POPULATION OF ALBANY. 113 
will be seeking an outlet for the products of 
their industry. 
In treating of the advantage of Waterloo 
Bay to Graham's Town, I am fully aware that 
the merchants met with many obstructions, when 
it was formerly frequented ; but it should be 
borne in mind that this was in time of war, and 
the want of competition led to most exorbitant 
charges in getting their goods across the Fish 
Eiyer. At the present time all such difficulties 
may be obviated — an enterprising colonist hav- 
ing established a punt to ferry waggons and 
goods over, at a reasonable rate. 
With Waterloo Bay as the landing port, the 
following towns would be within the under- 
mentioned distances ; computed, in time, by the 
transit of waggons : — Graham's Town, two ; Fort 
Beaufort, three ; Somerset, five ; Cradock, six ; 
Colesberg, ten; GraafF-Keinet, eight; Queen's 
Town, seven; and Burgher's Dorp, eleven days. 
Thus much for local description. The area 
of the division of Albany comprises 1792 square 
miles, and contains a population of 19,777 ; of 
which, about 1710 are whites, and 12,067 of 
the coloured races. Without any exception, 
it is the most densely populated district of the 
Colony, having 11J souls per square mile. 
The chief products of Albany are cattle, 
sheep, and grain, together with a very improving, 
i 
