Page 534
An.1691
The Dutch Garden at the Cape.
low, but well built, with Stone-walls; there be- ing plenty of Stone, drawn out of a Quarry close by.
On the backside of the Town, as you go to- wards the Mountains, the Dutch East-India Com- pany have a large House, and a stately Garden, walled in with a high Stone Wall.
This Garden is full of divers sorts of Herbs, Flowers, Roots, and Fruits, with curious spacious Gravel-walks and Arbors; and is watered with a Brook that descends out of the Mountains: which being cut into many channels, is conveyed into all parts of the Garden. The Hedges which make the Walks are very thick, and 9 or 10 foot high: They are kept exceeding neat and even by continual pruning. There are lower Hedges within these again, which serve to separate the Fruit-trees from each other, but without shading them: and they keep each sort of Fruit by them- selves, as Apples, Pears, abundance of Quinces, Pomgranats, &c. These all prosper very well, and bear good Fruit, especially the Pomgranat. The Roots and Garden-herbs have also their di- stinct places, hedged in apart by themselves; and all in such order, that it is exceeding pleasant and beautiful. There are a great number of Negro Slaves brought from other parts of the World; some of which are continually weeding, pruning, trimming, and looking after it. All Strangers are allowed the liberty to walk there; and by the Servants leave, you may be admitted to taste of the Fruit: but if you think to do it clandestinely, you may be mistaken, as I knew one was when I was in the Garden, who took 5 or 6 Pomgranats, and was espy'd by one of the Slaves, and threat- ned to be carry'd before the Governour: I believe it cost him some Money to make his peace, for I heard no more of it. Further up from the Sea, beyond