The Sun.
London, England, 1822-09-21 00:00:00

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE.

[Extract of a Letter fronz Albany District, dated March 29.1
" We have had a general failure of wheat the last two seasons,
and that in the coin districts—all was destroyed by what is called
here the rust, which begins at the surface of the ground, and
runs up the stem and blades to the ear, when the whole dies :
it is like the rust in iron, and even attacks the wood when cut
down. We hope, however, that the next season will not be like
the two last, as the. Dutch farmers say that the wheat had not
been attacked by the rust for 25 years before we arrived ; and
they also say,- that it now came in consequence of the Govern-
ment allowing the English to settle among them. We know
they do not like us, and look upon us in the light of intruders.
" Vegetables are very dear and scarce, all the-English garden
seeds which the settlers brought out having failed, and the po-
tatoes got rotten on shipboard ; vegetable are, therefore, full
as dear as at Covent-garden market in the dearest times ; in-
deed to grow vegetables requires a person's whole time; for it
is impossible to get them to any perfection without continual
watering,, and a great quantity of manure.
" Leather here is very bad and dear, although there is no
duty on it, nor on any colonial
.produce.
" Shoes are here 12s. per pair, which will neither keep out
the dew nor rain ; they become like sponge, therefore we are
obliged to go without in wet weather or dew, otherwise they
would not last a week. As a substitute for leather shoes, we
make a sort from raw hides, and sew them together with
tanned sheep skin ; these are very unpleasant wearing. Raw
hides, when we came here, were only 6s. each ; indeed you
might have picked them up in every direction ; they are now 12s.
each ; in fact they are not to be bought, as the tanners now
contract with Government for all they slaughter. We there-
fore often kill a bullock for the, sake of the hide for other pur-
poses, as well as shoes, particularly for making traces for the
oxen; indeed raw hides are used for all purposes in lieu of
rope lines or leather • and all packages are secured with it, cut
into stripes • even the thatch on houses is put on with it ; in
fact it is used for general purposes.
" A great many of the settlers have abandoned their land, and
either gone to their trades or as labourers, but they cannot leave
this district, nor even the neighbourhood of their relations,
without a pass from the Landrost. If a settler is found in any
other district without a colonial pass, he is immediately taken
up and sent heel under an escort and confined in the tronk.
—Many settlerS have, and many are now obtaining penniseion
to return to England. Some are gone, and many are on the
eve of, going, indeed one and all are disgusted by being deceived
in the prospects held out, particularly so by the land not yield-
ing wheat to their industry, though labour and expence are
bestowed upon it.
_ _

" The climate is certainly very fine and healthy, yet we want
flour to keep up the Englishman's constitution. Rice con-
tinually is a bad substitute for it. The English poorhouse fare
is much more preferable. It is true sheep are plentiful, but it
itioossible to live always on meat. to bread, I have not
it for the last three months, and when it is to be bought
at Graham's Town, it is sold at 2s. per 31b. What would the
people of England say to this ? Starvation stares us in the face;
all have expended their little means in bringing the land into
the present state of cultivation without realizing a single shil-
ling. It is an old saying, and it is verified here, that English,
men are fond of law and litigation, and it has been the univer-
sal case with the settlers, there having been every court day
from twenty to thirty most frivolous cases among them. Should
the next season not prove more productive, it is the intention of
the settlers in this district to petition Government to be sent
•
home gratis as paupers."