1836.] Hints regarding the Cape of Good Hope. 138 



from Cape Town ; supplies abundant and good, and the coun- 

 try tolerably pretty. Sales by auction are held three or four 

 times a week in the streets of Cape Town, at which are sold 

 all sorts of domestic stores, but (it is said) an Indian 

 must avoid bidding in propria persona, or the article 

 is immediately run up. If you go into the country 

 you will have to find the means of conveying your 

 stock of supplies from Town ; the best way is to treat 

 with some of the labourers in the neighbourhood, who 

 own carts and who occasionally take into the Town for sale, 

 a load of reeds or rushes, &c. If in the country, make early 

 enquiry, and lay in your winter stock of firewood, oats and 

 hay ; take care the wood is dry, and look well after the cook 

 who will otherwise ruin you in expenditure in fuel. Oats 

 and hay should be purchased after Christmas when a 

 part of its fresh moisture has gone off ; but do not wait be- 

 yond January or the price will rise, (coals you must procure 

 from Town) and in taking a groom stipulate that he is to 

 draw water and chop wood for the house. Do not trust to 

 a house being " furnished," as that usually consists of an old 

 table and a few rickety chairs. Some furniture (particularly 

 beds and bedsteads) is very dear, other kinds reasonable. 

 A new table of cedar wood in three pieces, 9 feet long by 5 feet 

 broad, costs from 65 to 75 dollars ; a dozen chairs from 90 to 

 100, and a deduction is made for a good order and ready 

 money. Carpeting from 2 to 4 shillings a yard, the shops are 

 well provided with all sorts of Europe articles, but labor is 

 excessively dear. Military men from India have adopted the 

 fashion, I know not why, of throwing off every part of their 

 military dress at the Cape, thereby incurring a heavy expense 

 in fitting out at the tailor's. Horses are very good at the Cape, 

 but you should take time to select. A good buggy is a plea- 

 sant conveyance out of Town, but scarcely sufficient for the 

 winter. The coachmen drive well, but their wages arc very 

 high (30 to 40 dollars a month and food) ; such a man ought 

 to take care of your carriage and horses and be otherwise 

 useful, as chopping firewood, going to market and errands. 

 If you have more horses than three, you will require a boy as an 



