SOUTHERN AFRICA. 423 
Little occurred on the homeward journey that was worthy 
of observation, unless it was the visible change that had taken 
place in the behaviour of the people of Zweliendam. While 
the boors of Graaf Reynet were still in arms, the inhabitants 
of this neighbouring district appeared to be wavering, but on 
hearing of their complete reduction, they now pretended to 
condemn their conduct. Whatever the real sentiments of the 
colonists might be with regard to the British government, 
this was not their last attempt to effect their avaricious de- 
signs on the cattle of the Kaffers, by commencing liostiHties 
against the magistrates and the small force left in Graaf 
Reynet for their protection. But these disturbances were 
merely local, and had plunder only for their object. All the 
other districts remained quiet ; and long before the intelli- 
gence of a general peace had reached this country, the 
people were so much reconciled to the British govern- 
ment, as neither to expect nor wish for a return of their 
own. 
In fact there is no natural tie between the Cape and the 
United Provinces. The greater part of the colonists, being 
the descendants of soldiers in German regiments, composed 
of Prussians, Hanoverians, Flemings, and Poles, and of French 
refugees who took shelter here after the revocation of the 
edict of Nantz, have neither knowledge of, nor family con- 
nections in, the states of the Batavian republic ; nor have 
they any distinct idea of Vaderland, a word, however, that is 
constantly in their mouths. All they know is, that the Cape 
belonged to a company of merchants ; that this company was 
