214 Voyage of the Novara. 



globe, are, in consequence of English civilization and the 

 geognostic nature of the ground, in a better condition than 

 -most bye-roads in the civilized states of Europe? For a 

 country where labour is so deficient and expensive, such enor- 

 mous works could only be executed by means of compulsory 

 labour: in this respect the high-roads and mountain passes of 

 the Cape afford the most evident proofs of how much more 

 beneficially and usefully convicts may be employed in colonial 

 works than in allowing them to rot within prison walls, alike 

 a burden to themselves and to society. 



Only ten years ago the streets of Cape Town looked at least 

 highly dangerous, and the steep rugged old roads, which some- 

 times run parallel with the new ones, evince very clearly the 

 great difference between bygone days and the present, as 

 regards the internal communications of the colony. The 

 uncultivated state of the country formerly, which indeed, in 

 some parts, continues even yet to exist, is the cause of the 

 ancient custom having been retained of placing before every 

 vehicle, however lightly laden, sixteen to twenty powerful oxen, 

 even on perfectly level roads. All longer journeys into the in- 

 terior are undertaken in heavy waggon-like vehicles, exclusively 

 drawn by oxen. As a family is sometimes compelled to take up 

 abode in such waggons for weeks together, they are completely 

 covered and provided with all possible conveniences ; indeed, 

 it is a sort of locomotive house. The wa<x2on, which much re- 

 scmbles the goods-trucks used on European railways, is at least 

 18 feet long, and the entire length of the set-out, including the 



