Climate of South Africa. 243 
shine several feet from the ground, does not much vary; but, 
in a screened situation, or at the surface of the ground, the 
heat of a sunny exposure, at noontide of a summer’s day, be- 
‘comes intense. That intensity of heat is, in strictness, super- 
ficial, scarcely penetrating an inch beneath the surface, nor 
reaching more than a foot or two above it. In calm weather, 
the range of reflected heat is somewhat greater. 
A few observations, extracted from my diary *, will prove 
this assertion, as applicable to the Cape. 
At the foot of the great mountains, and within the verge of 
their influence, the heat of the atmosphere over the valleys and 
* Jan. 15, 1822.—On the acclivity of Table Mountain, noon, wind S.E., a 
cloud on T. M. 
Temperature in sunshine, exposed to the wind, 700 
Surface of white sand, 113°; at depth of three inches in the sand, 95° ; 
hygrometric thermometer, 59°. 
Jan. 21.—Among sand-hills, on the isthmus between Table-Bay and 
False-Bay, 4 p. m., wind S.E., clouds on mountain summits. 
Sunshine, exposed to wind, 77°; surface of white sand, 98°; under the 
sand, at depth of three inches, 939. 
Jan. 22.—At Hottentots’ Holland, noon, wind E.S.E., light breeze. 
In the shade, exposed to the wind, 81° ; screened, 85° ; in glare, 87°; in 
sunshine, 3 to 5 feet from the ground, 920 to 900; surface of garden-mould, 
(black loam,) 1180 ; at depth of three inches in the mould, 92°; hygrometric 
thermometer, 700; dryness, 81° — 70°=11°. 
Jan. 25.—Same place, wind E.S.E. moderate, increasing; clouds on 
mountain summits. ‘ 
6 A.M. » dryness, 68° — 614° =640 
91 A. M. , in sunshine and wind, "78° ; ;surface of garden-mould, 88° ; at 
depth of three inches, 76°. 
Noon, in shade, 783° ; in glare, 835° ; on the ground (thermometer laid 
upon the surface,) 92° ; covered with garden mould, 100°; (thermometer 
was broken in thrusting it into the ground,) hyg. therm. 655°, ; 
24 P.M., shade, 81°; glare, 86°; hyg. therm. 67°. 
Jan. 27.—Same place, wind S.W., moderate. 
6 A.M., dryness, 71°—63° =8°. 
Noon, dryness, 84°—66°=18°. 
24 P.M., in sunshine, 92° ; garden-mould, 135° (thermometer laid upon 
the surface, 125°), hyg. therm., 66°, 
Feb. 17. Same place, wind S., moderate, mountain summits clear. 
5 A.M., dryness, 739 -—61°= 12. 
15 P.M., in shade, 929 ; surface, of black loam, 145° ; hyg. therm., 67°. 
Feb. 21.—Same place, wind S.E., brisk breeze, clouds above summits of 
mountain. i 
5% A.M., dryness, 62°-—54°=8°. 
2 P.M.,in shade, 79 ; sunshine, 84° ; surface of garden-mould, 98° ; hyg- 
therm. 619, 
R 2 
