after the subsidence of the gale, was Algoa Bay; he having thus doubled
the Cape without his knowledge. Diaz gave the name of Cabo Tormentoso
(the Cape of Storms) to the Cape, which was afterwards changed to that of
Good Hope by the King of Portugal, as he rightly thought the discovery
auspioious of a fevorable result to the great prospect entertained by the
Portuguese navigators of reaching India. In 1497, Yasco de Gama, another
Portuguese navigator, doubled the Cape on his voyage to the Indian
seas.
The Cape of Good Hope forms the southern extremity of a narrow
peninsula about thirty miles in length, with the Atlantio ocean on the west,
False Bay on the east, and Table Bay on the north. Cape Town is situated
on Table Bay, and was originally founded by the Dutch in 1650, but fell
into the hands of the English in 1795 ; and, it having been restored to its
original possessors after the peace of Amiens, was finally retaken by the
British in 1806, in whose possession it now remains.
The town is well built with substantial houses of stone and brick, and
wide, regular streets. The general aspect of the place, with its well constructed
public buildings and private residences, and its park in the neighborhood
of the government house, shaded by oaks of magnificent growth, is
exceedingly agreeable.
The heat, however, in consequence of the position of the town, which is
faced by the noonday sun and walled in behind by naked mountains, is excessive.
This, added to the dust, caused those who went on shore to keep
much within doors, so that Cape Town was found by the officers of the expedition
but a dull and stupid place. The streets are unpaved, and consequently,
when the southeast gales, which prevail in midsummer, blow, the
dust is raised in clouds and deposited in drifts of sand along the sidewalks
several inches in depth, which keeps the street sweepers in constant occupation,
who may be seen continually at work collecting the dirt in heaps, to be
carried away by the dirt carts. So general is the experience of this nuisance
from the dust, that the male, as well as the female inhabitants, of all classes,
are in the practice of wearing veils attached to their hats. The northeastern
winds, which prove in r aising the dust of such discomfort to the residents of
Cape Town, prevail during midsummer, and their approach is always indicated
by the appearance of a dense white cloud, which settles upon the
summit of Table Mountain, therefore called the Table Cloth, and remains
there until the gale subsides. These winds blow with great violence, sweeping
along the land east of Table Mountain. I f it were not for the perfect
smoothness of the water in Table Bay, vessels would not be able to hold to
their anchors during these southeasterly gales, of which two were experienced
in the course of seven days, while the Mississippi was lying at Cape Town.
Such is the severity of these winds that all business in the harbor is suspended
during their height.
The town seemed to be in a highly prosperous condition, business of
every kind was flourishing, and there was a general appearance of affluence
among the government officials, and the high rents, among other indications,
show the prosperous condition of trade. Handsome equipages are constantly
seen in the streets, and the prosperity is so universal, that even the lowest
olasses are hardly known to suffer from want. The Cape of Good Hope is of
great commercial importance to Great Britain as a convenient rendezvous for
her cruisers stationed in the neighborhood, and as a stopping plaoe for vessels
bound to and from the Indian Ocean. Excellent water, fresh provisions,
fruit and other necessaries can be obtained in any quantity and at reasonable
prices. Wood is soarce, but almost every description of article usually
needed by vessels may be procured from the numerous well-stocked stores
and warehouses at Cape Town. Live stock can be readily obtained, bullocks
at £6 per head, and sheep at 15 shillings. The Mississippi was supplied
with twelve of the former and eighteen of the latter at these prices.
Sinoe the abolition of slavery in the British colonies the agricultural
interests of the Cape have suffered, and although the commerce of some few
of the colonial ports continues thriving, as, for example, that of Cape Town,
the interior of the country has declined in prosperity, there being at present
but few examples of prosperous farming, in consequence of a want of laborers.
The agricultural condition of the country has also suffered from the effects
of the war carried on between the British colonists and the Caffres, which,
although it has enriched the merchants and tradesmen by the large expenditure
of public money, has impoverished the farmers, by depriving them of
the necessary laborers, and by unsettling the tranquillity of the country.
The consequence has been that many of the farms have been allowed to run
to waste, and though the soil iB capable of producing Indian corn, wheat,
barley, oats, and several other descriptions of grain, such has been the unfavorable
influence of the cause alluded to, that the home consumption of
these products is not fully provided for. There are, however, some articles
produced for exportation, among which may be enumerated wine, hides,
tallow and wool. The farming is chiefly of a grazing character, and vast
herds of cattle, sheep, horses and mules are raised. At Cape Town horses
can be obtained at a price varying from thirty to one hundred and fifty dollars,
and mules from thirty to seventy-five dollars. The cattle, which are
indigenous to the country, somewhat resemble the buffalo m appearance, and
the sheep are of the broad-tailed species, which are highly esteemed for the
excellence of their meat. The large teams of oxen passing to and from the
city are characteristic objects at Cape Town. These teams are composed
often of seven, eight, or even nine yoke, and are guided by two teamsters',
one seated in front of a wagon, not unlike the wagons generally in use in
Pennsylvania, where he urges the animals along by his voice and a long lash,
while the other precedes the team, holding a halter fastened to the horns of