-- X. C. OF GOOD Their choice 50,000 guilders. In the choice of colonists, their difcern- CHA P. ment and prudence were confpicuous. They fuffered no thieves and ftrumpets to poifon the infant fociety with the vices for which they had been expelled from Europe. But, by advantageous promises, faithfully performed, the company induced laborious peasants, and honest artificers to emigrate to the Cape*. They defrayed the expenses of the voyage; and provided the colonists with fubfiftence, tools, implements of agriculture and cattle. To each, they gave a portion of land, on condition that, in three years, he should have cultivated enough to enable him to fupport himself, and to contribute to the defence of the colony t. They also agreed to bring back to Europe, gratis, those to whose conftitutions the climate might be unfavourable, and who had full liberty to dispose of their effects to the best advantage. For the reception of the colonists, the company erected vik lages, each containing 30 houses, a church, an hofpital, a town-house and a public kitchen-garden. To furnish the colony with females, girls from the orphan-houses in Hol * Since I wrote § 128 and 129, I have heard it objected, that, in time of war, it would be improper to encourage colonization; as the people who might be expect ed to become colonists, are wanted for the armies.-The objectors, however, would do well to recollect, that, of all people, those who are difpofed to become: foldiers are, generally speaking, the most unfit for any new colonial undertaking; and that fuch being taken off by the war, a greater proportion of fober and industrious perfons will be left, from among whom to make a prudent felection. Befides, that the war itself, and the general posture of public affairs, have difpofed many worthy people, throughout Europe, to embark in any undertaking, likely to afford them more peace and security than they expect to enjoy in their respective countries. The company, however, at prefent, never part with the property of the land; but rent it at the annual rate of about 25 dollars, for every 60 acres. land, X. CHA P. land, were sent out, with superintendants to educate them at the Cape; and, on their marriage, the company affigned them fmall dowries. C. OF GOOD 302.. The expenfe incurred by the company, in establishing this colony, has been immense-not lefs, it hath been computed, than a million of guilders annually, for the first 20 years; and in, 1713, above fixty years after it's first fettlement, it ftill continued to be chargeable. But feldom has the property of a joint-flock company been so beneficially employed; for all difficulties are now furmounted, and the colony amply repays the expenses of it's establishment. 303. Those difficulties were of a kind which nothing short of cool, Dutch perfeverance could have overcome. This extremity of Africa confifts of black and barren mountains of granite, without any volcanic productions. The culti vated fpots near the town, are of ftiff clay, with a little fand and small stones; but towards Falfe Bay, the arable foil is almost entirely fandy. The colony of Stellenbofh is said to have the best foil of any at the Cape, but even that produces no very extraordinary proofs of natural fertility*.-Lions, leopards, tyger-cats, hyænas, jackals, and several other wild beasts, infest the Cape, now and then, even to this day. 304. Yet this country is not without it's advantages.The air and water, as in most other mountainous tracts, are good, in the same proportion as the foil is bad. Though the summer heats are sometimes exceffive, the winters are fo mild that ice is scarcely ever seen about the town. But, * The Dutch have, ftrictly speaking, four colonies in this part of Africa, namely the Cape, properly fo called, Stellenbofh, Drakenstein and Waveren. The farms in many places are very much scattered. on X. C. OF GOOD HOPE. on the mountains, especially far inland, there are hard CHA P. frofls, with fnow and hail ftorms. The climate, however, upon the whole, is fo falubrious, that the inhabitants are rarely troubled with any disorders more ferious than colds, caused by the fudden changes of air, from the strong winds, to which the Cape is exposed at all seasons; and strangers foon recover from the fcurvy and other complaints.-The fupport of fo many wild beafts, implies the existence of nu- Animals. merous tribes of milder animals; and accordingly an astonishing variety, from the mighty buffalo and camelopard, to the least of the beautiful genus of antelopes, and many fmaller quadrupeds, are common, in this part of Africa. The elephant, rhinoceros and hippopotamus, formerly came within a short distance of the Cape; but they have been fo much hunted, and are so seldom seen at present, that the government have iffued an order against killing them, within many miles of the town*.-The neighbouring feas and bays abound with excellent fish.-I know not Metals. whether the metallic ores of the interior mountains ought to be mentioned as an advantage; as it does not appear, that the colonists can work them with profit, on account of their remote and rugged fituation. Some tribes of Hottentots, however, extract both copper and iron from the ores they find in their native mountains. See § 71, 287. But the grand advantage of the Cape, at least that which appeared fuch in the eyes of the Dutch East India company, was it's convenient fituation, as a place of refreshment for their ships; and, in this view, the bare infpection of a map of Africa, shows * The flesh of the hippopotamus, is eaten at the Cape. In Mr Forster's opinion, it's tafle is that of coarse beef, but the fat rather refembles marrow. It's tufks are the best of ivory. A ftation for Dutch Eait India fhips. X. C. OF GOOD CHA P. it's fuperiority to all other parts of that continent. But it's fituation and climate are not now it's only excellencies, as a of refreshment; for it abounds with a variety of the port beft greens and fruits, and, in particular, with some of the fineft grapes and oranges in the world-articles peculiarly proper for feamen after long voyages. Exports. Farming. Tenure of lends. 305. The prodigious expense, and the persevering attention which this colony cost, during the uncommonly tedious period of it's helpless infancy, began at last to shew their effects, in the exportation of a little furplus corn. But, having fince arrived at a state of comparative maturity, the Cape not only supplies the ships of all nations, which touch there, with neceffaries and comforts, in abundance, and at moderate prices; but fupplies all the Dutch, and some foreign, Afiatic fettlements, with great quantities of corn, flour, biscuit, wines of various forts, brandy, butter, cheese, and falted provisions.-No country feeds a greater number of cattle than this, nor is their flesh any where cheaper or better. An ox commonly weighs from 500 to 600lb. A farm may make from 1500 to 3000lb. of butter, annually. Many feed from 1000 to 6 or 8000 sheep, and a few have as far as 15,000, and cattle in proportion. 306. The Dutch East India company seem, for some time, evidently to have difcouraged all new fettlers, by granting no lands in private property, and by prohibiting the farmers from fixing their habitations within a mile of each other; though many parts of the country are so barren, that lefs land than a square mile, (640 English acres) would fcarcely make a proper grazing farm. The company are certainly more folicitous, at present, to promote their East Indian commerce, than the productions of this flourishing, but still improveable, colony: otherwife, not only the cultivation X. HOPE. tivation, but the manufacture, of several valuable articles, CHA P. might be introduced with advantage. Dr. Sparrman*, who makes this remark, gives several hints for the internal im- C. OF GOOD provement of the colony; but, being merely local, it is unnecessary to insert them, especially as the company, while they continue to attend almost exclusively to commerce, are not likely to put them in practice. 307. Still the conduct of the company, or, perhaps more Dutch and properly, of their predecessors, has been liberality itself, Portuguese policy conwhen compared with the extortion and oppreffion of the trafted. "We Cape Verd company of Portugal. (See § 234.) "with the contrast were not a little pleased," fays. Forster, between this colony and the Portuguese island of S. Jago. There we had taken notice of a tropical country, with a tolerable appearance, and capable of improvement; but utterly neglected by it's lazy and oppreffed inhabitants. Here, onthe contrary, we saw a neat, well built town, all white, Cape town. rifing in the midst of a defert, furrounded by broken maffes of black and dreary mountains; or, in other words, the picture of fuccessful industry." The town contains many ftore-houses of the Dutch East India company, and tolerable fortifications. Here, as in other Dutch towns, * I cannot help transcribing from Dr. Forster's voyage, which lies open before me, his account of my friend and fellow traveller, which I can pronounce to be equally liberal and juft. "We were fortunate enough," fays he, to meet with a man of fcience, Dr. Sparrman, at this place, who, after ftudying under the father of botany, the great Linné, had made a voyage to China, and another to the Cape, in purfuit of knowledge. The idea of gathering the treasures of nature, in countries hitherto unknown to Europe, filled his mind fo entirely, that he immediately engaged to accompany us, on our circumnavigation; in the course of which, I am proud to fay, we have found him an enthusiast in his science, well verfed in medical knowledge, and endowed with a heart capable of the warmeft feelings, and worthy of a philofopher." Voyage round the World, Vol. I. p. 67. B b 2 their |