at Klapmutz was granted in loan to Mr. Duckett, the Engliih
agriculturift, for the purpofe .of making his experiments, for the
inftruction of the African boors.
10. Drakenjlein and its'environs confift of a fertile trait of
country, fituate at the feet of the great chain of mountains,
at the diftance of 30 to 40 miles from the Cape. The whole
extenfive valley of Drakenftein is. well watered by the Berg
River and its numerous branches ; the foil is richer than in moft
parts of the colony, and the Iheltered and warm fituation is particularly
favourable to the growth of the vine and different kinds
of fruit.
a. This fubdivifvon of Little Drakenftein occupies the middle
o f the valley, and contains many fubftantial farms, moft of them
freehold property; in fait, the 1 two Drakenfteins and the next
fubdivifion fupply two-thirds of the wine that is brought to the
Cape market.
b. Franfche Hoeck, or the French Corner, is fituated in the
fouth-eaft angle of the valley among the mountains, and took
its name from the French refugees having fettled there, when
they fled to this country after the revocation of the edid of
Nantz. To thefe people the colony is indebted for the intro-
dudion of the vine. The eftates here are. moftly freehold property,
and produce little elfe than wine and fruits.
c. The village of the Paarl is fituated at the foot of a hill that
fliuts in the Valley of Drakenftein on the weft fide. It confifts
of
of about thirty habitations difpofed in a line, but fo far detached
from each other, with intermediate orchards, gardens, and
vineyards, as to form a ftreet from half a mile to a mile in
length. About the middle of this ftreet, on the eaft fide, ftands
the church, a neat odiagonal building covered with thatch ; and
at the upper end is a parfonage-houfe, with garden, vineyard,
and fruit-groves; and-a large trad; of 'very fine land. No attention
feeins to have been omitted by Government in providing
comfortably for the country clergy. The blocks of granite,
the paarl- and the diamond, that overhang this village, are particularly
noticed in the fecond chapter of the firft volume.
d. e. Dali Jofephat and Waagen-maaker’s Valley are two
fmall dales enclofed between the hilly projedions that branch
out towards the north or upper end of the valley of Drakenftein
j the beft oranges; as well as the bell peaches, - and other
fruit, are faid to be produced in thefe dales; and the wines are
among the -firft in quality.
f Groeneberg is the largeft of thefe projeding hills that run
acrofs the northern extremity of the valley, and the foil is pro-
dudive in fruit, wine, and corn.
The whole valley, comprehending the above fubdivifions, is
comparatively fo well inhabited, that few animals, in a ftate of
nature, are now to be found upon it. Of hares, however, there
is no fcarcity; and two fpecies of buftards, the red-winged
and the common partridge, and quails, are in great plenty.
The Klip-fpringer antelope, and the reebok are plentiful in the
v o l . n . z z m o u n -