36 cook's SECOND VOYAGE OCT, 



There was no doubt of their being living animals, 

 when in their own proper element, though we could 

 not perceive any life in them : Mr. Forster, whose 

 province it is more minutely to describe things of 

 this nature, was now well satisfied with the cause of 

 the sea's illumination. 



At length day-light came, and brought us fair 

 weather ; and having stood into Table Bay, with the 

 Adventure in company, we anchored in five fathom 

 water. We afterwards moored N. E. and S. W. , 

 Green Point, on the west point of the bay, bearing 

 N. W. by W. ; and the church, in one with the valley 

 between the Table Mountain and the Sugar-Loaf or 

 Lion's Head, bearing S. W. by $., and distant from 

 the landing-place near the fort, one mile. 



We had no sooner anchored than we were visited 

 by the Captain of the port, or Master Attendant, 

 some other officers belonging to the company, and 

 Mr. Brandt. This last gentleman brought us off 

 such things as could not fail of being acceptable to 

 persons coming from sea. The purport of the Master 

 Attendant's visit was, according to custom, to take 

 an account of the ships ; to inquire into the health 

 of the crews ; and, in particular, if the small-pox was 

 on board ; a thing they dread, above all others, at 

 the Cape, and for these purposes a surgeon is always 

 one of the visitants. 



My first step, after anchoring/was to send an officer 

 to wait on Baron Plettenberg, the governor, to ac- 

 quaint him with our arrival, and the reasons which 

 induced me to put in there. To this the officer re- 

 ceived a very polite answer ; and, upon his return, 

 we saluted the garrison with eleven guns, which 

 compliment was returned. Soon after, I went on 

 shore myself, and waited upon the governor, accom- 

 panied by Captain Furneaux, and the two Mr. Fors- 

 ters. He received us with great politeness, and 

 promised me every assistance the place could afford. 

 From him I learned that two French ships from the 



