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The story of my mission in south-eastern Africa
The story of my mission in southeastern Africa Author:William Shaw Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. PROGRESS OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENT IN ALBANY. Settlement named by Major-General Cnyler—Lieuteuant-General Sir Henry Somerset—Estent of the Dis... more »trict—Description of the Country—Locations of the Settlers—Scottish and Irish Settlers— Character of the Soil—" Precious Stones "—Industry of the Settlers—Labour under Difficulties—Extent of cultivated Land— " Rust" in the Wheat Crops—Privations—Healthful Climate- Many abandon their Locations—Graham's Town becomes the Capital—Destructive Storm—Great Distress—Settlers' Relief Fund—Crisis of the Settlement—Untisnal Costnmes—Settlers from various Classes of Society—Beneficial Influence of their diversified Antecedents— Rise of Trade in Albany—Causes of the Paucity of its present Agricultural .Population. Some who read these .pages may probably be desirous of being informed how the British Settlement in Albany, and the Eastern Province of the Cape, progressed from the time of its foundation in 1820, and what are its present state and prospects. The history of the Settlement has not yet been written, and I do not design, in this small work, to supply that desideratum; but I will fill this chapter with some details which, to many readers in England, will probably he new; while those who feel no interest in the affairs of a rising British Colony, but read this book with an exclusive view to the statements it contains relative to the condition of the Heathen, and the progress of Christian Missions, can skip the present chapter, and they will find, in succeeding parts of the book, that which will, I hope, in some degree meet their wishes. The Settlement was formed in a tract of country called by the Dutch farmers, from the character of its pasturage, the Zuur Veldt, or " sour grass " country; but Colonel (afterwards General) ...« less