niihing. The mutton of the Cape iheep is alfo of a very inferior
quality, being coarfe and void of flavour; and they have
little inteftine or net fat, nor, indeed, any other except what is
accumulated on the tail, which is of top oleaginous a nature to
be employed alone as tallow. In every refpedt, therefore, the
mixed Spaniih breed is preferable to that which, at prefent,
conftitutes the numerous flocks of the greater part of the farmers.
s S f p t g and S k i n s .
The exportation of thefe articles, both dried and falted raw,
has been increafed to a very confiderable degree under the Bri-
tiih Government, and the price has confequerttly augmented itt
proportion to the demand for them. Ox hides, which formerly
might be purchafed at half a dollar a piece, rofe to two dollars.
They are fubjedt, on exportation, to a duty of threepence-halfpenny
a piece. The quantity exported may amount to between;
2000 and 3000 annually. Thofe that are taken off the cattle,
killed in the country, are employed by the farmers in various
ufes, but principally as harnefs for their waggons, and as thongs
to fupply the place of cordage. The ‘ikins of iheep, that are
kilted in the country, are converted into fffiall facks and other
articles of houfehold ufe, and employed as clothing for the Haves-
and Hottentots, and are ftill worn by the farmers themfelves,
after a rude kind, of drefling, as pantaloons. In the Cape they
are fomewhat better prepared,, and are ufed for clothing, of
Haves, for gloves; and other, purpoies*. Few of them are exported.
Skins- of the wild antelopes' and of the leopard
are brought oecafionally to the Cape market, but the quantity
tity is fp finali as icarcely to deferve mentioning as articles of
export.
The iàme may be obferved with regard to oftrich feathers,
the value of which, exported annually, amounts to a mere trifle.
The boors, very imprudently, rob every neft of this bird that
falls in their way ; preferring the immediate benefit of the eggs
to the encouragement of a future fource of profit. The boors,
indeed, derive little advantage from oftrich feathers, being pre-
ffents generally expeded by thè butchers’ fervants, who go round
the country to purchafe cattle and. iheep for the Cape market.
The whole value of one year’s exportation of this article does
not exceed 1000 ‘rix dollars ; of hides and ikins of every denomination
not- more than 5000 or 6000 rix, dollars.
W h a l e O i l and B o n e .
The vaft number of black whales that conftantly frequented
Table Bay. induced; a, company of merchants at the Qape to
eftablifli a whale.- fifliery, to be. confined- folely to Table Bay, in
order to avoid the great expence of, purchafing any other kind
of craft than a, few. common whale boats. With thefe alone
they caught as.many whales, as they could wiih for; filling, in
a, ihort fpace of time,, all, their caiks and, oifterns* with. oil.
Having.gone thus far they perceived that, although whale-oil
was tQ.be procured to almoft.any amount, at. a. fmall expenee
they were’ ftiff likely to he, confiderable lofers hy the, concern.
The cpnfumption of.the. colony in this.article was. triflings they,
had,no ihips of their own. to fepd it ta Europe,, nor. caiks.to.
3, put