species. Indeed, they often referred to them as skepsels (creatures) rather
than mense (people). That was what custom prescribed, self-interest de-
manded, and (for those who were'religious) what God ordained. That was
how it had always been and always must be in South Africa.r"
To satisfy their labor needs, the commandos against Dingane did as
commandos had been wont to do in the Cape Colony: they seized African
children. After the defeat of Dingane, however, thousands of Africans
flooded into Natal. Many of them were returning from what are now
Pondoland and East Griqualand to the home areas from which Shaka had
ejected them. By 1843, it was estimated that the African population of the
republic had increased from ten thousand to fifty thousand; and still the
influx continued. Greatly outnumbered, the emigrants were not able to
establish their version of law and order. Not for the last time in South
African history, a white minority was faced with the problem of reconciling
its need for security with its dependence on the labor of conquered peoples.
In December 1840, Pretorius led a commando with African allies south-
ward to intimidate the nearest African chiefdoms in that direction, and
during 1841, the Volksraad decreed that not more than five African fami-