The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-19
SOME n BooEs


Mr.. GEORGE VI. THEAi ~ the Cape Colonial
Civil Service, the author OF an elaborate history
Of South Africa, has been invited TO prepare a
sketch Of that region for the STORY Of the Ma
tions" series, now publishing by the Putnams.
The parts Of this sketch relating to the Cape
Colony. TO Natal. the Orange Free State, the
south African republic, Zululand, and Basuto-
land, are mainly taken from the larger work;
but they are brought down nearly 10 the present
date. Nearly. but not quite, for the account Of
the British Chartered Compeny's territory
stops short Of the outbreak OF hostllitles which
has led to the occupation Of Matabeleland. The
esrly history OF the nominal Portuguese annexa-
ton Of the country south OF the Zambesi, and
the actual Dutch colonization OF certain parts Of
IL, together with the southwark pressure OF the
Kafirs, interesting results of which were the
Zulu and the Matabele military organizations, is
indispensable TO q thorough understanding OF
the present state OF things in South Africa.
Nevertheless, in this notice. we must confne
ourselves to the authors outline OF the existing
situation in the Cape Colony. the Orange Free
state, and South African republic, and in
Natal, Zululand. Bechuanaland, and other
British dependencies.
A preliminary word ought TO be said concern
ing certain words in common use In South
Africa. but whose exact significance does not
seem understood elsewhere. The term Boer, for
Instance, means in Dutch q tiller OF the ground,
but in South Africa Is applied TO cattle breed
ers, 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 language. BY kraal Is meant a cat
tie fold. The word Is a corruption of the
Portuguese "curral." II Is also used 10 signify a
collection of either Hottentot OF Bantu huts, a.
these are usually built in a circle, within which
the cattle are kept at night. The Dutch word
lager means an enclosure for protective pur-
poses, such as a circular wall of stone. or a
number of wagons dashed together. BY burRher
IL meant q European male, no matter where
resident, who Is in possession of the franchise,
and liable TO all public duties. II cOrrespondsto
the civis Romanus OF old. Heemraden are
burphers appointed by the Government TO act
- assessors in the district courts Of Justice. A
landdrost Is a stipepdiary magistrate who adj
ministers justice and receives the revenue of the
district. Another Dutch word, volksraad. signi-
fes the peoples council, an elected legislative
body. Three Bantu words are In common use,
viz, induna. an officer OF high rank under a
used for various purposes. such as water pots,
Jars, dishes, basins, snuff boxes, &c; and ~tsetse,
. fy whose sting destroys domestic cattle, but
has no effect upon wild animals. Curiously
enough, the tsetse disappears from q district
when the game is exterminated or driven away.
We add that the word assagai, meaning the
javelin or dart, used by the Hottentot and Bantu
In war and the chase. is . corruption of the
Portuguese azagsys, which was derived from
the Latin hasta.