The next day, the Captain, Mr, Banks, Dr. Solander, and several others of our principal people, went on shore, were kindly received by the governor; and met with a different treatment from that at Rio de Janeiro. He gave them a grant to hire a house for the sick, who were all landed the next day; and, from the wholesomeness of the climate, and a proper diet, most of them soon recovered. We staid there about a month; a great part of which time Dr. Solander was very ill. Mr. Banks spared neither time nor expence in collecting of plants, insects, skins of wild beasts, and other curious animals; and employed a number of people to assist him, some of whom he sent up a long way into the country for plants. Lieutenant Gore, with only one attendant, a slave belonging to Mr. Brand, a burgher at the Cape town, made an excursion, out of curiosity, to the top of the table-hill, where they saw several tigers and wolves, and brought some curious plants, in flower, which he presented to Mr. Banks, to whom they were very acceptable.

After the sick had recovered, and we had taken in all necessary supplies, and had engaged some Portugueze to supply the lots of our sailors, we left the Cape, and proceeded on our voyage homeward. Three days after we left the Cape, Mr. Robert Molineux, the master of our ship, died.

After a passage of eighteen days, during which time nothing remarkable happened, we arrived at St. Helena, where we found his majesty's ship, the Portland, commanded by captain Elliot, with twelve East-Indiamen under her convoy. In going into the road we ran foul of one of the Indiamen; but, with the assistance of some boats, we happily got clear of her, without much damage, except to our upper-works. The Portland being under sailing orders, and we under captain Elliot's command, as senior officer, we were assisted, by his people, in procuring wood and water; and he furnished us with some European provisions. We stayed there but four days, and then the whole fleet, consisting of fourteen sail, weighed anchor, and steered homeward.

Voyaging Accounts