ottentots, its aboriginal
inhabitants, and took care to have it immediately planted and well
peopled, for the convenience of their ships, both outward and homeward
bound. All the inhabitants of this colony are Europeans, or descended
from Europeans. Some of the planters are settled at the distance of
three hundred leagues from the Cape; yet all are obliged to appear
once a-year at a place called Stellenbosch, where the _Drossart_ or
magistrate of the country resides. They have here to pass in review,
as all the peasants, as well as the towns-men, are formed into
companies under proper officers. After the review is over, they go
back to their respective plantations, generally carrying home with
them what tools or other European articles they stand in need of.
These people cultivate the ground, raising rye, barley, beans, and
other grains. They also plant vines, which produce excellent grapes,
of which they make very good wine. Some of these peasants are in
very easy circumstances, having, besides large and well-cultivated
plantations, great flocks of sheep and cattle.

Among other colonists, there is one about eight leagues from Cape
Town, at a place called _Drakenstein_, entirely composed of French
refugees, who have a large tract of well cultivated ground, and are
allowed churches and ministers of their own. Part of the inhabitants
of Cape Town are in the service of the Company, and the rest are free
burgesses. They have regular magistrates, who decide causes of small
importance, and regulate any little disputes that happen among them;
but affairs of moment are carried before the governor and council,
who determine finally and without appeal. In the interior country, the
drossart determines in things of small consequence; but all matters of
importance must come before the governor and council, whose sentences,
both in civil and criminal cases, are executed without delay. The
officer who commands here in chief, has the rank and pay of major, yet
does the duty in all respects of a major-general. The officers under
him are captains, lieutenants, and ensigns, who take care to keep
their companies always complete and well disciplined; and in case of
attack, they can draw together five thousand men at least, all well
armed and as good as regular troops: Each peasant knows where he has
to repair to, in order to range himself under his proper standard.

It is not easy to describe the expertness with which these peasants
mana