South Australia; its progress and its prosperity ... With a map

Front matter

SOUTH AUSTEALIA: ITS PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY. \ \ A MA P OF sottm mmmirMA to accompany "SOUTH AUSTRALIA its PROGRESS and PROSPECTS" BY A.FORSTEK . Scale ol' l':.i£lishStal.Mil<-K O. so o „i> i..i, otti/ifbrtca Gmogruph Sampson Low. Son and Margton , Lu.Jjiak* Ihii .London. SOUTH AUSTRALIA ITS PEOGEESS AND PEOSPEEITY BY ANTHONY FORSTEB, LATE "MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT ADELAIDE. WITH A MAP " What aland is this to which you have sent me! The loveliness and glory of its plains and woods, its glens and hills ! Bat of these you will hear from others. I cannot, however, leave it out of my estimate of God's goodness to me, that He has placed me in so fair and sweet a portion of his earth." — Hev. T. Q. Stow to the Colonial Missionary Society. LONDON : SAMPSON LOW, SON, AND MARSTON, MILTON HOUSE, LUDGATE HILL. 1806. HARR1LD P-^TFFfR LONDON

Preface

. — ■* — The present work has been written simply from a desire to supply the fullest and most recent information respect ing a colony which is likely soon to become one of the most important under the British Crown. Little more has been attempted than a mere record of facts and statistics, and of these it has only been possible to give, in many cases, the barest outline. Each chapter might have been easily expanded into a volume. The sources fi'om whence assistance has been derived have been acknowledged in the body of the work. Readers intimately acquainted with the more recent events in South Australia will doubtless find the book defective in many particulars. It has been prepared under circumstances which excluded the possibility of unlimited reference to local documents. Such as it is, however, it is respectfully commended to the attention of the public, and especially to that portion who take an interest in the welfare and prosperity of our Colonial Possessions. Gkasmeee, Westmorland. 4Ah June, 1866. b PAGE 1 24 CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Colonization. — The British Government and Colonization— Importance of emigration — The Australian colonies and transportation — Success of colonization by British Government — Colonial Ministers — Policy of the Home Government — Lord Grey's work on Lord Russell's administration — Colonization of South Australia — Correct views of early founders — Meeting at Exeter Hall — Colonel Torrens' speech — Mr. Sidney and the Wakefield system — Mr. Sinnett and the Wakefield system— Supply of labour to colonies — Tendency of the views of Professor Goldwin Smith — Relations between the colony and the mother country — The Federation of the Australian colonies — Shall a British prince rule in Australia? ........

Chapter II

South Australia.— The great south land — History of discovery — Establishment of New South Wales— Captains Flinders and Sutherland — Kangaroo Island— Erroneous notions respecting the country — Settled and abandoned by South Australian Company — Loss of Mr. Pennington — Extent of New Holland— The South Australian territory — No-Man's Land — Northern Australia — Voyage from England to Adelaide— Approach to Port Adelaide — Description of country— Valley of the Murray— The south-eastern district— South Austrajian ports -Navigable rivers — Mountain ranges — Rainfall— Atmospheric temperature— Mr. Bootbby's statistics — Climate healthy— Captain Sturt's discoveries CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter III. Page

Foundation and Early Difficulties of the Colony.— First committee for founding colony— Failure of negotiations— Formation of South Australian Association— Act obtained— Its provisions— First South Australian Commissioners —Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield— Commissioners' dfficulties — Mr. George Fife Angas — The South Australian Company— First land regulations— Money required for starting the colony— Interposition of South Australian Company — Preliminary Sections— Land regulations modified— Special surveys — Land orders— Arrival of Sir John Hindmarsh— Resident Commissioner—First Surveyor-General— Loss of Sir John Jeffcott and Captain Blenkinsopp— Selection of capital— High price of labour— Sale of town lands— Early dissensions— Colonel Gawler and his administration — Financial embarrassments — Colonel Gawler's recall — Romance of South Australia 41

Chapter IV

Prosperity and Progress. — Captain Grey's administration — Economy insisted on — Restoration of public confidence — Death of Colonel Light — Colonel Robe's administration — Endowment of religious bodies — Imposition of royalty on mines — Sir Henry Young's administration — Establishment of district councils — The gold discoveries — Effect upon South Australia — Off to the diggings — Abstraction of specie— The gold escort — The Bullion Act — South Australian tokens — Return of prosperity — Testimonial to Mr. Tinline— Opening of the River Murray — Port Elliot— Sir Henry Young opposed by the Legislature — Supported by the Home Government — The Goolwa tramway — First river steamer— The Governor's trip up the Murray — The Murray River Navigation Company — Captain Cadell — Grand banquet in council chamber — Mr. Randall and the " Mary Ann" — Navigation of the Darling- Victor Harbour— The Murray trade— The Strathalbyn and Goolwa tramway— Sir Richard MacDonnell's administration — Constitutional government — The Northern railway — The Governor's despatches— Sir Dominick Daly's administration— Population of the colony— Statistics — The city of Adelaide — Impi-ovements— The River Torrens— The park lands— Suburban villages— Glenelg— Port Adelaide— The harbour— The North A rm— Condition of the port— Corporate towns— Inland townships— The Port railway- Byron's "Ianthe"— The Kapunda railway— Public revenue and expenditure— The waste lands — Victoria and the land question— The roads — Federal union— Telegraphic communication — Social aspects of the colony — Literature — The press — Individual success — Public works — Criminal statistics — Friendly societies — Post CONTENTS.

IX < PAGE Ofiice department — Defence of the colony— The Agent-General — Impressions regarding the colony . . . . .55

Chapter V

Government and Politics. — An example to the mother country — Early form of government — Changes — Imperial Commission on Constitution Bill — A new Constitution Act — Responsible government — Universal suffrage and vote by ballot — The Electoral Act The Estimates Committee — Sir Richard MacDonnell and his ministry — Proclamation of new constitution — Meeting of the Houses — Privilege question — Opinion of the president — Conference to settle disputes — Compromise — Relations of the two Houses — Dead-lock in Victoria — The civil list — Mr. Baker's ministry — Mr. Torrens's ministry — Mr. Hanson's ministry — Mr. Reynolds's ministry — Mr. Waterhouse's ministry — Mr. Dutton's ministry — Mr. Ayers's ministry — Mr. Blyth's ministry — Mr. Hart's ministry Numerical majorities — Influence of the Council — Operation of the ballot — Registration of electors — Constitution of ministries — Public service pensions — Amendment of Constitution — Effects of self-government — The Parliament and the Supreme Court- Invalidation of the laws — Bill for removing doubts — Local courts — The Court of Appeals ...... 148

Chapter VI

The Real Property Act. — Law reform — Mr. Robert Richard Torrens — Registration of title — Opposition to the new measure — Success — Establishment of Real Property Ofiice — Simplicity and economy of dealings with land — Commission of Inquiry — Favourable report — Extent of business — Mr. Torrens in England — Real Property Act adopted in Ireland — Registration of title in England . .219

Chapter VII

Exploration. — Progress of discovery — Captain Sturt — The Darling — The Murray — Interesting incident — South Australian territory — Captain Barker — Melancholy death — Major Mitchell's expedition — The Gold Region of Victoria — Captain Grey and North-western Australia — Singular paintings — Great hardships— Dr. Leichhardt — Expedition to Port Essington — Second expedition — Third and last expedition — Search for Leichhardt — Belief in existence revived after eighteen years— Renewed search — Mr. Edward John Eyre — Lake Torrens — Expedition to King George's Sound — Great sufferings — Murder of Overseer — Perseverance — Reaches the Sound X CONTENTS. PAGE — Reflections — Captain Sturt again— Moorundee— Laidley's Ponds —Depot Creek— Shut up there— Death of Mr. Poole — Discovery of Cooper's Creek — The Stony Desert— Baffled efforts — Various explorations undertaken by South Australian Government— Mr. Babbage — Mr. Charles Gregory — Major Warburton — The northern lakes— Mr. Goyder — Mr. Stephen Hack — Fate of Coulthard — Mr. Stuart's first expedition to the Northern Interior — Second ditto — Third ditto — Fourth ditto— Fifth and successful ditto — Reaches northern coast — Description of country across the continent — Importance of Stuart's discoveries — Reward to Stuart — Great Victorian expedition — Burke and Wills — Cooper's Creek — Gulf of Carpentaria and back — Melancholy results — The burial-place of Burke and Wills — Research parties — Mr. Alfred Howitt — Removal of remains to Melbourne — Landsborough — Walker — MacKinlay — The Diamond of the Desert. . ... . . 236 CHAPTER VIH.

Trade and Finance. — Effect of gold discoveries upon commerce — Position of South Australia — Staple exports — Murray trade — ■ Shipping— Port Adelaide a free port — Port regulations — Bonded stores — Chamber of Commerce — Mercantile charges — South Australian tariff — Banking arrangements — Trade relations between the Colonies ........ 309

Chapter IX

Agriculture and Horticulture. — Early prices— First attempts at cultivation — Success — Exports of wheat and flour — Want of labour — Ridley's reaping machine — Land statistics — Extent of land under crop — The hills and plains — Farming pursuits — Average produce — Management of the land— Quality of South Australian wheat- Colonial stock — Prices of farm produce— Prospects of farming — Rents— Horticulture— Cultivation of the vine— Wine manufacture — Horticultural shows 328

Chapter X

The Pastoral Interest.— Squatters the pioneers of civilization— The pastoral runs— Waste lands regulations— The Government and the squatters— Extent of land under pastoral occupation— Number of stock in the colony— Breed of sheep— Cost of sheep stations— The scab Act— Sheep on agricultural farms— Average clip of wool —Prices of stock — The northern stations — Introduction of camels CONTENTS. XI PAGE 348 379 408 419

CHAPTER XL

Mining. — Extent of mineral wealth — The mines — Kapunda — Burra Burra — Wallaroo — Moonta— Yorke's Peninsula— The northern mines — Mineral regulations— Bismuth— Gold— Echunga — Search by Mr. Hargreaves— The gold theory— Iron— Coal— Petroleum- Mining prospects .......

Chapter XII

Religion and Education. — Religious energy— Colonial chaplaincy — The Church of England — Endowment of Bishopric — Ecclesiastical law — Incorporation of the church— Opposition— The Roman Catholics — The Wesleyans — The Congregationalists— Episode in church history — The Presbyterians— The Baptists— The Bible Christians The Methodist New Connexion — The Primitive Methodists— The Christian Brethren — The Disciples of Christ — The Society of Friends — The German Evangelical Lutheran Congregations — The New Church — The Moravians — The Unitarians — The Hebrew Congregation — Characteristics of the religious communities — Ecclesiastical precedence — The Bible Society and the Chief Justice — Educational Institutions : St. Peter's Collegiate School — The Adelaide Educational Institution — Other leading schools — The Government system of education — Government schools — Objections of Roman Catholics — The Education Act — Committee of Inquiry — Educational Statistics — Central Board of Education — South Australian Institute .......

Chapter XIII

Immigration. — Australia as a field of enterprise — Advantage of Emigration to the working man — Government expenditure in Immigration — Description of immigrants — Statistics — Immigration Regulations—The government and the labour market — Frauds on Emigration Agents — Elderly young women — Certain Detection .........

Chapter XIV

The Aborigines. — Low type — Civilizing influence — Protectorate — Impossibility of dealing successfully with the natives— Native schools — Missionaries — Native attainments — Opposition of the press — Evangelizing institutions — Poonindie — Point M'Leay — Inquiry into condition of aborigines — Deductions of committee — The Bishop of Adelaide and the natives — Native evidence — Affrays in the north — Gradual extinction of the race . CONTENTS. XII

Chapter XV. Page

Geological Features. — Authorities on the geology of the colony — The Central Chain — The Adelaide Plains and Eastern Ranges — Echunga — Mitcham and Government Farm — Clarendon and Willunga — Rapid Bay and Cape Jervis — Houghton and Mount Crawford — Mount Remarkable and the north — The south-eastern district — Petrified skeleton — Mr. Menge .... 433

Chapter XVI

Natural History.— Authorities — Native animals — Australian birds — Trees— Mr. Waterhouse's observations — First section — Second section — Third section — Mr. Waterhouse promises further details ......... 443 CHAPTER XVn. The Northern Territory. — Stuart's discoveries — Proposed new colony — Sale of land orders — Government of Northern Territory — Escape Cliffs — Complaints against Government Resident — Mr. Finniss's recall — His defence — Description of country — Meteorology .454 CHAPTER XVTŒ. Concluding Remarks. — Transportation to Western Australia — English notions of Australian society— Advertisement in the "Times" — South Australia as £ field of enterprise— Persons who should not emigrate . . . . . . _ _ 439

Appendix

. Manufactories, trades, etc. — Electoral statistics — Education — The Currency— Meteorological— Population —Revenue— Public works- Immigration— Bread and meat— Prices of labour— Prices of provisions — Share list ..... . SOUTH AUSTRALIA: ITS PROGRESS AND PBOSPERITY. —>.<

Chapter I. Colonization

Although the British Government have been for many years past largely engaged in the work of colonization, it can scarcely be affirmed that their colonizing tendencies have been of a very extravagant or excessive order. Somehow or other, they have found themselves with colonies on their hands ; or they have been constrained, by the obligations of a common nationality, to afford protection and assistance to small offshoots of their people who have migrated to distant parts of the world, and afterwards grown into colonies ; but colonization has not been generally cultivated by British statesmen as a great system of social amelioration and human progress. And yet, to the colonial empire of England, the mother country is largely indebted for her commercial prosperity and internal peace. The outflow of population to new and remunerative fields of labour has not only kept down redundancy and preserved a healthy vitality in the various branches of trade, but it has conduced to the prosperity and means of usefulness of tens of thousands of enterprising emigrants, and contributed SOOTH AUSTRALIA. immensely to the increase of the imports and exports of the United Kingdom.

The Australian Colonies, the most prosperous of all the dependencies of the British Crown, and destined to a still greater future, were the result of accident rather than design. New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land were originally the mere receptacles of the felonry of England, and it was not until after a great fight with the home authorities, that the vast natural advantages of those countries were admitted as a reason why they should be occupied exclusively by free communities. And even after transportation to the eastern colonies had been abolished, a colony upon the western border of the con tinent was selected as the receptacle of home criminals, and is still being used as such. In the chapter on the relations between the colonies and the mother country, I have referred more particularly to the subject of transportation to Western Australia.

I mention it now simply to show, that a strong and enlightened view of the great national advantages of colonization has not always operated with the British Government in the founding of colonies. And I might further strengthen this position, by pointing out the disinclination frequently manifested to assume the sovereignty of large and fertile islands, which afford every natural facility for the settlement of great masses of people, and particularly to the resistance offered to the colonization of so important a country as New Zealand. Whilst, however, it is clear that British statesmen have not been forward to inaugurate the work of colonization, it must be admitted that the colonies under their care have been, on the whole, well and efficiently governed. The enlightened policy of many of the members of the Government holding the seals of the Colonial office, has tended much to foster and develop the energies COLONIZATION. 3 and resources of infant communities.

And, although colonial ministers and colonists are generally supposed to be in a state of antagonism with each other, there is a very strong feeling of respect in the colonies for some of the former, whose administration of colonial affairs is regarded as having been wise and beneficial. Perhaps amongst colonial ministers none was more highly esteemed than the late Duke of Newcastle. In South Australia we occasionally thought we had a right to complain of his grace's views on some matters referred to his decision, but no differences of opinion that arose, had the slightest tendency to impair the confidence universally felt in his high integrity of purpose, and eminent fitness for the responsible position which he occupied. It has been felt with satisfaction in that colony, that in all questions requiring Imperial direction, the course taken by the Home Government has been one favourable to advancement, and to the reconcilement of conflicting interests.

A large and liberal view has been entertainedrof the circumstances and necessities of a community settled down at a great distance from the chief seat of authority, which has sometimes contrasted strangely with the course of official obstructiveness on the spot. Indeed, it has been supposed by the colonists for some time past, that their rulers at home were desirous of leaving as much of the management of their affairs in their own hands as was consistent with their connection with the parent state. And this, in fact, seems to have been the feeling of the Government so long back as the period of Lord Russell's administration, when Lord Grey was Secretary of State for the Colonies. The latter, in his work on the colonial policy of Lord Russell's premiership, says : — " If the reasons which I have just stated for maintaining the connection between this country and the British colonies are admitted to be sotind, it will follow as a necessary inference that two very plain rules as to the terms on which that connection should be continued may be laid down.

In the first place, I think it will clearly follow that this country has no interest whatever in exercising any greater influence in the internal affairs of the colonies than is indispensable either for the purpose of prevent ing any one colony from adopting measures injurious to another, or to the empire at large, or else for the promotion of the internal good government of the colonies, by assisting the inhabitants to govern them selves when sufficiently civilized to do so." And, secondly, his lordship says : — " I think it will follow that when this country no longer attempts either to levy a commercial tribute from the colonies by a system of restriction, nor to interfere needlessly in their affairs, it has a right to expect that they should take upon them selves a larger proportion than heretofore of the expenses incurred for their advantage." * Since this was written, the new constitutions granted to the Australian Colonies have come into operation, and the most complete power of self-government has been conceded to them.

The immense territories of New Holland have been transferred to them in fee, the only control retained by Her Majesty being in the appointment of governors, and the right of vetoing the laws, a prerogative exercised Avith the most sparing discrimination. The Transatlantic experience of former Governments may have created a traditional horror of colonies, when they were sufficiently advanced to assert self-rights, and that may have led to the very liberal course of action adopted towards them. It is probable, however, that it has arisen simply from the wisdom and the patriotism of the gentlemen directing^ the affairs of the Colonial Office, and the ready assistance afforded them by their colleagues, and more * Pp. 17, 18. COLONIZATION. immediate adherents. It is certain that the views of Lord Grey on the management of the colonies, are of a very enlightened and progressive character, although we have special complaints to make against him with regard to South Australia.

No one can peruse the work to which reference has already been made, without coming to the conclusion, that the colonial policy of the country has been with his lordship a matter of deep and earnest thought. His review of that policy, throughout the "whole of the colonial empire, shows how completely he had before him, whilst holding the seals of office, the minutest details of Colonial Governments. Latterly he has manifested a little querulousness, in dealing with the transportation question, inconsistent with his advanced opinions as to the right of the colonists to self-government. But the subject was one which had been long officially prejudged by him, and it was only to be expected that he would afterwards be prepared to defend the course he had taken with some tenacity. The true theory and objects of colonization appear to have been thoroughly understood and appreciated by the gentlemen first engaged in the settlement of South Australia, as is evident from their writings, speeches, and published documents.

Mr. Poulett Scrope, in his " Princi ples of Political Economy," says: " The time cannot be far distant when the noble scheme of a systematic emigration from all the over -peopled parts of the earth to the under peopled, preserving health to the mother countries by moderate depletion, and invigorating infant colonies by the infusion of full-grown labour, will be recognized as the true political wisdom of all advanced states, and generally adopted by them ; when an increase of population, instead of being deplored and discouraged by short sighted statesmen and philosophers, will be hailed with delight as the means of adding to the sum of human happiness, and extending the empire of civilization over the globe." Few who read this will not feel that the sentiments of Mr. Scrope are as noble as the object they were intended to promote.

And they were the echo of the sentiments of many of his coadjutors, who were as earnestly desirous as himself of giving them effect, in the new scheme of colonization they were .then propounding. At a large and influential meeting of the friends of the incipient colony, held at Exeter Hall in June, 1834, the chairman, Mr. W. Wolryche Whitmore, announced the principles of the undertaking they were met to initiate. He pointed out, first, the importance of colonization as a means of relieving the mother country of the burden of a superabundant population, and of benefiting in an extraordinary degree the emigrants themselves. He then exposed the defects of the prevailing system of emigration ; he showed that it did not provide for the admixture of all classes of the community ; that many persons went out to the colonies with large sums of money, but without those appliances by which their capital might be made profitable to themselves and useful to others ; that the lower class of emigrants had their labour only for their capital, and were helpless from want of money to put their industry in motion ; that the richer classes had money, but wanted skill and labour ; and that the plan proposed for South Australia was to have a judicious admixture of both classes, that capital might be usefully employed, and that industry might meet with its due reward.

The mode proposed for bringing the two classes together upon their common field of enterprise was, that those who had money should emigrate by means of their own resources, and those who had none should be sent out with money obtained by the sale of the waste lands of the Crown. The principle of exchanging land for labour, was first propounded by Mr. Edward Gibbon COLONIZATION. Wakefield, and was at the root of the system of coloniza tion adopted for South Australia. The speech of Colonel Torrens, at the Exeter Hall meeting, is so forcible an exposition of this principle, that I shall make no apology for reproducing it here. The gallant colonel said : — The resolution I hold in my hand is this : " That, in establishing colonies, great care ought to be taken to combine labour and capital with land in such proportions as are best calculated to ensure the prosperity of all classes of society, and that, in establishing modern colonies, this important consideration has been too generally over looked."

The resolution which I have just had the honour of reading to you appears to state something like a truism. It seems almost unnecessary to assert that, in order to promote the greatest prosperity of all classes, land, labour and capital ought to be combined in proper proportions. Vet, obvious as is this principle, it is one which, in the formation of most modern colonies, has been greatly neglected. If you will do me the favour to fly round the world with me, we shall see that, wherever this principle has been adopted, there colonization has flourished ; but, wherever it has been neglected, distress, destitution, and even perishment have taken place. The first English colony established was in the days of Elizabeth ; it was founded in that province of America which, taking her name, was called Virginia.

To that most fertile portion of the world a number of English settlers went out, having with them capital, tools, clothing, provisions — in short, they were provided with everything that was calculated to make them flourish. They did not flourish ; they perished. In two years after, another set went out ; they also perished. Two years more having elapsed, a third embarkation took place of persons who established themselves in Virginia ; but this third body shared the fate of their predecessors — they perished. It was only just before, however, that Spain had established, in the island of Hispaniola, a colony which flourished to a degree that excited the wonder and energy of all Europe. Now, why did the English colonists perish ? and why did the Spanish colony flourish ? Even then the English character was as much superior to the Spanish character as it is at present.

At that time the English destroyed the Spanish armies and fleets wherever they met in conflict. It is well known to you that it was in the reign of Queen Elizabeth that the Spanish Armada was destroyed. Vet the Spanish colony flourished under the comparatively feeble population of Spain, while ours perished, though those who peopled it were men of superior energy and power. Let us endeavour to trace the cause. The English went over to a beautiful country, possessing abundance of capital to work with. What did they when they arrived there ? Why, they spread themselves over the country. They took immense grants of land, and made the proportion between land and labour such as made production nearly impossible. To produce everything with effect, there must be a combination of labour. But here each family sat in a wilderness alone, without communication ; they could not make roads, they could not form a market.

Therefore, from want of a combination of labour and the means of communica tion, this people, with all their energy, with all their capital, speedily failed to reproduce that capital, and eventually all perished. In Hispaniola, what was done ? The King of Spain not only gave them land, but a portion of the natives of the island, and the settlers made slaves of them. Therefore, just in proportion to the labour and capital was the production. Thus, by this abomination of slavery, they did that which, by legitimate and Christian means, I hope we are now about to do. It is curious to observe how the system adopted in Hispaniola worked. The Spaniards overworked to such an extent the Indian population that they began to decay ; and then the pro portion between the land and the labour ceasing to be what was proper, the prosperity of the settlers soon declined.

Prosperity was restored, however, by their going to the other islands and getting slaves from them, which they did to such an extent that the islands in question were almost depopulated, This system lasted till there uprose a Las Casas, the Wilberforce of Spain, who obtained from the King of Spain an edict forbidding its continuance. What was substituted ? Only African slavery. The island continued to flourish with the aid of that horrible slavery ; but, horrible as it was, it enabled Hispaniola to produce, and that state of things still goes on. When did Virginia begin to flourish ? Not till the proportion between capital, labour, and land was adjusted. A Dutch vessel, full of slaves, happened to be wrecked on the shore ; the people of Virginia kept them and employed them as slaves, thus procuring the proportion between labour and the land, and then they began to raise tobacco, cotton, and those other things which brought the extraordinary degree of prospei'ity that they continue to enjoy.

If we look to other countries, we shall find the same principle still in force. The Dutch have been noted for their industry, and power to accumulate wealth. They established two colonies, one at the Cape of Good Hope and one in New York, which was originally a Dutch colony. In New York, the inhabitants were peculiarly dense. The COLONIZATION. warlike nature of the Indians compelled them to combine ; they were afraid to separate. Dreading the incursions of the Indians, they kept together in order that they might be ready to co-operate against the common danger. The people of New York flourished, but the Dutch colony did not flourish. Why ? They adopted the absurd principle of giving away land. The settlers took large grants ; they could not produce without combination ; they could not find employment ; and the Dutch colonies degenerated, the people becoming perfect savages.