436 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE CHAP, XIX 
guavas, and jambus; 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 legs 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 
