rising community of mercantile adventurers, they had welcomed them with the generosity which marked their character, and which disposed them to share with their friends and allies all that their own necessities did not require. Thus they had permitted a power to gain stability among them, which never became an object of their dread till it could no longer be opposed. Finding themselves at last confined, harassed, pressed upon, and plundered on all sides, and perceiving that no union of their strength against the colonists would avail, they divided themselves into smaller parties, hoping thus more easily to find the means of subsistence, and to preserve from their oppressors the little property which they had still remaining. With this view, such of them as preferred famine itself to slavery, with the few sheep and goats left them, retired to the mountains, or to the most barren and uninviting parts of the deserts; and those who remained in the fertile territory gradually lost their independence, sinking into servitude, as herdsmen and domestics of the boors. Nor were the former long protected by their seclusion against the cupidity of their encroaching neighbours.

"The flattering and fabulous accounts of the new colony, published by Kolben, drew thither every day new settlers from the mother country; and this influx of strangers, together with the children born to the former colonists, occasioned an increasing demand for new lands and servants. Every addition of territory requiring additional hands to cultivate it, the colonists, after having deprived the poor natives of their springs of water, now penetrated into the deserts and mountains to seize their women and children and to reduce them to slavery on the lands which their husbands and fathers had occupied as free and independent people. The aborigines, who had for a long time suffered with exemplary patience, the injuries inflicted upon them, finding that no retreat could protect them from the cruelties of their oppressors, sought resources of annoyance from the desperate condition to which they were reduced, and the colonists, smarting under the reaction of the accumulated evils they had heaped upon them during the space of seventy years, and which could no longer be endured, formed the project of making the colonial government a party in assisting them to enslave or exterminate all that remained of the original inhabitants. But to attempt so monstrous a project as this, or even openly to seize the property of a whole nation, without some alleged provocation or imminent necessity, would, in all probability, have excited the disapprobation of the governor and retarded the accomplishment of their design. They sent, therefore, to the seat of government, the most vilifying representations, imputing to the Bushmen, the most depraved and pernicious propensities, and accusing them of incessantly plundering the property of the colonists. The government, which had by this time (1770) declined from the purity of its principles, was misled by the force of these charges, aided, perhaps, by a share of the col-o nial habits of feeling with respect to the natives which it had by this time

acquired: this scheme of the colonists was therefore speedily authorized; and it was not long before the administration entered as warmly into it as the colonists themselves: for we find that in the year 1774, the whole race of Bushmen, or Hottentots, who had not submitted to servitude, was ordered to be seized or extirpated; the privilege of slavery was designed exclusively for the women and children; the men, whose natural habits disqualified them for the purposes of the colonists, and whose revenge was probably dreaded, were destined to death.

“The decision of government was followed by an order for the raising of three Commandoes, or military parties, to proceed against this unfortunate race. These were usually raised by the different field-cornets, who collected the colonists on the frontier in their respective jurisdictions, having one commandant over the whole. They were to be armed, and to scour the neighbouring country to discover the abodes of the Bushmen: and when they espied a kraal, they were to surprise it if possible, and, singling out the men, to shoot them. The surviving women and children were to be divided and shared among the members of the expedition, or distributed among the neighbouring farmers."

Nothing can be more shocking than the accounts of the murders committed by these legalized invaders and destroyers of the liberty and life of the unoffending natives. But a small portion of their crimes appear to have been recorded. The first party, in September, 1774, in the space of eight days, succeeded in shooting ninety-six Bushmen. The leader of the second reported to the Government, that he had taken one hundred and eighteen prisoners, who, it is presumed, must have been women and children; but the number killed, is not mentioned. By the third Commando, one hundred and forty-two Bushmen were destroyed. The conductor of this expedition, (for what cause, is unknown,) in violation of his instructions, concluded a peace with the Hottentot chiefs. The Government, however, were greatly displeased with this measure, and in the following year, gave orders for two other similar expeditions, in one of which, forty-eight of the devoted Bushmen were put to death. "The number of wounded," says Dr. Philip, "would, in all likelihood, greatly exceed that of the slain on such occasions; as they never ceased to run or scramble among the rocks, in search of hiding places, till life forsook them; appearing to dread being taken, more than death itself."

In one of these expeditions, after having surrounded a kraal, and destroyed all its inhabitants, two spies were sent out with

two Bushmen, who had promised to lead them to the place where some of their countrymen were concealed. Their conduct was such as would have been honoured in the days of Roman patriotism.

"But these Bushmen, instead of conducting them right, only deceived them. A few days afterwards, therefore, seven other spies were sent out with them; and they were assured that, in case of a second failure, they should certainly suffer death; but if they pointed out their comrades, they would as certainly be spared. After proceeding about an hour, the Bushmen, resolved not to betray their countrymen, fell upon the ground, and on being commanded to rise, behaved as if they were dead. When no answer could be obtained from them, blows were inflicted, but as their determination was inflexible, and the invaders could not remove them, they slew them on the spot. As the Bushmen were fully aware of the consequences of their resolution, their conduct was an instance of patriotism not surpassed by any thing in ancient or modern history. But the individuals who composed the expedition appear to have been utterly incapable of appreciating this magnanimous action; and it failed to save those in whose behalf it was performed: for the spies, having ascertained their places of refuge, conducted the whole commando thither; and early in the morning firing into their caves, they suffered not an individual to escape. Forty-three were killed, and seven children made captives, who informed them that a captain was among the slain, but not the chief captain who had the command over the whole Sea-cow River. The commandant, having informed the government that he was in great want of powder and lead, received, in consequence, fifteen hundred pounds of powder, three thousand pounds of lead, and three thousand flints."

For many years the spirit of hostility which prevailed against these poor Hottentots, was such, that the colonists considered the murder of a free Bushman, wherever found and under whatever circumstances, as a duty or a meritorious act. It was not merely by the commandoes (the one half of which we have not enumerated) that the natives were hunted down like the lions, and other wild beasts of their land.

"In their hunting parties, or when travelling across the country for pleasure or on business, the boors massacred these natives as game or as noxious animals; and it is not improbable, that the numbers killed by the regular commandoes fall short of those murdered by private individuals. “A farmer," says Barrow in 1797, "thinks he cannot proclaim a more meritorious action than the murder of one of these people. A boor from GraafReinet, being asked in the Secretary's office before we left town, if the savages were numerous or troublesome on the road, replied, "he had only

shot four,' with as much composure and indifference as if he had been speaking of four partridges. I myself have heard one of the humane colonists boast of having destroyed, with his own hands, near three hundred of these unfortunate wretches."

"The effect of this system upon the Bushmen was to transform them from peaceable, contented, and useful neighbours and visiters, into ferocious and vindictive enemies, till they rivalled, in some measure, the colonists them. selves in cruelty and rapacity. Stripped of their plains and fountains, deprived of their flocks and herds, and finally, robbed of their wives and children, and, followed with the rifle, even to their hiding places among the caverns and holes of the rocks, they had few resources besides plunder, no gratification but revenge. "One of them," says Mr. Barrow, "represented to us the condition of his countrymen as truly deplorable. That for several months in the year, when the frost and snow prevented them from making their excursions against the farmers, their sufferings from cold and want of food were indescribable; that they frequently beheld their wives and children perishing with hunger, without being able to give them any relief. The good season even brought little alleviation to their misery. They knew themselves to be hated by all mankind, and that every nation around them was an enemy planning their destruction. Not a breath of wind rustled through the leaves, not a bird screamed, that were not supposed to announce danger. Hunted thus like beasts of prey, and ill treated in the service of the farmers, he said that they considered themselves driven to desperation. The burden of their song was vengeance against the Dutch!" (To be continued.)

Lynchburg Colonization Society.

At an annual meeting of the Lynchburg Auxiliary Colonization Society, at the Presbyterian Church, on Saturday the first day of August, 1829, the Rev. Wm. S. Reid, (1st V. P.) presided in the absence of the President. On motion, made and seconded, John D. Urquhart was appointed Secretary pro tem.

The Treasurer's Report was read and adopted.

The Annual Report of the Board of Managers was offered and read by Mr. Urquhart, adopted by the Society, and ordered to be published in the newspapers of the town.

The Anniversary Address was delivered by Wm. M. Rives, Esq.; and, on motion, it was Resolved, that the thanks of the meeting be tendered him for his appropriate address, and that he be requested to furnish a copy of the same for insertion in the newspapers published in this town.

The Society then proceeded to ballot for their officers for the ensuing year; whereupon, the Rev. John Early was elected President; Rev. Wm. S. Reid,

1st Vice-President; Rev. F. G. Smith, 2d Vice-President; E. Fletcher, Treasurer; R. H. Toler, Secretary; and Messrs. J. Caskie, J. Newhall, J. R. D. Payne, Edward Cannon, John D. Urquhart, John Victor, Christopher Winfree, John M. Gordon, John Thurmon, John Percival, Wm. J. Holcombe and Josiah Cole were elected Managers.

It having been announced to this meeting that the Rev. Joseph Turner, a man of colour, late of the county of Bedford, hath departed this life since his arrival at the colony of Liberia; Resolved, That this Society bearing in mind his worth, high respectability and distinguished virtue while living, do deeply deplore the loss of the deceased, and sincerely sympathize with his surviving relatives, and also with the Colonists at Liberia, for the loss they have sustained in his death.

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be inserted in the newspapers published in this town.

Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn.

J. D. URQUHART, Sec. pro tem.

REPORT.

WM. S. REID, Chairman.

The Board of Managers of the Lynchburg Auxiliary Colonization Society have the honour to submit the following RE

PORT:

Since the last annual meeting of this Society, there has been received, from the regular contributions of its members, collections of ministers and agents, and donations of benevolent individuals, the sum of $148 65 cents, of which $138 have been transmitted to the Parent Society at Washington, leaving on hand, according to the Treasurer's Report, a balance of $37 32 cents.

In closing the labours of the present year, the Board of Managers cannot permit this opportunity to pass by, without an endeavour, on their part, to present to the Society such considerations as appear to have an immediate connexion with the cause of African Colonization, in general, and especially, such as relate to the interests of this Society in particular.

This day completes the 4th anniversary of the Lynchburg Colonization Society. During its existence, it has contributed to the general cause the aggregate sum of $483, which has been transmitted to the Parent Institution, to be disbursed, under its direction, to the general purposes of Colonization. At the period of the formation of this branch, it was understood, and, indeed, expressly stipulated, as one of the fundamental conditions of the compact between the Parent Society and it,—that, in the