44 
VIEW FROM 
24- Jan. 
described ; and I shall, therefore, only enumerate the different parts 
which composed it. Nothing was to be seen from the south-east to 
the south and west, but the mountain itself : commencino; at the 
west, on the left hand, was a vast expanse of ocean ; and nearer, in 
the foreground, but much below us, the Lions Head. Far in sea, 
Dassen Island was visible ; and, beyond this, continuing the view 
onward towards the right, we could faintly see, in a hazy distance, 
that part of the western coast of Africa which lies near Saldanha Bay. 
Nearer, and more to the right, was Rubben Island ; north-eastward, on 
the opposite side of Table Bay, in the distance, Capocberg (Cotton 
Mountain), Koeberg (Cow Mountain), Dassenberg, Contreberg, Blaaiai'- 
betg (Blue Mountain), Riebeck's Kasteel (Riebeck's Castle), Padrde- 
berg (Horse Mountain), Tygerberg (Tiger Mountain), and, beyond 
these, the great range from Roodezand to Hottentot- Holland Kloof, 
were all in sight. On the hither side of the bay, close, as it 
were, under our feet, and which we look down upon as on a neat, 
highly-finished map, lay Caj)e Town, and the villas and gardens 
which are dispersed between it and the mountain. From this point 
of view, the regular plan of the town was not so remarkable as from 
the Kloof leading to Van Camp's Bay. With a glass, we could plainly 
distinguish people walking along the streets. The ships at anchor 
were so diminished, that they scarcely formed a feature in the view. A 
little farther to the right. Table Bay terminates in a bold sweep ; and 
continuing on still to the right, the eye, passing along the flat sandy 
isthmus, or Kaapsche Vlakte, may distinguish Rondebosch, and its 
little spots of tufted trees, the indication of so many villas. On the 
further side of these sand-flats, are seen the mountains of the Paarl 
and Stellenbosch. Just beyond Stellenbosch, in a grand, bold and 
serrated outline, rise the mountains of Hottentot-Holland, which, 
continuing their range southward, bound the eastern side of False 
Bay ; whose northern shore, being edged by the Downs, or ridges of 
snow-white sand, is remarkable and singular. The view was ter- 
minated by the Devil's Mountain on the right. I employed myself 
in making a drawing of this interesting and extensive prospect, while 
the rest of our party walked to the western edge of the mountain, 
