THE FUTURE OF CAPE COLONY. 419 



stubborn breeds of Dutch and British examples of 

 manhood unsurpassed in any land. 



In that clear and bracing atmosphere the 

 European constitution is invigorated instead of 

 becoming enervated as in India, the West Indies, 

 and other of our possessions. South Africa, in truth, 

 is no drain upon the parent European stock, but 

 rather reproduces, often on an increased scale, the 

 bones and sinews of our northern lands. As for the 

 quality of the soil, it cannot be urged that South 

 Africa is poorer than her neighbours. Within the 

 limits of the Cape Colony there are millions of acres 

 of rich land now lying waste simply for lack of 

 irrigation, of capital, and of emigrants. Hereafter 

 I will touch upon the capabilities of this land in the 

 way of grain producing, when cultivation and 

 irrigation are brought into play. The climate, the 

 flora, and in many instances even the terrains of 

 Australia and Cape Colony, are strangely similar, 

 yet has Australia far outrun her sister of the Cape 

 in the race for wealth. First, I think, among the 

 reasons for this want of progress may be placed the 

 dragging influence of the Dutch population. As I 

 have previously pointed out, the Boers were, and still 

 are the principal landowners. But in recent years 

 hard times have told sadly against them. There 

 may now be seen in each week's issue of the Cape 

 Times and other papers, frequent instances of the 

 bankruptcy of Dutch farmers, necessitating usually 

 a change of ownership in the soil. A silent if 

 distressing revolution is thus being effected, probably 

 for the ulterior benefit of the whole community. 

 The Boers, except in a few favoured districts in the 

 vicinity of Cape Town, inhabited by the older and 



