2 
TRAVELS IN 
intercourfe with every part of the civilized world ; or to its 
intrinfic value, as capable of fupplying many articles of general 
confumption to the mother-country ; or as a port folely for the 
numerous and valuable fleets of the Eaft-India Company to 
refrefh at ; to affemble in time of war for convoy ; to re-efta- 
blifh the health of their fickly troops, worn down by the debili- 
tating effeds of expofure to a warm climate ; and to feafon, in 
the mild and moderate temperature of Southern Africa, fuch of 
thofe from Europe as may be deftincd for fervice in the warmer 
climate of their Indian fettlements. 
In the early voyages undertaken by the Britifli merchants 
trading to the Eaft Indies, the Cape was always made the gene- 
ral rendezvous and place of refrefhment ; and it was then confi- 
dered of fuch importance that a formal polTeflion was taken of 
it by two commanders of the Company's fhips in the year 1620, 
in the name of King James of Great Britain, a period of thirty 
years antecedent to the eftablifhment of the colony by the 
United Provinces. The particulars of this tranfadion are entered 
at full length on the records of the Eaft-India Company ; and, 
as the reafoning then upon it will more ftrongly apply at this 
time, it may not be amifs to infert an extrad from them. 
" James, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, 
" and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, £ffr. ; Know all men, by 
" the prefent publication hereof, that according to our bounden 
** duties to our Sovereign Lord the King, James, by the Grace 
" of God, King of Great Britain, ^c, and the State j 
We, 
35 
