96 
VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC. [Decemberj 
officers, too, who had themselves been much in India, and among 
the islands, and on the pepper coast, that the natives against whom 
he was sent to act were by no means to be despised as enemies ; 
that they were notorious for their treachery ; and, in their own 
manner of fighting, were not at all deficient in courage. Thus 
furnished and armed with the necessary knowledge, for conduct- 
ing this untried enterprise, the commodore felt anxious to reach 
the spot, and settle the account at once — ^peaceably if he could— 
forcibly if necessary. 
In the meantime, the few days spent at Cape Town had been 
rendered exceedingly pleasant by the interchange of civilities be- 
tween the officers of the Potomac and the inhabitants. Soon after 
_the ceremonies and visits which would be deemed usual on such 
occasions, the commodore was invited to dine at the country seat 
of his excellency Sir Lowry Cole, a few miles from the town ; 
the excursion, occupying about an hour's ride, was over a fine 
Macadamized turnpike. 
The governor's palace, though not magnificent, was spacious 
and convenient, and every thing about it indicated good taste. 
On the same day, the commodore and his officers had been in- 
vited to partake of a dinner by the colonel and officers of the 
seventy-second regiment of Scotch Highlanders, then stationed at 
Cape Town, and forming a part of the regular force of the colony. 
But, as the governor was about to depart on a visit of inspection 
to some of the interior stations, the colonel's dinner was politely 
postponed until the day following. Both were served up in a 
style of excellence that evinced the finest taste. Indeed, the in- 
habitants generally seemed to emulate each other in extending the 
rights of hospitality to their republican visiters, which they evinced 
by their proffered civilities, and frequent visits on board the frig- 
ate. Numerous excursions were made on shore by the officers of 
the frigate, some as far as the farms of Constantia, so celebrated 
for the fine qualities of their wine. This exquisite article is 
made from a grape which is only found to flourish in a few locali- 
ties, and the wine of which cannot be procured at the vintage for 
less than five dollars per gallon. In short, so delightfully had the 
time passed, and so much were all pleased with Cape Town, that 
it was with no little reluctance they took leave of that place on 
the twelfth of December. • 
