AFRICA; 5z 
was paft, we again fat down to table ; and, as 
a falfe alarm is always fucceeded by the live- 
lieft joy, v/e amufed ourfelves in jeering one 
another, and in reciprocally painting the dif- 
ferent impreffions which fear had made on 
each of the guefts, without fparing any one. 
The vigilance of Vangenep, and the promp- 
titude with which he gave his orders on this 
occafion, were to me a certain evidence that 
he himfelf was under great uneafmefs ; but he 
fufFered nothing to appear : fo true it is that 
the coolnefs of a commander conceals danger> 
and encourages thofe who are under him. 
Such ought to be the condudt of a good fea 
officer, even till the laft moment* The con- 
fternation foon becomes general, when the 
crew obferve any marks of terror imprinted on 
the countenance of their captain. I then re- 
collected the proof which I had feen of this, 
paffing the Line, when we fhamefuUy fufFered 
ourfelves to be cannonaded by a petty pri- 
vateer. 
At the entrance of Saldanha Bay there is 
feen alfo a fmall ifle, called Dqfm Eyhnd^ or 
the Ifle of Marmots. I do not know if an v 
of thefe animals vv^ere ever found here at any 
E 2 former 
