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CHAPTER XI.

Bear up for Mossel Bay.-A Whaling station.-Face of the country.-Cape St. Blaize.-Sandstone formations.-Car of Venus.Oysters.-A Whale and her cub.-Charcoal. -Formation of the Whale. Whaling Seasons.- Cape Aloes.-Departure for Table Bay.

WE had scarcely gained a favourable position for running into False Bay on the following morning, than a violent north-west gale commenced, and drove us away to the southward. The consequence was that we were buffeting about for another week, and were glad to bear up at the end of that time for Mossel Bay. In fact, the declining state of the health of the crew rendered it most desirable that we should find our way into some harbour for refreshments; and it was with feelings of satisfaction that we came to an anchor in Mossel Bay on Saturday the 27th of June.

This bay is rarely frequented by ships, for it

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is much exposed to the south-east quarter, and has mostly a rolling swell setting into it from the sea. To us, however, in our " tempestdriven" little vessel it was a grateful asylum, and our eyes feasted with delight on its surrounding scenery. In the winter season the prevailing winds being from the north-west, the bay affords tolerable security; but even then, if it blows hard, such a swell sets in to the bay as sometimes to preclude the possibility of landing, through the surf which it occasions. The bay is very capacious, and is bounded by several noble beaches. There are two or three houses on the western side of it, near which is the anchorage usually adopted. In the months of May, June, July, and August, south-east winds, although they may last for a day or two, never blow home with any considerable force, and hence the roadstead is safe. The bay derives its principal importance from a small whaling establishment, and fortunately the winter season is the time in which the whales approach the shore. Fresh water is at

all times scarce here; and in summer it is particularly so, which is the reason of there being so few houses in the settlement.

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The lovely month of June assuredly was never more delightful to me than in Mossel Bay. The weather was particularly fine; the general face of the country smiling with all the beauties of Nature, presenting a luxuriant parterre here and there varied with groups of trees and open spaces of fine rich heath, was well calculated to make a deep impression on a person accustomed to the murky vales of Cape Horn. In some places one might range without obstruction over hill and dale cheered by bright skies, and enjoy the enchanting sight of wild flowers innumerable. In others one could scarcely stir a step for thick underwood, abrupt rocky hills, swamps, and perpetual rain. So that, considering from whence we came, and the long boisterous voyage we had performed, we were perhaps in the best condition to enjoy and appreciate the heavenly weather of the southern cape of the African continent.

The land about Mossel Bay is elevated, and has an agreeable hilly appearance. The soil is in general light, abounding with small shrubs, among which geraniums and aloes are conspicuous, which give it some resemblance to the tastefully arranged grounds of some of our

CAPE ST. BLAIZE.

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country gentlemen's seats. The rocky ridge of hills which bounds the western side of the bay is composed of crystalline quartz, intermixed with silicious sandstone. In the ridge terminating at Cape St. Blaize, the south-west point of Mossel Bay, is a large cavern, formed by an overhanging massive ledge of rock, about three hundred feet above the level of the sea. The sides of this cavern are formed of a silicious sandstone of a red colour, with a considerable quantity of saline efflorescence, and masses of salt imbedded in a loose powdered state. Large nodules of marl and grey clay are dispersed throughout the cave, which falling out leave large cavities. The mouth of it faces the sea,

and affords a magnificent prospect: to watch the surf as it breaks on the ledge of rocks at the entrance, the constant noise of it vibrating from the interior with an almost deafening roar, with the clouds of spray and foam thrown furiously against it, fills the mind with awe and reverence to that great Being who fixes the limits of the sea, saying, " so far shalt thou go, and no farther."

On the shore, a little to the westward of Cape St. Blaize, is a remarkable formation of rock,

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SANDSTONE FORMATIONS.

which cannot fail being noticed by any ship passing from the westward. It resembles the walls of some extensive fortification, the regular disposition of the tablets of rock giving it the appearance of some artificial structure. On closer examination it was found to be a shelving, but nearly perpendicular, wall of quartz rock, rising abruptly from the sea to the height of two or three hundred feet. It is split into regular rhomboidal forms, which give it the appearance of bastions; and the similarity is still further increased by a scarlet byssus, like brick-work, with which it is coated. I have previously noticed the disposition of quartz rock to assume this peculiar form, and likewise its incrustation with the byssus in the southern regions.

In connection with this wall-like structure, are the uniform rectilinear table lands displayed by the sandstone formations of this coast. They present themselves to the view in broad plain surfaces, on the ridges of mountains near the sea. Off the eastern point of Cape St. Blaize is a rock of a very peculiar form, which is used as a landmark by sailors. It is formed

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