Colonisation Wreck of the '*Sao Joao." — Tliere are but few events to record in respect of the Cape of Goocl Hope or its hinterhind during the sixteenth century. As the fleets or single vessels passed to and fro in pursuance of trade or ^^•arfare on the East African or Asiatic coasts, ( )ccasional wrecks took place. Among the more notable of these may be mentioned that of the Sao JoaOy a large galleon which ran ashore close to the mouth of the Umzimvubu River in 1552 — an event celebrated by Camoens in the " Lusiad." Sir Francis Drake doubles the Cape.— In 1580 Sir Francis Drake doubled the Cajje in the Golden Hhid, and described it as " the most stately thing and fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the world." The First English Fleet visits Table Bay.— In 1591 the first English fleet bound for the Indies visited Table Bay. It was composed of three vessels under Admiral Raymond. One of the vessels, the Edward BonareyiturCy had taken part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada ; it was commanded by Captain James Lancaster, who afterwards rose to fame as an Arctic explorer. Four days after leaving the Cape, the Ad- miraFs ship foundered with all hands. Captain Lan- ctister visited the Cape again in 1601. He was then in charge of the first fleet sent to the East Indies by the English Eiast India Company, which had been estab- lished a little more than a year previously. The First Dutch Fleet for India.— It was in 1595 ilia I tilt' lirst Dutch ships visited South Africa. Four \ t --els from the Texel, under the c-ommand of an oflicer named Cornelius Houtman, passed within sight 14 A History of South Africa of Table Mountain and cast anchor in what is now Mossel Bay. The opening of a sea-route to India was an event of the first importance in the history of world-develop- ment. One of its principal results was that Moham- medanism, deprived of a monopoly which was its chief source of wealth, receded before the renewed strength of the Christian nations. Another result was that Venice lost her commerce, and with it her jjower. The Asiatic trade was transferred to Portugal, which became wealthy and strong. Death of King Sebastian of Portugal.— Portugal retained her Avealth and prosperity until 1578, Avhen she met with a great misfortune. King Sebastian led a large army to North Africa. This army was totally defeated in a battle at Alcazar. The king was slain. Spain seizes Portugal, — Two years later King Philip II. of Spain took possession of Portugal. One of his first acts thereafter was to seize all the Dutch vessels in Lisbon Harbour. Origin of the Dutch East India Company. — An im- portant result of this was the formation in Holland of the " Company for Remote Countries." This Company, with several similar ones, eventually merged into the Dutch East India Company, which harried the Por- tuguese from the southern and eastern seas and, as an incident in the pursuance of its policy of oversea exi^ansion, established the first settlement of Euro- peans in South Africa. This Company rapidly grew in wealth, power, and world-importance. Within com- paratively few years a preponderating share of extra- European trade was in its hands. Its Constitution. — The Dutch East India Company w^as a national concern ; at one time it Avas probably more powerful than the State itself. The supreme governing authority lay in the hands of a board which Avas termed the Chamber of Seventeen, to which the State nominated one. The foreign possessions of the Company, which were vast, rich, and widely scattered, Avere controlled by a Council of which the Governor- General of India Avas President, and AA'hich met at Batavia, in the Island of Java. Table Bay becomes a Place of Call. — Gradually the dread AA^hich had for so long clustered around the Cape First Colonisation and Table Mountain was dissipated. MariiK*rs found that except at certain seasons the weathei- prevailing there was not worse than that exiKjrienced on other coasts. Table Bay proved a convenient place of call; a short sojourn there made a delightful break in the long voyage to or from the Indies. The Natives were not unfriendly; sometimes they could be induced to barter cattle and fat-tailed sheep for knives, beads, (»!• other wares. The Ocean Post Office.— TIh' captMins of outward- v)osTi>rT)i6 Hv Y s VST INDIA HOUSE IN AMSTERDAM. bound vessels Avould deix)sit letters under a stone and carve on the latter in rough script, "Hereunder look for lettei-s." Such documents would be unearthed by the captain of some vessel homeward bound, a\ ho, in his turn, would dei3osit papers reporting his arrival at the end of the first stage of his voyage, for transmission to Batavia or Ceylon. Several of these stones have been discovered in the foundations of old buildings, — each bearing a date as well as the name of a ship anci lier captain. One has been built into the wall at i6 A History of South Africa the main entrance of the General Post Office, Cape Town. INSCRIPTION ON A POST OFFICE STONE, NOW IN THE MUSEUM, CAPE TOWN. An English Commodore annexes Table Bay.— In June, 1620, four English ships bound for Surat, under the command of Captain Andrew Shillinge, entered Table Bay. Soon afterwards they were joined by two others, under the command of Commodore Humphrey Fitzherbert, which Avere bound for Bantam. At the time nine large Dutch vessels were in th^ Bay ; also another English vessel called the Lion. The Dutch fleet departed for the Indies, but about the same time another Dutch vessel, the Schiedam^ arrived. The English Commodore had heard from some of the Dutch officers that the Dutch East India Company intended establishing a settlement on the shores of Table Bay during the following year, so he called his officers together as a council. As a result of the deliberations of this body it was decided to annex Table Bay in the name of the King of England. Accordingly, on July 3 the English flag ^vas hoisted on the Lion's Rump in the presence of a number of men who had been landed from the ships. The captain and officers of the Schiedam were also present, but made no objection. However, the annexation Avas confirmed neither by the English Kast India Company imi Janit's. First Colonisation 17 ili<- (ioveniment of King j^^^^R^^ .._ fllBHlMHQBiKc ^■H»^tt ^^^^H n ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ t i ' ' «H Hppppi^np 'T - J'hoto: T. D. Ravtusrroft.] THE BLOCKHOUSE ON THE DEVIL'S PEAK. Wreck of the *' Haarlem."— In 1648 the Haarlem, a laiKt' vessel lielongiii^' to the Dutch Company, was driven ashore ou the Blatuiwberg side of Table Bay. V 1 8 A History of South Africa No lives Avere lost ; the greater portion of the cargo was saved. The officers, crew, and soldiers removed to Table Valley, where they encamped close to a stream of water ; the site of the encampment is believed to be near the centre of the present city of Cape Town. Some ground was brought under cultivation, and in it were sowed vegetable seeds salved from the Avreck. The* result was most satisfactory ; the casta Avays were even able to supply passing scurvy-smitten ships Avith much-needed vegetables. When, after upAvards of five months, the men of the Haarlem Avere released and conveyed to Holland, they gave a most gloAving account of the fertility of Table Valley. The Dutch East India Company decides to occupy Table Bay. — After some tAAcnty months of inquiry and consideration, the Directory of the Company decided to establish a victualling station at the Cape of Good Hope. Accordingly, instructions toAvards the fitting out of an expedition Avere issued on March 25, 1651. The vessels commissioned AA^ere the Drorne- darisy a man-of-war Avitli high poop and bows, the Reiger, and a small yacht named the Goede Hoop. The command Avas offered to, but declined by, one Nicholas Proot. Jan van Biebeek. — Jan van Riebeek, a ship's surgeon, accepted the post. He had traA^elled considerably, and Avas a man of great energy and good ability. The expedition started from Amsterdam on Decem- ber 24, 1651. The Dromedaris carried eighteen heavy guns ; shortly after putting to sea, she Avas found to be so top-heavy that nine of these had to be sent below as ballast. The men composing the expedition num- bered about one hundred. There Avere five Avomen, one of Avhom AA'as van Riebeek' s Avife. Two, Elizabeth and Sebastiana van Opdorp, aa ere his nieces. ArriYal of the Expedition. — The Aveather experienced by the Aoyagers Avas Aery favourable. On April 5, 1652, Table Mountain AA^as sighted ; next evening the little fleet reached the anchorage in Table Bay. The winter rains had not yet fallen, so the country pre- sented a very parched appearance. Building of the Fort. — Immediately after landing, a site for a fort aa^s fixed upon. This AA^as close behind Avliere the General Post Office stands to-day. The First Colonisation 19 (ou.sLiuclioii work was begun without ilila> . The fort was square, each face measuring 78 mclics. It was JAN VAN KIEI'.r,! K \T \(,!: \i;orT 50. IN THE i;!:i - ■ -KCM, AMBTUHDAM. built of earth and had sloping sides; at eavXx of it« 20 A History of South Africa angles was a bastion. In the centre arose a stone toAver with a fiat roof, from Avhicli every portion of the rampart was under matchlock fire. The whole structure was surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water from the stream which ran down Table Valley. The governing body of the Settlement was termed the Council of Policy. It consisted of the Com- mander and three or four subordinate officers appointed by a Commissioner passing to, or returning from, India. Immediately after their arrival the new-comers came in contact with some of the Natives. Among the latter was one named Harry, who had voyaged to India and back in an English ship, and consequently had some slight knoAvledge of the English tongue. Harry Avas employed by the Commander as an inter- preter. A relation of his, a young girl named Eva, was taken into the van Riebeek household. v./" The Beachrangers. — The Hottentot clan to which Harry and Eva belonged numbered only about sixty individuals. These peoi:>le owned no stock and were in a wretched condition. They became known as the " Strandloopers," or Beachrangers. However, further inland were other clans — nomads — comparatively rich in cattle and fat-tailed sheep. At certain seasons, when the pasturage was rich, these people moved in toAvards Table Mountain, and it was fovmd possible to purchase cattle and sheep from them, the currency used being tobacco, copper bars, brass Avire, and beads. Wild Animals.— At that time the Cape Peninsula sAvarmed Avith aa ild animals ; large antelopes of various kinds grazed over Avhat are noAv knoAA n as the Cape Flats. Official huntsmen wei'e appointed for the purpose of supplying the fort Avith venison, but the game AA^as too Avary to permit of its being brought down by the awkward, short-ranged matchlock of the period. Where Church Square is to-day lay a swamp which Avas frequented by sea-coAA^s. Lions often ap- peared in the vicinity of the fort. The Commander came face to face Avith one on an occasion when he was inspecting his garden. Leopards and wild cats made continual attacks upon poultry and domestic animals. Table Bay SAvarmed Avith fish of many kinds ; Avhales AA'cre especially plentiful. Hardships of the Settlers. — The settlers suffered First Colonisation 21 many hardships. Floods washed away a lot of the ground they had prepai*ed for cultivation^ The high winds of summer destroyed the i)r()mised harvest of wheat and barley when it was almost ripe for the sickle. The Hottentots murdered herdsmen and carried off cattle. These outrages could not be revenged, as the Commander's hands were tied by stringent orders from Holland to the effect that a strictly conciliatory policy Avas to be i)ursued towards the Natives. One great difficulty arose from the inferiority of many of those composing the expedition. During the first few years of the settlement, a number of men had to be discharged and sent home. Van Riebeek kept a journal in which every event of the slightest imix)rt- ance was recorded ; in reading this one realises the extraordinary hardships suffered by all belonging to this distant outpost of civilisation. The First Farmers.— It was in February, 1657, that the first step in actual colonisation took place. In response to a memorial nine men were permitted to leave the Company's service and take up plots of land along the course of the Liesbeek River, in the vicinity «»t' Rondebosch. It had been noticed that this locality was largely protected from the winds which scourged the plains and mountain slopes in the vicinity of the fort. Soon afterwards similar grants of land were made to other applicants. Introduction of Slaves. — There were at this time ^ only eleven slaves in the settlement, but during the following year a large number were introduced from the west coast of Africa, and sold on credit to the burghers at prices ranging from £4 to £8 each. Soon the tendency grew t<:) leave the harder and more un- pleasant kinds of work to slaves. Belief in Monomotapa. — Van Riebeek was a finn '^ l)eliever in the fabled empire of Monomotapa, and eagerly read Linschoten's celebrated book and other supposed authorities on the subject. He also closely (|uestioned the Hottentots as to their knowledge of t lie regions lying to the north. After collating all he had learnt, the Connnander came to the conclusion that Davagul, the mythical capital, lay s time. Cattle were stolen, and when slaves ran away it was suspected that the Hottentots harboured them. But the Hot* tentots, naturally enraged at seeing their best pasture lands appropriated by the Europeans, became actively liostile in 1(359. There was no actual fighting, but the natives drove off the farmers' cattle and destroyed crops. In a few instances they killed herdsmen who endeavoured to protect the animals under their charge. Tint horses and fierce dogs were imported, soldiers were landed, and houses were placed in such a condition as rendered them capable of being defended. Eventually watch-houses were built in a line and connected by a strong thorn fence. A Plot among the Garrison.— While the settlement was in the throes of this trouble, a serious plot was discovered among the members of the garrison, four- teen of whom had determined to seize a vessel in the bay and escape. Fifteen slaves had agreed to join in the enterprise. The conspiracy was discovered by the surgeon, who was a Scotsman. Five of the conspiratoi-s were Scotch, and one was an Englishman. The ring- leaders were sent to Batavia for punishment ; the less important culprits were tried on the spot and punished with what would to-day be regarded as terrible severity. One result of this affair was the deportation of all English and Scotch members of the garrison (with the exception of the doctor) to Batavia, " so as to rid the place of such rubbish," as the entry on the subject records. In April a meeting of the various Hottentot captains took x)lace at the fort. A peace was arranged. After- wards a dance and a feast were held. A feature of the latter was a large tub fille