106 MEASURES OF COLONIAL GOVERNMENT. Chap. V. 



adherence to the stipulated provisions elicited numerous ex- 

 pressions of approbation from successive governments. A late 

 Governor, however, of whom it is impossible to speak without 

 respect, in a paroxysm of generalship which might have been 

 good, had it not been totally inappropriate to the case, set about 

 conciliating a band of rebellious British subjects (Boers), who 

 murdered the Hon. Captain Murray, by proclaiming their inde- 

 pendence while still in open rebellion, and not only abrogated 

 the treaty with the Griquas, but engaged to stop the long- 

 accustomed supplies of gunpowder for the defence of the frontier, 

 and even to prevent them from purchasing it for their own defence 

 by lawful trade. 



If it had been necessary to prevent supplies of ammunition 

 from finding their way into the country, as it probably was, one 

 might imagine that the exception should not have been made in 

 favour of either Boers or Caffres, our openly avowed enemies ; 

 but nevertheless the exception was made, and is still continued 

 in favour of the Boers, while the Bechuanas and Griquas, our 

 constant friends, are debarred from obtaining a single ounce for 

 either defence or trade ; indeed, such was the state of ignorance as 

 to the relation of the border tribes with the English, even at Cape 

 Town, that the magistrates, though willing to aid my researches, 

 were sorely afraid to allow me to purchase more than ten pounds 

 of gunpowder, lest the Bechuanas should take it from me by force. 

 As it turned out, I actually left more than that quantity for 

 upwards of two years in an open box in my waggon at Linyanti. 



The lamented Sir George Cathcart, apparently unconscious of 

 what he was doing, entered into a treaty with the Transvaal Boers, 

 in which articles were introduced for the free passage of English 

 traders to the north, and for the entire prohibition of slavery in 

 the free state. Then passed the " gunpowder ordinance," by which 

 the Bechuanas, whom alone the Boers dare attempt to enslave, 

 were rendered quite defenceless. The Boers never attempt to 

 fight with Caffres, nor to settle in Caffreland. We still con- 

 tinue to observe the treaty — the Boers never did, and never 

 intended to abide by its provisions, for immediately on the 

 proclamation of their independence a slave-hunt was undertaken 

 against the Bechuanas of Sechele by four hundred Boers, under 

 Mr. Peit Scholz, and the plan was adopted which had been che- 



