shore is very clean [navigationally] along the mountains, though very dangerous everywhere else. We did not dare to go ahead during the night; but next day, although the wind was pretty contrary, we thought that there would be no danger in entering [dr 31/5].
We had hardly reached the centre of the roads when the wind suddenly fell; but while we were being carried by the currents towards some rocks [Walvis Rock] not a musketshot distant, by good luck the wind rose again and took us out of danger. We had not had such a perilous day: at last, after much toil, we anchored a hundred and fifty yards from the fort built by the Dutch, where they have a strong garrison. Two shallops* came at once to inspect us; next day I was put ashore to go to salute the Governor, and arrange with him the salutes to be given, and the refreshing which was greatly needed by the crews. I found this official in the fort* which I mentioned: it is a regular pentagon, very well fortified. I was received very civilly and everything I asked for was granted: it was agreed that the salutes should be gun for gun, and that we should be furnished, on payment, with all sorts of refreshing [dr].
I came back to report my negotiations to the Ambassador, who was charmed by the good manners of the Dutch, and at once had two shallops* launched; and everyone thought only of going ashore to relax from the fatigue of such a long passage.
The Jesuit Fathers went first to salute the Governor, who overwhelmed them with kindnesses. They told him that while ashore they would greatly like to spend their time in observations which could be useful to the world, and which they could not carry out so conveniently elsewhere. He very agreeably allowed them to do this, and to facilitate it he lodged them in a magnificent pavilion built in the Garden* of the East-India Company. In fact, they made various very useful observations, and fixed the longitude* of the Cape, which had not been determined until then except by the dead-reckonings of the Pilots, a very dubious manner of calculation and subject to many errors.
While the mathematicians made their observations I was very glad to make mine also, and inform myself exactly of the conditions of the country. This is all that I was able to find out during the short stay we made.
The Dutch are masters of it. They bought* it from the principal Chiefs of the tribes which inhabit it, who, for a sufficiently small quantity of tobacco and brandy, consented to go further inland. There is a very good watering-place there. The country is in itself dry and arid, but in spite of this the Dutch have a Garden* there, which is without dispute one of the largest and most beautiful in the world. It is surrounded by walls. Besides a great quantity of plants of all sorts, the most lovely fruits of Europe and the Indies are there in abundance.
Since the Cape is a sort of entrepot, where all the ships plying between Europe and the Indies and vice versa come to refit and take in the refreshments they need, it is abundantly provided with everything that one could wish for. Twelve leagues from the Cape the Dutch have established [sic: 1688, 1689] a colony of French, to whom lands have been given to cultivate. They have planted vines there, and sow wheat, and obtain there in abundance all the foodstuffs necessary to life.
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