CAPE TOWN. 123 



of the town, near the castle, alongside of which ships dis- 

 charge or take in their cargoes. I judged from the num- 

 ber of large vessels along this great pier that the com- 

 merce of the town was rather extensive. Several large 

 men-of-war were anchored in the bay. 



Cape Town presents a beautiful appearance from the 

 bay the mountain forming a fine back ground. It is 

 regularly laid out, and contains several good squares. Its 

 streets, which are straight and wide, cross each other at 

 right angles, many of them being watered by canals, and 

 planted on either side with trees, in the Dutch fashion. 

 The houses, mostly of brick or red granite, are flat-roofed 

 and chiefly white, with green windows. They are spacious 

 and convenient, having an elevated terrace, here called a 

 stock, in front, and small gardens behind, usually with a 

 treillage covered with vines. Upon the shore at the 

 eastern extremity of the town, is the castle, a pentagonal 

 fortress of considerable strength, having outworks which 

 command both the bay and the roads to the country. On 

 the west side of the town, Table Bay is defended by four 

 batteries, placed round and on the hill, called the Lion's 

 Rump. On the east side, the town is protected by forti- 

 fied lines of defence. The principal public buildings are 

 the government house, with extensive gardens, the burgher 

 senate house, barracks, and commercial exchange. Cape 

 Town is the capital of the colony. 



