Without waiting to enclose the land intended to be cultivated, their very first operations would be to clear it, to sow their corn and plant their gardens; the next, to build temporary huts; and afterwards to make good roads.

Arrived at this point the settlement could not fail to go on prosperously, if kept in order by a proper and simple code of legislative regulations conforming closely to the spirit of the laws of England, and attentively watched over by a Magistrate or Landdrost of its

own.

A community of this kind would naturally give rise to a village or town, where some trades of indispensable necessity might be carried on such would be a blacksmith, a carpenter, a waggon maker, a butcher, a baker, a miller, a tanner, a soap-boiler, a shoemaker, and some others.

Under the management of the butcher would be placed the oxen and sheep, the meat of which he would serve out to the colonists, at the rate of one pound and a half per day for each adult. At which rate, reckoning the weight of a carcase of mutton at forty pounds, the cost of the sheep at two rix dollars, and the exchange with England at not more than a hundred per cent, each emigrant might be supplied with mutton for half a year for twenty-seven shillings and three pence sterling: or with beef at a sum a little less.

Under the baker would in like manner be placed the stock of flour to be dispensed to the settlers, by regular rations, in the form either of bread or flour.

The introduction of any large quantity of spirituous liquors would be jealously watched, and checked as a matter of importance an excess under such circumstances would render the wisest regulations unavailing, and if not produce the failure, would at least retard the rising prosperity of the settlement.

In the infancy of a new colony, to disperse its weak population over a large extent of country, is one of those improvident measures which contribute, to a great degree, to keep back its improvement, and estrange its members from each other; substituting a retrogade course in civilisation for an increase of mutual friendship and socia bility which ought to, and otherwise naturally would, take place amongst men living in a remote situation.

Special care would be taken that the first settlers should be persons of good principles and industrious habits, and that a considerable number of them should be such as possessed some knowledge of agriculture: while the necessity of sending out a certain proportion of useful artificers of various kinds would be too evident to need recommendation. Capitalists would find many inducements for giving the preference to an estate in a colony constituted in the manner here proposed.

A chaplain would certainly not be the least useful person; provided he watched over the morality of the settlement, from principle, as well as from duty. And, as the bane of a society, the prosperity of which depends on its being unanimous, sectarian distinctions and a diversity of religious opinions, operating to the division of its members into parties, would not be openly countenanced, however they might be tolerated when confined within the doors of their own dwellings. It cannot be too strongly impressed on their minds, that a harmonious and neighbourly co-operation of all the members of their community, will contribute, far more than the selfish and narrow views of each one separately, to the welfare and happiness of the whole, even if considered individually.

A surgical and medical person of general practice would doubtless be added to the party; and who might, for the first two or three years, be supported by a salary from government and in like manner be furnished with medicines, which would, for a certain time, be dispensed gratis, or placed to their account at prime cost: but afterwards he might be left to derive his emoluments from the patients themselves.

In order that so many advantages, as have been enumerated, might be no inducement for indolent persons to join the colony, an account would be kept against each settler, of the expenses which government had been at, to support him from the time of his being fairly located upon the land, till the period when it might be calculated he would be able to support himself. For the payment of this account at stated and easy instalments, his estate would be considered as mortgaged to government; so that in the case of his proving to be idle, worthless, and troublesome to the settlement, an opportunity, by his failing in these payments, would be given to the magistrate, for putting his land into more deserving hands.

For the encouragement of the industrious, government might offer to purchase their surplus produce at a certain fixed price; at the same time leaving them at liberty to sell it elsewhere, whenever they could obtain for it any greater sum.

In the same manner, a regulation price might be offered for any article of commerce which it might be desirable to encourage. And the introduction and cultivation of plants yielding valuable drugs or other articles required by the mother country, might in time be the source of wealth and prosperity to all parties. Tobacco, if favored by lowering the present importation duties, may be cultivated to a very great extent: and cotton would thrive equally well.

It cannot be expected that any plan offered to the public, will
VOL. XVII.
NO. XXXIII.

Pam.

H

not meet with opposers; and those which are now submitted will doubtlessly be assailed with various objections, especially from those persons who are unacquainted with the nature of the country here intended. But, without entering into arguments which would require many details that it was not the writer's intention to mix with these "Hints," he feels no difficulty in asserting that, in the manner pointed out, it is both possible and easy to put it in the power of a large number of British subjects, to acquire all the comforts and enjoyments of life; while at the same time a vast improvement is being made in one of the most important of the British colonies; in one which succeeding generations, if not the -present, will find to be of no insignificant value. The writer is satisfied that experience would prove that he has not by any -means exaggerated, or given too high a colouring to the advantages that would arise from attending to these "Hints," not separately but collectively.

The object of the present publication, is to give but little more than general ideas on the subject of Emigration to the Cape of Good Hope: but should these ideas be likely soon to be put into practice, the writer may perhaps, if his time permit, be induced to draw up, for the use and guidance of the Emigrants, more complete and detailed instructions, accompanied by all the information and advice that may be essentially necessary to persons in their situation.

The number of emigrants which the district already described, would accommodate, is not indefinite; nor of this can any proper estimate be formed, before the first party have located themselves, and a general survey of the country have been taken. If it should then be found that more land were wanting, and that the Caffres were not inclined to part with theirs, the view must be directed to other quarters; and the country lying northward of the northeasternmost part of the Cape Colony, presents itself as decidedly the most eligible of all the unoccupied territory that adjoins the northern boundary.

In this case it would be just and politic, previously to make some presents to the straggling Kraals of natives, as a compensation for their territory, and as a ratification of their consent and friendly disposition. Although the writer was the first European or White who ever travelled through that country, he met with the most friendly reception from those people; who are of those wild tribes of Hottentots called Bushmen by the Boors. They lead a wandering life, enjoying little of what are denominated comforts; and a friendly intercourse with a settlement of English, whose conduct towards them would be regulated by the strict rule of justice and humanity, would contribute greatly to their happi

1

ness and to their moral and religious improvement; and would be of much advantage to the settlers, who might obtain their services, as shepherds or house-servants, for which they would be satisfied to receive as a remuneration, their food and a few old clothes. Such a friendly intercourse would effect far more towards their civilisation, than all that has hitherto been attempted in other ways. They are by no means that naturally ferocious and unfriendly race of people, which they have been represented to be. Irritation from the bad treatment they have formerly received, has produced an antipathy to the present colonists; and the recollection of the injuries they have suffered, must be distressing to every humane mind.

The extent of this proposed new district, is unlimited, and is capable of receiving a population of any number of British, that may wish to emigrate: and fortunate would it have been for thousands who have crossed the Atlantic, if some kind friend had guided them to this part of Africa.'

By continuing the eastern boundary of the Cape Colony, in a line north-eastwards till it meet the Storm Mountains and one of the branches of the Nu-garíep, or Black River, (or Groote Rivier of the Boors,) and continuing thence downwards along the left bank, till it fall in with the Sea-Cow river, whose course upwards in a southward direction would conduct it to Pléttenbergs Baaken, the most northern part of the Colony on that side, a considerable extent of country would be included within a well-defined natural boundary.

But if circumstances require it on a larger scale, as in all probability will be the case at some time or another, the boundary line, instead of following the Sea-Cow river, would extend from

The fine island of Madagascar offers also a most advantageous situation for a British colony, which placed near a good harbour, might soon raise itself to commercial importance; being in the route of vessels outward and homeward bound from the East Indies. As there is not a single British settlement on the whole of the eastern coast of Africa, Delagoa Bay, now unoccupied, may be named as a fine country possessing a good harbour, and natives of a peaceable disposition, accustomed to occasional traffic with European ships. A very intelligent British Officer who has visited several places along the coast, is of opinion that the fertile island of Pemba presents a most promising situation for a settlement, whether agricultural or commercial; having excellent harbours, and every opportunity and facility for a lucrative commerce with the main land. It would be an easy task to point out many places on the globe where English colonies might usefully be planted; and general peace, and a redundant population, seem to mark this as the proper moment for such undertakings. How long this combination of circumstances may last, no one can pronounce. The voyages to the numerous colonies of this country, train up good seamen for the Navy; and in this point of view, the strength of England is connected with the number of its foreign settlements..

the confluence of that river with the Nu-Gariep, along the western or left bank of the latter, to where it falls into the Garíep, in latitude twenty-nine. Thence, in a south-westerly direction, it would continue along the river Gariep, till it came to the confluence of a newly-discovered river in longitude twenty-three degrees and a half east, whose meandering course it would follow upwards, and arrive at the colonial boundary near a mountain called Groote Tafelberg.

The country included in this line is, for the greater proportion, flat and open; and is particularly well suited for supporting sheep, and for all the purposes of agriculture. It is however generally destitute of timber, excepting along the banks of the Gariep and the Nu-Garíep.

The vicinity of these waters is equally healthy with any other part of the country, and much more delightful. Nothing can be more beautiful than these rivers, which flow in a stream as large as the Thames above London; and after a course of more than a thousand miles, discharge their waters into the Southern Atlantic Ocean, between the parallels of twenty-eight and twenty-nine degrees south. They are, unfortunately, in too many places interrupted by falls and rapids, ever to admit of an unbroken navigation down to the sea; yet for short conveyances from one place to another situated along their banks, these streams would be of great use: while by their depth and breadth, they form a well-fortified boundary. Not a boat, nor a canoe, has ever disturbed their waters: nor have the fishes with which they abound, ever been much molested by man.

A curious and singular advantage offers itself, in a lake which produces an inexhaustible quantity of excellent salt; and for the existence of which the writer can vouch, having while in that neighbourhood obtained a supply from it, although it have never yet been beheld by any White. It is situated on the eastern side of the Nu-Gariep, at about thirty miles above where it falls into the Gariep. With this article an advantageous trade might be carried on with the Boors residing along the northern frontier, who are at present very scantily supplied with it, and would give sheep in exchange, at a rate very profitable for the salt-merchants.

The soil of this district is of a productive quality, possessing a much greater proportion of clay than of sand; and at the proper season of the year abundant rains fall to ensure a good harvest of

corn.

These remarks are applied to that part of the country, lying along the Nu-Gariep, from the Sea-Cow river to the Gariep, and bounded on the west by the newly-discovered river already mentioned. For the first time ever visited by an European, it was trà