1 88 SOUTH AFRICA. 



till we may possibly be involved in the great 

 contest which seems to threaten the peace of 

 Europe within measurable time. 



It must not, however, be inferred from the tone 

 I have adopted that I am in favour of heroic 

 action. It is certain that if the Imperial Govern- 

 ment fails to enunciate a definite policy embodying 

 the principle of continuity as a basis, all assertion 

 of paramountcy will amount to a farce very likely 

 to terminate in a tragedy. 



The perusal of many works on South Africa 

 has led me to conclude that among the authors of 

 those productions a very decided and favourable 

 opinion of the religious and moral character of the 

 Boers is usually expressed. For my own part, in 

 the absence of any definite standard which 

 authorises one to pronounce judgment on such 

 very recondite matters, or to appraise the value of 

 any man's religious belief, or practice, I feel 

 incompetent to advance any decided opinion. I 

 shall confine myself to a narrative of the impres- 

 sions gathered from a close observation of overt 

 facts during a residence among these peculiar 

 people extending over at least a generation. 



The real unsophisticated Boer is perhaps more 



