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Art. V. Walks and Sketches, at the Cape of Good Hope ; to which is subjoined, 4 Sourney q 
By Roverry Semece. 
iF 
from Cape Town to Blettenberg’s-bay. 
DURING Mr. Semple’s residence at 
Cape-Town, a former schoollellow, his 
intimate friend, arrived chere on his way 
to India. The short time that he spent 
in the colony, was employed by the 
two friends, in pedestrian exeursions to 
the most interesting places in the vici- 
nity, and in inquiries on the one hand, 
and explanations on the other, relative 
to the characteristic manners and cus- 
toms of the inhabitants. After the de- 
parttire of his friend, Mr. Semple ac- 
cémpanied an acquaintance to Bletten- 
berg’s bay; and the little volume before 
us isa deseription of the principal ob- 
jects, occurrences, and remarks; which 
suggested themselves on these occa- 
sions. 
‘The minuteness of Sparrman, the phi- 
losophic views and scientific description 
of Batrow, are not to be looked for in 
these pages ; but many new and pleas- 
ing vemarks on the state of society and 
civilization, interspersed with agreeable 
description, just sentiment, and'occasio- 
nal pathos, are conveyed in correct and 
elegant language; and the reader is 
most agreeably surprized at the various 
pleasure that he derives from so small 
a volume, with so unassuming a title. 
No former travellers or historians of 
the colony are quoted, to supply the de- 
ficiencies of personal observation, to 
throw an air of importance over the 
book, or to enhance its price at the ex- 
pence of its value. ‘The author has ob- 
viously seen with his own eyes, and de- 
scribed what he saw, while the emotions 
to which they gave birth were yet vivid. 
It would be unjust to the author to 
make large extracts from a small vo- 
lume: our readers however will be gra- 
tified, and we trust that Mr. Semple 
will excuse us, if we yield to the tempta- 
tion of quoting part of his very interest- 
ing description of the several kinds of 
slaves, who are united in one common 
bondage at the Cape of Good Hope. 
«© Behold that slave coming towards us 
bending beneath the weight of two cords of 
wood suspended to the ends of a ‘bamboo 
which he balances across his shoulder. His 
black complexion, his curly hair, his thick 
lips, and his tattoed forehead, announce him 
from the coast of Mozambique, his strong 
make shows him capable of fatigue and in 
his inoflensiye and humbled countenance, 
VOYAGES AND TRAVELS. 
8vo. pps 152. 
you may read that he has ofteti submitted té 
blows and unmerited reproaches, without for 
amoment thinking of revenge ; he performs 
the task which is set him without objections 
and without inquiry. You see him now 
walking slowly along oppressed with his 
loa, and perhaps you pity his fate; follow 
him to the next corner, there sits one of his 
companions playing on a jew's-harp. He 
stops—he listens—pleasure steals into his 
soul— he throws off his load—he beats the 
ground. with his heels—raises his hands 
clasped above his head—gives himself up to 
the wildest and most inconsiderate joy, and, 
occupied only with the present, thinks nei- 
ther of the hours of bitterness which are 
past, nor of those which are yet to coine. 
«< Observe the one who comes next. Evea 
at a distance his upright form, his nervous 
make; his free step, announce the-Malay, 
or native of the island of Java, the king of 
slaves. As he approaches mark his long, 
coal black hair ehich hangs half down his 
backy his yellow complexion, his glaneing 
and jealous eye, bs looks askance upon 
slavery, He knows weil that from his class 
are formed the house painters, the musicians, 
the ingenious workmen of the Cape. He is 
proud of this distinction, and glories in the 
name of Malay. He exacts some deference 
from his master, his gestures, his speech, 
sometimes slow and sedate, at others rapid 
and yiolent, seem to say, ‘ I know that I am 
your slave, but be cautious how you use 
rae power.’ A reproach stings and irritates 
him, a blow wounds his proud heart, he 
hoards it up inhis remembrance, and broods 
upon his revenge. ‘Time passes on, the 
‘master forgets that he has given the blow, 
but the.Malay never. At length the bad 
part of his character is cruelly displayed : he 
intoxicates himself with opium and the 
madness of revenge, he rushes upon his un- 
guarded master with his. kris or crooked 
Malay dagger, and stabs him once; twice, ten 
times. ‘he unfortunate wife and children 
are not safe if they cross his way, he sallies 
outinto the street, and running madly along; 
sacrifices all that he meets, till overpowered 
by numbers he is. brought to suffer thé 
punishment of his crime. 
- © Follow him to the place of execution. 
Some days are past, and the intoxication of 
opium is over, but do you ebserve his coun- 
tenance in the least changed by fear or re- 
morse? Not at all, He is bound to the 
wheel—the executioner breaks all his’ linibs 
one after another—but not a tear, not a groan 
escapes him—at length nature is exhausted 
—perhaps he breathes the name of Maho- 
met his prophet, and expires with the conso- 
jation of having had his revenge. 
«© What a contrast is presented to this 
character in the slaye whom you see there 
