Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

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74 François Leguat
(Plate 55)

(See also item 85.) He was one of those who volunteered for the scheme of Marquis Henri Duquesne of colonising ‘Mascarenhas’ (now Réunion) with French Protestants, refugees in Holland after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. They were already at Texel and about to sail, when early in 1690 the scheme was abandoned on account of the Franco-Dutch war; but replaced by a less ambitious one for which Leguat was again a volunteer, one of ten who sailed in Hirondelle from Texel on September 4, 1690. His account was published in 1708, simultaneously in English (‘A New Voyage to the East ...’) in London, and in French (‘Voyages et Aventures ...’) in London and Amsterdam: there were later editions in Dutch, German and French. The first-mentioned was reprinted by the Hakluyt Society (First Series, Volumes 82, 83) with a cross-check against the second, correcting several serious errors, but omitting the plates: it was also summarised by Strangman, with valuable background-material.

The party left Amsterdam on July 10, lying at Texel from July 13 to September 4 before sailing in a fleet of 24 Dutch and English ships. Northabout*. At Salfrom October 30 to November 6. Equator November 23, with the ‘baptism’ of the neophytes.

The 13th [January 1691] we saw and knew the Cape of Good Hope, but lost sight of it again in a great Fog, which rose on a sudden, and oblig'd us to keep to Sea all that Night.

The next day we drew near and saw the Isle Robben, which is at the entrance of the Port. This little Island is flat, and has no Dwellings upon it but some Hutts where the Lime-Burners live, when they are sent thither to make it [sic: there was a permanent garrison, and the lime was burnt on shore].

All of us had a long while earnestly desir'd to arrive at the Cape, for we all wanted Refreshment extreamly, being almost eaten up with the Scurvy, and the Grapes beginning to ripen, the Season was very favourable to us. After having Coasted along the Cape two days ... we at last enter'd the Bay the 26th of January 1691 and cast Anchor about four in the Afternoon.

Tho' this seems to be an admirable Bay, its vast Bason being enclos'd on one side by a ridge of Mountains, and on the other by a long tract of Earth, which seems instead of a Mole for it. 'Tis however very often dangerous to ride in, the reason of which is, partly for that one of those Mountains which ought always to be a shelter to it, is sometimes, and even frequently a fatal Source of those impetuous Gusts, that presently put all the Ships into a terrible Disorder; besides, the Sea-winds are very furious, they blow with a frightful force, and the Anchorage not being very good, Ships are in great danger

[p. 375]

[55] Flying Fish (from French edition)

of running a-shoar, or oversetting, and no Boats are then suffer'd to come off to them. This bad Mountain is near the Point of the Cape, and call'd the Devil's Mountain, on account of the mischief it do's....

There are two other Mountains near the Devil's, one call'd the Lyon's Mountain; for that when we see it from the Bay, some Men fansie it looks like a Lyon Couchant. On the top of it there's always a Guard, and ten pieces [sic] of Canon: And when any Ships are discover'd at Sea, notice of it is giv'n to the Port.

The other Mountain is call'd the Table Mountain, and with good reason; for its summit being cut off Horizontally, it naturally enough represents the figure of a Table. There's a little Lake* or Pond at the top of it, which supplies part of the cultivated Lands in the bottom with Water: We had several Charts, and took several views of the Bay, but this seem'd to us to be the best [Plate 34, which he ‘took’ from item 55].

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We found four Ships there, two Dutch (the Black Lion and the Mountain of China) [Resolutions 22/1], one English [not identified], and one Danish [ditto]. Our Guns being still in the Hold, we cou'd not salute them at first according to Custom. 'Twas the next day before they were ready, and when fir'd, it had been better we had let it alone, unless we cou'd have come off more luckily; though, as it happen'd, 'twas well it was no worse; for one of our Guns which was loaden with Ball ever since we came from the Texel, and had not been discharg'd was forgotten to be loaden, and being fir'd struck the Wall of the Fort, after having past through the middle of thirty Persons, and brush'd a little the Beard of the Serjeant, who return'd us our Bullet. We were chid for our Negligence, and that was all....

The next day we went to deliver our Letters to the Governor, who check'd us for the Blunder we had made in entring the Port, and indeed we deserv'd it. However, he receiv'd us very civilly out of respect to the Treaty Monsieur du Quesne had made with Messieurs the Directors of the East-India Company, from whom we also brought Letters of Recommendation....

Those of us who were sickest Landed at the Cape, as soon as we arriv'd, to cure our selves of the Scurvy, staying at Land being the only true and sovereign Remedy for that Distemper.

The Grapes were just beginning to grow ripe when we came there (which was an excellent Refreshment for our selves, and our Ship's Crew:) We stay'd three Weeks at the Cape, as well to recover our Health, as to refit our Ship.

... all our Company being in a good state of Health, we weigh'd Anchor the 13th of Feb. 1691 after three Weeks rest a-shoar. We Saluted the Fort with five Guns, and so set Sail....

Reached Rodriguez Island on May 1, 1691, and there for two years, when the 7 now alive of the original 10 made for Mauritius in a self-built boat. There 2 joined the V.O.C., the 5 others being held as prisoners on a rocky reef-islet, where one of them died. The 4 survivors were at last taken to Batavia in September 1696, and held there for another year, one more dying there.