a
detached part of Cape Colony.

_Physical Features._--The outstanding orographic feature of the country
is the terrace-formation of the land, which rises from sea-level by
well-marked steps to the immense plateau which forms seven-eighths of
South Africa. The coast region varies in width from a few miles to as
many as fifty, being narrowest on the south-east side. The western coast
line, from the mouth of the Orange to the Cape peninsula, runs in a
general south-east direction with no deep indentations save just south
of 33 deg. S. where, in Saldanha Bay, is spacious and sheltered
anchorage. The shore is barren, consisting largely of stretches of white
sand or thin soil sparsely covered with scrub. The Cape peninsula, which
forms Table Bay on the north and False Bay on the south, juts pendant
beyond the normal coast line and consists of an isolated range of hills.
The scenery here becomes bold and picturesque. Dominating Table Bay is
the well-known Table Mountain (3549 ft.), flat-topped and often covered
with a "tablecloth" of cloud. On its lower slopes and around Table Bay
is built Cape Town, capital of the colony. Rounding the storm-vexed Cape
of Good Hope the shore trends south-east in a series of curves, forming
shallow bays, until at the saw-edged reefs of Cape Agulhas (Portuguese,
Needles) in 34 deg. 51' 15" S. 20 deg. E. the southernmost point of the
African continent is reached. Hence the coast, now very slightly
indented, runs north by east until at Algoa Bay (25 deg. 45' E.) it
takes a distinct north-east bend, and so continues beyond the confines
of the colony. Along the southern and eastern shore the country is
better watered, more fertile and more picturesque than along the western
seaboard. Cape Point (Cape of Good Hope) stands 840 ft. above the sea;
Cape Agulhas 455 ft. Farther on the green-clad sides of the Uiteniquas
Mountains are plainly visible from the sea, and as the traveller by boat
proceeds eastward, stretches of forest are seen and numbers of mountain
streams carrying their waters to the ocean. In this part of the coast
the only good natural harbour is the spacious estuary of the Knysna
river in 23 deg. 5' E. The entrance, which is over a bar with 14 ft.
minimum depth of water, is between two bold sandstone cliffs, called the
Heads.

Off the coast are a few small islands, mainly mere rocks within the bay.
None is far from the mainland. The largest are Dassen Island, 20 m. S.
of Saldanha Bay,