CHAPTER II. 



VOYAGE FROM CAPE TOWN TO CHINA. 



SIMONS BAY. PORT ELIZABETH. NATAL. MADAGAS- 

 CAR. COMORO ISLANDS. ZANZIBAR. SEYCHELLE 



ISLANDS. STRAITS OF SUNDA. WARNED BY A DUTCH 



MAN-OF-WAR OF THE DANGERS TO NAVIGATION OCCA- 

 SIONED BY THE ERUPTION OF KRAKATOA. DESTRUC- 

 TION OF ANJER. ARRIVAL AT BATAVIA. SINGAPORE. 



We remained at Cape Town until the 8th of May, 



enjoying-, as only those who have passed weeks at sea 



can enjoy, the products of the farms and vineyards, and, 



above all, the refinements of cultivated society. We 



were received with great kindness by the Governor, Sir 



Hercules Robinson, and by the leading officials and 



citizens of the place, and in a modest way we tried to 



reciprocate their hospitality. Our stay was somewhat 



prolonged, that a boat might be built to replace the 



cutter lost during- the gale of the 17th of January. After 



filling up with coal and provisions and getting the new 



boat, we said good-by to our friends, and on the 8th of 



29 



