192 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 
On the other side of this stone the following somewhat imperfect 
inscription can be deciphered :— | 
ROYALTANES 
NEW HE LY PvRe 
DWiEK oled 
RL LANGFORD ED smith 
SUN AT Wiy 19 1b, 
1 ——(@bs8) CAP LOW 
AND OFSTONAS NRIVED FRO 
P FE vb 
The Royal James, Jonas, Eagle, Star, Spy, and Scout sailed from 
the Thames about the end of January, 1624, and left the Downs on 
March 27th. They anchored at the Cape on the 19th of July, 1624, 
and left again on the 29th. John Weddel was captain, Richard 
Swanley, master ; Henry Wheteley, purser; and Richard Langford 
a purser’s mate; all in the Royal James. Edward Smith was a 
purser’s mate in the Jonas. 
Thomas Kerridge, who was going out to resume his post of presi- 
dent at Surat, was on board the Jonas, and his account of his stay 
at the Cape, contained in a letter to the Hast India Company 
(written at Swally, near Surat, in Western India, November 15, 
1624, I. O. Records, O. C., No. 1169), is worth quoting, as showing 
the practice in vogue of burying letters and making inscriptions on 
the rocks :— 
‘WEE anchored in Saldania Baie [.e., Table Bay] the 19th 
ditto [v.e., July 1624]. Wee perceaued by inscriptions on stones 
that the Dolphin was departed thence homeward bound from Suratt 
the — Aprill past, but could not finde anie lettres though the inscrip- 
tions mentioned some to be there left which appeared plainely to be 
