SOUTHERN AFRICA. 3 



proposed to visit, a gTeat coat, in itself so perfectly unique 

 that I may be excused for describing- it. Of dimensions 

 suited to the fig'ure of a portly gentlemaUj pointed out by 

 the Doctor, as resembling- the Chief, it was composed of 

 drab (hiffcl, a coarse shng-gy cloth commonly worn by the 

 colonists, surmounted by six capes, and provided with hug-e 

 bone buttons, and a ponderous brazen clasp in the shape of 

 a crest, the whole being* lined and fancifully trimmed with 

 scarlet shalloon in a manner calculated to captivate the toste, 

 and propitiate the esteem, of the most despotic and ca- 

 pricious of savng'es. 



With this curious investment we embarked on the 2nd 

 July in a small schooner bound for Alg'oa Bay, one of our 

 fellow-passeng'ers from India accompanying* us to the pier, 

 unable to persuade himself, until the boat had fiirly pushed 

 off, that we reall}' intended to venture upon a second ^o^ag'e 

 in such a craft so immediate^ after the troubles we had 

 underg'one. In addition to a mate, a cook, and a Mozam- 

 bique neg*ro, dig'iiified with the appellation of steward, our 

 crew consisted of three men and a boy ; our fellow-passen- 

 g*ers being" two adventurers, who occupied the berth opposite 

 to our own in the onl}- cabin, and a tailor with his wife and 

 nine daug'hters, some marring'eable, others at the breast. 

 This unfortunate fiimily, every member of which was sea-sick 

 during* the whole voyng'e, located themselves in the steerag'e, 

 an apartment about eig'ht feet square, ventilated only by the 

 hatch way. The passng*e up the const at that season seldom 

 occupies more than three days, but the fates decreeing* that 

 our prog'ress should still be opposed, ad^'erse winds had 

 taken the place of the north-Avester, which had been blowing* 

 without intermission during* the preceding* six weeks, and 

 which, had it but continued a day long*er, would have wafted 

 us to our destination. 



The little vessel was usually g'uuAvale under. Stormy 



B 2 



