CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, 
439 
depend upon the quality and circumstances of the crop. These are the 
.argest 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 
sold, unless the persons make application at the Cape, to officers 
appointed, called commissioners, whose duty it is to see that all liens 
on the land, such as bonds and mortgages, are all paid up; and the 
liabilities are fully protected ; and the person wishing to sell must have 
permission of the one who may hold any claim on the estate, before he 
can legally, dispose of his property; and the consent of the mortgagee 
must be obtained in writing before the debt can be transferred with the 
property. 
The day previous to our departure, I had the pleasure of again 
meeting Captain Belcher, who was now on his way home in the Sul¬ 
phur. He had just arrived with his ship in Simon’s Bay, where the 
English men-of-war anchor, as Her Majesty’s dockyard is situated 
there: it is considered a safer harbour than Table Bay; but from what 
I heard of its conveniences, it seems ill adapted for a place to refit; and, 
indeed, I was told that this is seldom attempted. Our stay was not 
sufficiently long to enable any of us to visit it, and little inducement 
appeared to be held out to go there by those under whose guidance we 
had placed ourselves. Having transacted all our business, and finished 
our necessary observations, we prepared for departure. Before taking 
leave of the Cape, I must be permitted, in the name of myself and of 
the officers of the Expedition, again to tender our warmest thanks for 
the attention paid us by many gentlemen, who afforded us many facili¬ 
ties in the acquisition of information or the pursuit of pleasure. Among 
those to whom we were chiefly indebted for these kindnesses, were 
our consul, Isaac Chase, Esq., and Messrs. Thompson and Pillars. 
Supplies of all kinds can be obtained at the Cape, and usually at 
reasonable prices ; the bread we purchased, made from native flour, was 
of excellent quality; fruit also, though considered out of season by the 
inhabitants, could be purchased in any quantity, either in the markets 
or from the bumboats alongside of the vessels. The usual facilities for 
watering are rather deficient: there are no floating tanks, and some 
inconvenience results from the use of casks. 
On the 17th, we got under way with a light and baffling wind. The 
air was from the eastward aloft, while a westerly breeze blowing below 
it, often took our lower sails aback; still the upper ones were full. By 
constant attention and frequent swinging of the yards, we effected a 
passage through the northern channel, passing at a short distance from 
