j(36 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 



sold, unless the persons make application at the Cape, to officers 

 appointed, called commissioners, whose duty it is to see that all liens 

 on the land, such as bonds and mortgages, are all paid up ; and the 

 liabilities are fully protected ; and the person wishing to sell must 

 have permission of the one who may hold any claim on the estate, 

 before he can legally dispose of his property ; and the consent of the 

 mortgagee must be obtained in writing before the debt can be trans- 

 ferred with the property. 



The day previous to our departure, I had the pleasure of again 

 meeting Captain Belcher, who was now on his way home in the Sul- 

 phur. He had just arrived with his ship in Simon's Bay, where the 

 English men-of-war anchor, as Her Majesty's dockyard is situated 

 there : it is considered a safer harbour than Table Bay ; but from 

 what 1 heard of its conveniences, it seems ill adapted for a place to 

 refit; and, indeed, I was told that this is seldom attempted. Our stay 

 was not sufficiently long to enable any of us to visit it, and little in- 

 ducement appeared to be held out to go there by those under whose 

 guidance we had placed ourselves. Having transacted all our busi- 

 ness, and finished our necessary observations, we prepared for de- 

 parture. Before taking leave of the Cape, I must be permitted, in 

 the name of myself and of the officers of the Expedition, again to 

 tender our warmest thanks for the attention paid us by many gentle- 

 men, who afforded us many facilities in the acquisition of information 

 or the pursuit of pleasure. Among those to whom we were chiefly 

 indebted for these kindnesses, were our consul, Isaac Chase, Esq., 

 and Messrs. Thompson and Pillars. 



Supplies of all kinds can be obtained at the Cape, and usually at 

 reasonable prices ; the bread we purchased, made from native flour, 

 was of excellent quality ; fruit also, though considered out of season 

 by the inhabitants, could be purchased in any quantity, either in the 

 markets or from the bumboats alongside of the vessels. The usual 

 facilities for watering are rather deficient : there are no floating tanks, 

 and some inconvenience results from the use of casks. 



On the 17th, we got under way with a light and baffling wind. 

 The air was from the eastward aloft, while a westerly breeze blowing 

 below it, often took our lower sails aback ; still the upper ones were 

 full. By constant attention and frequent swinging of the yards, we 

 effected a passage through the northern channel, passing at a short 

 distance from Robben's Island, on whose shore we saw, as usual, the 

 breaking surf curiously refracted. 



Robben's Island is now used as a place of confinement for criminals, 



