so TRAVELS I IST 
menfe defarts into which I was going to pene-* 
trate. 
Cape Town is fituated on the declivity of the 
Table and Lion Hills. It forms an amphi-^ 
theatre, which extends as far as the borders of 
the fea. The ftreets, though broad, are not 
commodious^ becaufe they are ill paved. The 
houfes, which are almoft all built in an uniform 
manner,, are beautiful and fpacious ; but they 
are covered with reeds, to guard againft thofc 
accidents which might be occafioned by heavy 
•roofs during the time of hurricanes. The in- 
terior part of thefe houfes difplays no marks 
of frivolous luxury ; all the furniture i§ in a 
noble and fimple tafte : no tapeftries are ever 
feen in them; a few paintings and mirrors form 
their principal ornaments. The entrance to 
the city by the fquare of the fort prefents a 
noble view, efpecially as the greater part of the 
fine edifices have been eredled there. On one 
fide appears the Company's garden, in its full 
extent ; on the other the fountains, the ftreams 
of which flow down from the Table Hill 
through a fiflure, which Is perceived from the 
city and from the whole harbour. This water 
is excellent, and furnifhes abundance for the~ 
con- 
