sviil DITBICATION. 
ingly proceeded on the journey. When 
they arrived on the beach necy: which the 
Hercules was wrecked, the Caflrees affem- 
bled in confiderable force, and in a mena« 
cing tone of voice, dcfired to know " hovj 
they dared to pafs the Fifh-River.'^ The colo- 
nifts acquiefcing in the juftice of this inter- 
rogation, purchafed their permiflion to re- 
main for a certain time, by giving them 
beads, trinkets, and fome other trifles with 
which they feemed perfectly fatisfied. 
This anecdote, in fome degree, corrobo- 
rates what I have before ftated, that a fet- 
tlement in thofe parts, provided it is with 
the confent of the natives, and which could 
be obtained at the moft inconfiderable ex- 
pence, could not be fairly oppofed by any 
power polTeffing the Cape. Thefe people, 
although denominated Savages, are ftill the 
proprietors of thefe countries, never being 
difpoffeired of them ; the inheritance is in 
them aloncj and they have an unqueftiona- 
ble right to difpofe of it to v/hatever nation 
they may think proper, and for fuch a con- 
fideration as they may deem an equivalent. 
The part of Africa, which in my opinion 
invites at this day a nev/ fettlement, is Caf- 
fraria. This countrv, which feirts the Eaft- 
ern coaft for ma^ny hundred miles, and 
ftretches into the interior to a confiderable 
extent, abounds in timber of the beft qual- 
ity ; poffeffes many excellent harbours ; is 
blelFed v/ith the richeft pafturage that feeds 
