24 Mr. John Brown— 



the sanctions of his old beliefs, and has probably received a surface 

 smattering of religion and morals which he does not quite 

 assimilate, and he has learnt other things which he would be as 

 well without. Rev. Mr. Flint, librarian of the Cape Parliament, 

 however, was the only person I met holding the opposite view. 

 He contended that the gaol statistics showed this. But then we 

 must remember that every crime or misdemeanour, especially 

 among the servant class, is not brought to justice or to gaol. 



Many of the natives, especially the young, are very graceful and 

 easy in movement and gestures. They are said to be good 

 orators. There was rumoured talk of a Kaffir rising, but a very 

 intelligent and sensible owner of a fruit farm near Stellenbosch 

 told me he thought it was merely circulated as an excuse for 

 attacking the natives. 



No Chinese are employed at the mines nearest the city, but at 

 my suggestion an opportunity was arranged for a party of us to 

 visit a mine employing Chinese. On the general question of 

 Chinese labour, I gathered it was somewhat disappointing to the 

 managers. Kaffirs, when obtainable, were preferred. I was 

 informed the Chinese are hard to control, and very tricky. They 

 began by carefully cutting half a foot off the end of the measuring 

 rods for measuring the depths of the holes drilled, and fixing up 

 the ends again with true Chinese artfulness, so that they were paid 

 for six inches more per hole for some weeks before it was 

 found out. They could not be induced to take care of their tools, 

 and were otherwise disorderly at work. On the other hand, they 

 learned quicker than Kaffirs, and earned rather more — 2S. per day 

 on a three year's contract. They appoint their own police in the 

 compound. 



Their food is a hotch-potch of meat and vegetables, very 

 savoury, and cleanly cooked by Chinese cooks. Occasionally they 

 had rice. The meals are served in a large, airy dining-hall. Their 

 sleeping-rooms are even larger than the Kaffirs' and of the same 

 style. They seem to be well cared for, if for no higher reason 

 than that they cost so much, including their passage over, that it 

 paid to keep them in good order. There is also a hospital. 



