VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
77 
son, here called tlicTronk. Having also paid our respects to tlse 
minister, the Rev. Mr. Voss, we returned to dinner. 
The efficacy of the warm baths is universally acknowledged by 
all who have used them, both inhabitants of this colony, and inva- 
lids from the East Indies. After dinner, we visited the hot springs. 
They are situated in an eminence behind the new bathing-house. 
The principal one proceeds from an opening, about a foot and a 
half wide, the depth of which is not yet ascertained. The temper- 
ature of the water is 118" Fahrenheit at the spring, and 112 in the 
bath. Between two hot springs a cold spring rises, which has wa- 
ter of a different quality, and comparatively extremely cold. The 
soil on this part of the mountain is a black mould, as fine as pow- 
der. Shrubs and plants cover it and prevent its being carried oft* 
by the wind. It is but shallow, and lies upon a crust of iron-stone 
of singular texture, porous, bulbous, and its fissures in some parts 
filled with a glistening substance. Most of it appears to have 
passed through fire; here and there shoAving decomposition, and 
yielding a bright yellow ochre. I have called it a crust of iron- 
stone, because it sounds hollow under one's feet, as though it co- 
vered a vacuum, which, however, is not Dr. liassner's opinion, but 
rather, that it is elastic. In one place, an opening or chasm ap- 
pears, which is said to have been occasioned by an eruption. On 
our return, we visited the old baths, higher up the hill. 
In the evening, Dr. Hassner gave me a detailed description of 
the loss of the Arniston East Indiaman off Cape Aguillas, which 
happened about the end of May 1815. The catastrophe was ter- 
rific. About three hundred souls perished, among whom were Lord 
and Lady Molesworth, with other persons of high character. I 
could hardly fall asleep, so deep was the impression made upon 
my mind by the Doctor's eloquent account of the horror of this 
scene. 
24th. After breakfast, Brother Thomsen accompanied me to 
some eminences in front of the buildings, of which, and of the vil- 
lage, I made a sketch. On my return, we were visited by Mr. 
