THIi NATIVES OF NATAL IN RELATION TO THE LAND. 243 



I said beftjrc. that the average native could not successfully carry 

 on farming on a large scale, involving knowledge of scientific 

 method and modern business. But I believe many are quite 

 capable of good and profitable cultivation of small farms. JKs 

 before stated, many Euro[)ean farmers have natives who do 

 excellent work, and who, learning the routine, may be trusted 

 to continue without much supervision. In the Southern United 

 States negro farmers have made extraordinary progress in late 

 years, extending their holdings and im[)roving their methods to 

 an extent comparing very favourably with their white neigh- 

 bours. In i^arts of Africa, notably in Nigeria and Uganda, 

 people akin to our Bantu are growing exportable crops of great 

 value. It is not, then, lack of natural ability which is the cause 

 of the backwardness of our natives. What is it, then? Many 

 I have spoken to give but one reason — indolence. But under 

 sufficient and appropriate stimulus, or when in the employ of 

 European^ whom he trusts, in a situation he values, he certainly 

 cannot be called indolent. What my friends call indolence, I 

 think is rather an innate conservatism, coupled with the absence 

 of the will to advance for the sake of advance. If this is so, 

 there is hope, for, as I said before, human nature is fundamen- 

 tally the same all the world over, and stimulus, encouragement, 

 instruction, and supervision may work some of the marvels one 

 see^ in some of the negro communities in the Southern States, 

 i his conser\'atism gives play to a factor which certainly plays 

 a part. In a tribal location all believe in witchcralft, and the 

 witch-doctor openly or secretly carries on his calling. He is a 

 great upholder of ancient custom, and any person departing 

 therefrom, or introducing innovations, is likely to be suspected 

 and at least ostracised. So the man who would like to plant 

 wattles refrains from doing so lest he incur the dislike or hos- 

 tility of his neighbours. Another factor is the gradual break- 

 down of the old rigid social s\'stem. After ploughing, the culti- 

 vation i^ the work of the women, and they can no longer be 

 punished for failing to carr}- out their duties. Competent obser- 

 vers also say that the old emulation between the women, and the 

 pride they took in their respective gardens is no longer present ; 

 they are now not ashamed of slovenly garden-plots. In old times, 

 a beer-drink was a gathering of the men on some important occa- 

 sion, anti women and youths were excluded. But now they 

 are held whenever amabclc is procurable, and women and imma- 

 ture young men attend, and character and industry suffer in con- 

 sequence. Under communal tenure, whilst a kraal will not be 

 evicted so long as it is occuj)ied. when the area becomes crowded, 

 there are frequent garden disputes, and of course this system does 

 not {)ro vide- the stimulus which is furnished by individual tenure, 

 and there is no inducement to improve when a man is in 

 doubt whether he will retain the fruits cif his labour or they will 

 pass to another. Many in Natal are of the opinion that the 

 custom o\ polygamy is the source and fount of all that is back- 

 ward and barbarous in the life of the Zulu. It nuLst be admitted 



