10 
CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
evinced considerable ability in a journal he had written of an 
expedition to the Karroo, and he was accompanied by Lieu- 
tenant Donovan with a sufficient number of attendants for thfe 
management of two waggons, in which the party set out on its 
expedition. At the time of my being at the Cape, letters had 
been just received from Mr. Cowan, bearing a recent date ; at 
which time he and his companions had penetrated much farther 
north than any preceding travellers. The information already 
obtained appeared interesting ; the country through which the 
party had passed was rich and fertile, and intersected by numerous 
rivers, all shaping their courses to the west ; the native tribes, 
which they had met with, were peaceably inclined, and it seems 
not unlikely, from Mr. Cowan's opinion, might be induced to 
open an intercourse with the Cape. 
At the latter end of May preparations were made for ouf 
departure from this settlement, which were suddenly retarded by 
the occurrence of an accident which threatened to bring our 
voyage to an unpleasant termination. On Monday the 29th, about 
eleven in the morning, the wind sprung up from the north-east, 
accompanied with dark hazy weather, and a heavy sea. At 
twelve, after violent rain, the wind increased to a gale, and so 
tremendous a swell came rolling into Table Bay that it occa- 
sioned our ship to strike the ground, in which dangerous pre- 
dicament she continued nearly two hours. The violence of 
the shocks she sustained tore away the rudder from its fasten- 
ingvS and stove in part of the stern. Our chief officer, who was 
on board, immediately hoisted lights and fired several guns as 
signals of distress ; on hearing which the Captain, who happened 
