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novelties beguiled a rough heavy road, until our arrival at Cape- 

 town, situated at the foot of the Table-mountain; near a large 

 bay full of ships, opening to the ocean and several rocky islands. 



The Cape of Good Hope forms the western part of Bay Falso, 

 and terminates the south point of the African continent. It was 

 formerly called Cabo dos Tormentos, the Cape of Storms, a name 

 expressive of its situation amidst contending elements. John king 

 of Portugal changed it to Boa Esperanza, when De Gama, after 

 conquering all difficulties, doubled this formidable barrier, and 

 opened the passage to India. It is situated in the latitude of 34° 

 24' south, and 18° 30' east longitude. The variation of the com- 

 pass was then 19° west; mariners pay great attention to this varia- 

 tion, it being the surest guide for the longitude in the voyage from 

 India. The north-west winds generally prevail from May until 

 the beginning of September; the south-east during the other 

 months. The latter are cold, dry, and unpleasant, but the atmos 

 phere clear and healthy. The climate may be called temperate, the 

 heats seldom last long, and it rarely freezes in winter, although 

 the summits of the interior mountains are frequently covered with 

 snow. The barometer varies from 2/ to 28 inches chiefly in the 

 winter; in which season the thermometer at sunrise is from 40 to 

 50 degrees, and at noon from 6*5 to 70; in summer it rises from 

 70 to 90 degrees, and sometimes approaches 100. 



The view of this stupendous promontory from the sea presents 

 a scene of massy rocks and barren mountains: that, from its flat 

 surface, called the Table-land is most conspicuous, and seen from a 

 great distance. The fatigue and difficulty of its ascent are amply 

 repaid by the extensive prospects from the summit; where the 



VOL. II, z 



