ting our wants supplied. The ship
required to be caulked in every part for she was become so leaky that we
had been obliged to pump every hour in our passage from Cape Horn. This
we immediately set about, as well as repairing our sails and rigging. The
severe weather we had met with and the leakiness of the ship made it
necessary to examine into the state of all the stores and provisions. Of
the latter a good deal was found damaged, particularly the bread. The
timekeeper I took on shore to ascertain its rate, and other instruments
to make the necessary astronomical observations. Fresh meat, with soft
bread and plenty of vegetables, were issued daily to the ship's company
the whole time we remained here. A few days after our arrival I went over
to Cape Town and waited on his excellency M. Vander Graaf, the governor,
who obligingly arranged matters so much to our advantage that we scarcely
felt the inconvenience of being at a distance from the Cape Town, whence
we received all our supplies.

The Cape Town is considerably increased within the last eight years. Its
respectability with regard to strength has kept pace with its other
enlargements and rendered it very secure against any attempt which is not
made with considerable force. Great attention is paid to military order
and discipline; and monthly signals are established to communicate with
their shipping as they arrive near the coast that they may not run
unawares into the hands of an enemy. I found everything much dearer than
when I was here in 1780. Sheep cost four Spanish dollars each and were so
small that it answered better to purchase the mutton for the ship's daily
use at fourpence per pound.

During our stay here I took care to procure seeds and plants that would
be valuable at Otaheite and the different places we might touch at in our
way thither. In this I was greatly assisted by colonel Gordon, the
commander of the troops. In company with this gentleman the loss of the
Grosvenor East Indiaman was mentioned: on this subject colonel Gordon
expressed great concern that from anything he had said hopes were still
entertained to flatter the affectionate wishes of the surviving friends
of those unfortunate people. He said that in his travels into the Caffre
country he had met with a native who described to him that there was a
white woman among his countrymen who had a child, and that she frequently
embraced the child and cried most violently. This was all he (the