204 TRAVELS IN 
sery for sheep in the whole colony. They are here much sii» 
perior to those of the other districts both in size and condi- 
tion. The tails of some of them weigh not less than eighteen 
or twenty pounds ; many are from twelve to sixteen pounds ; 
and the usual average is from eight to ten pounds. A farmer 
here has seldom fewer than from three to fc^ur thousand sheep. 
Pie derives no sort of benefit from the wool, which is short 
and harsh like hair. That this is owing to the breed, and not 
to the climate, has been shewn by the introduction of some 
Spanish sheep a few years ago, the wool of which is supposed 
to have improved by their continuance in Africa : specimens 
of it sent to the London market are said to have fetched an 
unusual high price. Were a few of Bakcwell's rams intro- 
duced into the Sneuwberg, and crossed with the Spanish 
sheep already there, there can be little doubt that a breed of 
a very excellent quality would be procured. Nothing can 
possibly be worse than the thin, long-legged, broad-tailed 
sheep of Southern Africa, of which the annexed print is a 
correct portrait. 
The hills of the Sneuwberg are not better calculated as 
pasturage for sheep than the plains are for horned cattle. 
The butter that is made here is supposed to be preferable to 
any other in the colony, and of course is much sought after 
in the Cape, where it is brought in considerable quantity, 
salted and put up in casks. They reckon that on a mode- 
rately good farm fifty cows will produce a hundred pounds of 
butter a-week, besides bringing up the calves, which are al- 
ways suffered to run with their mothers. The draught oxen 
are large, stout, and generally in good condition ; and their 
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