execution-days. Over the entrance was a figure of Juftice, with the ufual emblems
of a fword and balance,- mid the following appofjte infcription :
<l Felix quem faciunt aliéna pericula cautum.”
The bodies o f thofe broken on the wheel were expoüed in different parts o f
the town, feveral inftances of which, and fame very recent ones, were ftill to be
feen.
It had been always imagined, that the police o f the Cape-town was fo well regulated
as to render it next to impoflible-for any man to efcape, after whom the
fifcal’s people Were in purfuit. This, however, did not appear to be the cafe ;
for very (hortly after our arrival four feamen belonging to a ihip o f our fleet de-
ferted from her ; and although rewards were offered for apprehending them,
and every effort made that was likely to infure fuccefs, two only were retaken
before our departure.
Since the attempt meditated upon the Cape by the late Commodore Johnftone,
the attention of the government appeared to have been directed to its internal
defence. To this end additional works had been conftruéted on each fide of the
town, toward the hill called the Lion’ s Rump, and beyond the caftle or garri-
fon. But the defence in which they chiefly prided themfelves, and o f which we
were fortunate enough to arrive in time to be fpeftators, confided of two corps
o f cavalry and one o f infantry, formed from the gentlemen and inhabitants o f
the town. We underftood that thefe corps were called out annually to be exer-
cifed during feven days, and were reviewed on the laft day of their exercife by
the governor attended by his whole council. They appeared to be flout and
able-bodied men, particularly thofe who compofed the two corps of cavalry, and
who were reputed to be excellent markfmen. Their horfes, arms, and appointments
were purchafed at their own expence, and they were expected to hold
themfelves in readinefs to affemble whenever their fervices. might be required by
the governor. For uniform, they wore a blue coat with white buttons, and buff
waiftcoat and breeches. Their parade was the Square or Market-place, where they
were attended by mufic, and vifited by all the beauty of the place, who animated
them by their fmiles from the balcony of thetown-hall, and if the weather was favourable
accompanied them to the exercifing ground, where tents were pitched for
their reception, and whence they beheld thefe patriotic Africans (for few of them,
knew Holland but by name) enuring themfelves to the toils of war, “ pro aris et
"■ facts.” We were however told, that at the leaft idea of an enemy coming on
the coaft, the women were immediately fent to a diftance in the country.
The militia throughout the whole diftriâ o f the Cape were affembled at this
time of the year, exercifed for a week, and reviewed by the governor or his deputy,
commencing with the militia o f the Cape-town.
The
The prefent governor o f the Cape, Mr. Van de Graaf, though a jcolonel of
engineers in the fervice o f the States, yet holds his commiflion as governor under
the authority o f the Dutch Eaft India Company, to which body the fettle-
ment wholly belongs. Every fliip or veflel wearing a pendant o f the States, be
her rate what it may, is on entering the harbour faluted by the fort, which falute
fhe returns with an inferior number o f guns. The governor, at the landing-
place, with his officers and carriages, attends the coming on Ihore of her captain
or fenior officer, to receive his commands, and effort him to his lodgings in the
town, treating him with every mark of refpect in his power. Such an humiliation
of the Company’s principal fervant and officers in a commercial community
bore, it muff be confeffed, rather an extraordinary appearance; but fuch,
as we were informed, was the diftindHon between the two fervices; and Mr.
Van de Graaf was obliged to obtain his prince’ s permiffion before he could accept
of the government o f the Cape from the Eaft India Company.
Refidence at the Cape would be highly agreeable, were it not for the fouth-
eaft wind. This during the fummer feafon blows with fuch violence, and drives
every where fuch clouds of faiid before it, that the inhabitants at certain times
dare not ftir out o f their houfes. Torrents o f duft and fand, we were told, had
been frequently known to fall on board of (hips in the road. This circumftance
accounted for every thing we got here being gritty to the tafte; fand mixing
with their flour, their rice, theif fugar, and with whatever was capable o f receiving
it, finding its way in at doors, windows, and wherever there was an entrance
for it. From the great height of the Table Mountain*, whatever clouds are
within its influence are attracted when the fouth-eaft wind prevails ; and as it in-
creafes in violence, thefe clouds hang over the fide o f the mountain, and defcend
into the valley, fometimes rolling down very near the town- From the curling
o f the vapour over the mountain, the inhabitants predifb the arrival o f the fouth-
eafter, and fay, “ The Table-cloth is fpread but with all its violence, and the
inconvenience of the duft and fand, it has a good effefr, for the climate and air
o f the Cape Town (though wonderfully beneficial and refrelhing to ftrangers
after a long voyage) is not reckoned faiubrious by the inhabitants, who, we underftood,
were at times vifited by pains in the cheft, fore throats, and putrid fevers
; and the place would certainly be ftill more unhealthy were it not for this
fouth-eaft wind, which burns as it blows, and while it fweeps diforder before it
purifies the air.
The Cape is celebrated for producing in the higheft perfection all the tropicdl
and other fruits; but of the few that were in feafon during our ftay we could
iio i pronounce fo favourably. The oranges and bananas in particular were not
* 33S3 Rhinland feet-—a fthinland foot being twelve inches and yhths Engliih.
equal