The Times of last Saturday contained a message from its
Johannesburg correspondent which, if well founded, casts a strong light on the difficulties of the South African native problem. A native from German South-West Africa admitted that the rising there was first suggested by the Boer War, which showed the dark races that the white men were not invincible. He added that the rebellion in German East Africa was due to the fact that the Damaraland natives "sent word across" to their brothers to rise. If the news be true—and it is improbable that it lacks foundation—it is but another instance of what many have suspected, the real solidarity of the black races of Africa south of the Great Lakes. We too often forget that, with a few exceptions, they are all of one great racial type, and that they have ways of communication of which the ordinary white man knows nothing. A combination of aborigines against the rule of the newcomers is a wild speculation, but not so wild as not to be worth providing against. The main lesson is the need for a consistent and enlightened native policy in all parts of the continent, for with such an intricate network of communica- tions a blunder in one part will undo the benefits of wisdom elsewhere.
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