Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/164

 122 SOUTH AND EAST AFRICA. ders, that is to say, the European natives of Dutch origin, who in South Africa number probably about two-thirds of this element, are even calculating on the recovery of their former political ascendency, all the more that the Boer women appear on the whole to be more prolific than their English sisters.* Although at present constituting distinct and independent political systems, the Dutch Afri- kanders, nearly all related by ties of blood, from Table Bay to the Limpopo, form a large family group possessing a strong sense of national cohesion. It was the sympathy of their friends and kindred in Cape Colony, more, perhaps, than the valour of their soldiers or the pusillanimity of the Gladstonian Administra- tion, that secured for the Transvaal Boers the recovery of their political indepen- dence. This same solidarity of sentiment between the northern and southern Afrikan- ders will certainly secure full recognition of their just claims to consideration, when the time comes for giving effect to the scheme now being matured for the fusion of all the British and Dutch States in one South African Dominion, under the sovereignty of the Queen of England. But notwithstanding the increasing political influence of the Afrikander, the somewhat rude local Dutch dialect, although far more widely spread amongst the aborigines, is yearly losing much of its relative influence in the intellectual development of the inhabitants of Cape Colony. This point has been made more and more evident, since the middle of the century, by the constantly increasing disparity between the periodical publica- tions of the two rival languages. In the year 1875 the English publications were already six times more numerous than those addressed to the Dutch reading public. The inevitable result must be, that the Afrikanders will at first become bilingual, and then gradually cease to speak or cultivate the language of their forefathers, no longer of any use for the intellectual progress of the people. Effect will thus be given to the universal tendency of dominant races to absorb fragmentary or discordant ele- ments, which here, as elsewhere, must ultimately become merged in a single British nationality, one in speech, social usages, free institutions, and intellectual culture. The emigration of the Boers towards the northern republics, coinciding with the immigration of fresh colonists from Great Britain, already increased for a time the ascendency of the British element in the territory of the Cape. The great trek, or exodus, of the Boers towards the regions stretching north of the Orange River began about the year 1834, that is, when slavery was officially abolished in the English possessions. Deprived of the labour of their black slaves, compen- sation for whom was allowed at not more than two-fifths of their market value, the Dutch peasantry directed their steps towards the northern solitudes, where Ihey hoped to rule, without let or hindrance, over their " live stock" of men and beasts. Many thousands settled in the Gamtoos and Great Fish River basins, voluntarily forsook extensive tracts of pasture and arable lands, which after their departure were occupied by English settlers. But towards the eastern frontier these settlers had themselves to contend with
 * Yon Hiibner, Aorou the British Empire.