66 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[DeCettibey, 
In coming from the southwest, a ship should not get less than 
forty fathoms before the light bears southeast, or east-southeast, 
nor less than twenty fathoms before it bears south-by-east ; when 
the preceding directions may be followed. From the north, inside 
of Robben Island, the light should be kept about southwest-by- 
south, until the ship has passed that island, in doing which she may 
have in some cases from six to eight fathoms ; and when on that 
course the water deepens to eleven or twelve fathoms, she may 
steer for the anchorage by the plan as before stated. 
On beating around Green Point, a ship should never shoal her 
water mider eleven or twelve fathoms, until she has brought the 
light to bear west-southwest, as before directed. 
In beating between Robben Island and the main, to enter Table ' 
Bay, the soundings may be taken from the island, as it shoals very 
regularly. In standing towards the main, it appears prudent to 
look at the first cast of the lead after the water shoals, and in 
all cases it is taken for granted that a vessel will keep her lead 
agoing. By day, or when the shore or surf can be seen, or indeed 
under any circumstances, the plan ought to be a sufficient guide. 
Europe was totally unacquainted with this country, and even 
ignorant of its existence, anterior to the year 1493, when it was 
discovered by Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese navigator, who, 
under the immediate auspices of his sovereign, John II., had ex- 
tended the Portuguese discoveries along the whole western coast 
of Africa. When near the southern extremity of the continent, 
he was driven out of sight of land, and hurried by a violent storm 
far into the Indian Ocean. The Portuguese sailors now gaye 
themselves up as lost, while for thirteen days they were buffeted 
about by the relentless tempest. After being partially acchmated 
to the sultry gales of Africa, they found the damp cold blast of the 
Antarctic seas almost intolerably severe. When the storm abated, 
ignorant of their real situation, they steered eastward to regain 
the coast from which they had been driven, but nothing but the 
imbounded ocean was to be seen. Surprised and bewildered, they 
steered to the north, and finally made a point of Africa, consider- 
ably to the eastward of that which we now call the Cape of Good 
Hope. As numerous herds were seen feeding on the shore, Diaz 
called his new discovery "the Bay of Cows." He then steered 
westward until he came to a small island, on which he planted a 
