Such, however, was not our fate. We were detained only three or
four days by the calms usual in that zone, but never _quite_
still, or driven out of our course; and immediately on crossing
'the line' got a good breeze (the south-east trade-wind), which
carried us round Trinidad; then exchanged it for a north-west
wind, which, with the exception of one day's squall from the
south-east, carried us straight into Table Bay. On the night of
the 14th we were told to prepare to see the Table Mountain.
Next morning (_N.B._, we had not seen land before since leaving
England), at dawn, the welcome word land' was heard; and there
stood this magnificent hill, with all its attendant
mountain-range down to the farthest point of South Africa, full
in view, with a clear blue ghost-like outline; and that night
we cast anchor within the Bay. Next morning early we landed,
under escort of Dr. Stewart, M----'s brother, and you may
imagine the meeting.
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