98 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
everywhere around him. Market gardens, small 
farms, and well-built ricks of corn, meet his eyes 
on all sides ; and, through the whole district 
of Lower Albany, this still continues to be 
the character and description of the surround- 
ing lands, for nowhere in the Colony is there 
a better and more practical system of farming 
established than there. The cattle are well- 
bred and cared for ; the land is tilled in a busi- 
ness-like way; the farmers personally super- 
intend their land; and the produce, when 
brought to market, is such as none of the best 
farmers of England would be ashamed to pre- 
sent as an evidence of their knowledge and 
industry. 
Oats and barley appear to be the principal 
grains propagated — the soil not suiting the 
growth of wheat. Potatoes and vegetables of 
all kinds, as well as fruit and flowers, are most 
prolific, and are universally fine. 
Proceeding through these fertile vales for 
about ten miles, we reached a very comfortable 
house, by the road side, known as " Manley's 
Inn." This farm, during the war, was formed 
into a " largaar," or place of rendezvous, for the 
burghers of the surrounding district, and, from 
its central position, it appeared well suited as 
such. After refreshing ourselves and our horses 
here, we remounted, and proceeded to a large 
