2 iS
The British Colonies.
Chapter IX.
The Growth of Colonial Constitutions— South Africa.
When Great Britain took over the Cape in 1795, was found that the Netherlands East India Company had paid very little attention to the political and social development of South Africa, and had discouraged, as a rule, European immigration, keeping their eyes fixed steadily upon the East and the markets of the East, and regarding Table Bay only as an important half-way house between East and West, where the outward- and home- ward-bound merchantmen could rest and recruit. The Malay population at the Cape was imported thither by the Dutch, and became, and still are, useful servants. The Dutch mercantile policy was pursued for a hundred and fifty years— i.e. from 1651-1795. The governing' body, a very exclusive order, were called ‘ ‘ The Council of Policy”, and consisted of eight members: (1) the Commander or governor, (2) the secunde, (3 and 4) the two military officers highest in rank, (5) the fiscal, (6) the treasurer, (7) the salesman, (8) the garrison bookkeeper. There were also certain public bodies, such as : (1) the Burgher Council, (2) the Church Council, (3) Board of Militia, (4) the Matrimonial Court, (5) the Orphan Chamber, (6) the Court of Commissioners for petty cases ; but one and all subject to the Court of Policy, and in no sense popular bodies.
The term Free Burgher was a complete misnomer, the first burghership being simply a change from the position of paid to unpaid servants of the company. The burghers were trammelled and confined in all things, and the orders and proclamations were so rigid