1823.] Meteorological Diary kept 

 •own country, at a distance from the 

 metropolis; reserved in general to- 

 ward s(raug;ers, and attentive to their 

 domestic duties. 



In the luorniiig ho took ine over his 

 vineyard, which occupies about six or 

 seven acres. The vines arc trained 

 lew to the ground, the fruit in a great 

 measure resting on it. I asked whe- 

 ther this might not impart that earthy 

 taste so much complained of? He 

 thought not, but it might be so ; how- 

 ever, it was difficult to manage the 

 vines otherwise, as, if raised, they be- 

 came exposed to the violence of the 

 south-east winds, which were common- 

 ly very destructive. It is remarkable 

 that the fruit itself.—fine, large, and 

 agreeable, as any I ever tasted,— has 

 none of this flavour; it exists only in 

 the wine. I found, on further enquiry, 

 that they were not particular in strip- 

 ping the grape from the stalk, or in 

 separating the ripe from the unripe ; 

 a proof at once of negligence and ill- 

 judgment. Many other parts of the 

 process are equally rude ; quantity is 

 more prized than quality, an error 



131 



al the Cape of Good Hope. 

 that greater commercial experience 

 will correct; and much of the labour 

 IS confided to slaves, without the strict 

 supcrinfendance of the master. The 

 casks are also dear, not good, and, aS 

 far as I can learn, ill-prepared for the 

 reception of the wine. The season for 

 making it is February, March, and 

 April ; at which time I am invited to 

 examine and assist in the operation: 

 the grape even now looks well and 

 abundant ; I have enjoyed it much. I 

 find there are imitations of hock, vin- 

 de-grave, bansac, and many others of 

 that description, besides port ; none of 

 them very good. The plain steeii- 

 wme IS the best : I again recommend 

 It strongly to you for general use, as 

 wholesome and genuine, — superior, 

 when procured from a good house, to 

 the meagre hrandy-and-tvater sold in 

 London under the name of sherry. 



I am making myself acquainted 

 with the colony, (having, unluckily, 

 no other employment,) and shall, bv 

 the next vessel, send you the result of 

 my observations. * » « » 



Meteorological Diary, kept at Swellendam, Cape of Good Hope, for Blay 1^22. 



REMARKS. 



Dispersed clouds, breeze. 



Rain in the evening. 



Cloudy, a fresh breeze. 



Idem, and strong wind. 



Clear and calm. 



Cloudy, and strong wind. 



Cloudy, and httle wind. 



Cloudy, and sfrongwind. 



Few clouds, httle wind. 



Dispersed clouds, windy. 



Clear and calm. 



Cloudy, a light breeze. 



Dispersed clouds, calm. 



Idem, and little wind. 

 Clear and calm. 



Idem. 



Idem. 



Dispersed clouds, breeze. 



Idem, a fresh breeze. 



Little rain in the evening. 



Dispersed clouds, calm. 



Clear and calm. 



Idem. 



Idem. 



Rain in afternoon and niwht 



Cloudy, a light breeze. " 



Cloudy and calm. 



Clear and calm. 



Idem. 



Idem. 



Idem. 



