434 TR-AVELS IN 
diftance and the difficulty of a long journey, 
what hope could they ha\^e, on their arrival at" 
the Cape, of their charges reaching a Govern- 
ment furrounded entirely with whites, almoft 
all of whom, living on abufes and intercfted in 
deceiving, it, would intercept the truth in its 
•way, or tranfmit it completely changed and 
disfigured ? 
Befides, from another kind of oppreflion 
ftiil more odious, it is almoft impoifible for 
the unhappy fuppliants to reach the town. 
The planters, having all a common intereft, 
fijpport one another. Whatever injuflice one 
of them may have committed, he is fure of 
being abetted by the reft. The deputies from 
the horde, fent to complain of him, would be 
obfiruded at every ftep. They would be 
purfued from plantation lo plantation ; fnares 
would be laid for them ; and, if they did not 
return, they would run the hazard of being, 
totally exterminated. 
This Nafeep and his people had adually ex* 
perieneed, when they fent to demand jufticc 
againft Van der Wefthuyfen on his firft ulurpa- 
tion. Could I hope then, after this fatal trial, 
they would venture to go with a fecond com- 
3 P^^^^^^^ 
