190 



in casks containing twenty gallons, at twelve dollars the cask. 

 The hospitable proprietor had lately purchased this estate, with 

 a good house, excellent wine-vaults, gardens, vineyard, oak-planta- 

 tions, and an extensive tract of contiguous waste land, for six thou- 

 sand rix-dollars. 



I do not particularize the aquatic excursions we made to Pen- 

 guin island, and other rocks near the Cape, inhabited by penguins, 

 seals, and sea-fowl. We sometimes extended them to a greater 

 distance, to have a better view of the Table-land and its conti- 

 guous mountains, which I had only seen before through the me- 

 dium of a dreadful tempest. The scenery around Bay Falso, and 

 that of Table-bay is singularly striking. Captain Percival's ani- 

 mated description shall conclude my first visit to this grand boun- 

 dary of southern Africa. 



" The immense masses which rise in many places almost per- 

 pendicularly from the sea, and are lost among the clouds; the 

 vast oullies and caverns, which seem to sink to an immeasurable 

 depth amidst these stupendous mountains; the long-extended 

 ledges of rock, over which, in a few places, are scattered some 

 tufts of stunted trees and withered shrubs; the successive ridges 

 of white sandy hills, each of which appears like a valley to 

 the one by which it is surmounted; the terrible surf which is con- 

 tinually raging on the beach, along which these ridges are stretched; 

 with the spray, which is thrown to an immense height by the 

 waves recoiling from the more rocky parts; all these objects rushing 

 at once upon the eye of those who approach the Cape, pro- 

 duce an effect which can be but faintly conveyed by de- 

 scription. 



