July 31st.—­Took a stroll on shore, and walked round some fine oat-fields.  The soil resembles our hummock land in Florida, and produces finely.  Engaged caulking, painting, &c.  An abundance of wild-flowers in bloom.  Huge blocks of granite lie about the sand, and from the tops of projections, &c.

Saturday, Aug. 1st.—­I returned on board, after a stroll on shore, at 2 P.M.  During my walk I met some farmers in a four-horse waggon coming to see the ship.  They brought me a wild peacock—­not quite so large as our wild turkey.  It was without the gorgeous plumage of the domestic bird.  The schooner Atlas came in this afternoon, with letters for me from some merchants at Cape Town, offering their services to supply me with coal, &c., and expressing their good-will, &c., &c.  I took occasion by this vessel, which returned immediately, to write to the Governor, Sir Philip B. Wodehouse, informing him of my presence here.

Sunday, Aug. 2nd.—­The inhabitants say that this winter has been remarkable for its general good weather, and for the few gales they have had.  Crowds of country people, from far and near, came on board to look at the ship to-day.

Monday, Aug. 3rd.—­Another crowd of visitors to-day, who came in their country waggons and on horseback.  They all speak Dutch, and it is rare to find one among them who speaks English.  Although it is nearly half a century since England took final possession of the colony, the English language has made but little progress, the children being taught by a Dutch schoolmaster, and the papers being, many of them, printed in Dutch.  There was an intelligent young boer (about twenty-three) among them, who had never been on board a ship before.  He was quite excited by the novelty of everything he saw.  Some of the female visitors were plump, ruddy, Dutch girls, whose large rough hands, and awkward bows and curtsies, showed them to be honest lasses from the neighboring farms, accustomed to milking the cows and churning the butter.  I found the geranium growing wild in my rambles to-day.  Just as we were going to sun-down quarters, a boat came alongside with the body of Third Assistant-engineer Cummings, who accidentally shot himself with his gun.

Tuesday, Aug. 4th.—­In the afternoon, at three, the funeral procession started from shore with the body of the deceased engineer.  He was taken to a private cemetery about a mile and a half distant, and interred with the honours due to his grade, the First Lieutenant reading the funeral service.  This is the first burial we have had from the ship.