2l8 
TRAVELS IN 
Dutch, adually declined it, and expreflfed the ftrongeft wifBres 
to return to their connexions in the diftant parts of the colony. 
What the fate of thefe poor creatures may be is difficult to con- 
jecture. Convinced, as the Dutch Government would fpeedily 
be, that they w^ould never be prevailed on to draw^ a trigger 
againft the Englifh, it will become a very ferious difficulty in 
what manner to difpofe of them. If they fhould defert in a 
body, which was generally thought would be the event, they 
would drive in the whole country. But if, before this happens, 
the colonifts fliould be granted the prayer of either of their pe- 
titions, the government will be relieved from any apprehenfions 
with regard to the Hottentot corps : one of thefe humane pro- 
pofals was to furround and malTacre the whole corps ; the other, 
to put a chain to the leg of every man, and diftribute thenx 
among the farmers as flaves for life. 
The only chance they have of efcaping, refts upon the good in- 
tentions of the Governor and Commander in Chief towards them, 
from whofe humane difpofition, and honourable charader, 
they will receive every protedion and fupport, as far, at leaft, 
as depends upon him ; but, in a revolutionary government, the 
beft difpofed muft, in fome degree, fwim with the torrent of po- 
pular opinion. 
One fmgle £hip of war, the Bato of 68 guns, remained in 
Table Bay, preparing to follow two others of the fame clafs, 
the Pluto and the Kortenaar, to Batavia. None of thefe three 
fliips had any of their lower-deck guns on board, and were only 
half 
