THIRD VOYAGE 443 



to be in a dangerous state, he resolved to steer immediately 

 for the Cape, as the most eligible place both for the recovery 

 of the sick and for the repair of the rudder. 



" In the forenoon of the 10th of April, a snow was 

 seen bearing down to us, which proved to be an English 

 East- India Packet, that had left Table Bay three days 

 before, and was cruising with orders for the China fleet 

 and other India ships. 



" The next morning we stood into Simon's Bay. We 

 found lying here the Nassau and Southampton East India- 

 men, waiting for convoy for Europe. The Resolution 

 saluted the fort with eleven guns, and the same number 

 was returned. 



" Mr. Brandt, the governor of this place, eame to visit us 

 as soon as we had anchored. He appeared much surprised 

 to see our crew in so healthy a condition, as the Dutch 

 ship that had left Macao on our arrival there, and had 

 touched at the Cape some time before, reported that we 

 were in a most wretched state, having only fourteen hands 

 left on board the Resolution, and seven on board the Dis- 

 covery. It is not easy to conceive the motive these people 

 could have had for propagating so wanton and malicious a 

 falsehood. 



" On the 15th I accompanied Captain Gore to Cape 

 ! Town, and the next morning we waited on Baron Pleten- 

 j berg, the governor, by whom we were received with every 

 I possible attention and civility. Both he and Mr. Brandt 

 I had conceived a great personal affection for Captain Cook, 

 ; as well as the highest admiration of his character, and 

 ! heard the recital of his misfortune with many expressions 

 of unaffected sorrow. 



" During our stay at the Cape we met with every proof 

 ! of the most friendly disposition towards us, both in the 

 : governor and principal persons of the place, as well Africans 

 as Europeans. 



" Having completed our victualling, and furnished our- 

 selves with the necessary supply of naval stores, we sailed 

 ; out of the bay on the 9th of May. 



" On the 12th of June we passed the equator for the 

 ! fourth time during this voyage. 



" On the 12th of August we made the western coast 



of Ireland ; and, after a fruitless attempt to get into Port 



Gal way, from whence it was Captain Gore's intention to 



jhave sent the journals and maps of our voyage to London, 



'we were obliged, by strong southerly winds, to steer to the 



! northward. Our next object was to put into Lough Swilly ; 



but the wind continuing in the same quarter, we stood on 



to the northward of Lewis Island ; and on the 22nd of 



