The Indian Policy of the Dutch. 29 



" We used these people as auxiliaries — they were 

 useful and faithful ; we made them presents, often mis- 

 applied, too often baneful ; their influence brought much 

 larger numbers of Indians than at present are within 

 our borders — it is evident, if some equally powerful 

 motive were presented, they would again appear. We 

 owe them a debt ; let us endeavour to repay it in a useful 

 way to ourselves, but let it be beneficial to a fallen 

 race." 



The Royal Gazette of August 3rd, T833, said there 

 were then within the boundaries of the colony about 

 20.000, a fourth of whom received the regular presents. 

 These were considered as a sort of retaining fee, binding 

 them to capture and restore runaway slaves that might 

 take shelter in their territories, and to render any assis- 

 tance in their power in case of a servile disturbance, 

 which pledge they undoubtedly redeemed during the 

 East Coast Insurre6liDn of 1823. The editor spoke in 

 avour of the Moravian and Jesuit Missionaries, who 

 began first by instru6ting them in simple arts and after 

 that gradually drew their attention to more abstruse 

 considerations. 



During the same y';ar Mr. HiLHOUSE wrote a number 

 of letters to the Gazette bearing upon the Indian oolicy. 

 Hew strongly he fell on the matter may be seen from 

 the following extras I from one published Ifovember 

 16 h:— 



' There never was a greater blot on the reputa- 

 tion of a civilized country than the present state of our 

 ab jrigini 1 populatioi ; I am firmly co vinced it vill be 

 expiated in sackcio h and ashes. Tl e creaiors and 

 preservers, without whom the colony would lung since 



