[publius911]

As I understand it, SA when colonized by the Dutch we pretty much unpopulated. As the Dutch created a modern civilization there they brought in blacks to work their farms etc.
The mistake was not working their own farms.

The historical fiction novel, The Covenant, by James Michener, was first available in 1980, when I first read it.
As far as I know, no one has seriously challenged his facts about the area when the Afrikaaners arrived. It was a deserted corner of Africa, and they made mo attempts to expand beyond their original area.

But they did attract natives from far and wide, eager to abandon their primitive uncertain existence. No one forced them to gravitate to Afrikaaner territory. They just did.

What happened after that makes for some fascinating reading.

It's been a few years since I have re-read it. I think it's time.

[TexasTransplant]

That is a Michner that I have not yet read, On my TO-DO list

Thanks
TT

[Theophilus]

Great book. What the Xhosa did to themselves was gut wrenching.