SOUTHERN AFRICA. 297 
defired, yet the fmeli was fo difgufting that nobody would pur- 
chafe it. Unluckily for them there came in, alfo, juft at that 
time, a cargo of prize foap, which was not only more agreeable 
to the fmell, but was fold at a rate lower than the Company 
could afford to manufa<flure theirs of train-oil. Being thus 
thwarted in all their views, they fold the whole concern to an 
Englifh merchant, who was fuppofed to be turning it to a to- 
lerable good account, when it was fignified to him, by the pre- 
fent Dutch Government, that the exclufive privilege of filhing 
on the coafts of Africa, within the limits of the colony, was 
granted to a company of merchants refiding in Amflerdam ; 
and, therefore, that he could not be allowed to continue the 
concern. 
Dried Fruits. 
Under this head the moft important articles are almonds and 
raifins ; of which a quantity might be raifed fufficient for the 
confumption of all Europe. I have already obferved that many 
thoufand acres of land, now lying wafte, might be planted with 
vineyards, within fight of Table Mountain. In like manner 
might the whole fea-coaft, on both fides of Africa, be planted 
with vines. In no part of the world are better grapes produced 
than at th^ Cape of Good Hope ; and it is unnecelTary to ob- 
ferve that good grapes, under proper management, cannot fail 
to make good raifins ; but with refped to this, as well as moft 
other articles, little care and lefs labour are beftowed in the pre- 
paration. As in the making of wine the whole bunch is 
thrown under the prefs, fo, in the procefs for converting grapes 
VOL. II. into 
