5
THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
THE NATIVE TRIBES
OF THE
TRANSVAAL.
PREPARED FOR THE GENERAL STAFF,
WAR OFFICE.
1905
LONDON :
PRINTED FOR HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY HARRISON AND SONS, ST. MARTIN'S LANE,
PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HIS MAJESTY.
(Wt. w. 3331 350 10 I 05— H & S 7269)
P^o5
742
G7/V5
PREFACE.
This Report has been compiled under the
orders of the General Officer Commanding-in-
Chief, South Africa, by Bt.-Major R. H. Massie,
D.A.O.M.G., from the latest information avail-
able. It is particularly requested that any errors
or omissions may be pointed out to the Director
of Military Operations, War Office.
CHAS. E. CALLWELL,
/or Major-General^
Director of Military Operations.
War Office,
^th October, 1905.
(7269)
81S7JS2
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
General outline
(A) Earliest known distribution
(B) Modern History — Redistribution
(C) Present population ...
The tribes of the Western Division.
The tribes of the Central Division
The tribes of the N.W. Division
The tribes of the Northern Division
The tribes of the Eastern Districts
The tribes of the S. E. Districts
Administration
(A) Organisation of the Native Affairs
(B) System of Land Tenure
(C) System of Taxation . . .
Native Wars ...
Bantu Ethics and Sociology...
Native languages — Orthography
Department
PAGE
5
5
8
12
15
32
39
44
73
91
94
94
96
99
100
119
134
I.
II.
III.
Index
APPENDICES.
Notes on some native strongholds
Native Missions
List of Authorities consulted
139
144
149
150
Map showing native locations and the positions of the kraals of some of the
principal chiefs.
CHAPTER I.
GENERAL OUTLINE.
(A.) Earliest Known Distribution of South African
Natives.
There are many proofs of the antiquity of man in South
Africa, though it has not yet been determined whether it has
been the home of human beings as long as Europe. It is
surmised that the Bushmen were the earHest inhabitants.
These were a yellow-skinned race, pigmies in stature, and very
low down in the scale of civilisation. Next came the
Hottentots, another yellow people, but of medium size, and
vastly superior in every way to the Bushmen. Whence they
came is unknown, but it is thought they are the offspring of
some male intruders* of a light brown or yellow race, who took
to themselves women of Bushman blood.
Then, at a period not exactly known, but believed to be
some hundreds of years before the commencement of the
Christian era, a gradual pressure of the Bantu tribes of Central
Africa, into the southern part of the Continent, began to
take place. Though these tribes crossed the Zambesi so long
ago, it is certain that they did not extend South of the
Limpopo, until a much later date. The traditions of all the
tribes south of that river, none of which can be more than a
few centuries old, point to a distant Northern origin, and in
some instances, particulars are given which prove the tradi-
tions to be in that respect correct.
It is, however, tolerably certain that they had advanced as
far south as Mashonaland, at a comparatively remote period,
for as far as can be mferred from the scant indications afforded
by the archaeological remains and terminology associated with
the Zimbabwe ruins, the inhabitants of that portion of the
* A theory has been advanced thai the Hottentots are descended from
the soldiers of an Kgyptian army who penetrated far south of the Equator
in prehistoric times, and never returned to Egypt ; these are supposed to
have taken to wife Bushmen women.
6 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
country were not Bushmen or Hottentots, but Bantu,
when those monuments were built by the civiHsed peoples —
Sabaeans and others — who came there in quest of gold. The
very word Zimbabwe is pure Bantu, meaning a Royal
residence.
Towards the close of the fifteenth century of our era, when
Europeans first had communication with natives of South
Africa, the belt of land comprising the lowest and the second
terrace along the Western Coast from about Walfisch Bay
southward to the Cape of Good Hope, and thence eastward to
the Bashee River, was occupied, though thinly, by Hottentot
tribes. The same people were to be found along the lower
courses of the Vaal and Modder Rivers, and along the banks
of the Orange, from tlie junction of the Vaal to the sea. They
were not known eitner on the eastern side of the continent
or elsewhere in the interior.
The Bantu at that time occupied the choicest parts of the
country, north of a straight line from ^Valfisch Bay to Port
Natal, and extended south of that line into the territory, now
known as Basutoland, and also along the eastern coast as far as
the Bashee River. They were not to be found in the remain-
ing portion of South Africa.
Bushmen roamed over the entire country south of the
Zambesi from sea to sea, and were the only inhabitants of the
rugged mountains and arid plains between the Hottentot and
Bantu borders. As they could hold their own fairly well
against the Hottentots, they were more numerous along the
west and south coasts than along the eastern, where the Bantus
had better means of exterminating them.
The Bushmen are however now practically extinct ; the pure
Hottentots are very few in numbers, and found only in
Namaqualand, and along the lower reaches of the Orange
River, and the above-mentioned " Bantu " tribes form the vast
majority of the natives of South Africa of to-day. The term
" Bantu " is a native word meaning " people." It has of late
years come to be applied to all the peoples south of the
Zambesi, who are neither Bushmen nor Hottentots, but speak
various forms of a now extinct language, and are therefore
assumed to belong to one racial group. As they never had a
common ethnical name, they were all conventionally comprised
under the general designation of Bantu, by which is therefore
to be understood "peoples of Bantu stock and speech."
The Bantus are not full-blood negroes like those of Upper
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. /
Guinea and Soudan, but a Negroid people, that is, a mixture
of two or more elements, of which the substratum is the Negro,
and the later infusions mainly Hamitic (Galla) and, to a less
degree, Semit'ic (Arab). The mixtures took place at different
times and in varying proportions, the result being that the
Bantus themselves show nearly all shades of physical and
mental characters, intermediate between the pure negro, or
Ethiop, and the much higher Hamitic or Semitic (Caucasian)
types of mankind.
Tribes occupying for many generations such a large extent
of country as Africa, south of the Zambesi, naturally developed
differences, which would alone be sufficient to account for the
dissimilarities now existing between the various tribes, but an
influx of Asiatics also took place on the east coast at some
remote period ; these mixed with the people of that part, and to
them may be traced some of the sharper distinctions which are
now observable.
It will be sufficient here to classify the Bantu tribes in three
main groups, though it should be remembered that there are
many trifling differences between the various branches of each
of these.
In the first group are placed the tribes along the eastern
coast, south of the Sabi River, and those which in recent times
have made their way from that part into the highlands of the
interior. The best known of these are the Amaxosa
Abatembu, Amampondo, Amabaca, Amazulu, Matabele,
Amaswazi, Amatonga, and the Magwamba or Matshangana.
This group can be termed the " Coast Tribes," though some
members of it are now far from the sea. It is also known as
the " Zulu-Xosa " or more commonly " Zulu-Kaffir " group.
The Amatonga, the Amafingo in Cape Colony, the Mashona
and Makalanga in Rhodesia, and several other smaller tribes
now resident in the Transvaal, though belonging to this group,
are considered to be vastly inferior both to the Amaxosa,
Amazulu, etc., and to the tribes of the Bechuana-Basuto family
described below. They may be regarded as representing the
first wave of Bantu migration to the south of the Zambesi,
where they were afterwards reduced, dispersed and enslaved by
the superior Bechuana, Basuto and Zulu-Xosa tribes in later
times. In fact, their customs vary so greatly, and they have
so little racial or social coherence, that it is only their common
or similar speech which enables them to be reckoned as
Bantus at all.
8 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
The second group includes the tribes that a century ago
occupied the great interior plain, and came down to the ocean
between the Zambesi and Sabi Rivers. It includes the
Bechuana tribes, i.e., Baralong, Baharutsi, Bangkwaketsi,
Bakwena, Bamangwato, all sections of the Makalanga, and the
whole of the Basuto, north and south. This group can be
termed the " Interior Tribes."
The third comprises all the Bantu living between the
Kalahari and the Atlantic Ocean, i.e., the Ovampos,
Hereros, etc., but these need not be described here, as they
are not in British territory.
The individuals who compose the first and second groups
vary in colour from deep bronze to black. Some have
features of the lowest Negro type, while others have prominent
and in rare instances, even aquiline noses, good foreheads, and
comparatively thin lips. These extremes sometmies occur in
the same family, especially on the east coast, and are no doubt
due to a strain of Asiatic blood.
From the foregoing it will have been gathered that at the
commencement of the historic period of South Africa, i.e.,
about 400 years ago, the native tribes were distributed
somewhat as follows, over what is now British South Africa : —
East and south-east coast. — (Country up to the foot of the
Drakensberg) : Coast tribes classed as Zulu-Kaffirs above.
The i7iland plateaux, comprising what is now the Transvaal,
Orange River Colony, Eastern Bechuanaland, Rhodesia,
Transkei territory and Basutoland : Bechuana-Basuto tribes.
The remainder of the present Cape Colony and Western
Bechuanaland, Hottentots and Bushmen.
Bushmen were also scattered all over the country in small
groups, mostly in barren inaccessible tracts, but were more
numerous in the west than in the east.
The later redistribution of these tribes and the causes which
led to it, will now be briefly described.
(B.) Modern History — Redistribution of the
Transvaal Bantu.
Not much is known of the course of native history during
the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, though
traditions exist among the people of various internecine wars,
by which no doubt all the tribes of the interior were consider-
ably scattered and weakened, and were therefore less able to
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 9
resist the incursions of the "Mantatis" and of the Zulus which
commenced early in the nineteenth century, and of the Boer
" Voortrekkers," who, after driving out the Zulus, began to
annex and settle in the Transvaal in 1837.
The "Mantatis" took their name from Ma Ntatisi the
chieftainess of the Basuto tribe, said to be the original
Batlokwa, which till about 182 1 dwelt in or near the present
district of Harrismith, O.R.C. At this time Chaka, the
famous Zulu chief, was engaged in exterminating all the
tribes in his proximity, and one of the latter, to escape from
his power, crossed to the west of the Drakensberg, and there fell
upon the Batlokwa tribe of Mantatisi. The Batlokwa being
severely defeated, fled bodily northwards, taking with them
many people of kindred Basuto tribes then living in the
northern part of the Orange River Colony. Mantatisi was
thus soon at the head of an immense horde of Basuto, and
with these attacked the Bechuana tribes, who inhabited the
country immediately north of the Vaal River, and created
great havoc among them. She pursued a career of conquest
till about 1824, when her people received a check from the
combined opposition of various tribes. The Mantatis then
broke up into two parties, one of which under a chief named
Sebetwane, travelled north-west and conquered Barotseland
where they became known as the Makololo, and the other under
Mantatisi herself returned to the Basutoland border.
The invasion of the Mantatis was the first great disintegrating
force experienced by the Bechuana inhabitants of the
Transvaal.
The next visitation to be suffered by these unfortunate tribes
was that of the Zulus.
These people have always been the most formidable enemies
of the other sections of the Bantu race, and so powerful did
they become under the military despotism of Chaka in the
first three decades of the nineteenth century, that at the time
of the death of Chaka in 1828 the Zulu empire comprised the
whole of Zululand Natal and parts of Basutoland, together
with most of the land between the Caledon and the Limpopo
Rivers, that is the present Transvaal and the Orange River
Colony.
From 1828 to 1840 the Zulus were ruled by Dingaan, who
maintained the same military organisation with little abatement
until his final defeat in 1838. It was during this period that
the " Great Trek " of Boers from the Cape Colony took place,
10 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
which caused a general dislocation of the Bantu populations
between the Orange and the Limpopo and laid the foundations
of the supremacy of the white men over the native races
throughout the continental plateau.
After crossing the Orange, the pioneer trekkers had ramified
into two columns, one continuing the northern route to and
beyond the Vaal, while the other under Piet Retief passed
eastward over the Drakensberg into Natal. Both of these
columns came into collision with the Zulu forces, and thus
began the struggle with the tribes, which was continued down
to the year 1879, when Ketchwayo, last of Chaka's successors,
and Sekukuni, the powerful chief of the Bapedi in the
Transvaal, were finally overthrown by the British, and the
Northern Boer state thus saved from utter ruin.
Piet Retief's party in 1837 met with a great disaster at the
hands of Dingaan's Zulus, over 700 of his people, including
many women and children, being then treacherously massacred.
But although this disaster had been preceded by several other
reverses, Dingaan Avas defeated before the close of the same
year with great slaughter on a northern branch of the Tugela,
which was named the Blood River in memory of the event.
From this blow, by which 3,000 of his best men had fallen,
Dingaan never recovered, and after another crushing defeat,
in which the Boers were joined by his rebellious brother Mpande
(Panda) he fled northwards and was assassinated by one of
his own captains in 1840.
Piet Retief then set up the first Republic of " Natalia " at
Pietermaritzburg, where his party of Boers remained until
the British annexation of Natal in 1842-1843.
Meantime the northern pioneer column had already ad-
vanced (1835-1836) in large numbers to the region beyond
the Vaal, hence called the Transvaal, most of which had been
overrun by Zulu predatory hordes, by whom the former in-
habitants had nearly all been exterminated or scattered. By
far the most important of the Zulu conquerors was Umzilikau
(usually known as Moselikatse). This redoubtable chief was
one of Chaka's most renowned warriors, who having given
some offence to the King, left Zululand at the head of a strong
impi, and marching in a north-westerly direction across the
O.R.C. and Transvaal, conquering all the tribes he met with,
and ravaging their country as he went, finally set up for himself
in the Marico District on the Bechuanaland frontier.
It was here that Moselikatse was interviewed by Dr. Andrew
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. II
Smith, leader of the first EngHsh scientific expedition to
South Central Africa in 1835. Concerning this expedition the
Rev. J. S. Moffat writes: — "The Matabili then occupied the
country now forming mainly the Marico and Rustenburg
Districts in the Transvaal. The expedition remained some
weeks in the dominions of Umzilikazi, and met with every
facility, and Dr. Smith persuaded the Chief to send messengers
to Capetown. They were treated with great consideration and
returned to their master with presents and with an impression
of the character of the English people which has never been
entirely effaced. It was, however, a severe trial to the faith
of the Chief and of his people that the emigrant Boers were
permitted by the Government to leave the Colony, and to
encroach upon his territory and that of the other chiefs, who,.
like him, had always sought to be on friendly terms with the
English."
Here Moselikatse was attacked and utterly routed by the
pioneer trekkers under Maritz and Potgieter in 1837, and being
now also threatened by his hereditary foe Dingaan, he with-
drew beyond the Limpopo, and founded the late Matabele
Kingdom* about the year 1839 or 1840, leaving the Transvaal
in the hands of the trekkers.
The Boers were thus left masters of the situation, and
proceeded to annex the whole territory formerly ruled by the
Matabele, but as they were too few to hold the whole country,
the original Bechuana-Basuto tribes who had been driven west
and north by the Zulu invaders, now rapidly returned to occupy
their former homes, and so it happens that the majority of
the Transvaal Natives still belong to the Bechuana-Basuto
family.
When, therefore, the Transvaal first entered on its career as
a civilised state, its native inhabitants were chiefly of the
Bechuana-Basuto family, but the Coast Tribes were also
represented by fragments of Magwamba and other eastern
tribes in the north, while a proportion of Zulus still remained,
who had migrated from Zululand either during or before the
days of Chaka.
The Boers waged various small wars (hereafter described)
with different native tribes up to the British annexation in
1900, and it was their practice, after having defeated a tribe,
to break it up as far as possible, by "apprenticing" a number
* The late Lobengula was Moselikatse's son and successor.
12
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
of its members to burghers all over the country. Certain
tribes also were settled by the Boer Government in defined
locations, but during the late war some of these took the
opportunity of moving to more favourable localities, and their
places of residence are in some cases not settled even now,
though the work of locating them is being actively pushed on
by the present Administration. By these various disturbing
agencies the tribes have become so much scattered, that it is
scarcely possible to describe any one tribe as a whole, portions
of several tribes being found in almost every district. In
order therefore to arrive at a just estimate of the native
inhabitants of this colony at the present time, it will be
necessary to examine in some detail the tribes and sections of
tribes now found in the various Administrative Districts as at
present organised.
(C.) The Present Native Population of the
Transvaal.
According to the returns of the census of 1904, the total
resident native population of the Transvaal is 811,753 men
women and children. These are distributed as shown below in
the various administrative divisions and Districts :
Division.
Western
District.
fRustenburg...
I Zeerust
I Pilansberg ...
-J Lichtenburg
Potchefstroom
Wolmaransstad
.and Christiana
Native Population.
Men.
5.946
4,715
4,209
2,461
5,837
abtl.SOO
24,668
Women.
6,953
6,070
4,849
2,328
6,221
2,000
28,421
Children.
io,7S3
11,552
8,050
5,006
12,629
3,015
51,095
Total.
23,652
22,337
17,108
9,795
24,687
6,515
104,094
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Division.
District.
Native Population.
Men.
Women.
Children.
Total.
Central ...
f Pretoria
1 Krugersdorp
-{ Boksburg
Hamanskraal
L Heidelberg
18,719*
1,680
630
6,268
5,884*
7,933
1,260
548
8,331
3,701
20,397
3,290
1,649
13,275
7,215
47,049
6,23ot
2,827t
27,874
16,800
33,181
21,773 45,826
ioo,78ot
North- ^
Western /
r Warm baths...
< Nylstroom ...
P. P. Rust
2,322
2,451
6,616
4,501
3,659
14,235
6,230
4,967
16,157
13,053
11,007
37,008
1 11,389 22,395
27,354
61,138
Northern . . .
r Pietersburg
j Spelonken ...
-{ Haenertsburg
1 Shivasa
IBlauwberg
15,134
29,434
13.893
17,981
5,300
22,491
33,430
18,067
24,748
6,741
33,594
41,778
24,790
27,024
7,210
71,219
104,642
56,750
69,753
19,251
81,742
105,477
134,396
321,6155:
Eastern
r Sekukuniland
Sabi
-{ Barberton ...
1 Pokwani
IMiddelburg
9,550
7,331
7,067*
5,416
2,999
16,441
7,242
6.336
5,837
3,163
23,316
16,026
8,383
10,346
7,907
49,307
30,599
21,786
21,593
14,069
32,363
39,013
65,978
137,354
South- \
Eastern /
' Wakk erst room
Pietretief ..
- Standerton
1 Ermelo
I Carolina
3,470
5,000
6,405*
3,186
2,800
4,549
7,542
3,859
3,127
2,203
11,446
15,900
5,286
7,859
4,140
19,465
28,442
15,550
14,172
9,143
20,861
21,280
44,631
86,772
Grand Total
202,704
236,359
366,175
811,753
* Preponderance of men due to numbers from other districts, working in
towns, etc.
t Natives in the labour districts not included.
+ Not including about 12,000 men away at work in the labour areas.
14 THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Natives Temporarily Employed in "Labour Districts."
The principal " Labour Districts " are : Johannesburg and
the Witwatersrand generally, Heidelberg, Klerksdorp, Vereeni-
ging, Pretoria and Middelburg.
The number of natives employed at these centres on the
30th June, 1904, was 133,283 as against 116,913 in June, 1903.
Of this number* 29,6x5 were Transvaal natives. Of the
remainder, considerably over 50 per cent, were from Portuguese
territory ; Cape Colony, Natal and Zululand provided another
30 per cent. ; and the rest belonged to Basutoland, the Orange
River Colony, Bechuanaland, Rhodesia, Swaziland, British
Central Africa or Damaraland.
Classification.
The detailed history and classification by tribes of the
resident native population will now be proceeded with. For
the sake of convenience the tribes will be grouped according
to the administrative "Divisions" in which they are respectively
found. (Details of these Divisions are given on pp. 94-5.)
* It is not quite clear whether any of these have been included in the
foregoing census figures for the various districts. In the case of the
northern division, it is however stated that 12,000 were away in other
districts at work, when the census was taken.
CHAPTER II.
THE TRIBES OF THE WESTERN DIVISION.
The total number of natives in these districts was found by the
as
Census
of April of I
504 to be
104
,094,
distributed
follows :
Rustenburg
Pilansberg
Marico ...
Lichtenburg
Potchefstroom
.. 23,652
.. 17,108
■• 22,337
•• 9>795
.. 24,687
Wolmaransstad
Total...
• • 6,515
len,
wom(
.. 104,094 n
m and child
The vast majority of these people are of pure Bechuana
descent and speak the Bechuana language, and the small
percentage who are classed here as Basuto, differ so slightly
from the Bechuana as to be indistinguishable from the latter.
As stated in the foregoing chapter, all Bechuana and Basuto
probably spring from common ancestors, who formed one
section of the original Bantu migration, but as a distinction
between the two nations is drawn by the natives themselves,
an attempt has been made here to classify the various tribes
accordingly.
Historical Sketch of Tribes.
T/ie Baralong.
Though this family is not now very numerously represented
in the Transvaal, it appears to be the most ancient of the
Bechuana race, and from it are believed to be descended, not
only all the Bechuana tribes now found in the colony, but also
the various branches of the Baharutsi (Barotsi) nation, from
whom in turn spring the Bakhatla, the Bapedi (Sekukuni's) and
i6
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
several other important tribes. The history of the tribes is
therefore worthy of being given at some length.
The descent of the various tribes hereafter mentioned from the
Baralong is shown in the following diagram : —
BARALONG.
(Main tribe.)
Baralong
Baharutsi
Baharutsi
I
Bakhatla
U5^
o ^
^
I PQ N
m
Pi
is a.
3 3
m m
Pretoria district.
The Baralong take their name from their earliest recorded
chief Morolong, under whom, according to tradition, they
migrated from a country in the far north, probably the region
of the lakes, about 1400 a.d. After four generations they
reached the Molopo River and settled their first permanent
residence somewhere near Mafeking. Here for many years the
tribe enjoyed peace and increased in numbers and wealth,
reaching the zenith of its prosperity in the days of the chief
Tau, about the 14th in descent from Morolong. Sections of
the tribe had at various times migrated eastwards and north-
westwards, but their loss was made good by recruits from alien
tribes such as the Batlaping and Batlaro, who had submitted to
the Baralong.
On the death of Tau — which took place about 1760 —
however, the power of the Baralong ceased, as owing to internal
dissensions, the tribe broke up into various clans, each of
which followed one of the sons of Tau, while the Batlaro and
THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL. 1 7
the Batlaping took advantage of the confusion to reassert their
independence.
Though they were no longer united, the various sections of
the Baralong appear to have lived in close proximity to each
other, and made their headquarters at Khunwana (the present
Kunana location) where they remained till the Matabele under
Moselikatse fell upon them and drove them out. A period of
wandering followed, during which the Baralong came into
collision with the Makololo (who were on their way to
Barotsiland which they afterwards conquered), and with the
Bataung under Molitsane, both predatory hordes from the
country now called Basutoland. There were at that time four
clans of the Baralong, under the chiefs Matlaku, Tawane,
Sehunelo and Matlabe. Sehunelo moved south and settled at
Thabanchu in the Orange River C'olony, where he was joined
later by Tawane and Gontsi (2nd son of Matlaku who had
been killed by Molitsane) and their people. Matlabe and his
■clan remained in their own country for a time and assisted
Moselikatse in driving back Molitsane, but eventually joined
his brethren at Thabanchu in about 1835. In 1837 he guided
the Boer commando under H. Potgieter to Marico, and after
the defeat of Moselikatse by the Boers, was allowed to settle
at Machaviestad near Potchefstroom where Gontsi's and
Tawane's people rejoined him. The 4th clan now under
Moroko, remained at Thabanchu.
In 1847 Tawane moved to Litlokana, near Mafeking, his
descendant being the present chief Badirele, successor to
Montsiwa, whose location is now in the Bechuanaland
Protectorate.
President Burgers in 1874 entered into a treaty with
Moshete, " paramount chief of the Baralong " (during whose
minority Gontsi had been acting as chief), by which the latter
ceded to the South African Republic " all territorial rights
northward and north-westward of the Vaal appertaining to
the said Baralong " under certain conditions. Montsiwa,
however, not recognising Moshete's right to dispose of
Baralong territory without consulting him, protested, and a
dispute ensued between Montsiwa on the one side and Moshete
and Matlabe on the other, which culminated in hostilities in
1 88 1. Both sides enlisted white volunteers who were promised
farms after the war. After nearly a year's fighting, Montsiwa
was defeated and sued for peace, and Moshete granted the farms
promised. By the London Convention of 1884, the western
(7269) B
l8 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
boundary of the 'J'ransvaal was readjusted, so that Moshete's
territory, now the Kunana location, fell within the borders
of the republic, while Montsiwa's remained outside. Moshete,
how^ever, still retained his paramount rights over the latter.
Matlabe, who had been at Potchefstroom since 1853, moved
to Polfontein in the Lichtenburg District in 1875. During the
late war (i 899-1 902) he and his people returned to Potchef-
. stroom, but they are now to be definitely located at Polfontein.
The present chief of this section is Ramolekana, who is about
twenty years of ag^.
Besides the above mentioned tribes, branches of the
Baralong are to be found scattered among many of the other
Transvaal tribes, as for instance the Bakhatla, the Bantwane
of the Pretoria District and many others.
As will presently be shown too, all the branches of the
Baharutsi ("Barotsi'') are sprung from the Baralong stock.
TJie Baharutsi.
This tribe is believed to have split from the main body of
the Baralong after their arrival at the Molopo River about the
fifteenth or sixteenth century. The Baharutsi seem, after the
Baralong, to be the oldest race, and from them the following
tribes are said to be directly descended, viz. : —
The Bakwena,
The Bakhatla, from whom spring the Bapedi (Sekukuni's
people).
The Bahananwa (Malabokh's people, etc.).
The Bafiring (Rustenburg District).
Other Basuto-Bechuana tribes, not residing in the
Transvaal, including probably the Basuto of Basuto-
land.
In former days the Baharutsi were a great and powerful
people, brave in war and feared by other tribes, many of which
were tributary to them. Up to within the last few decades,
none of the above mentioned tribes, wherever living, were
allowed to gather in their crops until the Baharutsi chief
had given his permission. This right exercised by the
Baharutsi was called " Go loma thotsi," which means " To bite
the pumpkin," the pumpkin being the earliest crop grown by the
natives.
Like all other Bechuana-Basuto tribes, the clans of the
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 1 9
Baharutsi adopted various animals as their tribal emblems or
totems. The eland was their first selection, but this was
afterwards replaced by the Great Monkey.
The first division of the Baharutsi people took place after
the death of their third recorded chief, Molope, who left two
sons, Mohurutsi and Kwene. The former remained chief of
the main tribe which took its name from him, while the latter
separated from his brother and called his people Bakwena,
choosing the crocodile (Kwene) as his totem.
Mohurutsi had two sons, Motebele and Motebyane, and the
latter, though the younger, succeeded in ousting his brother
and became chief of the tribe, making his headquarters where
Heidelberg now stands. Little is known concerning the nine
chiefs who followed him, but Manyane, the eldest son of the
ninth, was driven away and moved to near Zeerust, where his-
people remained till the advent of the Matabele forced them
to fly to Taung in Bechuanaland.
In 1837, Moilo, the then chief of the Baharutsi, assisted the
Boers in driving out the Matabele, and also a few years later
in their wars against other tribes in the Transvaal ; the Boers
therefore rewarded him by allowing him to reoccupy the land
originally held by the Baharutsi, which is now known as Moilo's
location, in the Alarico district. Moilo died in 1893. During
the rule of Moilo's successor Sebogodi, Khopane, leader of
another section of the Baharutsi, invaded the location and laid
claim to part of it, and on the death of Sebogodi in 1877, the
Government recognised his son Ikalafeng as chief, but also
granted Khopane a portion of the location, which is still
occupied by his people.
Ikalafeng died in 1893, and his son, Pokliisho, being a
minor, his uncle Israel Moilo acts for him.
Khopane died in October, 1904, and has been succeeded by
his son Tom Mokhatla.
Besides these branches of the Baharutsi, there are also
sections under chief Sebogodi at Mochudi in l^echuanaland,
and at Vinkrivier near Zeerust under a petty chief named
Thebe.
Tlie Baktve/ia.
The Bakwena take their name from Kwene (the brother of
Mohurutsi, founder of the Baharutsi), who left the main tribe
about the beginning of the sixteenth century. This race has a
large number of representatives at present in the Transvaal,
(7269) B 2
20 TllK NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
formed into several independent tribes, besides a number ir*
Basutoland and British Bechuanaland. Of the Bakwena tribes
living within the Transvaal, the following are the most worthy
of notice : —
a. The Bafokeng.
b. The Bamakhopa.
c. The Bamolimosana.
//. The Bakubung or Bakhofa.
f. The Baphalane.
a. The Bakwena — Bafokeng. — This section has a curious
tradition to the effect that they originally came from the north
of the Sahara Desert from the direction of Egypt as part of the
great Baharutsi nation, from which they separated under
Kwene. ^Vhen and where they broke away from the main
Bakwena tribe is not recorded, but it must have been long ago,
for their present chief traces his descent for thirty generations
back to a chief named Nape in an unbroken line., Diale, the
twenty-fourth chief after Nape, succeeded in throwing off the
yoke of the Baharutsi, of whom the Bafokeng have since lived
independent. The annals of the tribe are very warlike, many
bloody wars being recorded in their traditions against the
Bechuana tribes, Bapo, Bamatau and Batlokwa. Sekwati
inflicted severe loss on them, and Moselikatse reduced them to
subjection for a time, but Mokhatle, who was their chief at the
time, was of assistance to the Boers and received a grant of
land as a reward.
The present chief is Molotlegi, alias August Mokhatle,
grandson of Mokhatle. His tribe is the most numerous in the
Rustenburg district, amounting to nearly 12,000 .souls.
Missionaries have been among them for over fifty years and
they are nearly all Christians. The headquarters of the chief
is at Fokeng (Bierfontein 432;.
b. Bakimna — Bamakhopa. — These people appear from their
traditions to be an offshoot of the Baharutsi, closely connected
in early times with the Bafokeng. Their history, like that of
the latter, is a succession of wars with other sections of the
Bechuana, during which they changed their habitation several
times. The inevitable Moselikatse eventually descended upon
them and a portion of the tribe submitted to him and lived
under his protection in Marico, while the remainder dispersed
to other districts. On the advent of the Boers they turned
against Moselikatse and became the servants of the Boers.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 21
Mamokhale, who was then their chief, after a time resented
his treatment by the Boers and fled with most of his people
to the neighbourhood of Basutoland, whence he returned in
1868 to Losperfontein (the present Bethanie Mission Station),
where the tribe still dwells. Johannes Otto Mamokhale, the
present chief, a great-grandson of Mamokhale, is still a
minor, and one Daniel More acts for him. His people in
Rustenburg district number about 4,000 and are nearly all
Christians.
c. Bakwi'fia — Bamolimosaiia. — This tribe is descended from
Tau, the Baralong Hero, and its ancestors are supposed to
have followed the Baharutsi, when the latter became detached
from the parent tribe. Four clans of the Molimosana are
found in the Transvaal, viz. : —
The Baramanemela, who are really the elder branch but
artr subject to the Banatau section. Present chief
Molehi or Ramaubane, a petty chief only.
The Maake, who are recognised as the elder branch.
Present chief Andries Lekhwali, known as Ratsegaai,
who lives at Hartebeestfontein 517 in the Rustenburg
district.
The Bamatau, located in the Pilansberg under chief Tabe
Masilwane, known as Herman Selon. Though
numerically weak in the Transvaal, this clan has
many members in the Orange River Colony, who all
pay tribute to Herman Selon. Some Bamatau are
also in the Potchefstroom district.
The Bamatlaku, whose present chief is (rasibone, living
in the Marico district on the Pella Mission .Station.
These clans take their names from the four sons of
Molimosana, the founder of the tribe. Their history
resembles that of most of the other tribes in that they were
successfully raided by the Bapedi and Moselikatse, and
finally settled in locations or were allowed to purchase them by
the Boers.
d. The Bakwcna — Bakubung.—lL^\\\<, tribe is also called
Bakhofa, meaning " The Ticks," a sobriquet which was given
them for their reputation of annexing and " sticking to '' all
cattle that they could lay hands on.
After being decimated by Moselikatse, these people were
further broken up by the Boers, and one section left Potchef-
stroom for the Orange River Colony fifty or sixty years ago.
22 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
This is the clan now under Solomon Ratheo Monakhotle,
whose grandfather brought them back and purchased the
farm Elandsfontein 665 in Rustenburg district, which is their
present habitation.
The other section under chief Matope live on the farm
Cyferfontein 953, in the same district.
Monakhotle's people number about 500 souls and Matope's
some 200.
t'. The Bakivena — Baphalaiie. — The name Baphalane is
derived from Phala, the Rooibuck Antelope, which animal
abounded in the neighbourhood of the settlement of these
people, and by the chase of which they used to live. After
separating from the parent tribe of the Bakwena, these people
moved eastward to the Waterberg district, where they waged
a desultory war with the Bamapela, a tribe of Zulu extraction,
for some years with varying success. The incursions of the
Matabele, however, so reduced them that the Bamapela were
eventually able to drive them out of the district. 'Fhey then
retired to their present location, Ramakok's Kraal (307) in
the Pilandsberg, so as to be near their allies, the Bakhatla.
The present chief is Bethuel Ramakok, whose tribe numbers over
2,000 souls : 600 more of the same tribe are in the Rusten-
burg district and some 400 in Marico under chief Stephen,
besides many more in Bechuanaland under chief Mochudi.
The Bakhathx Tribe.
This important tribe takes its name from an early chief
named Mokhatla, and much evidence goes to prove the
correctness of the contention that it is a true branch of the
Baharutsi nation.
On the death of Mokhatla, the tribe broke up into two
sections, viz. : —
a. The Bakhatla of Khafela (Linchwe's people of the
Bakhatla Reserve in Bechuanaland, of whom a
number are however located in the Pilandsberg
district).
b. The Bakhatla of Mosetla, from whom are descended
not only the Bakhatla under Solomon Makapan,
vSjambok, etc., in the Pretoria district, but also the
Mutsha tribes and the whole of the Bapedi
(Sekukuni's people, etc.).
I
THE NATIVE TRIBES OK THE TRANSVAAL. 23
a. The Bakhatla of Kliafela. — To this section belong
Linchwe, the powerful chief of the Bakhatla location in
Bechuanaland, and Ramono Pilane, who is the most impor-
tant chief in the Pilandsberg. Khafela is the name of the
earliest recorded chief under whom these people left the
leadership of Mokhatla, and travelling eastwards, first settled
near the junction of the Aapies with the Crocodile River,
whence they shortly moved to near Saulspoort (Modderkuil
565, Dist. Rustenburg). They successfully fought many of
the kindred Bechuana tribes in the vicinity, but it is recorded
that they were defeated by the " Basebetwane on their way
to the Botletle river," by whom is probably meant the Basuto
conquerors of Barotseland. This must have been in about
1824. The Bakhafela did not try conclusions with the
Matabele, who appeared shortly after, but submitted to
Moselikatse, whom they served as cattle herds till the advent
of the Boers. Being harshly treated by the latter, they fled in
1852 and took refuge with Sechele, a Bakwena chief on the
Western Border. The latter shielded them but was attacked
and put to flight by a Boer commando. The Bakhafela then
settled at Mochudi, the present Bakhatla reserve in Bechuana-
land, and, owing to their refusal to pay tribute to Sechele, a
desultory war broke out between them and the Bakwena,
which lasted from 1875 to 1878. The Bakwena were defeated,
and Linchwe, who had by then succeeded to the chieftainship
of the Bakhafela, thus acquired his present location by right of
conquest.
Linchwe then bought for his brethren who had remained in
the Transvaal the farms on which they are now living in the
Pilandsberg and Rustenburg districts, and appointed his
brother Ramono to be chief over them.
Some members of this section of the Bakhatla are also now
living in the Heidelberg district ; they were most likely
captured by the Boers in 1852 and removed there as
"indentured servants.''
b. The Bakhatla of Mosetla. {Bamoset/a).— AW the chiefs
belonging to this section of the Bakhatla are now living in
other districts, and will be referred- to later on. The
manner in which they are connected is shown by the following
table :—
2J.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL
Mokhatla. (Founder of the Bakhatla.)
I
Botlolo. (Eighih in descent.)
Mokhali.
i
I
Phulane.
Mosetla.
Solomon Makapan.
Present chief of the
Bamosetla in Pre-
toria District.
Tabane. '
Liale.
Modise.
I
I
Mumise Motsipc
(S ) a m b o k).
Present head of
the Bamakau, lives
in Pretoria Dis-
trict.
Le Lellateng.
1
S e k u k u n i
Bapedi tribes
i n Eastern
Districts.
Setsidi.
Robert M u p i .
Present chief of
the Mutsha, lives-
in Pretoria Dis-
trict.
The Bapliirivg.
These people are an offshoot of the Baharutsi, and take
their name from a chief called Phiri, under whom and his
successors they wandered about the Potchefstroom and
Lichtenburg districts till they met with the usual fate at the
hands of Moselikatse and later of the Boers. Eventually they
settled at the farm Rietfontein (402), District Rustenburg,.
which was bought by their chief Mabalane in the seventies.
The present chief is Philip Mabalane, and his location is
known as Mabalstad.
All the foregoing tribes are pure Bechuana, and, as has been
shown, came from the north originally, and settled in the
Transvaal without having, except for a few brief excursions in
some cases, penetrated further south than the \'aal River.
Some tribes will now be noticed whose forefathers, though
no doubt of Bechuana stock in the first instance, made their
first long halt in what is now the Orange River Colony, and
have only been inhabitants of the Transvaal from comparatively
recent times. These are the tribes correctly described as
Basuto, though the name is generally applied to the Bapedi
and others, who are in fact of pure Bechuana extraction.
* Tabane is also believed to be the ancestor of the Bavenda chiefs of the
Zoutpansberg, he having moved to that part with some of his people, and
established himself as ruler of the Bavenda tribe. (See the tribes of the
Zoutpansberg.)
THE NATIVE TRIUES OF THE TRANS\AAL.
The Batauiii^.
This tribe is probably an offshoot of the Bataung of
Molitsane, a chief who hved on the borders of Basutoland,
and whose people made various raids into the Transvaal.
Their records are not clear, but it seems that some land in or
near their present locality was many years ago granted to them
by the Bakwena as a reward for assistance rendered in tribal
wars. They were attacked by the Makololo in the north-
westward march of the latter, temporarily enslaved by the
Matabele, and liberated by the Boers, who, however, afterwards
so oppressed them that they returned to their original home in
the Orange River Colony. They returned eventually to their
present abode, Brakfontein (898), District Rustenburg, and
were allowed by the Boers to pay purchase money for the land.
The present chief is Molifyane Sefanyetso, and the tribe
numbers 757 souls.
The Bathkiva {or Batokiva).
There are two tribes of this name, of which one is in the
Zoutpansberg, and the other in the Pilandsberg district, a
branch of the latter being at Gaberones in Bechuanaland.
The two tribes claim relationship, though their traditions are
not identical. The Zoutpansberg tribe is believed to have been
a portion of the Makololo, who, starting from near Basutoland,
raided the Transvaal en 7-011 fe to Barotseland between 1820 and
1824, so it is reasonable to suppose that the tradition of the
Pilandsberg Batlokwa, who say they came " from the north-
east," refers to the time of the original Bantu invasion, and to
deduce the theory that that these peoples are true Basuto and
not Bechuana. The tribal records of the Pilandsberg tribe
only go back for something less than 100 years, and according
to these the tribe first settled in Potchefstroom district,
whence they were driven b)- the Bakwena to the neighbourhood
of their present location. The Matabele and the Boers
successivel)' broke up and enslaved the people, so that at
present there are four sections (besides those in the Zoutpans-
berg), viz. : one under chief (iaberone in Bechuanaland and
three in the Pilandsberg district under chiefs Sidumedi
Matlaping, Sibulawa Matlaping, and Motsatsi Tlolwe respec-
tively. The followings of the three latter total 3,600 souls.
The Batlokwa have the reputation of being skilled workers
26 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
in copper and wire, of which they make bracelets and other
ornaments. They acquired their skill during their early days
in the Transvaal, when they lived in close proximity to a
copper mine, which they learned to work.
There are several other tribes of the true Basuto race, which
will be touched on when dealing with the districts where they
.are found.
The Bapo and the Batlako.
(Not to be confused with the Batlokwa.)
These two tribes are believed to have been originally one,
the Bapo, thoug now numerically much weaker, being the elder
branch.
The ancestors of these people are said to have come "from
Zululand," but this is open to doubt, as their migration must
have taken place long before the rise of the Zulu power, when
a great variety of tribes occupied the Natal country and north-
eastern Orange River Colony, which tribes were afterwards
completely exterminated by the Zulus. It is not therefore by
any means certain or even probable that the Bapo are of Zulu
extraction, and they are more likely indeed to be of the true
Basuto race. Be this as it may, they had been in the Western
Transvaal, waging the usual desultory warfare with the
Bakwena and other Bechuana tribes for some generations
before the arrival of Moselikatse. That redoubtable warrior
scattered the tribe in all directions, and though a good number
of the people afterwards rallied round their chief Mokhale,
the Boers picked a quarrel with the latter, who fled to
Basutoland with the majority of the tribe ; some Bapo,
however, took refuge with neighbouring tribes, while a few
remained with the Boers. After twenty years' residence in
Basutoland, Mokhale returned and bought the farm
Boschfontein (381) in the Rustenburg district, where his
grandson Darius Mokhale now lives with 1,200 of the
tribe.
Diederick Mokhale, uncle of Darius, quarrelled with his
nephew and moved to the farm Bultfontein (714) in the same
district with some 300 followers, while another considerable
party, also adherents of Diederick, are settled in the
Pilandsberg district.
The early history of the Batlako is very similar to that of
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 27
the Bapo, but unlike the latter, they avoided dispersal by the
Matabele by submitting at once to Moselikatse, whom they
followed as allies (or slaves) when he was driven across the
Marico by the Boers. They soon returned to their former
habitation in the Pilandsberg, but again left under pressure
from the Boers, and joined Sechele in his retreat in
Bechuanaland, whither he had been driven in 1852 (see
Native Wars). The Batlako were only quite recently brought
back to the Pilandsberg by Mutlu-Mabi, their present chief,
who bought for them the farms Mabiskraal (629), Vlakfontein
(305), and Turflaagte (272), on which they now reside,
Mabi's people number over 2,000, not including a few
Matabele who fled to them in Lobengula's time. A small
section of the Batlako, about 350 in number, under the
headman Sibolayu Tlogwane, are also settled on the farm
Ruigehoek (426) in the Pilandsberg district.
The Bamalete.
This small tribe, numbering only about 400 souls, is a
portion of the Bechuana tribe of the same name at Ramoutsa,
Bechuanaland, whence it came to the Marico district in or
.about 1890. The chief's name is A'lukhubua.
The Bakuliil>eiig.
No records are available bearing on the history of this tribe,
Avhich is about 1,000 strong (total population) and resides in
the Marico district under Chief David Molete. It is, however,
considered probable that they belong to some branch of the
Bakwena.
The Bathiung.
This small tribe, which numbers less than 300 souls, is
located in the Marico district under the petty chief Joseph
Laban. Its origin is not known, but it is thought; to be kindred
to the Batlako and Bapo.
The actual numbers and distribution of the tribes of this
Division are given in the following table : —
28
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
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THE NATIVE TRIliES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 29
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THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Present Condition of Tribes.
The tribes of the western districts are as a rule far more
civilised and progressive than those found in most other parts
of the Transvaal. This is probably due to their having been
the longest in direct contact with white people, and also to the
presence of European missionaries among them continuously
since the days of Livingstone and Moffat. A large percentage
of these people profess Christianity, many speak English well,
and some of the headmen and chiefs can even read and write.
Most of them wear some sort of European clothes and the
chiefs are generally well dressed.
The chiefs and people are reported to be law-abiding and
contented, their only grievance being that they are not allowed
to purchase more land under present regulations. Large
quantities of wheat, mealies and kaffir corn are grown by
these natives, and they are well off for cattle, though these
are now affected by " Rhodesian red water,'' which will probably
greatly reduce the herds.
The men, as a rule, go very readily to work at Johannesburg,
returning to plough in October and reap in May.
The villages or stads of the principal chiefs contain well-
built square stone houses, a contrast to the miserable straw
huts of the northern and eastern tribes.
Politically the most important tribe is the portion of the
Bakhatla located in the Pilandsberg. Ramono Pilane, the chief
(who is the brother of Linchwe, the real head of the tribe,
whose headquarters is at Mochudi in the Bechiianaland
Protectorate) is of no great importance of himself, and is.
merely a headman of Linchwe's, who appointed him to rule
the Pilandsberg Bakhatla on the British annexation of the
Transvaal. Linchwe still claims authority over these people,
but this is not recognised by the Transvaal Government. If
Linchwe ever became hostile, it is probable that he would take
up his position in and about the Pilandsberg with all his people,,
as his location at Mochudi is too readily accessible from the
western railway. His people are far more warlike in disposition
than any of the other Bechuana tribes, they are reported to be
good shots and the Mochudi section have a number of rifles.
The Pilandsberg section also probably sent the best of their
firearms acrr;ss the border to Mochudi before giving up the-
remainder at the general disarmament in 1903. The Pilands-
THE NATINK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 3 1
berg has, moreover, man)- military advantages from a native
point of view, which are described elsewhere.
A rising on the part of Linchwe is, however, most
improbable. He and his people actively assisted us throughout
the late war, and many scouts were recruited from the tribe, so
that their loyalty is practically assured, and they are so well off
under the present rcgiiiie that they are not likely to endanger
their prosperity for the sake of any petty grievance.
The Baharutse in Moilo's location are a peaceable people,
fully occupied by the care of their cattle, and the cultivation of
their very fertile lands. There are two large " towns " or
" stads " each of about 7,000 inhabitants, under Israel Moilo
and Tom Mokhatla respectively. The stads are named
Linokana and Gopanestad, at the former of which there are
four blockhouses built during the late war. Moilo is not of
much influence and is not considered trustworthy. Tom
Mokhatla is the son of Khopane, who was a very good chief
and only died recently. His influence can be traced in the
superior bearing of his section of the tribe.
These people are extremely well off, and it is thought that
nothing short of actual compulsion by another tribe would
make them rise in rebellion. There is, moreover, no suitable
position for defence in the location.
There is a German missionary, Mr. Jensen, at Linokana,
who, besides a large farm, has a church and school where
English is taught. He has some influence over the natives,
having assisted them to buy land.
CHAPTER III.
THE TRIBES OF THE CENTRAL DIVISION.
The total native population of these districts was returned in
April, 1904, as 100,780, distributed as follows :- -
Pretoria District
... 47,C49
Hamans Kraal District
... 27,874
Krugersdorp District ...
6,230
Boksburg District
... 2,827
Heidelberg District ...
16,800
Total ... ... 100,780
Exclusive of the numbers classed in the lists given hereafter
as " various," the majority of these people belong to tribes of
the Bechuana-Basuto family, some account of the history of
which has been given in the foregoing description of the tribes
of the western division. It should, however, be noted that
here the custom prevails of calling these tribes Basuto and not
Bechuana, though by descent they truly belong to the latter
nation ; this will henceforward be followed in their classification.
The remainder are of Matabele or Zulu extraction.
The Bechuana-Basuto Tribes.
Of the tribes here called Basuto, the various sections of the
Bakhatla are the most numerously represented, and next in
importance are sections of the Bakwena and Baralong. It is
unnecessary to give any further particulars of the history of
these people than are contained in the preceding chapter.
The history of the Bapedi tribe, which, as has been .shown,
is really a branch of the Bakhatla, will be found in the de-
scription of the tribes of the eastern division.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
33
The Zulu or Amandebele Tribes^ (iisually known as Maiabele.')
The people known as Matabele are undoubtedly of Zulu
descent, and came from Zululand early in the 19th century.
Though some of them state that their forefathers migrated
northward before the days of Chaka, it is most probable that
they are descendants of a branch of the Amahlubi tribe which
was driven out of Zululand by Chaka, and of which the best
known section is the people of Langalibalele, whose location
was on the Natal-Basutoland border, and who rebelled against
the Government and was captured in 1873. The several tribes
to be considered under this heading take their names from four
sons of a chief named Musi. These sons of Musi, whose
names were Nzunza, Manala, iVI'Hwaduba, and Matombeni,
alias Yahalala or Kekaan, quarrelled amongst themselves for the
chiefship, with the result that the tribe split up into the four
sections now found in the Transvaal, thus : —
Musi
I
Manala
I
Nyumba Ma-
bena. Present
chief of Manala
section in Pre-
toria district.
Kekaan
I .
Kekaan tribes of
Zoutpansberg, Wa-
terberg and Pre-
toria districts.
M'Hwaduba
I
Bahwaduba peo-
ple of Pretoria
district.
Nzunza
I
Mapoch tribes
of Eastern and
Pretoria dis-
tricts.
Manala Section.
The four sections of the tribe having arrived near the present
site of Pretoria, continued to fight among themselves ; the
Nzunza section proved the strongest, and having worsted the
others, moved off eastwards, while the Manala section remained
at its present chief location, where the VVallmansthal Mi.ssion
now stands. They suffered severely at the hands of Moselikatse,
who scattered them considerably. This probably accounts for
the scattered condition of the tribe at the present time.
These people have intermingled much with the neighbouring
Basuto tribes, from whom they are scarcely to be distinguished,
though there is no doubt as to their original Zulu extraction.
Their present chief is Nyumba Mabena, who lives at
VVallmansthal, Hamanskraal, with a following of about 4,000.
He also has nearly 2,000 people living on several farms nearer
Pretoria.
(7269) c
34 THE NAflVl:] TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Kckaan Section.
The majority of the people belonging to this section are
located in the Zoutpansberg and Waterberg districts, in the
description of which a sketch of their history will be found.
In this division they are represented by one tribe of some
1, 800 souls, under the chief Karel Kekaan, who lives at the
farm T^eeuwkraal, Hamanskraal District.
Bahwaduba Section.
Mhwaduba, the first leader of this section seems to have
avoided quarrelling with his brothers, and to have settled
peacefully with his people at Wonderboom Poort, where they
lived for many years. They then moved to Bultfontein, in
the north-east part of the Pretoria district, where they were
attacked by Moselikatse, who carried away many of the people
besides much cattle. After the departure of Moselikatse
they re-assembled at a spot since allotted to them by the Boer
Government as Zwaartbooi's location — adjoining the location of
the Bakhatla-Bamosetla. The chiefs and people have inter-
married freely with the Bakhatla, and have lost all traces of
their Zulu origin.
The present chief is Amos Mathibe (native name Lipunu)
who has nearly 3,000 people in Hamanskraal and some 300 in
Pretoria District.
Nzutiza ('■ MapokKs ") Section.
For a full description of this tribe see "the Eastern Division."
The small section under the chief Fene Mahlangu, dwelling
at Bultfontein, Hamanskraal, split from the main tribe when
it was attacked by Moselikatse, and first moved to the
Waterberg. After a number of years' residence there they
moved to their present location, which was finally allotted to
them by the Boer Government.
Mixed Tribe under Paledi Mathibe.
l"he chief Paledi Mathibe, who has a mixed following of
over 5,000 people in Pretoria district, belongs to a tribe called
Bantwane, which is akin to the Maloi people of Sekukuniland,
who are said to be descended from a tribe of the same name
in Basutoland. Early in the 19th century the Bantwane dwelt
in the Waterberg, whence, being scattered by Moselikatse, they
moved to north of Pietersburg. They returned southward
about the time of the arrival of the Boer Voor-trekkers and
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 35
for some years lived on good terms with the latter. When the
Boers, however, wished to capture a Bakhatla chief, father of
the present Skep Maluka, the Bantwane harboured him, thereby
incurring the enmity of the Boers, and when a few years later
they refused to join the Republican commandos in the cam-
paign against the Bapedi, the Boers attacked them, whereupon
the Bantwane fled to Sekukuni. After the conclusion of the
Sekukuni war they were allowed to occupy their present
location, where they have since dwelt. The people now under
Paledi Mathibe include representatives of a variety of tribes,
chiefly of Bechuana or Basuto extraction.
Unclassified Natives.
No attempt has been made to classify the large native
population of Heidelberg district, as they are not formed into
regular tribes and have no chiefs in authority over them.
Most of the Transvaal tribes are represented here, being
descended either from fugitives from Moselikatse's raids or
from "indentured" servants, whom the Boers captured in wars
with various tribes and distributed throughout the country.
The term *' Oorlamsch " is applied to the descendants of the
slaves of the Zulu and other invaders, who were in some cases
taken over by the Boers. These people are mostly found in
the towns and villages. They are all able to speak Cape
Dutch, and there are some clever artizans and mechanics among
them.
Present Condition of Tribes.
The natives of these districts, having been for many years in
contact with white people, have acquired a certain amount of
civilisation ; many of them wear clothes, and the use of ploughs
and modern agricultural implements is common among them.
In the large locations most of the natives have been con-
verted to Christianity, either by European missions or by
emissaries of the Ethiopian Church, who are active amongst
the tribes. The Native Commissioner, in his last annual report,
considers that the moral improvement of natives due to
" conversion " is not very apparent. The " Ethiopian "
preachers are said to be inclined "to introduce irrelevant
subjects touching on politics " into their general teaching, which
cannot but unsettle the natives.
During 1904 a faction-fight took place between two sections
(7269) c 2
36 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
of the Bakhatla, under the chief Skep Maluka and chieftainess
Lehau respectively, in which two men were killed and 30
wounded. Lehau has in consequence since been removed to
the Waterberg Division. In June of the same year there was
also a dispute amongst the followers of the chief Nyumba
Mabena, some of whom wished to have a headman named
Makerran as their chief. This has, however, been satisfactorily
settled.
With these exceptions the tribes have given no trouble to
the Administration and have been generally obedient to
authority.
The present distribution of tribes in this division is shown in
the following table : —
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
37
a
!2
11
o
a,
E
3
2
Li-.
IS
u
o
c
1
_u
')^
Q
o
" Sjamhokstad," Hoek-
fontein, 394.
Scattered.
Schildpadfontein.
Scattered.
Bultfontein.
Scattered.
Makapanstad (Goedge-
waagd).
Scattered.
1%
Scattered.
Kwarrieslaagte, 356.
Tambootie Laagte.
Doornpoort.
Pretoria
Hamanskraal
do.
Pretoria
Hamanskraal
Pretoria
Hamanskraal
Pretoria
c 0
E
Pretoria
do
Hamanskraal
do.
00 ro
"^ 0
tT N OS on
Oi 0 U^OO
to
[l4
0 ooLotJioooQ 0 1
ro r^ N •-■ 0 " '
88
180
1,000
125
200
\
00
Chief.
Mumise Motsipe
_ a/ias Sjambok ...
Robert Mupi, native name
Sibis
Skep Maluka
Solomon Makapan
j" Jonathan Otto Mamok-
-| hali More (Rustenburg
( district)
6
S
g
■3
t
w
c
r!
E
•o
CS
rula
Headman Obed More
Headman Daniel Mamok-
hali
Paledi Mathibi
/Mashung
,Jempc Namane
Basuto Tribes.
Bakhatla (Bamakau) ...
do. (Mutsha) ...
do. do.
do. (Bamosetla)...
Bakwena (Bamakhopa)
Baralong, Bakwena,
andBapedi
Bapedi
38
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
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CHAPTER IV.
THE TRIBES OF THE WATERBERG, OR NORTH-
WESTERN DIVISION.
There are 61,138 natives in this division, distributed as
follows : —
Piet Potgietersiust District ... 35,965
Warmbaths District ... ~1
Nylstroom District ... J o^ ' j
61,138
The majority of these people are of Zulu extraction, and of
the Zulu tribes here found, these descended from Kekaan, the
son of Musi {see Central Division) are the most numerously
represented.
Kekaan Tribes.
The two principal branches of this family are those at
present under the chiefs Shikwane and Valtyn Makapan
respectively, of which the former has the larger following.
These two chiefs are descended from two great grandsons of
the original Kekaan, who fought for the chiefship of their
section of Musi's tribe. The fight apparently took place at or
near the site of the present Zebedela's Location, some thirty
miles south-east of Piet Potgietersrust, which is still occupied
by Shikwane, his ancester Khupa having defeated and driven
away his brother Khaba. The latter after his defeat moved
with a portion of the tribe to a place a few miles north-west of
Piet Potgietersrust, where his descendant, Valtyn Makapan, now
dwells. This Makapan must not be confused with Solomon
Makapan, the Bakhatla chief of Pretoria District, with whom he
is in no way connected.
Shikwane has nearly 10,000 people, and Makapan over
9,000.
40 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Of the same family also are the two petty chiefs, William
Maraba and Charlie Eland, who live round the locality known
as Makapan's Gat, about twenty miles east of Piet Potgietersrust,
with a joint following of some 4,000 souls.
It is not known when or why they left the main tribe.
This branch of the Kekaan tribe is called by the natives
Letwaba, and three other sections of it are found in the
Pietersburg District under the chieftainess Mashashaan and the
chiefs Jack Eland and Jonathan Maraba.
Mapela Tribes.
Next to the Kekaan tribes in numbers and importance are
the people under Hans Masibi and Hendrik Backeberg Masibi,
whose locations are contiguous to and immediately north-west
of that of Valtyn Makapan. These people used to be called
the Bamapela when the Boers came first to the Transvaal, after
a chief who died about 1825 ; they are also known as the
" Black Matabele " in order to distinguish them from the
people of Musi, previously noticed, with whom they have no
connection. There is not much doubt that they belong to the
original Zulu stock, or that, in about 1600 a.d., their
ancestors were settled somewhere near the present Leydsdorp,
though whether, as some say, they were dropped there by the
original Bantu immigrants on their way south, or whether they
subsequently moved up from the direction of Zululand, is not
clear. Be this as it may, their forefathers settled in the
Transvaal long before the rise of Chaka in Zululand, and it is
therefore probable that they were the first people of Zulu
extraction to take up their abode in this colony.
The name of the chief under whom they settled at
Leydsdorp was Langa (" The Sun "), after whom these tribes
are still sometimes called " the people of Langa." This chief
moved with his tribe across the Woodbush Mountains and
dwelt on the Pietersburg Plateau for many years. Mapela,
from whom the tribe takes its name, who was the sixth in
descent from Langa, and became chief towards the end of the
1 8th century, led the people southward from Pietersburg
to their present location. He died in 1825. Under his
successor, the Bamapela, together with Makapan's people,
suffered severely at the hands of the Boers in retaliation for
their treacherous massacre of a party of emigrants in 1854,
and in 1858 the Boers again severely chastised them. (See
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 4I
" Native Wars.") In 1877, Masibi became chief; it was after
his death, by suicide, in 1890, that the tribe spht up into its
present two sections under his two sons Hans and Hendrik
Backeberg Masibi. These two could not agree, so both were
recognised as chiefs by the Government, and the tribe and
location divided between them.
Present Condition of Tribes.
The tribes of this division have always had a reputation for
turbulence and treachery, and they are still somewhat sullen in
their demeanour. Shikwane's tribe is the only one in the
Transvaal which is officially suspected of having concealed
rifles at the time of the general disarmament in 1903.
Valtyn Makapan is a quiet man, but has not much influence
as a chief.
The Mapela people appear to have acquired a respect for
the Boers, owing to the severe lessons taught them by the
latter in bygone days, for not only did they systematically
assist the Boers during the war 1899- 1902, but Hans Masibi
actually waged war against Valtyn Makapan, owing to the
latter's pro-British proclivities. Hans Masibi is a brutal and
depraved chief, much addicted to drink, very cruel and greatly
feared by his tribe. He is, however, a strong man, and has
his tribe well in hand. After the late war he was sent to
Pretoria, and kept under observation there for six months, and
this treatment may shortly have to be repeated.
Backeberg Masibi has all the vices of his brother, but lacks
Hans' strength of mind and personality.
These people, though naturally a fine race, are deteriorating
through drink and disease. They are somewhat discontented,
and would probably need but little provocation to give trouble,
and the intricate and broken nature of the portion of the
Waterberg which they inhabit might render their chastisement
a matter of some difficulty.
The emissaries of the " Ethiopian " and other Churches have
been active among them of late years, and to their teaching
may no doubt be attributed the unsatisfactory bearing of the
natives. Of the native churches, the Native Commissioner of
the division says in his report for 1904 : "Their teachings are
a travesty of Christianity, and tend to become nothing less
than rabid political organisations." That Christianity has not
made much impression on them is apparent from the fact that
42 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
polygamy is far more prevalent among these people than
among most other tribes.
Their occupations are stock raising and agriculture, but their
cattle have suffered considerably from Rhodesian Redwater.
Their crops are 75 per cent. Kaffir corn, the remainder being
mealies. Their methods of cultivation are still very primitive.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
43
*_. i*-. 11
1
a's Location,
west of Pie
tersrust.
n's Gat, east o
Potgietersrust.
do.
i Location, north
f Piet Potgieters
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CHAPTER V.
THE TRIBES OF THE ZOUTPANSBERG, OR
NORTHERN DIVISION.
The total native population of this, the largest division of the
Transvaal, was found by the census of 1904 to be 321,615,
distributed as follows in the various Districts : —
Haenertsburg District ...
Pietersburg District
Spelonken District
Shiwas or Sibasa District
Blauwberg District
■■ 56,750
.. 71,219
.. 104,642
•• 69,753
•• 19.251
Total
The tribes represented are, in order
and importance : —
I. Basuto,
II. Bavefida,
III. Sha?igaa?i,
IV. Zuht,
.. 321,615
of numerical strength
and
of which the two first-named could each probably muster about
30,000 able-bodied male representatives, and the third about
half that number. The Zulu tribes form a very small pro-
portion of the whole, and are found only in the Pietersburg
District. Their fighting men total some 2,000 only.
About 12,000 of the total number of adult males are now
usually away in other districts, at work in mines, in towns, etc.
This number is likely to increase
A small clan of half-castes, the " Buys People," also exists in
this division, and some families of Bushmen, called Vaalpens,
lead a nomadic existence in the remotest portions of the
Blauwberg District.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 45
I. The Basuto Tribes.
There are a number of tribes in this division who call
themselves Basuto, and the majority of them have a far better
title to the name than the tribes known by it in other parts of
the Transvaal, for their traditions chiefly point to their having
come either from the north or from Basutoland, and contain
no proofs of a direct connection with the Bechuana families of
the Baralong, Baharutsi, etc., from which many of the other
so-called Basuto are descended.
It may thus be conjectured that the forbears of these people,
though no doubt of the same section of the original Bantu as
the Bechuana, and as the other " Basuto " tribes descended
from them, left the parent tribe at an earlier date than any of
the latter, so that their descendants may be considered to
represent a distinct ' nation, fairly homogeneous in language,
traditions and customs, of which all the branches call them-
selves Basuto. The exact connection between these Transvaal
Basuto and those of Basutoland cannot be definitely deter-
mined, nor is it known for certain whether the latter are indeed,
as is generally supposed, descended from an offshoot of the
Bechuana-Baralong family {see " Western Division ") ; but in any
case the tribes now under consideration would appear to be
the elder branch, and can thus claim to be the original
Basuto.
Two-thirds of the Basuto of the Northern Division inhabit the
districts of Pietersburg and Haenertsburg ; the remainder being
about equally divided between the Blauwberg and Spelonken
districts.
In character they resemble the Basuto of other parts, being
distinguished by cunning rather than by bravery in war, and
preferring to achieve their ends by diplomacy rather than by
hard fighting. A reference to the account of the native wars
waged by the late Republic will show that none of the Basuto
tribes* ever offered very serious resistance when attacked by
the Boers. They are, however, of considerable intelligence, and
readily assimilate modern and civilised ideas to their own
advantage. They use more ploughs in cultivation than the
other tribes, and may be generally described as progressive in
their ideas. In physique they are well-built, though not so tall
and powerful as Zulus and Shangaans.
* Malahokh's tribe in ihc l^lauwberg is said to he of Baharutse extraction.
46 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
The tribal organisation is maintained by the Basuto, and
they have several powerful chiefs, who will be alluded to later.
Language. — Various dialects of the Sesuto language are
spoken by these tribes, but the people of the different clans are
able readily to understand each other.
The Ba-Molechi are said to speak the purest form of
Sesuto, or at any rate the oldest, the language of Basutoland
having probably become affected by that of the neighbouring
tribes of the coast group.
The dialect of the Bakwebo (Mojaji's people) differs most
from the original tongue, as it contains a considerable
admixture of "Sivenda," the Bavenda language.
The Bapedi tribes speak the Sepedi dialect of Sekukuni-
land.
The Sesuto seems on the whole a strong language, as it is
being more and more adopted by the tribes of Zulu descent
who live among the Basuto.
The principal Basuto tribes found in the Zoutpansberg are
the following : —
The Ba-Molechi (MaHtzi's) ... In Pietersburg district.
The Bakoni tribe ... ... In Pietersburg, Haenerts-
burg and Blauwberg
districts.
The Batokwa tribe ... ... In Pietersburg district.
The Bakwebo tribe ... ... In Haenertsburg district.
The Banareng or Banareni tribe In Haenertsburg district.
The Bahananwa (Malabokh's)
tribe... ... ... ... In Blauwberg district.
The Mutalerwa tribe ... ... In Pietersburg and Haen-
ertsburg districts.
Portions of several of the above tribes also inhabit the
Spelonken district.
Sections of the Bapedi In Pietersburg and Haen-
ertsburg districts.
The larger of these tribes have various subdivisions, and as
they are not all of the same origin, it will be necessary to
consider each tribe separately.
The following historical notes are a pricis of the information
concerning these tribes, which has been obtained from all
available sources.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 47
The Bamoli'chi or Malitzi's Tribe.
This tribe numbers over 19,000 souls in Malitzi's Location,
some fifteen miles north-west of the town of Pietersburg,
besides a number in the Spelonken. It is a conglomeration of
a number of small clans — the Manamela, Komapies, Malekos,
etc., ruled over by chiefs belonging to a family called
Batlhaloga. The Batlhaloga originally came to the Zoutpans-
berg from the direction of Basutoland and subdued the other
tribes whom they found in possession of the tract of country
which they now inhabit, early in the 19th century. It is
not certain whence the latter came, but as the crocodile
(kwene) is their national totem, it is possible that they are an
off-shoot of the Bakwena {see Western Division). This, however,
is not clearly proved or generally accepted as a fact, and they
may have been there since tiie original Bantu invasion from the
north. In any case, both in language and customs they differ
from the Bechuana tribes far more than from the Basuto of
Basutoland, and it therefore seems right to class them as true
Basuto.
Moselikatse attacked the tribe in the course of his northern
raids, but does not seem to have been successful, as, unlike
most of the other tribes, the Bamolechi were not dispersed in
consequence of his visitation, and appear to have occupied the
same locality peacefully ever since.
The present ruler of the tribe is Seripa, whose family name
is Moloto. He is acting for his nephew, named Sirin, a minor
about fifteen years of age. Seripa is about forty-five years old,
an intelligent, quiet and civilised man, and well-disposed
towards the Government. His tribe is reckoned one of the
most powerful in the northern Transvaal, but no trouble is
apprehended with it, as the people are well-behaved and
contented, and they evinced strong British sympathies during
the war 1899-1902.
The Bakoni Tribe.
The several sections of this tribe all spring from common
ancestors, who, at an early period, migrated southwards from
the Zambezi. Keeping near the coast at first, they entered the
Transvaal by way of Palabora, in the " low country," where
they dwelt for some time, but eventually shifted further west,
one portion of the tribe going to the Middelburg district,
48 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
another to the Bokhaha country near Leydsdorp, while the
third and largest portion moved to the present Matala's Location
in Pietersburg district. The descendants of these three
portions of the tribe respectively are now found as follows : —
In the Haenertsburg district :
The Maake Section. — This is supposed to be the elder
branch of the Bakoni, and is called after the name of its first
chief, who lived in the Bokhaha district near Leydsdorp. The
first Maake was succeeded by his daughter Maale, who, about
1858, moved the whole tribe to the east bank of the Thabina,
near its source. There she became subject to the Nuku tribe.
Maale died about 1876, and soon after this, owing to internal
quarrels, a portion of the tribe joined Mojaji's people, while the
remainder stayed where they now are. I'hey liave been there
since 1858, and number 3,800 in all. During the late Anglo-
Boer war Maake, the present chief, assisted by Mohlaba, a
Shangaan chief, repulsed an attack made on them by
Sekororo.
The Rev. E. Thomas, of the Swiss Mission, has lived amongst
these people since 1886 and has imparted a certain amount of
education to them.
Lekhali's Section. — A junior branch of the Bakoni tribe, about
which not much is known. Their present location, fifteen miles
north-west of Haenertsburg, was formerly occupied by Makhuba's
tribe. They number about 2,300 souls. The present chief is
nineteen years old, is considered unreliable and is much disliked
by his own people, who are leaving him in numbers.
Mahiipa's Section. — A part of the original Bakoni, first heard
of as coming from the Bokhaha to their present location,
" Duivel's Kloof." They have a warlike reputation, and in 1858
fought and defeated the Shangaans. After this they also repulsed
an attack made on them by Mojaji, to whom they, alone of the
neighbouring tribes, refused to be tributary. Mahupa, the
present chief, is the same who rebelled against the Boers in
1894 ; when defeated by them he fled to Mashonaland, and only
returned in 1902. The tribe is now living on various farms, the
property of settlers, and its men, women and children total 2,600.
A number of people of this tribe also live in Sekukuniland.
i^See Eastern Division.)
In Pietersburg and Blauwberg districts :• —
Matala's or Matlala's Section. — Matala is the hereditary name
of the chiefs by descent of this tribe. The last rightful bearer
of the name died in about 1900, but his eldest son (also named
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 49
Matala, now twenty years of age) is of weak intellect and not
considered fit to be chief, so the power is now exercised by
Selaki, brother of the late chief, on behalf of a younger son of
the latter who is still a minor, fifteen years old. Selaki is much
addicted to drink, but seems to manage the tribe satisfactorily.
He is about forty-five, of a quiet disposition, and very friendly
towards Europeans. His people number about 9,000 in the
Pietersburg and nearly 5,000 in the Blauwberg district.
These took no part in the late war. They are believed to
be well-disposed towards the present Government, but should
they ever be disposed to give trouble, " Matala's Location "
would lend itself to defence, being surrounded by high hills and
well watered inside.
The petty chiefs Mtiba, Klein Mtiba, and Kukuna Lekhali in
the Pietersburg district also belong to this section of the Bakoni.
They could muster about 600 fighting men between them.
The Batokwa or Batlokiva Tribe.
The early history of these people is touched upon in the
description of the tribes of the western division. If the theor>'
there put forward, that they were originally a part of the Mako-
lolo, be correct, it follows that they must have arrived in the
Transvaal between 1820 and 1824, as the latter year was the
date of the conquest of Barotseland by the Makololo. Their
first settlement in this colony is said to have been not far from
the present Matok's location in the Pietersburg district, and the
name of their chief at the time of their arrival was Musima.
His successor Kunwane divided the tribe between his two sons
Serani and Ramakhupa from whom Masanyane (known as
Matok) and Ramakhupa, the present chiefs of the Pietersburg
and Spelonken sections of the tribe respectively, are descended.
In about 1855 the tribe, owing to pressure from the Boers,
migrated to Sekukuni's country, but returned about twenty
years later. Trouble between the two sections ensued which
was settled in 1879 by Sir Theophilus Shepstone's deciding
that the two chiefs should henceforth be recognized as inde-
pendent of each other. This arrangement has since continued
in force, and Matok and Ramakhupa and their people still live
in the locations then allotted to them, viz., Matok at Matokwa
Kopjes, immediately south of the Dwars river in Pietersburg
district on the border of Spelonken district, and Ramakhupa in
the latter district a few miles to the eastward. Matok has
(7269) D
50 TIIK NATIVE TRIHKS OF THE TRANSVAAL,
over 6,000 people, and Ramakhupa's following is also con
siderable.
The people of Klein Makhato, who are of the Tau tribe,
some 1,500 in number, in the Pietersburg district, appear to give
allegiance to Matok and are therefore mentioned here.
The Bakwebo Tribe.
Mo/ajt's Section. — This tribe is said to have crossed to the
south of the Limpopo about 200 years ago. The strongest sub-
division of it is under the chieftainess Mojaji, whose prede-
cessors originally ruled the whole tribe. .
The name Mojaji is passed on to the successive chieftainesses,
the present one, Mojaji Seselwaan, being the third consecutive
bearer of that name.
The first Mojaji was a light-coloured, good-looking woman
and probably had some European blood in her veins. There
is a tradition that a European adventurer on a raid from Portu-
guese territory once made an unsuccessful attempt to carry her
off, and that owing to this she would never again allow any white
people to see her. This gave rise to various stories about
Mojaji, on some of which it is said Rider Haggard's She was
based. She died in 1830.
Mojaji II. was a noted character among natives throughout
South Africa. She was especially renowned as a "rain-maker"
and on one occasion an embassy from the Zulu king came to
her bringing presents to entreat her to " make rain." On the
occasion of an invasion of locusts forty or more years ago, a
similar entreaty was made by the Zulus. She was undoubtedly
clever and capable, though of a bloodthirsty and cruel dis-
position. She lived in polyandry with her councillors, and the
chief husband for the time being was also "prime minister,"
but he and her other husbands were generally murdered as soon
as they displeased her. All civilisation was forbidden and witch-
doctors flourished in her dominions.
In 1888, when the Boers began to settle in proximity to her,
Mojaji was openly hostile, and her followers burnt a number of
farms and murdered some of the white inhabitants. The Boer
Government, however, made a semi-peace with Mojaji which
lasted till 1894, when the tribe again became hostile. This
time a commando was sent to bring her to terms. There was
no fighting, but the tribe was compelled to live in a defined
location. General Joubert, who was with the commando, had
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 5 1
Mojaji brought to his laager with the intention of taking her to
Pretoria, but she was so old and infirm that, at the intercession
of Mr. Reuter, the missionary, she was left behind. This was,
however, the first occasion on which Mojaji was seen by a
European. Sir 'V. Shepstone wished to see her in 1880 but
was shown her half-sister Madokane instead, who was usually
produced on such occasions.
The present chieftainess succeeded Mojaji II. and is known
as Mojaji Seselwaan. She is a light-coloured woman, about
twenty-five years of age, and is married to a man named Mokoto.
by whom she has an infant son. She has but little power, her
husband being practically head of the tribe, which is over 14,000
strong. These people, being far removed from civilised centres,
are wilder than most Basuto tribes, but have been well-behaved
since the annexation and show no signs of giving trouble.
The country inhabited by them is an irregular strip, whose
western limit is a line from the Koodoo's river southward to the
Woodbush mountains ; thence it extends east to the Portuguese
border along the Great Letaba river, which forms its southern
boundary.
Sekhopo Section. — These people take their name from one of
the early chiefs of the Mojaji tribe, of which they are an off-
shoot. Their history has been uneventful. The present chief,
named Mamakubi Sekhopo, rules over some 1,700 people.
He is about thirty-five years of age and resides near Buffels.
Mamabolo Section (called Li-Kulube = wild boars). The
present chief is Situmela Mamabolo. This tribe is supposed
to haves plit from Mojaji's about the year 1800 and settled on
the Thabina river under a chief named Manamele. Some of
them wandered to the Lydenberg district but returned to the
'Woodbush in 1830 and after some more vicissitudes the tribe
was placed in a location by the Boers in 1897. The chief
nominally also has under him the Woodbush and Haenertsburg
mountain people, who together with his own tribe number about
4,000 souls.
Khupa Section. — This is a portion of Mamaholo's people,
inhabiting the Drakensberg range between Haenertsberg and
the Olifants river. It is a clan of no importance, numbering
less than 400 people. A dispute is in progress as to who is the
rightful chief.
Miikhuhua Section. — As far as can be judged, this clan,
which lives on the Thabina, is the original portion of the
Mamabolo tribe, which settled there in 1800 and has since
(7269) D 2
52 THE NATIVE TRIIJES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
remained there. The present chief is named Raseke
Mukhubua, and has about 3,000 people under him.
The Ba-Nareng or Ba-Nareni Tribe.
The Ba-Nareng are said to have entered the Transvaal from
the north. The main body of the tribe moved straight to the
Haenertsburg district, and is now found in three sections,
Sekororo's, MamatoUa's and Selebul's.
A small portion remained in the Blauwberg, where their
descendants are now subject to Malabokh.
Sekororo's Section. — This section of the Banareng numbers
3,000 people, who live in the "Low Country" between the
Selati and Olifants Rivers. The chief kraal is called Makutje.
The name Sekororo has descended from chief to chief.
This fact, together with that of the chief never being seen by
the common people, and the death of the reigning chief never
being announced, has given rise to the superstition that
Sekororo is immortal. He is also credited with rain-making
and other supernatural powers.
The present Sekororo has been head of the tribe only a
short time, his father and predecessor having died at the
beginning of 1904. The real power is in the hands of one
Gwariamutsi, a grandson of the late chief by another wife.
The Sekororo family is related by marriage to Sekukuni, who
persuaded them during the late war to attack the tribes under
Mohlaba and Maake, because the latter had given protection
to Mafefe, who had fled from Sekukuni.
MamatoUa's or Mamathlole' s Section. — This branch of the
Banareng tribe lives on the hills round New Agatha, and is
believed to have a common ancestry with the Sekororo people.
The earliest chief spoken of by the tribe was named
Sekukunuku. Their history has been a warlike one. They
obtained their present place of residence by driving out its
former inhabitants — another Basuto tribe — and in 1840
succeeded in repelling an attack by one of MoseUkatse's impis.
Some years after this the Swazis fell upon them and killed
their chief Ramatau. There was much internal fighting and
bloodshed in the tribe till all factions united to join Makhuba
in his rebellion against the Boers in 1894. Mamatolla, the
present chieftainess, who had been at the head of the tribe
since 1884, was captured by the Boers and imprisoned till the
British occupation in 1900, when she was allowed to return to
THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 53
her country. The people have rallied round her to the
number of nearly 4,000, .so that she now rules a tribe of some
importance compared with the smaller surrounding clans, and
though an old woman, exercises considerable influence.
Most of the land on which Mamatlola's people live has lately
been cut up and given out to settlers, but the natives have
made but little opposition to this.
Selehul Section. — The least important section of the Banareng
tribe, resident some twenty miles north of New Agatha, scattered
over a number of farms.
Their first chief was called Selebul or Tsolobolo, and was
the second son of the chief Sekukunuku above mentioned.
Two chiefs, named Selebul and Mahabata, joined in Makhuba's
rebellion in 1894, and were imprisoned in Pretoria in conse-
quence. Selebul died in prison in i8g6. Mahabata was
released and now rules under the name of Selebul. He has
about 1,000 people in all.
The Bakhanainva {JMalabokJis) Tribe.
It is said that these people are descended from the
Baharutse branch of the Bechuana nation, and that their
ancestors were brought by the first recorded chief of the tribe,
named Lebokho, from Bechuanaland to the Blauwberg, where
the Bakhananwa still dwell. Their totem is the " chuene "
(baboon) but they also reverence the duiker.
There are two divisions of the tribe at the present day,
respectively ruled over by the chiefs Malabokh and Kivi, who
are descended from two different wives of Lebokho's immediate
successor. Of the two sections, Malabokh's is by far the most
important.
The split in the tribe dates back to the early years of the
nineteenth century, during which a long continued struggle for
supremacy took place between Mathome and Ramatho, the
then chiefs of the two sections. At last, in about 1834,
Mathome, with the assistance of Matala's and the Mapela tribes,
killed Ramatho and many of his people, whereupon Maloko,
son of Ramatho, invoked the aid of the Boer Voortrekkers, who
arrived in the Zoutpansberg soon after this time. The Boers
were willing to assist but were driven back by Mathome, so
Maloko's section settled in the eastern extremity of the Blauw-
berg, leaving Mathome in possession of the western and more
fertile portion of the range.
54 TIIK NATIVK TRIIJKS OF THF, TRANSVAAL.
Mathome died in 1880 and was succeeded by his son
Khamush, the present Malabokh. Kivi, who is now chief of
the other section, is Maloko's son.
In 1894 the Boers waged war on Malabokh, and Kivi,
seeing an opportunity to avenge his grandfather, actively
assisted them. As is related in the account of native wars,
Malabokh's tribe suffered severely in the operations, and
Malabokh himself was captured and imprisoned in Pretoria,
being released only on the British occupation in 1900.
As a natural consequence, Kivi did all he could to assist the
Boers during the late war, while Malabokh's people strongly
sympathised with the British cause. The enmity between the
two sections is still passively maintained, and Kivi is a strong
pro-Boer, while Malabokh, being grateful for his release from
captivity in 1900, is thoroughly loyal. He is about forty-five
years of age, partly educated, and has great influence over his
tribe ; he also has a reputation as a " rain-maker." His son
Mabea is about twenty-five years old, has been educated at the
local mission, and can speak and write English. Malabokh's
people number nearly 8,000.
Kivi is about the same age as Malabokh. He is a drunken,
low character, unpopular with his own people. His following
amounts to about 1,500 only.
The Bakhananwa generally may be described as an
intelligent and progressive people of fair physique naturally.
This is, however, becoming impaired by venereal disease,
which is very prevalent among them. But in spite of this, a
rapid increase in their numbers may be looked for, as members
of the tribe, scattered in 1894, are constantly returning to
Malabokh, The Blauwberg range is a natural fortress of great
strength, but it is considered unlikely that these people will give
trouble again.
There is a branch of the Hermansburg Mission on the farm
Leipzig 107 1 in the Blauwberg, the Rev. R. Franz in charge.
The missionary is not popular with Malabokh or with British
people in the district, but undoubtedly does much good
among the natives by maintaining a hospital, only slightly
subsidised by the Government, where natives are treated for a
nominal fee.
The Alutaknva Tribe.
In this are included the followings of the chiefs Molepo,
]\Iatabata, and Makhuba, besides the adherents of several petty
THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL. 55
chiefs. These were originally all one tribe, and about
150 years ago lived near Woodbush on the site of the present
Lekhali's Location. Early in the nineteenth century the tribe
split into the three sections above mentioned, who then moved
to their present locations.
In 1894, at the time of the Boers' campaign against
Malabokh, Makhuba led a general revolt of the Basuto tribes
in the Haenertsburg district. He paid dearly for his temerity,
however, as General Joubert, the Boer Commandant-General,
let loose a Swazi impi upon the tribes, and Makhuba himself
was slain with many men, women and children of the tribe.
His daughter now rules the tribe ; she is about twenty-one
years of age (1905) and in her youth worked as a servant
in a Boer family. The tribe numbers about 1,500 in all, and
lives scattered over various farms in tlie Haenertsburg
district.
Molepo's section is the most important, numbering over
6,000 people, and Nkwane and Mojapelo, who are sub-chiefs
under him, together muster nearly 3,000 more. The present
chief's real name is Moshia, and he and the above live in
JNIolepo's Location in Pietersburg district.
Matabata has 1,000 people in Haenertsburg and about
600 in Pietersburg district, and the petty chiefs Chuene
and Maja, whose joint following amounts to about 1,000, are
also in the latter district, affiliated to the Mutalerwa tribe.
The Bakhaha Tribe
This is a branch of the great Bapedi tribe of Sekukuniland
(see Eastern Division), and has several sections in the
Zoutpansberg, of which the most important is that under
Mpahlela, who with over 6,000 people, lives in a location in
the south-east corner of the Pietersburg district, immediately
north of the Olifants river. Though connected with Sekukuni
by marriage, he has never been on good terms with him. He
is a drunken and low class native, but is nevertheless
considered one of the most important Basuto chiefs in the
division.
The only other sections of this tribe worth mentioning are
both called Nuku. The first of these was formerly of some
importance owmg to its connection with Sekukuni. But the
latter chief fell upon it in 1901 and reduced it considerably, so
that its people now number barely 1,200. The present chief,
56 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
whose name is Mafefe, resides on the Magakal river in
Haenertsburg district.
The other section, under the chief Mamichi, a/ias Sekoko,
numbers slightly over i,ooo and is located on the farm Stras-
burg (167) on the north-east slope of the Drakensberg Range in
the same district.
With the exception of a few small clans, of whose history
nothing is known, and which are of no importance, numerically
or otherwise, all the Basuto tribes of the Zoutpansberg have
now been noticed.
The following is a summary of their numbers and
distribution : —
THE NATIVE TRIIU'.S OF THE TRANSVAAL.
57
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THK XATIVK TRII'.KS OF TIIK TRANS\'AAL. 59-
II. The Bavcnda Tribes.
'lliis tribe, which is known to the Basuto as Batsuetla and is
also often called Baramapulana or Makhato's tribe, is classed
by Theal in his history as akin to the Basuto. Recent
researches have shown that this assumption is incorrect as
regards the tribe in general, which is now believed to belong to
a separate division of the Bantu family, but it is understood to
be a fact that the " royal family " or principal hereditary chiefs
of the tribe are sprung from the Bakhatla and are therefore of
Bechuana-Basuto race.
The Bakhatla chief Tabane, known by the Bavenda as
Davana (see genealogy of the Bakhatla in " Western Division "),
is said to have migrated to the Zoutpansberg with a consider-
able following, and from him the present chiefs are descended
thus : —
Tabane (Davana I.)
I
Davana II.
I
Vele I.
I
Toho-Ea-Ndu or Tohoyandwa.
I
Vele II.
JMpefu. Shivasa I.
I I
Ramapulana. Ramarumo.
I I
Makhato. Shivasa II.
I I
Mpefu. (Present Sintimulla. Ramaramisa. (The Rampnta.
chief.) present Shivasa. )
Makwarella (hereditary name Mpafuli or Pafuri) who is-
chief of a considerable section of the tribe, has a different
pedigree, being, it is said, descended from the Matabele
chief Musi (see Central Division), one of whose sons also went
north from the Pretoria district and established himself among
the Bavenda.
The Bavenda people, apart from the ruling families, are
believed to have crossed to the south of the Limpopo about
1700 A.I), and to have originally come from the valley of the
60 THE NATIVE TRIBES OK THE TRANSVAAL.
Congo. Before entering the Transvaal they probably made a
long stay in Mashonaland, the country of the " Makalanga,"
and while there, seem to have come in contact with people of
Arab extraction or other Semitic stock, for many individuals of
the tribe at the present day show a strain of Semitic blood in
their features.
In manners and customs they differ somewhat from the other
Bantu tribes, e.g., both men and women shave the whole of
their heads, while the Basuto generally leave the crown of the
head unshaven.
The language of the Bavenda, which is called Sivenda, is not
easily understood by other tribes, but appears to be a mixture
of some form of Sesuto with Lukalanga, the speech of the
Makalanga people. It is said that a tribe now living on the
Congo speaks a very similar dialect.
There are remnants of a tribe called Balemba among the
Bavenda. These people are chiefly found in the Shivasa
district ; they have rto chiefs of their own, but have distinct
customs, which point to Semitic origin, e.g., they do not eat pork
or the flesh of any animal killed by people of other tribes.
They speak the Lukalanga language.
The annals of the Bavenda only go back as far as
Tohoyandwa (" Elephant-head "), who was third in descent
from Tabane. This chief appears to have consolidated the
tribe and to have raised it to considerable eminence ; his name
is accordingly still venerated by the people. He first subjugated
and practically exterminated a tribe called Bangona (which
inhabited the country before the arrival of the Bavenda from
the north) sparing only the priests, whose descendants are still
a separate caste and engage in the worship of the spirits which
they believe to inhabit the waterfalls of the Msunduzi river,
near Sibasa.
Tohoyandwa also conquered the Makalanga north of the
Limpopo and several Basuto tribes to the south, who became
his tributaries. He built a town named Dzada in the Njelele
valley and established his headquarters there. Traces of this
town still remain, and it is said that the stones of which it was
built were brought from Mashonaland by the tributary
Makalanga. The buildings resemble those of the famous
Zimbabwe ruins in plan, and it is supposed that the latter
served as a model to Tohoyandwa.
On the death of this monarch the country was ruled jointly
by his sons and peace prevailed for many years till Sekwati,
THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 6l
chief of the Bapedi tribe, attacked the Bavenda and despoiled
them of many cattle. The Bavenda, however, took refuge in
the mountains, and when the Bapedi followed them there, drove
them back with heavy loss.
Shortly after this the Zulu incursions followed, and only
owing to the inaccessibility of their mountain fastnesses did
the Bavenda escape the fate of annihilation, suffered by so
many Transvaal tribes at this time (1825-1835). After
occupying the country for over two years, the Zulus left.
Internal feuds followed which occasioned much bloodshed,
until Ramapulana, with the assistance of the Boers, who had
meanwhile appeared, obtained the chiefship. He did not
reign long, however, and was succeeded by Makhato, under
whom the Bavenda again became powerful. During the reign
of Makhato the Boers sent two unsuccessful expeditions against
them (1865) and, though the Bapedi, the Shangaans under
Albasini, and the Swazis all attacked them at various times and
inflicted some loss on them, they never admitted defeat.
In 1898, however, the Boers broke up the Spelonken Section
of the tribe and captured their stronghold on Makhato's
Mountain near Louis Trichardt, whereupon Mpefu, the
paramount chief, and many of his people, fled to Mashonaland.
The Shivasa section of the Bavenda did not join in the
fighting, having made an agreement with the Boers to hold
aloof. The chief Sintimulla, however, actually sided with the
Boers against Mpefu. The Bavenda who fled to Mashonaland
have been gradually returning to the Zoutpansberg ever since
the British annexation, but Mpefu himself was only allowed
back in 1904 on condition that he would settle quietly in a
new location to be given him. This was necessary, as the
ground formerly occupied by him had for some years been in
the possession of European settlers. Mpefu has accordingly
been allotted a piece of ground some 60,000 acres in extent,
about twenty-five miles north east of Louis Trichardt, and has
now taken up his abode there. He is, both on account of his
descent and through his own personality, the most influential
chief of the Bavenda, and seems inclined to use his influence
for good, probably owing to the fact that he has acquired a
respect for white men after his experience at the hands of the
Boers in 1898.
A mixed lot of people about 5,000 in number, calling
themselves Bavenda and living in the Blauwberg district, are also
adherents of Mpefu.
€2 THK NATIVE TRIHKS OK THE TRANSVAAL.
Sintimulla, a brother of Mpefu's, is the only other Bavenda
'Chief in the Spelonken. He has nominally a considerable
following, but is not of much account personally in the tribe,
having forfeited the confidence of the people by his behaviour
in the war of 1898.
In the Shivasa district are the powerful chiefs Ramaramisa
(after whose hereditary name, Sibasa, the district is called),
and Makwarella, who is also known by the name of his
ancestor Pafuri. There are also in the same district a number
of lesser chiefs, of whom Ramputa and Tengwe, who split
from Sibasa recently, Lomondo, Madzibandela, Mgibi and
Ntseauda are the principal. As stated above, these people
took no part in the fighting in 1898, and have in fact never
come into conflict with Europeans. They live in a wild and
inaccessible part of the country abounding in rugged hills and
jungles forming natural fastnesses, and having only recently
being brought under Government control, are inclined to be
somewhat independent. Their chiefs are, however, well
■spoken of by the officials, who anticipate no trouble with the
tribe. The difficult nature of their country would moreover
be the only formidable factor to be reckoned with in a rising
of the Bavenda, for they are by no means determined fighters,
as has been shown by the very small number of casualties
they sustained in their own internal wars.
As might be expected from the remoteness of the locality
which they inhabit, and the small amount of contact which
they have had with civilised people, the Bavenda are by far the
most unsophisticated of the Bantu tribes in the Transvaal, and
the nearest approach to the primitive savage to be found in the
Colony.
The present distribution of the Bavenda is shown in the
following table :
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
o
■;o
O
o
U
o
o
o
►J
Twenty miles north-east
of Louis Trichardt.
No prominent chiefs in
this district
Seven miles west-south-
west of Louis Tri-
chardt.
Two kraals near Shivasa,
about twenty-five miles
north-east of Mpefu's.
Mbelo, fifteen miles
south-east of Shivasa.
Midway between Mpefu's
■and Pafuri's.
Near Shivasa.
wScattered.
Q
Spelonken
Blauwberg
Spelonken
Shivasa
Shivasa
Shivasa
Shivasa
Shivasa
o
O ^JD " '"O 0^ -^ cq li-i
ro O ro i/^ 1-1 HH i-i U-,
■Ln <-< za t^ •* 00 u-i M
N w c^ « „
J3 OJ
7,000
1,200
4,500
6,500
4,000
800
4,000
1,500
8
Mpefu
do
Sintimulla a n d lesser
chiefs
Ramaramisa (Sibasa)
Makwarella (Pafuri)
Lomondo ...
Raniputa and Tengwe
Mgibi, Ntseauda and
Madzibandela
V ,
Bavenda
64 THE NATIVE TRIIJES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
III. T/w Shangaan Tribes.
Some representatives of these tribes are found in the
eastern districts, but the bulk of them inhabit the Spelonken,
Shivasa, and Haenertsburg. The name Shangaan is an
abbreviation of Amachangana, meaning " the destroyers,"
which was originally applied to the predator^' hordes of
Manukusa. Ma-gwamba, a name by which they are often
known, was given to the Shangaans by the Bavenda and Basuto
peoples on account of their habit of swearing by " Gwamba,"
who according to them was the first man created. They used
also to be called " Knob-noses " from the custom of
lacerating their faces, especially the nose, in such a manner as
to produce a number of raised scars or knobs, but this practice
is now dying out.
These people are the descendants of some of the Aba-Gaza
tribe which commenced to migrate northwards from Zululand
about the year 1820. At this time the Zululand people had
not yet been formed into the compact and formidable nation
which they shortly afterwards became under the rule of Chaka,
but some of the present Shangaan chiefs trace their descent
from the Zulu royal house. The emigrant Abagaza had
reached the Sabi River in Portuguese Territory, when in 1845
they were attacked by the people under Manukusa, a Zulu
chief who had also emigrated northwards, and many of them
driven into the Transvaal, taking with them some of the Ba-
Thonga tribe who seemed to have joined them en route.
Though these have become merged in the Shangaans, the
latter are sometimes called Bathonga themselves at the present
time. Those that remained in Portuguese territory were sub-
jugated and severely oppressed by the Zulus.
The Spelonken branch of the Shangaans owes its existence
to a Portuguese adventurer, named Joao Albasini, who, having
come into the country a few years previously by way of
Lydenburg, settled at Pisang Kop, near Louis Trichardt, in
1 86 1, and having great influence with the natives, was appointed
to the native Commissionership of the district by the Boer
Government. He soon built up a regular chieftainship for
himself, and having persuaded a number of the down-trodden
Bathonga in Portuguese territory to come across the border and
live under his protection, was before long the absolute ruler of
a large and powerful tribe. The influx of Bathonga continued
for the next ten years, during which time Albasini led his
THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL, 65
people against the Bavenda, and engaged in various small
wars with other tribes, which were at the time of frequent
occurrence. Albasini was dismissed from the Boer Government
service in 1868, but was recognised by the British administra-
tion after the annexation of 1877 and apparently continued to be
chief of the tribe till his death in 1885. Though he was an
unscrupulous man, who had in many ways sunk to the level, of
the native, there is no doubt that it was largely owing to his
influence and ability that the Northern Transvaal was
preserved to the white man. Members of his family are still
resident in Pietersburg.
Under the late Government the native Commissioner of the
Spelonken was always considered chief of the Shangaans ex-
officio, in consequence of which they had no regular chiefs in
this district to this day, but are ruled by a number of
Indunas, of whom there are 103 at present in the District.
There are now over 41,000 Shangaans in the Spelonken and
Shivasa districts under these Indunas. The latter, however,
owe a sort of allegiance to Minga, who is nominally chief over
them all. Minga is a very old man, but seems still to exercise
a real influence over the people. His head kraal is some eighty
miles from Louis Trichardt in a north-easterly direction, about
thirty miles south of the Limpopo River, and is reached by the
" Eastern Hunting Road."
Mavamba, another considerable Shangaan chief, resides on
the same road, about twenty miles short of Minga's kraal. He
is a good type of his race, intelligent and very well disposed
towards Europeans in general and the British in particular.
In 1898 he assisted the Boers against Mpefu with 800 men,,
who did excellent service.
Sikundu, who resides between Minga and Mavamba, is
perhaps the most influential Shangaan next to Minga.
The above-mentioned chiefs are of some note, and resj)ected
by the Shangaans, but the tribal system is not followed by
these people, each small clan recognising only its own Induna
or headman as its chief.
In the Haenertsburg district there are two tribes of
Shangaans : the Nkuna or Ba-Nkuna and the Baloyi, the first
of which is by far the stronger and more important.
Ba-Nuna Tribe. — Chief Mohlaba. Number of adult males
in tribe about 1,500.
The Ba-Nkuna, like the Shangaans of the Spelonken and
Shivasa,.. migrated northwards from Zululand about 1830 and
(7269) E
66 T]\V: NATIVK TKIUF.S OV TIIK TRANSVAAL.
first settled at Bik-ni, near the junction 'A' iht Limpopo and
Olifants Rivers in Portuguese territory under a chief named
Ripje. Manukusa with a Zulu Impi followed and defeated
Ripje, but allowed him to remain where he was a tributary.
Ripje was succeeded by Shiluvan or Silubana, father of the
present chief. Manukusa wished to remove Silubana's people
further north into Portuguese territory, but they fled via
Komatipoort to near Leydsdorp in the Transvaal and settled
under the protection of Maale's Basuto tribe in 1855. About
1858 they moved to the headwaters of the Selati and remained
there till 1868, when they were attacked by the Basuto tribes
of Mafefe, Mukhubua, Sekororo and Maale. Silubana there-
upon retired into Mojaji's territory and remained there till 1873.
Albasini (known by the natives as "Juwawa") now wished
him to join his people and attacked him when he refused,
driving him back to Maale's country where he remained three
years. While here, the tribe divided into two parties with one
of which Silubana moved to the left bank of the Letsitele
River, where he died in 1882. In 1886 the two parties
reunited under Silubana's son Mohlaba.
This chief is now about thirty-five years old. He is
educated, progressive and trustworthy, and is universally liked
and respected by his white neighbours. He joined the chief
Maake in repelling an attack made on them by Sekororo in
1901.
His people are mostly found on the " Harmony Proprietary
(Company's " farms, which lie between the Selati and Thabina
Rivers and extend as far as the (Ireat Letaba.
Baloyi Tribe. — Chief Mamitwa. Number of adult males in
tribe about 500.
This tribe formed a portion of the following of Manukusa
and came from Zululand with him, settling at }]ileni in
Portuguese territory. On Manukusa dying, his two sons Mzila
and Mawewe fought for the chiefship. Mzila (who was the
father of Ngungunyan, the well-known chief of the Shangaans
in Portuguese territory, who rebelled against and was defeated
by the Portuguese in 1897) was beaten and fled to Mojaji's
country with part of the Baloyi tribe for a time, but afterwards
returned and deposed Mawewe. A portion of the tribe,
however, remained in Mojaji's country under an Induna of
Mzila's, named Nkame, who is the ancestor of the present
chief Mamitwa. The latter has a rival in his cousin Ngwakata
and they carry on a sort of joint rule, but Ngwakata's claims
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 67
^re not recognised by the (Government as he Hves in Mojaji's
Location.
Another petty chief of the Baloyi, named Makuba. Hves, with
an unimportant following, on the Lebombo on the Portuguese
Tjorder, and there are also a number of petty Shangaan chiefs
or indunas whose male followers total aljout 400 living indepen-
dently in the Haenertsburg District.
The Shangaans generally are known among natives as
" Mabundhlela," which signifies " pioneers." Having always
teen w^ell disposed towards Europeans, they were encouraged
by the late Government to settle on the banks of the Great
Letaba, in order that they might act as a buffer between the
Basuto tribes living to the north and south of that river
respectively.
The Shangaans are a stalwart race, and approach more
nearly to the Zulus in physique than any of the other northern
tribes. They alone wear an imitation of the Zulu head-ring,
which with the Zulus denotes the proved warrior. The Shangaan
ring is, however, removable and larger than that of the Zulus,
which, being partly composed of the growing hair of the wearer,
■cannot be taken off.
In this and in other ways the Shangaans try to pose as
Zulus, probably because they recognise them as a superior
race. They nevertheless hate the Zulus as their oppressors
in former times.
Though they have engaged in various inter-tribal wars in
the past, and have on occasion assisted the Boers against other
tribes, the Transvaal Shangaans have never fought against
Europeans, and it is very unlikely that they will ever wish
to try conclusions with them in the future. They are a peace-
loving people and, though not lacking in courage, more given
to trading than warlike pursuits. They are industrious
cultivators, ready to adopt progressive ideas, very intelligent
and on the whole likely to benefit quickly from civilisation.
The so-called " Knob-nose Location," which was allotted
to the Shangaans by the Boers, is unhealthy and deficient in
water ; many of the people therefore prefer to S(]uat on outside
farms even if they have to pay rent for their occupation.
The present distribution of the Shangaans in the Zoutpans-
berg Division is shown in the following table :
(7269)
68
THK NATIVK TRIBKS OF THE TRAN.SVAAL.
t/! tr.
cA '/■. 'j; t/2
•-a o ex i
C t/)c =
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£ -J £ — ;
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V . =■ = X ?i
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Makuba ...
Mahohk)
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Baloyi ...
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<
THE NATIVE TRII'.ES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 69
IV. The Zulu Tribe.
The Letivaba Tribe. — The only representatives of the Zulu
Nation proper now found in the Zoutpansberg are the members
of the Letwaba family, living in the Pietersburg District in
Mashashaan's Location. They are the descendants of some of
Kekaan's tribe (see N. Western Division) who migrated further
north than the remainder.
The Letwaba people are now in three sections under the
chieftainess Mashashaan, chief Jonathan Maraba and chief
Jack Eland respectively.
Mashashaan's people number, according to the census of
1904, 5,094 souls, J. Maraba's 5,671, and J. Eland's 3,512.
2,000 to 3,000 fighting men miglit be mustered from the
whole tribe.
There are no records available concerning these people
especially, but it is natural to suppose that their history is
bound up with that of the Kekaan Tribes of the Waterberg,
and that their future policy and behaviour will follow that
of the latter, the more important branch of their race. Like
most Zulus in the Transvaal, the Letwaba are fast losing their
national characteristics, and are becoming more and more
merged in the neighbouring Basuto tribes
The Buys People.
The Bantu tribes found in the Zoutpansberg have now all
been enumerated. In order to complete the description of
the inhabitants of this division, however, mention must be made
of the Buys People, who, though not numerous or important,
or readily distinguishable from the Bantu by their appearance
or manners, are yet undoubtedly of European extraction.
They live on the farms Mara, Buysdorp, Buyshoek and
Buysplaats in the Blauwberg District, and are the descendants
of a renegade Dutch colonist, Schoonraad or Conrad de Buys,
who in the early days of Moselikatse fled from justice in the
Cape Colony and proceeded north to the Limpopo, where he
adopted the customs of the natives and quickly acquired great
influence over them. He had married a native girl in the
Cape Colony, by whom he had three sons ; Conrad, Gabriel and
Miguel, the latter of whom is the present chief of the tribe.
His wife having died while on the Limpopo River, be went into
70 THE NATIVl<: TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Portuguese territorj- where he married a European woman. As
he did not return, his sons gave him up for lost and decided
to further explore the country. This they did for a number
of years, moving from {)lai:e to place with their native wives.
They settled for some time at the place now known as Schoe-
mansdal, and then moved to near Louis Trichardt, after which
they dwelt at Buyskop near ^Varmbaths for a number of years.
^Vhen the Boer Voortrekkers came to \\'armbaths they were
joined by the Buys People, who had b)' this time largely increased
in numbers. They accompanied the trekkers to Schoemansdal,
and after remaining there for some years, moved to their
present place of residence, which in 1888 was granted to them
by the South African Republic Executive Council, conditionally
on their remaining faithful to the Boer Ciovernment.
This land has now been properly surveyed and is being
transferred to the Commissioner for Native Affairs as Trustee.
Numbers of aboriginal natives also reside on this land.
Miguel Buys has always been regarded as the head of the
Buys People. 'I'hey now number about 200 souls.
They speak Cape Dutch as well as the local dialect of
Sesuto.
The Buys People have never shown hostility towards white
people, either British or Dutch, and mindful of the white
blood in their veins, have always refused to submit to native
chiefs.
In the late war, however, they readily assisted the Boers with
labour and by " commandeering " other natives for them.
The J aalpeiis.
This name (signifying " Dusty-bellies," and given them by the
Boers owing to their colour, cau.sed, it is said, by their habit
of crawling along the ground when stalking game) is applied to
a few families of wandering aboriginal Bushmen who still
survive in the remotest parts of the Waterberg and Blauwberg
Districts along the JNIagalakwin River. They probably do not
number more than a few hundreds in all, live entirely by hunt-
ing and trapping, and are very little seen or known.
Present Condition of Tribes.
Considering the large native population of the Zoutpansberg,.
and the variety of tribes represented in the 1 )ivision, the quiet
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF TIIK TRANSVAAL. 7 1
manner in which the people have settled down since the late
war is as remarkable as it is satisfactory.
With the exception of one slight disturbance between the
circumcised and the uncircumcised portions of the Shiwasa
section of the Bavenda tribe in 1 904, and a few faction fights
in other tribes in none of which many casualties occurred,
and which in each case were easily suppressed by the personal
influence of the officials, the tribes have given no trouble
whatever since the annexation of the 'I'ransvaal.
During May and June, 1904, rumours were certainly current
that something approaching a general rising of the natives
of these districts was imminent, but careful investigation
revealed no Just ground for these rumours, and it would seem
likel)' that the> were set on foot by interested persons, for their
own ends.
More importance attaches to the recentl)' formed native
Society, styled the "Native Vigilance Association," which
has some hundreds of adherents, chiefly educated natives,
including some members of the Ethiopian Church, and of which
the headquarters is established at Pietersburg.
" The ostensible objects of the Association," writes the
Native Commissioner of the Zoutpansberg in his Annual
Report for 1904, "are to watch native interests and to make
representations of such and any grievances the people may
have to the Government. That such is not the only object
has been clearl) manifested since the Association came into
vogue. A newspaper, styled Leihlo h Bahatsho (" The
Native Eye ") was started under its auspices, which revealed the
tone of the Association at once. The true object of the body
would now appear to be a campaign, headed by the educated
section of the people, to agitate and demand, inter alia,
rights and privileges, that are at present kept out of the
reach of natives, for the reason that they are not capable
of enjoying them A general agitation such as the
Native Vigilance Association would care to make, could not
possibly have a good effect upon the whole population, for
at least 90 per cent, or more are totally uneducated, and
are not fit for or capable of enjoying the whole privileges of
a citizen. The propaganda of the Association is disseminated
by means of their paper, circulars, etc., largely amongst every
section of the natives, all of which can only be read by a small
proportion, who interpret the contents to others."
'i'he progress •r civilisation of the natives in these districts
■^2 THE NATIVP: TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
as a whole cannot be said to be rapid as compared with
that of those inhabiting the Western Districts, for instance.
The tribes here cleave to their ancient manners and customs,
witch-craft flourishes, and progress in methods of cultivation
is but slow. The wearing of some sort of European clothing
is, however, becoming more general, and the influence of
missionaries more apparent.
On the whole, the Zoutpansberg tribes may be considered as
well under control, and unlikely to give trouble under present
circumstances.
I
CHAPTER VI.
THE TRIBES OF THE EASTERN DISTRICTS.
The total native population of these districts is approximately
as follows : —
Lydenburg (including Sekukuniland) ... 49,307
Sabi 30,599
Middelburg ... ... ... ... 14,069
Pokwani ... ... ... ... 21,593
Barberton ... ... ... ... 21,786
Total (according to census--, 1904) 137, 354
This total probably includes about 30,000 adult males of all
races, who can be classed as fighting men.
In normal years 5,000 to 6,000 of the men are usually away
at work in other districts. This number increases in bad
seasons and diminishes in good ones.
The tribes represented are :■ — ■
I. Basuto ;
II. Swazi ;
III. Shangaan ;
IV. Zulu.
The Basuto tribes are considerably more numerous than the
other three tribes put together. The number of Swazis is
roughly equal to the combined total of Zulus and Shangaans.
T/ie Basuto Tribes.
The principal Basuto tribes found here are : (a) Bapedi ; {U)
Bakoni ; (r) Baphuti. The Batau {d) must also be placed here,
as, though they are not really of Basuto extraction, they have
for so many years been closely allied with the Bapedi that they
are now quite identified with the latter-
74
THF NATIVI-: TRIHES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
{a) The Bapedi. — Foremost among the Basuto of these parts
is the great Bapedi tribe, commonly known as Sekukuni's and
l)erhaps the best known in the whole Transvaal.
It has been stated (in the description of the tribes of the
western division) that the Bapedi chiefs are descended from the
Bakhatla — a Bechuana tribe. The manner of their descent is
shown in the followins; tree : —
I
Modise (ancestor of
Chiefs of Bakhatla
Bamakau, Pretoria
district).
Tabane (Bakhatla chief, see Western Division).
I
Liale
Le Lellatenj
Moramotshe.
Mampuru I.
(ancestor of Ba-
Khaha tribe ir.
Zoutpansberg. )
Kocope.
(Murdered by
Tulare. )
Tulare.
Malakutu. Matsebe. Petedi. Motole. Makopole. Sekwati-
(Poisoned (Killed by (Killed in battle by Moselikatse. )
by his
Matsebc. ) brothers.)
Mampuru II. Sekukuni I.
( Hanged by Boers ir, I
1883.) I
Malakutu II. Sekukuni II.
(Present chief (Present chief. )
Pokwani district.)
Makeveteng.
(dead)
KJiolokweC'Geluk.")
Kholane.
(dead)
William (a minor) (for
whom Marichani
acts as regent).
At a date not exactl>- known, but which must have been near
the beginning of the eighteenth century, Liale left the main
THF NATIVl': TRIHKS OF THE TKANSVAAI.. 75
Bakhatla tribe in tiie Pretoria district, and, taking a section of
the people with him, moved eastward and settled in the
northern part of the Middelburg district, near Fort Weeber.
It appears that Basuto tribes were already living in that district,
but Liale's people quickly obtained the mastery over these.
They then took the name of Hapedi and adopted the " Duiker "
antelo{)e {Pkufi) as their totem. A\'ith the majority of
the Bapedi this has now been replaced by the porcupine
{/iiiku).
Moramotshe, grandson of Liale, quarrelled with his brother
Mampuru, with the result that the latter crossed with his
following to the north of the Olifants river, where his descen-
dants, the " Nuku " Bakhaha now dwell. (See " Tribes of the
Zoutpansberg Division.")
Kotopc, the next chief of the tribe, was soon murdered' by
his younger brother Tulare, who then became paramount chief
over the Bapedi and the surrounding tributary tribes, I'his
chief successfully raided the Basuto and Bechuana peoples in
the north and west and before long became very powerful.
His name is still revered by the people as the greatest warrior
of their tribe. He died in 1824 on the day of a solar
eclipse.
Tulare's son and successor, Malakutu, raised the Bapedi to
still greater eminence, for he not only defeated the Zulu
" Mapokh " tribes in his own neighbourhood, but also, it is
said, raided the country as far south as the Vaal River,
returning home with large herds of captured cattle. He had
barely ruled for two years, however, when he was poisoned by
his brother, Matsebe, who in turn was shortlj- afterwards killed
by his other brothers.
Petedi then succeeded, Mokopole, another son of Tulare,
moving to Lydenburg, where he made himself chief of the
Bakoni people inhabiting that part. Moselikatse then appeared,
and the brothers joined forces to oppose him, but the Bapedi
were utterly defeated by the Zulus at Olifantspoort on tlie
Steelpoort River ; all their principal chiefs were killed, their
kraals were burnt and the tribe completely broken up and
scattered m all directions. Sekwati, a young son of Tulare,
fled with a number of Bapedi to the Zoutpansberg, but
returning four years later to his old home, managed to reassem-
ble the remnants of his tribe, and also attracted and absorbed
the fragments of many other tribes — notably the Batau — which
had- been dispersed by the Matabele. By his efforts and
76 THE NATIVE TKIliES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
diplomacy the Bapedi became thus again the most powerful
tribe in the Eastern Transvaal, and Sekwati himself became
second in renown to no native chief in South Africa but
Moshesh, his great contemporary in Basutoland.
The prosperity of the Bapedi was checked about 1840 by
the incursions of the Swazis under Chief Umswazi, who
overcame Sekwati and occupied his country for several years,
only withdrawing in 1846 after having sold it to the Boers for
IOC head of cattle. The Boers then began to settle in the
Lydenburg district, and as a natural consequence collisions
occurred between them and the Bapedi, in which the latter
suffered severely. It was about this time that Sekwati first
took up his abode near Thaba-Mosigo in the Luluberg, which
has since been the headquarters of the tribe. It is related that
even at that time the Bapedi were in possession of a
considerable number of firearms, which had been obtained by
the tribesmen who had sought employment a: the eastern
seaports.
Further fighting took place between the Boers and the
Bapedi in 1S52, in which Sekwati was again worsted, and in
1857 he was glad to enter into a treaty with the Republic, by
which his territory was defined, and he bound himself to keep
the peace. Sekwati died in 1861.
His successor was Sekukuni I., who managed to drive away
JVIampuru, the rightful heir. He was not long restrained by
his father's treaty with the Boers, but indulged in cattle raiding
and other excesses which led to the war of 187 5- 1877 with
the Republic. On the British occupation in 1877 Sekukuni
professed friendship with the (iovernment, and a peace was
patched up, but the attitude of the Bapedi continuing defiant,
the expedition under Sir (iarnet Wolseley was despatched
against them in 1879, a large body of Swazis accompanying the
force. As is related in Chapter IX the Bapedi were then
completely subjugated, and .Sekukuni himself taken prisoner.
Mampuru, who had taken refuge with the .Swazis in 1861 and
accompanied them in 1879, hereupon assumed the chiefship of
the Bapedi, and on the release of Sekukuni from, prison refused
to relinquish his position, or to submit to the rule of the Boers,
who had meanwhile regained their independence. Mampuru
eventually fled to the Mapokh chief Nyabel for protection, and
with the latter's assistance surprised and killed Sekukuni in
18S2. The Mapokh war ensued, in which Nyabel and
"Mampuru were captured, and the latter was hanged by the
T5IK NATnr-; TRIHES of the TRANSVAAL. 7J
Boers. Malakutu, the present chief, son of Mampuru, escaped
north of the Olifants River, but was afterwards allowed to
return to his present location, where he is still recognised as
chief of his section of the tribe.
Sekukuni's son,* the present paramount chief, being yet
unborn at the time of his father's death, the chiefship was
exercised by his uncle Kholokwe, to whom the Boer Govern-
ment allotted the territory known as " Creluk's Location."
Kholokwe himself died in 1893, and a part of the Bapedi then
set up his son Makeveteng as chief, the young Sekukuni being
still too young to rule. This did not please Turmetsyane,
widow of Sekukuni I., so she made a petition to the Boer
Government on behalf of her son's rights, in consequence of
which a compromise was arrived at and the territory was divided
between Makeveteng and young Sekukuni, both of whom
were recognised as chiefs — Turmetsyane still acting for the
latter.
In 1900 Sekukuni, who was now of age, seized the oppor-
tunity afforded by the relaxation of the Boer rule to make an
effort to obtain the sole chiefship of the Bapedi. He
accordingly fell upon Makeveteng and his adherents, and drove
them out of the territory. They took refuge with Mampuru's
son Malakutu, who, when Sekukuni's people pursued them
lured them into an ambush and killed 100 of them, whereupon
the remainder retreated.
About this time also, Sekukuni persuaded Sekororo's and
other kindred tribes in the Haenertsburg district of the
Zoutpansberg to attack Maake and Mohlaba, two chiefs in the
same district, who had given asylum to Mafefe, whose life was
sought by Sekukuni, but the Bapedi were repulsed with some
loss.
On the annexation of the Transvaal, the British Government
confirmed the division of the Bapedi territory between
Sekukuni and Makeveteng, and the latter therefore returned
to his country, where he died in 1904, being succeeded by
Kholane, his younger brother. Kholane has also since died,
leaving a son "William" — a minor — on behalf of whom
Marichane rules.
There are thus still two distinct factions in the main Bapedi
tribe, headed by Sekukuni and Marichane respectively, and no
^' The present Sekukuni was born some time after his father's death, and
there are doubts as to his p.irentage.
7S TII?: NATIVE TK1I5ES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
love is lost between them. It is impo.ssible to accurately
estimate the relative strengths of the two parties, but
Sekukuni's is understood to be slighdy the stronger. As far as
can be gathered, Malakutu and his following are on the side of
Marichane, which is but natural considering the events of the
last few years which have just been recounted.
Sekukuni is now (1905) about twenty-four years of age : he
is fat, indolent, dissolute and unreliable, and of very weak
character. His mother, Turmetsyane, still exercises the real
authority over the tribe. Paswane is their chief adviser, and a
very shrewd man.
William, the young chief of the other section, is said to be
a very promising and intelligent youth, and it is possible that
when he attains his majority, the question of making him
paramount chief in place of Sekukuni may be considered.
As far as can be gathered from the present somewhat
imperfect classification of the tribes of these districts, the
Bapedi tribe proper numbers about 29,000 souls (exclusive of
the Zoutpansberg section). The majority of them live in the
Sekukuniland and Pokwani districts, the remainder being located
in the north of the Middelberg district.
Sekukuni, Marichani, and Malakutu are the principal Bapedi
chiefs, and each of these has a number of lesser chiefs under
him. Taking the figures obtained at the census of 1904, their
total followers are respectively :—
Sekukuni about ... 5,5co
Marichani ... ... ,, ... 8,500
Malakutu ... ... ,, ... 8,500
Other Bapedi, not im-"
mediately under the ^ „ ... 6,coo
above chiefs.
Total ... 28,500
Of these the Bapedi proper, probably less than one-half are
on the side of Sekukuni as opposed to the Marichani
faction.
Sekukuni, however, numbers among his adherents a con-
siderable proportion of the Bakoni, Baphuti, and Batau tribes
which will now be mentioned.
{/>) The Bakoni. — As explained in the description of the tribes
of the Zoutpansberg, the Bakoni found here are of the same
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 79
stock as those now living in tlie Pietersburg, Blauwberg and
Haenertsburg districts of that division. They appear to have
been established in the Lydenburg district before the arrival of
the Bapedi, but to have submitted to and become absorbed in
the latter readily enough, for it is related that they made
■common cause with them against Moselikatse.
In later times, the majority of the Bakoni seem to have
espoused the cause of Sekukuni's faction, and it is probable
that they would still support that chief should occasion
arise.
Of the Bakoni chiefs given in the ensuing tables, none are
of any importance personally, and the large numbers of the
tribe shown as without chiefs, are in effect to be included in
the following of Sekukuni.
The total number of these eastern Bakt^ni is about 13,500,
all of whom live in the Sekukuniland district.
(c) The Baphuti. — In the Sekukuniland district are living
nearly 5,000 people belonging to a tribe called Bahputi or
Baphuti. No details of their history are available from which
any direct connection can be established between them and the
Baphuti of Basutoland (who are said to be of Zulu extraction).
It can therefore be presumed that they are " Ba-phuti,"/>., '' The
people of the Duiker," which points to the fact that they
represent the section of the original Bapedi who retained that
animal as their tribal emblem when the remainder adopted the
porcupine. For this reason it would probably be more accurate
to classify them with the Bapedi proper.
There is only one considerable Baphuti chief, Nkwane by
name, who has about 2,000 followers of his own, the remainder
of the tribe being ruled by unimportant headmen.
It is considered that the majority of these people favour the
Marichani faction of the Bapedi.
{d) The B a- Tail. — This tribe, which is known as the "lion-
tribe" from its totem "Tau" = " the lion," comprises neariy
13,000 people in the Sekukuniland and Pokwani districts. It
has no connection with the Ba-matau tribe (which is a section
of the Bakwena) in the western division, but its chiefs trace
their descent back to a section of the Swazis of Swaziland,
whence their forefathers seem to have migrated 10 their present
abodes at a very early date. Soon after their arrival in these
parts they subjugated certain Basuto tribes whom they
found living there, but themselves became tributary to the
Bapedi, shortly after the appearance of the latter. They early
80 THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
adopted the language and customs of the Bapedi, and have since
become so completely identified with these people, that it is
natural to place them here, and not with tht Swazi tribes with
whom they no longer have any connection.
When Sekukuni I. became chief of the Bapedi, the Ba-tau^
then under Makhali, attempted to throw off his rule, but were
unsuccessful. Makhali died in 1874, and was succeeded by
his son Tseke, the present chief, who seems to have still
cherished a grudge against Sekukuni, for when that chief was
murdered by Mampuru in 1882, he refused to join in the
attack on Nyabel, who was sheltering the latter, though sum-
moned by the Boer Government to assist with his tribe. For
this he was fined ^100 by the Boers.
It follows therefore that Tseke (who is sometimes known by
the name of his father, Makhali) is now a partisan of
Marichani's.
He has about 5,500 people, living in the Pokwani district.
Paswane, the Patau chief next in importance, is on the
contrary a strong supporter of Sekukuni's, and acts as his
chief councillor.
He and his people, who number some 1,800, live in the
Sekukuniland district. In this district are also : —
Makhomane with over ... ... 1,500 people.
Komane „ ... ... 1,300 ,,
Ntwane „ ... ...1,100 ,,
and three or four petty chiefs whose joint followings total
about 2,000 people. Most of these would also probably take
vSekukuni's part.
In addition to the tribes just enumerated, there are also some
representatives of the Bakwena, of the Maleo or Maloyi (a
Basutoland tribe), of the Li-Kulube section of the Bakwebo (see
Zoutpansberg) and possibly of many other tribes, now merged
in the Bapedi, whose identity has been lost. There are now
moreover large numbers of people, notably in the Sabi district,
whose tribes have not yet been determined, and who are therefore
classed simply as Basuto. These are partly descended from
tribes who settled in these districts at the time of the original
Bantu invasion from the north, and partly from survivors of the
Zulu and Swazi massacres of the early nineteenth century in
the Northern Orange River Colony and southern and south-
eastern Transvaal, who sought safety in the wild mountains and
forests south if the Olifants river.
1
I
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 8 1
There are several chiefs of these unclassified Easuto in the
Sabi district, with considerable followings, the principal oi
whom are : — ■
Kobeni, who has over 5,000 people ; Tabakulu, . Mrehi.
Maklufi, and Motele, each of whom has over 2,000 ; Sitlari.
who has about 1,800 ; and three others who have some 4,occ
l)eople between them.
The following table shows the principal Bapedi and other
liasuto chiefs, with the strength of their respective followings
according to the census of 1904 : —
(7260)
THE NATIVE TRIBES OK THE TRANSVAAL.
■5 c
O
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THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
83
" 00 _ i;
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j= c § 2 -'^
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"^^-
^2 o
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(7269)
F 2
84
II li: NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL,
o
o
s
'o
o
CJ
Locality of Chief Kraals.
Ilermansburg 1035.
P^landsfontein 167.
do.
Waterhoutboom 523.
Vooruitzicht 363.
Welgevonden 364.
Buffelsfontein 1218.
Salique 594.
-In Town Location.
Dislricl.
Sabi
do.
do
do
do
do
do.
d..
Sekukuniland
Middelburg
Barberton
Numbers.
Fighting
Men,
OOOOOOOQ
000lo»^"^00
0 000
8
0
Chief,
Kobeni
Mapuku
Diamond
Zwaartbooi
Tabakulu ...
Maklufi
Sitlari
Mlitele
Various petty chiefs
No chiefs
No chiefs
Grand Total
'J
1
Other Basuto Tribes -
THE NATIVE TRIIJES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 85
Swazi Tribes.
I'he bulk of the Swazis found in this part Uve in the district
of Barberton, where they settled about the year 1865, having
lied from Swaziland to escape the wholesale " killing-off " which
took place on the death of the great Swazi chief Umswaziv
■'I'hey found the district practically uninhabited, as a Basuto
tribe which had formerly dwelt there, had been exterminated
-some years before by the Swazis under Sapusa.
The Barberton Swazis are ruled by two chieftainesses, both
widows of Umswazi, named Nomqcisa or Nompete, and
Nyanda (known as Mac- Mac) respectively. The former lives
near Nelspruit, and the latter near Kaapmuiden.
The total number of Swazis in this district is nearly 20,000,
and they have a number of petty chiefs j all of these are, how-
ever, subject to one or other of the above royal widows.
In the Sabi district are nearly 6,000 Swazis under the three
chiefs, Ngulube, Sitorom, and Msikiza, and in Sekukuniland
over 2,000 under Shopiane, Malikalik and Nkobe. These and
the few in Middelburg district are probably descended from
some of the followers of Umswazi who remained there when
the latter withdrew his victorious forces in 1846.
These Swazis, though, like their confreres in Swaziland, they
have somewhat deteriorated since the days of Umswazi, still
show signs of having once been a conquering race. They have
a great contempt for the Basuto, whom they refer to as "dogs,"
and are decidedly superior to the latter in physique and per-
sonal courage, though not their equals in cunning. They
have never taken part in any war against Europeans, but have
on the contrary more than once proved themselves valuable
allies to both Boers and British against other tribes.
The following is the distribution of the Swazis in t e
•t.astcrn districts : —
86
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TR.\NSVAAL;
Num
jers.
Plac
e of Residence.
Chief.
1
Fighting
men.
Total.
District.
Locality of Chief Kraal.
Nomqciza or
Nompete
(Chieftainess).
Under
1,000
4,473
Barberton ...
Msoli River (near
Nelspruit).
Nomqciza :
Roleka ...^
Muisi
Dantyo . . .
Duma
M hobo bo
1,200
S.ooo
f
do. J,
Ingwenya Mountains.
Steynsdorp.
Hilltop-Nelspi-uit.
Nelspruit.
Neikazi River.
Mhwayi ...
Silikana ...
do.
Crocodile Poort.
and several
—
lesser chiefs J
I
—
Nyanda
(Chieftainess).
Under Nyanda
Matamu . . . ^
450
1,889
do. ..
r
Three Sisters (near
Kaapmuiden).
Schoemansdal.
Mbudula ...
Nomahasha.
Maqekeza
Huya ... i
Mjajana ... f
Hlupeka . . .
and several
(abt.)\
2,000 J
8,500
do. \
1
Komatipoort.
do.
Hector Spruit,
Louws Creek.
lesser chiefs j
I
—
Ngulube
Sitorom
Msikiza
Shopiane
Malikalik
450
350
400
300
50
1,997
1,778
1,938
1,277
330
Sabi
do.
do.
Sekukunilanc
do.
Lunsklip (374).
Klipkopje (812).
Spitzkop (39).
Het Fort (763).
Twickenham (701).
Nkobe
Mashele
ISO
100
6,100
636
510
do.
Middelburg..
Hoepakrantz (5).
Wonderfontein.
I
I
Zu/u Tribes {Amandebele or Matabele).
The only considerable Zulu tribe in the Eastern districts is
that usually known as Mapokh's. These people are the elder
branch of the Nzunza section of the Matabele, of which a small
portion resides in the Pretoria district under the chief Fene
THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL. 87.
Mahlangu. As has been related in the description of the tribes
of the Central division, the Matabele came to the Transvaal in
the early part of the nineteenth century (probably as fugitives
from the territory of the Zulu chief Chaka) under the leadership
of a chief named Musi, on whose death, Nzunza, one of his
sons, moved eastward with a following, in consequence of quarrels
with his brothers, and settled in the neighbourhood of Roos
Senekal, where the Mapokh people still dwell. Their present
chief Jafta is the lineal descendant of Nzunza.
Under Nzunza's successor, known to the Boers as Mapokh
(his native name was Mabokho), the tribe became a terror to
the neighbourhood owing to the marauding propensities of its
members. In 1863 the Boer Government dispatched a fruitless
expedition against Mapokh, but in the following year the Swazis
inflicted a severe defeat on him. It was not till 1882-3, how-
ever, that the tribe was eff'ectually subdued, after a nine months'
campaign by the commandos of the Republic. The people
were then distributed over the Transvaal as " indentured
servants " among the Boers, and have not since then been of
much account.
The Mapokh people are still a stalwart race, and are superior
in physique and courage to their Basuto neighbours, though not
their equals in intelligence.
Their present chief is named Jafta, whose people, including
those of a petty chief under him, named Gamela Kwakwari,
number over 10,000. These all live in the northern part of the
Middelburg district.
About 1,800 Zulus also live in Sekukuniland, and some 700
in Barberton district. These have no chiefs of importance, and
those in Barberton are so much intermarried with the Swazis
that they may to all intents and purposes be considered one with
the latter.
The detailed distribution of the Zulus of the Eastern districts
is as follows : —
S8 THE NATIVE TRIBES (JE THE TRANSVAAI,
Numbers.
Place of Reiiidence.
Chief.
Fighting
men.
Total.
District.
Locality of Chief Kraal.
Jafta (Mapokh)
Gamela Kwak-
2,000
250
9,049
1,006
Midflelburg Kaffirskraal (62).
do. ! —
wari.
Maime
Xi) chiefs
do.
So
300
150
397
1,490
757
1
Sekukuniland Indie (688).
do. Scattered.
Barbcrton . . . do.
Total (abt.)...
2,800
The general history of the Shangaan nation is given in the
description of the Zoutpansberg natives. The Shangaans found
in the Eastern districts, however, arc mostly recent immigrants
from Portuguese territory, having fled into the 7>ansvaal aftei'
the defeat and capture of their chief Gungunyana by the Portu-
guese in 1896. Gungunyana was the son of Mzila who suc-
ceeded Manukusa, the original leader of the Shangaans in their
northward march from Zululand.
The bulk of the Shangaans here are in the Sabi district ; they
have several chiefs, mentioned below, of whom the most in
fluential seems to be Mpisane, who is related to Gungunyana.
There are no chiefs of importance in the other Eastern districts.
The people called Hlangaans or Amahlangana are a mixed
race, being the offspring of Shangaans, Zulus or Swazis, who
settled among and took wives of the local Basuto tribes.. The\
liave no distinctive features and are of no particular importance
as they are identified with the tribes, Basuto or Shangaan, with
which they live.
Their name is derived from the Zulu " HIangana '" = to mix.
The total number of Shangaans and Hlangaans in these
districts i> nearly 11,000, made up as follows : —
THE NATIVE TRIBLS OF THE TRANSVAAL.
89
Numbers.
Place of Residence.
Chltf.
Fighting
men.
Total.
Uislric;.
Locality of Chief Kraal.
Shangaans :
M pisane
300
1,387
Sabi
New Forest (267).
Magvvagwaza
550
2,500
do.
Rooiboklaagte (668).
Mambatini ...
300
1,410
do.
Sandford (46).
Matebela ...
300
1,406
do.
Boschhoek (47).
Illupeka
50
220
Barberton ...
Louw's Creek.
No chiefs . . .
50
289
Sabi
Scattered.
1 llangaans :
Matches
200
914
do.
Lothian (358).
Njonjella
KG
571
do.
Cunning moor (271).
No chiefs ...
SCO
2,400
2,187
Sekukimiland
Scattered.
Present Condition 01- Tru'.es.
The leading factor in native politfts in these districts is of
t-.ourse the Bapedi tribe, which is probably more likely to give
trouble than any other in the Transvaal. The chief Sekukuni
considers that he has a grievance in that he i.s no longer sole
<-hief of the Bapedi, and is constantly agitating and intriguing
against Marichani, who is recognized by the Government as a
[)ractically independent chief. He is not personally a strong
< character, but his mother and his councillors continually urge
liim on to assert his dignity, and his descent from Sekwati and
Tulare carries much weight with a large section of the tribe, so
that unless he alienates their sympathies by injudicious be-
haviour, his faction is likely to increase, or anyhow not to
become less. Now that the natives have been deprived of most
of their firearms, however, it is not easy to see how this or any
other tribe could rise in active rebellion against the Government,
and should these people at any time show hostility in their
traditional manner, namely, by stealing cattle on a large scale
and attacking unprotected farmsteads, it should be a fairly easy
matter to bring them to book.
The Luluberg range, in which are numerous natural strong-
liolds wherein the Bapedi would take refuge, is, with the
improved communications now existing, much more easy of
90 THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL.
access than formerly, and we should almost certainly have the
active support of a large number of Swazis and Zulus from the
south, as well as of certain of the Basuto and Shangaan tribes
from the north. The Bapedi, moreover, have never been re-
nowned for personal courage, so that any trouble that they might
be disposed to give, could probably be put down with b'lt a
slight show of military force.
Marichani, who is the present head of the other section of
the Bapedi, is reported to be extremely well-disposed towards
the Government, and his people most unlikely to give trouble.
Of the other races found in these districts, Mapokh's people
are not numerous enough at the present day to be seriously
considered, and neither Shangaans nor Swazis have ever fought
against Europeans in the Transvaal. Should the Swaziland
natives ever rise, however, it may be anticipated that their
kindred in the Barberton and adjacent districts would join them.
The material condition of the natives of these parts is far from
prosperous, a succession of lean years, cattle plagues and sickness
having left their stamp upon them. Much of the country they
inhabit is unhealthy at all times, fever is very prevalent, and
venereal disease rampant and on the increase. Their moral
condition is described as* deplorable. It is therefore not sur-
prising to learn from the latest ofificial reports that their progress ■
in civilization is very slow.
There are several Lutheran missions amongst these tribes,
but they have comparatively few converts and but little influence,
and.it maybe said that the general condition of these tribes
contrasts unfavourably with that of most of the other native
inhabitants of the Transvaal.
CHAPTER VII.
THE TRIBES OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN
DISTRICTS.
These districts no longer form a separate administrative
division under the Native Affairs Department ; it has not, there-
fore, been possible to obtain any detailed information as to the
respective numbers of the tribes, Zulu, Swazi and Basuto, which
are here represented.
Of the total numbers of natives, however, only a ver)' small
proportion are of Basuto extraction, the remainder being Zulus
and -Swazis in about equal proportions.
Tribal organization is not regularly maintained in these
districts ; there are no chiefs of special note, and the natives do
not live in special locations, but all reside on farms or in the
towns in which they are employed.
The total population by districts is as follows : —
Wakkerstroom
Piet Retief
Ermelo ...
Carolina
Standerton
19.465
28,442
14,172
9=143
15.550
86,772
Distribution by Districts.
Wakkerstroom. — Zulus and Swazis seem to be in about equal
numbers here. The district appears to have been originally
part of the Swazi dominions, and about the middle of the
eighteenth century was inhabited by a Swazi tribe called " Nkosi
Tshabalala," whose chief was named Mate. The grandson of
the latter chief, named Simahla, was driven out of the district
by Umswazi, the Swazi king, probably about 1830-40, but the
people of the tribe remained and have since been living under
*)2 THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
the present chief Mahloi\iendhleni, a younger brother of Simahla.
He is now about 70 years of age.
The Zulus in this district are under Dhlangayana and various
petty chiefs.
J^ie^ Retief. — -This district was ceded to the South African
Republic by the Swazis in 1868 in exchange for a number of
cattle. At that time it was peopled almost entirely by Swazis,
"but a few years later some Zulus immigrated who have also
settled there.
Sitambe is the only chief of any account in the district.
Ermelo. — In the valley of the Vaal river and along the Kaffir
Spruit in this district live the remnants of a Basuto tribe, which
is said to have been a large and powerful one till it was broken
up by the Swazis, who, in 1820, assisted one section of the tribe
to drive out the other. The chief of the victorious section at
that time was named Gama, and the present tribe is composed
of the descendants of his following.
With the exception of these Basuto, the natives found in the
i'^rmelo district are Zulus and Swazis, chiefly the latter, under
Sobusa and various petty chiefs.
Carolina. — This district is jjeopled almost entirely by Swazis.
The Komati Valley has for a very long time been looked upon
by the Swazis as part of their territory, as they claim to have
driven from it the former inhabitants, who are said to have been
Dasuto.
In the Western part of the district are members of vaiious
tribes who have come in at various times and settled on farms.
The only chief worth mentioning is the Swazi chief Noma-
gahlela.
Sta?ide7-t07i . — Zulus and Swazis seem to predominate in this
district, but there are also a number of Basutos found there,
members of various northern tribes who must be the des-
cendants of "indentured servants" captured by the Boers in
<lifferent native wars and distributed over the country.
The natives here are not under any chiefs at all.
The distribution of races is therefore thus :--
THE NATIVE TRIBE.S OK THE TRANSVAAL
District. Tribes. Chiefs.
Population.
Wakkerstroom Zulu and Swazi ...
Piet Relief . . . | do.
Ennclo ...' Zulu, Svvazi, and Basuto...
Carolina ...i Zulu and Swazi
Standerton ...j Zulu, Swazi, and Various
Mahlomendhleni
Dhlangayaiia ...
Sitamhc
.Sobusii ...
Nomagahlela ...
Nil
j 19.465
28,442
14,172
9.143
15.550
86,772
From this total, 15,000 to 20,000 figlitiuL:; men could
probably be raised.
The natives of these districts are to he considered rather
in conjunction with those of Swaziland and Zululand, respec
tively than with any of the other Transvaal tribes, for though
they profess a sort of allegiance to the local chiefs above
mentioned, the Zulus really look to the paramount chief of
Zululand, Dinizulu, as their real head, while the Swazis consider
themselves to be subjects of the Swazi Queen. It is tnerefort;
likely that they would join in any widespread disturbance or
political movement that might arise in Swaziland or Zululand.
as the case might be, but on the other hand it is improbable
that they would be affected by any native movement origina-
ting in the Northern or Western Transvaal, as they have no
connection with the tribes inhabiting those jiarls.
CHAPTER VIII.
ADMINISTRATION.
(A) ■ Organisation of the Native Affairs Department.
The natives of the Transvaal are administered by the Native
Affairs Department, which has its headquarters at Johannesburg.
The administrative head of the Department is the Commissioner
for Native Affairs (now Sir Godfrey Lagden, K.C.M.G.), who
has a seat on the Legislative Council of the Transvaal. The
permanent head of the Department is the Secretary for Native
Affairs (Mr. W. Windham), who is assisted by a permanent staff
at headquarters.
The Department was formed soon after the annexation of the
Transvaal in 1900, and the present Commissioner for Native
Affairs took up his appointment in August, 1901, but owing to the
state of war then prevailing, he was not able to exercise complete
supervision of the natives before the declaration of peace. Until
that time, therefore, native questions were generally dealt with
by the military authorities, by ^yhom certain officers were also
appointed as temporary Native Commissioners.
In 1902 the Transvaal was, for purposes of Native Adminis-
tration, divided into five " Divisions," viz., Eastern, Northei-u,
North- Western, Western and Central. Each division had a
Native Commissioner, under whom were Sub-Native Commis-
sioners— one for each of the " Sub-Districts " into which the
division was divided. This arrangement continued till the
ist July, 1904, when the staff of the Native Affairs Department
was considerably reduced in most parts of the countr)- ; the East-
ern and North-Western Divisions were abolished as administra-
tive units, and those officials of the Department left there brought
under the Resident Magistrates of Civil Districts, who now
combine the functions of Native Commissioner with their own.
The department, however, of course, still deals with all
questions of policy, as regards Natives, all over the Colony.
The District organisation of the Native Affairs Department
i.s at present as follows : —
•THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 95
Northern or Zoutpansberg Division : — Head — Native Com-
missioner at' Pietersburg, under whom are the Districts of
Pietersburg, Spelonken, Haenertsburg, Shivasa, and Blauwberg,
each having a Sub-Native Commissioner in charge,
Western Division : — Head — Native Commissioner at
Rustenburg, under whom are the districts of Rustenburg,
Pilansberg and Marico, each having a Sub-Native Commissioner
ill charge. The districts of Potchefstroom, Lichtenburg and
W^ohnaransstad have no officials of the Department, but their
native inhabitants are, for purposes of statistics and general
administration, grouped with those of this Division.
Central Divisiofi : — Head — Native Commissioner at Pretoria
under whom are the Districts of Pretoria and Hamanskraal,
each having a Sub-Native Commissioner in charge. For
))urposes of statistics, etc., the districts of Witwatersrand and
Heidelberg are included in this division.
The North -Western and Eastern Divisions have been
abolished as administrative units, and no longer have Native
Commissioners in charge, but for statistical purposes are
arranged in the following groups of Districts : —
ATorth- Western : Districts of Piet Potgietersrust, Warmbaths,
and Nylstroom.
Eastern: Districts of Sekukuniland, Sabi, Pokwani, Middel-
hurg and Barberton.
Soiith-Eastern : Districts of Ermelo (including Carolina),
Wakkerstroom, Pietretief, and Standerton (including Bethal).
With the exception of Ermelo and Standerton, in which no
officials of the Native Affairs Department are stationed, each
')f the above Districts has a Sub-Native Commissioner, who is
responsible to the Resident Magistrate of the District.
Duties of Officials of the Native Affairs Department.
The functions of the officials of the Native Affairs Depart-
ment are chiefly administrative and political, but Native
< 'ommissioners and Sub-Native Commissioners also exercise
a limited jurisdiction under powers conferred on them, as ex-
officio Justices of the Peace, outside of a radius of 20 miles
from any Magistrates' court in their District.
General Duties. — Native Commissioners are directly res-
ponsible to the Commissioner for Native Affairs, and act
as his representatives in their respective Divisions. They
are responsible for the observance of all laws and regulations
96 THE NATIVK TkllSES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
affecting natives, supervise and control the collection ot
native taxes, and advise the chiefs in the conduct of tribal
affairs.
Sub-Native Commissioners assist the Commissioners generally,
and co-operate with the Magistrates in enforcing the laws ; they
collect taxes, issue native passes, and solemnise marriages
between coloured persons.
Native Commissioners and Sub-Commissioners are em-
powered to enquire into and decide all civil disputes between
native and native, as well as civil matters referred to them
by white persons against any natives of a large and savage-
tribe.
Native Commissioners can punish any native offender against
the criminal laws by a fine up to £io, or imprisonment u|>
to 3 months, or lashes up to 25. Outside the above-mentioned
limits they may deal with offences committed by any persons,
punishable by a penalty not exceeding a ^^25 fine, or imprison-
ment for one month.
They have also power to inflict various penalties, not
exceeding a ;^2o fine, or one month's imprisonment, for contra
vention of the Game Laws.
Each Native Commissioner and Sub-Commissioner has a
small staff of native policemen. These act as a sort of
intelligence agents, and are also employed in the serving of
warrants and subpoenas, in circulating orders, escorting
prisoners and carrying dispatches, besides assisting the Con-
stabulary in their duties, especially in enforcing the Game Laws.
(B) SYSTEM OF LAND TENURE.
The question of the tenure of land by natives in South
Africa is a most important one, as from it arise many of
the most serious native problems of the day ; it is therefore-
advisable to briefly describe the various conditions under which
the lands occupied by natives in the Transvaal are held b\
them.
In this Colony natives not living in towns (where they live
in urban locations) occupy land as follows : — •
(a) l/ocations or reserves specially set apart for them, or
{b) Land regularly acquired and owned by themselves, or
{c) Land, the propcrt}' of white owners, or
{d) Crown lands.
THE NATIVE TKIP.ES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 97
(a) Natives living in the (lovernment locations enjoy
common rights in regard to water, wood and grazing — the
" garden lots " being apportioned by the chiefs. The natives
pay no rent to Government for the use of these lands.
The circumstances under which some of the principal
locations were granted to natives are alluded to in the fore-
going chapters.
(d) Almost all the ground which is the actual property
of the natives has been purchased at different times by tribal
subscription and is occupied communally by tribes or portions
of tribes.
When the Boers first occupied the country they laid down
the principle that no native could own land or acquire it
by purchase. This was, however, afterwards modified in
favour of individual natives, and in some cases missionaries
and unofiicial Europeans were allowed to purchase land on
behalf of natives, from which practice litigation often resulted.
The Pretoria Convention of 1881 provided that natives
should be allowed to acquire land, but the transfer of the
property was to be registered in the name of the Native
Location Commission, in trust for the purchaser. Under
the present administration the Commissioner for Native
Affairs is now the trustee for all lands purchased by natives.
{c) About one-half of the whole native population of the
Transvaal is at present living on private land, owned by
Europeans and companies. Under the " Squatters' Law " of
1895, not more than five families of natives are allowed to live on
any farm or divided portion of a farm, without the special
sanction of Government. This law has, however, not been
enforced and is now practically a dead letter throughout the
Transvaal, with the consequence that large numbers of natives
are congregated on many farms in the Colony, especially in the
Zoutpansberg, Lydenburg, A\'aterberg, and Middelburg Districts,
thus forming unauthorised locations.
The natives living on these private farms pay to the
owners thereof an annual rental in labour or money, varying
in amount, the minimum being ^i per inhabited hut per
annum.
(ci) Every adult native cultivator living on Crown lands is
liable to pay to the Government an annual rental of j£i in
addition to the poll tax. No charge is, however, made for water,
wood or grazing, and the natives are not restricted as to the
amount of land they cultivate.
(7269) G
98 THE NATIVE TKII'.ES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
As ma)' be readily imagined these various systems of
occupation of land by natives have given and continue to
give rise to much trouble to the authorities, and in some
cases discontent on the part of the natives. For instance,
some of the regular locations and reserves are too small
in area and too poor in water and soil to support the popu-
lation to which they were allotted; this with the rapid
increase of the people of late years, has led to the overflow of
natives on to lands the property of the Crown or of private
individuals, where they have to pay rent or give free labour in
lieu.
Some discontent not unnaturally exists on this account
among the natives, who are becoming increasingly anxious to
purchase land outright.
On the other hand, the authorities are alive to the
obvious disadvantages likely to ensue if the unrestricted
sale of land to natives be permitted, and are therefore
inclined to put obstacles in the way of natives in this respect.
The whole subject of land tenure has been minutely discussed
by the Native Affairs Commission recently held, and the
general conclusions arrived at are roughly these :
(a) That natives in communal occupation of land should
be encouraged to adopt individual tenure.
{/>) That to natives holding land individually the right
of permanent occupation should be assured, subject
to forfetiure for rebellion, treason and other offences,
or for failure to pay rent.
(c) That " squatting " by natives on private land whether
as tenants or otherwise should be restricted.
(<^) That natives should in future be allowed to purchase
land only in certain areas, with a view to individual
occupation, and not with a view to tribal, communal
or collective possession.
The Commission further recommended that all land
set apart or now to be set apart as native locations, should
be accurately defined and delimited, and that this having
been done, no more land should be reserved for native occu-
pation.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 99
(C) TAXATION.
The natives of the Transvaal are subject to a poll tax of ^2
per annum per male adult, a further amount of £^2 per annum
being levied on each wife more than one.
It is probable that on the recommendation of the native
Affairs Commission, this may be changed to a hut-tax of £,\
per annum per inhabited hut, with an additional tax on every
wife above one.
About ^270,000 was collected in native poll-tax during
1903-4.
Natives also pay a dog tax {\os. per dog per annum) and a
fee on passes and certificates, under which heads about
^197,340 was collected in 1903-4 in the Transvaal.
(7269) G 2
CHAPTER IX.
NATIVE WARS.
Boer Campaigns Against ^Moselikatse.
ist Expedition^ 1837.
The first t)rganized expedition by the emigrant Boers
against natives was in 1837, when Commandants Potgieter and
Maritz led a force of 107 mounted burghers, and about 150
friendly natives, mostly Baralong and Griquas, against
Moselikatse's Matabele, in retaliation for the unprovoked
attacks made on them by the latter, south of the Vaal, the
preceding year.
Starting from near Thabanchu in the Orange River Colony,
this small force surprised the chief kraal of the Matabele
at Mosega in the Marico District on the 17th January, 1837,
put their fighting men to flight, and pursued them till sunset,
killing 400 of them. The commando then set fire to the
kraals, where they found most of the wagons taken from them
before, and returned south of the A'aal with 7,000 head of
■cattle as booty. The Boers had not a single casualty in the
•engagement.
2nd Expedition, 1837. — A second campaign against
Moselikatse was undertaken towards the end of 1837. The
commando this time numbered 135 farmers, and was led
by Potgieter and Pieter Uys. A few friendly Baralong
accompanied them. In November, 1S37, the expedition
found Moselikatse on the Marikwa, 50 miles north of Mosiga,
and in a campaign — or rather pursuit — of eight or nine days,
accounted for 400 or 500 Matabele, and captured over 6,000
head of cattle without the loss of a man.
This campaign had important results, for the Matabele
retired to the north of the Limpopo and never returned.
After the flight of Moselikatse, Commandant Potgieter issued
a proclamation annexing the whole of the territory formerly
THE NATIVK TRIBES OF THE TF^IANSVAAL. lOI
overrun by that chief. This included the greater part of the
present Transvaal, fully half of the present Orange River
Colony and a part of Southern Bechuanaland, all of which
had been almost depopulated by the Matabele.
yd Expedition, 1847. — -In June, 1847, Commandant
I'otgieter led another expedition against Moselikatse, who was
found far north of the Limpopo. The Boers seized 1,600
cattle, but were unable to get them away, as the Matabele
attacked them in such force that the commando was forced
to retire. This expedition was therefore quite fruitless.
1st Expedition ai^ainst the Ba-Pedi Tribe, 1846. — In the
winter of 1846 quarrels arose between the Boer settlers and
the Bapedi people, who at this time had become a strong and
united tribe under Sekwati, and inhabited the Lulu Mountains,
east of the Olifants River. C'ommandant Potgieter with 150
burghers, some Baralong, and a party of natives under a half-
breed son of the outlaw De Buys, attacked the Bapedi and
took from them 8,000 cattle and 6,000 goats apparently
without loss to themselves. Peace was restored by the
submission of Sekwati to the Boers.
2nd Expedition against the Ba-Pedi [Seki/ki/ni) Tribe, 1852.
— The victory of the Basuto at Viervoet, near Thabanchu,
Orange River Colony, in 185 1, over a European commando
under Major Warden and some Baralong allies, had a
disturbing effect on the tribes as far north as the Limpopo,
and more especially on the Bapedi, who were akin to, as well
as in entire sympathy with Moshesh's people. Sekwati began
to think that, if the Southern Basuto had successfully resisted
the white man, he might do the same. Emboldened also by
the possession of a number of muskets, the Bapedi, about the
middle of 1852, became openly defiant and commenced to
rob the neighbouring farmers' cattle.
On 25th August, 1852, the, burghers of the Zoutpansberg
were called out, and Commandant (General Potgieter led them,
about 320 strong, against Sekwati. The latter, with many of
his people, and a number of cattle, retired to his stronghold,
the flat top of a precipitous mountain. The approaches were
strongly fortified, and the burghers deemed it useless to try
and take it by storm, but water was scarce on the top, so a
blockade was undertaken in order to reduce the place by
thirst, while a part}- swept the surrounding country to collect
cattle. They met with some opposition, and lost one burgher
killed, and three wounded, but secured 5,000 head of cattle.
102 THE NATIVE TRIBES IN THE TRANSVAAL.
and 6,000 sheep and goats. The blockade continued
meanwhile, and the Bapedi suffered very severely from thirst,
a great number, especially woman and children, dying for
want of water. They showed no enterprise whatever in
trying to break out, which they might easily have done with
such a small investing force. On the 20th day, however,
heavy rains fell, which somewhat relieved the besieged, and
the burghers, who had a good number of sick, and whose
horses were dying, decided to abandon the siege. The
disarmament of the Bapedi — the main object of the expedition
— was not accomplished, but Sekwati and his people had been
sufficiently chastised to keep them quiet for some time to
come.
Expedition against Setyeli {Bakwena Tribe, 1852). — About
the same time as the Sekwati war (1S52), the Boers found it
necessary to punish Setyeli or Secheli, chief of the Bechuana
tribe called Ba-kwena, who lived on the Kolobeng near the
western border in the Potchefstroom district. Dr. Livingstone
had established a mission in this tribe in 1845, and had acquired
great influence among them. He had encouraged the chief to
move to the Kolobeng from the location nearer Potchefstroom
assigned him by Commandant Potgieter, so as to be further
removed from the emigrant farmers, and at the time in
question, the Bakwena having somewhat recovered from the
punishment inflicted by Moselikatse, Setyeli considered himself
quite independent. ,
A branch of the Baharutse tribe, called Bakhatla, whose
chief was named Moselele, at this time gave great trouble to
the Boers by continual cattle-lifting, and when the Boer
(rovernment called him to account, fled with most of his people
to Setyeli and claimed his protection. This was accorded by
Setyeli, who also invited other neighbouring chiefs to assist in
resisting the Boers.
By order of the Volksraad, a commando of over 300 men
was accordingly called out, and proceeded to Kolobeng in
August, 1852, under Commandant P. E. Schol'z. The Baralong
chief Montsiwa, who was on the footing of a burgher, was
called upon to furnish a contingent, but failed to comply. The
commando then moved to Setyeli's kraal without assistance.
The Bakwena were found to have entrenched themselves in a
strong position upon a ridge, and to have obtained the assist-
ance from neighbouring tribes that the chief had asked for.
Commandant Scholz demanded the surrender of ^Nloselele,
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. IO3
but Setyeli in reply merely challenged the Boers to fight. The
position was therefore attacked and taken after six hours'
fighting, in which 4 burghers were killed and 5 wounded, and
89 Bakwena killed. The next morning the position was
found to be evacuated, whereupon the burghers pursued the
natives to the edge of the Kalahari desert. ^loselele was not
captured, but the burghers took 3,000 cattle, some horses, two
wagons, 48 guns, and between 200 and 300 women and
children prisoners, who were " indentured " to various burghers
as servants.
It was during this campaign that the damage to the house
and property of Dr. Livingstone (who was absent in Europe)
was done, which caused so much correspondence and
controversy in England. It appears never to have been
clearly proved whether the burghers of the commando or the
fugitive Bakwena were the culprits.
Expedition ai:;ainst Makapaii's People^ 1854. — In 1854, a
Boer hunting party, led by Hermanns Potgieter, consisting of
1 1 other white men, with their wives and families, about 20
persons in all, including women and children, were treacherously
murdered by Makapan's people, a clan of Matabele or rather
Zulu race, who lived at the eastern extremity of the Waterberg
near Nylstroom. This massacre was the signal for the revolt
of six other neighbouring clans, who commenced to pillage the
district. The white inhabitants had barely time to go into
laager before their houses were in flames. Commandant
General Potgieter at once took the field with 135 men and
marched to Makapan's Poort, where he found the hostile
natives ensconced in caves from which it was impossible to
dislodge them.
On the 25th October, this commando was joined by about
400 burghers from Potchefstroom, led by Commandant
General Pretorius, and a few volunteers from the Orange Free
State. The whole force then numbered 550 men.
The greater part of the rebellious tribes were found to be in
a large cavern, about 2,000 feet long, and 400 feet in width.
This was attacked, but it was so dark inside that nothing
could be seen, and one burgher having been killed and two
wounded, a blockade was resorted to with the object of
starving the natives out. A part of the force, under Mr. Paul
Kruger, meanwhile secured the surrounding country. The
blockade lasted 25 days. Then a party of the besiegers
entered the cavern and met with so little resistance that they
104 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
took possession with only four men wounded. Commandant
General Potgieter had been killed early in the siege, so that
the total Boer casualties were only two killed and six wounded.
Makapan's tribe was almost annihilated. It was estimated that
900 of them were killed outside or trying to break out of the
cavern, while more than double that number had perished of
hunger and thirst inside.
By this time horse sickness was making such havoc that
the commando could not keep the field any longer, so the
other tribes that had risen could not be attacked, but it was
believed that the punishment inflicted upon Makapan would
deter them from committing any acts of violence against
Europeans for some time to come. The burghers returned
to their farms at the end of November, 1S54.
Expedition against the Ba-Mafela, 185S. — The Ba-Mapela,
one of the clans that had risen in the Zoutpansberg in 1S54,
again took up arms in the beginning of 1858.
The outbreak began in the usual manner by the murder of
a party of Europeans and the seizure of their property, but
it was speedily suppressed. When a strong commando
appeared on the scene the marauders retired to a fortified
hill. The surrounding country was scoured, and a good deal
of stock captured by the Boers. On the 14th April, 1858,
Commandant Paul Kruger led a force to the attack of the
stronghold and captured it with the loss of only one man
killed, but a good many were wounded by the stones rolled
down by the enemy. The Ba-IMapela lost about 800 men in
this campaign.
Szvazi Attack o?i Mapok/i, 1864.
In 1864 two clans of Zulu extraction under the chiefs
Mapokh and Malewa took up arms in the Lydenburg
district, and a commando was sent against them, but was
recalled before doing anything, owing to internal dissensions
among the Boers. Soon after this a Swazi army fell upon
Mapokh and routed him, and then attacked Malewa and
nearly annihilated the tribe, leaving in one place alone the
corpses of 854 men, and 2,840 women and children. The
Swazis then withdrew within their boundary, and it only
remained for the Boers to collect the remnants of the hostile
clans and assign them locations to live in.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 105
Fn/ificss Expedition against Kat/akter, Baraniapulann Clan of
Bavenda Tribe {^Makhatd s), 1S65.
In 1S65, the Zoutpansberg was again the scene of intertribal
fighting which convulsed the whole district. Makhato,
Katlakter, and other chiefs of the Baramapulana (Bavenda),
took advantage of the confusion to plunder the farms in the
neighbourhood, and the white inhabitants of the northern
part of the district were obliged to go into laager. In July,
1865, a commando attacked Katlakter who was giving shelter
to certain natives that refused to give up the guns lent them by
their Boer employers for hunting purposes. The attack
however failed, and as a result the insurrection spread,
mission stations were destroyed by the natives, and a general
state of anarchy prevailed.
Second Fruitless Expedition against Katlakter, 1865.
A strong contingent had been sent from the Transvaal
early in the same year to assist the Orange Free State
against the Basuto, and the Government was unable to do
anything to suppress the Zoutpansberg disturbances till the
return of this force. Towards the end of 1S65 2,000 men
were called out, but only 500 responded, and with this force,
which was very ill-equipped, Commandant-General P. Kruger
moved against Katlakter in the Zoutpansberg. The chiefs
mountain stronghold, however, could not be taken, so Kruger
retired to Schoemansdal. Here he heard that Mapela and
other chiefs living near Makapanspoort were on the point of
rising, and as he got no help from the unruly white inhabitants,
he abandoned the village, which was soon destroyed by
Katlakter's people, and withdrew to Malitzi's country, about
36 miles distant. Thence he retreated by way of Makapans
Poort, and, leaving a small guard at Piet Potgietersrust,
disbanded the commando.
Ineffectual attempts to raise a commando were made during
the next year, the whole Zoutpansberg district meanwhile
remaining in a state of siege ; most of the farms were
abandoned, and their white inhabitants lived in three great
camps, one in the north, another at Marabastad, and the third
at Potuietersrust.
I06 TllK NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Second Expedition against the Ba-mapela, \ 868.
In January, 1868, the chief Mapela had at least 5,000
warriors, and had occupied a position of great natural strength
near Makapan's Poort. The Republic was nearly bankrupt,
but with great difficulty a commando 800 or 900 strong was
raised, and took the field in June of that year, assisted by a
strong native contingent. Commandant-Creneral Paul Kruger
took command. On the 13th June Mapela's mountain was
attacked and the whole position captured, except the point on
which the chief's principal kraal was built. Two burghers were
killed and eleven wounded in this fight, while at least 300 of
^Mapela's men were killed, and about 2,00c cattle and some
guns taken by the Boers. Another attack was made two days
later, and the kraal was partly burnt, but not wholly occupied
or destroyed. A number of women and children were captured
.and detained in order to bring the insurgents to terms.
At this juncture intelligence was received from the north that
an old feud had broken out between the most powerful of the
clans in the Zoutpansberg Range, that they were fighting with
each other, and that Umzila, the chief of the great Shangaan
tribe, was preparing to attack them all. The burghers'
ammunition was now running short, so after a little more
desultory skirmishing round Makapan's Poort, they returned to
their homes. Peace was not, however, formally concluded with
Mapela till February, 1869, when the chief agreed to hand over
all cattle that he had captured from the farmers, to leave his
mountain and to settle in the plain.
Attacks by Sivazis and Shangaans on Bavenda Tri(>es, 1869.
Peace now reigned for some time between the black and
white inhabitants of the Zoutpansberg, but the clans in the
mountains were engaged in much strife amongst themselves.
There was internal fighting amongst the various Bavenda clans,
Umzila sent an army of 5,000 Shangaans, which plundered
many of the kraals in April, 1869, and, later in the year, a
Swazi force, assisted by Tabane, a brother of Makhato, inflicted
very severe losses on the people of the latter, who barely
escaped with his life. The Swazis then returned to their own
country.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 10/
Further Campaigns against the Ba-pedi, 187 5-1 879.
Though Sekwati had been severely punished by the Boers
in 1852, his people had not been disarmed, and theref<:)re did
not consider themselves conquered. They behaved in an
insolent and threatening manner towards the Boer settlers of
Lydenburg district, which, between 1852 and i860, was an
independent republic. In the year 1861 Sekwati died and his
son Sekukuni became chief, and under his rule the tribe became
more and more arrogant. A number of muskets had found
their way among the Ba-Pedi through natives who had worked
at the diamond fields or on the east coast, and armed with these
they became so overbearing that many Boers had to leave the
district whilst those that remained actually paid tribute to
Sekukuni, who asserted his independence and laid claim to the
absolute possession of the country allotted to his father as a
location in 1857.
In 1875 matters came to a head. A party of Christianised
Ba-Pedi attacked some of the farmers and drove them off their
land, which they claimed for their chief Sekukuni. The Boer
Government hereupon sent a commando to enforce its disputed
sovereignty, but no result was achieved, and the commando
retired, leaving, however, a small garrison at Fort Burgers and
another at Fort Weeber to keep the natives in check.
Early in 1877 the Boer Government made a treaty with
Sekukuni and defined his boundaries, the chief agreeing to
become tributary and to pay an indemnity of 2,000 head of
cattle. Soon after this, however, when a Joint Commission
appointed by President Burgers and Sir T. Shepstone went to
enquire into the state of affairs, Sekukuni repudiated the first
part of the treaty and asked to be taken under the protection
of the British.
AVhen the Transvaal was annexed by the British, Sekukuni
•commenced paying the fine, and by August, 1877, had brought
in about 300 head of cattle ; he wished, however, to punish
the natives who had assisted the Boers against him in the late
Avar. This was not permitted by Sir T. Shepstone. After some
months of peace and quiet the tribesmen again became trouble-
some, forced farmers to leave by threats of violence, and
transgressing their boundaries, attacked friendly natives, killing
several. The reason for this behaviour was at first sight not
apparent, but it was subsequently found to be directly traceable
to messages received by Sekukuni from (Jetywayo, the Zulu
I08 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
chief, by which the latter invited the Ba-Pedi to assist in getting
rid of the white people who lived between their countries, by
attacking them from the north while he did the same from the
south.
Legolana, the sister of Sekukuni, who lived close to Fort
W^'eeber, threw off her allegiance to the Government and sent
to her brother for assistance, and a large force of natives
surrounded the fort. The Resident succeeded in escaping by
night, whereupon the fort was burnt by the natives.
A small volunteer force was hurriedly collected at Pretoria,
and with some Zulu police made an attack on Sekukuni's
stronghold, which was on a hill named Thaba IMosego in the
Lulu Mountains. This attack was not successful and the force
shortly withdrew, leaving garrisons in forts at Mamolulei and
Magnet Heights, as a protection for friendly natives. A
detachment of the Diamond Fields Horse was also stationed
at Dwarsriver to furnish escorts for convoys to and from
Lydenburg.
In September, 1S78, Col. Rowlands assumed command of
the operations. He had collected a mixed force of volunteers
at Kimberley, and was joined by Major Baker-Russell's mounted
infantry and the Frontier Light Horse under Col. Buller. He
failed, however, to reduce the stronghold, and was forced to
retire, owing to horse-sickness and lack of water. More forts
were built, and garrisons left in them, as a defensive policy was
the only possible one, the bulk of the troops and volunteers
being required for the Zulu war.
The Zulu war being concluded. General Sir Garnet \\'olseley
turned his attention to Sekukuni's country. "The condition
of affairs there," he reported in a despatch dated 30th
September, 1879, "is a scandal; Sekukuni, being elated at the
failure of the British to bring him to account, robs and plunders
as he pleases, and the country is deserted by white settlers."
At the same time General Wolseley sent a message to the chief
that his submission w^ould be accepted if he became tributary
to the Government, compensated those who had suffered
through his raids, handed over the raiders to justice, and paid a
fine of 2,500 good cattle; a military post was also to be
established in his country. Sekukuni himself was inclined to
accept these terms, but his indunas persuaded him to reject
them.
Accordingly or. 23rd October, 1879, General Wolseley formed
a column at Middelburg, consisting of six companies 2nd Batt.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OK THE TRANSVAAL. IO9
2 1 St Fusiliers, six companies 94th Regiment, a detachment of
Royal Engineers, Ferreira's Horse, and four guns of the
Transvaal Artillery. Col. Baker-Russell \vas placed in com-
mand of the force, which also included the two remaining
•companies of the 94th Regiment and one company of the 80th
Regiment who were stationed at Lydenburg.
On the morning of the 25th November the advance guard,
having made a night march (the infantry were carried in mule-
wagons) seized and fortified a position within three miles of
Sekukuni's town, and established a post there, named Fort
Alexandra. At the same time another portion of the force
established another post three miles off, which was named Fort
George, and overlooked the chief's kraal.
(leneral Wolseley moved his headquarters and the main
body to Fort Alexandra the following day.
A volunteer contingent had meanwhile joined from
Rustenburg, and 8,000 Swazis were advancing to assist in the
operations from the Lydenburg side.
The troops and volunteers delivered a well-timed attack on
three sides of the mountain held by the enemy, while the
Swazis assaulted the chief kraals and some caves on the hillside.
All the attacks were successful, and a large number of the
Ba-Pedi were killed, including three of Sekukuni's brothers, all
his sons and a number of indunas. Our loss was : two officers
killed and four wounded, and a small number of casualties
among N.C.O.'s and men. The Swazis, who behaved admirably,
had a number of casualties.
Sekukuni now submitted, and paid the fines imposed on him.
He stated on surrendering that Mr. Abel Erasmus, of
Krugerspost, had urged him to fight the British, as the
Transvaal would soon be in Boer hands again.
The country now settled down rapidly. Troublesome sections
of the tribe were settled in places divided from each other by
loyal natives, and by January, 1880, all was reported quiet.
Expedition a^^ainst Mapokli^ 18S2-1S83.
The Mapokh, a Zulu tribe, living in the part of the
Middelburg district near Roossenekal, still known as "Mapoch's
'Gronden," was in 1882 of considerable importance, and had
been giving trouble to the (lovernment of the Republic for
■some time past, but matters were brought to a head towards
the end of 1882 by the murder of Sekukuni, the chief of the
no TICK NATIVE TRIRKS OF THK TRANSVAAL.
Ba-Pedi tribe, by Mampuru, his half-Vjrother and rival, who-
seems to have been aided and abetted by Nyabel, chief of the
Mapokh people.
The Ba-Pedi, who had been at peace with the Ciovernnient
since the Sekukuni war of 1879, called upon the Republic to
protect them and to punish the murderer of their chief.
Mampuru after the murder fled to Nyabel's kraal for
protection, and the latter, when sumimoned by the Government
of the Republic to give the murderer up to justice, refused to
do so.
The Transvaal was at this time in a disorganised state
owing to the existence of various opposing factions among the
burghers, and a serious expedition against a powerful native
tribe would probably not have been undertaken, had not the
Yolksraad considered it advisable to practically demonstrate
to the British Government that they were better able then to
cope with the native tribes than was the case in 1877, when
their inability to restore order was the cause of the British
annexation.
A commando was therefore got together from all parts of
the Transvaal and dispatched to Mapokh's country, under the
command of Piet Joubert, the Commandant-General. No
records exist of the exact numbers engaged, but from General
Joubert's letters it appears that not more than 1,000 to 2,000
burghers were ever in the field at any one time, as, though
many more were commandeered, numbers seem to have
returned to their homes without permission or having taken
any part in the fighting.
The archives of the late Republic do not contain any
details regarding the tactics employed by either side, but the
fighting was evidently of a desultory nature, as the campaign
was protracted over nine months, and General Joubert com-
plained to the Volksraad that the burghers " seemed to prefer
looting cattle on their own account to fighting."
Mapokh's people appear to have ensconced themselves
among the rocks and caves of various strong natural positions
and the Boers to have blockaded them with a view to
starving them out. These tactics were eventually successful,
for on the nth July, 1883, Nyabel surrendered uncondi-
tionally, having first handed over the murderer Mapuru,
bound hand and foot. Nyabel's two principal sub-chiefs,
Kameel and April, surrendered with him, and more than
10,000 of the tribe.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. Ill
The burghers then burned Nyabel's " Hoofdstad " or Chief
Kraal, and " indentured " Nyabel and the whole tribe in the
usual manner, thus scattering them all over the country.
Mampuru was taken to Pretoria and there hanged.
The casualties among either Boers or natives are not
recorded.
Expedition against David Massouw, 1885.
David Massouw, also known as Riet Taaibosch, was chief of
a small Koranna (Hottentot) clan living near the south-west
border of the Transvaal.
Though these people were few in numbers, they were
well supplied with firearms, and in 1885 had become a menace
to the white settlers whose cattle they constantly raided.
They declined to pay taxes, and generally behaved in a
lawless manner. Finally a farmer named ^^'eeber complained
to the Government that Massouw's people had squatted on
his farm, cut down his trees and ploughed up his land, and
he claimed ;^2,ooo compensation for the damage done to his
property.
A commando drawn from Lichtenburg and Potchefstroom,
and accompanied by some guns of the Staats Artillerie, was
therefore sent to the spot. General Joubert himself being in
chief command. On the 2nd December this force occupied a
ridge overlooking Massouw's kraal, and the rebels were ordered
to lay down their arms. This they agreed to do and the
disarmament was actually in progress when a quarrel arose
which led to a hand-to-hand fight, in which Massouw and a
large number of his people, and one Boer field-cornet and
eight burghers were killed, and several burghers wounded.
The chiefs son and seventy-three of his people — apparently
the only survivors — were taken prisoners and scattered over
the country as " indentured labourers " in the usual manner.
The kraals were burnt and all the cattle and other property
of the tribe divided between the Government and the
commando.
A Basuto chief named Jong, who was known to have been
Massouw's partner in his raids, though he had not taken part
in the fight, was then arrested. He was shortly released, how-
ever, on payment of one head of cattle (or one horse or six
sheep) per head of his tribe. Of these cattle half were given to
Weeber as compensation for his losses and the remainder were
appropriated by the Government.
112 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Campaign against Malabokh, \ S94.
jVIakhato, chief of the Ba-Ramapulana (Bavenda), Malabokh,
chief of the Bakhanawa, a neighbouring FJasuto tribe, and
several lesser clans, began to give trouble early in 1894.
These clans refused to pay taxes, or to keep within their
respective boundaries, but for some time committed no acts of
overt hostility. In May, 1894, however, a collision took place
between Commandant B. Vorster, Native Commissioner, and
the people of Malabokh, owing to the refusal of the latter to
allow a census of the people to be taken. The Government
therefore decided to punish Malabokh, commandos were called
out early in June from the districts of Pretoria, Waterberg,
Middelburg, Rustenburg and Marico, making with a few
Zoutpansberg burghers 1,500 white men in all, with one 7-pr.
and one 9-pr. gun, and this force, which was joined by a
contingent 500 strong furnished by Matala, Hans Masibi and
other friendly chiefs, moved on the Blauwberg, where
Malabokh's stronghold was situated. Commandant-Cieneral
P. Joubert was in supreme command. The approaches to
the stronghold are described as extremely precipitous. The
" stad " or chief village was on a plateau near the summit of
.the mountain, and with some adjacent caves was held in
force by the rebels. The " stad " was, however, commanded
by the actual summit, which does not appear to have been
strongly held.
After a little skirmishing had taken place, Malabokh sent a
present of a white cow and j[,2o and asked for a two days'
'truce in which to comply with the demands of the Government.
This was granted and a further respite of two days from the
17th June was also agreed to by the burghers, but the time was
jiierely used by Malabokh to place his cattle in safety and
prepare for active resistance.
Fighting began on the 20th June, on which day the Waterberg
burghers placed a mountain gun on a kopje on the north-west
side of the mountain, losing one burgher killed and five
burghers and six natives wounded.
The Pretoria burghers were also engaged and estabHshed a
post on the hill side. During the next few days other works
were constructed round the stronghold and on the 26th the
Rustenburg commando succeeded in mounting a 9-pr. on the
summit, commanding the stronghold; they lost one burgher
iind one native killed in the operation.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. II3
On the 28tlt a general attack was made in a thick fog, and
the rebels, being driven from their main position, took refuge in
the adjacent caves. On this day one burgher was killed and
one wounded.
A blockade was now resorted to, which put Malabokh to
some straits, as on the 6th July he attempted to make terms for
himself, but there was still a small supply of water available
for the besieged. The Boer posts were within Martini-Henry
rifle range of the caves and lost two men killed and four
wounded during the next few days.
No more serious fighting took place and Malabokh surren-
dered unconditionally on 3rst July, 1894.
The total Boer casualties recorded were six killed and sixteen
wounded ; the losses of Malabokh are not stated, but it appears
that most of the fighting men had made good their escape
through the Boer lines.
Malabokh handed over about ;£ioo in cash on surrendering
and some rifles were found in the caves. A number of cattle
were also captured during the operations and divided between
the men of the commandos and their native allies.
The people who surrendered with Malabokh were indentured
to burghers in different parts of the country, and it was enacted
that they should never return to the Zoutpansberg. Their
wages were moreover liable to be handed over to the Govern-
ment in settlement of arrear taxes.
Malabokh himself and 183 of his men were imprisoned in
Pretoria, where the chief was found on the British occupation
in June, 1900.
Punitive measures against tribes who had assisted Malabokh,
1894.
While the operations against Malabokh were still in progress,
various other chiefs in the "Low Country" (Haenertsburg
district) became so troublesome that action had to be taken
against them, and a commando 700 strong, raised from Lyden-
burg and Ermelo districts, was ordered to the scene of
disturbance on loth July, 1894, while 4,000 friendly " Knob-
noses " were ordered to co-operate. The villages of Haenerts-
burg and Agatha were threatened by Mamatolla, a chieftainess
of a small Basuto tribe, and Mashuti, the chief of another. No
actual fighting took place with these people and a peaceful
settlement was afterwards arrived at. After the reduction of
(7269) H
114 'I'HK NATIVK TKIBKS OF Till-: TRANSVAAL.
Malabokh's stronghold (rcneral Joubert arrived with reinforce-
ments and took charge. On the 21st August a slight
engagement took place between the burghers and the people of
Mahupa, another petty chief; one burgher only was wounded
and Mahupa's chief kraal was burnt on the 25th August.
Mapiet. — On the 28th the kraals of Mapiet, formerly one of
the chieftainess Mojaji's indunas, who was in active rebellion,
were similarly dealt with.
Selehil. — Selebul was chief of a section of the Barareng tribe
in the Haenertsburg and district and joined in the rebellion of
Makhuba. He and another chief named Makabata were
captured after a certain amount of skirmishing, and were
imprisoned in Pretoria where Selebul died. Makabata was
subsequently released and now rules the tribe. (See tribes of
the Zoutpansberg.)
Makhuba.- — I'he chief Makhuba was next summoned to
surrender, and as he failed to comply, his kraals were burnt
on the 29th August. A Swazi impi assisted the Boers and
slew numbers of Makhuba's people before they were stopped
by the Boers. Makhuba's head was brought out on a spear by
the Swazis.
MamatoUa, Masliiiti and Mukhiihua. — On the 5th September,
after some negotiations, the chieftainess Mamatolla and chiefs
Mashuti and Mahaboya surrendered near Agatha. They
were sent to Pretoria and their people placed in locations,
every man being fined ^5, to be paid at once in money or
kind.
Mojaji. — ^Rekwali, another minor chief, having surrendered on
loth September, two forts, each manned by fifty burghers, were
established in the district, and the remainder of the force
moved northward to deal with the chieftainess Mojaji, who
besides having assisted Malabokh, had a number of looted
cattle in her possession. Though she maintained a hostile
demeanour till the commando approached, she and her
indunas surrendered without any fighting. Her people were
fined ^5 each, which was collected at once, mostly in cattle.
The total number of cattle taken from Mojaji amounted to
nearly 9000 head.
This concluded the operations and the commando broke up
on September 24th, 1894.
The rebellious tribes dealt with were all of Basuto race, but
this did not prevent the chiefs Matala and Kivi (the latter a
half-brother of Malabokh's) from actively assisting the Boers.
I
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. II 5
It is also officially recorded that the Matabele chiefs Hans
Masibi and Valtyn Makapan gave valuable help throughout
the operations.
Campaign against Mpefu, 1898.
Mpefu, the son of Makhato chief of the Bavenda tribe, had
never been punished by the (jovernment of the South African
Republic for the share taken by his tribe in Malabokh's revolt
in 1894. He therefore continued to maintain his defiant
attitude and to disregard all regulations imposed by the Native
Affairs Department. As no measures were taken to bring him
to reason, in 1898 he proclaimed himself an independent chief
and commenced to collect tribute from the members of his
tribe, wherever they might be living. Some of his own people
paid, but when he attempted to levy taxes from the Buys
People, who, he said, were tributary to him, they refused to
pay and sought the protection of the (Government.
A commando of 600 men was then raised and despatched
to Piet Potgietersrust (then the terminus of the railway) whence
the force marched via Pietersburg and Louis Trichardt to
Rietvlei, close to the chief kraal of Mpefu in the Magato
mountains. The chief was summoned to a parley but returned
a threatening answer and prepared to fight. Seeing this, the
Boer Commandant sent for reinforcements, including two field
guns of the Staats Artillerie, and as soon as they arrived,
proceeded to bombard the village. Contrary to expectation,
very slight resistance was made, and when two hours later a
general assault was delivered, it was found that Mpefu had
fled northwards, taking most of his followers with him. He
was not pursued but the kraals were burnt and a certain
number of cattle fell into the hands of the burghers.
The casualties among Mpefu's people are not stated, and
the death of only one burgher is recorded, killed by a flint-
lock bullet.
Mpefu was afterwards found to have taken refuge in
Mashonaland with many of his people; he returned in 1904,
and was allotted the location which he now occupies.
It is noteworthy that the eastern section of the Bavenda, by
a mutual understanding arrived at with the Boers, took no
])art at all in the fighting, while a chief of the same tribe,
named Sintimulla, actually assisted the Boers against Mpefu.
The tribe does not appear to have been well-provided with
(7269) H 2
Il6 THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRANSVAAL.
firearms at the time of the war, which fact, together with the
employment for the first time of modern field guns against
them, probably accounts for the feeble show of resistance
offered.
Conclusions to be Drawn.
^M^en it is considered how weak in numbers and military
experience and how ill-equipped were the Boer commandos
that took part in these various expeditions, how deficient they
were in discipline, dash and all military qualities except
woodcraft and knowledge of the country — and in addition that
the total number of Europeans in the country was until quite
lately a mere handful compared with the hordes of natives in
the Transvaal, the feeble resistance made in each case by the
latter and their lack of efficient combination, cannot but
forcibly strike one.
Some of the campaigns were certainly very protracted, but
this was wholly due to the small numbers of the burghers, and
the very slight control exercised over them by their leaders.
Never since the days of Moselikatse have any native tribes in
the Transvaal fought Europeans in the open or otherwise than
behind strong natural or improvised fortifications, and this is
the more remarkable if the broken and difficult nature of the
country in most of the territories which had to be operated in,
be taken into account.
On the other hand it may be said that when the Boers first
appeared in the Transvaal, all the tribes had already been
decimated and terrorised by the armies of Moselikatse and
other savage invaders, and were therefore not likely to make a
good stand against the Boers, who, besides being the first
white people with whom they had been brought in contact, had
acquired additional prestige in the eyes of all natives by the
manner in which they had cleared the country of the dreaded
Matabele.
The Bantu peoples are however so prolific, and their
recuperative powers so great, that it is very probable that they
would have been able to seriously impede the march of
civilisation in the Transvaal, had any really great native leader
been found among them, capable of making them sink their
petty tribal differences, and unite to . oppose the white man's
advance. No such leader has however been forthcoming, and,
now that the natives are beginning to feel the benefits of
TlIK NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 11/
civilisation, it is nut likely that they will make any great
combined efforts to throw off the restraints of European
Government in order to revert to their pristine savagery. It is
indeed difficult to conceive of any circumstances under which,
now that the tribes are disarmed, a native rising en masse
would be likely to take place.
Various causes, such as the restriction cr moving of native
locations, the imposition of heavier taxes, compulsory labour
laws, or undue interference with native customs, might indeed
at any time lead to isolated outbreaks, in which some loss of
life and damage to property would occur at the outset in
districts far removed from European centres, but any such
risings, even if affecting more than one tribe, could without
doubt be very easily dealt with in these days of improved
communications, highly mobile ordnance and iirearms of
precision.
Inter-tribal politics and animosities have been touched upon
in the foregoing chapters, and it has been seen how on various
occasions certain tribes have actually assisted the Government
in military operations against other tribes. In any future
troubles that may arise, we may still under ordinary circum-
stances count on the assistance of Swazis or Shangaans against
Basuto-Bechuana or Bavenda tribes or vice versa, and even
of some Basuto tribes against others belonging to the same
nation. Circumstances at the time must determine whether
it is advisable or not to actually pit one tribe against another,
but even if it should be decided not to employ native aux-
iHaries as fighting men, their services would be invaluable as
scouts or spies, and in various noncombatant capacities.
Of native tactics there are no special features to notice.
Except possibly the Swazis and the true Zulus of the south-
eastern districts, no Transvaal natives are likely to resort to
shock tactics against a disciplined force. Having signalised
their defiance of authority by the looting of stock on unprotected
farms and possibly by the murder of their inhabitants, the
rebels would probably rather take to the most convenient
mountain or jungle stronghold with their spoils, and there keep
up a more or less passive resistance till the reduction of their
fastness by assault or starvation. Night attacks might be
expected, raids on horses, cattle and baggage convoys would
have to be guarded against, and in the bush-covered tracts of
the Northern and Eastern Transvaal, where natural fastnesses
are very numerous, the operations would probably extend over
Il8 TlIK NATI\ !•; TRIJiKS OF THE TRANSVAAL.
a large area and would be difficult to bring to a head. It is in
this case that native auxiliaries would be most useful, as was
proved by the successful employment of Swazis by the Boers
against various Basuto tribes in 1894.
The tactics most likely to prove effectual against South
African natives do not differ in principle from those employed
against any other savages, and it is therefore not necessary
to enlarge upon them here. One maxim of native warfare is
however, worthy of attention, namely, that if the cattle of a
tribe can be captured, the early submission of that tribe is
assured. A tribe about to commence hostilities will always
send its cattle and as much grain as possible, to some place
of security beforehand. Every effort should therefore be
made at the outset to ascertain where the cattle have been
concealed, and the earliest opportunity taken of obtaining
possession of the herds, as the chief of a tribe measures his
dignity by the number of his cattle, and these once lost, he
feels that his prestige is gone, and that he has consequently
nothing left to fight for.
The general principle moreover cannot be too frequently
reiterated, that if an expedition be undertaken against natives
for a definite object, be it the disarmament of a tribe, the
levying of a fine, or to obtain possession of the person of
some individual offender, no terms must be made until that
object has been fully attained. Natives are entirely incapable
of appreciating magnanimity in war and usually attribute any
leniency shown them to fear on the part of their assailants.
The neglect of this principle in former wars has invariably
led to further troubles with the tribes concerned, necessitating
fresh and more extensive operations in each case.
CHAPTER X.
BANTU ETHICS AND SOCIOLOGY.
There is no doubt but that with the spread of civiUsation
and increased contact with the white races, the natives as a
whole are gradually abandoning many of their ancient customs
and superstitions, or that chiefs are losing something of their
hold over the people, so that the tribal system if not a
dying institution, may certainly be said to be on the wane.
There is, however, in the heart of the native, a deep-rooted
attachment for the beliefs and ideals of his ancestors, which
it will take generations if not centuries of civilisation to
efface, and it is quite certain that in the event of any race-war
or native upheaval in our times, the original Bantu traditions
would reassert themselves, and that by nine-tenths of the native
population the teachings of Christianity and of civilisation
would be completely set aside.
It is therefore advisable to briefly allude to some of
the chief points of the Bantu tribal organisation, and to
some of the customs and practices which form an essential part
of it, as some knowledge of this subject is of great assistance
in dealing with all matters affecting natives, and may often
afford the key to native problems otherwise difificult of solution.
Tribal System.
The tribal system itself is worthy of some attention. The
whole organisation of the tribe centres round the chief, who
almost invariably holds his position by virtue of his descent
from former chiefs. In theory the chiefs power is absolute.
The persons of his subjects, their cattle, their houses, land
and crops are his property to dispose of at his pleasure. He
formerly had power of life and death over all his people and
120 THK NATIVE TKIIiKS OF Til]-, TRAXS\AAL.
still may and does help himself to any of their [)ossessions he
requires. Thus when men of a tribe return to their kraals with
the wages they have earned at work beyond their districts the
chief invariably takes a proportion of the money for himself.
When a crop is ready for reaping, the chief gives permission
for the harvest to begin, and receives a full share of the
first-fruits. Though land is considered the common property
of the tribe, the chief points out the place where each man
may build his hut, and the latter must at any time move if
ordered to by his chief. Cattle are, so to speak, held in trust
for the chief by their various owners, who can use them for
milking, ploughing, etc., but the chief may, if he wishes, claim
for his own purposes any animals in possession of members of
the tribe.
The chief was formerly also the sole arbiter of justice in
the tribe, decided all disputes and punished all offenders.
(Under the present laws, however, chiefs have no criminal
jurisdiction : this is a blow at their pockets as well as at their
prestige, for all fines which they inflicted were appropriated by
the chiefs.) By native law every member of a tribe is bound
to bring to the notice of his chief any crime or misdeed com-
mitted by any other member, and though mendacity in itself is
not considered disgraceful, no native will tell a deliberate lie to
his own chief.
The above powers exercised by the paramount chief are
delegated in a lesser degree to the petty chiefs or headmen of
the small clans of which every tribe is a congeries, and again
to the heads of the families of which the various clans are
composed, thus forming a complete chain of responsibiHty
from the lowest to the highest.
Many chiefs are even at the present time credited with
supernatural powers, such as " rain making," which naturally
increase their influence, and the blood relations of all chiefs
are looked upon with a respect and enjoy privileges which
do not in any way depend upon their personal characters or
qualifications.
In practice, a chief is always assisted in all his duties by
" councillors," who are often themselves hereditary, and whose
power of course varies inversely as the personal strength of
character of the chief. Thus, as strong chiefs are comparatively
rare, it is as often as not the councillors who exercise the real
power in the tribe. A few really strong chiefs, such as the Zulu
king Chaka, have exercised their absolute powers to the full.
THK NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TKAXSXAAL. 121
but it more commonly happens that in peaceful times, and so
long as he receives a sufficient share of their goods, a chief
does not interfere to any great extent in the private affairs of
his people.
With the gradual curtailment of the chiefs' powers by the
present administration, it is likely that the tribal system will
eventually disappear and that the natives will look to the
official representative of the Government in their locality as
their head. The Shangaans, as has been seen, accepted
Albasini as their head in the early days of the Republic, since
when they have not reverted to the tribal system, but have
been the constant allies of the white man against other tribes,
thereby distinctly advancing the cause of civilisation in the
Transvaal. As natives become civilised, their reverence
for their chiefs and tribal institutions becomes less, and they
acquire a desire for individual rather than tribal aggrandisement ;
it is thus possible that in course of time the tribal factor may
be entirely eliminated and with it any danger that may now
exist of one or other of the great tribes breaking out into active
rebellion. Such a consummation does not, however, seem
altogether desirable, for a general fusion of hitherto antagon-
istic tribes would then be possible, and this would constitute
a far greater danger to the white community than is to be
apprehended from any of the present tribes.
Manners and Customs.
Bantu customs are now pretty generally known, and are
described in great detail in many eminent works. The following
are, however, worth noticing.
Marriage Customs.
'J'he Bantu have been polygamists from time immemorial.
With them as with other peoples, the practice of polygamy no
doubt came into force owing to the former great excess of
women over men, which excess had its origin in the inter-tribal
wars of extermination when the men of a vanquished tribe
were slaughtered wholesale, the women and girls being carried
off by the conquerors. Nowadays the disparity between the
respective numbers of the sexes is but slight, so, as very few
122 THE NATI\ i; TRIIJKS OF THK TRANSVAAL.
men ever remain single, the numl)er of polygamists* is rapidl)
becoming less.
A native girl is not supposed to have any say in the choice
of a husband for herself, the marriage being al\va)'s arranged
by her father or guardian. The chief feature of the marriage
contract is the payment by the bridegroom elect of Lobola to
the father of the bride. Lobola generally takes the form of so
many head of cattle, which vary in number according to
the status of the intending husband. By the payment of
these cattle the girl does not become the chattel or slave of
her husband, as, if she leaves him on account of ill-usage, he
cannot claim the return of the Lobola. On the other hand,
should the girl be convicted of misconduct, her father is bound
by native law to return the whole or part of the cattle to his
son-in law. Lobola thus acts as a useful check on both husband
and wife, and it is one of the standing grievances of the natives
against the present administration, that marriages by native
custom are not officially recognised by the latter, so that if a
native's wife desert him, he has no legal remedy.
This grievance would appear to be a real one, as during the
years 1903-4 only 1,240 native marriages were recorded as
having been solemnised under Christian rites, and of these the
majority were in the comparatively civilised central and western
districts. These can bear but a small proportion to the
number of marriages under native custom, and none of the
latter are accorded any legal status.
Lobola is, however, liable to abuse, and sometimes de-
generates into the sale of a girl by her father, so to speak, to
the highest bidder. Moreover, now that natives as a rule have
fewer cattle and more money than formerly, a money payment
sometimes takes the place o'i\\\kt Lobola cattle, especially amongst
Basuto tribes, and this money, once paid, is seldom returned
in any circumstances, thus making the transaction a purely
commercial one.
There are no religious ceremonies or observances attendant
on native marriages and, the Lobola once paid, the bridegroom
can take his bride to his own kraal, though this is not
necessarily done at once. The bride's father usually sends an
ox or two, or sheep or goats according to his means, with
the bride as a present to his son-in-law's people.
* Of the total adult male natives of the Transvaal, 1 1 "65 per cent, have
more than one wife at the present time.
THE NATIVK TRIISKS OK TllK TRAXSN AAL. 1 23.
Death and Burial Customs.
The natives have no definite beliefs concerning the fate of
mortals after death, but death itself is held in abhorrence, and
a dead body is considered unclean, so that in most tribes any
person who has touched a corpse has to go through certain
ceremonies of purification before he can rejoin his fellows.
When a man dies in his hut, that hut is abandoned or destroyed,
and on the death of a chief, the whole village is sometimes
abandoned. So great was the dread of the presence of death
in former times, that it used to be the custom to carry persons
seen to be in the last extremity to a distance from all human
habitations, and there leave them to die alone.
The l)odies of ordinary persons used to be (and doubtless
still are in out-of-the-way places) taken outside the village and
left for the beasts and birds to devour. The chiefs have,
however, always been buried, the body being " trussed " in a
sitting posture, and it was the custom to bury his weapons and
personal ornaments with the departed owner. His favourite
animals such as dogs and oxen were also killed and shared his
grave, and if he were a great chief, as man)' of his wives as
could not escape suffered a like fate. These customs still
continue as regards the weapons and animals, and as the law
forbids the killing of wives, these are forced to take refuge in
the wilds for some months, and undergo great hardships before
they are allowed to return to their kindred. At the burial of
a chief prayers are offered to appease his spirit and his aid is
invoked for the future.
Tribes usually Vjury their chiefs in the same selected spot,
which is held in awe and not willingly approached by the
people.
Circumcision.
This rite appears to have originally been almost universal
among all Bantu tribes (except the Bavenda). Chaka abolished
it among the Zulus, so that the Shangaans who left Zululand
in the time of that monarch did not practise it when they came
to the Transvaal. All the Basuto tribes practise circumcision,
however, and both Shangaans and Bavenda, wherever they live
in proximity to Basuto, have in later times taken to it largely.
Every few years all the boys of a tribe who have attained the
requisite age, 14 to 16, are circumcised together. This is
124 iHK NATI\ K TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
made the occasion of a sort of festive gathering of as many
people of the tribe as can be collected, lasting several weeks.
Various rites and ceremonies, mostly of an obscene nature, are
gone through under the direction of the witch doctors, and
much feasting and beer-drinking are indulged in throughout
the proceedings.
When a chief's son of any standing is to be circumcised,
as many youths as possible of similar age are got together to
undergo the rite with him, and it is said that all such circum-
cision-fellows of a chief are invariably for the rest of their
lives his most absolutely devoted adherents. Men who were
circumcised together are also sworn friends and will not bear
witness against each other.
Among most tribes a rite which takes the place of circum-
cision is also practised on females when they attain the age of
puberty. This is usually performed during the year following
that in which the boys of the tribe are circumci.sed. The
attending ceremonies last a few days only, but are of a
peculiarly indecent and revolting nature.
It is said that these orgies are considered as objectionable by
natives in the vicinity who do not themselves practice them, as
by the whites. They are not infrequently the cause of faction-
fights between the circumcised and the uncircumcised portions
of a tribe.
Religious Beliefs.
No trace can be discovered among the ancient traditions of
the Bantu, of belief in any one universally supreme being,
corresponding to God, and any ideas on this subject that
are at present current amongst the heathen peoples can
usually be traced to contact with missionaries or converted
natives.
The Bantu have indeed always believed in the existence of
a variety of deities, mostly malevolent, but these seem to have
been inextricably confused with the spirits of their own
ancestors, certain of whom, especially those of great and
renowned chiefs, can, so they still believe, send lightning,
storms, and rain, good or bad harvests, and all blessings or
calamities. It seems, though, that the spirits are more
inclined to bring down evil than good on mortals, wherefore
it behoves the latter to propitiate them by means of sacrifices.
This they frequently do, by offering cattle, sheep, fowls, or
even grain or other fruit of the harvest on altars specially
THE NATIVE TRIHES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 1 25
prepared for the purpose. The meat or other food is however
eaten by the persons making the "sacrifice," as it is supposed
that the hungry ghost is satisfied with the smell.
The Bantu " religion " contains no belief of reward or
punishment after death for acts committed during life, nor is
there any regular conception of a particular place of abode
of the spirits of the dead, but the latter are supposed to
haunt lonely localities in the neighbourhood of their earthly
abodes. Natives are therefore often afraid to venture near
such places after dark in case they should meet the dreaded
"spooks." There is also an ancient Bantu belief that the
spirits of the dead visit their friends and descendants in the
form of animals, each tribe regarding some particular animal
as the one selected by the ghosts of its kindred ; this animal
is called the " siboko " of the tribe, and is not only not
willingly killed or eaten, but contact of any sort with it or its
skin is avoided as far as possible. This belief is the origin of
the various totems of the tribes, whence mauy of them derive
their names, e.g. —
the Bakwena = the people of the " Kwene," the crocodile;
the Ba-Tau = the people of the "Tau," the lion ;
the Ba-Phiring = the people of the " Phiri," the hyena;
and so with many of the Bechuana and Pjasuto peoples. The
Zulus, Xosas, and other coast tribes all regard the same species
of snake as the form in which their ancestral shades appear —
their sub-tribes are therefore named after famous chiefs, as
are also some of the Bechuana-Basuto tribes. The latter
however all have a distinctive totem which they reverence.
It is from the identity of their respective totems that
the connection between certain tribes, now living far apart,
has been traced, and to this day, if a native meets a stranger
and wishes to ascertain his tribe, he asks "To what do you
dance ? " and the name of the animal totem is given in reply.
Besides the spirits of their deceased chiefs and ancestors,
the Bantu believe in a great variety of goblins, water-spirits
and fairies, some of which take the forms of animals. All of
these without exception are thought to be hostile to man, and
are therefore to be carefully shunned.
It will thus be seen that though the Bantu have a belief
in various supernatural agencies, they only regard these as
potential authors of evil, to be propitiated as such. They have
in fact no religion in the ordinarily accepted sense of the
126 THE NATI\'E TRIHES OF THK TRANSVAAI..
word, and no idea of any obligation to do good for its own
sake, or even for fear of punishment in a future state. Of
])urely religious observances they have absolutely none.
" \V^iTCH Doctors."
The belief in witchcraft is deep-seated and universal,
and to this day forms the most powerful lever for moving
natives in any direction. The witch-doctors are the regular
exponents of the craft and still exercise a very great influence
over chiefs and people.
There are several classes of witch-doctors, some being
specialists in "rain-making," some in " smelling-out " or witch-
finding ; " and some having an intimate knowledge of herbal
remedies and poisons. The greatest " doctors " usually have
some skill in all these arts.
The professional "smeller-out" {i.e., discoverer of persons
who by a power obtained from demons are supposed to bewitch
others, thereby causing sickness, death or disaster) naturally
enjoys great power in a tribe ; he is generally in the pay of
the chief, who gets him to " smell-out " persons obnoxious to
himself. Such persons were in former days put to death with
fearful tortures and even at the present time are often ill-used
or boycotted to such an extent that they have to leave the
tribe or starve.
The " rain-maker's " calling is more precarious, as, though
he gets much credit as well as material profit if rain falls soon
after his incantations, the people soon lose faith in him when
he fails to produce the desired downpour.
The native herbalists are said to have a really wonderful
knowledge of plants with medicinal and poisonous properties,
and authentic cases are on record of cures affected by them
of virulent sores, snake-bite and even cancer. They seldom
however can be persuaded to divulge their recipes, which are
passed on from father to son, and form the most treasured
family possession. They also know of many most subtle
poisons, by the sale of which they become rich, and by
administering which, chiefs and other persons able to purchase
them, sometimes rid themselves of their enemies, the latter to
all appearance dying from perfectly natural causes.
The most familiar " properties " of the witch-doctors are
the " knuckle-bones," known to the natives as " daula " and to
the Boers as "dol os." They may consist of pieces of bone,
tup: NATIVl': TRIHKS OV the TRANSVAAL. 12/
or wood or stones or almost any substance. They are much in
evidence whenever a witch-doctor is consulted, as from the
manner in which the bones fall when thrown, he decides the
answer to the question asked him. Natives have great faith in
the knuckle-bones and they are thrown on all sorts of occasions.
Though the power of witch-doctors has lessened of late
years, owing to the advance of Christianity and civilisation,
these people still exercise a very great influence over all
natives, even over so-called converts, and are therefore still
to be reckoned with as a power among the tribes.
Of the Transvaal natives, the Shangaans, especially those
in the Zoutpansberg, are said to practise and believe in
witch-craft the most. Next to them the Bavenda and Zulu
tribes are the most superstitious. The Bechuana tribes, being
as a rule more civilised, and the Basuto possessed of more
common sense, are in general less superstitious than the others.
Pursuits and Occupations.
Originally hunters and herdsmen, the modern Bantu of
South Africa have had perforce to turn agriculturists. Their
method cf hunting was to organise large drives in which all
the men and boys of a tribe took part. The game was either
surrounded or driven into a cul-de-sac and killed by spearing
or clubbing. Considerable skill was displayed in the manage-
ment of these drives which have now been practically put a
stop to by the game-laws recently introduced.
The natives, however, still employ various ingenious traps
for animals of all sorts — a practice which is not easily checked,
and which greatly retards the increase of the game, even in the
reserves.
Though now o!)liged to till the soil to support life, the
Transvaal natives have not yet develo])ed any great skill in
agriculture. In some few localities the missionaries have
taught and encouraged them to grow fruits and vegetables, by
means of irrigation, but the great majority plant nothing but
mealies (maize) and kafifir corn (sorghum or millet), and
little more of these than is sufficient for their own immediate
needs. They seldom store this grain but sell any surplus
they may have to the nearest " kaffir-store-keeper " at a cheap
rate, only to buy it back again at famine prices when the pinch
of want is felt.
The usual implement of cultivation is the hoe, with
128 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
which they merely scratch up the surface of the ground. No
attempt is made to manure the ground, but crop after crop is
sown till the soil is exhausted, when a fresh spot is sought.
All the field labour was till recently done by the women and
girls, who worked together in large parties, tilling, sowing and
reaping all the fields of the tribe or clan in turn. It was in
fact the duty of the women to provide all the food for the
kraal except meat and milk, which were obtained by the men.
The gradual introduction of ploughs, worked by the men, is
however revolutionising this system, and where the plough is
used, the life of the women is made much easier. Indeed the
plough is incidentally the means of greatly decreasing
polygamy, for many wives are desired by the native primarily
as so many inexpensive farm labourers, fewer of whom are
necessary when such a labour-saving implement is in use.
The staple food of the natives is mealies — stamped or
boiled — and milk. The latter is never drunk fresh, but is
kept in skin bags till it ferments. Pumpkins are occasionally
eaten and certain wild roots, herbs and fruits. Goats and
sheep are occasionally killed for food, but cattle only on very
great occasions, a native looking on his flocks and herds as his
bank, and their increase as the interest on his money ; cattle are
by far his most treasured possession.
Cattle diseases. have latterly much reduced the natives' herds :
the following are the numbers of stock officially estimated
to have been in possession of natives in the various divisions
and districts in 1904 :
Division.
orses.
lU
>>
c
0
0
c
1
0
U
X
0
-
Northern
74
.39
1,113
81,321
94,251
213,237
14,051
Eastern
125
35
568
33,725
23,826
137,553
11,600
Central
,V8
71
1,520
23,420
40,009
47,512
6,974
Western
272
72
786
35,371
31,326
42,627
10,950
North-Western
27
16
,361
28,214
30,338
58,532
7,130
South-Eastern
910
15
16,925
13,084
75,352
574,813
15,128
Total
1,726
233
4,363
218,976
232,134
65,833
THE NATIVE TRIBES OI- THE TRANSVAAL. 1 29
lVea/>ons.
The traditional weapons of the Bantu tribes are various-
forms of spears and javeHns known as " assegais "*. There
are different kinds of these, used for stabbing and throwing
respectively, the former having short, stout shafts and broad
blades, while the latter have narrow points and long tapering
shafts.
" Knob-kerries " (clubs or throwing sticks) are also in general
use by the natives. They throw the lighter varieties with some
skill, and are able to bring down birds on the wing with them.
Bows and arrows do not appear ever to have been generally
used by the Bantu tribes of South Africa as serious weapons of
war, though it is related that the Bavenda tribe (see Zoutpans-
berg division) overcame the original inhabitants of the Northern
Transvaal by means of poisoned arrows. Though occasionally
used in the chase by natives of remote districts, the bow is not
much in evidence at the present time.
Firearms seem to have been first obtained by the Eastern
Transvaal natives from the Portuguese settlements on the East
coast early in the nineteenth century. In the forties the Boers
used to give out muskets and ammunition to large numbers of
natives in the northern and north-eastern districts to enable
them to procure ivory and skins, which they brought back to
their employers. There came a time when the natives refused
to give back these guns, and turned them against their owners,
thereby causing some of the earlier native wars which have been
described.
Clood marksmanship with the rifle is very uncommon among
the Transvaal natives, and as all the tribes were officially dis-
armed between September, 1902, and January, 1903, they have
not much chance at present of improving themselves in this
respect.
Firearms as under were collected from the natives at the
general disarmament, compensation being paid for every weapon
brought in.
* This is nol a native word, being of Porluguese extraction.
(7269)
MO THE XATIVl-: TKIBKS OK THE TRANS\AAL.
.
Xuniljcr of am
IS ^urrenciertd.
Ammuni-
tion.
District.
Maga-
Other
Other
Number
zine
breech
fire
Total.
of
Rifles.
loaders.
arm?.
•
Rounds.
East and south-cast
213
1.355
7,230
8,798
5,985
Zoutpanslierg
125
1,808
28,909
30,842
Central districts...
62
850
2,952
3,664
3,356
North-west districts
41
579
4,269
4,907
1,112
West districts
42
1,136
899
2,077
630
Total
483
5,746
44,259
50,488
11,083
Compensation to the amount ol ^,61,548 wa.s paid to tlie
natives for the above arms and ammunition.
The following firearms were registered as in the possession of
chiefs and headmen in the year 1903-4 : —
Northern Division...
206
Eastern „
8
Central „
9
Western ,,
46
North-western
2T
Total
290
Besides the above, for which the possessors hold licences, it
is probable that some firearms have been concealed by certain
tribes. Zebedela or Shikwane in the Waterberg division was
the only chief officially suspected of having withheld a certain
number at the time of the general disarmament, but the
Shangaans and other north-eastern tribes undoubtedly have
opportunities of obtaining arms from natives in Portuguese
territory, while in the western districts it is possible that the
natives may occasionally be supplied from their kinsmen in the
Bechuanaland Protectorate, who have never been disarmed.
On the whole, however, it is considered that comparatively few
natives are in possession of firearms at the present tmie.
THE NATIVE TRllJES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 13I
Tribal Distinctions.
Physique. — Taken as a whole, the Shangaans are superior in
physujue to all other tribes met with in the Transvaal, the people
of Zulu extraction having quite lost their national characteristics
in this as in ocher respects, and being for all practical purposes
merged in the Basuto.
Next come the Basuto and Bechuana, who are both moderately
■developed people, generally well-built, wiry and active, but slight
in figure.
The Bavenda are decidedly inferior in physi(jue to all the
■other tribes, being neither tall nor muscular. This may be the
result of their allowing marriages between close blood-relations,
which is totally opposed to the practice of all other Bantu tribes
in South Africa.
Dress. — In the western and central divisions and in all
localities which border on large European centres, the natives
have to a large extent adopted some form of European clothing,
and their tribes can therefore no longer be distinguished by their
styles of dress or personal appearance. In districts compara-
tively remote from civilisation however, such as the Zoutpansberg,
Waterberg, and Eastern I )istricts, the following tribal peculiarities
are observed : —
Basuto tribes. — Men. .Shave the whole of their head periodi-
cally, and are therefore never seen but with very short hair.
They also often gash their faces on the cheeks — one, two or
more scars on each side according to tribe. They have no
head-dress. By way of body-clothing they wear a roughly-
dressed skin hanging from a waist-belt in front, to which, after
passing between the legs, it is also fastened behind.
Basuto women may be recognized by their hair, which is
■closely cut on the crown of the head, the remainder on the
forehead, neck and temples being clean-shaved, thus giving the
.appearance of a skull-cap. Immediately below the irregular
edge of this "cap," a line of l)lack and red is painted.
They are fond of wearing numerous metal bangles, usually of
plain iron, brass or copper wire of varying thicknesses, on their
arms and ankles, and bracelets of the same material round their
necks. Their dress consists of two dressed leather aprons
fastened round the waist by a girdle. The hinder apron is cut
to a point which hangs down to the level of the knees, that in
front being square, but often ornamented with strings made of
twisted sinews, or with coloured beads.
(7269) I 2
133 THE NATI\K TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Zulus. — Transvaal Zulu men cannot readily be distinguished'
from Basuto by their personal appearance. Their women wear
a skirt or kilt reaching to the knee, made of leather, brayed and
dressed very soft, Avhich is not worn by any other tribes.
Shangaans. — As stated before the men of this race affect a
larger variety of the well-known Zulu "head-ring." This is
worn by all the older men, and, unhke the original Zulu article,
is removable. They do not shave the head, nor do they now
make scars on their faces, though they formerly disfigured
themselves in a peculiar manner which earned them the nick-
name of "knob-noses." They wear round their waists skins,
with the hair outwards, after the fashion of the Zulu " Moocha."
Shangaan women are easily identified both by their hair,
which is worn in thin plaits, six to eight inches long at the back
and sides, and by their pleated skirts, which are nearly always of
a dark blue coarse cloth manufactured by themselves, and reach
to a little below the knee. They also wear numerous bangles,
but these are made of very thin wire, twisted and worked intO'
patterns on a foundation of horse-hair.
Bavenda. — Both men and women of this tribe always keep
their whole heads quite clean-shaved. Otherwise they are not
easily distinguishable from the Basuto, except by their poorer
physique, as the skin loin-cloths of the men and the two leather
aprons worn by the women are very similar to those of the latter
people.
Swazis. — The Swazis dress after the style of the Zulus of
Zululand, wearing the skin "moocha"; unlike Zulus though,
they often wear a head-dress of furs.
In cold or wet weather the natives of all tribes who cannot
procure a European coat of some sort, wear a blanket or skin-
rug (" Kaross ") thrown over their shoulders, which they also-
use as a covering at night.
Habitatio7is.
As in the matter of clothing, so in their style of house-building,
the more civilised class of natives are aping Europeans, and
near towns and villages as well as in the Western districts
generally, round or rectangular stone huts, mud-plastered, and
with pitched roofs of thatch, are conmionly seen. Chiefs,
indeed, often have quite good houses of European pattern.
The following types of huts are however generally adhered to-
by the different tribes in the remoter districts : —
THK NATIVK TRIIJKS OF THE TRANSVAAL. 1 33
Basil to. — The hut is circular in plan, the walls consisting of
fairly stout vertical poles, stuck in the ground and 4 to 5 feet
high, interlaced with light pliable rods and reeds, the whole
being plastered with mud and cow-dung outside. The roof is
of grass thatch and conical in shape, with eaves projecting
slightly beyond the walls. The doorway is very low, and is
closed by a swinging mat or sometimes by a rough-hewn board.
There are no windows. The floor of the hut is of carefully
rammed earth, and the fireplace is in the middle. There is,
however, no outlet for the smoke, except the door. A space
round the front of the hut is usually enclosed by a high screen
of reeds, within which the women sit and work.
Basuto for choice build their huts on the slopes of rocky hills.
Sha/igaans.—'T\\e Shangaan type of hut is similar in general
■shape to the Basuto, but has much lighter walls, mostly made
of reeds stiffened by a few poles only, and is generally smaller ;
the roof is of higher pitch, better made, and with eaves projecting
nearly to the ground. These differences are probably due to
vthe fact that the Shangaans as a rule live in a hotter climate
than do the Basuto, and are subject to heavier rainfall, while
they usually select a plain or valley in preference to a hill-side
for a site.
Bavenda. — The Bavenda build huts very like those of the
Basuto, but these people are very poor and slovenly architects,
and spend a considerable portion of the year living in the open.
Zulus. — The Zulus of the Transvaal build circular huts with
vertical wails like the other tribes, but often make their roofs
•of a beehive shape instead of the usual cones.
Arts and Handicrafts.
The Bantu are not artists, their only efforts in this direction
being rude attempts at carving human and animal figures out of
wood, the ornamentation of assegai shafts with wire-work, and
the working of designs in coloured beads on the aprons of the
women of some tribes.
Their skill as handicraftsmen is not conspicuous, but is
sufficient to keep their simple wants supplied. The smelting
of metals appears to have been known to them from very early
times, and they have always manufactured their own iron spear-
heads, rude knives, and the picks and hoes used in agriculture,
heating the metal by means of a primitive clay furnace fanned
with bellows made oi a goat or antelope skin, and beating it
134 TIIK NATI\K TRIBES OF THK TRANSVAAL.
with a largt flat stone. (Joppcr has also been worked for a long
time by certain tribes, notably the Batlokwa, but appears onl)
to have been used for making bracelets and other ornaments..
Various kinds of wirework are also common in bracelets, etc.
It is said that there are certain men in Malabokh's tribe in
the Blauwberg who are able to make gunpowder, but the truth
of this is doubtful.
The greatest and most general accomplishment of South
African natives is the dressing of leather and skins, either
with or without the natural hair. The skin " Karosses " or
robes made by these people are Avell known for the excellence
of their curing and the neat manner in which the pieces are
sewn together with sinews.
The Shangaans appear to be the only people who practise
any form of weaving. They make a stout coarse woollen cloth,
usually dyed indigo with red stripes, of which the skirts of their
women are usually made.
Most of the Basuto tribes and some others are very skilful
in the making of baskets. These are so closely woven of
rushes or grass that milk or even water can be carried in:
them.
Clay pottery is also extensively manufactured by the women'
of many of the tribes. They fashion pots of all shapes most
cleverly without any sort of appliance like a potter's wheel, but
using the hands only, manage to produce symmetrical and
finished articles. The pots are of all sizes from small mugs
used for drinking to enormous jars in which kaflir beer is-
l:)rewed or grain stored.
When instructed by Europeans, these natives are able to
learn ordinary trades, and become fairly efficient rough
carpenters, stonemasons and even blacksmiths, but instances
are very rare of South African natives having acquired
sufficient manual dexterity to make really skilled mechanics.
CHAPTER XI.
NATIVE LANGUAGES.
Thk language spoken b)- the Bantu tribes is of a high order,
subject to strict grammatical rules and adequate for the
expression of any ideas whatever. The construction, however,
is very different from that of the languages of Europe, as it
is inflected principally ' by means of prefixes,, and in the con-
struction of sentences follows certain rules depending upon
harmony of sound. It has become broken up into many
dialects, so that individuals from the Western coast, from the
interior and from the Eastern coast cannot understand each
other, though the great majority of the words used by all are
formed from the same roots.
In the South Eastern dialects the sound of the letter R is
wanting, while in some others the sound of our L is never
heard. In all are combinations of consonants which are very
difficult for strangers to master.
The " clicks " which occur in various Bantu dialects as now
spoken, were no doubt imported from Hottentot or Bushmen
sources ; the words in which they occur being chiefly those
pertaining to the occupations of women ; it is surmised that
they were introduced by females of Bushman or Hottentot race
who were spared when the tribes to which they belonged were
concjuered. There is this jieculiarity in the language, that
some of the dialects on the opposite sides of the continent
bear a closer resemblance to each other than to those between
them. The tribes seem to have been scattered and mixed
together again by violent convulsions in some long forgotten
time.
The Bantu language is divided by experts into three main
branches : the Western, Eastern and Southern, which are again
divided into sub-branches. It is, however, sufficient here to
consider the branches of the Southern Division, which embrace
all the languages met with among the Bantu races in South
Africa.
136 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
The Southern branch is divided into three sub-branches :
•" Eastern," "Central" and "Western," and by examining the
first two of these, all Bantu languages in British South Africa
can be placed.
The Eastern sub-branch includes three languages only :
I. Zulu.
II. Xosa.
III. Gwamba.
This may be called the " click " group, as its languages
contain several different forms of "click" sounds, unpronounc-
able by the average European.
I. Zulu, properly called "Sizulu," is spoken in Zululand and
also in a more or less corrupt form by the people of Zulu
extraction now . living in the Transvaal. Its use as the
language of a conquering and superior race extends as far
north as the River Zambesi, and even when another language
is the vernacular of the people, Zulu is generally understood.
Setebele, the so-called language of the Matabele, is Zulu with
dialectic variations.
There are two forms of Zulu — the High and the Low —
used by the upper and lower classes respectively.
The language of the Swazis, called Siswazi, is merely a
dialect of the Zulu tongue.
II. Xosa is the oldest form of Bantu speech, and is closely
allied to the Zulu. It is confined to the Transkei and neigh-
bouring native territories of Cape Colony.
III. Gwamba, Sigwamba or Sichangaan is the language
used by the generality of natives in Portuguese East Africa,
and also by the Shangaan tribes in the Transvaal, who are of
the same race. It bears a close resemblance to Zulu, and Zulus
can understand it without much difficulty.
The Central sub-branch has four languages, of which two
only need be touched upon here, viz. :
I. Sesuto.
II. Sechuana.
These differ from the Eastern tongues in having no " clicks "
(except in a few Sechuana dialects) and are also generally
harsher, more guttural and less liquid in sound.
I. Sesuto is the language of Basutoland and is also spoken
by the Barotse north of the Zambesi, the latter having at one
time being conquered by the Makalolo, a tribe of Basuto
race. The conquerors have disappeared, but their language
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 1 37
remains. Various dialects of Sesuto are largely spoken among
the native tribes of the Transvaal, the Bapedi tongue, called
Sipedi, being that most widely spoken and understood.
II. Sechuana is so closely allied to Sesuto, that it is
sometimes difficult to discern to which of these languages
certain dialects spoken in the Transvaal belong. It is the
language of the Baralong, Kakwena, etc., of Bechuanaland, and
in various dialects is spoken by many tribes of the Transvaal,
where it is generally understood.
Sivenda, the language of the Bavenda tribe of the Zout-
pansberg, differs materially from both the Eastern and Central
groups of languages, and is not understood or easily acquired
either by Zulus, Shangaans or Basuto, in View of which fact,
the opinion held by some that it is a blend of Sesuto and
Lukalanga (the language of the Makalanga of Mashonaland)
■does not appear correct. It is more probably a dialect of some
Bantu language spoken much nearer the Equator, for it is said
that it closely resembles the speech of a tribe now living in
the valley of the Congo.
In general sound Sivenda is much softer than the Sesuto
and Sechuana languages.
The general distribution of languages in the Transvaal is
thus :
Noriheni Districts. — Sesuto predominates ; Sigwamba,
Sivenda and Sizulu also spoken.
Eastern Districts. — Forms of Sesuto almost universal.
-5". Eastern Districts. — Sizulu and Siswazi universal.
Central Districts. — Sesuto predominates, but some
Sechuana dialects, and a little Sizulu are also spoken.
N. Western Districts. — Sizulu universal, but becoming
more and more mixed with Sesuto.
Western Districts. — Sechuana universal.
Orthography ok Native Names.
The Bantu have no written characters of their own, and
as there is as yet no universally recognized system of spelling
native words in the Transvaal, the manner in which these are
rendered in most current works on South Africa and on the
maps in general use, is apt to be confusing if not actually
misleading.
The best known system of spelling is that inaugurated by
the late Dr. Colenso, Bishop of Natal, which is now generally
138 TIIF, NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
followed in that C.'olony and also in the Cape Colony. The
system was specially devised to represent the sounds of the Zulu
language, and for this purpose it is satisfactory. As, however,
it uses the letter R (the ordinary sound of which is unknown
in Sizulu) to represent the strong guttural similar to the Arabic
r^ (kh), it is manifestly not entirely adapted for the rendering.
of the Sesuto or Sechuana languages, wherein the English R
frequently occurs.
Throughout this treatise an attempt has therefore been
made to follow the system of spelling indicated in Appendix
IJl, King's Regulations, which seems to provide the means of
approximately rendering all Bantu sounds except the "clicks."
The clicks are of three kinds : (a) dental ; {/>) palatal ;
(c) lateral, each of which has several varieties or shades, but it
is unnecessary to describe these here.
(a) The dental click is produced by pressing the tip of the
tongue against the back of the front teeth, and its sound is
like the " ts " sound often made by Europeans to express,
sorrow or commiseration.
(/') The palatal click is made by curling the tongue upwards
against the palate, and its sound is exactly like that used to
urge on a horse — "cl'ck."
(c) The lafe}-al click is very similar to (/') but is made by
placing the tongue in the cheek.
These three clicks are not provided for in Appendix III,
King's Regulations, and are, therefore, here represented by
Colenso's method, namely, by the letter C, Q and X respectively,.
e.g., Amabara, Ma^ekeza, Ama.rosa. Clicks are, however, not
very numerous in the Transvaal, except along the Eastern
border.
It has been necessary to alter the spelling of a number of
native names which were evidently first written by Dutchmen,
and which would, therefore, be likely to be mispronounced at
sight by an Englishman. For example, Secoecoeni has been
altered to Sekukuni (OE being in Dutch pronounced as the
English 00).
Magalie 1 , , u 1 . / Alakhali
Magato j ^^^'^^^ ^^^" ^^^^'^^ ^° i Makhato
(G being a strong guttural in Dutch).
Certain obviously French spellings have also been eliminated
e.g., Modjadji, Shikoane, Seseloane have been replaced by
Mojaji, Sliikwane, Seselwane.
APPENDIX I.
NOTES ON SOME NATIVE STRONGHOLDS.
Detail?.!) topographical descriptions of a number of localities^
which would ])robably be resorted to and defended by certain
tribes, or used as places of concealment for cattle and suppplies
in case of hostilities, have been obtained, and will be found in
the Trans-caal Route Book. The following are some of the
most important.
In the Zoutpansberg Division.
The Blauwberg (see Jackson Map 25). This is a lofty rangt
of mountains, rising over 3,000 feet above the surrounding
plain, situated in the district of that name. It is approached
either from Pietersburg (about 68 miles) or from Piet Potgieters-
rust (slightly over 100 miles, via Masibi's and Matala's locations)..
Water is not sufficient for a large force on either road, but there
is a good supply once the southern slopes of the range are
reached.
The Blauwberg is occupied by the Bakliananwa tribe under
chiefs Malabokh and Kivi, the former of whoni is by far the
more powerful. There is bitter enmity between the two chiefs.
Malabokh's kraal is on a high hill called Leoken, near the
centre of the range, which contains numerous caves and
natural passages. On the west side of the hill is a very large
cave in which many cattle could be concealed. The whole hill
is very rocky and thickly covered with bush.
Kivi's kraals are on the southern slopes of the eastern
extremity of the range.
Several native tracks practicable for pack animals ascend
the range from the south.
A wagon track from the west also leads to Beaule)", tlie
headquarters of the Sub-Native Commissioner. This would
probably be the most suitable direction from which to attack
Malabokh's stronghold. The choice of roads from the railwa)
140 THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL.
would naturally depend on the attitude of the tribes located to
the south and east.
Matala's Location.
(Jackson's Map 22). About equidistant {40 miles) from
Pietersburg and Piet Potgietersrust. Good roads for all arms
with a sufficiency of water.
The greater part of the location is surrounded by high hills,
the space inside containing plenty of water. The chiefs kraal
is within the hills. The best approaches for purposes of attack
would be from the east.
Though Matala's people are of Basuto extraction, it should
be noted that they assisted the Boers against Malabokh and
other Basuto tribes in 1894.
MojAji's Location.
Li Haenertsburg district (see Jackson's Map 32). This
location is situated about 37 miles N.E. of Haenertsburg, which
is some 33 miles by road from Pietersburg. Surrounded as it
is on the north, west and south-west by high hills, any attack on
on this location would be best made from the ea.st or south-east,
which would be reached from Haenertsburg.
The eastern portion of the location is open and fertile with
plenty of water, while the western is sterile, rough and hilly.
The tendency of the native population is therefore to overflow
to the eastward, and many of the people live outside the limits
of the location in that direction.
There are in the Zoutpansberg Range proper and in the
north-eastern part of the division generally tracts of almost
impenetrable jungle, traversed by only a few native paths, which
would doubtless be used as places of refuge by the local tribes
in time of war for themselves and their cattle. It is doubtful,
however, whether during the winter months when alone an
expedition could be undertaken in those parts, they could
•obtain enough water to maintain themselves for any length of
time. Louis Trichardt would be the only possible base for
operations in that part of the country.
Li the North-Western Division the following is the only place
worth notice : — ■
Makapans Gat. — (Jackson's Map 4) Approached by a fair
Toad from Piet Potgietersrust — 18 miles. It is a deep and con-
THE NATIVE TRIBES OE THE TRAN8\'AAL. 141
fined valley surrounded by steep and rugged hills in the sides
of which are several extensive caves, some of which contain
water. This place was the scene of the fighting in 1854 between
the Boers and the Mapela tribes when the latter suffered so
severely (see Native Wars). Infantry could scale the hills from
nearly every side and so command the whole valley. Some of
the Letwaba people live in the vicinity at present (see N.W.
districts).
The \V'^aterberg hills west of the railway are very rugged and
broken, and along the Magalakwin River are no doubt many
places which natives might defend in time of war.
The Eastern Districts.
The Luluberg Range (Jackson Maps 10 and 11) extends
southwards from the Olifants River nearly to Roossenekal. It
is the headquarters of the Bapedi tribe (Sekukuni's) and has
been the scene of various campaigns between 1846 and 1879.
It consists of rugged and lofty mountains which are generally
more easily approached from the west than from the east. The
principal points which have been defended by the natives in
former times are (a) Thama Khush (also known as Kolodie's
Kop or Masupa), (/'') Khonoko, and (r) Thaba Mosego.
(a) Is near the southern extremity of Geluk's location and
was defended by the Bapedi in 1879. It could best be
attacked from the west from Schoonoord, the headquarters of
the Native Sub-Commissioner, whence two tracks lead up the
mountain and near which are suitable artillery positions.
Schoonoord is about 90 miles from Belfast via Roossenekal and
about 80 miles from Pietersburg.
(d) Is some 5 miles north of (a) on the farm Genekat
Kop (122) and is important as it is probably to this mountain
that Sekukuni and his immediate following would resort in case
of hostilities. Paswani, Sekukuni's chief adviser, has his kraal
3 miles west of Khonoko. It is also the highest peak of the
Luluberg, being about 6,300 feel above sea level It is eminently
suited for defence, as there is a good water supply on the
mountain, and secluded valleys exist in which large numbers
of cattle could be concealed, as well as caves for the storing of
grain. The immediate approaches are very difficult rocky
paths, the only one suitable for pack animals being one
branching from the Pietersburg-Lydenburg road in a N.E.
direction over a shoulder of the mountain. There are two or-
142 THE NATIVE TKIISES OF THE TRANSVAAL
three other foot tracks which ascend Khonoko from the W.
and N.W.
((.') Thaba Mosego, owing to the scarcity of water on it, is
not of any great importance from a mihtary point of view. It
is situated 20 miles north of Khonoko. This mountain is the
sacred place of the Bapedi, who still offer sacrifices on the
graves of Sekwati and other chiefs who are buried there.
Besides the regular strongholds above mentioned, many
places in and about the Drakensberg range offer facilities for
guerrilla warfare, and would afford hiding places for natives in
revolt. The whole of the Low country, east of the Drakensberg,
is practically covered with thorn-bush, which is thick in parts
Except along the rivers, however, water is too scarce to admit
•"of any large numbers of natives maintaining themselves for any
lencth of time.
Western Division.
The Pilansberg {see Transvaal Degree Sheet '■'' Rusteitbnrg")
IS the only native location in these districts worth considering
from a military point of view. It is a circular chain of hills,
rising 700 to 1,500 feet above the surrounding plain, the circle
being about 18 miles in diameter. The hills are rocky with a
few trees ; the interior valleys mostly clothed with bush. There
is a fairly good water supply from several streams. The
Pilansberg is 80 miles via Rustenburg from Pretoria, the near-
est point on the railway. Good roads for all arms all the way.
There are six roads into the Pilansberg, an attack on which
would present no real difficulties to a force provided with
artillery. The place, however, has some importance as it is
occupied by the Transvaal Bakhatla, who, owing to their
connection with the people of Linchwe in Bechuanaland, would
most probably be involved in any disturbance that might be
started by that somewhat ambitious chief.
Of the other locations in this division, the two principal ones,
namely, the Moilo and Kunana locations, are not easily de-
fensible, and could besides be very quickly reached from the
western railway. None of the remaining western locations are
•of any military importance.
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. I43
'I'hi-: Ckxtrai, Division.
There are no si)ecial localities to which any of the tril)es
would be likely to retire with a view to defending them.
Thk South-Eastern Districts.
The mountainous borders of Swaziland might be utilized by
revolted natives as temporary places of refuge, but it is more
likely that they would retire into Swaziland proper.
APPENDIX II.
THE NATIVE MISSIONS OF THE TRANSVAAL.
Almost every native location and native centre in the
Transvaal has its own mission. The missionaries are of
various denominations but include only one Roman Catholic ;.
the majority are German Lutheran, and Swiss Presbyterian.
The missions are distributed as follows : —
THE NATIVE TRIBES OF THE TRANSVAAL. 145
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148 THE NATIVK TKII'.I'.S OF l Hi; TRANSVAAL.
This number of natives nia\' be considered as directly under
the influence of Christianity, and it will be noticed that
considerably more than half of them are in the western districts.
There are of course numbers of natives, besides those
resident on Mission Stations, who profess Christianity in some
form or other, but the total number of so-called converts is a
very small percentage of the whole native population, and this
number does "not seem to be increasing very rapidly.
The missionaries, howexer, also do an immensity of good in
various ways unconnected with religious doctrines, teaching
the natives better methods of agriculture, and the rudiments
of various trades and handicrafts by the practice of which they
<:an earn money and so better their material condition. As a
result it is noticeable that natives living near mission stations
usually have better houses, get more out of the ground, and
are individually more prosperous than the others.
APPENDIX III.
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED.
The Bcginnini:, of South Afnca)i History. By Dr. O.
McC. Theal. Capetown : T. Maskew Miller. 1902.
History of South Africa. 5 volumes. By Dr. G.
McC. Theal. Eondon : Swan Sonnenschein and Co.
1897-1900.
The Boer States. By Professor A. H. Keane. London :
Methuen and Co. igoo.
The Modem Languages of Africa. 2 volumes. By R. iN .
Cust. London : Triibner and Co. 1883.
Geschichte dcr Baivciida-Mission in Nord Transvaal.
Missionary pamphlet by W. Criindler. Berlin : 1897.
Lc Bokaha. Missionarj- pamphlet by E. Thomas.
Neuchatel. 1895.
Various Parliamentary Bluebooks on South African
Affairs.
Annual Reports of the Commissioner for Native Affairs.
Transvaal, 1902, 1903, 1904.
Report hy the Commissioner for Native Affairs on the
" Acquisition and tenure of land by natives" 1904.
Report of the South African Native Affairs Commissiou
190375-
The Archives ot the late South African Republic.
Sundry manuscript notes by the Officials of the Nali\(.-
Affairs Department, French and German Missionaries,
etc., kindly lent l)y the Secretary for Native Affair.-^,
Transvaal.
INDEX.
A.
PAGE
Administrative " Divisions" and " Districts... ... ... ... 94-5
Albasini, JoSo, becomes chief of the Shangaans ... ... ... 64
,, ,, his character and career ... ... ... ... 65
Arms in possession of natives ... ... ... ... ... ... 30
Arts and handicrafts, native ... ... ... ... ... ... 133-4
Asiatics, influx of ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 7
B.
Bafokeng, The. Section of the Bakwena tribe ... ... .. 20
.Baharutsi (Barotsi) tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Bahwaduba, The. Section of Zuhis .. ... ... ... ... 34
Bakhafela, The. Section of the Bakhatla tribe ... ... ... 23
Bakhatla tribe, The ... 22-4
,, tribes descended fiom ... ... ... ... ... ... 23-4
Bakhaha, The. Branch -. f the Bapedi tribe ... ... ... ... 55
Bakhananwa (Malabokh's) tribe. The 53
Bakoni tribe. The. Eastern districts ... ... ... ... ... 78-9
,, ,, Zoutpansberg Division ... ... ... ... 47
Bakubung or Bakhofa, The. Section of Bakwena tribe ... ... 21-2
Bakulubeng, The.., ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 27
Bakwebo tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5°
Bakwena tribe. The 19,80
■ Balemba, probable Semitic origin of the ... .. ... ... 60
Baloyi, The. Shangaan tribe ... ... ... ... ... ... 66-7
Bamakhopa, The. Section of the Bakwena ... .... ... ... 20
Bamalete, The 27
Bamatau, The. Section of the Ba-moHmosana ... .. ... 21
Bamatlaku, The. ,, ,, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... 21
Bamolechi, The. (Mahtzi's tribe) ... ... ... ... ... 47
Bamolimosana, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21
Bamosetla, The. Section of the Bakhatla tribe ... ... ... 23
Banareng or Banareni tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... 5^
Ba-nkuna tribe, The. (Shangaan) ... ... ... ... ... 65
■^ Bantu, Meaning of the word ... ... ... ... ... ... 6-7
INDEX; 151
PAGE
Bantu, uibal system, The ■.; . .■•>;;U9-2l ■
Banlwane, The ... ... ... ... i.- ..-.;,. 34
Bapedi tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... 74~8
Baphalane, The. Section of the Bakwena tribe ... ■ .,.. 22
Baphiring tribe. The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 24
Baphuti or Bahputi, The 79
Bapo and the Batlako, The 26
Baralong tribe. The ... ... ... ... ... ... I5"~^
Baramanemela, The. Section of the Ba-niolimo.sana ... ... 21
Barotseland, Conquest of ... ... ... .•■ .■• ••• 9
Barotse tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 18
Basuto, Dialects of the ... ... ....... ... ... ... 46
Basuto tribes of the Central Division ... ... ... ... ... 32
,, „ of the Eastern Districts ... ... ... ... ... 73
, „ ,, of the Zoutpansberg Division ... ... ... ... 45"^
Ba-Tau tiibe, The. (Eastern Districts) 79
Ba-Taung, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .•• 25
Batlaung, The 27
Batlokwa or Batokwa, The 25,49
Batlokwa tribe, The original ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
Batsuetla, Basuto name for the Bavenda ... ... ... ... 59
Bavenda tribe. The ... ... ... ... ... ■• ... 59
,, ,, Descent from Bakhatla stock of chiefs of ... 59
,, ,, Attacked by Swazis and Shangaans ... ... 106
,, ,, Fighting strength of ... ... ... ..., 63
" Black Matabele," The 4°
Blauwberg, Stronghold of the .. ... ... ... ... ... I39
Blood River, Battle of the 9
Boer Expeditions against the Bamapela ... ... 104, 106
,, Bapedi loi, 107
,, David Massouw m
,, Katlakter (Bavenda) 105
,, Makapan's people ... ... 103-4
,, Malabokh I12-3
,, Mapokh 109-11
,, Moselikatse 100
,, Mpefu 115-6
,, Setyeli 102-3
,, various tribes ... ... ... ... II5~5
British expedition against Sekukuni ... ... ... ... ... 108-9
Bushmen, The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5
Buys people. The (half-caste tribe) ... ... ... ... ... 69-70
Carolina district. The tribes of ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
Cattle owned by natives ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 128
Central division. Native population of the ... ... ... ... 32
Chaka, The Zulu chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
Circumcision ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 123-4
Classification of the Bantu ... ... ... ... ... ... 7
152
INDEX,
Coast tribes, The ... ...
Commissioner for Native Affairs, The ..
Conclusions drawn from Native Wars ..
Chuenc, petty chief
7
94
II6-8
55
D.
David Massouw, Boer Expedition against ... ... ... ... m
Death and Burial Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... 123
Descent of Various Tribes from the Bakhatla ... ... ... ... 23-4
Dingaan, The Zulu Chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 9
Distribution of Natives, Present ... ... ... ... ... 12-13
Distribution and Strength of Tribes of Western Division ... ... 28-9.
,, ,, ,, Central ,, ... ... 37-S
N.W. „ 43
„ ,, ,, S.E. Districts ... ... 91
„ ,, Basuto of Zoutpansberg Division ... 57-8
„ ,, ,, of Eastern Districts ... ... 82-4
,, ,, Bavenda ... ... ... ... ... 63
„ ,, Shangaans of Zoutpansberg ... ... 68
,, ,, ,, Eastern Districts .. . ... 86
,, ,, Swazis ,, ,, ... ... 86
Divisions and Districts, Administrative ... ... ... ... 94-5
Dog tax ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 99
Dress distinctions... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 131-2
Duties of Officials of Native Affairs Department ... ... ... 95-6
Dzada, The ruins of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 6o>
E.
vj^astern Districts, Native ropuhilion of the
Eland, Charlie, Petty chief
Eland, Jack, Petty chief...
' Ermelo District, Tribes of the ...
*' Ethiopian Church," Influence of the...
40
40, 69
92
35.41-
F.
Faction fight in the Bakhatla tribe
Factions of the Bapedi ...
Firearms surrendered by natives 1903, List of
Franz, The Rev. R., German missionary
• 35-l>
• 77-S
.129-30
54
Gasibone, Bakwena chief
♦' Great Trek," The
2f
Ct-10>
INDEX.
is:>
H.
Habitations, Native
Heidelberg District, Unclassified natives of th
Hereros, The
Herman Selon, Bakwena chief ...
Hlangaan tribes, The
Hottentots, The ...
Hut tax, Proposed
PAGl!-
35
}y
21
8S
5
9f>
Ikalafeng, Bahurutsi chief
Interior tribes, The
I'*
ii
J.
Jensen, Mr., Missionary...
Katlakter, Ba\cnda chief, Boer Expedition against
Kekaan, Karel, Zulu chief
Kekaan tribes, The ... ... ..'.
Khafela, Tiie Bakhatla of
Khopane, Baharulsi chief
Khupa, Section of the Bakwebo tribe...
Kivi, Bakhananwa chief. ..
Klein Makhato, Tau chief
Klein Mtiba, Bakoni chief
" Knob- Noses," The. (Shangaans) ...
Kobeni, Basuto chief. Eastern Districts
Kukuna Lekhali, Bakoni chief...
105
34
34
.39
23
19
5'
54
50'
49
64
81
40
L.
Laban, Joseph, I'ctly chief
Labour Districts ...
Lagden, Sir (iodfrcy, Commissioner for Native Affairs
Land tenure by natives, Question of ...
Languages, Native
Lehau, Bakhatla chieftainess
Leihlo Lo Babatsho, Native newspaper
Lekhali's section of the Bakoni tribe ...
Letwaba tribe. The
Li-Kulube section of the Bakwebo tribe
Linchwc, Bakhatla chief
37
14
94
96-8
135-^
36
7'
48
60
51,80
30.31
,154 INDEX.
PAGE
List of tribes and chiefs. Central Division .. ... ... ... 37-8
... .' ,- .. N.W. „ 43
,, ,, ,, Western ,, ... ... ... ... 28-9
,, ■ ,, ■ Basuto, Eastern Districts ... ... ... 82-4
■ ,, ,, ,, ,, Zoutpansberg Division ... 57-8
,, ' ' ,,' ,,' Bavenda ... ... ... 63
,, ■ ■ ,, ,, Shangaan, Eastern Districts ... ... 89
.," ,,' .> ,, Zoutpansberg Division ... 68
,, ,,' ,, Swazi, Eastern Districts ... ... ... 86
,, " ,, ,, Zulu, Eastern Districts ... ... ... 88
,, ,, ,, S.E. Districts ... ... ... ... 93
Livestock owned by natives, Return of ... ... ... ... 128
Livingstone, Dr., Damage to property of ... ... ... 103
Lobengula ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ii
Lomomio, Bavenda chief ... . . . • ... ... ... ... 62
Luluberg, Strongholds' of the • ... ... ... ... ... ... 141-2
M.
Maake section of the-Bakonitribe •• ... *" ... 48
Maake section of the Bamolimosana tribe ... ... ... ... 21
Mabalane, Philip, Baphiring chief ... ... ... ... ... 24
*' Mac-Mac" or Nyanda, Swazi chieftaine.ss ... ... .. ... 85
Mafefe, Nuku chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 56
Magwaniba, The. (Shangaans) ... ... ... ... ... 64
Mahlangu, Fene, Zulu chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 34
Mahupa's section of the Bakoni tribe ... ... ... ... 48
Maja, I'etty chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 55
Makapan's Gat, Description of... ... ... ... ... ... 140-1
Makapan, Solomon, Bakhatla chief ... ... ... ... ... 37
Makapan, Valtyn, Kekaan chief ...... ... ... ... 39
'Makhato, Bavenda chief
■Makhato, Klein, Tau chief
Makhuba, Mutalerwa chief
Makololo, The
Makwarella, Bavenda chief
Malabokh's tribe (the Bakhananwa) ... ... ... ... ... 53
Malabokh, Boer expedition against ... ... ... ... ... 112-3
Malakutu, Bapedi chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 77
Maleo or Maloyi tribe ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 80
Malikajik, Swazi chi.ef ... 85
Malitzi's or Bamolechi tribe ... ... ... ... ... ... 47
]VIamabolo or Li-Kulube section of Bakwebo tribe ... ... ... 51
;Mamaiolla's section of Banareng tribe... ... ... ... ... 52
iMamichi or Sekoko, Nuku chief .... ... ... 56
.Mamitwa, Baloyi chief ... ... ... ... ... 66
Mamokhali, Johannes Otto, Bakwena chief ... ... ... ... 21
.Manala section of Zulus ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 33
.Manners and Customs ... ... ... ... ... ... 121 el seq.
.Ma Ntatisi ; The Mantatis . 9
iMapela Tribes, The ... ... ... ... ... ... 40
INDEX. 155
PAGE
Mapela Chiefs, Characters of the ... ... 41
Mapokh's tribe ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 86-7
Mapokh and Malew a routed by Swazis ... ... ... ... 104
,, Boer e.xpedition against ... ... ... ... ...109-11
Maraba, Jonathan, Kekaan chief ... ... ... ... ...40,69
Maraba, WilHam, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... ... 40
Marichane, Bapedi chief ... ... ... .-.. .. ... 77
Maritz, Boer leader ... ... ... ... ... ... n
Marriage customs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 121-2
Mashashaan, Letwaba chieftainess ... ... ... ... ... 69
Masibi, Hans, Mapela chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 40
Masibi, Hendrik Backeberg, Mapela chief ... ... ... ... 40
Matabata, Mutalerwa chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 55
Matabele, The n
"The Black" 40
Matala's Location, Description of ... ... ... ... ... 140
,, section of the Bakoni tribe ... ... ... ... ... 48
Maihibe, Amos (alias Lipunu), Zulu chief ... ... ... ... 34
,, Paledi, mixed tribe under ... ... ... ... ... 34
Matlaping, Sibulawa, Batlokwa chief ... .. ... ... ... 25
,, Sidumedi, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... ... 25
Matok or Masanyane, ,, ,, ... ... ... ... ... 49
Matsatsi Tlol we, Batlokwa chief ... ... ... ... ... 25
Mavamba, Shangaan chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
Minga, Shangaan chief ... ... ... .... ... ... ... 65
Missions, Native ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 145-8
Mohlaba, Nkuna chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 66
Moilo's Location, Description of ... ... ... ... ... 31
Mojaji, chieftainess of the Bakwebo tribe ... ... ... ... 5°"^
Mojaji's Location, Description of ... ... ... ... ... 140
Mokhale, Darius, Bapo chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 26
,, Diederick, Bapo chief ... .. ... ... ... 26
Mokhatla, Tom, Baharutsi chief ... ... ... ... .. 19
Mokoto, husband of Mojaji ... ... ... ... ... ... 5^
Molehi, alias Ramaubane, petty chief ... ... ... ... ... 21
Molepo, Mutalerwa chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 55
Molete, David, chief of Bakulubeng tribe :.. ... ... ... 27
Molifyane, Sefanyetso, Faphiring chief ... ... ... ... 25
Molotlegi, alias August Mokhatle, Bakwena chief ... ... ... 20
• Montsiwa and Moshete, War l)elween... ... ... ... .., 17
More, Daniel, Bakwena chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 21
• Moselikatse, The Zulu conqueror ... ... ... ... ... 10
,, routed by Boers ... ... ... ... ... ... Ii
„ founds the Matabele kingdom ... ... ... ... Ii
„ Boer expeditions against ... ... ... ... ... loo-i
Motele, Basuto chief. Eastern Districts ... ... ... ... 81
Mpahlela, Bakhaha chief 55
Mpefu, present chief of Bavenda tribe ... ... ... ... 61
„ Boer expedition against... ... ... ... ... ... 11 5-6
Mrehi, Basuto chief. Eastern Districts... ... ... ... ... 81
Msikiza, Swazi chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
Mtiba, petty chief 49
156 INDEX.
I'AGK
Mukhubua, chief of the Banialelc ... ... ... ... ... 27
Mukhubua section of the Bakweho tribe ... ... ... ... 51-2
Musi, The sons of, founder of the Transvaal Zulu tribes ... ... 33
Mutalcrwa tribe. The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 54-!%
Mutlo Mabi, Batlako chiel
N.
Natal, British annexation of ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Natalia, Republic of ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10
Native Affairs Department, Organisation of the ... ... ... 94
Native names, Orthography of ... .„ ... ... ... ... 137
Native Vigilance Association, The ... ... ... ... ... 71
Native wars, Conclu ions drawn from ... ... ... ... ... 116-S
Native weapons ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 129
Newspaper, Native (Leihlo Lo Babatsho) ... ... ... ... 71
Ngulube, Swazi chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 85
Nkobe, ,, „ 85
Nkuna or Bankuna tribe, The ... ... ... ... ... ... 65
Nkwane, Baphuti chief ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 79
Nomqcisa or Nompete, Swazi chieftainess ... ... ... ... 85
Nuku Section of Bakhaha tribe... ... ... ... ... ... 55
Nyanda or " Mac-mac," Swazi chieftainess ... ... ... ... 85
Nyumba Mabena, Zulu cliief ... ... ... ... ... ... 33
Nzunza (Mapokh's) tribe of Zulus ... ... ... ... ... 34
O.
" Oorlamsch," The. Descendants of slaves ... ... ... ... 35
Organization of the Native xVftairs Department ... ... ... 94
Orthography of native names ... ... ... ... ... ... 13?
Ovampo tribe. The ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ^
Paswane, Sekukuni's adviser ... ... ... ... ... ...79,80
Physique of natives ... ... ... ... ... ••• ... 13^
Piet Retief, Boer leader 10
Piet Retief district. The tribes of ... ... ... ... ... 92
Pilane, Ramono. Bakhatla chief ... ... ... ... ... 30
Pokhisho, Baharutsc chief ... ... ... ... ... ... 19
Poll-tax, Native 99
Population, 1904. Total native ... ... ... ... ... 12-13
,, ,, Western Division ... ... ... ... ... 15
,, ,, Central ., 3^
N.W. „ 39
,, ,, Zoutpansberg Division ... ... ... ... 44
,, ,, Ea.stern Districts ... ... ... .., ... 73
S.E. „ 9'
Powers of Officials of Native Affairs Department ... ... ... 95""^^
Punitive measures against various tribes ... ... ... ... II3~.'>
Pursuits and occupations. Native ... ... ... ••• ••• 1^7""^
INDEX.
157
R.
Uamakhupa, Batokwa cliicf
Ramakok, Bakwena chief
Ramapulana, Bavenda chief
Ramaramisa (known as Sibasa), Bavenda chief
Ramolekana, Baralong chief
Ramputa, Bavenda chief
Ralsegaai, alias Andries Lekhwali, Bakwena chief
Ivedistribution of tribes, Causes of
Registered firearms in possession of natives ...
Rehgious beliefs, Bantu ...
Retief, Piet, Boer leader
Rifles in possession of the Bakhatki
PAGE
49
22
61
62
18
62
21
II-I2
130
124-6
10
30
s.
Sebetwane, Makololo chief
Sebogodi, Bahurutsi chief
Secretary, Native Affairs, The ...
Sekhopo section of the Bakwebo tribe ...
Sekoko alias Mamichi, chief of Nuku tribe ...
Sekororo's section of the Banareng tribe
.Sekukuni I, chiefof the Bapedi
,, British expedition against ...
Sekukuni, The present chief
,, Character of ...
Sekukuniland, The strongholds of
.Sekvvati, Bapedi chief ...
Sekwati, Bakoni chief ...
Selebul's section of the Banareng tribe
.Seripa Moloto, chief of the Bamolechi tribe ...
Sesuto, Dialects of
Setjeli or Secheli, Boer expedition against
.Shangaan tribes. The. Zoutpansberg Division
,, ,, ,, Eastern Districts
Shikwane (Zebedela) Kekaan chief
Shopiane, Swazi chief eastern districts...
Sibasa or Ramaramisa, Bavenda chief .. .
Sibolayu Tlokhvvane, Pleadman
Sikundu, Shangaan chief
.Sintimulla, brother of Mpefu, Bavenda chief ..
Sillari, Basuto chief, Eastern Districts...
Sitorom, Swazi chief, Eastern Districts
Sivenda, Language of the Bavenda
.Skep Maluka, Bakhatla chief ...
Spelling of native names...
Standerton District, The tribes of
Stephen, Bakwena chief. ..
Strength and distribution of tribes.
Western Division
Central Divisiort
9
19
94
51
56
52
76
108-9
77
7«
141-2
76
49
53
47
46
102
64-8
88-9
39
«5
62
27
65
62
81
8s
60
35. 3(>
137
92
22
28-9
37-«
158
INDEX.
Strength and distribution of tribes, N.W. Division ...
S.E. Districts ...
Basuto, Zoutpansberg Division
Eastern Districts
Bavenda tribe ...
Shangaans, Zoutpansb. Div. ..
,, Eastern District,^ ..
Swazis, Eastern Districts
Zulus ,, ,,
Zoutpansberg Division
Strongholds, Descriptions of various native
Swazi tribes. Eastern Districts ...
Swazis, The. Raid the Bapedi
,, ,, Attack Mapokh...
,, ,, ,, the Bavenda
I'AGfc
43
91
57-8
82-4
63
68
89
86
88
69
139-42
85
76
104
106
J'abakulu, Basuto chief, Eastern Districts
Taxes paid by natives
Tengwe, Bavenda chief .. .
Thebe, Petty chief
Tohoyandwa, The Bavenda hero
Totems or tribal emblems
Tribal distinctions
,, system, The Bantu
Tribes descended from the Baralong . . .
,, ,, ,, Baharutsi ...
Tseke, Batau chief, known as Makhali
Tsolobolo or Selebul, Banareng chief ...
Tulare, Bapedi chief
Turmetsyane, Sekukuni's mother
81
99
62
19
60
125-6
131
! 19-21
16
18
80
53
75
77
u.
Umzilikazi, see Moselikatse.
Unclassified natives, Heidelberg District
" Vaalpens," The. (Aboriginals)
Valtyn Makapan, Kekaan chief
Vigilance Association, The native
70
39
71
VV.
Wakkerstroom District, The tribes of ...
Weapons, Native
William, son of Kholane, Bapedi chief
Windham, Mr. W., Secretary Native Affairs
Witchcraft and Witch-doctors ...
91-2
129
n
94
126
INDKX.
159
Z.
Zimbabwe, The ruins of...
Zoutpansberg, The strongholds of the
Zulu invasion of the Transvaal ...
,, Empire in 1828
,, tribes Central Division
,, ,, Zoutpansberg Division
,, ,, Eastern Districts
Zwaartbooi's Location ...
pai;k
5
139-40
9
9
35
69
86-7
34
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