CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



Oiape of government, which seems to have thrown every im- 

 Jaed pediment in tlu- way of its becoming a flourishing 

 Hop* settlement ; ami, consequently, a statement of its 

 nt tr.ide, cannot be considered as any estimate 

 of its real importance. Its principal articles of ex- 

 portation consist of grain, pulse, wine, brandy, hides, 

 skins, dried fruits, aloes, and ivory. The quantity 

 exported, however, is very inconsiderable ; and, du- 

 ring the last four years in which the settlement was 

 in possession of the British, from 1799 to 1802 in- 

 clusive, tke total value of colonial exports amounted 

 only to 300,925 rix dollars, or L. 60,185 currency ; 

 and its re-exportation of foreign commodities to 

 about L. 170,000. Of 131,S6l muids of wheat, 

 which passed the barrier during that period, and paid 

 duty, 30,000 muids were annually required for the 

 consumption of the inhabitants of Cape Town and 

 the army and navy so that the average annual sur- 

 plus which could be spared for ships calling for re- 

 freshments, was less than 4-000 muids. The wine 

 and brandy which passed the barrier in four years, 

 amounted to 21,649^ leggers of the former, and 

 1665^ of the Utter. Of these, the average quanti- 

 ty annually exported was about 600 leggers of wine, 

 besides 23 of Constantia, and 60 leggers of brandy, 

 estimated at 50,000 rix-dollars. The annual expor- 

 tation of aloes was 85,482 Ib. valued at 64-16 rix- 

 dollara ; that of hides and skins amounted to between 

 5000 and 6000 rix-dollars ; of dried fruits, in 1802, 

 to 2542 rix-dollars ; and of ivory to 1585 rix-dollars. 



401 



Besides these articles of colonial growth and pro- 

 duce, which this settlement, it properly managed, 

 could furnish to almost any extent, it is capable of 

 supplying beveral other* equally valuable, and in ( um 

 equal abundance, particularly tobacco, wool, salt 

 provisions, whale oil and bone, and soap. 



The limited exportation of this colony, however, 

 does not at all regulate the quantity of its imports. 

 In most countries, it is according as the one or the 

 other of these preponderates, that we estimate their 

 poverty or wealth : But in the Cape settlement, 

 though its exports scarcely amounts to one-fifth of 

 its imports, a considerable balance is drawn in favour 

 of the colony, which, however, is occasioned entirely 

 by the consumption of the garrison and navy. The 

 principal articles of importation from Britain, con- 

 sisted in woollen cloths, Manchester goods, hosiery, 

 haberdashery, millinery, boots, shoes, hats, cutlery, 

 iron tools, stationary, bar and hoop iron, smiths' 

 coals, household furniture, paints, oils, earthen- ware, 

 naval stores, tongues, hams, cheese, and pickles ; 

 from India and China were brought piece goods, 

 tea, coffee, sugar, pepper, spices, and rice ; from 

 America, deal planks, staves, balk, salt fish, pitch, 

 turpentine, &c. ; and from Denmark, Sweden, and 

 Hamburgh, assorted cargoes of iron, plank, French 

 wines, beer, gin, Seltzer water, coffee, preserves, 

 pickles, &c. An abstract account of the whole im- 

 portation is contained in the following Table ; 



This immense preponderance of imports, Mr Bar- 

 low disposes of in a very satisfactory manner. He 

 supposes that the army, independent of the clothing 

 and stores, &c. sent from home, and money remit- 

 ted by the officers, could not expend less, in Euro- 

 pean and Indian goods, and colonial produce, than 

 L. 180,000 per annum, which in four years 

 M - L. 720,000 



The navy expenditure might, per- 



haps, amount to half that sum, 360,000 

 The re-exportation of India prize 

 goods, and of European goods 

 to the West India islands, the 

 coast of Brazil, and Mozam- 

 bique, in four years, about 170,000 



Brought forward - L.I ,250,000 

 Surplus colonial produce exported, 



as above .... 60,185 



Value of imports, as above 



L. 1,310,185 

 1,195,507 3 6 



Balance in favour of the colony, 1 T . 

 and merchants residing there, J *"W 

 According to the boots of the custom-house, and 



the returns of the captain of the port, the vessel* 



wkich sailed from the Cape amounted, 

 In 1799 to 103 ; 



1800 109 | 



1801 ISO; 



1802 131) 



Carry forward 

 VOL. V. PART n. 



L.I, 250,000 



Total, 

 Si 



473 ships. 



