116 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



of Mr. Loughnans, the most considerable English merchant 

 in the place. This gentleman not only obtained leave for 

 Mr. Forster to search the island for plants, but procured 

 them every other thing they wanted, and insisted on their 

 occupying his house. 



During their stay the crews were supplied with fresh 

 beef and onions ; and a quantity of the latter was distri- 

 buted amongst them for sea store. 



Having taken on board a supply of water, wine, and other 

 necessaries, they left Madeira on the 1st of August and 

 steered southward. 



Captain Cook now made three puncheons of beer, of the 

 inspissated juice of malt. The proportion was about ten 

 of water to one of juice. They stopped at St. Jago for a 

 supply of water on the 10th, which having completed, and 

 got on board a supply of refreshments, such as hogs, 

 goats, fowls, and fruit, they put to sea, and proceeded 

 on their voyage. 



Port Praya, where they anchored, is a small bay, situated 

 about the middle of the south side of the island of St. 

 Jago. The water was found to be tolerable, but scarce ; 

 and difficult to be got off on account of a great surf on 

 the beach. 



On the 19th, one of the carpenter's mates fell overboard, 

 and was drowned. He was over the side, sitting on one of 

 the scuttles ; whence it was supposed he had fallen ; for he 

 was not seen till the very instant he sunk under the ship's 

 stern, when all endeavours to save him were too late. This 

 loss was sensibly felt during the voyage, as he was a sober 

 man and a good workman. 



With variable winds they advanced but slowly, and with- 

 out meeting with anything remarkable. On the 29th of 

 October they made the land of the Cape of Good Hope. 

 Table Mountain, which was over Cape Town, distant twelve 

 or fourteen leagues, was a good deal obscured by clouds, 

 otherwise it might, from its height, have been seen at a much 

 greater distance. In the evening the whole sea, within the 

 compass of their sight, became at once, as it were, illumin- 

 ated, or, what the seamen call, all on fire. This appearance 

 of the sea, in some degree, is very common ; but the cause 

 has been differently accounted for, though generally sup- 

 posed to arise from the phosphorescence of marine insects. 



They had no sooner anchored in Table Bay, than they 

 were visited by the captain of the port and Mr. Brandt. 

 This last gentleman brought off such things as could not fail 

 of being acceptable to persons coming from sea. The 

 master attendant also visited them, according to custom, to 

 take an account of the ships ; to inquire into the health 



