AFRICA. 65 
part of the order was executed ; and liad 
thd captain of the Hoeker fet fire to it> as he 
was exprefsly commanded, he would have 
thro^wn the Englifli into confufion, and per- 
haps reduced them to the neceffity of aban- 
doning our fhips, from a want of the Jropes 
neceffary to carry them along with them. Be- 
ing fituated much nearer the bottom of the bay 
than the reft of the fhips, whilft the Englifli 
were keeping up a conftant fire, and taking 
pofleflion of them, he had much more time 
than Was nfeceffary to blow up his veflel. He 
not only negleded to make any difpofition 
for this purpofe; but he quitted the veflelj 
in order to fave himfelf, on the appearance 
of a cutter that came to attack him : he did 
not eveii think of fetting fire to it ; and, by 
a contradidion almoft inconceivable, and 
which feems nearly allied to madnefs, he 
burnt and reduced to aflies a beautiful habita- 
tion, fituated at the extremity of the bay, In 
a place where the water was fo fliallow that 
even boats could fcarcely approach it. On 
' this account he was fued by Mr, Heufke, 
the proprietor, who was convinced that the 
captain would at leaft be obliged to make 
good the damages. 
Vol. I. F Vangenep 
