48 
DESCENT FROM TABLE MOUNTAIN. 
24—29 Jan. 
there is in being on it in such weather ; and reminded us of a fatal 
accident which happened there a few months before, when a 
field-officer of the garrison, who had been dining there with a party 
of friends, was, in the same manner, overtaken by thick clouds, 
through which he lost his way, and after wandering about for a long 
while, at last fell over a deep precipice, and was dashed to pieces. 
We, therefore, without loss of time, prepared for descending, and 
ordered the slaves to keep with us, as they only, were well acquainted 
with every turn of the path ; so that, we felt no apprehension of 
missing our way. 
Our French companion, recollecting the circumstance related 
by Thunherg'^, of his countryman Sonnerat, although equipped with 
three pair of " French pumps," having returned to the town bare- 
footed, had taken the precaution of providing himself v/ith a second 
pair of shoes, strong enough to have lasted four such excursions. 
But as none of our party had walked over so much ground as myself, 
these shoes, fortunately for me, were at my service. 
At a quarter after five, our whole party commenced the descent, 
by the same path we climbed in the morning ; but now, owing to its 
steepness, we found it not easy to avoid descending more rapidly than 
was agreeable. There is, indeed, another path by which we might 
have descended on the side towards Camps Bay, and one towards 
Hout Bay ; but these were said to be more difficult, and seldom used, 
except by slaves in search of firewood. At a quarter before seven 
we halted at Platte Klip, where we rested a quarter of an hour. We 
reached home by eight o'clock ; having made the descent in two 
hours and a half; whereas the ascent had occupied, at the least, three 
hours and three quarters. 
29th. Not having been able to meet with a map of Southern 
Africa, exactly suited to the purpose of my journey, I employed part 
of my time in constructing one, in which I inserted all the particulars 
that were to be obtained at Cape Town. These, indeed, were very 
* Thunberg's Travels, vol. i. p. 221. Engl. ed. 
