170 
TAKING LEAVE, AND 
19 June, 
seemed to pass under our feet, in a direction from the north towards 
the south ; occupying a space of time, of about three seconds, and 
accompanied by a strong trembhng of the earth. This was the 
only shock that occurred : the consequences were the same as before ; 
the same alarm and confusion took place; but on finding no repetition 
of it, the fears of ,the inhabitants more easily subsided, and they 
sooner returned into their houses. Some damage was done to the 
buildings ; but it was not considerable. The former earthquake "was 
distinguished by an instantaneous and very loud explosion in the 
atmosphere, without any trembling movement of the earth : this 
occupied a very sensible duration of time, and the field of its action 
was very perceptibly subterraneous. Yet it can hardly be doubted 
that the essential principle was the same, and that in both, electric 
matter was the great agent. 
In taking leave of my esteemed friend, Mr. Hesse, I was unable to 
suppress those painful feelings, which the idea of so long a farewell 
could not fail to excite. The recollections of my stay at the Cape, will 
ever remind me of the pleasure I have enjoyed in his society, of the 
hospitality I experienced in his house, and of the obliging and friendly 
attentions of his lady and of the different members of her family. * 
At a little before noon, I took my final departure from Cape 
Town ; and, accompanied by two of mj friends, rode to Salt-river, 
where I found Mr. Anderson had already given the necessary orders 
for putting the oxen to the waggons. 
The whole party were soon in motion ; and, taking the road 
over the flats, between bushes and hillocks of sand, were presently 
out of sight. The writing of a letter detained me a short time ; we 
then mounted our horses, and hastened to overtake the waggon. We 
came up with it in half an hour, and continued following at a slow 
pace, for some time longer, during which my friends were insensibly 
increasing their distance from home, led on, both by the desire of 
* The family of Bergh is one of the most respectable in Cape Town : various situa- 
tions under government, of trust and responsibility, have been filled by them, during three 
generations. 
