330 
TRAVELS IN 
are not well fheltered from their baneful gufts, which, for about 
fix months, almoft conftantly blow from that quarter. Nor is 
the human conftitution more proof againft the painful fenfation 
of the fouth-eaft winds of the Cape than the plants. Like the 
fouth-eaft Sirocco of Naples they relax and fatigue both the 
body and mind, rendering them utterly incapable of adtivity or 
energy. During their continuance the town appears to be de- 
ferted. Every door and window is clofed to keep out the duft 
and the heat, both of which diminifh with the continuance of 
the gale ; the air gradually cools, and every fmall pebble and 
particle of duft in the courfe of four- and-twenty hours is carried 
into the fea. 
The neceflity of proteding the fruit groves, vineyards, and 
gardens from thefe winds, has led thofe colonifts who dwell on 
the nearer fide of the firft chain of mountains, for they are not 
much felt beyond them, to divide that portion of their grounds, 
fo employed, by oak fkreens, a plant that grows here much 
more rapidly than in Europe ; but their corn-lands are entirely 
open. A Cape boor beftows no more labour on his farm than 
is unavoidable ; and as grain is moftly reaped before the fouth- 
eaft winds are fairly fet in, the enclofure of the arable land did 
not appear to be neceflary, and was confequently omitted. 
The climate of the Cape is remarkably affeded by local cir- 
cumftances. In the fummer months there is at leaft from 6 to 
10 degrees of Fahrenheit's fcale in the difference of temperature 
between Cape Town and Wynberg, whofe diftance is only about 
feven or eight miles, owing to the latter being on the wind- 
ward 
