CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 4(35 



These distortions occur not only in the sea but in the land view. I 

 noticed them during our visit to the observatory, and now call atten- 

 tion to them again, because the same effect seems to be produced 

 on sea or on land by contrary causes. When at sea, refractions have 

 been observed by us, whenever the thermometer at the masthead 

 showed a higher degree of temperature than that at the surface of 

 the water ; but at the Cape the current of air in contact with the 

 heated and sandy soil must be of a higher temperature than that 

 immediately above it, and thus cause the distortion of distant objects; 

 or the fact may be accounted for on the supposition of two parallel 

 currents of different temperatures, moving in opposite directions, and 

 beyond any immediate influence of the earth. I know of no place 

 so favourable to the observation of this description of atmospheric 

 phenomena as the Cape and its vicinity. 



The population of the Cape colony, by the returns in 1841, was 

 one hundred and fifty-three thousand, on an area of one hundred 

 and nine thousand eight hundred and sixty-four square miles. The 

 deaths amount annually to about one in forty. The coloured popula- 

 tion exceeds the white by about ten thousand. A table containing 

 the last statistical returns will be found in Appendix XV. Landed 

 estates in the colony are generally held by those cultivating them, 

 under a lease, and not in fee. The early settlers had not sufficient 

 funds to enable them to purchase as large farms as were necessary, 

 and the present system was in consequence resorted to. The leases, 

 however, were made perpetual, and the farms held under this tenure 

 are known in the colony as " Loan Farms;" they contain about three 

 square miles, and there are many of this description still existing : 

 these are considered as desirable tenures, being good as long as the 

 rent is regularly paid, which is generally at the low rate of ten 

 •dollars for the tract. The lands, however, about the Cape, and in 

 the Cape district, were obtained by grants, and are now known as 

 " Gratuity Farms." 



There are likewise freehold estates, which consist of a small farm, 

 not much exceeding one hundred acres. These, I was told, were in 

 the immediate vicinity of Cape Town. They were usually obtained 

 by purchase of the first settlers. 



The system of quit-rents is in perpetuity, and the rent is made to 

 depend upon the quality and circumstances of the crop. These are 

 the largest kind of estates, and seldom include less than five to eight 

 thousand acres. 



The sale or transfer of land was also novel to us. No land can be 



VOL. V. 117 



