Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/189

 TRADE OF CAl'E COIX)NY. 148 The colonial trade, which normally increaaes from decade to decade at a more rapid rat« than the population itsolf, has nevortheless temporarily decreased since the exjwrtation of wool and ostrich feathers hoa been chtn-ktHl by long droughts, reckless s}M>culation, changes of fashion, and competition. IJut notwithstanding this falling off, the movement of the foreign exchanges is still relatively equal to that of Fnince, that is, allowing for the immense difference between the popula- tions of the two countries. >' early the whole of the foreign trade of the Cape is carried on with England, and this is specially true of the exports, while more than one-third of the rest is taken by the other British colonies. Direct com- merce of Franco with South Africa can scarcely be said to exist. Nearly the whole of tlie carrying trade of the colony is in the hatids of the English, the seaborne traffic being almost exclusively carried on by vessels flying the British flag. Although somewhat thrust aside and removed from the great highway between AVestern Europe and the East Indies by the o|>ening of the Suez Canal, the Cape is now visited by a greater number of ships than at the time when the Metliterninean was still separated from the Red Sea. The improvement in mechanical appliances now enables the ocean steamers plying between England and Australia to replenish their coal bunkers at Cape Town without putting into the inner harbour. The annual amount of British trade carried on in this way by vessels doubling the CajKJ without landing at the capital, is estimated at not less than £oO,000,00. Cape Town is also now connected with the telegraphic systems of Europe and the New World by means of a cable which touches at nearly all the chief seajwrts along the west coast of Africa. Another cable, which was the first to be laid down, connects the colony with Zanzibar, xVdcn, India, China, and Australasia. HiGiiWAYs OF Communication. In the interior of the country the network of communications is being rapidly developed. A great change has been effected since the days when the Boers movtMl about from district to district and carried out their great northwaid migrations under almost incredible difficulties. In the total absence of properly constructed roads they had to drive their cumbrous waggons over rough and irregular tracks, across sandy or stony wastes, muddy depressions, and thorny scrub. These huge vehicles were constructed of a hard elastic wood, grinding and groaning at every jolt. They hud to be made disproportionately wide to keep them from toppling over as they suddenly plunged into the wayside ruts, and they were divided like movable houses into various compartments for the provisions, the household utensils, the merchandise, and sleeping arrangements. A stout awning covered the whole, sheltering the inmates of these ambulatory dwellings Irom rain, wind, and dust. Usually several families migrated in concert, to afford each other mutual aid during rough weather, or in case of attack from the aborigines or from wild beasts. As many as eight or ten thus followed in a long line, winding over the truck and each drawn by a team of several pairs of oxen