SOUTHERN AFRICA. 107 
nefles in many inftances, it would have been an ad of the 
. greateft inhumanity to attempt to force thefe poor creatures 
back again upon their old mafters ; yet a very ferious dif- 
ficulty arofe, how to difpofe of them. Part of the troops, that 
compofed the detachment under General Vandeleur, confifted 
of the ftrength of the Hottentot corps, otherwife called the 
Cape regiment. This body of men had been partly formed 
under the Dutch government, and, in fa£t, were the only fer- 
viceable troops that oppofed the Britifh forces in the pafs of 
Muyfenberg, where they a£led with fpirit, though unfupported. 
After the capitulation. General Sir James Craig found it expe- 
dient, for many reafons, to take them into the Britilli fervice, 
and to incieafe their numbers. He confidered in the firft place, 
that, from their rooted antipathy to the boors, they could al- 
ways be employed as ufeful agents to quell any difturbances 
that might arife in the diftant diftrifts. He faw, alfo, that they 
were capable of being formed into excellent foldiers. In ihoit, 
after an experience of near two years, the charader he gave 
them was that of an orderly, tradable, and faithful body of 
men ; ready on all occafions to obey the orders of their officers 
with cheerfulnefs and alacrity. And they have fmce fhev/n 
themfelves highly deferving of the favourable teflim.ony of Sir 
James Craig. During three years' fervice in the diftant diflrid 
of Graaf Reynet, in the courfe of which time they were re- 
quired, by an unfortunate and unavoidable train of events, to 
ad againft their own countrymen and comrades, they never 
flirunk from their duty, and, if I recoiled right, one fmgle man 
only deferted in the whole corps. 
A Hot^ 
