s of justice, mercy, and good faith
which Pizarro displayed in his dealings with the simple-hearted
Peruvians. But neither Cortez nor Pizarro ever perpetrated more unjust
or inhuman deeds, than have the Dutch boors during the century and a
half of their possession."

The doctor shook his head as he heard this assertion. "That is strong
language, Mr De Walden," he said. "I go along with you in nearly all
that you have said, but not that. You refer, I suppose, to the commando
system?"

"Mainly to that, but not entirely."

"Very well. I speak under correction, but I understand the commando
system to be this. When property is continually and persistently stolen
by the Hottentots and Bushmen, and no peaceable measures can secure its
restoration, the whites in the neighbourhood are summoned to assist at
an armed attempt at its recovery. They march into the domains of the
robbers, seize the cattle or other property which has been plundered, or
an equivalent, punish the robbers, according to the amount of the
offence, and then return home. Is that a correct statement?"

"Theoretically, very fairly correct."

"Well, where is the injustice? Those who will recognise no law but
force, must take their first lesson under that law. A savage has to
learn that he must respect the rights and feelings of others. That is
the foundation of all social order. Until he has learned it, you cannot
civilise him."

"Granted. But the means you take are not the right ones. In the first
place, who gave the Dutch settlers the right to the land or the cattle?
They found the Hottentot and Bushman in possession. What equivalent did
they give them for their land? They were savages, you will say, and
could not appreciate its value. True, but the Dutchmen could. Did they
not take advantage of the ignorance of the aboriginals to gain
possession, on ridiculously cheap terms, of their property. If so, the
rights of which you speak are founded on fraud and extortion, and are,
in fact, no rights at all, but simply wrongs."

"Do you mean that there can be no dealings at all between civilised
races and savages?"

"By no means. If the civilised trader is an honest man, he will
appraise the land at its true value, and hold it in trust for the
vendor."

"How hold it in trust?"

"He will remember that he cannot pay the fair purchase-money down, and
therefore hold it for the seller, till he can pay it. He will remember,
that the selle