The following table ftiews the number of marriages, chrrften-
ings, and burials in Cape Town for eight years.
Years. Marriages. Chrittenihgs. Burials.
1790 130 - 35° 186
1791 97 334 146
1792 174 360 144
r 793 158 288 116
1794. 211 308 i n
1795 2 J3 3° 8 . .145-
1796 249 2 57 168
*797 217 364 157
In 8 <vears .1449 2589 I I73
Making 1416 the excefs of chriftenings above burials in eight
years. As all marriages muft be performed in Cape Town the
column of marriages are thöfe in the whole 'colony. By comparing
the average number of deaths with the population, it
will appear that the mortality in the Cape diftridt is about
2_VV in the hundred. Of the flaves the mortality is rather
more, but lefs, perhaps, than in any other country where
fiavery is tolerated. The number, as we have feen, in the Cape
diftria is 1 1,891; and the number of deaths, on an average of
eight years, was 35°> which is after the rate of three in the
hundred.
Capital crimes in the Cape diftria are lefs frequent than they
might be fuppofed among fuch a mixed multitude, where a great
majority have no intereft in the public profperity or tranquillity.
The
The ftrength of the garrifon contributed materially to keep the
flaves in order; and inftances of capital crimes were leis numerous
under the Britiih Government than in any former period
of the fame duration for the laft thirty years. In fix years
.63 were fentenced to fuffer death, of which 30 were publicly
executed, and the reft condemned to work at the fortifications in
chains for life. The fentence-of fuch as efcaped execution was
not changed on account of any palliative circumftance or infuf-
ficient teftimpny, but becaufe confeflion of the crime is. indif-
penfably neceffary to the execution of the fentence; and this
confeflion being now no longer extorted by the application of
.the torture, moft of them perfift to deny the crime of which
they are accufed; preferring a life of hard labour, with a diet
of bread and water, to an untimely death.
With refpedt to the natural produce of the Cape,diftridt, what,
has yet been difcpvered is of little or no importance, except its
fiiheries. The wax-plant grows abundantly upon the fandy
ifthmus, but the berries are not confidered to be worth the labour
of gathering. The colJedting of ihells to burn into lime,
and of heaths and other fhrubby plants for fuel, furniih conftant
employment for about one.thoufand flaves. The great deftruc-
tion of the fruitefcent plants on the Cape peninfula and the
ifthmus will be very feverely felt in the courfe of a few years.
The plantations of the filver-tree on that brow of Table Mountain
which is next to the ifthmus, are experiencing the fame
deftrudtion for the fake of a temporary profit, and fo thought-
lefs, or fo indolent, are the proprietors of the land, that little
v o l . 1 1 . y1 v1 pains