AFRICA. 475 
the next day the Middelbourg^ the veflel Into 
which I had been refufed admiffion, was no 
longer to be feen. Certain that fhe had funk, 
1 addrefled a fhort prayer to heaven for the 
fupercargo's young wife, apprehenfive every 
moment that I Ihould myfelf be buried in the 
fame grave. However, we had the happinefs 
at lafi: to double the Cape, fo much drea led by 
■fallors. Gn the loth of Auguft we pafTed in 
fight of St. Helena, and on the 25th croffed 
the hne in the longitude of 358^, 
During the whole voyage, I never caft my 
eyes backward without feeing in imaginatioa 
the unfortunate Middelbourg. What a dread- 
ful moment, faid 1 to myfelf, muft it have been 
when the whole of that family were fwallowed 
•up by the waves ! I fancied I heard the laft 
flirieks of the unfortunate mother mingled with 
the dying fcreams of her poor children. Alas ! 
that hour had not yet arrived^ but awaned them 
when in fight of the port for which they were 
bound. 
The four veflek failed in company, without 
lofing fight of each other ; and we even vifited 
one another, when the weather was calm, v.nd 
could hoift out our boats. 
When 
