106 
MBASUHES OF COLONIAL GOVEKNMENT. 
Chap. Y. 
adherence to tlie 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 
tlie treaty with the Griquas, but engaged to stop the long- 
accustomed supphes 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, wliile 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 wliich articles were introduced for the free passage of English 
traders to the north, and for the entire proliibition of slavery in 
the free state. Then passed the “ gunpowder ordinance,” by wliich 
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 stfil con¬ 
tinue to observe the treaty—the Boers never did, and never 
intended to abide by its provisions, for immediately on the 
proclamation of thefr independence a slave-hunt was undertaken 
against the Bechuanas of Sechele by four hundred Boers, under 
Mr, Beit Scholz, and the plan was adopted wliich had been che- 
