_':;o Life and Letters of Franci* 



Galton's influence not only over Jonker, but over Cornelius, 

 Swartboy and Amiral, was marked, and it is characteristic of the man 

 that but little of it is manifested in his published book. The whole 

 episode of his attempt to establish order in Namaqua and Damara- 

 lands must be studied in the MS. notebooks. 



The following is the bare account which reached the press of that 

 day of Galton's proceedings. 



CAPE NEWSPAPER. 22nd August, 1851. Mr Galton's Expedition. 

 Letters have been received from the enterprising traveller Mr Galton who our 

 readers will remember started for the Great Lake via Walfisch Bay in September last. 

 Mr Galton writes, under date the 1st March from Lat. 22 South, Long. 10 49' East. 

 Mr Galton arrived in the Damara Country in October, he reports constant fighting and 

 wars of reprisals between the Damaras and the Namaquas, which commenced 4 years 

 ago but had lately increased in ferocity and extent ; Jonker Afrikaner being a principal 

 mover. The destruction of the village of Damaras, gathered around Mr Kolbe's mission 

 station reported in the papers at the time, and the purchase of plundered cattle by 

 white men, had led to difficulties in the way of Mr Galton's progress, and to the 

 prospects of commerce. Mr Galton, on his arrival in that country wrote to Jonker 

 Afrikaner, acquainting him with the instruction he had received from the Governor 

 to establish friendly relations with the native tribes on the route to Lake Ngami, 

 with a view to prepare a way for future commerce and to warn them against any 

 attempts to dispossess them of their country ; and intimating the displeasure of tin- 

 British Governor at the oppression of the other tribes by the Namaquas. Jonker's 

 answer was delayed a month and was unsatisfactory, and Mr Galton then rode straight 

 to him with an escort of only three followers, and succeeded in thoroughly alarming 

 him. He made Jonker write a most ample acknowledgment of his wrong to Mr Kolbe ; 

 and advised him also to make the same acknowledgment to the British Governor, which 

 he did, and sent it by a messenger forthwith to the colony. Mr Galton also made 

 Jonker send. for a neighbouring captain of the red people, and made him also solemnly 

 undertake to leave off oppressing the Damaras, and wrote out a few simple laws to meet 

 cases of cattle stealing, which were cordially agreed to. One of these laws provided for 

 the equal punishment of Namaquas with that of Damaras for stealing. Some of their 

 own disputes were also voluntarily referred to Mr Galton as umpire. Mr Galton has 

 received much valuable and interesting information respecting the transactions in that 

 part of the country for some years past, from the diary of Mr Hahn, the longest 

 resident missionary among the Damaras. Mr Galton, at the date of his letters, was to 

 start for the interior in two days, but intimates his intention of returning that way in 

 about six months. A considerable impression has been made on the native minds by 

 Mr Galton's visit, and a way appears to be prepared for the progress of European 

 commerce and civilisation in that direction at no very distant period : but very much 

 will depend on the conduct of those here, who hereafter attempt to open nut further 

 relations with the natives. 



We shall endeavour to procure for our readers if possible, further details of these 

 must interesting communications. 



