TRAVELS IN 
of refigning, for ever, to a foreign nation, the ground that was 
neceflary for feeding their own cattle ; but conceived it could 
only be intended for temporary ufe, and that, in time, they would 
depart from the country as other Europeans had hitherto done for 
the lad century and an half ; but, when they obferved them build- 
ing houfes and fortifications, fowing and planting the ground, 
and rearing their own cattle, they began to be jealous of the en- 
croachments of their new neighbours, and commenced hoftilities 
with a view to expel them. Thefe hoftilities terminated, as is 
ufual in fuch cafes, in the further extenfion of the Dutch fet- 
tlement, and in an increafe of troops and colonifts from Eu- 
rope. 
Still, however, the Dutch Eaft India Company endeavoured 
to limit the Cape to the original defign of a port for refrefhing 
their Ihips. They threw every obftacle in the way of its be- 
coming a flourifhing fettlement ; allowed no trade whatfoever 
but what pafTed through the hands of their own fervants, and 
made it dependent on the Governor-General of Batavia ; con- 
cluding, that the fettlers would thus be made equally fubmiflive 
to their orders from Europe, and from the feat of their influence 
and wealth in the Eaft. 
A colony, in fuch a ftate, with their declining commerce, be- 
came a burden and an expence too heavy for them to bear ; and 
little doubt was entertained of their willingnefs to difpofe of it 
for a moderate fum of money, juft before the French revolution 
and its deftrudive confequences unfettled the affiiirs of all Eu- 
jrppe. As it never produced any furplus revenue, but, on the 
contrary. 
