About four days after we had sight of land, it being the cape of Good Hope; and just as we were coming about the point, before we enter'd the harbour, a gun or two was fir'd from a house on the top of a hill [Lions Head] to give the town notice that there was a ship coming in; we answered them to leeward with another, as a signal of friendship. As soon as we came to an anchor, there came aboard a Dutch ship's boat, to know from whence we came, and what ship we were? Then we ask'd them what news in England, and what Dutch ships were there, and whither bound? They answered our questions, as we did theirs, and told us likewise that there was, besides merchant men, a French man of war of 50 guns, which they took from the French, and that she wore the Dutch flag, and rid admiral [Swarte Leeuw, previously French Droite]. Then we ask'd, what English were there last? they told us, the Charles the second, the Modena, and the Sampson, with one or two more, whose names I have forgot; all which sail'd out from the cape about a fortnight before we came in [sic: dr 5/8]. They also told us that the Orange [dr 5/6/92] was cast away there, by a hurricane, being loaden from the East-Indies, for England, with muslins, and many other commodities, besides great quantities of canes; and that there was a homeward bound Dutch East-India ship [Goede Hoop] cast away at the same time, of about 800 tons; and that the captain of the Orange, mate and purser, were on shore.
Next morning by break of day, we fired some guns, and the fort saluted us again, as also the admiral; and the day after the captain went ashore in the pinnace*, to visit the governor, but he was gone up into the country; then he went to the house where the captain of the Orange liv'd, and the mate and purser were there likewise, and they discours'd about the trade of the country.
The next day when the boat went ashore, I went one of the boat's crew, and saw the natives of the country, call'd Hottentots. They wore about their necks sheeps guts* with the dung in them, as they are taken out of the sheep; and the same about their legs, from their ankles to their knees, so that they stink like carrion, yet they would eat them in that filthy condition. They could be smelt a great way before one came near them....
Within two or three days after we were in, our captain, and the captain of the Orange, went up into the country [?Constantia] to the governor of the place, to get some necessaries for the ship's use, which he did, being half a barrel of pitch, and a pump can of tar, and two or three coils of ropes; and the captain of the admiral* granted us his long-boat* to moor our ship, and to fetch our water for us, for which kindness our captain allow'd them victuals, and gave them a case-bottle of arrack to drink, and so they had for every boat of water they brought aboard; and our captain gave the Dutch admiral a piece of East-India silk, flower'd with gold, for his kindness, and invited him aboard, where we welcomed him with firing of guns, at his coming on board and departure, having been treated very handsomely by our captain, whom he invited in return on board his ship, and treated him also with great civility.
We lay at the cape about six weeks to repair our ship, for we careen'd her on both
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