CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 449 



houses, with their prim little stoops, porches, and gables to the street, 

 reminding me strongly of those built by the early settlers of New York 

 and Albany. But few of the streets have any sidewalks, and many 

 of them are not paved at all, causing them, in consequence of the arid 

 climate, to be ankle-deep in dust. Nine-tenths of the inhabitants still 

 retain a Dutch look, and many of them are unable to speak any other 

 than their original language, while to a large number of them the 

 epithet "boors," so commonly bestowed, is quite applicable. The 

 town is laid out with regularity, many of the streets crossing each 

 other at right angles, and some are of respectable width. Rows of 

 oak, poplar, and pine trees line the sides of the principal avenues. 

 Many contain shops, which are well supplied with the usual varieties 

 of European goods. Roses and vines are cultivated in front of the 

 houses, and their blossoms and fruit, although within reach of all, are 

 respected. The houses are painted of various colours, without any 

 regard to taste, and are of a clean though antiquated appearance. No 

 two of them are alike, yet their styles are so marked, that the country 

 whence their builders came may be judged with tolerable certainty 

 from each. Badly-painted signs are as numerous as in our own 

 country, and vanes pointing in every direction surmount the gables. 

 The Dutch costume still prevails among the inhabitants, and afforded 

 us much amusement. In the schools the Dutch language is still 

 taught; though in many the English is a branch of education. Con- 

 sidering the number of years that this colony has been under the 

 British dominion, it surprised me to find that a knowledge of the 

 Dutch was much more necessary than that of English, while dealing 

 with the inhabitants. 



There are two hotels in Cape Town, the Royal George and the 

 Victoria, both kept on the English plan. The former we frequented 

 during our short stay, and found it comfortable, although far inferior 

 to what might have been expected from the size of the town. 



The Cape of Good Hope was originally settled by the Dutch in 

 1652; captured by the British in 1795 ; restored again after the peace 

 of Amiens in 1802; again taken possession of in 1806; and finally 

 ceded to Great Britain in 1815. During its occupation as a Dutch 

 colony, it had twenty-eight governors, and since it has been under 

 British rule it has had eighteen. By this it will be perceived that 

 the changes in its administration have been frequent, and what might 

 naturally be expected to follow, the policy and character of its 

 governors have been vacillating. It has been generally ruled very 



VOL. V. 113 



