CAPE HORN, a black, steep, frowning rock at the SE. extremity of the Fuegean Islands; much dreaded at one time by sailors.
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, a cape in South Africa, discovered by Diaz in 1486; called at first “Cape of Storms,” from the experience of the first navigators; altered in consideration of the promised land reached beyond.
CAPE TOWN (84), capital of Cape Colony, situated at the head of Table Bay, on the SW. coast, with Table Mountain rising behind it; is a regularly built, flat-roofed, imposing town, with handsome buildings and extensive Government gardens; well drained, paved, and lit, and with a good water supply. The Government buildings and law courts, museum and art gallery, bank and exchange, are its chief architectural features. It has docks, and a graving dock, and is a port of call for vessels of all nations, with a thriving commerce.
CAPE VERDE ISLANDS (110), a group of mountainous, volcanic islands, belonging to Portugal, 350 m. from Cape Verde, on the W. of Africa, of which 10 are inhabited, the largest and most productive Santiago and St. Vincent, with an excellent harbour, oftenest visited. These islands are unhealthy, and cattle-breeding is the chief industry.
CAPELL, EDWARD, an inspector of plays, born at Bury St. Edmunds; spent 20 years in editing the text of Shakespeare, in three vols., with notes and various readings (1713-1781).
CAPELLA, a reddish star of the first magnitude in the northern constellation of Auriga.
CAPELLA, an encyclopaedist, born in North Africa in the 5th century; author of a work called the “Satiricon,” a strange medley of curious learning.
CAPERCAILZIE, the wood-grouse, a large game-bird found in fir woods in mountainous districts, and highly esteemed for table.
CAPERNAUM, a town on the N. side of the Sea of Galilee, the centre of Christ’s labours, the exact site of which is uncertain.
CAPET, the surname of Hugh, the founder, in 987, of the third dynasty of French kings, which continued to rule France till 1328, though the name is applied both to the Valois dynasty, which ruled till 1589, and the Bourbon, which ruled till 1848, Louis XVI. having been officially designated as a Capet at his trial, and under that name sentenced to the guillotine.
CAPGRAVE, JOHN, Augustine friar, wrote “Chronicle of England,” and voluminously both in French and English (1393-1464).
CAPISTRANO, GIOVANNI DA, an Italian Franciscan, a rabid adversary of the Hussites, aided John Hunniades in 1456 in defending Belgrade against the Turks (1385-1456).
CAPITOL, a temple and citadel erected by Tarquin on the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome, and where victors who were voted a triumph were crowned; terminated at its southern extremity by Tarpeian Rock, from which criminals guilty of treason were precipitated; hence the saying, “The Tarpeian Rock is near the Capitol,” to denote the close connection between glory and disgrace.