VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 33 
relation to the journey and the general slate of the Mission, they 
will, of course, form no part of this narrative. 
After dinner, Mr. Hancke proposed a walk, to see the town. 
Passing through several streets, we entered the Governor's, late the 
Company's, gardens, which aiford to the inhabitants a pleasant pro- 
menade. The avenues are planted with oak of luxuriant foliage, 
skirted on each side by hedges of myrtle. The ground is laid out 
in squares, enclosed between high hedges. AVilhin a stone fence, 
several ostriches and other birds, and in a separate building, a lion, 
lioness, a tyger, and two or three more wild animals were kept. 
Leaving the gardens, we walked to the foot of Table-Mountain. 
Already before we landed, we had oijserved a while misl creeping up 
from the south, through the opening i )etween tlie Devirs-liill and tlie 
flat summit of Table-Mountam. Tiiis had now nearl}- covered the 
former, and was fast spreading along the rocky sides anfl siimmit 
of the latter, carrying with it a blast of wind, which in a short 
time grew so strong, that we could hardly stem its force. The 
change from the most' clear, calm, and warm weather, to storm 
and fog, was almost instantaneous ; and before we could reach any 
kind of shelter, we were driven along by the gale, shivering with 
cold, and glad to make the best of our way towards home. The 
storm proved also a great annoyance to several groups of males 
and females, chiefly slaves, and other people of colour, met on the 
common, carousing, playing, or dancing, as is usual here on Sun- 
days and holidays. The variety of faces, complexions, and dresses, 
seen among the common people, is very striking. The greater 
part are black or tawny. Not many genuine Hottentots, but va- 
rious mixtures between Hottentots and slaves or other natives of 
the Mozambique shore, Malays, and negroes, have here their re- 
sidence, and are known by tlie general name of bastards. Many 
are Maliomedans ; but there appears little religious animosity 
among them, every one doing what seemeth good in his own 
eyes. As to the Christian inhabitants, the English, Dutcli 
Calvinists, and German Lutherans, possess the churches; the 
p 
