456 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



natural consequence, a depreciation in all the wine estates took place, 

 and the loss of much property ensued. This was made more un- 

 pleasant to the Cape colonists by a proposition to put a duty on Cape 

 wines, that would have the effect of placing them at a higher duty 

 than those of foreign wines. The colonists are still very sensitive 

 upon the subject of wine, and the treatment they have received ; not 

 only have they to complain of bad faith on the part of the government, 

 but the constant efforts of others to decry their wines, some of which 

 are produced of as fine a quality as those in any other part of the 

 world ; but there is some foundation for the disparaging reports that 

 have been circulated, for quantities have certainly been sent abroad 

 that had been very much adulterated. 



The Cape colony, both as to soil and climate, is well adapted to 

 the raising of all descriptions of wines, from the light German and 

 French, to those of Madeira and Sherry. 



In consequence of the reverses the colonists have met with in the 

 wine trade, they have begun to turn their attention to the raising of 

 sheep ; the colony has been found to be well adapted to those pro- 

 ducing fine wool, and the investments that have been made in them 

 bid fair to be profitable. 



Wheat and maize are also cultivated, particularly on the mountains 

 near the Cape, where these grains grow in great perfection, and are 

 raised in sufficient quantities to meet the consumption of the colony, 

 and to be exported in considerable quantity to the Mauritius. The 

 wheat now used is of a hard and flinty kind, and effectually resists 

 the attacks of insects, as well as the rust, which were formerly 

 troublesome. 



The other chief productions are fruit, oil, and provisions. 



One great obstacle is opposed to this colony ever becoming a great 

 producer of wool, and that is the immense distances and the almost 

 total want of communications. So bad are the roads and so great the 

 hindrances that the wonder is, not that there is so little internal trade, 

 but how transportation is effected at all. Were it not for the energy 

 and perseverance of the early colonists, and the hardy breed of cattle 

 that they possess, communication between distant parts of the colony 

 would be nearly impossible. Some opinion may be formed of the 

 state of the roads and the difficulties to surmount, by the fact that 

 fourteen pair of oxen are frequently attached to a small wagon. 



The ox used in Africa seems to me to be of an entirely different 

 breed from the animal we are accustomed to see in our country. Their 

 legs are much longer in proportion to their bodies, lank and bare- 



