XV I DEDICATION. 
fpare, and this relief was adminiftered upon, 
terms that manifefted a genuine difmtereft- 
ednefs. On my defcribing the beauties of 
the countries through which we paffed, and 
at the fame time expreffing aftonifliment at 
their being unoccupied by chriftian fettlerSj 
1 was informed 5 that fo defirable an event 
could never take place, as long as the Dutch 
remained m the poffeflion of the Cape» 
We are. (faid thefe people) although liv- 
ing on the confines of the deferts, fo barba- 
roufly perfecuted by oui: rulers, that we are 
unable to proceed. In our neighbourhood, 
and on our own farms, we have the richeft 
lead-ore^ and fo near the furface, that we can 
icrape it up with our hands ; and yet, were 
we to melt and ufe a fmgle pound of it, thei 
punilhment would be tf-anfportation to Batavia. 
On our coaft, particularly near the bay of 
Algoa, v/e have the fineft timber in the 
world ; and, although it could be conveyed 
to the Cape by fea at the moft trifling charge, 
yet our government fupplies their fettle- 
ment with that valuable commodity from 
Europe, and, as you may fuppofe, at an 
exDcnce which muft be enormous. We live 
in hope however, (continued thefe colo- 
jiifts) that fome nation more liberal than 
ours, will form a fettlement on the eafcern 
^^rweftern coaft, that we may get fupplied 
with fuch articles as are neceffary to our lltu- 
ation, and v/ill trade with us on principles 
Qt mutual advantage.'' 
