SOUTHERN AFRICA. 53 
farmers refufed to pay the rents of the loan lands. Profcribed 
lifts were adually made out of fuch as were firft to fuffer ; and 
the flaves were anxioufly waiting for the fignal of a general 
emancipation. Even after the capture the people'of the diftant 
diftria of Graaif Reynet had indignantly ufed, and then turned 
away, the landroft and the clergyman that had been appointed 
and fent thither by Sir James Craig, who immediately ordered 
a detachment of light infantry with a fquadron of dragoons to 
march to the Drofdy. Intimidated at the news of fuch a mea- 
fure, they fent a fupplicating letter, figned by fome of the prin- 
cipal inhabitants, praying that the troops might be recalled, and 
promifmg good order and obedience to the laws. 
About this time (May 1797) the Earl of Macartney arrived at 
the Cape to take charge of his government ; and one of his firft 
meafures was that of fending back to Graaff" Reynet the fame 
landroft whom they had expelled, in order to convince them 
that the Britifh government, though lenient and juft in its pro- 
ceedings, was not lefs firm in carrying them into execution. 
In addition to the political motives which induced his Excel- 
lency to fend his own fecretary in company with the landroft, 
he thought it at the fame time a fair opportunity for fupplying 
fome information refpedling the diftant parts of the colony, and 
the countries bordering upon it, hitherto fo little vifited, and fo 
imperfedly known. His inftnuStions, on this occafion, em- 
braced a variety of objeds, as well for the fcientific inquirer as 
for the promotion of the public benefit : and fhould the fol- 
lowing pages be found to contain nothing conducive to the 
ends propofed by thefe inftrudions, the fault muft reft folely 
on 
