CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 425 



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 pro- 

 bably be exposed. The colonists, on the one side, feeling themselves 

 unjustly charged with cruelty and persecution of the unfortunate 

 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 government, are, from all 

 accounts, disposed to the suppression of this documentary 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 condemn 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 of the 

 heroes of the Peninsular War, and bears the marks of his activity in 

 those well-contested conflicts, in the loss of an arm. He showed me 

 over the apartments, which, however, are not now occupied, as he was 

 living at his country-seat. They appear convenient, and afford from 

 the windows a view of the government demesne, which is quite pretty, 

 planted as it is with fine old oaks ; part of it is kept as a public walk, 

 which the citizens frequent on holidays in large numbers. The Cape 

 station has never been a popular one, from the want of society; but of 

 late years very many persons from India have made it a resort for the 

 recovery of their health, and in a measure supplied the deficiency in 

 this respect. The offices for the transaction of government business 

 are in the immediate neighbourhood of the government-house, and 

 within the precincts is also a college for the education of the youths 

 of the colony ; it has several professors, but I understood all those who 

 desire to have their children well educated send them to England. 



The barracks are extensive, and well built, and have a large area 

 in front as a parade-ground. There are several other buildings going 



vol. v. 2L2 54 



