CHAPTER I.

Early Scenes of Settlement and Struggle.

The Dark Continent--The Old-time Natives of the South--The Bantu, Hottentots and Bushmen--The Portuguese of South Africa--The Dutch East India Company--A Dutch Colony at the Cape--The First Slaves--Introduction of Asiatics--The Boer Pioneer Farmer--Arrival of the Huguenots--Wars with the Bantu or Kaffirs--Extension of Settlement and Exploration--The First British Occupation--Final British Conquest--The Dutch, the English, the French and the Natives--Birth of the South African Question