C James reports that South Africa is a poor market for produce

In 1900, C James, an official of the British colonial administration, went on a voyage to South Africa to evaluate the market for produce. He undertook this voyage during the South African War (Anglo-Boer War). As a produce distributor (Providore), he needed to establish if he could sell any produce in East London, Natal and the Cape areas. The produce would be made up of both the indigenous and exotic plants. The indigenous plants were castor-oil plant, kei apple, hard pears, gourds, water melons, and species of almond, chestnut, and lemon. The imported produce would consist of vine, cotton, barley and oats. However, he found that the market was already saturated. There was therefore no opportunity to obtain reasonable prices. In addition, he had to pay excessive landing rates and heavy customs duties. On 24 May, C James reported to the British authorities that South Africa was a poor market for produce. As a result, the British administration abandoned the plan to sell produce in South Africa. The decision to abandon the plan was also influenced by rumours that the colonials would not be allowed to own land in South Africa after the war. The British feared that those who aspired to take up land and settle on it after the war is over would become targets of the original settlers or the Boers. Nevertheless, the British settlers continued to live in South Africa after the war.