Shades

It is generally true that the majority of the English at the Cape Colony in about 1900 were colonialist by nature.

They were mostly people who had been born in England. Some, like Victor Drake, were first generation immigrants, i.e. they were born in South Africa of parents who had immigrated earlier.

The most important characteristic of the colonialists was that they thought like Englishmen. England was "home". They believed in the essential nature of being English, and that this should be forced upon the indigenous population as a way of enlightening them.

Religion was a critical aspect of being English. Indeed, they believed it imperative to inculcate their version of Christianity upon the Black people.

At the same time, their own children were to be prevented from coming into contact with traditional customs like circumcision rituals and ancestor worship.

Language was another important aspect of being English. The typical colonialists insisted that all people around them should learn to speak English, and generally frowned upon their children learning an African language. They treated Afrikaans in the same light - Afrikaners must learn to speak English and not vice versa.

The English also believed that their social customs - their manner of dress, speech, social mores, etc. were superior to all others. Black South Africans were therefore to wear English clothing, adopt English manners and conventions, use the British economic system, and preferably live in English-style houses, etc.

(A Black family which lived in a Xhosa-style house was taxed more heavily than those living in English-style houses!)

Yet it went further than this. The English tended to see the "other" as inferior. Although they did attempt to turn the amaXhosa into Black Englishmen, they never believed this to be entirely possible. Their philosophy was that all people could be equal, but some would always remain more equal than others!

A perfect example is found in Benedict Matiwane who, despite being Christian and worshipping in a Church of England community, speaking English, wearing English clothing, even being "part of the Farborough family", was nevertheless never allowed further into the Farborough house than the kitchen. Indeed, Benedict was never really "family" at all but rather a glorified servant.

One notices that Emily Farborough strictly forbade Frances and Crispin speaking Xhosa. They were meant to speak only English - and the servants were then to be forced to learn English and so be "civilized". When Walter Brownley told Emily that Benedict must teach him to speak Xhosa, it was clear that she disapproved.

To what extent did the following people reveal colonialist tendencies?

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• Emily Farborough;



• Victor Drake;



• Reverend Hubert Brompton;



• the Bishop of Grahamstown.