2nd December. — Early in the morning sent the Pilot-Major, 

 Francos Jacobsz, with our long-boat (chaloup), with 4 

 musketeers and 6 rowers, every one provided with a pike and 

 sidearms, together with the launch (prae.utien, sloep) of the 

 Zeehaen, and one of their second mates and 6 musketeers, to 

 an inlet (imvijck), which was situated fully a long mile (/.p., 

 over 4 miles) north-west of us, in order to see what useful 

 things — such as fresh water, refreshments, timber, and other 

 things — might be obtainable there. About 3 hours before 

 evening our boats returned, bringing various samples of vege- 

 tables, which they had seen growing in abundance, some not 

 unlike certain herbs which grow at the Cabo de Bona Esper- 

 ance {Cape of Good Hope), and are fit for use as pot herbs. 

 Others were long and saltish, which have no ill-likeness to sea- 

 parsley. The Pilot-Major and the second-mate of the Zeehaen 

 reported what follows, namely : — 



That they had rowed above a mile (4 miles) to the said 

 point, where they had found high but level land with herbs 

 (not planted, but springing from God and nature), fruitful 

 timber in plenty, and a running watering place, and many open 

 valleys ; which water was good indeed, but very troublesome to 

 draw, and running so slowly that it could [only be taken out 

 with a bowl. 



That they had heard some sound of people ; also a playing 

 nearly like a trumpet or small gom [gong], which was not far 

 from them, but they had not got to see anyone. 



That they had seen two trees about 2 to 2^ fathoms thick, 

 60 to 65 feet high below the branches, which trees had been 

 hacked into with flints, and the bark peeled off in the form of 

 steps (in order to climb up thereby and take birds' nests), each 

 being full 5 feet from the other. So that they presumed that 

 there were very tall men here, or that they must know how to 

 climb the said trees by some device. In one tree these cut 

 steps seemed so fresh and green as if not four days had passed 

 since they had been hewn. 



That they had observed in the earth footprints or scratckings 

 of some beasts, not ill-resembling the claws of a tiger. They 

 also brought on board some dung of four-footed beasts (a"s 

 they presumed and could observe), besides a little gum, fine in 

 appearance, which drops out of the trees, and has a resem- 

 blance to gumlac {jjomma lacca). That about the east point of 

 this bay, having sounded at high-water, they had found 13 to 

 14 feet ; the ebb and flood there about 3 feet." 



That in the entrance of the said point they had seen a mul- 

 titude of gulls, wild ducks, and geese, but none landward : 

 though they had indeed heard the noise of them ; and had observed 

 no fish, hut divers mussels sticking in sundry places on bushes. 



