34 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
and were possessed then of the same habits of 
life which distinguish them stilL 
But, resuming the controverted history of the 
Dutch colonists and natives, we find that the 
latter were, almost universally, the first aggres- 
sors. This is corroborated by reference to several 
public letters, and other papers extant, bearing 
dates in the years 1663—65, 1770—72, 1778 
- — 80. Mr. Patterson, the traveller, bears his 
impartial testimony to the same fact. Governor 
Plettenberg constantly complains of " their ha- 
bitual disregard of their promises, and their 
carrying off the cattle, and killing the inhabi- 
tants of the Colony, without any cause." 
It may, consequently, be asserted, that the 
Dutch colonists are extensively exonerated from 
the charge of being the systematic oppressors of 
the aborigines. At the same time, there are 
doubtless very many individual cases, which 
may be proved against them, where they cer- 
tainly did enslave many of those, whom they, 
at different periods of their history, succeeded 
in capturing. 
This fact, together with the charge of in- 
trusion upon the lands of the aborigines, cannot 
be wholly denied, or disproved by them; although, 
at the same time, it may be palliated, in some 
small measure, by the plea of necessity. For 
the wandering habits of life of the Bushmen and 
