474 T'R AVELS IN 
I embarked in the Ganges, commanded by 
Captain Paardekooper. We failed from Falfe- 
Bay the 14th of July, 1784, accompanied by 
four other of the company's fhips. We had 
fcarcely cleared the bay, when contrary winds 
drove us to the fouthward, where a horrible 
tempeft aiTailed us, and we were driven by a 
violent gale to the latitude of 37^ fouth. I 
felt by experience how much reafon the Por- 
tuguefe had to call the fouthernmoft part of 
Africa the Cape of Tempefts. On this fearful 
occafion we loft two men, whom the waves 
waQied off the deck. Every effort was made 
to fave them, but in vain : they were twenty 
times overwhelmed by mountains of water, 
and at laft perifhed. Our vefTel, w^hich was 
old, greatly fuflered : the water penetrated in 
all parts ; and notwuthftanding every thing that 
could afterwards be done to remedy the evil, 
fhe remained leaky during the whole voyage. 
We were eleven days in this diftreffrng fitu- 
ation ; which, with the image of death every 
moment before cur eyes, were a long and te^ 
dious period. On one of thofe nights of hor- 
ror, feveral guns v/ere fired as fignals of dif- 
trefs by one of the vefTels ; and, to our grief, 
the 
