BEC] CAPE-TOWN. It; 
the Dutch ship arrive at the mouth of the river, 
M. the captain, and crew, came off to her, 
and sohcited a passage to the Cape, to which Mr. O. 
as supercargo, and the captain consented. They 
clothed the Frenchmen, and went ashore with them 
to the king. They soon reached a considerable town, 
where an officer, called the second king, resided. By 
him they were well received, and sent off with a num- 
ber of attendants to the first king. They came to a 
broad and rapid river, but seeing neither bridge nor 
boat, they looked at each other, wondering how they 
should get across. They had two chests, full of pre- 
sents for the king. Six men took up one of the chests, 
went with it into the water, three on one side and 
three on the other, and suspended it above water, by 
each applying one of his hands to it. In this way they 
carried it over perfectly dry : — in the same way they 
carried over the other chest, and all the Dutch and 
French who were in the company. One of the sailors, 
not choosing to be carried over in so awkward a man- 
ner, stripped off his clothes, and tying them about his 
head, jumped into the water and swam towards the 
other side ; but on coming to the middle of the river, 
the current was too strong for him, so that he was car- 
ried down before it, and would certainly have been 
drowned had not some of the natives gone to his 
assistance. Soon after crossing the river they arrived 
at the town where the king resided, which was con- 
siderably larger than the one they had seen before. 
On being introduced to the king, he expressed his 
surprise at seeing the Frenchmen all well clothed. 
D 2 
