1810. 
THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
5 
surl", which hned the whole coast with a fringe of white, plainly showed 
the danger and even impracticability of the attempt at such a time ; 
I therefore contented myself with making a drawing of the view ; 
which in this bearing, more than in any other, presents a resemblance 
to a lion quite sufficient to justify the name the mountain has 
received ; and is probably that in which the likeness was first 
observed. To a ship keeping the Lion's Head and the middle of the 
northern side of Table Mountain in a line, and being at the distance 
of about two miles, the mountain exhibits the form of a lion cou- 
chajit, whose fore-paws are extended forward, and form the. southern 
point of Camp's Bay, while the tail is very well represented by the 
flat land of Green Point. 
The first discoverers of a land presenting such grand features 
of bold and mountainous outline, must have felt that the occurrence 
itself was full of interest ; but when at the same time they knew 
that they had thus passed the barrier which had stopped all former 
navigators, at least of the later ages, and had now opened a way to 
the Eastern world, the doubling of this celebrated promontory must 
have been an event which might justify the highest exultation. As 
I looked upon the mountains and the shore, my imagination carried 
me back to that period when its peaceable inhabitants, the simple 
Hottentots, roamed freely over the country, enjoying the liberty of 
nature, nor dreaming that a day could ever arrive when they must 
resign all to some unknown race of men, coming upon them from 
the ocean, an element which no tradition had ever told them 
could be travelled on by man. Their arms and their watchings had 
no object besides their inland enemies ; the turbulent surface of the 
" Great Water" and the noisy shore, seemed the only side whence no 
danger was to be dreaded. But it is not at the extremity of Africa 
only, where treachery has surprised men from a quarter where it was 
least expected. I was wishing, for the honor of Europeans, men 
enjoying the blessings of civilization, and illumined by the superior 
light of arts and science, that I could have persuaded myself that 
these natives had been rendered happier by their communication 
with them : I longed to be amongst them, that I might ascertain so 
