Chap. I.] SOUTHERN AFRICA. 5 



made the voyage before, courageously ascended the 

 mast-head, in spite of the remonstrances of his love- 

 sick spouse, to make an attempt at recognition; and 

 regaining the deck gravely asserted that we were in 

 Plettemberg's Bay, nearly two degrees to the west- 

 ward. Doubts being entertained of the soundness 

 of his opinion we were consulted. The chart was 

 produced, and being satisfied that we were close to 

 Cape Recif, a dangerous reef of rocks, we advised 

 the ship to be hove to ; but sail having been again 

 made during the night we contrived to weather the 

 point, and having narrowly escaped foundering on 

 the Bird Islands floundered by good fortune into 

 the harbour of Port Elizabeth. 



