IOO 
Relation 
[1672 
In this storm our Vessel was struck by a very heavy 
sea, by which we thought we should be swamp’d. It 
pass’d ten feet higher than the top (cross-trees) of the 
main-mast, & we were some time under the waves. 
The night of 15 th to 16th we doubl’d the Cape of Good 
Hope. We chanted the Te Deum , to thank God for his 
mercy that he had vouchsaf’d in preserving us from 
sinking in these storms, & for having doubl’d the Cape 
of Storms ; after passing that we had good hope of our 
voyage. 
This Cape is situated by 35 degrees of latitude, South of 
the Equinoctial Line. ’Tis the most commodious station 
that there’s in the passage from Europe to the East 
Indies. The Dutch are there well-establish’d; they have 
there strong fortresses, a Governor, & a good garrison ; 
they also have there fine settlements, where they collect 
a quantity of things, & particularly good wheat, & breed 
cattle. 
The air of the land is very healthy. There’s a quantity 
of wild & dangerous beasts; such as Elephants, Rhino¬ 
ceroses, Lyons, Tigers, Leopards, Panthers, & other 
animals, much to be fear’d. 
The Inhabitants or natives of this land are ruddy, of 
small stature, & the most ignorant, filthy, & degraded that 
there are under heaven. 
This land is of the Kingdom of Monomotapa, or of 
Prester Jan ; but the Inhabitants or Natives of this place 
are so far from their King, that they’ve no knowledge of 
him, not more than they have of Religion. 
After having doubl’d this Cape, there arose a wind from 
the South-East, very convenient for our route. 
The 25 th of the month we passed the Tropic of Capri¬ 
corn , & re-entered under the Torrid Zone. 
Wednesday 2nd November , All Souls’ Day, at five 
o’clock in the evening, we discover’d the Island of Saint 
