THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
37 
that on the 17th we had fight of the Cape of Good Hope ; 
and the next day anchored in Table Bay, in four fathoms 
water, with the church bearing South Weft £ South, and 
Green Point North Weft | Weft. 
As foon as we had received the ufual vifit from the Mafter 
Attendant and the Surgeon, I Pent an officer to wait on Ba¬ 
ron Plettenberg, the Governor; and, on his return, faluted 
the garrifon with thirteen guns, which compliment was re¬ 
turned with the fame number. 
We found in the bay two French Eaft India Ships; the 
one outward, and the other homeward bound. And two or 
three days before our arrival, another homeward bound 
fhip of the fame nation had parted from her cable, and been 
driven on fhore at the head of the bay, where fhe was loft. 
The crew were faved; but the greateft part of the cargo 
fhared the fame fate with the fhip, or (which amounted to 
the fame) was plundered and ftolen by the inhabitants, ei¬ 
ther out of the fhip, or as it was driven or carried on fhore. 
This is the account the French officers gave to me ;, and the 
Dutch themfelves could not deny the fa£t. But, by way of 
excufing themfelves from being guilty of a crime difgrace- 
ful to every civilized ftate, they endeavoured to lay the 
whole blame on the French Captain, for not applying in 
time for a guard. 
1776'. 
October. 
Thurfday 17 
Friday 18. 
As foon as we had faluted, I went on fhore, accompanied 
by fome of my officers, and w'aited on the Governor, the 
Lieutenant Governor, the Fifcal, and the Commander of the 
troops. Thefe gentlemen received me with the greateft ci¬ 
vility ; and the Governor, in particular, promifed me every 
affiftance that the place afforded. At the fame time I ob¬ 
tained his leave to fet up our obfervatory on any fpot I 
fhould think moft convenient; to pitch tents for the fadl- 
v makers 
