436 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE CHAP, xix 



guavas, and j ambus ; but neither of these in any kind of 

 perfection. Their vineyards produce a great quantity of 

 wines, which they class into many sorts, calling one Madeira, 

 another Frontinac, etc. None of these are comparable to 

 the wines which we commonly drink in Europe, yet they 

 are all light, well cured, and far from unpalatable ; in taste 

 not unlike some of the light French and Portuguese white 

 wines. The famous Constantia, so well known in Europe, 

 is made genuine only at one vineyard about ten miles distant 

 from Cape Town. Near that, however, is another vineyard, 

 which is likewise called Constantia, where a wine not much 

 inferior to it is made, which is always to be had at a 

 lower price. 



The common method of living is to lodge and board with 

 some one of the inhabitants, many of whose houses are 

 always open for the reception of strangers. The prices are 

 5, 4, 3, and 2 shillings a day, for which all necessaries are 

 found you, according as your situation leads you to choose a 

 more or less expensive method of living, in what may truly 

 be called profusion in proportion to the price you give. 

 Besides this there is hardly an expense in the place. Coaches 

 are seldom or never used, but may be hired at the rate of 6 

 rix-dollars or 1 : 4s. a day. Horses are 6s. a day, but the 

 country is not tempting enough to induce any one often to 

 make use of them. Public entertainments there are none, 

 nor were there any private ones owing to the measles, which 

 broke out about the time of our arrival : at other times I 

 was told there were, and that strangers were always welcome 

 to them if of any rank. 



At the farther end of the High Street is the Company's 

 garden, which is nearly two-thirds of an English mile in 

 length. The whole is divided by walks, intersecting each 

 other at right angles, and planted with oaks, which are clipped 

 into wall hedges, except in the centre walk, where they are 

 suffered to grow to their full size. This walk, therefore, at 

 all times of the day furnishes an agreeable shade, no doubt 

 highly beneficial to the sick, as the country has not the 

 least degree of shade, nor has nature made the soil capable 



