HINTS

ON

EMIGRATION, &c.

It is surprising that those persons, who feel either the desire or the necessity for emigrating from Great Britain, have not yet directed their views to the Cape of Good Hope. To such as quit this country from a dislike to its laws and government, and prefer submitting to the legislation of a foreign power, the following observations will be of little value; nor are they intended for their use; but those, who preserve their national feelings, and would with reluctance repress that natural desire of living under the dominion and customs of the nation in which they have been born, will feel some satisfaction in having pointed out to them, by one who is sincerely anxious for their welfare, the means by which they may obtain all the possible advantages of emigration, without being required to make so great a sacrifice as that of their nationality, and of all further connexion and sympathy with the land of their forefathers.

The writer of this has no party view whatever in calling the attention of the public to this subject, nor does he wish to induce a single individual to emigrate from his native country, who would not have left it independently of these Hints. But, when he reflects on the numbers of persons who are yearly quitting these shores, weakening the strength of the empire, to add to the population of countries that may unfortunately at some future time employ them or their descendants in shedding British blood; when he hears of the disappointment and misery which so many of his countrymen experience, when they too late discover the delusive prospects by which they have been enticed away, he feels that it would be deserting his duty as an Englishman and as a philanthropist, if he remained silent while a remedy for these evils could be pointed out.

It is for the guidance of those who have already decided on trying their fortunes in another country, and who hope, by adopting the life of a colonist, to obtain for themselves and their families a settlement of comfort and ease, that he lays before them those facts and ideas which he has recently learnt from a personal, leisurely, and attentive examination of the colony in question. And, if it appear surprising that so old a possession should now be exhibited in a light different from that in which it has generally been viewed, it may safely be asserted that few European colonies are more imperfectly known, or their nature less correctly understood, than that of the Cape of Good Hope: the mistaken policy of its former proprietors having given but little encouragement to the discovering and making known to the world of its real situation. And it must be confessed that, among us, many persons of great judgment and discrimination in other matters, and who might be supposed to have some accurate notions respecting it, have here betrayed much ignorance; and if it can be conceded that they have not misled others, it cannot however be said that they have led them aright. It is, therefore, no other motive than the great want of correct ideas, which seems to exist with respect to this portion of the British empire, and, now that the subject of emigration thither has at last attracted the notice of government, the great necessity for giving the emigrant a fair statement and a picture of his prospects, colored from nature, which has induced the writer at this time to offer, his information and opinions: and, if they are received with the same disinterested and impartial judgment with which they are given, he may hope that they will prove useful; at least, in some small degree.

Without attempting to discuss the question whether emigration from the mother-country be, or be not, necessary, it is a sufficient reason for bringing the superior advantages of the Cape into general notice, that there are many persons who are bent on emigrating to some one country or another. And besides this, there are other reasons, which need not be adduced here, to prove the good policy and the expediency of introducing a British population into a territorial acquisition now permanently annexed to the British empire, and which, excepting Cape Town, may be said to be at present entirely in the occupation of Dutch inhabitants.

This colony, which is distant a voyage of just three months from the port of London, comprehends all the southernmost point of Africa, and lies in a temperate healthy and delightful climate, principally between the latitudes of thirty-one and thirty-four degrees south, and the longitudes of eighteen and twenty-seven degrees east of Greenwich, possessing every variety of soil and surface. In the winter the thermometer does not ordinarily sink below the

freezing point, though snow is sometimes to be seen on the summits of the high mountains. In the summer the warmth is greater than in England, but is seldom oppressive; and in particular districts and situations resembles the most beautiful weather of this country. The healthiness of the air in every district, is known to all who have breathed it, and has never been called in question; nor are there any prevailing fevers, nor what may be called seasoning disorders, that attack strangers settling in this part of the world. That it is congenial to human life, is indisputably proved by the vigorous appearance of its present inhabitants.

Provisions are very cheap even in Cape Town the price of a sheep is from three to four rix dollars, and sometimes only two and a half; but, taking it even at four rix dollars or sixteen shillings currency, it is, at the present rate of exchange, not so much as eight shillings sterling; and in the country districts from which Cape Town is supplied, they are sold for half that price and even for less. The price of wheat is uncertain, varying from five to ten, and, in seasons of the greatest scarcity, to twenty rix dollars or more the muid, containing three Winchester bushels and a tenth : but the ordinary average price is seven, making it equal to thirtynine shillings sterling per quarter, English measure. Cape wheat has fetched a higher price in the London market than any corn of English growth, sold on the same days. The unsettled price of corn at the Cape is not to be wondered at, when the present farmers seldom trouble themselves about growing more than may be necessary for their own domestic consumption; although possessing immense tracts of land capable of producing more than a hundred times the present quantity. It is indeed only surprising, that by such a spiritless system of agriculture as they now follow, and probably always will, so much is obtained.

The fruits of Europe and some from tropical countries thrive in perfection; the most common of which are Oranges, Lemons, Grapes, Melons, Apples, Pears, Peaches, Almonds, Apricots, Figs, Walnuts, Mulberries, Quinces, Chesnuts, Bananas or Plantains and Guavas. Strawberries and Plums are not common: Raspberries and Cherries are seldom met with: but Gooseberries and Currants will not produce fruit at all. Vegetables of all kinds for the table are plentiful. Wine is one of the chief products of the colony. Cape Town is well supplied with articles of British and Indian manufacture. The general mildness of the climate renders the article of clothing, as a defence against cold, but of secondary importance.

The facility with which the necessaries of life are procured, has perhaps been the first cause of that indolence and want of energy which has always been considered as a principal feature in the cha

racter of the present inhabitants; over whom a British emigrant, by carrying with him the industry and knowledge of his own country, would have a thousand advantages; and would be the means of bringing to light the real resources of the country, and of turning to profit many valuable productions, which are now passed by unobserved, or ignorantly supposed to be of no value.

Owing to the unwise regulations, or, more properly speaking, the want of any regulations at all, of the early Dutch governments, the size of each farm was allowed to spread beyond all due proportion; and the greatest number of original grants were meted out by no other measure than a half hour's walk from the settler's dwelling in every direction; thus giving him the range over a circular farm of three miles in diameter. It could never have been expected that, under such circumstances, the colony could become populous and productive. The Dutch boors have thus selected the choicest spots, and though totally unable to find labor for the cultivation of the due proportion of such an immense tract, necessarily, by their holding possession of it, exclude all new comers. But this evil bids fair to remedy itself in the course of time: for, as their population is rapidly increasing, the division of land will follow in consequence; and the descendants of the original grantees will be compelled to interlocate themselves on the intermediate unoccupied land.

An emigrant, with a few hundred pounds at his command, has, however, frequent opportunities of getting possession of these original farms at a comparatively low purchase; and there could be no doubt that, with the superior intelligence and activity of a European, he would be enabled to thrive on the spot which has afforded no more than a mere maintenance to one who has pursued no other than the usual Cape system of management.

Farms of so large an extent are no longer given out; and the present mode, by which the Cape Government makes grants of land, is under the tenure of a perpetual quit rent, subject to certain fees and charges of surveying on entering into possession. It would operate rapidly to the improvement of the colony, if the settlers were encouraged by the hope of rendering their land a freehold property, or subject only to a mere nominal rent as seignorage, on condition of making, within a given period, certain improvements of a specified description, or to a specified amount. This would act as a premium on industry and exertion; and the colonial revenue would, in the end, be doubly repaid by the improved state of the country. And certainly it is not unreasonable that the improver of such lands should be guaranteed in the full pos session and enjoyment of the fruits of his labor.

It appears from an official letter from the Secretary of State for the Colonial Department, and published in the London pa.

pers of July, that such is the intention of the British Government, as far as relates to lands proposed to be granted to British emigrants; according to the following paragraph of that letter: "The lands will be granted at a quit rent to be fixed, which rent, however, will be remitted for the first ten years; and at the expiration of three years, (during which the party and a number of families, in the proportion of one for every hundred acres, must have resided on the estate,) the land shall be measured at the expense of Government, and the holder shall obtain without fee, his title thereto, on a perpetual quit rent, not exceeding in any case two pounds sterling, for every hundred acres; subject, however, to this clause beyond the usual reservations [The usual reservations are the right of the Crown to mines of precious stones, of gold and silver, and to make such roads as may be necessary for the convenience of the colony]: that the land shall become forfeited to Government, in case the party shall abandon the estate, or not bring it› into cultivation within a given number of years."

The first part of the subject will be briefly to consider the situation of those emigrants, who, possessing some capital, are desirous of occupying, by purchase, one of these original Dutch farms; and to offer a few hints for their guidance.

Those who have a family of children, of whom at least two or three are old enough to be useful, will derive many advantages from their numbers. They are advised to take with them a moderate stock of clothes, sufficient to last them for two or three years; such medicines as they may judge necessary; agricultural and horticultural implements; carpenter's and smith's tools; and whatever manufactured articles they may think requisite for domestic use. At the same time they are cautioned against encumbering themselves with any thing beyond what may be really necessary or essential to their comfort. They will be able readily to obtain from merchants in this country, connected with those at the Cape, bills of exchange for their cash; and will be gainers to a very great degree, by the rate of exchange being above a hundred per cent. in their favor. The British Government has now offered them a passage, free of expense, provided the number of individuals in each party shall not be fewer than ten; and is disposed to lend its encouragement to persons of this class.

But the most material preparatory step for the emigrant to take, is to fix upon a spot, where he and his family are to commence their operations; so that on their landing, not the least time may be lost in proceeding to the place of their destination. For to remain long in Cape Town, would cause the ruin of their prospects; inasmuch as it would soon consume all the money which ought to be laid out on their farm and would waste their time at a season when it