8 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN, 



feet for the stem being an average. The first trimming is clone when the grapes have attained 

 full size, and are ripening — all the shoots of that year having been allowed to remain until this 

 period, to protect the fruit and the earth from the sun. These are now cut hack nearly to the 

 fruit, (which forms in clusters around the head of the stem,) and are strewn around the stalk 

 upon the ground for shade, manure, &c. The second trimming cuts off the branches close to 

 the stem, or leaves only a short spur, and is done between the time of gathering the crop and the 

 next year's shooting forth of the buds. 



In making wine, the grapes are permitted to remain upon the vines until they shrink, or be- 

 come, indeed, nearly dry. They are then gathered, mashed by the foot, and, instead of being 

 immediately pressed, are placed in a vat, and allowed to undergo a slight fermentation, which 

 seems to liberate the liquor and cause it to flow more easily. It is then pressed out, and under- 

 goes thereafter the various processes of the wine manufacture — becoming, finally, a delightful 

 ladies' wine, being very like a cordial. 



The ride to the Constantias is very pleasant, and no person ought to leave the Cape without 

 visiting them. He will find the proprietors polite and hospitable. 



The Cape cattle possess some prominent characteristic marks. They have a hump, though 

 of moderate dimensions, upon the shoulders — in this, somewhat resembling the cattle of south- 

 ern Asia ; and their horns are of immense size — in this, strongly resembling the Abyssinian 

 ox. When properly fattened, they make good beef; and attaining great size, and being well 

 proportioned, they make admirable work-oxen. But the hills, or rather mountains of the 

 country, are of such steep ascent, that many of them are required for a single wagon, varying 

 from eight to twelve pairs. In such conveyances wheat is carried to Cape Town, and merchan- 

 dise into the country. 



Merinoes have been of recent introduction. The native sheep are a coarse-wooled breed, with 

 broad,' fat tails, which yield an oil that is at times exported. 



These sheep make good mutton, but it is more than probable they will shortly be superseded 

 entirely by their modern rivals, the merino. They possess one essential peculiarity of a species 

 of sheep spread over nearly all Asia, viz: the broad tail. 



This fact, taken in connexion with the apparent Abyssinian extraction of the cattle, would 

 seem to indicate that they were both brought to the country originally by people migrating 

 along the eastern shores of Africa from the neighborhood of the Keel sea. 



The peculiar farinaceous_vegetable, alluded to above, was seen in the public botanical gar- 

 den, but at that time was not recognized. It appeared like a large, coarse stump, brown and 

 dead, but presenting the very singular and striking spectacle of numerous long, small, green, 

 flourishing vines, growing out from this apparently dead and inert mass. Nothing better can 

 be said about it than to transcribe from Loudon: "One of the most remarkable (of bulbous 

 roots) grows on the mountains of Graf-Keynet, and is called Hottentot's bread {Tamus ele- 

 phantipes, Herit., Testudinaria elepliantipes, Burch.). Its bulb stands entirely above ground, 

 and grows to an enormous size, frequently three rtet in height and diameter. It is closely 

 studded with angular ligneous protuberances, which give it some resemblance to the shell 

 of a tortoise. The inside is a fleshy substance, which may be compared to a turnip, both in 

 substance and color. From the top of this bulb arise several annual stems, the branches of 

 which have a disposition to twine around any shrub within reach. The taste of this bulb 

 is thought to resemble that of the yam of the East Indies, the plant being closely allied to the 

 genus Dioscorea. (Burchell's Travels)." This vegetable is eaten by the natives. 



