The South-African crisis - pagina 10

THE SOUTH-AFRICAN

Cape

bold enough to say that the Dutch colonists

is

regarded the English as

rights

,,

arrogant above

moreover was the

reciprocal.

i).

The aversion

Captain Percival tells us that

English the colonist appeared an "unsociable,

inhospitable tirely

other mor-

of others and viewing everything with an

eye jaundiced by national prejudice"

to

all

the pursuit of wealth, regardless of

tals, insatiable in

the

CRISIS.

and boorish

race,

and their actions en-

guided by mercenary and interested motives''

").

On both

sides there was exaggeration, no doubt, but any case there is ample proofthat the two elements which were henceforth to be compelled to live together

in

in South- Africa, took A^ery badly to a

The national character fundamentally

more intimate fusion.

of the English, in fact, differs

from that of the Dutch.

Both have

their qualities well defined, but

between the two there

an absolute incompatibility.

As regards outward

is

display,

prompt and energetic

action, large conceptions

and methodic organisation, the English are beyond contradiction superior; but the medal has a reverse side in their love of show, in their incapacity to observe well,

and

in their propensity to confound the idea of organisation

with the

effort for Anglicising

on the contrary,

is

less

everybody. The

Dutchman

enamoured of parade he ;

is

too

slow in the development of his projects he leaves things ;

alone, submits to impressions

and contents himzelf too

much with observing things with an attentive eye. But from the instant that his dormant energy is awakened he has always shown himzelf to be endowed with a perseve1)

''South- Africa", p. 116.

2)

''Account of the Cape'-, p. 223.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen