480 



SALDANHA BAY— ST. HELENA. 



[1831. 



ment, declining the offer with the assurance that I needed nothing but 

 some canvass to repair my sails, which were very much out of order. 

 This, however, was the only article of which he himself was short, 

 and as we now had a fine breeze from south-east, and fair weather, 

 we continued on our passage to the westward, and by sunset the Sesos- 

 tris was hull-down astern. 



March \0th. — The breeze freshened, and on Thursday, the 10th of 

 March, we saw the Table Mountain of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 bearing east-north-east, distant ten leagues. We now shaped our 

 course for Saldanha Bay, with a light breeze from the south-east, and 

 hazy. 



March \2th. — On Saturday, the 12th, we came to anchor in the 

 bay just mentioned, in four fathoms of water, muddy bottom. On the 

 following morning, at daylight, all hands were employed in unbending 

 the sails, and taking them on shore, in order that we might give them 

 a thorough repair ; as they were now so much worn that they would 

 not bear lowering down or hoisting up in a stiff breeze without split- 

 ting. We banded them in every direction, by cutting up old sails, and 

 middle stitched them all anew. At the same time some of the crew 

 were employed in cutting wood, while others were filling the water- 

 casks, and repairing such rigging as was out of order. 



March 14th. — On Monday, the 14th, at two, P. M. I took my wife 

 up to the village, or residence, where I found my old friends, whom I 

 had visited on the previous voyage. They were all in good health, and 

 received us with much cordiality and kindness. It was now seven 

 weeks since we left Singapore, and it was pleasant to walk again on 

 terra firma. On the following day the Antarctic's crew were supplied 

 with an abundance of refreshments of all kinds, including fresh beef, 

 pork, mutton, vegetables, and fruits. 



We were busily employed in putting the sails, rigging, and vessel in 

 perfect order, until Monday, the 21st ; during which time I made several 

 excursions into the country ; but have nothing to add to the descrip- 

 tions and observations recorded in my previous voyage. 



March 22d. — On Tuesday, the 22d, after taking leave of all our kind 

 friends, perhaps for the last time, we got under way at six, A. M., and 

 put to sea, with a light south-east wind. We shaped our course to the 

 north-west for several days, with light variable winds and almost entire 

 calms. On Monday, the 28th, we took the regular south-east trade- 

 wind, but very light, from south-east-by-east, being then in latitude 25 a 

 10' S., long. 13° 15' E. Thus we ran out the month of March and a 

 part of April, still steering to the north and west. 



April 7th. — On Thursday, the 7th of April, at nine, P. M., we 

 anchored on the west side of the island of St. Helena, in front of James's 

 Valley, in ten fathoms of water, sandy bottom. On the following day 

 we went on shore and visited the tomb of Bonaparte, and indulged in 

 the usual contemplations over the earthly remains of that wonderful 

 man. The spot where he is " quietly inurned" is in a deep valley, 

 surrounded by a small iron railing, and covered with a coarse brown 

 stone, lying about eight inches above the level of the ground, without 

 any inscription whatever upon it. And why should there be ? Who 



