slaves to come up, who had not been able to keep pace with us: A
Mozambique negro, one of our servants, was quite exhausted with the
fatigue, and crawled along so slowly, that we began to fear his
strength would not be equal to the task, and that both he and his
load must be left below.. However, with a little more courage and
perseverance, we all reached the summit safely, at a quarter past
S0V6I1« ^
The view, looking downwards through the Poort, is awful and
singularly grand. The morning was exceedingly favourable, and not
a cloud intercepted the very distant horizon. The air on the summit
felt cool, and the thermometer, at eight o’clock, was not higher
than 59° of Fahrenheit, (12° of Reamur).; and at ten minutes before
nine it rose only to 60” Fahrenheit, although it was now the middle
of the summer season. We observed a small cloud forming on the
Devil’s Mountain, but the increasing heat of the day soon dispersed
it.
Our first care, after we were all assembled, was to prepare breakfast
; and a place was immediately selected, between some huge
blocks of stone, which formed a commodious room, the ceiling of
which was the azure sky. The cloth was spread on a flat table of
# The following are the names of some of
ascent up Table Mountain,
SelagoJascicidata
(Enanthe ferulacea
Holcus asper
Cacalia bipinnata
Erica coccinea
Erica cerinthoides
Xeranthemum speciosissimum
Hermas depauperata
Aster taxifolius ?
Erica planifolia ?
Phylica stipularis
Stilbe ericoides
Thesium strictum ?
Erica Petiverii
the plants that are to be met with in the
Diosma oppositifolia
Myrica ’Eihiopica t
Gnaphaliurrt grandiflorum
. Passerina cephalophora. Th.
Indigofera sarmentosa
Lobelia minuto. .
Paella muscosa
Hydrocotyle Asiatica. Th.
Orobanche purpurea
Osteospermwn ilicifolium
Aster cymbalarice
Pelargonium saniculcefolium
Sto 'ebe prostrata
Crassula coccinea.
stone • a fire was soon kindled, which blazed with the fuel of Cliffortia
nisdfotia, Mmetes Hartogii, and Aulax pinifolia ; excellent water was
found in the cavities of the'rocks, and our coffee was in a short time
prepared. Notwithstanding our fatigue, the spirits of our party
seemed heightened by the excursion; and, as I have always since
experienced the same agreeable effects on climbing the mountains of
Africa, I doubt not that a great share of it was to be attributed to
the lightness and purity of the air we breathed; although certainly
the pleasant humour of our companions contributed essentially to
the enjoyment which such scenes naturally afford.
Although, in a general sense, the top. of this mountain may be
called flat and level, yet it is much less so than might be supposed,
while viewing it only from below. Its surface is, in fact, both
hilly and rocky, and consists of a hard sand-stone, which, in the bare
and more exposed parts, is very compact and flinty. The weather
having worn away the softer parts, leaves the others frequently
standing out several inches, and, in some measure, resembling pieces
of elks’ horns, (Cervus Alces). The whole summit is covered with
plants and bushes ; we observed standing water, and some hollows
which had contained extensive ponds, although, at this season, quite
dry.
The height of Table Mountain, above the surface of the ocean,
has been ascertained to be 3582 English feet, which is only 126
yards less than three quarters of a mile in perpendicular height; yet
La Caille did not calculate it to be more than 3464. The Devil’s
Mountain has been found to be 3315 ; the Lion’s Head, 2160; and
the Lion’s Rump, 1143, according to Arrowsmith’s map. From the
precipice which overlooks the town, a spectator cannot look down the
awful depth directly beneath without feeling some dread, or giddiness :
and some of our party could not, on that account, venture within
several yards of the brink. The view, as might be expected, is most
extensive; for, calculation proves that the eye ranges over the ocean
to the distance of 73 miles ; and that a mountain of equal height, would
be within the scope of vision, though distant 146 miles.
The appearance of this view may more easily be imagined than
6 2