28 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
of which we now are, but have 2S degrees of longitude to run down. 
A great number of pintado birds, albatrosses, and other sea-fowl, 
surround the ship ; of the former we have caught several with 
lines and hooks, baited with pork ; but the latter have hitherto 
been too cautious. 
October 50. — Yesterday at twelve the Cape was visible from 
the mast head. At two this morning I was awakened by Captain 
Weltden, informing me that we were in the Bay. Curiosity made 
me rise to take a peep at the celebrated Table Mountain, which by 
the light of the moon had a fine effect, and in grandeur by no means 
disappointed my expectations. At three we cast anchor. Soon after 
breakfast Captain Weltden and I set off in his boat for the shore : the 
wind blew fresh from the N. E. and w^e with diflicuky made our way 
to the landing-place. We ought indeed to have waited for the 
health-officer to come on board ; but this we neglected, as the ap- 
pearance of the weather made it doubtful whether he would ven- 
ture out ; and if the wind freshened, we might, by this delay, have 
been kept for several days, without being able to land ; by no 
means an unusual circumstance at this season of the year. Our 
first visit was to Sir Roger Curtis, the Admiral, at whose house we 
fortunately met with the acting Governor, Lieutenant -General Dun- 
das, and Mr. Pringle, Agent to the East India Company, and Com- 
missary General, to whom I had letters from his cousin at Madeira. 
Our reception was civil ; and we immediately entered on business, 
by enquiring the ultimate destination of the vessels. To our great 
disppointment we found that Ceylon was out of the question, since 
there remained only part of a regiment to be conveyed to that place, 
which would go in one ship ; and orders having been sent out not to 
