22 
EVENING PARTIES. 
8—11. Dec. 
the prize, even to our own fair countrywomen. As a mark of 
good sense in the company, it should be noticed, that here was 
none of that talking and chattering which are too often heard at 
concerts and music parties, and which serve only to distinguish the 
tasteless lounger from the lover of music, or, perhaps, sometimes, 
bad performance from good. It was over soon after nine o'clock, 
this being the hour at which most of the Dutch parties break up. 
At this time lanterns are seen moving about in all directions ; and 
as the different parties pass each other, they greet their friends with 
a Wei te 7msten (May you rest well). The regulations of the police 
prohibit all slaves and Hottentots from going about the town after 
nine o'clock, unless they carry a light. Should any, acting contrary 
to these orders, be met by the patrole, they are immediately appre- 
hended, and lodged in the jail until the next morning. This is done 
with a view to the prevention of night robbery. 
llth. It may naturally be supposed, that, in a country abound- 
ing with the most beautiful flowers and plants, the gardens of the 
inhabitants contain a great number of its choicest productions j but 
such is the perverse nature of man's judgment, that whatever is 
distant, scarce, and difficult to be obtained, is always preferred to 
that which is within his reach, and is abundant, or may be procured 
with ease, however beautiful it may be. The common garden- 
flowers of Europe are here highly valued; and those who wished 
to show me their taste in horticulture, felt a pride in exhibiting 
carnations, hollyhocks, balsamines, tulips, and hyacinths ; while they 
viewed all the elegant productions of their hills as mere weeds. 
It is not uncommon in the gardens at Rondebosch, to see myrtle- 
hedges twenty feet high. A few exotics have, from time to time, 
been introduced * ; and a small number of the more remark- 
* Such as — 
Melia Azedirach Nerium Oleander 
Gardenia Jlorida Asclepias Curassavica 
JEschynomene Asclepias Syriaca 
* 
