Page:George McCall Theal, History of South Africa since September 1795, Volume 1 (1908).pdf/180

152 and failed to appreciate the advantage of being connected with an empire vastly more powerful than their own fatherland. But all told, men, women, and children, they were not thirty thousand in number, and they were thinly scattered over an immense territory, so that they felt their best course would be to submit with as little show of discontent as possible. The heads of the government for several years were consequently able to report that the condition of the colony, as far as the European inhabitants were concerned, was one of perfect tranquillity. A few individuals, chiefly resident in Capetown, who had been warm adherents of the Orange party in days gone by, were not dissatisfied with the change, and were prepared to support the new government faithfully. From them officials were chosen to replace those whose situations became vacant, when it was not considered necessary to fill the posts with British born subjects.

During the long contest with the first Napoleon the unusual number of seamen and soldiers required could only be kept up by the allurement of gains from the enemy. The pay was too small to attract men, so the prospect of prize-money on a liberal scale was held out. This did not mean that the conquered were to be pillaged, but that public property acquired in war was to be divided according to fixed rules among the individuals who were so fortunate as to seize it. When the Cape Colony for the second time fell under the power of the British forces, in order to satisfy the army and navy it was necessary to make diligent search for everything liable to confiscation.

The artillery on the forts and military equipment and stores of all kinds were valued and paid for by the imperial treasury. The funds in the public chest, together with the balance of amounts due to the government after its debts were paid, formed another item in the list. The greater part of the money that had been distributed from the Dutch military chest was recovered, as has been already related. The government slaves were taken into possession, and were purchased for his Majesty's service from the agents for the captors. The