THE BOERS.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3840, 20 April 1881, Page 1

THE BOERS.

A difference of opinion - would seem to exist as to whether or not there is a mixture of black blood among the Boers. The following extract from " Chambers' Cyclopadia," showing the habits ot these people, may probably serve to elucidate the question:—" Boers (German agriculturalists, farmers), the name applied to the Dutch colonists of*the Cape of Good Hope who are engaged in agriculture and care of cattle. The Boers, generally, according to Dr Livingstone, 'are a sober, industrious, . and most hospitable pea* santry.' Very different, however, are certain of their numbers who have fled from English law, on various pretexts, and formed themselves into a kind of republic in theCasban Mountains. Coming with the prestige of white men and deliverers from the cruelty of Kaffir chiefs, they were received by the Betjuans gladly, who, however, soon found out that their new friends were much less desirable as neighbours than their old enemies. The Boeis force even those tribes of the Betjuans who are most friendly towards them to perform all kinds of field labour for nothing; and not only thi» t but they also compelled them to find -their own. food. They steal domestic servants from the more hostile tribes in the most cowardly and cold blooded way imaginable. Jhe plan of operation is thus described by Dr Livingstone: ' One or two friendly tribes are forced t6 accompany a party of mounted Boers, and these expeditions can be got up only in the winter, when horses may be used without danger of being lost by disease. When they reach" the tribe to be attacked, the friendly natives are arranged in front, to form as they say "a shield ";, the Boers then cooly fire over their heads, till the devoted people flee, and leave cattle, wives, and children to the captors. This was done in nine cases during my residence in the interior, and on no occasion was a drop of Boers' blood shed. Yet these Boers proudly boast themselves "Christians!" They have an ' immense contempt for the ignorance of the natives, and told Dr Livingstone that he might as well teach baboons as Africans. They, however, declined a test which the missionary proposed—viz., to be examined whether theyior his native attendants could read best. In his opinion they are just as degraded as the blacks whom they despise."