AFRICA. 165 
have no other employment ; a method which 
cofts at leaft the double of what is paid for the 
fineft wood in the timber-yards at Paris. 
Can it be believed that the dire£lors of the 
Company, for their own ufe, fliould order 
fhips to be fent every year from Amfterdam, 
loaded with planks and boards of every kind, 
whilft in this country there are immenfe fo- 
refts, and the moft beautiful trees in the world? 
This abfurdity, however, is not at all afto- 
nifhing. The Company gratuitoufly furnifhes 
the governor and all the officers with whatever 
wood they have occafion for, and it is deli- 
vered to them at their houfes, without any 
expence ; the governor therefore has no 
perfonal intereft to extend his views to this 
part of the adminiftration, and to abolifli an 
abufe fo prejudicial to the colony. 
The whole country of Auteniqua, from the 
chain of mountains to the fea, is inhabited by 
feveral planters, who rear a quantity of cattle, 
make butter, cut down timber, and colledl 
honey, ail of which they tranfport to the 
Cape, 
I was in fome meafure filled with indip-na- 
o 
tion to fee people, who have wood within 
M 3 their 
