FIRST JOURNEY. 
S 
is generally expected, and when mofl of the plants are in flower; JU7- 
and, for this undertaking, I had prepared myfelf by almoh daily <— 
excurfions, which afforded me fome general knowledge of the 
future theatre of my fpeculationSo 
On the fifth of Offober 1777, the day before our departure,, 
we were entertained with obferving a very uncommon pheno¬ 
menon, which the people aicribed to a fevere north-well wind 
at fea. Such a prodigious number of filh were driven into 
Table Bay, particularly Porpoifes and Sword-fhli, that the whole 
bay was entirely covered with them, and apparently it might 
have been croffed on their backs. Near the edge of the bay 
the water was red with their blood ; and feveral hundreds of 
the fifli were driven on Ihore, which the people cut up for oik 
On the fixth, having fent our waggon on before us. Captain 
Gordon and myfelf left the Cape Town, and proceeded along 
the bottom of the Table Mountain, leading towards Conflan- 
tia. We dined at the houfe of Mr. Becker, which is only 
about two miles diffant from Conflantia, being well fituated and 
flieltered from the north-wefl and fouth-eaft winds. This place 
produces excellent Wine, though the fituation is rather low. 
Conflantia is, however, preferable to all other parts of this 
diflrifl, not only becaufe it is rather more elevated, but on ac¬ 
count of the nature of the foil, which is a light fandy loam. 
The whole country abounds with the Protea Argentea, and 
many forts of Leucadendrons, and alfo Ericas and Gnapha- 
iiums ; many fpecimens of which have been fent to Europe, 
This night we refted at a place called Sand Fleet, the pro- 
