Debating San provenance and disappearance: Frontier violence and the assimilationist impulse of humanitarian imperialism

Abstract

This article examines how ideals of humanitarian imperialism informed debate over the provenance and future of Cape San following the Second British Occupation of the Cape Colony. The discussion explores the plight of San along the Cape frontier and how their demise became a focal point in a trans-colonial exchange over the desirability of the incorporation of indigenes as British colonial subjects. Prominent humanitarian protagonists, such as John Philip, called for the integration of San as colonial subjects, owing to the supposed protection this would afford them. The humanitarian campaign for the extension of subjecthood over Cape San was argued on the grounds that it would fend off the devastating consequences of settler colonialism. The principle also applied to indigenous peoples in settler colonies across the expanding empire. This view was not without its detractors, who opposed humanitarian representations of settlers as rapacious and responsible for frontier conflicts. The article argues that the fate of Cape San held a more prominent place in early nineteenth-century contestations over settler identity, frontier relations, and the effectiveness of missions to ‘civilise’ indigenes than has been recognised.

Opsomming

Hierdie artikel bestudeer die wyse waarop ideale rondom humanitêre imperialisme debatte oor die herkoms en toekoms van die Kaapse San beïnvloed het na afloop van die tweede Britse besetting van die Kaapkolonie. Die bespreking stel ondersoek in na die lot van die San op die Kaapse grens, en hoe hul ondergang die fokuspunt geword het in ’n transkoloniale gesprek oor die wenslikheid om inheemse mense as Britse onderdane op te neem. Vername humanitêre voorstanders, soos John Philip, het ’n beroep gedoen om die San as koloniale onderdane te integreer, ter wille van die veronderstelde beskerming wat dit hulle sou bied. Die humanitêre veldtog om onderdaanskap uit te brei om die San in te sluit is gevoer op die gronde dat dit die vernietigende uitwerking van setlaar-kolonialisme die hoof sou bied. Dié beginsel is ook op inheemse mense in setlaarkolonies dwarsoor die groeiende ryk van toepasinsg gemaak. Hierdie siening was nie sonder sy teenstanders nie, wat gekant was teen die filantrope se uitbeelding van setlaars as roofgierig en verantwoordelik vir konflikte op die grens. Die artikel voer aan dat die lot van die Kaapse San ’n belangriker plek ingeneem het in vroeë-negentiende eeuse geskille oor setlaarsidentiteit, grensverhoudinge, en die geslaagdheid van missies om die inheemse bevolking te “beskaaf”, as wat daar tot dusver besef is.