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 trembling 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 femily. *
At a little before noon, I took my final departure from Cape
Town ; and, accompanied by two of my 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 o f Bergh is one of the most respectable in Cape Town : various situations
under government, of trust and responsibility, have been filled by them, during three
prolonging a last conversation, and by a reluctance to bid an adieu,
that was to be succeeded by an absence of which neither could
foresee the duration.
At last, we bade farewell: they turned their horses towards Cape
Town, while I mounted my waggon, and threw myself on the
mattress, to repose a while, and recover from the bodily fatigue and
the exhaustion of spirits, which the exertions of the last two days had
occasioned; as well as to relieve some perturbation of mind, arising
from the thoughts of having now taken leave of my family, and all
my friends, perhaps for ever.