AFRICA. 135 
will doubtlefs occafion great changes in the 
colony, and accelerate its ruin. The multi- 
plication of thefe individuals, who may be- 
come infinite, ought to alarm the Dutch 
government ; but at prefent it feems to be 
afleep, and to be under very little uneafinefs 
concerning the fatal confequences of its in- 
dolence. 
I here mean thofe natural children pro- 
duced by the intercourfe of the white men 
with the Hottentot women, and of thefe 
women v^ith the negroes. At the Cape 
they are generally named bajlers. This de- 
nomination, however, more peculiarly be- 
longs to the former, becaufe the fecond are 
much lefs numerous as the Hottentot wo- 
men do not eafily yield to the embraces of 
the negroes, for whom they entertain a kind 
of contempt; on account, as they fay, of fuf- 
fering themfelves to be fold like hearts ; 
while, on the other hand, they think them- 
felves honoured by having commerce with 
the whites, and by being ftyled their mif- 
treffes. It is the race arifing from thefe 
latter unions that is continually gaining 
ground, and multiplying confiderably every 
day : they are free, like the Hottentots, hue 
K 4 they 
