A VOYAGE TO 
the fliips of fo many nations wliicli conftantly refort 
to the Cape. 
When we coniider the vafl advantages derived by the 
Dutch colonifts from this traffic, and the almofl - indif- 
penlible neceihty by which navigators of all nations are 
driven to feek refrefliment there, it cannot but appear 
extraordinary, that from the difcovery of the Cape in 
.1493, by Barthelemi Diaz, to the year 1650, when, 
at the fuggeftion of John Van Riebeck, the firft Dutch 
colony was fent, a fpot fo very favourable to commerce 
and navigation Hiould have remained unoccupied by 
Europeans. Perhaps all the perfeverance of the Dutch 
charadler was neceffary ev^en to fuggefl: the idea of main- 
itaining an eflablifhment in a foil fo burnt by the fun, 
and fo little difpofed to repay the toil of the cultivator. 
The example and fuccefs of this people may ferve, how- 
ever, as an ufeful inftru(Slion to all who in great under- 
takings are deterred by trifling obftacles ; and who, rather 
than contend with difficulties, are inclined to relinquifli 
the moft evident advantages. 
But though the country near the Cape had not charms 
enough to render it as plealing as that wiiich flirrounds 
Rio de Janeiro, yet the Governor, Mynheer Van Graaffe, 
was not far behind the Viceroy of Brazil in attention to 
the Englifli officers. They were admitted to his table, 
where 
