The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-28
Facts About Certain South Africans.


1t seems to be admitted on all hands that
the Zulu war is directly due to the forcible
annexation Of the Transvaal Republic and
the consequent alienation Of the HOllander
settlers or so-called Beers. More than once
these hardy frontiersmen have met and
beaten, against fearful odds, stronger
Kaffir force than that which perpctrated
the Isandula massacre. and there is little
doubt that their cooperation in that action
would have made all the difference between
defeat and victory. Who are these Beers,
and to what extent are they really OF Dutch
uescentp How far Is their character for
civil and military virtues open to the stric-
lures passed upon ii by Il large part OF the
English press? These are questions about
which very little is known among us, and it
j. interesting to find them answered by Sir
BENJAMIN PINE, late Lieutenant-Governor
OF Natal. who has lived many years in
South Africa.
Among the misconceptions corrected by
this competent authority. is one relating
70 the origin and nationality Of the
white farmers. Even at that early date
viz, in 1850, when the country round the
Table Mountain was occupied as a trading
seems that the settlers were not all Hol-
landers. There were some Germans, some
Flemish, and few Poles These were all Of
low social grade; but thirty years later
the colony received an accession of great
Importance both in numbers and industrial
ability, by the arrival of body OF French
refugees. We are assured that to these
people are due the introduction Of wine max
ing and the planting OF the groves and
gardens which now adorn the neighborhood
Of Cape Town. To these Huguenot iugitives,
also. are ascribed the intense but narrow
religious feeling Of the colonists, and their
too literal application of the conduct OF the
1sraeites in Palestine to their own treat
ment Of the native races. That the Ian
guage Of these French immigrants has left
no trace is expllcable by the fact that the
East India Company compelled the use OF
the Dutch tongue not only in legal pro-
ceedings, but also in religious services. The
course OF descent, however, is plainly
marked in the proper names, aud, according
10 Sir BENJAMIN PINE, there are few old
Cape families who have not a large infusion
OF French blood In their veins. In word,
the so-called Dutch OF the Cape may, he
thinks, be almost regarded us Huguenot
community.
The rowing habit OF these settlers is OF old
date, and was engendercd by the arbitrary
and meddlesome regulations OF the Dutch
East India Company. Many Of the earliest
planters moved beyond the limits Of the col
ony to escape its oppressive restrictions as
TO cultivation and selling, and their descend
ants have inherited the same impotence of
control. Almost precisely hundred years
after the arrival Of the Hugucnots, viz, in
1885, successive migrations brought the coll
onists to the Great Fish River, which formed
the boundary between the Hottentot terri
tory and Kanir land. Then for the first
time, the Bocrs as the white farmers OF
mixed lineage were now called, came into
collision with the powerful race 10 which
the Zulus belong, and which was itself a
new conner in that region, having appeared
rs an invader and conquerOr nearly at the
same time as the Dutch settled at the Cape
Both were aggressors, and neither had any
more aboriginal right than the other to the
country, which ever since has been the
scene of their disputes.
For a century the Beers and kanirs have
waged guerrilla warfare, seldom intermit
-ajaA y ~ Gri5a
the former have been successful. In 1902 q
large body Of Kalllrs, melted by white rem
egades, oyeIran the frontier, but were de
feated and thrust back by the Dutch burgh
ers, aided by a small detachment Of Brit
ish troops. Ten years later n formidable
inroad was erectually withstood by Col
GRAHAM, at the head Of a large force, com
prising British soldiers lIottentot leyics
and n considerable contingent Of Beers
Speaking OF the latter, the commander wrote
81 never in my life saw more orderly, vii
ling, and obedient men; they behaved will
much spirit, and were always ready to <,
upon any enterprise" In 1884 an arm.
OF more than twelve thousand Kaillr
streamed across the border, but a leufe II
mdsse OF the Dutch farmers aided by tw
British regiments not only routed the in
vaders, but temporarily annexed a larg
mart OF their land. Two years afterwarc