Oom Paul's People: A Narrative of the British-Boer Troubles in South Africa, with a History of the Boers, the Country, and Its Institutions — John Shaqi
Oom Paul's People: A Narrative of the British-Boer Troubles in South Africa, with a History of the Boers, the Country, and Its InstitutionsHillegas, Howard Clemens
History
Oom Paul's People: A Narrative of the British-Boer Troubles in South Africa, with a History of the Boers, the Country, and Its Institutions
Hillegas, Howard Clemens
Afrikaners -- History; Kruger, Paul, 1825-1904; Transvaal (South Africa) -- History -- 1880-1910
Khama is the paramount chief of the Bawangwato tribe, whose territory is
included in the British Bechuanaland protectorate, situated about one
thousand miles due north from Cape Town. There are about fifteen
thousand men, women, and children in the kingdom, and every one of that
number tries to emulate the noble examples set by their king, whom all
adore. The country and climate of Khama’s Kingdom, as it is officially
called, are magnificent, and so harmless and inoffensive are the people
that the traveller is less exposed to attacks by marauders than he is in
the streets along New York’s water front.
Many Europeans have settled in Khama’s Kingdom for the purpose of mining
and trading, and these have assisted in placing the Bawangwatos on a
plane of civilization far above and beyond that attained by any other
negro nation or tribe in the country. A form of government has been
adopted, and is carried out with excellent results. The laws, which
must be sanctioned by the British Government before they can be put in
force, are transgressed with an infrequency that puts to shame many a
country of boasted ancient civilization. Theft is unknown and murders
are unheard of, while drunkenness is to be seen only when a white man
smuggles liquor into the country. A public-school system has been
introduced, and has resulted in giving a fairly good education to all
the youth. Even music is taught, and several of the brass bands that
have been organized compare favourably with such as are found in many
rural communities in America.
Well-regulated farms and cattle ranches are located in all parts of the
territory, and in most instances are profitably and wisely conducted.
The negroes have abandoned the use of beads and skins almost entirely,
and now pattern after Europeans in the matter of clothing. Witchcraft
and kindred vices have not been practised for fifty years, and only the
older members of the tribe know that such practices existed. The
remarkable man to whom is due the honour of having civilized an entire
nation of heathen is now about eighty years old. He speaks the English
language fluently, and writes it much more legibly than his
distinguished friend Cecil Rhodes.
Khama is about six feet in height, well proportioned, and remarkably
strong despite his great age. His skin is not black, but of that dark
copper colour borne by negro chiefs of the royal line. He has the
bearing of a nobleman, and is extremely polite and affable in his
treatment of visitors. He is well informed on all current topics, and
his knowledge of South African men and affairs is wonderful. In his
residence, which is constructed of stone and on English lines, Khama has
all the accessories necessary for a civilized man’s comfort. He has a
library of no small size, a piano for his grandchildren, a folding bed
for himself, and, not least of all, an American carriage of state.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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