6 2

OCEANA.

Dutch, and the alternative might easily arise between a war of this description and the evacuation of the country. As little would it allow the suppression of the Cape constitution and a military government there. Yet what other government would be possible, if we persisted in a course of violent action which the Cape Parliament and Ministry disapproved? I could see no light at all. The only prospect that had hope in it was that Sir Charles Warren would march up, and eventually march down again, having driven his plough through a morass which must close again behind it. If this was the issue it would be only ridiculous. But just now we could hardly afford to seem ridiculous.

It is of course certain that if we choose, and if we act con­sistently with conscientious resolution, we can govern South Africa as we govern India; we can have a native policy of our own, and distribute equal justice to white men and black under our own magistrates responsible only to English opinion. Under such a rule the country might be peaceable and fairly prosperous. It is equally certain that if South Africa is to rule itself under a constitutional system, we must cease to im­pose English views of what is expedient on a people unwilling to act upon them. We cannot force them at once to govern themselves and to govern in the way which we ourselves desire. You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink; and attempts to combine contradictory methods will lead in the future, as they have led in the past, to confusion and failure. As an imperfect believer in the value of popular suffrage, I incline myself to the first alternative. But it must be one thing or the other. Inconsistency is worse than either. I was approaching the Cape with anxious curiosity to learn the prospects of our latest adventure.

CHAPTER IV.

Arrival at Cape Town.—A disagreeable Surprise.—Interviewers.—Stateof Feeling.

Contradictory Opinions.—Prospects of Sir Charles Warren's Expedition.—Mr.

U pington.—Sir Hercules Robinson.—English Policy in South Africa.

We steamed into Table Bay at dawn on December 30. The air, though it was early, was sultry with the heat of midsummer;