ed, about this Time, with the Gout in his Sto mach, which he had for a Series of Years been afflicted with, in so violent a Manner, that, notwithstanding all the Affistance of our Surgeon, a Paroxyfm carried him off, to the great Regret of every body on Board, as he was truly an excellent Seaman, a vigilant Commander, and a Gentleman of great good Temper and Humanity. He was fucceeded in the Command of the Haflings, by Mr. Bentley, our first Mate, whose good Qualities could alone confule us for our Lofs. The Death of our Captain was followed by a violent Storm, which met us in Longitude 10°. Weft, and Latitude 30°. 8'. South, and continued without Intermission for 14 Days; fo that, our People being all jaded and tired, our Ship tried an Hull, and drove at the Mercy of Winds and Waves, and, by our Reckonings, far to the South of our true Course. It was now I began to conceive and feel the Miferies and Hardhips of a Sea-faring Life, and for moft Part of the Time, as we could light no Fires, we were forced to content ourselves with Bifcuit, and fuch cold Stores, as we had by us, to satisfy our Hunger; being alfo forced to keep close in our Cabbins, for the most experienced Seamen could very difficultly stand the Deck. The tenth Day, whilst the Waves rolled over us, and burst upon us with a Fury that made us apprehend every Minute we should founder, our Foremaft was brought by the Board, and

it was with Difficulty we cleared ourselves of her, Time enough to prevent the Damage we feared it would do us; and we had no fooner got over that Diftrefs, than one of our Guns of the lower Tier broke loofe, and we were apprehensive she would by her forceful Sallies break thro' the Ship's Sides in fhort, we were all Confufion, but the Captain, who, with a commendable Prefence of Mind, or dered up all the Hammocks and Bedding, and fo providentially chocked her up, that we found the Danger quite over. When the Storm, in fome Meafure, fubfided, we found ourselves in Latitude 50%, and fome Minutes, South, and as near as we could guefs, in Longitude 118°, 15', Eaft of the Meridian of London, in the vaft and unploughed Southern Ocean; and, a Calm fucceeding of many Days, our Water grew fo fcanty, that we were reduced to half a Pint a Day; and, to add to our Calamity, above half the Ship's Crew were eaten up with the Scurvy, and our fresh Provifions were fo low, that what we spared to them, was not fufficient to be of much Service in that dreadful Distemper ; but how furprifed were we one Morning, when a Man at the Maft-head cried out, Land! Land! and founding, we found fifty Fathom Water: We were at a Lofs to imagine what Land this could be, which bore from us South-eaft, till Mr. Bentley, in one of his Charts, found a Cape, which was there called Cape Circumcifion, and

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was a very late Discovery. I must own, just at that Moment, I was in Hopes our Commander would fend a Boat to difcover the Coaft, but, a foutherly Wind fpringing up, he took the Advantage of it, and stood away to the North-westward, which Course in a few Days brought us fafely into Saldana Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope, to our inexpreffible Joy and Satisfaction. Here our Men were foon recovered of their Toil and Illness, and 1 received great Pleasure in viewing the fine Settlements of the induftrious Dutch, at the Cape, who have made à Paradife of the Country the English defpifed, and all other Nations looked upon with the utmoft Diftafte. The Natives themselves, who seemed' hardened to all the Maxims of human Creatures, now, under their Government, begin to affociate together and form Societies; that are a plain Proof the wildest Natures may be cultivated, if proper Methods are employed. We lay here near three Weeks, and, having taken in proper Provifions and Refreshments for the further Part of our Voyage, we weighed, with one French and two Dutch Ships in Company, and with a fine Gale, and delightful Weather, doubled this famous Promontory, and entered the Indian Ocean.

CHA P. XLVII.

They are obliged to put into the Island of Java.

Sail from thence, and arrive at Fort St. George, on the Coast of Coromandel.-He is well received.-Falls ill-Recovers, and applies himself affiduously to the Duties of bis Profeffion.-Receives Letters from England.

W

E pursued our Voyage thro' this delightful Sea for several Days, with all the Success we could defire, and methinks nothing can equal the Pleasure we experienced: Still quiet Gales filled our steady Sails, the Veffel gently gliding thro' the Waves; and, if the Heat was almost intolerable, we were compenfated, by having little elfe to do than to look Abroad, and furvey the fine Skies, and the fmooth Face of the Ocean, curled into meandring Forms by the fliding Keel. An infinite Number of Sheerwaters, and other Birds of the aquatic Kind, attended our Progrefs; the timorous flying Fish, pursued by the devouring Albicores, now and then skimmed over us, whilft the fportive Porpoife, tumbling with uncouth Postures, basked every now and then on the Surface of the Waters. This Weather did not however continue a great while, and was followed by a smarter Gale at VOL. II. North

H

North-eaft than we could well expect; fo that we were driven a great Way to Leeward, and our Captain thought it adviseable to try to ftretch over, either to fall in with the Island of Sumatra or Java; which laft we fafely reached, and anchored in the Port of Batavia, the Capital of the Dutch Empire in this Part of the World; where we were vifited by the proper Officers, who continued on Board of us to prevent any illicit Trade, as few of our outward bound Indiamen ever touch at their Settlements in this Country. However, confidering Dutch Craft and Policy, we were tolerably well ufed, permitted to buy fuch Things as were neceffary for us, and to go on Shore. Nothing is a greater Proof of the Opulence of their Company, and their Power in the East Indies, than this City, which has in it all the Conveniencies and Pleasures this Part of the World can afford; and it is furprifing to what an Height they have raifed themfelves by Perfeverance and abfolute Industry, in fuch a few Years, as those fince they applied themfelves fo indefatigably to this Trade. The Dutch Governor General lives like a Prince, and exacts and receives more Homage than the States General themselves do from their Subjects in Europe. We lay here only three Days and an half, and then put to Sea with the Wind at S. W. which ftill fhifting more favourably, we entered the Harbour of Fort St. George, after a tedious and fatiguing Voyage of near feven Months,

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