62 
VISIT TO CONSTANTIA. 
14? Feb. 
We arrived at Constantia about two o'clock, and having received 
a general invitation from Mr. Cloete, the proprietor, we intended to 
profit by it this day, and take a view of the vineyards and cellars ; 
after which, to have resumed our ramble over the heath, and dined 
amongst the bushes. But our intention was partly frustrated; for, the 
slaves having carried to him the information of our arrival, he came 
out of the house, and in a friendly manner insisted on our entering, 
as he was just sitting down to dinner. We therefore took our seat, 
and although treated with marked hospitality, were more anxious 
soon to leave the table and pursue the objects of our excursion, than 
to indulge in the variety of excellent wines which were placed before 
us. For my part, I had not the gift of distinguishing the relative 
merits of all these sorts. The red Constantia, as it is called, was of 
a very agreeable taste ; but all were excellent. 
After this I was shown the cellar, a long building above ground, 
and shaded by trees. On each side, a range of large casks, with 
two of much larger dimensions, contains the valuable wine which 
has caused the name of this place to be so well known in Europe. 
We were next conducted to the vineyard, which, however, is ma- 
naged in a manner not at all different from the other vineyards in 
the colony ; the vines are pruned and kept in the form of dwarf 
bushes, much resembling currant-bushes ; and are planted in rows 
about six feet apart. At this time they still remained loaded with 
bunches of fine grapes, and the only peculiarity I could observe, 
was, that they were allowed to hang on the vine to ripen so long, that 
they had begun to shrivel, and the juice was become almost a syrup. 
Whatever may be the cause, or whether there be any cause really 
Corymbium scabrum ■ Ceropegia [Microloma] tenuifolia 
Othonna crassifolia Rubiis pinnatus 
Gnaphalium nudifolium Cliffortia strobilifera 
Euclea racemosa Rhus mucronatiim, Th. 
Royena glabra Cliffortia graminea 
Protea [Leucospermim) Conocarpa Erica nudiflora 
Protea viellifera 
