26 
British empire than all its settlements in 
the East and West Indies put together. I 
know this will be considered a bold asser- 
tion ; but it arises from a positive conviction 
in my mind, and therefore I deliver it as 
an opinion which has been the result of 
general observation and inquiry. 
In treating of the southern continent of 
Africa, I cannot, however, subscribe to the 
reports of some travellers, who have repre- 
sented the whole of these regions as highly 
prolific. I understand this is not the case. 
In the countries of the little and great 
Namiquois, Kabobiquois, Houzouanas, &c. 
&c. which either skirt or are contiguous to 
the western coast, there are sandy deserts 
of considerable extent ; but there are like- 
wise immense plains of the finest pasturage ; 
and it is generally supposed, from what has 
been already gathered on the margin of 
their streams, that minerals of the first class 
are to be found in the mountains. In the 
eastern parts, which include CafFraria, 
the country of the Auteniquois, Genequois, 
and various tribes of the Hottentot nation, 
I perceived a most luxuriant soil 5 and on 
