CHAPTER V. 
SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
The Cape of Good Hope.^Kolben, — Sparmann.-^Vaillajit,-^ 
Barroxv* — Trutter and Sommermlle* — Comn, — Lichtenstein, 
— CampbelL — BurchelL 
The discovery of the Cape of Good Hope by 
Bartholomew Diaz, and its subsequent passage 
by Vasco de Gama in 1498, formed one of the 
gi'and eras in modern navigation. Although, 
however, the Portuguese touched on this coast 
for provisions and water, they do not appear to 
have ever formed any permanent settlement* 
But the Dutch, a prudent and considerate peo- 
ple, soon discovered the advantages which might 
be derived from the possession of this half-way 
house to India. Early in the 17th century they 
formed a settlement there, which being gradually 
strengthened and extended, ranked at length with 
the most important of their colonial establish- 
ments. Some accounts of it were published in 
1681 and 1686, by Dutch writers of the names 
of Breyer and Fen Rynne. The first detailed 
narrative, however, was given in 1718, by Peter 
Kolben 5 which^ after being for nearly half a cen- 
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