PAUL XINIWE

I beg to bring to your notice a gross miscarriage of duty as well as a rank injustice perpetrated upon me by the Guard and Stationmasters of Blaney and Kel Road. I was travelling together with a white man and another Native 3rd class by the 8:20 p.m. train, from Kingwilliamstown to Queenstown on the 12th ult. At Blaney the three of us changed into another third class compartment which was empty. The Guard of this train came up and ordered me and the other Native out of this compartment to another where four red Kafirs more or less under the influence of liquor held sway. I refused to leave the seat to which I thought I was entitled as well as any fellow passenger of the same class of carriage and be shut up in a place strong with various odours and observations incident to strong drink. But he invoked the assistance of the Stationmaster, and that officer instead of protecting me, as I expected, chimed in with the Guard and threatened to haul me from the train and be left behind. As I had pressing and important business at Gueenstown, I reluctantly submitted, with the determination that rather than put up with such filth, I shall at the first station excess myself. Accordingly at Keiroad I asked the Stationmaster to excess me 2nd class. But he refused with the pretext that that class was full. But I am sure any enquiry would prove to the contrary. . .

- Paul Xiniwe, "Letter to the Editor of Imvo Zabantsundu", July 5, 1888.