At two in the afternoon on the 29th, we made the land of the Cape of Good Hope.  The Table Mountain, which is over the Cape Town, bore E.S.E., distance twelve or fourteen leagues.  At this time it was a good deal obscured by clouds, otherwise it might, from its height, have been seen at a much greater distance.  We now crowded all the sail we could, thinking to get into the bay before dark.  But when we found this could not be accomplished, we shortened sail, and spent the night standing off and on.  Between eight and nine o’clock, the whole sea, within the compass of our sight, became at once, as it were illuminated; or, what the seamen call, all on fire.  This appearance of the sea, in some degree, is very common; but the cause is not so generally known.  Mr Banks and Dr Solander had satisfied me that it was occasioned by sea-insects.  Mr Forster, however, seemed not to favour this opinion.  I therefore had some buckets of water drawn up from alongside the ship, which we found full of an innumerable quantity of small globular insects, about the size of a common pin’s-head, and quite transparent.  There was no doubt of their being living animals, when in their own proper element, though we could not perceive any life in them:  Mr Forster, whose province it is more minutely to describe things of this nature, was now well satisfied with the cause of the sea’s illumination.[9]

At length day-light came and brought us fair weather; and having stood into Table Bay, with the Adventure in company, we anchored in five fathom water.  We afterwards moored N.E. and S.W., Green Point on the west point of the bay, bearing N.W. by W., and the church, in one with the valley between the Table Mountain and the Sugar-Loaf, or Lion’s Head, bearing S.W. by S., and distant from the landing-place near the fort, one mile.

We had no sooner anchored than we were visited by the captain of the port, or master-attendant, some other officers belonging to the company, and Mr Brandt.  This last gentleman brought us off such things as could not fail of being acceptable to persons coming from sea.  The purport of the master attendant’s visit was, according to custom, to take an account of the ships; to enquire into the health of the crews; and, in particular, if the small-pox was on board; a thing they dread, above all others, at the Cape, and for these purposes a surgeon is always one of the visitants.

My first step after anchoring, was, to send an officer to wait on Baron Plettenberg, the governor, to acquaint him with our arrival, and the reasons which induced me to put in there.  To this the officer received a very polite answer; and, upon his return, we saluted the garrison with eleven guns, which compliment was returned.  Soon after I went on shore myself, and waited upon the governor, accompanied by Captain Furneaux, and the two Mr Forsters.  He received us, with very great politeness, and promised me every assistance the place could afford.  From him I