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 CAPE COLONY 745 and elephants are rare; the elephant teeth which form a considerable part of the exports are mainly brought from beyond the Orange river. Leopards and hyaenas are still numerous in the eastern districts. The Cape buffalo (bos Gaffer), one of the largest and most untamable of the genus, is still met with. Antelopes of many species are numerous on the great plains, where after a rainfall, which gives life to vege- tation, herds of many thousands are sometimes encountered. Eagles, vultures, and other birds of prey are found. In the Great Karroo and along the skirts of the northern desert ostriches are abundant, often roaming in large flocks. Small birds are numerous, with beautiful plu- mage, but deficient in song. Lizards and other amphibia are abundant in the rivers; the ser- pent tribes are numerous and venomous. Some of the rivers are well stocked with fish ; but gen- erally they are not abundant, probably because many of the streams are so frequently dried up. A particular variety of locust (gryllus devasta- tor), which is bred in the northern desert re- gion, in some years commits great ravages ; this forms a considerable part of the food of the Bushmen and Hottentots. But the great hunt- ing region of S. Africa, described by Gordon Cumming, Baldwin, Andersson, and others, lies mainly N". and E. of the limits of Cape Colony. The trade is mainly with Great Brit- ain. In 1869 the total imports were 1,819,- 723, of which 1,326,531 were from Great Britain and her colonies; exports, 2,681,075, of which 2,352,344 were to Great Britain and colonies. The total imports from Great Brit- ain in 1866 amounted to 1,399,024, consisting of apparel and haberdashery, 377,452 ; cotton goods, 333,840; woollen goods, 83,870; lea- ther goods, 57,270 ; beer and ale, 47,528; iron, 43,307; hardware, 42,069; linen goods, 21,- 802 ; books, 20,443. The exports to Great Brit- ain in 1866 were in all 2,719,323, consisting of wool, 2,179,509; hides and skins, 159,265; ostrich feathers, 105,973 ; copper ore, 73,- 572; cotton, 29,406; sugar, 32,560; ele- phants' teeth, 19,779 ; coffee, 12,854; rice, 15,868; aloes, 12,448; wine, 2,010. In 1870 the exports to Great Britain were 2,433,- 697; imports from Great Britain, 1,547,029. The quantity of wool exported to Great Britain increased annually from 18,377,644 Ibs., valued at 1,316,976, in 1864, to 34,225,569 Ibs., valu- ed at 2,105,416, in 1867; from which they fell to 28,813,583, valued at 1,835,390, in 1870. The present form of government dates essen- tially from 1853, but was somewhat modified by the act of parliament, 1865, incorporating British Caftraria with Cape Colony. The exe- cutive power is vested in the governor and an executive council appointed by the crown. The governor lias a salary of 5,000, besides 1,000 as her majesty's high commissioner, and 500 allowance for a country residence. The legisla- tive power rests in a legislative council of 21 members, 10 of whom are elected for 10 years ami 11 for 5 years ; and a house of assembly of 66 members elected for 5 years. Mem- bers of the council must possess real estate to the value of 2,000, or movable property to the value of 4,000. With the exception of salaried officers and a few others, any colonist is eligible to the assembly. Voters must have an income from property, salary, or wages, of from 25 to 50. The military force consists of about 6,000 men, including a detachment of royal artillery, a party of the royal engineers, and a regiment of mounted riflemen, termed the Cape cavalry, the privates and non-commis- sioned officers of which are mainly Hottentots. The naval force is under the command of a rear admiral, with authority over the E. and W. coasts of Africa, Mauritius, and St. Helena. The revenue is derived in great part from du- ties on imports ; in 1869 it amounted to 593,- 245. The expenditures are mainly for interest on the public debt, the police, jails, and con- victs ; in 1868 they amounted to 656,172. The public debt in 1867 was 1,101,650, most of it bearing interest at 6 per cent. It is proposed to pay the whole by instalments, extending to the year 1900. The Dutch Reformed church includes the entire Dutch population and many of the colored inhabitants, and is the predomi- nant sect. The church of England has two bishoprics. The Wesleyans form a considera- ble sect. There are also Independents, Luther- ans, and a few Scotch Presbyterians. There are about 6,000 Roman Catholics, who have two bishops, one residing at Cape Town, the other at Graham's Town. All these denomina- tions receive aid from government. The entire amount expended for religious purposes in 1864 was 15,270. There is a good system of pub- lic education. In every district there is a free school sustained by government. There are two colleges, the South African college, found- ed in 1829, and the Bishop's college. The sum expended for educational purposes in 1864 was 17,510. There are also a number of mission- ary schools. The colony is held to be impor- tant for Great Britain because it is the key to the Indian ocean, and forms a depot where troops can be collected and forwarded to In- dia, the eastern archipelago, and Australia. For administrative purposes the settled part is divided into the following districts or counties : Albany, Albert, Aliwal, Beaufort, British Caffraria, Cape, Clan William, Colesberg, Cra- dock, George, Graaf Reynet, Malmesbury, Paar, Picketberg, Queenstown, Richmond, Rivers- dale, Somerset, Stellenbosch, Zwellendam, Uitenhage, Victoria, Worcester. Besides these there are the unoccupied regions still bearing the names of Little Namaqua Land and Great Bushmen Land, bordering the Orange river on the north ; and S. of these, but N. of the Nieuw- veld range, a large district named Victoria West, in which are a few settlements. It seems probable from the statement of Herodotus that the Cape of Good Hope was sailed round by the Phoenicians about 600 B. C. ; but it was practically unknown to the civilized world un-