44 ANCHOR AT Simon's bay. 



they stood gazing with admiration and awe on the 

 huge waves as they rolled past, occasionally im- 

 mersino; our little vessel in their white crests — and 

 listening, with emotions not wholly devoid of fear, to 

 the wild screams of the sea-birds as they skimmed 

 o'er the steep acclivities of these moving masses. 

 The landsmen were evidently deeply impressed with 

 the grandeur of a storm at sea ; nor can the hardiest 

 seaman look with unconcern on such an exhibition 

 of the majesty of Him, whose will the winds and 

 waves obey. Not more poetically beautiful than 

 literally true are the words of the Psalmist, so 

 appropriately introduced into the Form of Prayers 

 at Sea, — " They that go down to the sea in ships, 

 and occupy their business in great waters : these 

 men see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in 

 the deep : for at his word the stormy wind ariseth, 

 which lifteth up the waves thereof." My own ex- 

 perience has over and over again satisfied me, that, 

 mingled with many a dim superstition, a deep reli- 

 gious sentiment — a conviction of the migj-ht and 

 mercy of Heaven — often rests on the heart of the 

 most reckless seaman, himself all unconscious of its 

 existence, yet strangely influenced by its operations ! 

 We sighted land on the eveninor of the 20th of 

 September, rounded the Cape the next morning, 

 and in the afternoon anchored in Simon's Bay. 

 We found here PI. M.S. 'Thalia,' bearing the flag of 

 Admiral Sir Patrick Campbell, Coramander-in- 



