44 
GAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
officer, were cut ofiPat one time. When the peace recalled the General 
to the Cape Town, no power remained to resist them, and they 
advanced into the country nearly as fast as he retreated, and are 
actually in possession of a considerable part of the colony. Though 
the period has long elapsed in which the Cape was to have been 
surrendered, no regiment has yet arrived to replace the British 
troops ; and, from the state of Holland, it seems doubtful whether 
she will be able to send a sufficient force to repress these dreadful 
invaders, who are urged on by the most powerful inducements of 
plunder and revenge. Of the Hottentots, the inhabitants are almost 
equally afraid. This inoffensive race, who formerly were only men- 
tioned as sunk in sloth, drunkenness, and bestiality, have beenbrought 
forward, since the British possessed the colony, in a new and very 
different point of view. A large number of them have been embodied, 
and taught European tactics ; in consequence of which it has been 
discovered that they are intelligent, active, faithful, and brave ; and 
that their former vices were owing to the Dutch, who, taking ad- 
vantage of the inclination which all uncivilized nations have for 
spirits, had destroyed their strength by encouraging intoxication, 
and then degraded their minds by the most abject slavery. The 
cruelties exercised by the boors on these defenceless beings exceed 
all credibility. Brigadier General Vandeleur assured me that he 
had himself pushed aside the musket of a boor, when in the act of 
levelling it at a Hottentot ; at which the monster was extremely 
indignant, and, after much reproach, finished by asking him,whether 
he meant also to prevent his shooting his slaves ? It is astonishing that 
the Hottentots have so long submitted to the tyranny of their 
masters; and one cannot be surprised that the latter now feel 
