SOUTHERN AFRICA. 29 
were it not for fuch rllls, fcarcely an efculent vegetable would 
be produced in the fummer feafon. The country, however, 
is capable of much improvement. Inftead of the grounds being 
entirely open, and equally expofed to the winds and the Sun, 
trees and hedge-rows might be planted ; tanks or refervolrs of 
water formed ; wells dug ; and the running ftreams encreafed 
by opening their fources, and clearing out their channels* 
It is very remarkable that the fame people, who are celebrated 
in Europe for their induftry and frugality, fhould become, in 
all their colonies, the moft indolent and prodigal of all other 
nations. In the fine climate of the Cape they engage in little 
or no manual labour. If a common foldier, having ferved out 
his time, fhould obtain his dlfcharge, and, having been brought 
up to fome trade or profeffion, fhould commence bufmefs, the 
moment he is enabled to purchafe a Have, he ceafes to work. 
In Batavia, the Dutch are ftill more indolent ; even their Haves 
are there fo helplefs, that were it not for the Chlnefe the Eu- 
ropeans mull literally ftarve. Thefe induftrious people exercife 
all manner of trades and handicraft work, cultivate the ground, 
fupply the market with vegetables, with butcher's meat, and 
with poultry ; ralfe rice, pepper, coffee, and fugar, for confump- 
tion and exportation ; carry on the whole commerce of the ifland 
both internal and coaftways ; a£l as brokers, fadtors, and inter- 
preters between the Dutch government and the natives ; farm,, 
and colled:, the taxes and revenues, both for the former and the 
latter; in a word, they pofTefs among themfelves the monopoly 
of the whole ifland. Yet, ufeful as thefe people are, and indif- 
penfably neceffary to the Dutch in this fettle ment, their num- 
bers 
