164 
UTILITY OF THE COLONIAL HOTTENTOTS. 25—27 April, 
necessary a race of men the Hottentots are considered by \h.e colonists ; 
who feel, and by their conduct prove, that the business of the farms 
cannot proceed without the labor of their hands. The difficulty which 
I experienced, not at GraafFreynet only, but in every other part of 
the colony, in obtaining men for the prosecution of my travels even 
within the boundary, has, in conjunction with other evidence, con- 
vinced me that the demand for them is much greater than the 
supply : a circumstance which should obtain for this peaceable race 
every reasonable encouragement, and which must convince the 
colonists that their true interest consists in securing their fidelity by 
kind treatment. I do not mean to stand forward on all occasions 
indiscriminately, as the advocate for the Hottentots against the 
Boors, nor shall I undertake to defend them against many just 
complaints made by the latter ; for I know that their conduct may 
sometimes be exceedingly vexatious, and sufficiently provoking to 
exhaust the patience of their masters. I wish merely to point out 
how greatly the comfort of both parties depends on a mutual good 
understanding ; and that fidelity on one side, and justice and kind- 
ness on the other, are the only means of doing away that mutual 
suspicion and recrimination, which has so long subsisted between 
them, and which none but the worst enemies to society and good 
order, endeavour to cherish and perpetuate. Connected with this 
question, there exist among the inhabitants of the Cape two opposite 
parties ; and, as I have had numerous opportunities of hearing the 
opinions of both, and have formed my own upon the evidence of 
facts only, and the experience of several years, I shall not make to 
either, any apology for saying, that I believe much blame to be due 
to both. For, where party spirit exists, there of course, will im- 
partiality not be found ; and where there is no impartiality, there of 
course can no justice dwell : for justice holds an even balance ; but 
partiality, or party spirit, throws a deceitful preponderance into its 
own scale. A legislature has done but half its duty, when it has 
made good laws ; the other half, is to watch that they are duly obeyed, 
or enforced. 
26th, I sent again for the five tronk Hottentots whom I wished to 
