DEPAKTURE FROM ENGLAND. 23 



found, to our dismay, in addition to a number of other 

 passengers, several hundred emigrants, destined to the Cape 

 of Good Hope. Instead, however, of these people proving, 

 as we had at first anticipated, a great annoyance, we found 

 that they contributed considerably toward enlivening and 

 diverting us during a long and tedious passage. 



I am not, however, about to inflict upon my readers the 

 particulars of our voyage to the Cape. Suffice it to say 

 that, after a few days' delay at Plymouth, we put to sea in 

 half a gale of wind, on the 7th of April, 1850, and experi- 

 enced subsequently the usual vicissitudes of rough and 

 smooth weather. At one time we were carried by a gentle 

 breeze past the lovely island of Madeira, and so near as to 

 distinguish its pleasant vineyards, and neat, pretty cottages, 

 scattered over the mountain side to the veiy summit ; at 

 another we were driven so far westward by gales and ad- 

 verse winds as to sight the coast of South America, until, 

 at length, on the night of the 23d of June, the much-wished- 

 for land was descried, and on the following noon we anchored 

 safely in Table Bay, after a passage of eighty-six days — a 

 time at least a third longer than the average. How truly 

 welcome to my eyes, as we sailed into the bay, was the fine 

 panoramic view of Cape-Town, with the picturesque Table 

 Mountain rising immediately in the background ! 



Upon landing, we took up our quarters at Welch's hotel. 

 Our design was to stay a short time at Cape-Town, in order 

 to obtain information respecting our intended route, and to 

 procure whatever was still wanting for our journey. We then 

 proposed to proceed by land northward, taking the course 

 of the Trans- Vaal river. It will presently be seen, however, 

 that our desires in this respect were entirely frustrated. 



To give to an English reader a full description of Cape- 

 Town would, indeed, be a superfluous task. I fear, also, 

 that in some respects I should be found to differ fi-om. other 

 travelers. 



