OCR Rendition - approximate

Relations between Civilized and Savage Life. 339 sometimes over a whole district which we are assured formerly " swarmed with Kaffirs," few are to be found. Such facts, of course, are in favour of a theory of aggregate decrease of population. On the other hand, the number of Kaffirs settled, two or three families together, ou separate farms, in various parts of the country, is probably much larger than it was; there is a considerable population in native locations of large towns, and living as labourers in kraals around them, where formerly a Kaffir labourer was seldom seen ; extensive districts which formerly were almost uninhabited now contain a large native population. This is notably the case in Pondoland, in much of the old Galaeka country, and in Griqualand East or Adam Kok's country, till lately known as Noman's land, and almost tenantless. In no part of the country is there apparent any evidence of a decaying population. When a whole family is mustered, there is generally seen an ample proportion of healthy children of all ages around the parents, and there is every apparent evidence of a population increasing rather than dying out. But we may hope that at no distant period a fairly accurate estimate of actual numbers of the native races may be obtained by census, and place this question of numbers beyond a doubt. As regards other effects of European proximity on the Amakosa Kaffir, in other respects than as regards numbers, opinions are much divided. It is not uncommon to meet men of great experience and extensive observation who are very positive that the race is deteriorating. It is not easy to obtain direct and conclusive evidence on such points, but I am bound to say that I have never been satisfied with the reasons I have heard adduced for the belief. The assertion that " one never sees the magnificent savages one used to see with Hintza or Macomo in former days when I was a young volunteer in the Kaffir war," may be accounted for by other reasons than deterioration of race. The henchmen of the great Kaffir chief of forty years ago, ready to support their leader in the field, or amuse him in a war dance, were doubtless more striking figures than the old men who adhere to his shrunken fortunes and degraded state in these days, and something may be due to the enthusiasm of a youthful observer, as compared with satiated observation of the grave and reverend senior-laudator temporis acti. Other reasons of the supposed change will be intelligible to any one who has noted the difference between a diminutive Oriental in the unbecoming dress of an European, and the same slight figure clad in the flowing and becoming garments of Moslem or Hindu. Nothing can be more picturesque than the bronze complexioned limbs of a young Kaffir warrior with his red blanket thrown VOL. XII. 2 A