The Cape is certainly a most excellent place for ships to touch at; it is a healthy climate, a fine country, and abounds with refreshments of every kind. The Company’s garden is a delightful spot, and at the end of it there is a paddock belonging to the Governor, in which are kept a great number of rare and curious animals, and among others, when I was there, were three fine ostriches, and four zebras of an uncommon size. I gave all the people leave to go on shore by turns, and they always contrived to get very drunk with Cape wine before they came back. Many ships came in while we lay here; some were Dutch, some French, some Danes, but all were outward bound.

Having continued here three weeks, and during that time refreshed our men, and completed our water, I took leave of the good old Governor on the 6th of March, and on the 7th, sailed out of the bay, with a fine breeze at S.E.

On Sunday the 16th, at six in the morning, we saw the island of Saint Helena, bearing W. by N. at the distance of about sixteen leagues, and about noon, a large ship, which shewed French colours. We pursued our course, and a few days afterwards, as we were sailing with a fine gale, and at a great distance from land, the ship suddenly received a rude shock, as if she had struck the ground: this instantly brought all who were below upon the deck in great consternation, and upon looking out we saw the water, to a very large extent, tinged with blood; this put an end to our

Voyaging Accounts