388 TRAVELS IN 
fociety but thofe of his family and his Hottentots, he is the 
mofi: awkward and helplefs being on earth, when he gets into 
Cape Town, and neither buys nor fells but through his agent. 
The emancipated flaves and people of colour are generally ar- 
tificers ; many of them fupport their families by fifhing. Dur- 
ing the whole year there is great plenty and variety of fifh 
caught in Table Bay, and cheap enough for the very pooreft to 
make a daily ufe of. 
Houfe-rent, fuel, and clothing are all dear; yet, I will be 
bold to fay, there is no town nor city in all Europe, where the 
mafs of the people are better lodged or better clothed ; and fire 
is lefs necefiary here than in mofl: parts of Europe. The keep 
of a horfe in Cape Town was never lefs, under the Englidi 
Government, than 25 /. fterling a year, yet every butcher, 
baker, petty fhopkeeper, and artificer, had his team of four, 
SiKj or eight horfes and his chaife. It is true, his horfes were 
lent out for hire one day, and drew himfelf and his family ano- 
ther ; but ftill it feemed inexplicable how they contrived to keep 
up an eftablifhment fo much beyond their apparent means. 
Their creditors, I imagine, long before this, will beft be able to 
give a fatisfadlory explanation, fmce Britilli money has ceafed 
to circulate among them. 
It is true they are neither burthened with taxes nor affefT- 
ments. Except on public vendues and transfer of immoveable 
property. Government has been remarkably tender in impofmg 
on them burthens, which, however, they might very well aiford 
to bear. Their parochial alTelTments are equally moderate. At 
3 the 
