1 
TRAVELS IN 
Vaillant'j- Worl— Manner in ivhich the Chart prefixed to the prefent Work tuas 
confiritBed.-—Difagreement between the Chart and the Text explained. — Teftimony 
of General Vandeleur. — Mifreprefentations of the Cape accounted for. — General 
Nature and Appearance of the Country--'Improvements fuggefted. —Change in the 
national CharaEler of the Dutch in their Colonies — their helplefs Condition in Ba- 
tavia.— Indujlry and ABivity of the Chinefe there— their Numbers — would prove 
a valuable Acqufttion to the Cape — real Importance of this Colony to England.—— 
Conclufiou. 
The very flattering receptioji which a former volume of 
fketches experienced from an indulgent public, was fufficient 
encouragement for the Author to refume his pen, though it 
might not be confidered as an adequate motive, wichout new 
pretenfions, to obtrude himfelf a fecond time on public notice. 
The pretenfions then, which I now claim, confift chiefly in 
being allowed to finifh an incomplete work : to add a volume, 
in continuation of the former, which I am encouraged to hope 
will be confidered no lefs interefting, from the importance of 
the matter, than the other was from its novelty. The natural 
hiflory of a country little known ; the general defcription of its 
furface and appearance ; the manners, cuftoms, and ftate of 
fociety, of the feveral clafl^es of inhabitants, furnifli a vafl: fund 
of ufeful and agreeable information ; but they do not conftitute 
a whole. — A number of other fubjeds muft be difcufl^ed and 
defcribed before our knowledge of that country can be faid to 
be complete. Among thefe are not the leaft important the 
local advantages it may command in a political, military, and 
commercial point of view, either with refpe£t to itfelf, or in its 
relations with other countries ; its refources, and their applica- 
tion ; its revenues, jurifprudence, population, and a variety of 
other points which, when attentively taken, form a topogra- 
phical 
