Slavery had recently been abolished and Lady Duff often comes across poignant examples of the tragic legacy it had left. In wanting to experience the full culture of the Cape Lady Duff leads the reader through many events that to her middle-class European eyes were wonders from another world.

There is her observation of a Muslim funeral, her deliberate socializing with Muslims (who were wildly held to be poisoning the Christians), the visit to the missionary-school, are all seen through her sharp eyes and social charm