indeed, now that we have taken
from them so much of their country, they have scarcely pasturage for
their cattle. I have said that the Eastern Caffres' territory extends
as far as the latitude of Port Natal, but it formerly extended much
further to the northward, as it did to the southward, before we drove
them from their territory; indeed as far north as Delagoa Bay; all the
country between Port Natal and Delagoa Bay being formerly inhabited by
tribes of Caffres. I believe, Alexander, that Mr Fairburn gave you a
history of the celebrated monarch Chaka, the King of the Zoolus?"

"Yes, he did."

"Well, it was Chaka who overran that country I am now speaking of, and
drove out all the tribes who occupied it, as well as a large portion of
the Bechuana tribes who inhabited lands more to the northward. Now the
irruptions we have had into the Caffre and Bechuana country bordering
upon the colony have been wholly brought about by the devastations
committed by Chaka. Of course I refer to those irruptions which have
taken place since our knowledge and possession of the Cape. I have no
doubt but that such irruptions have been continued, and that they have
occurred once in every century for ages. They have been brought about
by a population increasing beyond the means of subsistence, and have
taken place as soon as the overplus has required it.

"The migrations of the springboks, which we witnessed yesterday, may be
more frequent, but are not more certain than those of the central
population of Africa. The Caffres themselves state that they formerly
came from the northward, and won their territory by conquest; and the
Hottentots have the same tradition as regards themselves.

"The invasion of the Mantatees, as they are called (and by the Eastern
Caffres Ficani), was nothing more than that of a people dispossessed of
their property, and driven from the territory by the Zoolus, under
Chaka; and, indeed, this last army under Quetoo, which has been
destroyed within this month, may be considered as invading from a
similar cause. Having separated from Chaka, Quetoo could find no
resting-place, and he therefore came to the southward, with the
intention of wresting the territory from the Caffres, in which he has
failed. Had he not failed, and been cut off by the Caffres, he would
have destroyed them, and thus made room for his own people."

"Of course; for the end of all these invasions and migrations must be in
such a sacrif