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THE SEA. 



A recent writer, Mr. Boyle,* speaks cautiously of Cape Town and its people. There 

 are respectable, but not very noticeable, public buildings. " Some old Dutch houses there 

 are, distinguishable chiefly by a superlative flatness and an extra allowance of windows. 

 The population is about 30,000 souls, white, black, and mixed. I should incline to 

 think more than half fall into the third category. They seem to be hospitable and good- 

 natured in all classes. . . . There is complaint of slowness, indecision, and general 

 ' want of go ' about the place. Dutch blood is said to be still too apparent in business, 



SIEH.RA LEONE. 



in local government, and in society. I suppose there is sound basis for these accusations, 

 since trade is migrating so rapidly towards the rival mart of Port Elizabeth. . . . But 

 ten years ago the entire export of wool passed through Cape Town. Last year, as I find 

 in the official returns, 28,000,000 Ibs. were shipped at the eastern port out of the whole 

 37,000,000 Ibs. produced in the colony. The gas-lamps, put up by a sort of coup d'etat 

 in the municipality, were not lighted until last year, owing to the opposition of the Dutch 

 town councillors. They urged that decent people didn't want to be out at night, and the 

 ill-disposed didn't deserve illumination. Such facts seem to show that the city is not 

 quite up to the mark in all respects." 



* "To the Cape for Diamonds." By Frederick Boyle. 



