2^6 THE FUTURE OF THE BANTU PEOPLE. 



something honorary obtained in America. He has this to his 

 credit, that he has sat in a Provincial Council. There is the Rev. 

 John Dube, conductor of an Industrial Mission and President of 

 the Native Congress, to Avhich the Government has, I am told, 

 more than once sent an official representative. There are a few 

 barristers and attorneys. I know of one native who wished to be 

 articled to a Capetown attoriiey, but this not seeming; desirable, 

 the lawyer advised him to go to England and study for the bar. 

 The native did so, and having been " called " in England, had to 

 be admitted to the Courts here. He then took advantage of the 

 Colonial law, disrobed himself, and became a solicitor; thus, in a 

 roundabout, but clever way obtaining exactly what he started 

 out to secure. 



No native has followed Soga in studying at a British Univer- 

 sity, but there are a large number of men in most Christian 

 churches who are fully ordained ministers, and as such are doing 

 their work in a creditable way. Taken altogether — and remem- 

 bering that the man \^'ho has not seen Europe is very poorly 

 equipped as a preacher — these men, and their wives, are a very 

 influential class in this country. In this conection it will be 

 remembered how Macaulay, in the first chapter of his History, 

 calls attention to the influence exercised in England by the equality 

 of both Saxon and Norman priests insisted upon then by the 

 Church. The like equality is recognized now in Church Councils 

 and Synods here. Then, we must remember the respectable 

 •number of both men and women who have obtained teachers* 

 certificates, and are doing excellent work ; themselves " civilized," 

 they are civilizing the children of their race. Thanks chiefl}- to 

 missionary institutions, there are now a considerable number of 

 tradesmen; and it is only just, I think, to recognize the larger 

 number of servants in various capacities and of intelligent mine 

 workers, and farmers — black men who are closely following the 

 example and instruction of civilized Europeans. Fifty years ago, 

 when I was a young man, there was not a sheep in the Transkei ; 

 now there are thousands, producing some of the best wool grown 

 in South Africa. That the mass of natives is not yet leavened 

 Ave know ; we must admit that as a whole they are content to be 

 what their forbears have been for many generations. But there is 

 evidence — strong and sufficient to justify the statement — that the 

 Bantu people can become one of the " civilized" races of the 

 world ; indeed, that many have already attained to this civilization. 



That being so, the method of our dealing with these people 

 is of importance: to ourselves, and also to them. They are not 

 all born to be wood-cutters and water-carriers. They are not 

 barred by physical or mental conditions from benefiting from our 

 instruction, and following our example. They may or may not 

 have as many brain convolutions and depressions as Europeans — 

 too few brains have yet been compared of those who enjoyed 

 equality of education and o'f opportunity to determine that. So far 

 oin- administration of their affairs has been at best paternal, and 

 bv "rule of thumb." What was ordered they did ; what was 



