2o8 Voyage of the Novara. 



slauofhtered their cattle and left their fields uncultivated. Beinff 

 thus, in a short time, reduced to a state of perfect destitution, 

 not less than 19,000 of starving Caffres sought help and an 

 asylum in the British territory during the year 1857, and 

 before its close the number had increased to 30,000. The 

 colonial Government, out of consideration to the welfare of the 

 colonists, admitted only those Caffres who bound themselves to 

 act as servants, for at least one year, at reasonable wages, and 

 in order to prevent any danger arising from being congre- 

 gated in too large numbers, they were located by the Govern- 

 ment officers in various detached parts of the colony. 



A very active society of philanthropists exists here, under 

 the title of " The Committee of Emigration from Holland." 

 Its object is to bring over orphans and children of the poor 

 from the overpopulated Dutch provinces. These useful 

 emigrants are partly located as apprentices to farmers, and 

 remain until they are of age under the care of the Committee. 

 During our stay a party of seventy boys and girls just arrived 

 from Holland assembled, with their conductors, in one of the 

 large avenues of the Botanical Garden, to be inspected by the 

 Governor-General. They all looked healthy and cheerful, 

 and seemed to have but little suffered from the fatigues of 

 a long voyage. When Sir George Grey made his appearance 

 the children sang the English National Anthem, translated 

 into Dutch, and afterwards the sweet, affectionate song, " When 

 the swallows homewards fly." Some young emigrants, who, 

 two years ago, had come under similar circumstances from 



