PRESIDKNTIAL AnT>RKSS SECTION E. 121 



open practices were concerned, and allowing the leaven or 

 education to work. This in a nutshell explains why the otlier 

 tribes are relatively less advanced. It also reveals clearly the 

 strength of the main contention of this paper, namely, that the 

 whole progressive movement may be accelerated in the case of 

 the other tribes by resolutely facing and dealing wisely and 

 directly with the belief in witchcraft, and the associated super- 

 stition concerning the ancestral spirits. The astounding thing is 

 that this does not appear to have been recognised as yet by any of 

 our South African writers and leaders. If it were adequately 

 realised our missionaries would concentrate upon the breaking 

 down of the ])Ower of witchcraft; and the Government would 

 address themselves seriously to the task instead of assuming a 

 mild, benevolent disapjiroval ; and the school curriculum would 

 include direct teaching on the subject, teaching which would 

 influence the rece])tive minds of some 70,000 children ever)- 

 year. It were infinitely better to boldly handle the situation as 

 suggested • than to allow a continuance of the pernicious system 

 which teaches natives to read and write and count, and leaves 

 their minds still at the mercy of the superstitions and evils of 

 witchcraft. If we do continue thus we need not be surpr-sed 

 to reap the whirlwind. 



Moreover, the gradation, to which we have already drawn 

 attention, is reflected in the various departments oi national life. 

 Statistics, v.here available, whether relatiag to educational, 

 economic, o-: other matiers, all tell the same tale, and the main 

 reason is the one advanced. Proximity to the white man does 

 much to expose the old superstitions, so that where there is 

 most race contact we find greater emancipation from the p<^)wer 

 of witchcraft, and more disposition on the part of the " reds " 

 to avail themselves of the education provided by the missionaries. 

 This necessarily secures, in time, a more intelligent participation 

 in the life and use of the public institutions of civilisation. In 

 this way the hide-bound" tribalism of this most conservative 

 people is thrust into close juxtaposition jwith] the intense 

 individualism of our modern democracy, inevitably accelerating 

 the dissolution of the ancient bonds, and issuing in a steady 

 process, in which individual thought, action, and responsibility 

 takes the place of communal jurisdiction. In particular we 

 draw attention to Table I., which illustrates the point in view. 

 There, at a glance, we see which districts have the most schools, 

 show the greatest industry, and are, in point of fact, the most 

 advanced. The importance of forming sound conclusions upon 

 the evidence needs no emphasis; but the trouble is that in the 

 past we have been content to accumulate evidence without pro- 

 ceeding to formulate conclusions and act upon them. Here, 

 however, for the present, we must allow the matter to rest. We 

 have seen that communism is doomed, the only question being 

 as to whether we should storm the citadel or lav siege to it. 

 If storming means the bold and resolute handling of the remnants 



