versed at three different times by the writer; which has enabled him to speak more confidently as to its nature. It was found abounding to an incredible degree, with a great variety of game: but springs and rivulets are less plentiful than in the Zúureveld. Yet the newly-discovered river, though of but secondary magnitude, would supply abundance of water all the year round. Along its course are extensive plains of the finest soil, capable of producing any thing; and, clay forming its principal component part, its crops would suffer less from an occasionally dry season. On this river would be an eligible situation for a village; being surrounded by so much fine arable land and places where no water is to be found naturally on the surface, might be rendered habitable by wells. To introduce the practice of well-digging generally into the Cape Colony, would be to double the value of this part of Africa, as a habitable land and it is not to be accounted for on any reasonable grounds, that the Boors have made no more attempts to supply themselves with water by such means, than if they were totally ignorant of there being such a practice in any part of the world. The division lying between the Sea-Cow river and the Storm Mountains, is considered to be an exceedingly fine country; and well suited for every sort of cattle, being grassy, partly flat and open, and partly mountainous. Nor is there any reason for doubting that it would produce excellent corn and fruit, though perhaps not so well adapted for the vine. It probably contains a sufficiency of large timber. It has the advantage of having for neighbours on the south-east, the friendly tribe of Caffres under the dominion of the well-known chief Ghyka (or Gaika). In this new northern district, a large population might live happily, enjoying health and abundance of every comfort. The deficiency of timber may be remedied by planting; as the growth of trees suitable for that purpose, is surprisingly rapid, compared with that of the timber of Europe; several species of which have been found to grow with great luxuriance in all parts of the Cape Colony. Owing to the nature and temperature of the climate of this part of Africa, walls built of mud are nearly as lasting as those of bricks; and, according to the taste of the architect, houses made of this material may have as clean and neat an appearance as a stuccoed building. In the construction of houses having no upper story, very little timber is required; and spars fit for the roof, may be found in plenty all along the Nu-Gariep. Sheep and horses may be purchased at the cheapest rate, and in any number, in the northern parts of the district of Graaff Reynét; the inhabitants of which, generally speaking, are much more friendly disposed towards the English, than those of the Lange-Kloof and the easternmost parts of the Colony. On the northern side of the Garíep, there is a village called Klaarwater, and several smaller Kraals or settlements, speaking the Dutch language, and inhabited by Hottentots who, for the greater number, have formerly lived under the Colonial government; many of whom have been brought up in the service of the Boors. These may be found useful neighbours; especially as there are two or three missionaries of the London Society living with them, who ought naturally to feel every desire of aiding their country. men as far as their influence over these Hottentots may extend. Owing to its situation so far inland, apparently there may be less facility in disposing of the surplus produce of this northern colony, than of the Zúureveld: but that an inland situation does not necessarily prevent the prosperity of the inhabitants, is proved by the fact of some of the richest Boors of the Cape Colony having gained their affluence in that division of the district of Graaff-Reynét, called Snéeuwberg, or the Snow Mountains. The nearest colonial village is Graaff-Reynét, which is daily increasing in size, and bids fair to become a considerable town. From this place various necessary supplies may be obtained. The nearest sea-port is Algoa bay, where a jutty is all that is required for making landing safe and easy. Here the emigrants would disembark; and taking a military escort at Uitenhage, would proceed by the way of Graaff-Reynét, to the place of their destination. In placing the proposed British settlements on the outside of the present Dutch Colony, no impediment as to extent of land need be feared, to cramp the progress of their population: while the Boors will gradually, by their increasing numbers, remedy the errors which their former governments committed in allowing them to disperse so widely over the territory they had taken possession of. Emigrants settling in these British districts, would, if they preferred it, have many opportunities of changing their abode for one in any other part of the Cape Colony, as soon as they should have become rich enough to purchase a Dutch farm; the price of which would be thought very low by an European. The legislative regulations for this colony, would be the same as for that on the coast; but a law prohibiting the settlers passing the boundary without special permission, would be strictly enforced, in order to prevent irregularities which might injure the good understanding with the natives. The same official persons, and the same trades would be indispensable from the moment of its first establishment; with the addition of that of a boat-builder. A magistrate provided with sufficient authority, would watch over all its affairs; and to him would be given the power to remove out of his jurisdiction, all persons whose improper conduct might endanger the peace and well-being of the community. A regular communication with Cape Town, and consequently with England, would be established by post to Graaff-Reynét; whence, a mail is forwarded on horseback by the way of Uitenhage, every first and second Wednesday in each month. If an English town were founded in the vicinity of the Gariep, it would more than probably become the metropolis of the interior; and be resorted to as a place of trade and barter, by all the Transgariepine nations. It would be the intermediate point of connecting the great town of Litaakun (Letárkoon) with the Cape of Good Hope, as it would lie in the direct route between them: and the peaceable, friendly, and half-civilized nation of the Bachapins (Batjapeens) would gladly avail themselves of the opportunity of establishing a sort of commerce with the Colony, which hitherto the great distance of Cape Town has prevented. They would bring cattle, taking beads, tobacco, and some other trifles in exchange. Their country could furnish ivory, were it not for the difficulty of transporting it on the backs of oxen, their only mode of conveyance. But this difficulty might not, on trial, be found to be so great as to deter them from the trade. They might also be encouraged to collect gum, which may be obtained to a large amount, as the southern part of this continent every where abounds in trees that yield it; though, from the scarcity and value of labor, it could not repay the expense of collecting it within the Colony. Whether gold dust be to be found in the extratropical part of Southern Africa, remains to be discovered; and the valuable productions of the interior lie hidden and unknown. By the means of this Garíep town, through its communication with these people, the English language and a better knowledge of Europeans would be diffused amongst the natives of the inte rior; affording an opportunity of becoming acquainted with a portion of this continent, of which much less is known than of its northern half: and in short, of which it may be said, Europe is totally ignorant, or very nearly so. A door would thus be opened for a friendly connection with its inland inhabitants, who, possessing none of those prejudices which prevent a cordial friendship between Christian and Mahometan nations, would the more readily enter into an acquaintance with the British. And, on the part of our countrymen, it would be required, only that their dealings be fair and honorable, and that their policy towards them be just and firm, in order to perpetuate that acquaintance, to the pro fit of both nations. Nor would the introducing amongst these tribes, of the comforts and advantages of civilised life, and the benefits of a purer morality and religion, be an unimportant object in the minds of those persons of our own country, who themselves know, and are daily enjoying, that superiority and satisfaction which are the natural consequences of virtue, and of a due developement of the nobler faculties of the mind and of the better feelings of the human heart. |