OF LA PEROUSE. 101 



gious opinions, crofTed the feas in 1675, In order 

 to fix their abode in this part of Africa, where 

 they were well received by the Governor, Simon 

 Vander Stel, who furnifhed them with all the 

 means of employing themfelves in agriculture. 



The fouth-eaft wind blew with fuch force as 

 to retard our progrefs; it was, however, far from 

 being fo violent as that which was at the fame 

 time felt at Cape Town, where we learnt on our 

 return, that it had been extremely impetuous. 

 The great difference in the Strength of thefe 

 winds undoubtedly arifes from a local caufe, as I 

 have already endeavoured to explain. 



On the fame day, the boat belonging to the 

 Efperance, commanded by Citizen Le Grand, not 

 being able to reach the fhip, was obliged to run 

 for fhelter to leeward of Robben Ifland. 



We had to walk two hours in the dark before 

 we got to Franche-Hoek, to the houfe of M. 

 Gabriel Deprat, to whom I had a letter of in- 

 troduction. He being abfent, one of his neigh- 

 bours, Jacob de Villiers, came to invite us to 

 take up our quarters at his houfe, where we 

 were very well received. 



The names of thefe colonics made us hope 

 that we fhould now find perfons who could fpeak 

 our own language ; but although of French ex- 

 traction, they, being obliged to fpeak Dutch, had 

 retained no more of their mother-tongue than 

 H 3 the 



