26 
GREAT HEAT. 
26—27 Dec. 
The 26th, the day on which I made the drawing of this view, 
was hotter than usual : the thermometer of Fahrenheit was 102° 
(Reaum. 31.1 — Centigrade 38.8), under the shade of my umbrella, 
while I was drawing ; and even in the thick grove in the govern- 
ment garden, it remained at 92°. During the night, it did not 
fall below 77° (20 of Reaum.— 25 of the Centigrade). The sky con- 
tinued all the day without a cloud ; but there was an unusual haze 
or hot vapour in the air, yet not very dense, as at night the stars 
were plainly visible. At this time not a breath of air disturbed the 
atmosphere. 
In the evening, observing in some persons marks of anxiety and 
uneasiness, I could not avoid enquiring the cause, and learnt that it 
was the apprehension of an earthquake being about to happen ; for 
the atmosphere and the stars had now exactly the same appearance 
which they were observed to have on the day previous to the earth- 
quake which took place just a year before. The heat was then equally 
great ; the wind of the day was also lulled to a dead calm at night ; 
and this evening, listening to the barking and howling of the dogs, 
some peculiarity in their tone was noticed to be the same as that 
which had been remarked at that time. 
On many other persons these circumstances made the same 
impression ; but on the following morning the weather resumed its 
usual temperature, and this sudden alarm was as suddenly forgotten. 
The long regular building, commencing near the last ship at anchor, is the Cavalry 
Barracks just above which, and of a dark colour, a part of the Julty appears. In the 
foreground, are two slaves returning from the mountains with a load of firewood ; and two 
others are on before, near the sheep. The Castle follows next to the barracks, and is 
distinguished by a browner colour, and a flag. The house nearest, towards the fore- 
ground, will serve to show the style of architecture in which the generality of farm-houses 
near the Cape are built: it is thatched with a very durable species of rush, peculiar to * 
this part of the world, and which the Dutch call " Dak-riet" [Restio tectonm). Com- 
mencing at Cape Town, and stretching to the foot of Tygerberg, the " Cape Downs" are 
easily distinguished by the pale colour which is given to this part of the isthmus by its 
white sands. The •waggon here represented is the usual vehicle for all purposes of business. 
The rising ground seen above the oxen, is a part of the foot of the Duivels-berg, or 
Devil's Mountain. Table Mountain is behind the spectator. The foreground was in- 
tended to give some idea of the manner in which the various flowers and low shrubs are 
scattered over this plain. 
