South Africa

PREFACE.

IN these pages I have endeavoured to set out in a connected form the most important features in the past history and present circumstances of South Africa.

Additional information, with extracts from authorities. somewhat difficult of access, is contained in the Notes; and I have added a Historical Summary, a Statistical Appendix, and the Text of the Convention of London. This latter is given because of its importance (as governing to a large extent the present relationships of England to the Transvaal), and also because the Blue-book which contains it is, I understand, out of print.

I should perhaps say that I have been able to bring information acquired during a residence of nearly two years in the Cape Colony and Natal to bear upon the treatment of this subject.

W. B. W.

LAMB BUILDING,
June 10th, 1895.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

EARLY HISTORY.

Variety of political and social conditions of South Africa makes

its history specially instructive-Connection of South-east

Africa with trading nations of antiquity-The discovery of the

maritime route to India causes the Cape to be used as a half-

way-house by the Portuguese, English, and Dutch traders-

A station established in 1652 by the Dutch East India

Company-The station becomes a settlement-Huguenot

emigration-Relations of the Company to the natives, and to

the Franco-Dutch settlers-Review of the period of the

Early British Government. Introduction of English element by

Albany Settlement-The expansion of the Cape Colony

becomes a record of conflicts between the white settlers and

the Kafirs, z.e. military Bantu-Emancipation of coloured

races within the colony-Colonial frontier policy reversed by

Lord Glenelg Emigration of large section of Franco-Dutch

population-The cost of the Kafir wars determines the

British Government to allow the dismemberment of the

white communities, and to withdraw from the administra-

tion of native territories outside the limits of the Cape

Colony and Natal-Independence of emigrant farmers in the

Transvaal (1852), and in the Orange River Sovereignty

(1854), recognised-Grant of Representative Government to

the Cape Colony-General progress of the Colony

CHAPTER III.

SIR BARTLE FRERE AND FEDERATION.

Sir George Grey-Kafir Policy-German immigration-His
condemnation of dismemberment of South Africa, and pro-
posals for the introduction of a Federal system—The dis-

covery of diamonds causes the reversal of the policy of non-

intervention-Resumption of British authority over Griqua-

land West (Kimberley district) in 1871-Dissatisfaction of

the Free State-Lord Carnarvon's proposal for reuniting

the white states in a federal system similar to that of the

Canadian Dominion-Mr Froude's mission-The annexation

of the Transvaal in April 1877-Sir Bartle Frere appointed

to give effect to Lord Carnarvon's policy in 1877. Wide-

spread movement of revolt among the Bantu peoples-

The subjugation of the natives becomes a condition precedent

to the re-union of the white communities-The revolt of

the Kafirs under Kreli crushed-Ketshwayo's 66
fighting