CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 451 



were about to have all their public as well as private acts brought to 

 light ; and this has raised a strong opposition to the continuance of 

 the publication. The editor, Donald Moodie, Esq., in the year pre- 

 vious to our visit, made an appeal, stating the difficulties that he had 

 encountered, and adding, that he would in consequence be obliged to 

 give up the task. Some of the numbers were sent me by a friend, 

 which I took the more interest in perusing, as exhibiting the history 

 of the tribe of Hottentots, which may be now deemed almost extinct, 

 so far as the civilized and settled portions of the colony extend. 

 Many disreputable actions on the part of all those who have been en- 

 gaged were here exposed, and I am not at all surprised that the official 

 incumbent, as well as others, should exert all their interest to effect its 

 suppression ; however, as many of these statements are now before the 

 piiblic, it would be desirable that they should be gone through with, 

 that there may be a full understanding of the transactions that have 

 now come to light, in order to have a full knowledge of the state of 

 the affairs of the colony, as well in relation to the governor as to those 

 who have been employed under the governmental authority, whether 

 missionaries or officials. Like the secret details of all colonies, they 

 will show a great deal of misrule, inhumanity, and want of system, in 

 the conduct of affairs. The opposing interests are such that the whole 

 will probably be exposed. The colonists, on the one side, feeling 

 themselves unjustly charged with cruelty and persecution of the un- 

 fortunate natives, desire that all the investigations that have taken 

 place may be brought before the public ; while, on the other hand, 

 those who are or have been in any way connected with the govern- 

 ment, are, from all accounts, disposed to the suppression of this docu- 

 mentary evidence. Were I desirous of showing the dark side of the 

 picture, I might insert here a few extracts that would startle the many 

 who now boast of their philanthropic action, and are disposed to con- 

 demn the actions of others in regard to slavery, who are in comparison, 

 far less guilty of wrong to the interests of humanity. Those who are 

 disposed to look further into these subjects, may consult " Specimens 

 of the Authentic Records of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 relative to the Aboriginal Tribe ; together with an Inquiry into the 

 Justice and Expediency of publishing the remaining portion of those 

 Records, by Donald Moodie: Cape of Good Hope, 1841." 



On the morning after my arrival I called on his excellency the 

 governor, at the government-house, where I had the honour of an 

 introduction to Sir George Napier. His reception was kind and 

 frank. With him I passed a pleasant half hour. Sir George is one 



