The value of British manufactures exported to New Zealand in various

years since 1827 to 1845 has been as follows:—

Our importations from these islands have hitherto been insignificant, being confined to small quantities of fish oil and timber. Of this latter article the islands are said to contain a very abundant supply of very desirable qualities, and in particular that spars of considerable size may be obtained for the use of our navy.

The shipping engaged in the trade between the United Kingdom and this colony in each year from 1841 to 1849, was as follows:

CHAPTER V.

DEPENDENCIES IN AFRICA.

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE: Population-Imports and Exports-Shipping-Productions-Wine -Whale Fishery-Stock-Farm Produce-Timber-Harbours. ST. HELENA: Population-Imports-Shipping-ASCENSION: Products. SIERRA LEONE: Population-Emancipated Slaves-Unhealthiness of Climate-Imports and Exports-Shipping. Settlement on the GAMBIA: Population-Trade. Settlements on the GOLD COAST: CAPE Coast CASTLE ACCRA: DIX COVE: ANNAMABOE: Trade-Population. FERNANDO Po: Population.

THE dependencies and colonies of the United Kingdom in Africa are (with the exception of the Mauritius and its dependencies, described in a former chapter)

The Cape of Good Hope;

St. Helena;

Ascension Island;

Sierra Leone;

Settlements on the Gambia;

Cape Coast Castle;
Accra ;

Dix Cove;
Annamaboe; and
Fernando Po.

The cape which gives its name to the important colony of the Cape of Good Hope is situated at the most southern point of Africa, in 34° 23′ south latitude, and 18' 23' east longitude. From this point the colony extends northward to 29' 40' south latitude, and eastward to the Great Kei river in 28° 25' east longitude. The area of the colony comprises 110,256 square miles.

Cape Town, the capital, is built on Table Bay, on the north coast of a peninsula about thirty miles long, and which for some time formed the extent of the settlement made by the Dutch in 1650. In 1795 the town and colony were taken by the English, but were restored to Holland by the Treaty of Amiens in 1801. In 1806 it was again taken by the British forces, and its possession was confirmed to us by the peace of 1814.

When it fell into our hands, in 1795, the population of all races was estimated to amount to about 60,000; in 1806 the numbers were

In 1839, when the condition of slavery had ceased, the numbers

The latest census was taken in 1849, when the numbers were found

showing an increase of 138 per cent. in forty-three years from natural causes, from immigration, and from extension of territory.

The exports of British manufactures to this colony during each of the

years from 1827 to 1849 were to the following value :—

The principal exports from the Cape consist of hides, salted meat, butter, grain, and flour, horns, ivory, goat, seal, and sheep skins, tallow, wool, and wine.

Of the last-named article of produce the quantity exported in each of the five years 1835 to 1839, and in 1849, was—

The shipping that entered and cleared from the several ports of Cape Colony, viz., Cape Town, Simon's Town, and Port Elizabeth, in the four years 1836 to 1839, in 1844 and in 1848, was as follows:

The number and tonnage of vessels that belonged to Cape Colony in each of the years 1838 to 1841 were as follows:

It was at one time believed that by careful attention to the cultivation of the vine in this colony, and to the preparation of its produce, England might be made in a great degree independent of other wine-growing countries. In this belief, and following up the notion that this end would the more surely be attained by giving to Cape wine a fiscal advantage in our markets over the wine of foreign countries, the duty was reduced in 1813 to one-third the rate charged upon other wine; and in 1825, when a general reduction was made in the duty on wine, a further small abatement was made in favour of Cape wines, which have since paid half the rates charged upon other wine; but the expected result has not followed. The produce has not of late years been sensibly augmented, and the quality continues as inferior (if, indeed, it has not deteriorated) as it was before this boon was granted to the colony. Whether this effect is attributable to causes beyond the control of the wine-growers of the Cape, or is a consequence of want of energy resulting from legislative protection, it is hard to say.

The whale fishery is carried on to a small extent by means of boats. In each of the four years from 1836 to 1839 the result was

This colony appears to be peculiarly fitted for pastoral purposes, and there is a probability that under the altered tariff of 1842 cured provisions may be profitably brought thence to England. The number of stock existing in the different districts in the three years 1837 to 1839, in 1844 and in 1848, was as follows:

The breadth of land under cultivation in the colony during 1848, and

the quantity of the several products, were—

Acres.

Produce.

The produce per acre here shown is exceedingly small, and indicates a very unenlightened system of farming, which, however, must be inexpensive, since it admits of the exportation yearly of a considerable portion of what is raised. The principal markets are Mauritius and St. Helena. The wheat grown in this colony is of fine quality.

The value of the exports from this colony falls greatly short of that of its imports, the balance being provided by bills of exchange drawn by the Commissariat Department at the Cape upon the Lords of the Treasury to meet the expenditure incurred on account of the Government. The produce of the Cape does not offer any variety of articles from which large cargoes can be assorted for the markets either of Europe or of India. Some part of the exports at present made consists of the produce of India and China. There are considerable forests in which timber trees are found. The best of these is known as African oak, and is highly useful to the ship-builder, but the expense attending the cutting and conveyance of the trees to any port of shipment makes the cost in the colony equal to that of Baltic timber.

There are several bays and harbours on the coast, which in the future development of the resources of the colony may prove themselves to be of great importance; at present the largest proportion of the foreign trade of the colony is carried on from Table Bay. This is an open roadstead, much exposed to the north-west wind, which prevails from May to September. Simon's Bay, which forms a small indentation in False Bay, is protected from the north-west, but is exposed to the southeast winds which blow violently in the summer. The distance between Simon's Bay and Cape Town is twenty-two miles; the roads are bad, and not easily improvable. Algoa Bay, or Port Elizabeth, in 33° 54′ south latitude, and 25° 35' east longitude, is a safe port during the prevalence of the north-west wind, but is hazardous during the remaining six months of the year. Saldanha Bay, in 33 5' south latitude, and 17° 50' east longitude, offers security at all times, but its situation is unfavourable for commercial objects.

St. Helena, a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean, is situated in 15 15' south latitude, and 5 50' west longitude. It is but little more than ten miles long, and less than seven miles wide, its area being about 30,000 acres.

This island has obtained an historical celebrity from its having been made the prison of Napoleon, when he threw himself upon the hospitality of England, after the battle of Waterloo in 1815, and from its having been the place of his death and sepulture. During the years that his mortal remains rested in the island a degree of interest was attached to the spot, and many a pilgrimage was made to his tomb; but since its contents have been transferred to the church of the Invalides in Paris, St. Helena has lost this factitious importance, and has fallen back to the