20 Earthquakes at the Cape of Good Hope. 



of stucco, like to what may yet be seen on a few, and in 

 some instances, fragments of those had fallen, and the people 

 were here and there busy in taking down others. I heard also 

 that an old chimney or two had tumbled. No cracks or 

 fissures were observed in the ground in Cape Town. 



There were (as might be expected) a variety of reports in 

 circulation with regard to what was seen and heard, most of 

 which were unworthy of attention ; yet I cannot omit remark- 

 ing that many persons concurred in affirming that they had 

 seen large meteors, witnessed their explosions, and experienced 

 the instantaneous shocks, and heard the reports caused thereby. 

 In occurrences like the above, the unadorned narrative of the 

 simplest people is found frequently the most useful in order 

 to come to a matter of fact ; wherefore I am induced to give 

 a statement, as it was made unanimously by several slaves, 

 who resided at a house above Green-point, near the corner of 

 Lion's Head. They stated " that they saw something like a 

 wagon illuminated by numerous lights proceed swiftly from 

 the opposite side of Table Bay, or from the direction of 

 Saldanha Bay ; that it ascended half-way up Lion's Head, and 

 then turned towards the Marine Villa ; that it descended again 

 and burst when near the sea, and that immediately thereon 

 they felt a shock and heard a tremendous noise." 



In ('ape Town several people had seen a flash, wherefore, 

 they took the first shock and noise for an uncommon loud 

 clap of thunder, and were only alarmed by the repetition 

 thereof. A farmer on the road near Rondebosch, stated "that 

 he saw a meteor or fire ball, proceed towards and strike the 

 Devil's Hill," and that immediately thereafter the second shock 

 (if I recollect right) occurred. 



At about half-past twelve o'clock, aloud report or clap was 

 heard, and a shock was felt. The sky at that time was very 

 clear, and the weather warm ; with light airs from N. W. 

 In the afternoon a little before five o'clock, a rumbling, 

 protracted, and moderately loud sound was heard, but no shock 

 was perceived. A few fleecy stationary clouds were observed, 

 which disappeared in the evening. Many inhabitants were 

 busy in pitching tents, and some in placing wagons, in the 

 squares of Cape Town, in which they slept during some weeks. 

 The night was very fine and calm, the sky without clouds, 

 and the stars shone uncommonly clear. 



Much interest was excited by what was said to have 

 been observed at Jan Biesjes Kraal, and at Blauweberg's 

 Valley. It was stated, " that the earth had opened, that vol- 

 canic eruptions had taken place, that craters had been formed, 

 and that lava had issued !" Numbers of persons flocked to 

 spots, and I went also on the 9th to examine them, 

 but what I found fell considerably short of what I expected 



