260 An Historical Account of the Formation, #c. 



painful griping, caused and increased by cold and other con- 

 current circumstances, had not, out of 116 labourers, left 

 more than 60 in tolerable health. In addition to these 

 disasters, extraordinary high winds, heavy rains, and hail 

 storms, occasionally accompanied by violent peals of thunder ; 

 the spoiling of his bread and other dry provisions ; the weak 

 state of his people, who made but little progress, caused him 

 to write in his diary, " that if the Almighty were not pleased 

 to stay his chastising hand, it was evident that their labour 

 would be tedious and of little profit ; but that, however, he 

 still relied upon God's gracious assistance." His wife was 

 also attacked by the same disorder ; and in a short time he 

 had scarcely 50 men sufficiently healthy to work. He could 

 give the sick but little relief. One cow and a calf were all 

 he had been able to obtain from the natives ; and he now 

 found it, " a poor and miserable life, as one after the other 

 was attacked by this destructive malady, to which also many 

 fell a sacrifice." And on the 10th he adds, " if the Almighty 

 be not pleased soon to relieve us from this calamity, we see 

 very little probability of completing our work, as many of our 

 people die, and the greater part of the remainder are sick." 



In the midst of these adversities, a thatcher was found, and 

 by his expertness Van Riebeck's house was soon finished. 

 Several native vegetables, such as asparagus, trefoil and other 

 sorrels, were discovered ; and he had already, Dutch lettuce 

 and cress for himself and the sick. Many whales were seen 

 in the bay, which gave him hopes that, before long, much 

 profit might be derived from establishing a fishery. And 

 towards the end of the month he had a plentiful draught of 

 small fish. 



Meanwhile six more of his people died ; but likewise, the 

 first child was born in the fort Good Hope, on the 6th. The 

 mother, who was the Chaplain's wife,* had, in the beginning 

 of the month, been put in possession of the first lodging in the 

 fort, whilst Van Riebeck and the rest, still lived in huts, in 

 the expectation of soon occupying better residences. 



July. — In this manner did the Commander reach the fourth 

 month of his stay here. His next undertaking was to visit 

 Robben Island in one of the small Biscay boats, to examine the 

 island, and to observe whether seals could not be caught there. 

 But this first attempt was unfortunate : he was in danger of 

 losing his life ; and mentions in his diary that, " by the 

 blessing of God, and the visible guidance of Providence," he 

 had, that evening, " returned in safety from as great peril as 

 had ever been experienced in the world." 



The weather beginning to clear up, he sowed wheat and 



• The Ziekentroster, comforter of the sick; the same as Krankbezotk. ,. 

 sec Note, page 258, 



