244 ENGLISH SAGA

Britain had first appeared at the Cape during the war with

the French Directory when her ally Holland, being overrun by

the enemy, the Prince of Orange asked her to take the Dutch

colony under her protection. Restored to Holland by the Treaty

of Amiens, the Cape—the chief port of call on the ocean route

'to India—was reoccupied by British troops on the renewal of

hostilities. This time the Dutch colonists resisted, but in vain.

After the war the Caipe was retained by Britain as one of her

few territorial rewards for her long struggle against Napoleon.

The Cape Dutch would probably have accepted the situation

and have become loyal British citizens like the French Canadians

but for one circumstance. They incurred the enmity of those

very elements in England who might have been expected to

defend their rights against over-zealous imperial administrators.

For unhappily the Dutch attitude towards the South African

native was different to that of the English humanitarian. The

latter viewed him as a defenceless black brother whose welfare

was a sacred trust. The Dutch fanner thought of him as a

dangerous savage who could only be kept from vice and idleness

by strong paternal discipline and a liberal use of the whip. Of the

two views that of the Dutch was perhaps founded on die closer

knowledge of the Cape Hottentot. But if the Dutch farmer was

the man on the spot, the English middle-class humanitarian was

the man who had the vote. The British government inevitably

interpreted the views of the latter.

Sooner than suffer interference with their ancient rights and
ways of life many Dutch left the Cape and trekked into the interior
wilderness. Here they made new homes and founded two in-
dependent republics. But they were not allowed to enjoy peace,
for they were represented by Exeter Hall as carrying fire and
sword into tie hereditary lands of the Kaffir, Basuto and Zulu.
There was truth in both points of view. But interpreted by the
strong if reluctant arm of the imperial government, that of the
evangels of human equality and brotherhood usually prevailed
in the end. The pity was that it did not always correspond with
the facts as known to those on the spot. The British liberal voter
genuinely cared for the welfare of the South African native.
But he knew little of South Africa. Having no imperial principle
or interest in the Empire he did not trouble to learn.

In this he and his .rulers were to blame. For no aversion to
- imperial responsibility could alter the fact that they were morally