cious to the highest degree. The absolute
power they possessed over the slaves and Hottentots demoralised them,
and made them tyrannical and bloodthirsty. At too great a distance from
the seat of government for its power to reach them, they defied it, and
knew no law but their own imperious wills, acknowledging no authority,--
guilty of every crime openly, and careless of detection."

"I certainly have read of great cruelty on the part of these Dutch
boors, but I had no idea of the extent to which it was carried."

"The origin was in that greatest of all curses, slavery; nothing
demoralises so much. These boors had been brought up with the idea that
a Hottentot, a bushman, or a Caffre were but as the mere brutes of the
field, and they have treated them as such. They would be startled at
the idea of murdering a white man, but they will execute wholesale
slaughter among these poor natives, and think they have committed no
crime. But the ladies are coming up, and we shall be interrupted, so I
will not task your patience any more to-day. I shall therefore conclude
what I may term part the first of my little history of the Cape colony."

CHAPTER FOUR.

Alexander Wilmot was too much pleased with Mr Swinton not to cultivate
his acquaintance, and they soon became very intimate. The conversation
often turned upon Mr Swinton's favourite study, that of natural
history.

"I confess myself wholly ignorant of the subject," observed Alexander
one day, "though I feel that it must be interesting to those who study
it; indeed, when I have walked through the museums, I have often wished
that I had some one near who could explain to me what I wished to know
and was puzzled about. But it appears to me that the study of natural
history is such an immense undertaking if you comprehend all its
branches. Let me see,--there is botany, mineralogy, and geology--these
are included, are they not?"

"Most certainly," replied Mr Swinton, laughing; "and perhaps the three
most interesting branches. Then you have zoology, or the study of
animals, ornithology for birds, entomology for insects, conchology for
shells, ichthyology for fishes; all very hard names, and enough to
frighten a young beginner. But I can assure you, a knowledge of these
subjects, to an extent sufficient to create interest and afford
continual amusement, is very easily acquired."

"`The proper study of mankind is man,' says the poet,"--observed
Alexander, smili