SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
249 
not a fingle field of com remains unconfumed by them. In 
the prefent year, I don't fuppofe that the whole of the Sneuw- 
berg will produce a fingle bufhel. In fuch years the inhabit- 
ants eat no bread ; they bear the evil with great patience, and 
confole themfelves by faying, that they muft make up for 
the lofs in this article by killing a double quantity of mutton. 
But the greateft of all the drawbacks on the profits of their 
farms is that occafioned by the depredations of the Bosjefmans. 
Their corn is cultivated merely for home confumption ; their 
cattle are reared for the market. All their care, and the con- 
ftant attendance of numerous Hottentots in their employ, are 
fometimes infufficient to prevent a furprife from thefe favages. 
An inhabitant of Sneuwberg has not only the continual appre- 
henfion of lofmg his property, but he lives in a flate of perpe- 
tual perfonal danger. Should he depart to the diflance of five 
hundred yards from his houfe, he is under the necefTity of car- 
rying a mufquet. He can neither plow, nor fow, nor reap, 
without his arms. If he would gather a few greens in the gar- 
den, he mufl take his gun in his hand. To bear a life of fuch 
conflant dread and anxiety, a man mufl be accuflomed to it 
from his infancy, and unacquainted with one that is better. 
Notwithflanding this, Sneuwberg has its temptations. It may 
be confidered as the befl nurfery for fheep in the whole colony. 
They are here much fuperior to thofe of the other diftrids both 
in fize and condition. The tails of fome of them are not lefs 
than twenty pounds weight ; many run from twelve to fixteen 
pounds. A farmer here has feldom fewer than from three to 
four thoufand fheep. They derive no fort of benefit from the 
wool, which is fhort and harfh like hair. That this is owing 
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