Cape Town observatory, built in
1820 and maintained by the British government. Rondebosch, 5 m. from
the city, contains some of the finest of the Dutch mansions in South
Africa. Less than a mile from the station is Groote Schuur, a typical
specimen of the country houses built by the Dutch settlers in the 17th
century. The house was the property of Cecil Rhodes, and was bequeathed
by him for the use of the prime minister of Federated South Africa. The
grounds of the estate extend up the slopes of Table Mountain. At
Newlands is Bishop's Court, the home of the archbishop of Cape Town.
More distant suburbs to the south-east are Constantia, with a famous
Dutch farm-house and wine farm, and Muizenberg and Kalk Bay, the two
last villages on the shore of False Bay. At Muizenberg Cecil Rhodes
died, 1902. Facing the Atlantic is Hout's Bay, 10 m. south-south-west of
Wynberg.

Most of the suburbs and the city itself are exposed to the south-east
winds which, passing over the flats which join the Cape Peninsula to the
mainland, reach the city sand-laden. From its bracing qualities this
wind, which blows in the summer, is known as the "Cape Doctor." During
its prevalence Table Mountain is covered by a dense whitish-grey cloud,
overlapping its side like a tablecloth.

_The Harbour._--Table Bay, 20 m. wide at its entrance, is fully exposed
to north and north-west gales. The harbour works, begun in 1860, afford
sheltered accommodation for a large number of vessels. From the west end
of the bay a breakwater extends north-east for some 4000 ft. East of the
breakwater and parallel to it for 2700 ft. is the South pier. From
breakwater and pier arms project laterally. In the area enclosed are the
Victoria basin, covering 64 acres, the Alfred basin of 8-1/2 acres, a
graving dock 529 ft. long and a patent slip for vessels up to 1500 tons.
There is good anchorage outside the Victoria basin under the lee of the
breakwater, and since 1904 the foreshore east of the south pier has been
reclaimed and additional wharfage provided. Altogether there are 2-1/2 m.
of quay walls, the wharfs being provided with electrical cranage. Cargo
can be transferred direct from the ship into railway trucks. Vessels of
the deepest draught can enter into the Victoria basin, the depth of
water at low tide ranging from 24 to 36 ft.

_Trade and Communication._--The port has a practical monopoly of the
passenger traffic between the Cape and England. Several lines of
ste