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310 SAIL TO THE NORTH. [1829. 



anchors ahead. But the moment they are outside of the bay, they find 

 nothing more than a single or double-reef breeze. 



I should advise navigators who enter Table Bay with the intention 

 of remaining any length of time, to anchor well under the western 

 shore, and to strike top-gallant yards and masts ; always placing the 

 two best anchors to the south-south-east, and giving the ship the whole 

 length of both cables, which will cause the anchors to bed themselves, 

 and better ensure the ship's holding on, or not dragging. 



As regards a geological description of this portion of South Africa, 

 the reader can expect nothing from my pen, in addition to the many 

 elaborate strictures already before the public, by such scientific 

 voyagers and travellers as Barrow, Patterson, Campbell, Colebrook, 

 Collin, Kolben, Sparrman, Le Vaillant, Thunberg, Valentia, Peuchet, 

 Semple, Perceval, and a host of others. These writers have all care- 

 fully examined and particularly described the mountains, rocks, mine- 

 rals, vegetables, animals, &c. of the Cape of Good Hope, and to their 

 works I refer the reader ; to a synopsis in the Edinburgh Encyclo- 

 pedia, under this article ; and to M. Malte Brun's System of Geog- 

 raphy. 



April 25tk. — We left Table Bay on Saturday, the 25th, and 

 shaped our course to the north, for Angra Pequena, with a fresh wind 

 from south-south-east, and hazy weather. In the morning previous to 

 our departure, the tablecloth was spread on the mountain, and I had 

 an opportunity of seeing the mist collect and arrange itself about the 

 summit of Table Mountain. 



But this phenomenon presents itself only when a strong, bold south- 

 east wind may be expected, which must condense the aqueous vapour 

 rising from the warm current, and carry it towards the land. During 

 the short stay I made at the Cape, this was the only opportunity I had 

 of observing this vapour advancing from the ocean. It came rapidly 

 over the surface of the sea, which it entirely concealed, while the air 

 above was perfectly clear. It came on with much force and velocity, 

 soon reached the land, and gradually enveloped the coast. It then 

 ascended the mountain, where it remained apparently stationary, 

 almost entirely covering the Table Mountain with one vast sheet of 

 white fleecy clouds ; alternately increasing and decreasing on the side 

 of the mountain that overhangs Cape Town, and often descending 

 nearly half-way down the mountain, as if in mockery of human curiosity 

 and imbecility. 



I was surprised to see this tablecloth, or sheet of clouds, remaining 

 stationary on the mountain after the south-east wind had set in with 

 great violence, until I recollected the vast height of this eminence, 

 which is estimated at more than thirty-six hundred feet above the level 

 of the sea, its precipitous sides, and the extensive surface of its top. 

 Nor is it strange that it should rarely descend (except when the wind 

 blows almost a hurricane), if we take into consideration the situation 

 of the ground beneath, — sheltered, warm, and the site of a large town, 

 from which a current of hot air must be constantly ascending. 



When we got under way, which was at one, P. M., the wind came 

 down the mountains into the bay in tremendous gusts ; and blowed with 



