feet, snatched up their assagays and began to throw them at our people without, however, wounding any one; except that the ship’s clerk, who in flying tried to seize one of the natives round the body, was in the scuffle slightly wounded in the hand; upon this, our men fired a volley, wounding one of the natives, who thereupon all of them fled into the bush.  Our people then tried to drag to the boat the two men they had got hold of, but as they were tying their {Page 95} arms and legs together, one of them by frantic biting and tearing contrived to get loose and effect his escape.  Shortly after upwards of fifty natives again made their appearance, throwing assagays, but they also took to their heels, when our people let off another volley of musketry, after which our men succeeded in carrying off their one prisoner to the boat.

[* A sorry return for kindness received!]

{Page 96}

On the 29th of May, the wind being S.E. and S.E. by E. with a top-gallant gale, they put to sea again, running S.S.W. close by the wind in from 10 to 11 fathom good anchoring-ground.  At noon they found their latitude to be 12 deg. 31’ South, and dropped anchor in 10 fathom good anchoring-ground, at about 1 or 11/2 mile’s distance from the land, their compasses showing 3 deg. 49’ north-easterly variation.

On the 3Oth of May, as they were lying at anchor, two small prows came to within half a mile of the ship and then paddled back to shore.

On the 31st of May, the wind being East and E.S.E., with a top-gallant gale, they set sail close to the wind on a southerly course.  At noon they took the latitude of 12 deg. 44’ South, having passed depths of 10 and 101/2 fathom.  At sunset the countercurrent forced them to drop anchor before the Mosselbaaij.

On the 1st of June, the wind being E.S.E. and S.E. by E. with a weak top-gallant gale, they set sail over depths of 101/2, 11, 12 and latterly 101/2 fathom again, good anchoring ground, upon which they dropped anchor in the forenoon.  At noon it fell a calm, and they took the latitude of 12 deg. 51’ South, the compasses showing 3 deg. 3’ north-easterly variation.

In the morning of June 2 the wind varied between East, E.S.E., and S.E., and then went round to S.W. by S.; they sent the boat ashore in search of fresh water, since in the latitude they had now reached the chart showed a fresh-water river.  When the boat returned alongside, they were informed that there was an excellent watering-place close by, where the water came rushing down the rocks, and also a fine inland lake, near which the men had seen a great number of birds of various kinds, together with certain foot-prints of large animals.  In the drawing or chart this spot has been named Rijders waterplaats situated in 12 deg. 57’ S. Lat.

On the 3rd of June, the wind blowing from the East to E.S.E. with a fresh breeze, they set sail for the watering-place aforesaid in 11, 10, 111/2, 91/2, 9 and 8 fathom, good anchoring ground and muddy sand, in which they dropped anchor at two glasses in the afternoon.