320 
JOURNAL OF A 
for the favour granted to his wife, whom he earnestly wished to fol- 
low, in obtaining the same privilege. This was rather unusual; 
for in general, they cannot well bear a partner to precede, in any 
advance in the church. During the night, the gale increased to a 
violent storm. It blew down the vine-bower before the dwelling- 
house, but did no more damage to the new building. 
29th. Carl Stompje set out on his return, notwithstanding the un- 
favourable appearance of the weather, loaded with letters for Gna- 
denthal. During the day, it rained and hailed much, and towards 
evening, we were alarmed for the safety of our roofs. A violent 
squall, with lightning, thunder, and hail, some of the stones being as 
large as a walnut, passed over us. 'Jlie hail seemed to be whirled 
about by the violence of the wind, and tore a part of the reed- 
thatch from the roof The cessation of the storm was almost instan- 
taneous. About midnight all was still. Till then, the lightning 
was remarkably vivid. 
31st. The Governor called here in his way to the Groote Post. 
His Excellency informed us, that during the late violent gale, the 
Rcvolutionaire frigate, the Zebra, and some more ships, in Simon's 
bay, had been driven on shore, as likewise two ships in Table bay. 
This is an uncommon effect of a storm at the Cape, for, as the land 
is very high, between Simon's and Table bay, the one is generally 
considered safe, when the wind sets into the other; but on this oc- 
casion, the storm was more like a hurricane, the wind shifting se- 
veral times to different points. 
