238 TRAVELS IN 
and they have no hope of any supply from Holland. New 
taxes were imposed on the mhabitants, which they refused to 
pay. The people detested the government, and the govern- 
ment was afraid of the troops. The garrison was in a com- 
plete state of insubordination; several were under trial for 
mutiny, and numbers were daily deserting with their arms. 
Universal discontent and general distress prevailed. All 
credit was at an end, money had totally disappeared, the 
little commerce they had was destroyed, bankruptcies were 
without number, and a war was only wanting to complete 
their misery. Under such circumstances, it is not unreason- 
able to conclude that the Cape will fall an easy conquest to 
a British force. 
