60 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
was thus completely incapacitated from even 
trying to recover them, if such had been pos- 
sible. In connection also with this, we remem- 
ber once hearing the simple question put at 
Capetown, " What is the meaning of all those 
different coloured badges, worn by the gentle- 
men of the Cape round their hats ? — some blue, 
some brown, some green;" alluding to the 
different coloured veils, worn for the purpose of 
shielding the eyes from the gravel during the 
South-Easters. It is, of course, needless to 
say, that the first of these which occurred af- 
terwards, fully explained, not only the mean- 
ing of this practice, but likewise the laugh 
with which the interrogation had been saluted. 
This S. E. wind at the Cape extends to the 
Northward and "Westward; whilst, out of its fo- 
cus, the winds are moderate and variable. It 
has been supposed, that the winds at and off 
the Cape, are less boisterous now than formerly : 
this, however, is a fallacy. They blow there 
now with such force at times, that the largest 
and best sailing ship known could not beat up 
coast against a full South-easter. 
This wind is certainly local, and has its origin 
very near the Cape ; most possibly, some pecu- 
liarity, in connection with the formation of the 
Table Mountain, turns it into this peculiar chan- 
nel. That it is a local wind is certain, from 
