Towards the Cape."] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
3T 
as antiscorbutics ; on reaching a higher latitude, sour krout and isoi. 
vinegar were substituted ; the essence of malt was reserved for the Frfdayi 
passage to New Holland, and for future occasions. On consulting 
with the surgeon, I had thought it expedient to make some slight 
changes in the issuing of the provisions. Oatmeal was boiled for 
breakfast four days in the week, instead of three; and when rice 
was issued, after the expenditure of the cheese, it was boiled on the 
other three days. Pease soup was prepared for dinner four days in 
the week, as usual; and at other times, two ounces of portable 
broth, in cakes, to each man, with such additions of onions, pepper, 
&c. as the different messes possessed, made a comfortable addi- 
tion to their salt meat. And neither in this passage, nor, I may 
add, in any subsequent part of the voyage, were the officers or 
people restricted to any allowance of fresh water. They drank 
freely at the scuttled cask, and took away, under the inspection of 
the officer of the watch, all that was requisite for culinary purposes ; 
and very frequently two casks of water in the week were given for 
washing their clothes. 
With these regulations, joined to a due enforcement of dis- 
cipline, I had the satisfaction to see my people orderly and full of 
zeal for the service in which we were engaged ; and in such a state 
of health, that no delay at the Cape was required beyond the neces- 
sary refitment of the ship, and I still hoped to save a good part of 
the summer season upon the south coast of Terra Australis. 
The usual time for His Majesty's ships to leave False Bay and 
go round to Table Bay, I found to be the latter end of September ; 
but being then unacquainted with the precise time, and knowing of 
the loss of the Sceptre in Table Bay, on November 5, from a heavy 
gale at north-west, I determined to go into False Bay ; unless we 
should get previous information that it had been quitted by the 
squadron. At noon, the extremes of the land bore N. by W. ~ W. 
and E. | N. The Cape Point bore north, three leagues ; and our 
observed latitude being 34 0 32', showed the Requisite Tables to be 
vol. 1. I i 
