12 
TRAVELS IN 
through a medium tliat is loaded with vapor, and moving 
along with great velocity. 
The approach of winter is first observed by the south-east 
winds becoming less frequent, less violent, and blowing clear, 
or without the fleecy cloud upon the mountain. Dews then 
begin to fall very heavy, and thick fogs hang in the mornings 
about the hills. The north-west winds feel raw and cold, 
and increase at length to a storm, with heavy rain, thunder, 
and lightning, continuing generally for two or three days. 
AVhen the weather brightens up, the mountains on the con- 
tinent appear with their tops buried in snow : the Table has 
also a sprinkling of snow or hail about the summit. At such 
times the thermometer, about sun-rise, stands in the town 
at 40°, and will probably ascend, towards the middle of the 
day, to 70°, making a variation in temperature of 30 degrees 
in the course of five or six hours. The general standard, 
however, for the three winter months may be reckoned from 
50° at sun-rise to 60° at noon ; and in the very middle of 
summer it varies from 70° to 90°, but generally rests for days 
together at 83° or 84°. It has been known to exceed 100*? 
in Cape Town ; but instances of so high a degree of tempera- 
ture have been very rare. The heat of sunuTier is seldom 
oppressive. The mornings are sometimes close and sultry, 
but the nights are always cool. The south-east breeze 
usually springs up towards the middle of the day, and dies 
away in the evening. When these winds blow with vio- 
lence, and the cloud appears on the mountain, their 
greatest strength is when the sun has passed the meridian 
