SETTLEMENT OF BELMONT. 
97 
The road, as it here winds along through the 
valley, presented to onr eye one of the richest 
scenes of South African cultivation. The farm 
house and pleasure grounds of Belmont, reflect 
the most unbounded credit to the intelligence, 
persevering industry, and taste of Mr. John 
Carlisle, their possessor; who, as one of the 
first and most enterprising of the frontier-men 
of Albany, located himself here. Notwith- 
standing the most distressing losses, and com- 
tinued encroachments, from the Kaffirs, he has 
yet resolutely maintained his ground ; rebuilt 
his homestead after each war; and held his own 
plough. And whilst thus, by his example, he 
stimulated all near him to active personal exer- 
tion, he also proved himself possessed of that 
true taste, and practical knowledge of husban- 
dry, which enabled him to add to the richness of 
the scene we are now describing, by the pictu- 
resque and valuable grounds of Belmont. 
This is a fair specimen of a frontier settler's 
farm ; and, although possessed, certainly, of 
more taste, in the disposition of the gardens and 
pleasure grounds, than the generality of them; 
we think that it is not so extensive as some. 
Near this, on both sides of the valley, as the 
traveller proceeds, he is pleased with the diver- 
sified landscapes of nature, as well as the signs 
of industry and husbandry which are displayed 
H 
