58 
THE DOWNS A SOUTH-EASTER. 
31 Jan.— 14 Feb. 
this part of the plain. Continuing my walk over the heath, (I use 
this word as expressing a kind of country, like the heaths of England, 
wild, uncultivated, and open, and partially covered with low bushes.) 
I directed my course to Munnich's Bridge, and thence, following the 
high road, reached the town at dark. 
The great extent of flat sandy country lying between Cape Town 
and Hottentot Holland is spoken of by various names, which seem 
very vaguely applied, and are used in an undefined manner; the 
Dutch denominate one part, the Kaapsclie Duinen (Cape Downs), and 
another, the Kaapsche Vlakte (Cape Flats). Sometimes the term 
Zand Vlakte (Sand Flats) impHes the whole. With some writers it 
is called the Isthmus, and such, in fact, it is ; but a single name for 
so large an extent is very inconvenient for the purpose of pointing- 
out the native places of growth of the great variety of plants which 
are to be found in every part of it. The English inhabitants call it 
merely the Downs. 
Feh'uary 6tJi. This afternoon there was lightning and thunder, 
the first which had happened since my landing : its effects rendered it 
the more remarkable, for at this time the flag-staff, which had stood 
many years on the Lion's Head, was struck down. 
8//^. During the preceding week, the wind had blown from the 
north-west, with rain more or less every day, and the air was 
cold and chilly : but it now shifted to the south-east, and again 
brought the cloud on Table Mountain. The south-easter continued 
for several days, and on the I2th blew with the greatest violence. 
The thermometer was 73° (18.2 R.— 22.7 C.) in the middle of the 
day. During the continuance of this wind, the dust and sand flying 
about in clouds, render it very unpleasant to be oiit in the streets. 
Psoralea pinnata 
Serruria glomerata f 
Leiicospenmm Hypophylla 
Protea purpurea, Linn, 
Athanasia crithnifolia 
Ay-niea crocea 
Spielmannia Africana 
Psoralea aphylla 
Cliffbrtia str-ohilina 
Morcea spathacea. 
