328 TRAVELS IN 
probable, the stratified mountains of sand-stone continue to 
run ; whilst, on the opposite continent, the rocky shore ex- 
tends from the Vine to the southernmost Cape, because the 
whole of the mountains there are composed of durable 
granite. 
On approaching the upper part of the mountains, the wea- 
ther became suddenly boisterous, and to a perfect calm and 
mild atmosphere succeeded, in the course of a few hours, a 
violent hurricane that roared through the vaulted rocks, and a 
cold and piercing air. Yet in this elevated situation, a small 
spring of water had tempted a peasant to erect his cottao-e, 
around which was just as much ground as was sufficient to 
afford a supply of bread to its possessor. Solitary and 
wretclicd as the hovel appeared to be, it was crowded with . 
persons of both sexes, in the height of gaiety. The owner of 
the place had just returned from the Cape, and had brought 
with him a supply of brandy, with which they were making 
merry. The poorest peasant, on his annual visit to the Cape, 
never fails to lay in, among other articles of purchase, a cask 
of sopie, and this has little rest day or night till it be ex- 
hausted. Friends and strangers are equally welcome to it as 
long as it will run. Among the present company were two 
men whom, from their countenances, I could perceive to be 
Europeans. They had been long enough in the country to 
forget their own language, but not to have learned that of the 
Dutch, so that in fact they scarcely had the means of making 
themselves intelligible to any one. The one was an Irishman, 
the other English, and both were probably deserters from the 
army or the navy. The first had taken up the profession of 
