26 



cloud is regulated probably by various circumstances ; among 

 others, by the strength of the wind and the temperature of the 

 air in the Table Valley. The influence of the latter is to be 

 inferred from the fact, that though the cloud never descends 

 farther than half way into the hot parched amphitheatre of 

 Capetown, you may observe it on the side of Camp's Bay 

 rolling down in immense volumes to the very sea, over which 

 it sometimes stretches farther than the eye can follow it. 



" I do not know any thing more singular than the aspect 

 of this cloud. It is continually rushing down to a certain 

 point on the side of the mountain, and there vanishing. 

 Fleeces are seen, from time to time, torn from its skirts by 

 the strength of the wind, floating and whirling, as it were, 

 in a vortex over the town, and then gradually dissolving away. 

 But the main body remains, as if nailed to the mountain, and 

 bids defiance to the utmost efforts of the gale. 



" Numerous batteries have been erected for the defence of 

 Capetown and its anchorage from hostile attacks. The 

 distance along the shore, from the mouth of the Salt River 

 to the extremity of Green Point, is about three miles, the 

 town standing in the centre; and a line, drawn between these 

 two points, would include the principal part of the anchoring 

 giound. 



" The mouth of the Salt River is protected by Craig's 

 Battery, with six eighteen-pounders, mounted en barbette. 

 Six hundred yards nearer the town, stands Fort-Knocke, a 

 strong well-finished star redoubt, surrounded by a palisaded 

 ditch, with a few pieces of heavy cannon, chiefly for the pur- 

 pose of scouring the beach. This is the point from which 

 the lines take their departure. The land-lines extend about 

 half a mile up the acclivity of the Devil's Hill, and, on their 

 way, connect three square redoubts, from which a cross fire 

 can be maintained with Fort-Knocke. But the chief anno}'- 

 ance to an enemy approaching by land, would be from three 

 blockhouses and a redoubt, erected high up on the face of 

 the hill, which support each other, and overlook every 

 avenue to the lines. The sea-lines sweep along the strand, 

 as far as the castle, a distance of five or seven hundred yards. 



