32 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
This seems to be a severe assumption. Judg- 
ing from the records of the Colony, at that pe- 
riod, the one fourth of 200,000, viz., 50,000, 
(according to Chase,) appears certainly to be 
nearer the original estimate of the population of 
the native tribes. Nor can we but believe, that 
disease and intestine warfare had much more to 
do than oppression, with accounting for their gra- 
dual, and still progressive decline. This also is 
deducible from facts; for, in the years 1663, 
1666, 1674, 1713, and 1767 successively, we 
read of small pox, measles, and other infectious 
and indigenous diseases, cutting them off by 
thousands. "Whilst only, in 1659, and, again, 
from 1673 to 1676, are there records of feuds 
between the Dutch colonists and natives. On 
these occasions, but twenty-five of the latter are 
said to have fallen, while 1765 head of horned 
cattle, and 4930 sheep were taken from them. 
The causes of these wars are most circumstan- 
tially made out as aggression — always on the 
: part of the natives. 
And when they were at peace with the colo- 
nists, continual hostilities between themselves 
and the Bushmen, or (Soaqua or Vischmen, as 
they were then styled,) were going on. 
Mention of these internal engagements, and 
the casualties caused by them, is frequently 
made by Yan Eiebeck in his journal, and also 
