VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 13 
parentlj stony and barren; but towards the Avest, much wood co- 
vers the more gentle slopes. Two promontories form a small l^ay, 
with a fruitful coast, a town and landing place. The road is unsafe 
in westerly winds. About noon, we were again becalmed, while a 
sail to windward enjoyed a delightful breeze. 
29th. During the night, we had made some progress, and but for 
baffling winds in the vicinity of these islands, sliould now have 
reaped the benefit of the trade-wind. After breakfast, a heavy squall 
came on from the west, with violent rain, which put us in considerable 
motion. When it subsided, we held our usual Sunday's worship, 
but had hardly finished, when we Avere assailed by another squall, 
more lasting than the former. Above two hundred gallons of rain- 
water were collected, and the ducks being let out of their co{)ps, en- 
joyed a splashing. There was now a sufficient ([uantity of water for 
all our live stock, which hitherto had been served rather too spar- 
ingly, considering the heat of the wciilher. This last s([uall brought 
on a fresh north-east breeze, and our captain began to hope, that 
we had at length gained the trade-wind. AJl sails were set, and we 
proceeded with great swiftness, overtaking a hirge bark and a brig, 
the former English and the latter Portuguese: towards sun-set, our 
hopes again proved vain; the wind veered round to the south, and 
dark clouds rose, with much liglitning, in the western quarter. 
30th. The AA'Cstern horizon appeared uncommonly gloomy, and 
an almost incessant deep roar of thunder threatened an approacli- 
ino; storm. After some doubt as to the course the clouds would 
take, they began to rise swiftly towards us. All hands were sum- 
moned on deck, and the ship prepared to meet the worst; but the 
storm was more terrific in its approach than in its presence. The 
sea was indeed for some time extremely agitated, and rose in con- 
siderable waves. Some strong flashes of lightning, accompanied 
by thunder not very loud, iikimined our cabin, into which the 
heavy rain had driven us; but in about an hour, the wind fell, and we 
were yet more annoyed by the return of the old calm, wheu the 
ship, becoming unmanageable b}'^ the rudder, w^as pushed about 'm 
