272 A BLACK SOUTH-EASTER. [1697. 



had understood this News, the Cannons began to roar out 

 our Joy, Doles were distributed to all the Ships Crews, and 

 all the Seamen embrac'd, as if they had not seen one another 

 for many years. Healths went briskly round, and in a word, 

 nothing was wanted that could contribute to our Eejoycing : 

 But withal, we could not help thinking that this Peace 

 would not last long. The next day we arriv'd in sight of 

 the Cape,^ and about Noon approach'd the little Isle Rohhcn, 

 which lies at the entrance into the Gulph. 



We then saw appear upon one of the Neighbouring 

 Mountains call'd the Devils 3fo2tnt, a certain Mist" which 

 was an infallible forerunner of furious Winds, that very 

 much incommode Vessels even in the Bay, and our Captain 

 fore-seeing what was like to ensue, immediately gave out his 

 Orders concerning it. But hardly were matters got ready, 

 before we were oblig'd to drop Anclior to prevent our being 

 forc'd out to Sea. 



The Winds blew after that furious manner, that oar Cables 

 were not able to resist them, but broke like so many Threads. 

 There was hardly one Vessel but lost one of its Anchors, 

 and several lost three. Four of the hindermost Ships were 

 driven out again to Sea, and the Vice-Admiral among them. 

 This last, who had some private Eeasons for not being 

 extraordinary well satisfy'd, made use of this Pretence of 

 the Wind, to sail directly for SL Helena^: The other Ships 



bourg (1688-1697), when Louis XIV acknowledged William III as 

 King of England, 



1 " In their return to Holland they [the Dutch Company's ships] 

 always make some stay at the Cape, as well to take in refreshments, as 

 to be informed of the Company's orders that may concern any of the 

 passengers on board; some of whom perhaps are ordered back, that their 

 conduct may be examined in the Indies ; and to receive the news of the 

 state of things in Europe, as, by the way, they carry gazettes, or news 

 papers, home with them." {^Universal History, Modern, I. c, vol. ix, p. 132.) 



^ A peculiar nimbus-tinted canopy of cloud, which foretells the 

 south-east gale. (Findlay, p. 212.) 



3 In orig. : " & en repartit pour continuer sa route sans nous 

 attendre," omitted by translator. 



