TRAVELS IN 
ihem. The great diftance from the market limited the quati- 
tity that was manufaclured, and not the fcantinefs of the ma- 
terials. 
This diftance is a ferions inconvenience to the farmer, and a 
great encouragement to his natural propenfity to idlenefs. If 
he can contrive to get together a waggon load or two of butter 
' or foap, to carry with him to Cape Town once a year, or once 
in two years, in exchange for clothing, brandy, coffee, a little 
tea and fugar, and a few other luxuries, which his own diftrid: 
has not yet produced, he is perfectly fatisfied. The confidera- 
tion of profit is out of the queftion. A man who goes to Cape 
Town with a fmgle waggon from the Sneuwberg muft confume, 
at leaft, fixty days out and home. He muft have a double team, 
or 24 oxen, and two people, at the leaft, befides himfelf to look 
after, to drive, and to lead the oxen and the flieep or goats, 
which it is neceflary to take with them for their fubfiftence on 
ihe journey. His load, if a great one, may confift of fifteen 
hundred weight of butter and foap, for which he is glad to get 
from the retail dealers at the Cape, whom he calls Semaus or 
Jews, fixpence a pound, or juft half what they fell the article 
for again. So that the value of his whole load is not above 
37/. IOJ-. But as he has no other way of proceeding to the 
Cape, except with his waggon, it makes little difference in point 
of time whether it be laden or empty. And the more of thefe 
loofe articles he can bring to market, the fewer cattle he has 
occafion to difpofe of to the butcher. Thefe conftitute his 
wealth, and with thefe he portions off his children. 
Candles 
