SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
a pipe. The grapes raised at the Cape are equal to 
those of any other country ; the inferior quality of 
the wine, therefore, can only be imputed to the im- 
perfect fermentation, and to the practice of pulling 
the grapes before they are ripe. The brandy also, 
being distilled with too much rapidity, imbibes a 
strong empyreumatic taste. 
The Dutch peasant shews here more than the 
usual apathy which characterizes his nation. He has 
no idea of what an English farmer calls comfort. 
His apartments are almost destitute of furniture ; 
the windows are without glass ; the floors are dirty, 
and swarm with insects. Even wine, milk, vege- 
tables, and roots, though easily procured, are de- 
spised by him ; his sole enjoyment is in the pipe, 
which never quits his mouth, unless to take his 
glass of brandy, or to eat his meals, served up three 
times a day, and consisting of mutton swimming in 
fat. The mistress of the family, in like manner, 
remains a fixture in . front of the table, on which 
stands her coffee-pot constantly boiling. She and 
her daughters continue seated the whole day with 
their hands folded in the most listless apathy. 
They have no meetings for diversion, fairs, balls, 
or musical parties. The history of one day forms 
that of their whole lives. That such-a-one is go- 
ing to town, to church, or to be married, or that 
the Bosjesmans have stolen some cattle, form the 
only incidents by which life is diversified, Though 
