b'O THE GRIQUAS. 



said often to exceed forty thousand in number. I cannot 

 give an estimate of their numbers, for they appear spread 

 over a vast expanse of country, and make a quivering 

 motion as they feed, and move, and toss their graceful 

 horns. They feed chiefly on grass; and, as they come 

 from the north about the time when the grass most 

 abounds, it cannot be want of food that prompts _ the 

 movement. Nor is it want of water; for this antelope is 

 one of the most abstemious in that respect. Their nature 

 prompts them to seek as their favorite haunts level plains 

 with short grass, where they may be able to watch the 

 approach of an enemy. The Bakalahari take advantage 

 of this feeling, and burn off large patches of grass, not only 

 to attract the game by the new crop when it comes up, but 

 also to form, bare spots for the springbuck to range over. 



On crossing the Orange Eiver we come into inde- 

 pendent territory inhabited by Griquas and Bechuanas. 

 By Griquas is meant any mixed race sprung from natives 

 and Europeans. Those in question were of Dutch extrac- 

 tion through association with Hottentot and Bush women. 

 Half-castes of the first generation consider themselves 

 superior to those of the second, and all possess in some 

 degree the characteristics of both parents. They were 

 governed for many years by an elected chief, named 

 Waterboer, who, by treaty, received a small sum per 

 annum from the colonial government for the support of 

 schools in his country, and proved a most efficient guard 

 of our northwest boundary. 



Many hundreds of both Griquas and Bechuanas have 

 become Christians and partially civilized through the 

 teaching of English missionaries. My first impressions of 

 the progress made were that the accounts of the effects of 

 the gospel among them had been too highly colored. 1 

 expected a higher degree of Christian simplicity and purity 

 than exists either among them or among ourselves. I was 

 not anxious for a deeper insight in detecting shams than 

 others; but I expected character, such as we imagine the 



