OF LA PEROUSE. 8l 



accompanied by a few officers. He was received 



^by the Council afTembled, who returned his viiit 



Jmoft immediately at the houfe of the French 



liurge cV Affaires, where he had alighted. 



The greater part of the officers took lodgings 



fhore. 



T t is well known that at the Cape of Good 

 ^oe the Dutch take a pleafure in accommo- 

 da-jg Grangers with lodgings at their houfes. 

 Thvjnolt ufual price is a piafter a day. I, with 

 fomeoi my fhipmates, took up my quarters at 

 the bub of M. De Lettre. 



TaWeMountain was enveloped in thick clouds 

 which cwered its fu?nmit ; a certain prognostica- 

 tion, ia ihis feafon. of violent winds from the 

 fouth-eafr, which generally blow for two or 

 three days together. Till the evening of next 

 day, the beeze was in facl: fo flrong, that du- 

 ring all tbit time no boat could have any com- 

 municatioi with the fhore. 



Although the clouds appeared ftationary upon 

 the fumnit of the mountain, even when the 

 wind blew with the greateft violence, they were 

 incefiantiy fhifting ; but the impulfe which they 

 received on quitting that height rendering them 

 more diflbluble, they difperfed in the air. Great 

 parts of theie clouds were often feen to break 

 and immediately to difappear. 

 The fouth-eafl: wind, fhortly after, began to 

 vol. i. c come 



