340 JOURNAL OF A ~ 
Bonatz and Lis son, and myself. We set out at six o'clock, and 
t(;ok the road by Newlands. The weather was delightful. The 
oaks and other foreign trees were fast getting into leaf, and through- 
out all nature, spring showed itself swiftly approaching. 
Our Conductor ordered the carriages to proceed by a road, 
which gave us a view of several romantic situations. We passed 
through the Wynberg-camp, a place 1 was glad to see, as having 
been the residence of our late missionary, P. Kohrhammer, when, in 
1805, he was appointed ChapLiin to the Hottentot regiment by 
Governor Jansen. The camp lies in an elevated situation, and is 
considered the most healthy spot in the neighbourhood of Capetown. 
The soldiers are quartered in barracks. An extensive prospect 
opens from hence across the Cape Dov/ns, towards the mountains 
of Stellenbosch and Simon's Bay. 
About half-past nine Ave arrived at the house of Mr. Colin, one 
of the proprietors of Constantia and son-in-law to Mr. Cloete, by 
whose family we were kindly and hospitably received. After a 
short introductory conversation, we walked out to see the gardens. 
They lie in a hollow, below the house, and are laid out in the Dutch 
style, with a covered walk. The vineyards are situated on an emi- 
nence, gently sloping towards the cast. Many of the vines are old, 
and will be removed next year, to make room for others. They are 
without spaliers or poles, standing singly, like currant-bushes in a 
garden. The rich, sweet, Constantia wine grows only within a cer- 
tain boundary. Mr. Colin, junior, pointed out a hedge, behind 
which, all attempts to raise the same grape have failed. 
We now walked across part of a farm, belonging to Mr. 
vSebustian Van Khenen, who is preparing to make vineyards, and 
hopes, in a few years, successfully to vie with Messrs. Cloete and 
Colin, as he supposes tiie soil to be of the same quality. On the 
road we met a Hottentot boy, who had just killed a black ser- 
pent, about five feet long, and an inch and a half in diameter. 
After a pleasant walk, we reached Mrs. Van Helstmge's house. 
The old lady received us very politely, and insisted upon our tasting 
