September 1841, Volksraad at Pietermaritzburg
It was a special occasion and every delegate at the Volksraad was on their best behaviour. Whilst previous sessions could be described as a social club of sorts, today’s dignitary from the Cape Colony had these farmers become gentlemen.
Governor Sir George Napier of the Cape Colony was present in the Volksraad session, sitting beside Andries Pretorius. It appeared the British force was only here to lay the groundwork for his visit. Dressed in the best clothes that the men procured specifically for the day, it was a house full of British aristocrats.
Governor Napier stood up as the Chairman of the Volksraad, Jacobus Nicolaas Boshof, invited the Governor to speak.
“I bring word from Queen Victoria of the British Empire. In her own words, she could not acknowledge the independence of her subjects, but that the trade of the emigrant farmers would be placed on the same footing as that of any other British settlement, upon their receiving a military force to exclude the interference with or possession of the country by any other European power,”
He paused, looking around the room to see the Boers taking some time to digest the contents.
“What the Queen is offering is what you all wish for. Self-government, with an acknowledgement of British authority. And we would even be willing to protect your little Republic in the event of an elven invasion. You should understand that we are putting fewer and fewer garrisons out of the home islands. Others would not receive such benefits.”
The Governor specifically looked towards Pretorius, the de facto leader of the Republic, who was slowly mulling over it. Napier turned to look at the Chairman, Boshoff, who immediately frowned.
“We wish to not be British nationals, Governor. We have repeated that clause countless times. We wish to be free men. Independent peoples,” Boshoff stood up to speak, as every Boer turned to face him.
“As I said, my hands are tied. Personally, I support the independence of the Republic. But I am also bound to the home government in Britain, there are things I can and cannot do. And I am unable to revoke your British citizenship even if you wanted it or not. Many savages beg for such an opportunity, it’s a shame that you would reject it.”
The Governor turned to look at Pretorius, who was looked upon by every Boer in the room.
“Then I am most sorry, Governor. We reject your offer as it stands. Perhaps a little concession could be given? Such as Port Natal. It’s strange that the Port, being so near our territories, is not under our control.”
“Pretorius, even if you insisted you did not want Port Natal, here you ask for the Port. Well, you’re not the only one. The Spanish have been constantly wanting to seize Gibraltar, but they are unable to do so. So do not be as foolish as the Spanish, Boers, there are some things you can and cannot do. Here is one thing you cannot do.”
The Governor stood up and went to the room’s doors. Stopping, he turned around, as if he had something to add.
“By the way, the offer still stands. I can wait. But for now, British troops will renter Port Natal and garrison it. Until you accept the offer, then this can be renegotiated.”
Governor Napier was met with jeers as he stormed out of the Volksraad, linking up with the small British detachment waiting to escort him to Port Natal.
“How was it, sir?” Captain Smith asked, checking his carbine.
Napier looked at the ground, ensuring he did not step in cow or hose shit, before getting up on his horse. He was dressed in a black suit, unsuitable for the climate, so he pulled against his collar. Like any male who got older, there was a prominent bald spat on the centre of his head which Napier used a hat to cover it.
“It was fine. Even if the Boers wish to cause trouble, I doubt they would dare to open fire. Let’s go.”
Captain Smith nodded and barked out orders to the Khoikhoi Cape Mounted Riflemen who rode off with the Governor.
Pretorius exchanged looks with Boshoff. And the Volksraad fell silent.
Boshoff began penning a proclamation wanting to argue against this injustice on the British part. On behalf of the farmers, he slammed the administration in Cape Colony, for not allowing the Boers representation in the governance. In it, he called for a protest by all Boers against the British administration in Cape Colony so that he could cripple the administration.
Unfortunately, the man’s letter had little to no effect, for any Boer who stayed back in the Cape, were culturally influenced by the British, and weren’t sympathetic to the Voortrekker cause. Some protests were carried out, but the diehard ones already trekked away into either the Free States or Natal. They were of course cracked down on by British authorities, specifically, Khoikhoi officers who led to even more protests, which led to more crackdowns. Immigration increased to the Boer Republics, but at what cost?
Relations with the British and Boer Republics were at an all-time low, and Jan could only frown at how the Boers ruined the relationship with the Cape Colony’s administration. There was no need to do any of this because neither would it have any effect nor would it change anyone’s mind. And honestly, what was wrong with keeping British citizenship, it meant they could be integrated with the British markets. Self-sufficiency or autarky is horrendous for industrialization.
How many Boers do they have? About a few thousand. How many of them were useful workers? Divide by two, and one will get the number of useful men or labourers. Since women in the workplace weren’t the norm, the Boers were only fully utilizing half of their potential. How is one able to man mines, factories, ports, services and transportation with so little manpower? Even if one added the elves, that was stretching it, assuming they are fully integrated into the economy. At most, the population size in the best-case scenario would be about a hundred thousand. But a hundred thousand is small compared to the millions the British Empire had. He could only facepalm at the pathetic sight in the Volksraad, while the nationalistic Boers all jeered the Governor away.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
And he planned to rely on European machinery to deal with the crunch in manpower, but now that relations were at an all-time low, his reliance on Belgian machinery would only increase. While it wasn’t a bad thing, relying solely on them was bad. But it is not as if he could train farmers into machinists within a single generation. Never mind, computer scientists could be trained in a few months apparently if one goes to a boot camp.
Jan was more interested in Boshof who presided over the Natalia Republic’s Volksraad as the Chairman for this special session. He approached the man whilst he was out dining.
“Commando of Port Natal, Jan Boddewijk, how can I help you today?” Boshof asked as Jan sat opposite Boshof.
“Chairman Boshof, I would like to get to know you better.”
“I don’t suppose you see the need to introduce yourself. Very well. I am Jacobus Nicolaas Boshoff. I served as a clerk in the Civil Commissioner’s office in Graff-Reinet, where I worked for 14 years under men like Andries Stockenström. I was even promoted to chief clerk and became a sheriff in those parts. There I met up with the various founders of the Natalia Republic during my tenure. Men such as Pretorius and Sarel. I didn’t participate in the Battle of Blood River, but I’m sympathetic to the cause.”
“I must criticize your decision for taking up English laws in your town. I do not know what you were thinking. But the reason we made the trek was to escape English laws.”
“The Foreign Investors from the likes of British merchants tell me otherwise. Nonetheless, I have stripped out the laws that weren’t suitable for us Boers. But left the ones that are good for business.”
“And there are the harsh fines you levy on your people. I do not know why they haven’t trekked away yet. No man I know would accept such absurd laws.”
“I have received many praises from them about how I can keep the streets clean. You know, if your cow is unable to control your bowels, and let loose its contents. They will immediately clean it up before a resident is unable to spot it. They are used to clean streets. And if the streets get dirty, I will receive complaints.”
“Then there is the heavy-handedness manner you deal in the town. Your referendums and elections are undemocratic.”
“If I don’t be rather forceful, then these men won’t fall under my command. A heavy hand is needed to keep these men under control. And if you ask me, what do these farmers know of the various reforms they are voting for? Why should people who don’t know what they are doing be allowed to vote? And on the point of democracy, I at least give them the chance of voting. I could also have not held any referendums and forced them through. So, you should consider that.”
“You remind me so much of those Anglicised Boers in the Western Cape. Why did you come along with us on the trek? You would be so much happier staying there.”
Jan kept silent, and Chairman Boshof’s lips curled up.
“At the very least you don’t see those elves as savages. And made good use of their labour, so I will give brownie points for that. I must admit, you would be the perfect example of an Anglicised Boer running a town out here. But I heard about your startlingly low Church attendance, and thus I must find a better analogy to describe it.”
“My body is the temple,” Jan smirked.
“Nonetheless, I won’t deny your contributions to the Natalia Republic, Pretorius told me about the agreements you’ve been brokering on his behalf with Queen Mzilikazi and Soshangane respectively. You know, there is also another elven kingdom that borders the Zulu Kingdom, Swaziland ruled by Sobhuza. I suggest bringing her into the coalition. She would make Mzilikazi and Shoshangane much more agreeable if we get her in.”
“Why?”
“The Swazis make a perfect buffer state between Mzilikazi and Soshangane. Both are also wary of one another; thus, they have been jockeying the Swazis into their sphere. Plus, the defeated Queen Dingane fled there and was killed. So, they are no friends of the Zulus. Here’s an interesting story, their current monarch’s nickname Somhlolo means “the Wonder” since her father was struck with lightning when she was born.”
Jan cackled in amusement, although he swiftly regained control. A dark thought entered his mind, wait a minute, he could be struck by lightning as well. This wasn’t the modern world where lightning rods were prevalent. He soon became depressed.
In the Volksraad’s Afternoon Session, he proposed, “As Sarel Cilliers had once said, we made a convent with God, and thus every town needs a Church!”
He received no applause, and he felt a little embarrassed as all the Boers gave him weird looks. He supposed it was strange that the one who never goes to Church is out here proposing that every town should construct a Church.
Sarel Cilliers stood up and began applauding in support. He was the only one.
Jan went back to his seat, which was right beside the Chairman, for Joren was not in attendance.
Boshof raised an eyebrow at the strange proposal. And allowed the next speaker to speak.
Leaning in, he whispered into his ear, “What was that about, especially coming from a faithless man?”
“Let’s just say, that my town has a lot of bakeries and wineries, and we are more than happy to supply all of Natalia with them.”
The situation back home was so bad that the prices of land kept going up day after day and wineries kept buying up land with the money, they borrowed from him. In response, he raised interest rates to cut the borrowing, but the growth in value of the land prices outpaced the interest rates, so he doubled it which finally stopped the insane borrowing. The Zulu district had to deal with all the new Boer residents who found the land much cheaper than the Boer district. As well as the new winery and bakeries that settled in the region. He supposed it was a way to solve the racial segregation issue and force out the ones who cannot handle the high prices into the Zulu districts.
Even people were coming up to him, wanting to buy land in Zululand to create plantations. And all he could do was redirect them to Zulu Chiefs whose authority handled it very easily. With a few gifts of cattle under the table, metaphorically speaking, they began leasing out plots of land. His bureaucrats were in talks with the various Zulu Chiefs to further integrate their bureaucracy. They were hoping that they could get the Zulu Chiefs to appoint a representative on their behalf regarding the Boer settlement in Zululand so that the pace of business wouldn’t be so slow.
Of course, at the rate he saw it, the market was going to be glutted with bread and wine once the bubble pops. So, there’s only one way to do it, raise the demand for bread and wine permanently. What better situation than to increase the number of Churches throughout the Republic? Well, he could score brownie points with Sarel, so that was a plus in his eyes.
The other way was to export it. And since the elves seemed to like the bread and wine when they are free, they should be satisfied with it if a good price can be given. Thus, he dropped the trade barriers of Zulu grain as Boer farmers transitioned to cash crops, and cheap grain flooded Port Mpande. Bakeries were now able to bake bread cheaply, and they mass-produced bread for the Zulu working class.
While dropping that barrier, he and Nokuthula hashed out an agreement to have free trade of wine and bread between both parties. So, in return, cheap bread and wine flooded the Zulu market. If Adam Smith saw this, he would probably have Jan as his disciple or whatnot for loosening his protectionist policies. Any Zulu artisanal bakeries and wineries had to close shop and wound down business with the flood of Boer products into the marketplace.
He received many complaints from various Zulu about it, so he sent them a copy of The Wealth of Nations to shut them up. Unfortunately, this time, he received many complaints about his previous protectionist policies and wanted him to allow Free Trade between the Zulu and the Boers. To that, he said no, because the Zulus could easily dominate any industry with their increased manpower pool that allowed them to have cheap labour, so some protectionist policies still had to stay.
Hypocritical, he knows. But what government truly 100% practices Free Trade? Even the government of the “Free World”, the United States of America, had to implement tariffs and go on a trade war with China because China completely outcompetes, and outmatches America in many industries. The Europeans enforced Free Trade in their colonies and looked at what happened to them. They turned them into resource-extracting lands whilst the Europeans turn the raw goods into higher-value products, exporting them to their colonies, immensely profiting off them.
If Free Trade meant free violation of a country’s economy, then he can’t do that.