Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Or New Publications.
have said , that it was the arrival of the master nf nature at the boundaries of the world . I saw this globe of fire plunge with majesty belsw the waters , and vanish fiom my sight . How enchanting was the specUicie he presented to my astonished eyes ; when , sweeping the surface of the deep , he seemed all of a sudden to embrace the abyss , in order to regain , as Ossian says , the vast palace of darkness . On his approach , the waves raised their agitated heads to be gilded by his light ; bur their colours , illuminated by his rays , "
insensibly died away , and totally vanished the instant he disappeared . The ocean was no longer enlightened , but the immense veil of clouds which had collefted on the east , still reflected his flames from its upper surface . Their whole mass represented mountains of snow , and their top displayed a zone resplendent with all the colours cf the rainbow . This spectacle lasted only for a moment ; but at the distance of about thirty leagues to the north , the Piquet mount finsstill hiher than the Table mountain , retainedfor some
, g , time , the light on their majestic tops , that seemed to projeif . from the purple and violet ground of the sky . They might have been styled light-houses , destined to enlighten the interior parts of the continent during the obscurity of the night . How little is man to this exalted height , and how wretched are his passions , when he compares himself with immensity ! ' On the approach of darkness , the baboons had retired to their holes ; the vultures had quitted the plain , and returned to the rocks ; some small
birds only still fluttered around me , and , scattered over the shrubs and the bushes , were celebrating- with their concerts the close of so beautiful a day . Their song- died away with the twilight ; obscurity gave up the mountain to funereal birds of prey ; and I , thoughtful and melancholy-, returned to my tent , which my people had already surrounded with a large fire , for the purpise of keeping at a distance , noxious and destructive animals that shun the light . '
In the beginning of his principal excursion , M . Le Vaillant passed through a district of the colony , on which his observations are not only just , but highly impoitant in their relation to the commercial interests of the possessors of the Cape .
' I have already said that the colony of the Twenty-four Rivers , owes its name to a current that flows through it , and which receives into its channel a great number of smaller streams that discharge themselves along with it into the Berg-river . This assemblage of rivulets , by the ready means which it affords of watering the lands , is the circumstance that has most contributed to fertilize the district . As the mode of culture requires scarcely any labour , the inhabitants enjoy a peaceful and happy life . The population ,
however , is far from being numerous ; a considerable part of the land is still uncultivated ; and there are fcarctly to be seen more than forty or fifty plantations , whereas the number ought to be infinitely greater . ' Such of my readers v . ho know that man is sure to multi ply wherever he finds the means of living commodiously , will not fail fo lay this deficiency in population to the charge of the government : for myself , I blame not the go , vernment , but the numerous abuses introduced , and continually increased ,
by the inferior agents it is obliged to employ . Government , undoubtedly , wishes for the prosperity of its colonies ; its own interest must naturally inspire that wish ; but in vain will it make wise regulations ; in vain will it create numerous establishments , if those to whom it entrusts its powers employ them only to its own detriment and the detriment of the colonies . ' Without pretending to detail or examine these charges , which might be { is imprudent as u § eiess a task , I shall content myself with indulging a hope .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Review Or New Publications.
have said , that it was the arrival of the master nf nature at the boundaries of the world . I saw this globe of fire plunge with majesty belsw the waters , and vanish fiom my sight . How enchanting was the specUicie he presented to my astonished eyes ; when , sweeping the surface of the deep , he seemed all of a sudden to embrace the abyss , in order to regain , as Ossian says , the vast palace of darkness . On his approach , the waves raised their agitated heads to be gilded by his light ; bur their colours , illuminated by his rays , "
insensibly died away , and totally vanished the instant he disappeared . The ocean was no longer enlightened , but the immense veil of clouds which had collefted on the east , still reflected his flames from its upper surface . Their whole mass represented mountains of snow , and their top displayed a zone resplendent with all the colours cf the rainbow . This spectacle lasted only for a moment ; but at the distance of about thirty leagues to the north , the Piquet mount finsstill hiher than the Table mountain , retainedfor some
, g , time , the light on their majestic tops , that seemed to projeif . from the purple and violet ground of the sky . They might have been styled light-houses , destined to enlighten the interior parts of the continent during the obscurity of the night . How little is man to this exalted height , and how wretched are his passions , when he compares himself with immensity ! ' On the approach of darkness , the baboons had retired to their holes ; the vultures had quitted the plain , and returned to the rocks ; some small
birds only still fluttered around me , and , scattered over the shrubs and the bushes , were celebrating- with their concerts the close of so beautiful a day . Their song- died away with the twilight ; obscurity gave up the mountain to funereal birds of prey ; and I , thoughtful and melancholy-, returned to my tent , which my people had already surrounded with a large fire , for the purpise of keeping at a distance , noxious and destructive animals that shun the light . '
In the beginning of his principal excursion , M . Le Vaillant passed through a district of the colony , on which his observations are not only just , but highly impoitant in their relation to the commercial interests of the possessors of the Cape .
' I have already said that the colony of the Twenty-four Rivers , owes its name to a current that flows through it , and which receives into its channel a great number of smaller streams that discharge themselves along with it into the Berg-river . This assemblage of rivulets , by the ready means which it affords of watering the lands , is the circumstance that has most contributed to fertilize the district . As the mode of culture requires scarcely any labour , the inhabitants enjoy a peaceful and happy life . The population ,
however , is far from being numerous ; a considerable part of the land is still uncultivated ; and there are fcarctly to be seen more than forty or fifty plantations , whereas the number ought to be infinitely greater . ' Such of my readers v . ho know that man is sure to multi ply wherever he finds the means of living commodiously , will not fail fo lay this deficiency in population to the charge of the government : for myself , I blame not the go , vernment , but the numerous abuses introduced , and continually increased ,
by the inferior agents it is obliged to employ . Government , undoubtedly , wishes for the prosperity of its colonies ; its own interest must naturally inspire that wish ; but in vain will it make wise regulations ; in vain will it create numerous establishments , if those to whom it entrusts its powers employ them only to its own detriment and the detriment of the colonies . ' Without pretending to detail or examine these charges , which might be { is imprudent as u § eiess a task , I shall content myself with indulging a hope .