HOTTENTOT GOVERNMENT. 
149 
tlie Vaal river, in the very centre of Southern 
Africa. It is now a town of considerable impor- 
tance; the elders of the tribes dwelling there, 
together with two or three Missionaries of the 
London Missionary Society. It is reported that 
these people have lately been taught the use 
of fire-arms and powder, to a great extent, and 
that as many as 5000 of their numbers are 
regularly armed with musketry. 
They assume a regular form of government, 
handed down to them for some years past ; and 
which was first formed under the chieftainship 
of Andries Waterboer. This person was elected 
to his office by their own voice, and proved 
himself, in every respect, worthy of the dis- 
tinction. He had been originally educated by 
Mr. Anderson, the first Missionary there ; who, 
for twenty years, laboured with praiseworthy 
zeal, and was deservedly popular amongst this 
people. 
Waterboer's government being strict and 
well-regulated, drove from amongst these Gri- 
quas all the disorderly and ill-affected ; who 
banding together, and swelling their ranks from 
the neighbouring Bushmen and Korunna tribes, 
by those of a similar disposition, commenced 
marauding among the mountains, and so arose 
that tribe already named— the Bergenaars or 
mountaineers. They have now, however, dis- 
