GROSVEXOR INDIAMAN. 47 
On reaching the house of Mynheer Christopher Roostooff, 
to whom Battores was bailiff, they were treated with the 
kindest attention. The master, on being acquainted with 
their distress, immediately ordered bread and milk to be set 
before them ; but acting rather on the principles of humanity 
than prudence, he furnished them with such a quantity that 
their weak stomachs were overloaded. After their meal, 
sacks were spread upon the ground for them to repose on. 
It had been so long since they had knoA\Ti any thing of the 
calculation of time, that they were unacquainted even with 
the name of the month ; and they were given to understand, 
that the day of their deliverance was the 29th of November ; 
so that one hundred and seventeen days had revolved their 
melancholy hours since they were shipwrecked; a period of 
suffering almost unparalleled, and during which they had 
often been miraculously preserved. 
Next morning Mynheer Roostooff killed a sheep for the en- 
tertainment of his guests, and another Dutchman, of the name 
of Q,uin, came with a cart and six horses to convey them 
towards the Cape. The boy Price, being lame from the 
hardships he had undergone, was detained at Roostooff's 
house, Avho kindly undertook his cure, and promised to send 
him after the others when he was recovered. The rest of 
the party proceeded to Q,uin's house, where they were hos- 
pitabl}'- entertained four days. 
From that time they were forwarded in carts, from one 
settlement to another, till they arrived at Swellendam,* about 
one hundred miles from the Cape. Wherever they passed 
they experienced the humanity of the farmers, and their 
wants were relieved with a liberal hand. 
At Swellendam they were detained till orders should be re- 
ceived from the governor at the Cape, in regard to their future 
destiny, Holland and Great-Britain being at that time at war. 
At length two of the party were ordered to be forwarded to 
the Cape, in order to be examined, while the rest were to re- 
main at Swellendam. Accordingly Wormington and Leary 
proceeded to the Cape, where, after being strictly interroga- 
ted, thev were sent on board a Dutch man of war lying in the 
bay, with orders that they should be set to work. While in 
this situation, Wormington having discovered that the boat- 
swain was engaged in some fraudulent practices, imprudently 
threatened to give information, on which the boatsv^ain de- 
* Zwelleodam. 
