FIRST JOURNEY. 
IS generally expelled, and when moft of the plants are in flower; ^777- 
and, for this undertaking, I had prepared myfelf by almoft daily v— -n — 
excurllons, which afforded me fome general knowledge of the 
future theatre of my fpeculations. 
On the fifth of Odober 1777, the day before our departure, 
we were entertained with obferving a very uncommon pheno- 
menon, which the people afcribed to a fevere north-weft wind 
at fea. Such a prodigious number of fifli were driven into 
Table Bay, particularly Porpoifes and Sword-fifli, that the whole 
bay was entirely covered with them, and apparently it might 
have been croffed on their backs. Near the edge of the bay 
the water was red with their blood ; and feveral hundreds of 
the fidi were driven on fhore, which the people cut up for oil.. 
On the fixth, having fent our waggon on before us, Captain 
Gordon and myfelf left the Cape TWn, and proceeded along 
the bottom of the Table Mountain, leading towards Conllan- 
tia. We dined at the houfe of Mr. Becker, which is only 
about two miles diftant from Conftantia, beine well fituated and 
flickered from the north-weft and fouth-eaft winds. This place 
produces excellent Wine, though the fituation is rather low. 
Conftantia is, however, preferable to all other parts of this 
diftrift, not only becaufe it is rather more elevated, but on ac- 
count of the nature of the foil, which is a light fandy loam.. 
The whole country abounds with the Protea Argentea, and 
many forts of Leucadendrons, and alfo Ericas and Gnapha- 
liums ; many fpecimens of which have been fent to Europe. 
This night we refted at a place called Sand Fleet, the pro- 
