Page:Narrative of a Visit to the Australian Colonies.djvu/37

1831.] about the vessel; and numerous Flying-fish, of two species, darted from the bosom of the deep, and made aerial excursions of various length, sometimes of more than a hundred yards, endeavouring to escape the voracity of Bonitas and Albacores, which frequently sprung out of the water after them. The Flying-fish, which are about the size of small herrings, and of a silvery hue, often meet an enemy in the air, in the long-winged Wandering Albatross; which, in small numbers, and of plumage so varied as to admit of the individual birds being identified, accompanied us in this part of our voyage, sailing almost motionless on the wing.

On the 2nd of 12th mo. we sighted the coast of Africa, off Saldanha Bay; from whence we beat up past Dassen and Robben Islands, into Table Bay, which we entered on the 5th. The sea broke heavily on Dassen Island, which is low and sandy, and against the main land; the coast of which appeared hilly, with mountains remote from the shore. Some of the slopes near the sea were very sandy, and the hills looked arid and brown, except where there were patches of cultivation. About Table Bay, the scenery is very beautiful. Hills of moderate elevation, with a few scattered farms, bound the northern side: on the east is an extensive sandy flat; beyond which, at a distance of about 30 miles, rise the peaked and rugged mountains of Hottentot's Holland. And on the south, at the foot of Table Mountain, which is 3,582 feet high, with the Devil's Hill to the left, and the Lion's Hill to the right, Cape Town, with its clean-looking, white houses, interspersed with trees, is situated. The ships and boats in the bay, the houses scattered along the shore, and the numerous sea fowl—Gulls, Albatrosses, Terns, Divers, and Penguins—flying and swimming around, contribute to cheer the eye which has for many weeks looked upon little, but the unvarying circle of the dark blue ocean.—The Penguins are unable to fly on account of the shortness of their wings, but these serve as fins to impel them through the water, in which they swim with their bodies submerged.

On the 6th, we went on shore, and became the guests of Dr. and Jane Philip; from whom, as well as from some other