114 TRAVELS IN 
projeflion formed by the mountains towards" 
the Cape, and at the Cape itfelf, deadened the 
greater part of its force. It cannot be faid,, 
therefore, that the colle61ion of clouds on the 
fouth-weft, which are accumulated over the 
Table mountain, and v/Iiich thence precipitate 
themfelves over the town, occafion there thofe 
furious blafts of wind, fo inconvenieat and at 
the fame time fo falubrious to the inhabitants of 
the Cape ; for I havcfeen the greateft tranquil- 
lity prevail, not only in the town, but in all 
that part of the harbour, w^hich, being dppofite 
to the diredion ofthe mountain, muft naturally 
flicker them on that fide. During the whole 
time I refided at the Cape, I indeed always re- 
marked that the hurricane was never by any 
means fo violent when the clouds remained in a- 
ftate of ftagnation, and, as it w^ere, fufpended 
over the fummit of the mountain : the fame 
circumftance happens in all the interior parts 
of Africa ; and every where, in fliort, v/here 
great heights oppofe a barrier to this impetu- 
ous wind. 
About one in the afternoon/ judging that 
the cloud had attained its maximum of increafe, 
I retired from it in order to furvey it in a more 
I favourable 
