io8 TRAVELS IN 
to vlfit this point, but they have arrived at it 
either by the fea-fide or by the route of Con- 
fiantia and Falfe-Eay. I, on the contrary, was 
defirous of finding my way thither along the 
top of the mountains themfelves. 
So new an enterprife feemed to promife me 
curious and unknown objefis. I had nothing 
to dread on my journey but extreme fatigue, 
and the confideratioa of fuch an inconveni- 
ence was httle calculated to flop me. 
A friend lent me two negroes, to w^hom I 
added a Hottentot, and I divided among them 
the labour of carrying my camp equipage, my 
carbine, a cloak, powder and (hot, fome dried 
provifions, and, in fliort, what appeared to me 
to be abfolutely indifpenfable ; for, being obli- 
ged continually to afcend and defcend, it Vv^as 
neceffary that we ihould have no incumbrance. 
As for me, I carried my double-barrelled fufee, 
had two piftols in my girdle, and was followed 
by three dogs, the choiceft of my pack. 
It vvas thus equipped, and favoured by the 
moft beautiful weather, that I repaired to the 
fummit of the Table mountain. 
Seen from afar, and at a certain diftance, 
this mountain feems to terminate in a fiat top j 
and 
