2(S8 TRAVELS IN 
The Dutch Eafl India Company, in fad, were jealous of efla- 
blifhing a power at the Cape which, by too great encourage- 
ment, might, in time, fliake off their yoke in Europe, and 
overawe their fettlements in India. For, although the whole 
population of the colony, exckifive of flaves and Flottentots, 
barely amounted to 20,oco fouls, men, women, and children, 
which were fcattered over an extent of country whofe dimen- 
f]ons are not lefs than 550 by 230 Englifli miles, yet, as it was 
not convenient for the Government to keep up a great force at 
the Cape, thefe colonics, few as they were, felt themfelves fuf- 
liciently ftrong to give it, at leafl:, a good deal of trouble. Nor, 
ihdeed, could it always place a firm dependence on the forces 
that were ftationed there, thefe being chiefly hired troops, of 
which both officers and men entered frequently into family con- 
nexions with the inhabitants. Thus circumftanced, it would 
have been no difficult matter for the colonifts to cue off, at any 
time, thofe refrefhments, wuthout which the fhips of their Eafl 
India Company would be unable to proceed on their voyage to 
India. 
The Dutch fettlers feemed to be fully aware of their advantage 
in this refped in making their late weak attempt at independence, 
which, though then unfuccefsful, they may again feel themfelves 
inclined to renew, if, at a peace, their old mafters fhould be al- 
lowed to retain the colony. The prefent weaknefs and ex- 
haufted finances of the Batavian Republic, will not be able to 
fupport even the fame degree of authority over its fubjefls here 
as before; and the Afiatic Council, on finding themfelves no 
longer capable of holding the government of the Cape, as a 
con- 
