SOUTHERN AFRICA. 405 
this is the wonl. Not fatisfied with defrauding them of the 
little earnings of their induflry, and infliding the moft cruel 
and 
" A Hottentot captain, of the name of Kowwinnouh , bearing the diftingul(hlng 
*' mark of his rank (a ftick, on the brafs head of which were engraven the arms 
" of his Majefty), and furnifhed, moreover, with a palTport figned by one of the 
" members of Government, went, accompanied by fifteen Hottentots, to procure a 
" few leaves of tobacco In the plains of Sneuwberg. The boors, recollefting, 
** perhaps, that three years ago thefe faithful foldiers had ferved the Government 
" by keeping them in order, thought it a favourable opportunity to revenge them- 
'* felves on thefe unhappy creatures. Led on by a Veld cornet, of the name of 
" Burgers, they feized the whole company, who fufpefted no ill ; and, notwith* 
'* ftanding ail the proofs in their favour, it was agreed that they were criminals, 
" and that they muft be treated accordingly. The Boorifh Court of jfujiice refolved, 
" therefore, to bind them to a tree, and to draw from them by torture a con- 
" feflion of crimes, of which a thought had never entered into their heads ; to 
" reiterated blows and inhuman tortures they held out promlfes of forgivenefs, 
" if they would confefs all that was required of them; and by thefe means they 
" forced from them the unfortunate declaration that they came with an intention 
" to plunder the neighbourhood. The only concern of the Court was to write down 
" a confeffion, which the application of the torture and the hope of being fet at 
" liberty had wrung from thefe innocent vicftims. The boors put their names to 
" this declaration, as an atteftation of the truth, and made an end of the buiinefs 
" by voting for their death. The fentence was inllantly pat in execution, 
*' and the poor Hottentots were Ihot. A whole half year has paiTed away 
" fiiice this event, and juftice hitherto has not interfered, I iliould not dare to fay 
*' wherefore." _ ^ 
I fhall extradt another inftance of the favage brutality of an African boor, 
recorded in 'his pamphlet, which, if poffible, exceeds all that have yet been given, 
" Des que les Anglois avoient quittes le fort un colon nommee Ferrcira, de 
" famille Portugaife s'en rendit ie maitre, et en prit pofieffion pour lors, ce qui 
" dura jufqu'au I'arrivee du detachement que le Gouvernement y a envoy e fous 
" les ordres du Major Von Gilten, et qui y commande en ce moment. Les 
Caflres 
