Thursday 22.

At two in the afternoon we saw the Table Mountain of the Cape of Good Hope.  As it is reckoned unsafe riding in Table Bay at this time of year I steered for False Bay.  The next evening we anchored in the outer part.

Saturday 24.

And on the forenoon of the 24th got the ship secured in Simon’s Bay, which is in the inner part of False Bay.  When moored, Noah’s ark bore south 35 degrees east three-quarters of a mile, and the hospital south 72 west.  We found lying here one outward bound Dutch Indiaman, five other Dutch ships, and a French ship.

After saluting the fort, which was returned by an equal number of guns, I went on shore and dispatches were sent away to Cape Town to acquaint the governor of our arrival.  A Dutch ship at this time lying in Table Bay bound for Europe, I sent letters by her to the Admiralty.  It is very unusual for ships to be in Table Bay so late in the year, on account of the strong north-west winds.  April is the time limited.

I gave the necessary directions for getting our wants supplied.  The ship required to be caulked in every part for she was become so leaky that we had been obliged to pump every hour in our passage from Cape Horn.  This we immediately set about, as well as repairing our sails and rigging.  The severe weather we had met with and the leakiness of the ship made it necessary to examine into the state of all the stores and provisions.  Of the latter a good deal was found damaged, particularly the bread.  The timekeeper I took on shore to ascertain its rate, and other instruments to make the necessary astronomical observations.  Fresh meat, with soft bread and plenty of vegetables, were issued daily to the ship’s company the whole time we remained here.  A few days after our arrival I went over to Cape Town and waited on his excellency M. Vander Graaf, the governor, who obligingly arranged matters so much to our advantage that we scarcely felt the inconvenience of being at a distance from the Cape Town, whence we received all our supplies.

The Cape Town is considerably increased within the last eight years.  Its respectability with regard to strength has kept pace with its other enlargements and rendered it very secure against any attempt which is not made with considerable force.  Great attention is paid to military order and discipline; and monthly signals are established to communicate with their shipping as they arrive near the coast that they may not run unawares into the hands of an enemy.  I found everything much dearer than when I was here in 1780.  Sheep cost four Spanish dollars each and were so small that it answered better to purchase the mutton for the ship’s daily use at fourpence per pound.