CAPE TOWN, the capital of Cape Colony, faces Table bay to the n.e., is flanked by the mountain Lion's Head, with its continuation to Lion's Rump or Signal hill, and has behind it the precipices of Table mountain. Its lat. is 33° 56' s., its long. 18° 28' 7' east. Its mean temperature 58.3' F. for winter, 76.6' for summer, and 67.3° for the whole year. Pop. 40,000. Two lines of passenger wagons connect it with the diamond fields, which are reached in about a week, railways with Worcester, etc., and electric telegraphs with the principal parts of the colony. It is the principal port for the coasting trade as well as foreign exports and imports; is well supplied with fish, as well as meat, dairy prod uce, and every sort of fruit and vegetables, at a moderate price. It has a supply of fresh water of excellent quality. C. T. is the seat of the government, the supreme court, and a college and university. All the churches are well represented—the English Episcopal, the Roman Catholic, and representatives of Presbyterians, Lutherans, Wesleyans, Con gregationalists, a Prep church (chiefly an off-break from the Dutch church), a Jewish synagogue, and a Mohammedan mosque, the Malay population being of that faith. There are also banks and insurance offices. The town is built upon a double slope, which sub sides into a plain ou the n.c. side. Its streets, at right angles to each other, are lined
with houses, for the most part of an eastern type, with heavy walls, flat roofs, and large public apartments, interspersed with increasing numbers of shops and warehouses, of the sort to be met with in England.
The most remarkable structures are the breakwater, with the docks and patent slip; the castle, with its outworks and bastions; the barracks for the military, the Roman Catholic cathedral, with a few other places of worship; the museum and library, with the Botanic gardens in front; and between it and Government house, a park, with its avenues shaded by stately oaks. Out of town, a little distance to the n.w., is Somerset hospital, and the Royal observatory, about two and a half m. to the n.e.
C. T. returns four members to the colonial assembly. The municipality is adminis tered by a town-council of 18 members—three from each of six separate districts—and is presided over by a mayor elected annually by the council. In Sept., 1872, it possessed 44 vessels, and their united tonnage was 4,416. There are 5 newspapers in C. T., which are issued three times a week; 2 biweeklies, 1 weekly, 1 fortnightly, and 3 monthly magazines.