1823.] Letters of a late Adventurer to the Cape of Good Hope. 129 



from the great varieties of the soil ; 

 and, were tlie ground favourable, the 

 expense would be very great. Pro- 

 perty of this kind seldom changed 

 hands, and therefore could not be 

 bought, even if my capital was suffi- 

 cient, — which it was not. As for a 

 partnership in such a concern, there 

 was as little likelihood of tliat : there 

 was no circulation, no continual 

 change of property, as in more popu- 

 lous and polislied countries ; and the 

 people were so connected by inter- 

 marriages, that there were numbers of 

 relations always at hand, to prevent 

 the necessity of engaging with a 

 stranger. 



Many of the wine-boors (or farmers ) 

 were not enlightened men, and neither 

 estimated fully the value of improve- 

 ments, nor would, perhaps, go to any 

 additional expense to attain them ; 

 my services were therefore not likely 

 to be sought by the ofler of a salary. 

 These particulars were communicated 

 in so friendly a manner, and witii so 

 many explanations of the local man- 

 ners and peculiarities, that I could not 

 but feel obliged, though disappointed. 

 He invited me to dine ; directed me 

 to a boarding-house, where strangers 

 are accommodated for three rix-dol- 

 lars per diom ; offered the use of his 

 horse to ride about, and view the vi- 

 cinity; saying, at the same time, he 

 would make every enquiry with re- 

 spect to the feasibility of my plans, 

 from others who knew more of the 

 subject; and had no doubt that he 

 could give me letters to several of the 

 wine-farmers, whom I might visit, and 

 sound as to their inclinalion for being 

 assisted by my advice and experience. 



At jiresent, therefore, 1 am doing 

 nothing, except making myself ac- 

 quainted with tlie peiiplc, language, 

 and country; for, though English is 

 general in this town, it is not so at a 

 distance, whither I mean to bend my 

 stejis very soon. In these points I 

 have not been idle : either mercantile 

 or agricnltural pursuits would suit me, 

 were there a favourable opening. 

 There arc several respectable English 

 firms here; indeed I may say all arc 

 English ; but, among the majority, no 

 great opulence. To the partners of 

 two of these 1 have been introduced 

 by a Mr. Y — , a I'ellow-passenger, who 

 holds a situation under goveriiiuent, 

 or, at least, is to do so. Living is ex- 

 pensive here : as in every other phtce, 

 it is necessary to make some show ; 

 S» but 



fatigued to seek for a better habitation. 

 The neighbourhood, however, is not 

 wholly deserted ; there being two or 

 three respectable farraerssome miles off. 

 The wind at length being favour- 

 able, we made good our entrance into 

 Table-bay, which presents a great 

 contrast to that which we had so un- 

 expectedly visited. On the left, after 

 passing Robin island, appear the Blew- 

 berg, or blue mountains, from their 

 summits being tipped with that colour, 

 and skirting in some spots a not un- 

 fruitful country. On the right is a 

 level plain, called Green-point; in the 

 rear of it the Lion's head and rump, 

 the extremities of a mountain so called 

 from their resemblance; and beyond 

 these, again, the Table-mountain, re- 

 markable fur its steep front towards 

 the bay, and flat summit, whence the 

 name is derived. Between the base 

 of this and the w ater lies Cape-town, 

 extending to the beach, very pleasant- 

 ly situated, well-built; the streets 

 wide, clean, airy, and running at right 

 angles; altogether uncommonly neat, 

 —I may say handsome, — and infinitely 

 superior to any thing that might be 

 expected. I do not, indeed, recollect 

 any place in England, for the size, 

 equal to it in simple, yet substantial, 

 comfort, cleanliness, and good ap- 

 pearance ; always remembering, that 

 elegance is not aimed at. 



On presenting my letters to Mr. R — , 

 he received me kindly ; but, after some 

 conversation and enquiries, I found 

 there were many obstacles in the way 

 of accomplishing my purpose. The 

 improvement of their wines was, he 

 remarked, a very essential object, and 

 one which would impart more benefit 

 to the colony than any thing he knew; 

 but the mode of setting about it very 

 doubtfnl, even were the practicability 

 more manifest than it had yet appear- 

 ed. Government could not of course, 

 in such a matter, which was one purely 

 of private trade, interfere otherwise 

 than by recommendation, which had 

 been often tried with no great elleet, 

 though it was unquestionable, that, 

 within the last fifteen years, tlie quality 

 was much improved by slow and gra- 

 dual means. No sutlden innovation 

 would do. The Africanders, as the 

 natives are c;\lleil, possess all the ob- 

 stinacy, w itli tlie same tenacity lor old 

 usages, which distinguish a simple 

 people, and pnrti(idarly tiiiir ancestors 

 from Holland. A vineyard could not 

 be created in every part of the colony, 



Mo.vrtiLY Mao. No. .il'J. 



