Page:Voyage in search of La Perouse, volume 1 (Stockdale).djvu/150

140 the Dutch Company, has often induced them to feign a great carcity of proviions at the Cape, in order to enhance their price. The cultivators are not permitted to enter into a direct bargain with trangers for the produce of their lands; but are obliged to leave them to be dipoed of by the Company, who frequently purchae them at a price four times les than that which they themelves receive.

The vexatious interference of the uperior agents in the concerns of their ubordinate officers, turns likewie to the diadvantage of trangers, who find it impoible to ecape from the rapacity of o many perons, all combined againt their interet. This avaricious pirit gradually undermines the properity of this country, as it renders navigators unwilling to touch at the Cape whenever they can avoid it. A ruinous propenity to extravagance, which has for ome years pat prevailed amongt the women, has produced a great change in the manners of the inhabitants, who are now eagerly intent upon adopting all the fahions of Europe.

All thee evils have arien from the Dutch government having o grosly mitaken its own interet, as to leave a place of the lat importance to the navigation of India, under the direction of a company of private merchants. But it is