THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. m 



in water and other refreflimcnts. After which he was four 

 months flrugghng with contrary winds and blowing wea- 

 ther, and at lall obhged, through perfeift fatigue, to run in- 

 to a large bay called St Helena* , in lat. 32° 32' fouth. The 

 inhabitants of this bay were black, of low ftature, and their 

 language not underftood, though it afterwards was found 

 to be the fame with that of the Cape. They were cloathed 

 with fkins of antelopes, which abounded in the country, 

 lince known to be that of the Hottentots ; their arms were 

 the horns and bones of beads and fifhes, for they had no 

 knowledge of iron. 



The Portuguefe were unacquainted with the trade-winds 

 in thofe fouthern latitudes ; and Vafqucs had departed for^ 

 India, in a mod unfavourable fcafon of the year. The i6th 

 of November they failed for the Cape with a fouth-well 

 wind ; but that very day, the weatlier changing^ a violent 

 Rorm came on, which continued incrcafmg ; fo, although 

 on the 1 8th they difcovered their long-defired Cape, they did 

 not dare or attempt to pafs it. Then it was fccn how much 

 Ih'onger the imprellions were that Dias had left imprinted 

 in their minds, than thofc of duty, obedience, and refigna- 

 tion, which they had fo pompoufly vowed at tlie chapel, or 

 hermitage. All the crew mutinied, and refufcd to pafs 

 farther; and it was not the common failors only; the 

 pilots and mailers were at their head.. Vafques, fatisficd in 

 his mind that there was nothing extraordinary in the dan- 

 ger, perfevered to pafs the Cape in fpite of all difficulties ; 

 and the officers, animated with the fame ardour, feizcd the 



mof>: 



* Oa the weft fide of the penir.fjk on tlie. Atlantic . 



