FREEBOOTING OR STATEMAKING

Evening Star, Issue 13001, 21 December 1906, Page 8

FREEBOOTING OR STATEMAKING

[Fbo* Ocr Spsciai, Corbtspotimnt.J JOHAN2TESBURG, November 14. Possibly cables have already told you of some freebooting in the western portion of tbo Cape Colony on the part of a, pan named Ferriera and some of bis compatriots. These men bad been transport-riding : for the German Government, and, finding their occupation cone, they crossed the Orange River, attacked one or two outposts of the Cape Mounted Police, secured what arms and ammunition were available, and commandeered further necessaries from 6ome of the farms. A man named Ferriera was. stirring up strife in Angolaland some time ago, but I am not sure whether it ia the same individual od not. the name being a very common one. It is uncertain as yet what the intentions of these people aTe. One hundred and fifty Cape Mounted Police have already been requisitioned, and they may be successful irt making them recross the Orange. It is not anticipated that there will be very much difficulty with them in Cape Colony owing to the fact that aIL the influential "Butch sections political, social, and religious—have sent telegrams and messages to the fanners scattered throughout that district, advising them to have nothing to do with Ferriera and his men. At the present time Femora has only about twenty men with hini. but we may expect to find that number greatly increased, being recruited from amongst the adventurous spirits throughout tho Western districts. If they have any definite object in view it, will roost, likely be to establish some form of a Republic in German West Africa, where they will have a much greater chance of success. Although thie thing is but of yesterday, it ha* caui'od eager speculation amongst the unsettled portion of all our communities, Dutch ay well as British. In a fonwr letter I mentioned that German West. Africa was au ideal country for the nomadic Boer —a man who knows no law but his Bible and his rifle. The class who ate taking part in the present adventure would. 1 think, eliminate the Bible altogether, and recognise no authority but the rifle. If tbev have any measure of-success their force.- will be'very strongly augmented from all parts of South Africa. The late war unsettled the minds of a great many, and they are averse to settling down into ordinary, peaceful puisuits. There is a, restlessness amongst a large .section of the' Boer people which causes them to seek new scenes. It was this feeling that caused the attempts at forming colonies in Mexico and the Argentine, which catted some to trek across the Limpopo into Portuguese' East Africa, and of other? to Angolaland and Uamaraland. It is the spirit which actuated the old voortrekers of sixty years ago, and has animated the adventurous spirit of all nations at different times. Should this man Ferriera prove! a capable leader it is quite likely that thiy will be able to establish a Republic in German West Africa, notwithstanding any action the Germans i might take. The Hottentot war cost our j Teutonic friends the loss of many lives, as I well as the expenditure of a great deal of money; but that would be a very nna'J. thing" compared to movements against resourceful men like- a great number of the Boers' of this country are. Their chief diffi"culty, of course, will be that of getting anna and ammunition, but as yet we do not know whether they had at the conclusion of the Anglo-Beer wax, as it is alleged, large quantities buried in caves or other con: Yenient places Should snch be the case, it will be quite easy to form small hunting parties to go to tho Kalibari Desert, and ftom there make way across the frontier into German territory." >'o bodv of police

'will be strong enough to prevent them, and as these men usually know the country well, there is really nothing to stop them. They | can get plenty of food on the road by living on the farm, houses or shooting game, and once established in . NamaqnaTand or Damaralaml T do not think the Germans could dislodge them. It is.really .only by men of this description that the settlement of that large country can be accomplished. Small settfements" and trading stations sneb as the- Germans contemplate would make very! small headway, and the conditions of the country are not suitable to settled occupations. Most of the land is, badly watered, but cattle : raising can be carried on, and they could breed horses, donkeys," and .goats, and perhaps some descriptions of sheep. - What cultivation is done would be."by the Hottentot servants, who would practically be slaves. The presence of the Germans near the seaboard would probably assist in maintaining some sort 'of cohesion amongst - them," 1 otherwise th<«v would fight amongst* themselves, and split up into small sections. 'I fully anticipnti- that men of this stamp will eventually take po*Tssi6'ri of the whole of the Western senboard from the Orange River north. As you arc. aware, there Ls a great ttndency aniongst the Boers to form .separate Republics. Vrybeid was a Republic once, and so was Stellaland before Sir Claries Warren upset their arrangements, whilst it was in contemplation to form another Republi-.' rorth of the Limpopo, and it was the knowledge of this that caused Mr Rhodes and Dr Jameson to force- the quarrel with Lobcnsuela. A wild, free life .seems particularlv adapted' *° thc nature ..of . the countrv. and recalls remiu:*cences of the expeditions-west which involved the occupation of Tomioswe and Kentucky by the early American colonists, and. alsoi of. that other expedition which seized and retained possession of Texas. Both in German and Portuguese territorv the class of men who are likely to take possession of the country would find no "difficulty in maintaining themselves. Of aniirml food there is- plenty —both cattle, goats, and buck— their other wants are very slight Mealies (maize) furnish them with food, eaten like oatmeal or a-' "read. Pumpkins and melons will alniost crow Ktcw wild : in fact, several individuals of that species are indigenous to the «>"»"£• Thev can grow their own tobacco, and sweet potatoes scarcely require any cultivation. Until they are recognised by the seaboard ruk-rs of both-.territories thev mav have difficulty in getting arms and ammunition, but if the Hottentots were able to supply themselves with these 1 think we mav be sure that thc adventurous whites will be still more successful. Should their earlier successes cause a great number of men to Hock over to them, the Germans will be in trouble straight away, and I do not see how they can liope to drive them out. It is likely that some sort of an arrangement may be.entered into by which these mon will be permitted to occupv stretches of country on condition that they keep tho native races in order, but whatever may be decided on, 1 feel convinced that the whole area referred to will eventually be peop ed in the manner that. I have ■ indicated-that m, by tho more lawless spirits from the other portions of Africa going probably their ranks will be supplemented by adventurers from different parts of tho world.