SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
293 
CHAP. IV. 
Importance of the Cape of Good Hope, considered in a commercial Point af 1 
View, and as a Depot for the Southern Whale Fishery, 
The original intention of the United Provinces, in forming 
a settlement at the Cape of Good Hope, as I have already 
observed, was that of its being a place of refreshment for the 
shipping of their East India Company, beyond which they did 
not consider it prudent to extend its use, till of late years, 
when experience had taught them the very important advan- 
tages it possessed as a military dep6t for forming and preparing 
their troops, which were intended to serve in their Indian set- 
tlements. Ships, however, of every nation, were permitted 
to refit and refresh in the ports of the Cape, on payment of 
certain port fees that were not by any means extravagant. 
But as the supplying of such ships with provisions was a lu- 
crative monopoly, acquired by favour or purchased for a sum 
of money, the prices paid by foreigners were never less than 
double, and ofttimes treble, of those paid by the inhabitants. 
Hence little encouragement was held out for foreign ships to 
call at the Cape, beside that of getting water and a few re- 
freshments for their crews. 
All commerce, except such as was brought in Dutch bot- 
toms, was deemed clandestine and contraband ; yet, such 
