History of Southern Africa; Comprising the Cape of Good Hope, Mauritius, Seychelles, &C (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1836. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. POPULATION, -TERRITORIAL DIVISION, --STOCK AND PRODUCE, -DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF INHABITANTS, -THEIR MANNERS, -CUSTOMS, -LANGUAGE, -CIVILISATION, &C. &C. SOUTH Africa, when first visited by the Portuguese, Dutch and English, was, considering the country and barbarous state of the inhabitants, extensively peopled by a race termed Hottentots, who, together with other nations and tribes, will be subsequently treated of. The Hottentots, from being masters of the soil, became in a short time the servants of the Dutch settlers, and, as in the West Indies and North America, sank before the white race; their numbers, though still considerable (upwards of 30,000), being very much reduced. The first authentic account of the state of the colony is furnished by the Oppgaff or tax lists for 1798, when the Cape was in our possession, and the returns were required to be made for the first time on oath.* * For extended details from 1798 to 1834, see the large Edition of this Work. According to the Oppgaff returns the population from 1797 to 1807 had augmented upwards of 10,000: its progress at intervals is thus shewn: -- It is not possible to rely on the foregoing; neither is it right to estimate the following as correct, because both being derived from the Opgaff, or tax rolls, they do not include a number of people who wander about the country, without any fixed location; and in consequence of the poll tax, many heads are, for obvious reasons, not counted in a large establishment: there can be no doubt however that the present population is upwards of 150,000; how many of this number are whites it is impossible to state accurately, but they amount at least to 60,000. Emigration has slightly added to the population: our accounts of the settlers arrivin...