The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-10-29

drinking houses, surrounded by few vineyards and
ostrich farm with higher elevation than Cape
Town. it has cooler climate, but idleness and diss-
patton are too common to make the place agreeable
The several districts of Cape Colony have different
climates, with prevailing winds in directony peculiar
to their sites, but the same bareuness Of soil. and
want Of springs charaeterze the WHOLE and is only
in the far interior, among the savages, where game
and other wild animals abound have travelled to
the south western section Of Cape Colony, for days
together, without seeing bird or quadruped peculiar
to the country, and there is a loneliness. near the
settlements, that depresses the spirits, unless under
the influence Of unnatural excitement. Thunder
storms are not uncommon in parts, while others
unvisited. by even u single shower for is and 20
months at u time. The climate is healthy owing to
the absance Of swamps. and damp lands but it can
not be said to be comfortable.
coarse kind of Indian corn called "measlies'' is
grown the low banks OF the few rivers that inter
sect some parts of South Africa, aud this constitutes
large proportion of native food milet is also
grown by the Kafirs and Zulus, and on those two
cereals the settlers have mostly subsist unless in
districts where imported produce, and other prori
sions can be procured. 1 cannot conceive how farm-
ing can pay In South Africa, unless it be ostrich
farming the interior is destitute ofroads and bridges
horse feed, such tracks there is and
expensive. and water is equally seanty. The expen.
ses OF worEing agricultural farm must be great
and the success of q STOCK farm must be uncertain
in such climate. with the exception of ostriches
whose large white feathers each worth So 90 in
cape Town, and the black ones Of the largest size
from Scots. TO 81 90.
Diamonds, in imi.ed quantity exist; but no beds
of ores wrought. and probably would not pay at
present, owing to difficulty of transit, etc. Enter
prises here still in their infancy aud will prob
ably remain so. until different class of emigrants
are led to seek homes in South Africa.
Social and domestic life cities is full of excite
ments tending to ultimate unhappness and the break
ing up Of families both sexes drink large quantities
OF wine or beer the quality of the wine, which is of
African mauufaeture is not wholesome, and by many
considered poisonous. or this kind are the wines
drank at the South African hotels and dram shops
not only are the wines but they also doc
tored Children in this country soon become dis
obedient TO the parents, and the number Of oaths
boy SIX years Of age is able to retain upon his mem
ory and express with facility, is perfectly surprising
and appalling. Fighting, among children, is not
common, aud their oaths frequently delivered in
good nature.
Ny experiences have as yet been confined to Cape
Colony, and the foregoing remarks apply principally
to that section. am however inclined to the belief,
formed by intercourse with those who have been
over the whole country, that there is not much diff
ference. among the white emigrants, in any part so
far as their habits concerned. excepting among
the Beers who are acknowledged to be quiet rural
race. and little inclined TO mix with inm grants from
England. In this respect the Beers show much wis.
dom. and probably, had they adopted the contrary
plan, less success would have met them, and they
would have been less virtuous and select. All the
hhuNe anu Imported uark races. that have seen in
Cape Colony, are very civil and polite. and appar-
emily good tempered, until what is savage in their
natures may be aroused they are hosptable withal
aud entirely free from that dependent habit of
"sponging," common to many English colonsts.
lu conversations with Cape Town people regarding
the Zulu war, find that the general wish is for an
nexation OF the territories, that still independent
and this wish gives popularity in the colony to Sir
Barte Frere, whose opinions and official acts, have
hitherto favored and fostered the annexation mania
1t is admitted that the has heen much misman-
aged, and that the veteran, and best regiments have
been kept unwisey in reserve. Tho raw levies of
irreguarly formed corps have been the 'front.'
and of course ran away when the enemy appeared ;
but what could have been expected of the young lads
sent from England. who had neither the necessary
experience the constitution endure the hard
ships of South African campaign. The 24th Regi-
ment stood its ground we'll, and was cut to pieces,
but it to have been the only regiment of
ulars engaged in actual combat, indeed that was
sent to the front.
Regarding the present unsatisfactory state of South
African commerce, / may state in conclusion, that
the entire exports of the country, before the Zulu
war, amounted to f20, ,000 zoo, while the imports
f26.t0G 900. The exports have since deereas led
to great extent while the imports have more than
doubled. The entire debt of Cape Colony have no
means of aseertaning but know there is rail-
way debt of $4,000. 900, and the debt consequent
upon the construction of Albert Dock be some
thing enormous. Telegraph lines, which are exten.
sivey distributed. and other city improvements in
different sections of the country, have caused
debt. Yours etc, j. NJ. MACDONALD.