Capetown, the capital of Cape Colony, is situated between the north base of Table Mountain and Table Bay, in 33° 55' S. lat., 18° 28' E. long. The view of the town from the bay, with the steep and massive mountain close behind it, is most imposing, and the first impression of it never leaves the mind of the voyager. Another prospect equally striking is that which opens up to the traveller who ascends behind Capetown, and gazes over it on Table Bay, with Capetown at his feet—its alternate gardens, vineyards, and villas, joining on in the outskirts to the pine and silver tree plantations which clothe the base of the mountain. This view reminds the traveller of the Bay of Naples. For years the early history of Capetown and of the Cape Colony were one and the same. The town was laid out by its Dutch founders with mathematical preciseness—the main thoroughfares crossing one another at right angles. The houses of old Capetown are mostly flat-roofed, oblong, and whitewashed. A few church towers rise here and there, and break the monotony, with an occasional factory or mill chimney, announcing that easy, slow-going days have gone past. The beautiful government gardens in the heart of Capetown serve the purposes of a public park. There is a fine oak avenue, extending for three-quarters of a mile through the gardens. Government House is on the left side of the gardens—from which there is a private entrance—the public entrance being from Grave Street. Government House is a heavy, irregular building, commenced more than a century and a half ago, and altered and added to from time to time. The gardens are about 14 acres in extent, and contain upwards of 8000 varieties of trees and plants. The new and handsome Houses of Parliament, which were opened in 1885, and the public library and museum, are close to the entrance of the avenue; and the Fine Arts Gallery in New Street also faces the Botanic Gardens. Stretching from the lower end of Grave Street to Adderley Street, there are the courts of law and the offices of the chief departments of the colonial government. Nearer the sea is the old castle, with its ravelins, glacis, ditches, gate, sally-port, &c. It is the military headquarters of the commander of the imperial forces and his staff. The Town-house in Greenmarket Square is another structure of the olden time. The headquarters in South Africa of the Standard Bank is in Adderley Street, and is a large and handsome stone building. The railway station in the same street is also a handsome structure. The old Commercial Exchange cannot hold its own in proximity to these more modern erections. The old 'stoeps,' or railed-off verandas, which formerly blocked the side pavements of Capetown, have now almost disappeared, and drainage and paving works are being carried on to complete the comfort of the residents. The city has a regular supply of water, and is well lighted with gas. There are spacious markets generally well supplied with fish, vegetables, and fruit; and public sales of produce, wool and feathers, &c., take place weekly. The public traffic of Capetown is carried on by omnibuses, tram-cars, and cabs.
The earliest conception of the Europeans in settling at the Cape was to make it a place of call for passing vessels belonging to their own nation. In a higher sense, the Capetown Harbour Board, in erecting the breakwater and constructing the docks, have made Table Bay a place of call for passing vessels of all nations. The docks were opened in 1870—the graving-dock in 1882. Convict labour has also been extensively used in these works. The graving-dock is of Paarl granite, and is of such dimensions as to facilitate the overhauling and repair of the largest vessels. The breakwater and docks reflect great credit on the colony, as a work of great utility, not only to imperial shipping, but also to the vessels of other countries. The total cost of the works engaged in by the Board has amounted to about £3,000,000, raised by the Board on the scnerity of the colonial government. The value of imports averaged about £3,000,000 annually in 1889-93; the annual value of imports fluctuated from £1,500,000 to £3,500,000. Of some 600 ships using the dock in a year, about 500 are British. The total shipping entering Capetown averages between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 a year.
The population of Capetown in 1875 was 33,239, and of its suburbs, 12,001; in 1891 the total had increased to 83,718. Of these a large number are Malays, descendants of African slaves, and natives of various parts of South Africa. The handicrafts are largely in the hands of these coloured people, as well as gardening, grooming, and wagon-driving. The environs of Capetown are charming. On one side there are the marine residences of Sea Point and Green Point; on the other, through umbrageous plantations, the railway line and carriage drives pass through a succession of sylvan residences and lovely villages nestling among the trees. There are few places where the man of business can so soon enjoy the quiet and coolness which the Cape merchant, leaving the dust and glare of Capetown, can reach in a few minutes, at Mowbray, Rondebosch, Claremont, and Wynberg.