PASSAGE TO THE CAPE. FUEL FOR STEAMERS. 



97 



CHAPTER III 



PASSAGE TO THE CAPE. FUEL FOR STEAMERS. TABLE ROCK AND CAPE TOWN. DESCRIPTION OF CAPE TOWN. CLIMATE. 



ANNOYANCE FROM DUST. VIOLENCE OF WINDS AND DIFFICULTY OF HOLDING TO ANCHORAGE. SUPPLIES AT THE CAPE. 



CAFFRE WAR AND ITS EFFECTS. MODE OF TR.4NSP0RTING PRODUCE ON LAND. VINEYARDS OF CONSTANTIA. EFFECTS OF 



EMANCIPATION OP SLAVES ON AGRICULTURAL LABOR. MODE OF CULTIVATING THE VINE. POPULATION OF CAPE COLONY. 



BUSHMEN. THE CAFFRES. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS. FINGOES. MILITARY ORGANIZATION OF CAFFRES. CONDITION 



OF THE EMANCIPATED SLAVES. DEPARTURE FROM TABLE BAY. PASSAGE TO, AND ARRIVAL AT, MAURITIUS. HARBOR OF 



PORT LOUIS. DANGERS OF THE HARBOR.. — SKILL OF PORT OFFICERS IN MOORING VESSELS. 



r' ■ '-"' FTER leaving St. Helena the ship was put on her course for 



' s the Cape of Good Hope. Prudential considerations alone 



induced the Commodore to touch at St. Helena. His 

 opinion was that the best and most expeditious route for 

 a steamer, going from Madeira to the Cape, (provided she 

 can carry a sufficiency of coal,) is to he found by steering 

 from the Cape de Verd islands direct toward Cape Palmas 

 on the coast of Africa, and thence tracing the shore down 

 to Table Bay. 



On leaving Jamestown the ship encountered the trade, 

 deviating very little from the southeast, and blowing alter- 

 nately moderate and fresh. It was observable^ however, 

 that it was always stronger at night than in the day time, and brought with it a short head 

 sea, which greatly retarded the progress of the vessel. It would have been easy to increase 

 the steam power ; but experience had shown that about twenty-six tons of coal per diem 

 enabled the ship to accomplish the greatest distance with the most economical expenditure ; 

 and considering the extreme difficulty of procuring fuel in that region^ its enormous cost, and 

 the labor and delay incident to its shipment, the Commodore deemed it most expedient rather 

 to protract the passage than allow extravagance in the use of an article so essential to the 

 movements of the vessel. A current of one and a quarter knots was found setting in the 

 direction of the wind^ and this, as a retarding cause, was to be added to the force of the trade. 

 As to the possibility of obtaining a supjjly of fuel in this part of the world, it may be 

 remarked that at St. Paul de Loango the English maintain a dej)ot of coal for the accommo- 

 dation of the African steam cruisers, and this would be a convenient point to which to send 

 a coal vessel from the United States. Within a few years a depot of coal has been established 

 13 J 



