THE SOUTH AFRICAN BLACKS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 225, 16 June 1908, Page 2

THE SOUTH AFRICAN BLACKS.

Sir- Godfrey Lagden, who has had rfiuch experience in South Africa, contributes to the "Fortnightly Review" some observations on South African natives and their problems. On tho whole, he takes a very cheerful view of tho South African blacks, expressing tho opinion that "within the space of'comparatively few years they have advanced from a stutg of utter barbarism to one in which they aro clothed, fairly industrious, peaceful, and progressively inclined; in which education and Christianity havo been felt by them; their condition of life vastly improved, and the path of evolution made accessible." Tho contributor says that all this was a great accbmplishment foY which ho may look in vain through tlm pages of history to find a parallel in point of tho time expended on' it. How barbarous many of the tribes - were formerly may bo gathered from the career of Tschaka, tho great military • leadfir, who consolidated the Zulu power. "Everyone who displeased him in any w.rv," we read, "was put to death." He governed his people with such cruelty na is hardly comprehensible by Europeans, "and to prevent rivalry by members of his own family, ho'suffered no son of his to live. Sir Godfrey Lagden draws a very pleasing picture of the Zulu's at the present "'time, and eulogises .the educative work done : by Governments, magistrates, and especially missionaries. All tho samo (says an Australian paper) some terrible stories of atrocities committed 'by tho Zulus during tho re-' rent rebellion in Natal leaked out, and with due respect to Sir Godfrey Lagden, there is " ample evidouce that the Zulu can still bo a : fiond incarnato when once tho impis aro mustering for war, and unprotected' white settlors fall into his hands. The "black peril" , cannot bo ignored, even bv such an optimist as this writer.