Tell my mother that a man would get from 2l. to 4l. a month wages,
with board, lodging, &c., all found, and his wife from 1l. 10s. to
2l. a month and everything found, according to abilities and
testimonials.
Wages are enormous, and servants at famine price;
emigrant ships are CLEARED OFF in three days, and every ragged
Irish girl in place somewhere. Four pounds a month, and food for
self, husband, and children, is no uncommon pay for a good cook;
and after all her cookery may be poor enough. My landlady at
Capetown gave that. The housemaid had ONLY 1l. 5s. a month, but
told me herself she had taken 8l. in one week in 'tips'. She was
an excellent servant. Up country here the wages are less, but the
comfort greater, and the chances of 'getting on' much increased.
But I believe Algoa Bay or Grahamstown are by far the best fields
for new colonists, and (I am assured) the best climate for lung
diseases. The wealthy English merchants of Port Elizabeth (Algoa
Bay) pay best. It seems to me, as far as I can learn, that every
really WORKING man or woman can thrive here.
My German host at Houw Hoek came out twenty-three years ago, he
told me, without a 'heller', and is now the owner of cattle and
land and horses to a large amount. But then the Germans work,
while the Dutch dawdle and the English drink. 'New wine' is a
penny a glass (half a pint), enough to blow your head off, and
'Cape smoke' (brandy, like vitriol) ninepence a bottle - that is the
real calamity. If the Cape had the grape disease as badly as
Madeira, it would be the making of the colony.
I received a message from my Malay friends, Abdool Jemaalee and
Betsy, anxious to know 'if the Misses had good news of her
children, for bad news would make her sick'. Old Betsy and I used
to prose about young Abdurrachman and his studies at Mecca, and
about my children, with more real heartiness than you can fancy.
We were not afraid of boring each other; and pious old Abdool sat
and nodded and said, 'May Allah protect them all!' as a refrain; -
'Allah, il Allah!'
LETTER IX
Caledon, Feb. 21st.
This morning's post brought your packet, and the announcement of an
extra mail to-night - so I can send you a P.S. I hear that Capetown
has been pestilential, and as hot as Calcutta. It is totally
undrained, and the Mozambiquers are beginning to object to acting
as scavengers to each separate house. The 'vidanges' are more
barbarous even than in Paris. Without the south-easter (or 'Cape
doctor') they must have fevers, &c.; and though too rough a
practitioner for me, he benefits the general health. Next month
the winds abate, but last week an omnibus was blown over on the
Rondebosch road, which is the most sheltered spot, and inhabited by
Capetown merchants.
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