THE REVOLT OF THE UlTL ANDERS 
353 
of the influences which have made the Dutch colonists or Boers 
what they are. The Boers are most closely related to us ethno- 
logically, but their political and industrial history has been so 
different that jealousies and antagonisms have arisen which, 
though highly regrettable, are by no means without excuse. 
The Boers, like the English, are in the main of Teutonic 
blood, with a relatively small infusion of French stock. Like 
the English, they are stubborn, self-reliant, fond of the chase, 
and admirably adapted to cope with the difficulties incident to 
colonization in a country occupied by savage beasts and still 
more savage men. The Boer ideal seems to be life on a large 
estate, with plenty of sport and the occu})ation of not too exigent 
stockbreeding and farming. So far their tastes do not differ 
greatly from those of many Englishmen, but they are for the 
most part ignorant of the refinements of life so dear to advanced 
Anglo-Saxons, and perhaps on this account they are almost de- 
void of the commercial instincts through which such tastes 
might be gratified. They are, it is said, usually able to read 
print, but for the most part their reading is confined to the Bible. 
They are highh' religious, and the Bible appeals to them as to 
few other peoples, because the scenery and material conditions of 
the Book are so similar to those by which they are surrounded. 
The veiy animals are the same. Their religion is somber and 
puritanical ; it is that of the Old Testament, with little sweetness 
or mercy in it. Under normal conditions the Boers are gener- 
ousl}" hospitable and they are brave. It is true that Englishmen 
have sometimes reviled them as cowardl}\ but their whole his- 
torv, and particularly the battles of Boomi>laats and Majuba Hill, 
shows the contrary. The accusation seems to be due in 2)art to 
the fact that like all continental Europeans the}" are greatly 
averse to fisticuffs, and j>artly to the fact that in fighting with 
rifles they avail themselves of cover whenever they can. Taking 
advantage of cover I understand to be a well-established j>rin- 
ciple of all modern tactics. 
Many of them are said to be untruthful, at least in matters of 
business. 'I’liis is not strange, for it was long ago observed that 
financial responsibilities do more than the most stringent re- 
ligion or than amiability and bravery to foster a high standard 
()f truth fulnc.ss. 'I'he Boers are sometimes spoken of as a de- 
generate race, but this is certainly a slander, 'fhey usually 
jtossess an e.xcelhmt physi«iue, and it is jtcrfecfly well known 
that one or two generations of education put the Dutch colonist 
