GOOD 
Thefe pafTages undoubtedly depend much on the feafon 
of tlie year in which they are to be made, but when this 
is properly chofen, the different places may be arrived 
at within the periods here mentioned. 
If, at any time, troops fhould be wanted in the Weft 
Indies, tlie homeward-bound Eaft-Indiamen might be 
employed to tranfport th.em thither from tlte Cape, 
witlioiit retarding their paifage more than ftxteen or 
twenty days, as tlie conimon pradfice of crofting the line 
is now as far to the weftward as twenty-fix degrees of weft 
longitude. Detachments of Hottentot corps might be 
v rll calculated for lervice in the Weft India iflands. 
Siiould, at any fiuure period, the French reftime their 
projetts on India by the Red Sea, in three months from 
tlic time it was firft known in England, a force from the 
Cape might be in poft'eftion of the ftraits of Babelman- 
del, and, by thus anticipating, completely fruftrate 
their defigns ; but whicli, with the Cape in their pof- 
Feftion, or in that of the Dutch, they would ealily ac¬ 
compli fti. 
With refpeifl to the Hottentots as foldiers, a \mry fa¬ 
vourable idea is given by captain Percival in his ac¬ 
count of the fettlement of Good Hope recently pub- 
liftied, and which has been per'nfed with pleafure. He 
ftates as follows : — “ V'i'‘hcn i firft faw the corps of Hot¬ 
tentots in our fervice, and converfed with the Englifti 
officers who had an opportunity of knowing them, and 
the qualities they poftefted, as well as the ftate they 
were capable of being brought to, 1 had reafon to con¬ 
ceive a very favourable opinion of the difpofuion, as 
well as tile talents, of a Hottentot. This corps formed 
a regiment, upwards of feven hundred ftrong, many of 
them fine, adlive, and foldier-like, men ; they feemed 
well difeiplined, and many exhibited a pride in their 
gait, that would do credit to an European foldier. 
They feemed much attached to the Englifti; and ffiould 
the Cape ever fall permanently into tlie hands of Great 
Britain, thoi'e people, under proper management, may 
fpeedily arrive at a great degree of civilization. Their 
indiiftry may be excited, and be turned to produce the 
moft important advantages to the colony. By inftru6l- 
ing them in the arts of hufbandry, by accuftoniing them 
to a mild and equitable treatment, by granting them 
tliofe rights which ouglit to be common to the whole 
luiman race, although barbaroufly withheld from them 
by the Dutch; the Hottentots would fpeedily be allured 
Irom the remote parts and w'ilds of the interior of 
Southern Africa, to colonize the country nearer the 
Cape. The progrefs of civilization would foon infpire 
rhofe already in the colony wltii confidence in theni- 
lelves, as a people who have a certain part to aft in 
life, and recover them from that ftate of utter degrada¬ 
tion to w'hicli they have been reduced ; while the know¬ 
ledge of the comforts of life, and the means by which 
tliey are to be procured, would ftiniulate them to exer¬ 
tions of which they are at preient incapable.” 
Mr. Barrow difeufl'es the importance of the Cape of 
Good Hope, confidered in a commercial point of view, 
and as a depot for the Southern whale fiihery. In its 
prefent condition, it is of very little importance to any 
nation, conlidercd with refpeft to the articles of com¬ 
merce it I'upplies for exportation to foreign markets. 
The lurplus produce, beyond the fupply ot its own in- 
iiabitants, a garrifon, and navy of eiglit or ten thoiifand 
men, and the refrelhments furnifhed to fhips trading and 
cafually calling tiiere, is fo trilling as to merit no confi- 
ileration. But, by a new fyftem of tilings, it is cer¬ 
tainly fufceptible of great improvement ; and the fiip- 
ply of the moft important articles might be extended to 
an almoft indefinite amount. 
It is further to be remarked, that though the fugar- 
cane grows fpontaneoully at the Cape, tlie Dutch have 
never attempted to maiuifathire either fugar or rum : 
yet both of tliel’e commodities might be produced in 
Hus part of .'\f;ica with greater facility than in the Weft 
H OPE. 
Indies. Every European nation acknowledges the im¬ 
portance of the Weft India illands, from the two great 
ftaple commodities of fugar and rum. How much blood 
lias been ftied between Uie different powers in the con- 
queft and attainment of them ; while numberlefs lives 
have fallen viftims to the unhealthy climate. Proper¬ 
ties to an immenfe amount, confifting of large planta¬ 
tions of fugar-canes, have often been deftroyed in one 
night by furious iiurricanes and tornadoes. Infefts and 
vermin deftroy another great proportion; while tlie 
heat is fo intolerable, that tlie planter cannot overfee his 
own works, much lefs aflift by any exertion of liis own, 
Thofe difadvantages are however ftill borne up againft 
from the value of the fugar and rum which they afford, 
Tlie Cape labours under none of thofe difadvaiitageous 
circumitances. Though it is fometimes fubjeft to vio¬ 
lent winds, yet they never arife to that degree as tJie 
tornadoes in the Weft Indies, nor are their confeqtiences 
to be at all compared. The climate is mild, temperate, 
and healthy ; the foil clean, and not fubjeft to tliofe 
weeds and other obftruftions ufually found in tropical 
climates, which fuddenly fpring up and choak tlie ten¬ 
der plants. Infefts and vermin do but little damage 
compared to what is experienced in other parts of the 
world which can afford the fame produce. Tlie planter 
here can ftand the wliole day expofed to the fun without 
any ill cohfeqiienceS, and can affift viitli his own bodily 
labour, if his circumftances require it, or inclination 
prompt him. When the fugar-cane grows fo well fpon- 
taneoufty, it is fiirely capable of being brought to much 
more perfeftion by the care and culture of man. Tlie 
Dutch, in exculpation of their own want of enterprife, 
allege that it would require more flaves than they can 
afford, or would rific introducing into the colony ; and 
that thofe already in their pofi'eflion are only fufficient 
for their houftiold and domeftic purpofes. Thefe rea- 
fonings with regard to foreign flaves may hold good; 
but there is a ftill greater benefit to be derived from 
entirely evading that objeftion, and employing the Hot¬ 
tentots and other natives of the interior as hufband- 
men and fervants. By thefe meansthe valuable articles 
in queftion might be railed, and at the fame time the 
natives brought to a degree of civilization and to ha¬ 
bits of indiiftry ; from which comfort to themfelves and 
wealth to their employers would fpeedily arife. 
The colony of Good Hope is aifo capable of pro¬ 
ducing great quantities of tobacco; however, very lit¬ 
tle is exported, though it is faid to be good, when duly 
preparetl, as that of Virginia, As all male perfoiis, old 
and young, fmoke in tliis colony, and as American to¬ 
bacco generally bears a high price, the confumption of 
that of native growth is confiderable. The inferior fort 
is ul'ed by flaves and Flottentots. The total value 
of every kind of colonial produce, exported in four 
years, from 1799 to 1802, amounted to no more than 
300,925 rix-dollars, or 60,185!. currency. Tiie goods 
imported from England into the Cape during the fame 
period, confifted of woollen cloths, Manchefter goods, 
liofiery, haberdafhery, and millinery, boots, flioes, and 
hats, cutlery, iron tools, ftationary, bar and hoop iron, 
fmitlis’ coals, lioufehold furniture, paint and oils, 
earthen ware, naval ftores, tongues, hams, cheefe, and 
pickles ; and from India and China were imported Ben¬ 
gal, Madras, and Surat, piece-goods, tea, coffee, fugar, 
pepper, fpices, and rice. Tlie Americans brought thi¬ 
ther lumber, cargoes of deal plank, ftaves, balk, falt- 
fifh, pitch, turpentine, &c. ; and the Danes, Swedes, 
and Hamburgh Ihips, aftbrted cargoes of iron, plank, 
French wines, beer, gin, Seltzer water, coft'ee, pre- 
ferves, pickles, &c. in exciiange for refrelhments, to 
defray tiic charges of repairs and other necellaries, or 
for money to carry to India or China. The whole im¬ 
portation into the Cape by Britiffi or foreign bottoms, 
from Europe, Alia, and America, in four years, includ¬ 
ing the value of the 'prize goods brought in, aiid of the 
' ilaves 
