Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

59 Father Guy Tachard

(See also items 55, 64, 70.) After the arrival of the Embassy in Siam it was decided to send Tachard back to France with the Ambassador, to bring out twelve Jesuit mathematicians, for the purpose of founding in Siam an observatory ‘like those of Paris and Pekin’. On December 22, 1685, he sailed in L'Oiseau with de Chaumont and de Choisy (Forbin remaining in Siam: see end of item 53). At Bantam January 10, 1686. Separated by storm from La Maligne.

On the 10th of March we sighted a vessel making for the East Indies, and on nearing her we saw by her flag that she was English. The Ambassador, wishing to learn the news from Europe, sent to her Skipper Monsieur de Cibois and his secretary, who spoke English well. They reported, that the ship had left England five months previously and was going directly to Tunquin, without touching anywhere. They reported that all was quiet in Europe, that the King of England had defeated the rebels and taken prisoner their leader the Duke of Montmouth; that, after trial and sentence pronounced upon him, he had been beheaded; that several others of his accomplices had also been executed, while a few had experienced the clemency of His Britannic Majesty.

All this pleased us greatly, and especially that he said that the coast of Africa had been sighted the evening before at a distance of seven leagues. We saw then that we were much nearer than we had thought, and the following day, at seven o'clock in the morning, we found by sounding that we were on the Bank des Aiguilles in ninety fathoms, and at midday we sighted the Cape des Aiguilles. The wind being favourable we took advantage of it during the night, so that on the morrow we recognised the Cape of Good Hope eight leagues away. We arrived at the entrance of the Bay at about three in the afternoon; but as the wind was too strong for us to enter we anchored between Robin Island and the mainland beside our frigate.

Next day, March 13 [dr], the wind having fallen, we dropped anchor in the Bay among seven large Dutch vessels forming their Indian fleet [dr 21/1, 9/3, 13/3], which were to sail for Europe as soon as three or four others arrived, which were expected

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daily. The Ambassador sent an officer to present his compliments to the Governor of the fortress, who received him no less cordially than when we touched before. We saluted with seven guns and the fort replied gun for gun.

While we were taking in water and other necessary provisions, I went to visit the Governor, who made enquiries about the six Jesuits he had seen the previous year. He made me a thousand friendly offers, and suggested, in case I wished to remain on shore, the house of one of his friends, because the observatory, which had been demolished in order to be rebuilt more magnificently, was not yet completed. On learning that I would probably be returning to the Indies with several other Jesuits, he added most obligingly that everything would be ready for us on our arrival, and invited me and all my companions to come and rest ourselves there. After all these courtesies, he made me a present of four handsome tigerskins, and a little tamed animal which he had captured during his recent journey. In fur and size it resembled a squirrel, and it had almost the same sort of face. When giving it to me he told me that it was a deadly enemy to snakes and that it waged a relentless war on them [Meerkat].

It was the time of the vintage and they were well ahead with it. We ate the African grapes, which grow abundantly and have a marvellous savour. The white wine is very delicate, and if the Dutch knew as well how to tend their vines as they know how to plant colonies and carry on trade, they would soon have good red wines as well.

The Governor told me that he had just returned from a long journey to the regions lying to the North of the Cape, and that he had discovered many tribes which appeared to have a form of government and a settled policy, as may be seen in my description of the Cape of Good Hope [in item 55].

Our provisioning being completed and our sick restored to health by the land air, we left the Bay of the Cape on March 26 [dr].... [Equator April 27. Brest June 18.]