Q STORM AT SEA. 16—17 Nov. 
'J *•- 
important a fact by my own experience ; and my fondest wish was, 
to be able to bear witness to the truth of it. 
The idea, that the land was now before me where I was to become 
acquainted with my fellow-creatures living in primeval simplicity, 
caused a pleasing glow in my mind, and I imagined myself already 
in the midst of their tribes, delighted at the novelty of the scene, 
and acquiring new views of human nature. Not aware that the 
ardor of a youthful imagination concealed every difficulty, I could 
see none which could disappoint my hope of traversing in any 
direction the unknown regions of Southern Africa ; and believed 
that once safely landed, every obstacle to my progress would vanish. 
My impatience, therefore, at remaining on the sea so long after 
coming in sight of the harbour, began to render my confinement to 
the ship exceedingly irksome. 
The whole crew, being but few in number, were obliged to 
remain constantly on the watch ; and as the wind was continually 
changing, they were nearly exhausted by fatigue. Thus passed the 
day ; and the evening came on without any symptoms of abatement 
in the storm. At last, about eight o'clock, we suddenly found our- 
selves within its influence, having unfortunately drifted beyond the 
shelter of the mountain. The wind roared in the rigging, and 
drove us before it like a feather on the surface of a lake ; it was 
impossible to regain our shelter, and in this extremity we bore 
up for Robben island, hoping under the lee of it to find some 
protection. But this we could not accomplish, and the fury of 
the storm sweeping us past it with awful rapidity, hurried us once 
more out of sight of land. With great difficulty the sails were 
furled, and under a close reefed fore-topsail we scudded before 
the tempest. The vessel rolled in a dreadful manner ; every minute 
we expected to hear the crash of masts falling overboard; the 
men were thrown from side to side, unable to keep on their feet ; 
and worn out with labor and fatigue, they looked at each other 
in a desponding manner, which betrayed their fears, and showed 
the reality of our danger. The storm raged still more furiously, 
and the peril of our situation increased every moment. It was no 
