These papers, written by one who had for years lived among the Boers, sharing their daily life and understanding their language, of necessity attempt to delineate, not only the coarse external shell of the Boer, but the finer fibred kernel within, which those whose contact with him is superficial never see; and while dwelling at great length upon the one great flaw which mars the relation of the Boer with his fellow men in South Africa, these papers are of necessity sympathetic in their treatment of him. Now, it appeared not well, at a time when certain men in South Africa were bending down to press their cheek against the heel of any pair of vel-schoens that might pass them, that any English voice should be raised which spoke in kindly tones of the Boer, lest the voice of the sympathizer should blend with and be mistaken for that of the flatterer. It was certain that the time would come when again the Boer would stand in need of just treatment at the hands of Englishmen; and these papers were therefore put aside. That time has come. The Boer has been struck a sore blow by the hand that stroked him; and again it is necessary that he, with his antique faults and his heroic virtues, should be shown to the world as he is. Therefore these papers, which make an attempt to delineate him in such guise as he lives, are now printed. They have been left as they stood save for the addition of a few foot-notes. OLIVE SCHREINER. THE HOMESTEAD, KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA. _February 17, 1896._ CONTENTS PAGE FOREWORD BY S. C. CRONWRIGHT-SCHREINER 7 PREFATORY NOTE (1896) 9 INTRODUCTION (1901) 13 CHAPTER I. SOUTH AFRICA: ITS NATURAL FEATURES, ITS DIVERSE PEOPLES, ITS POLITICAL STATUS: THE PROBLEM 27 II. THE BOER 65 III. THE PROBLEM OF SLAVERY 106 IV. THE WANDERINGS OF THE BOER 148 V. THE BOER WOMAN AND THE MODERN WOMAN'S QUESTION 191 VI. THE BOER AND HIS REPUBLICS 221 VII. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE BOER 249 VIII. THE ENGLISHMAN 321 NOTE A. THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATION (1900) 367 NOTE B. THE VALUE OF HUMAN VARIETIES (1901) 384 NOTE C. THE DOMESTIC LIFE OF THE BOER (1899) 387 NOTE D. OUR WASTE LAND IN MASHONALAND (1891) 393 INTRODUCTION As a rule, the book which requires a preface of explanation is a book better not written, and better not read.