The colony is divided into five districts, or Droosdys, viz. the CAPE, STELLENBOSCH, DRAKENS•EIN, ZWEL LENDAN, and GRAAF ltr:y NET. Of these, the Cape, in which the principal town of the settlement is contained, although the smallest in extent, is by far the most popu lous and productive. Besioes the peninsula," it includes the country lying north of Table bay, as far as the mouth of the Berg River in St Ilelena-bay, being about eighty miles in length, and twenty-live in breadth, and contain ing nearly 2000 square miles. Scarcely a fifteenth part, however, of is under cultivation, and its most valuable productions ale chiefly confined to the vicinity of the town. There, most of the European, and many of the tropical fruits, are cultivated with great success. Oranges, peaches, apricots, figs, grapes, guavas, pome granates, quinces, and medlars, are very plentiful and good. Apples and pears, though they are abundant, are generally inferior in quality to what might be expected, probably from want of attention in propagating the best sorts. Almonds, walnuts, chesnuts, and excellent mul berries, grow in great abundance. Strawberries are to be found ripe throughout the whole year ; but rasp berries, though tolerably good, arc very scarce. The market is always well supplied with vegetables of every dt scription, and the choicest fruits, both green and dry. The sweet luscious wine known in this country by the name of Constantia, is made at two vineyards about eight miles from Cape Town, which produce annually front ten to fifteen thousand gallons ; wheat, barley, and pulse, are cultivated throughout the district. The plains or the Cape peninsula arc variegated ith the most elegant and beautiful shrubs and flowers, and furnish an endless lield to the researches of the botanist. The bulbous-rooted plants exceed in vat iety those of other country ; and, at the conclusion of the rainy season, the verdant carpel of t•ifolium melilotos, which covers the west shores of Table-bay, is enlivened with myriads of the large othon na, among which are intermingled the oxalis eernua, by poxis stellata, ixia, iris, amaryllis, and geraniums of every species, exhibiting the most beautiful mariety of foliage and colours. Extensive plantations of the protea argen tea, or silver tree, the white poplar, and the stone pine, stretch along the foot of the Table Mountain ; and most of the country houses arc adorned with avenues of oak. But the timber of these is of small value, being general ly shaken and unsound, from its rapid growth, and is sel dom used for any other purpose than fuel, which at the Cape is extremely scarce. The fuel, however, which is now chiefly derived from the cultivated woods of Protca argentea, the oak, and the spontaneous productions of the neighbouring country to the Cape Town, is likely soon to become very scarce, if effectual means arc not adopted to ensure the plantation of trees for future supplies.
The colonies of Stellenbosch and Drakenstcin stretch from Cape PA;,ttillas, the most southern point of Africa, to the river Koussie out the north, an extent of 380 miles; its mean breadth front cast to west being about 150, and its contents nearly 55,000 square miles. Though the greater part of this immense surface be barren and un profitable, consisting merely of nakt d hills and Karroo plains, the subdivisions which lie on the western side of the mountains between False bay and Elephant's River, constitute the most valuable possessions in the colony. The extensive valley of Drakenstein is well inhabited, and enjoys a most delig..tful climate, and its soil is capa hie of every species of agriculture. Very little corn, er, is cultivated here. Crapes, and various kinds of fruit, are the (1114 productions of this part of the country, being not only the best adapted to the soil and climate, but the utmost profitable, from the vicinity of the capital ; two thirds of the wine which is brought to Cape Town is supplied by the vineyards of Drakcnstein alone. The divisions of East Zwardand and Twenty-four Rivers are equally productive, and are considetcd as the grana ties of the Cape. Wheat and barley are their principal articles of cultivation ; but the crops depend so much upon the rains, that the profits of the farmer are preca rious and uncertain. The country on the other side of
the mountains consists chiefly of pasture farms, and the Roggeveldt, or rye-grass country, furnishes the largest and strongest breed of horses in the st ttlement. The principal villages of this district are, the Drosdy of Stellenbosch, the residence of the Land-droost, which is about twenty-live miles from the Cape, and consists of nearly seventy houses, most of which are very neatly built, and have out-houses and gardens attached to them; and the Paarl, or Pearl, (a 1, illage so called from a large mass of granite lying in its neighbourhood, which bears the name of the Yearl,) which lies twenty miles farther north, at the bottom of a hill, and contains about thirty habitations, surrounded with orchards, ineyards, and gar dens, forming a street from half a mile to a mile in length.
Zwellcndam comprehends the belt of country lying between the Black Mountains and the sea, and extends from the Breede River on the west, to Carntoos River on the east. Its length is about 380 miles, and its breadth front north to south 60, including an area of 19,200 square miles. The general aspect of this dis trict, exhibits a greater variety of surface, and is more diversified by hill and dale than any other part of the colony. The mountains near the sea are clothed with impenetrable forests, and many of the plains abound in the common aloe, which constitutes a considerable article of commerce. The pasture in general is excellent in this district, but it is deemed by the Dutch farmers to he better adapted for horses than for oxen or sheep. The revenues of the farmer are derived front the sale of horses, timber, grain, butter, soap, and dried fruits. In the division of Autiniquas Land, a little east of Mos sel-bay, the Dutch government reserved for itself about 20,000 acres of the most fertile land, consisting of an extensive meadow, which was always covered with the most luxuriant verdure. This is cultivated by an over seer, and is calculated to furnish annually 10,000 tnuids of corn, besides affording sufficient maintenance for 1000 horses, and as many cattle. The village of Zwellendam is composed of about thirty houses, scattered irregularly offer a fertile valley. It contains the house of the Land droost, and the only church in the district.
Graaf Rennet includes the tract of territory lying betwetn the Gamka or Lion river on the west, and the Great Fish river on the cast ; au d is bounded 011 the north by the country of the Bosjesmans, and on the south by the Black Mountains and the sea. Its mean lin:4th is 250, and breadth 160 milt s. comprehending an area of 40,000 square miles. Little grain is sown in this district, except what is necessary for the subsistence of the inhabitants, and this is very inconsiderable, as many of the inhabitants live entirely upon animal food. The difficulty of transportation to market, and the devastation of the locusts, which particularly infest the division of Sneuwberg, renders it a very unprofitable article of cul tivation. Sheep and horned cattle are reared in great perfection, particularly the former, which thrive so well here, that the ewes very frequently produce lambs twice in the year. Perpetual hostilities are carried on by the Dutch boors who dwell near the boundaries of the colony, with the Caffres and Bosjesman Hottentots. Graaf Reynet is the only village in this vast district, which bears its name, and even that contains little more than a dozen of small houses, the walls of which are constructed of clay, dried by the intensity of the heat into a solid mass, sufficiently strong to bear a thatch roof. This small village, which is the residence of the Droost, or chief magistrate of the district, is, exactly as we might expect the rudiments of a town to be, inhabited by a blacksmith, a carpenter, and some other mechanics, who are employed by the boors, (or peasants,) on their visits to the seat of government. It also contains the only place of public worship in the district.