SOUTHERN AFRICA. 291 
children. This, in fad:, is the " lethalis arundo" that rankles 
in their breafts, and excites that fpirit of vengeance which they 
perpetually denounce againft the Chriftians. The condition of 
thofe who are made prifoners by the farmers is, in fa£t, much 
worfe than that of flavery ; for, not being transferable pro- 
perty, they have no claims upon their intereft. An attempt 
indeed was lately made at GraalF Reynet to induce the govern- 
ment to grant them leave to fell fuch Bosjefmans as fhould be 
taken prifoners, on condition of ten rixdollars being paid into 
the treafury for every fuch flave fold. This humane propofal, 
" made," as it is ftated in the records, " for the purpofe of 
*' roufmg the military ardor of the farmers, which of late was 
*' obferved to have abated," was unanimoufly carried in the 
Council, but did not receive the fandion of the Government 
at the Cape. 
Forty years ago, it appears from living teftimony, the Bof- 
jefmans frequented the colony boldly and openly, begged, and 
ftole, and were troublefome, juft as the KafFers now are; but 
they never attempted the life of any one. They proceeded not 
to this extremity until the government had unwifely and un- 
juftly fuffered the peafantry to exercife an unlimited power 
over the lives of thofe who were taken prifoners. It failed, at 
the fame time, to fix any bounds to the extent of the expedi- 
tions made againft them, which certainly ought not to go be- 
yond the limits of the colony. Nothing could be more unwar- 
rantable, becaufe cruel and unjuft, than the attack made by our 
party upon the kraal ; and the only palliation it could admit of 
P p 2 is 
