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83 William Erle
(And see item 88). Transcribed from xerographs of his log (MR 107) kept in Sampson, sailing on February 12, 1696 from England for Madras etc. All his dates are of course Old Style*
Sunday the 4 [October 1696]. Wee had a fine easy gale as per Logg which put us in hopes of seeing ths Land last night, besides the Variatn [Declination*] ... which made 11o30′ Wt., strongly implyed as much ... this morning at 6 a clock wee saw it, and at 8 a clock it bore SE, being the Cape it self about 9 Ls. of ... About 10 or 11 a clock ... wee saw the Island Penguin (by the Dutch called Robin Island) bearing NE½Et. it is very low flatt Land, having in the midst a small house, where they spread the Dutch Colours: The Land on the Main (I mean the high Land in the Country, which appears then as the NoEtmost part of the Bay) at some distance appears to be an Island* ... I designe to goe to the Westward of Penguin, betwixt that, and the Green point, which is a long, low, point made by the Tale of the Lyons Rump, & is bold [deep water] within at Least half a Mile of the Shoar ... Att 12 a clock the Dutch Colours were spread on the Island ... Wee hauld within at least a Mile of the Shoar, and came to an anchor* ... with our best Bower & moard with our Small Bower to the Etward; the flaggstaff on the Fort
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Bastion [Katzenellenbogen] bore SSWt. Lyons Rump WbSo. Sugar loafe Peake SWbW½Wt. Jame's Mount S½Wt. The Point of land, cald Greene Point WNW½No ... Wee rode about 1½′ [miles] from the Landing-bridge [Jetty*: dr 14/10]-//-I saluted the Port with 11 Gunns; which were not returned as I expected; the Charles [item 80] and the Dorrill, had been here 10 days [actually 13] before us ... Here was also the Mary, in service of the Honble Company bound Home for England ... There was 3 dutch shipps in the Port [see dr 27/10], besides the Guard shipp [Swarte Leeuw]. It was almost 10 a clock at night before wee had made an end of moaring our Shipp, tho. we had the assistance of the Charle's & Mary's boats and one of the Dutch shipps. The wind ... blew very fresh Soly [southerly] ... so wee lowerd our yards & with the few fatigued people wee had, made our shipp as snugg as we could; I sent my Purser ashoar with a Complement to the Governour; and 2 of my Passengers went with him.
Monday the 5 ... Employed in bending our Sheat Cable, getting up the Booms, & lowering the Topmasts &c ... I went aboard of the Charles, & with Capts. Dorrill &c went ashoar, & Waited on the Governour; then made it my business to provide lodgings for my sick men, & agree with the Butcher & Baker &c, & in the Evening came aboard againe.
Tuesday the 6 ... Capt. Dorrill called a Consultation [Council*], I waited on him, with the other Comandrs. He Accquainted us with a Mutiny that had been in the Mary, where they displaced the Lawfull Comr. deceased, & sett up one Mr. Robt. Norman, whose Character is not the Best; Wee consider'd the nature of the fact; and first secur'd Capt. Thos. Hayes, in the Comand of the shipp & confind Mr. Norman, & some of the Principall Mutineers, till we should resolve further. Afternoon, the Governour, who kept his Birth-day (which fell out yesterday) to-day, Invited us all ashoar to a supper, which was very sumptuous, & splendid, & celebrated with fireworks most part of the Night. The Governour expressed much respect for us, & excusd his not giveing us, that came in last, Gun for Gunn, protesting it was no designe, but neglect in his Gunners. I was very well satisfied, & it was day before he would suffer us to depart.
Wednesday the 7. Wee were employed in getting our sick people ashore, which are 57 Persons. The Soly wind ... frequently came down in hard gusts, insomuch that our Pinnace* was not able to tow the Longboat* ashoar, but put us to the necessity of borrowing of our friends.
Thursday the 8 ... There are 2 Dutch shipps comeing in ... but ... are not yet in the Bay [Vosmaar, Berkel]. They are large shipps, and have had a very tedious passage, and a great mortality. I have hired 2 houses for my sick people one not being sufficient, for which I must pay 2½ Doll. a Night....
Fryday the 9 ... I daily visit my people ashoar & hope to recover them all. I pay the Butcher 2½ [?what] a pound for Beef.
Saturday the 10 ... Capt. Dorrill called a Consultation concerning The Mary's Mutineers, and the Result was to distribute one to each English shipp, except Mr. Norman, who is still detain'd aboard the Charles. Capt. Dorrill pressed me hard to goe
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to sea with him, in 8 or 10 days, which is a thing utterly impossible.... He was no lesse urgent to Capts. Phenny & South; and when wee sd. perhaps in three weeks time wee might be ready, he would have Persuaded us to have given him under our hands to goe then. I told him for my part, that a lesse time than he had been here, would not be sufficient for the recovery of my people ... & refus'd to signe any such Paper. Towards Evening it began to blow very hard at SEt, insomuch that our Small Bower Cable parted ... I dropped my Sheat anchor* under foot, & rode so all Night....
Sunday the 11 ... I was obliged to borrow 17 men from Capt. Dorrill & 16 Dutchmen, to help me get aboard a Sheat Anchor, & carry out a spare Anchor, instead of the Small Bower....
Monday the 12 ... I hired 16 Dutchmen to help me moar the shipp securely fast; Wee tript the spare anchor which we have made a Small Bower & hauld it out further to the Etward then brought the old small Bower to the Bows, and moar'd the shipp securely fast. I am obliged to pay every man that helps me ½ a Dollar a day ... The Governr refus'd Capt. Phenny's Present; I suppose, because severall dutch men were missing, for he told him he had rather have his Men againe. It seems he was informd they were aboard my shipp: It is a thing I detest, & desired the Governour to search my shipp ... A Great Dutchman from Zealand, that wee saw some time agoe, came into the Bay to-day [Vosmaar, dr 22/10].
Tuesday the 13. This morning a Consultation [Council*] was held aboard the Charles, occasioned by a Complaint from the Governour, that severall Dutchmen had deserted [dr 22/10]. The Mary was order'd to be searched, but no man found aboard her. Easy gales from the NWtward ... brought in a Dutch Hagboat* from Rotterdam ... she has been wanting from Holland 5 months [Berkel, dr 23/10].
Wednesday the 14 ... the Mary ... unmoar'd, haul'd home her Foretopsl. sheets, and fired a Gunn, but it was too late, to saile to Night, so she Birth'd herself further out.
Thursday the 15 ... The Mary sayled for St. Hellena [dr 24/10] ... Wee heeld our Shipp on both sides, & Breem'd*, & paid* her with Pitch & Tarr.
Fryday the 16 ... Att Noon it began to blow hard our Sheat anchor* was made ready, but not dropped.
Saturday the 17 ... in the Even: it began to blow hard, I ... secured my [Long-] Boat asterne, & lifted the Pinnace* up in the Tackles. Three Hollands shipps sayled hence, upon a discovery to the SEtward [dr 27/10, for ‘the Southland’, Australia].
Sunday the 18 ... The Comandore [?] tells me, the wind here from Aprill till August, are a kind of Monsoon*, & sometimes blow very hard between the No & NWt & from thence till Aprill againe, they blow from the SEt. qr. of the Compasse & sometimes exceeding hard.
Capt. Hide [of ship Dorrill] came aboard about dinner time, but would not sitt down at the Table with us, he used aboundance of imprudent, idle discourse, & amongst some of his reflections told me, that he had sent his Longboat* for water today; I told him, if only want of water detaind me, I would worke so late of other days, that I would
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have no occasion to fill on the Saboath....
Monday the 19 ... The Longboat made one Tripp for Water, and went a second time, but the Cisterns were drye ... I have still 26 of my Seamen not fitt to come from the shoar. Capt. Dorrill Entertain'd the Fiscall, & the Governrs. Son aboard, he fired more than 100 Gunns [Blesius and Frans].
Tuesday the 20. Before day I sent my Longboat ashoar, to endeavour, if possible, to make 2 Turns for water, because the Bridge [Jetty*] is crouded with boats, & the Cisterns (whither thro. deisgne I don't know), afford but little water. In the morning the Charles called a Consultation, to know if wee could be ready to saile on Monday; I told Capt. Dorrill as formerly, that nothing but the Condition of my people would hinder me, and that It was such that I could not resolve him, but in all humane probability I thought I could not; he offer'd me men, & the assistance of his Boats, I thanked him kindly, and borrowed six men.... Hardly one of my men are yet perfectly recover'd, tho. ½ of them come daily aboard, to help as much as they can, but the rest are not able to doe any thing.... I Presented the Governr. with 4 doz Clarrett, 2 do. Canary, & a Large Cheese in Lead. To the Fiscall I gave 3 doz: Clarrett, & a Cheese of 25 d. To the Governour's Son a Long Campaigne Wigg* [Blesius and Frans].
Wednesday the 21. [Trouble with ‘Mr. Walter Chisley, a Passenger on the shipp ... a very Turbulent fellow ... I hardly know what to doe with him.’]
Thursday the 22.... The Longboat made 2 Turns for Water ... & 2 Turns more I believe will be sufficient ... I brought 5 men aboard, that are pretty well recovered, and have 21 ashoare still.
Fryday the 23d.... An English shipp came in this afternoon [Rebecca, dr 2/11] ... Capt. Dorrill cal'd us againe this morning to know if we could be ready to saile with him on Sunday: Capts. Phenny & South told him, they beleived they could make a shift to be ready on Monday. I told him, I could not possibly saile so soon ... having then 20 Men sick ashoar, & many aboard but very weak, besides our rigging is very much out of order....
Saturday the 24 ... wee Bent our Stream Cable; & now having an anchor* at each Bow, ready to lett drop, I think wee can't be well under any apprehension of danger.... I sent aboard all my people from the shoar, but some of them are so bad, that I fear they won't be recover'd in a great while, and those that are somewht. better, I intend shall goe ashoar every day, to enjoy the Benefitt of the Earth, and the Aire, and come aboard in the Evenings. I sent aboard all my Yeol's [yawl's*] load of firewood; Wee have for these 2 days past had six of the Charle's men. As I was comeing of in the Evening, the Governour chanced to see me, & desir'd to speak with me: He told me he wonder'd what was the matter with our English Commds. that they should seem to goe away affronted; he said he was sensible of none that had been offerd them, and if any Person had, and they would be so Civil as accqt. him with it, they should have what satisfaction they pleas'd. He told me he should be sorry if they went away without taking a friendly Leave, & intreat them all to come and dine with him tomorrow, & if they were disgusted
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that he did not give them Gun for Gunn, (which he protested was through a mistake) he would give them as many Gunns, as they should appoint, the next day, to repair the Error, & as he always had a respect for Englishmen, he was very desirous to retain it still, & the failure should not be on his Part, It was only Civil, and I think ought to be resented so; This I had in Commission to accqt. those Gentlemen with, but it began to blow hard, & I could not gett aboard.
The shipp that came in yesterday is called the Rebecca, an Interloper*, Comanded by Capt. Wm. Gutter, she sayled out of the Downes whilst wee lay there, for Cadiz, and now Came directly from thence.
Sunday the 25.... Towards Night, the usuall prognostick of wind, in this place, showed it self, that is very thick, & Substantiall Cloud appearing over the Table Land, when the wind is likely to blow from the SEt.
Monday the 26 ... about 7 a clock this morning was Calme for some time ... I immediately went and took Leave of Capts. Dorrill &c, & as the Governour desired me, I told them he desired to see them ashoar before they went away ... Capt. Dorrill sd. on Fryday last, he sent his Doctr. ashoar to take Leave of the Governour & ask his Commands, the rest sd. Litle ... my Occasions calling me presently Ashoar againe, I order'd my Chief mate, when Captn. Dorrill had done saluting the Fort, to give him 7 Gunns; Mr. Wallis told me, that Early in the morning, Capt. Dorrill was by the side, and order'd him to send the six Men he had Lent me, aboard of Capt. South, to help him unmoar his shipp.... It was not long after I was gon ashoar, but he sent a Note directed to me, to intreat me to take aboard severall of Mr. Robert Norman's things, who he sd. was ashoar, provideing himself lodgings. But my Mate very prudently refus'd takeing them aboard because he wanted my order, which he did very prudently in, for Capt. Dorrill might have spoke to me when I was with him only I suppose he doubted I should deny to be concerned in a matter which he had taken upon himself, and so thought my Chief mate might receive them aboard.
About 12 a clock, they all, (except the Chamber's frigatt*) were at saile [dr 5/11].... Between three and 4 she gott under saile too. The Charles & the Dorrill saluted with 7 Gunns, which were return'd, then with one which they had againe; But Capts. Phenny & South took no notice at all, & went away without so much as a Civil Complement, which the Governr. highly resents, but I hope wont from thence infer, that all Commrs. are so Clounish & Uncivill. My Mate, as I appointed him, gave Capt. Dorrill 7 Gunns, but he was so Civil as to returne him but 5, so he en'e [even] let him goe without any thanks.... I carried some of my sickest people ashoare with me, that they might scent the Earth, & stretch their Limbs....
Tuesday the 27.... Wee hauld up our Sheat Cable upon deck, & Quoiled it down in it's birth upon the orlopp*. Afternoon gott up our Topmasts, bent all our Sailes, except our Courses*....
Wednesday the 28 ... a Lovely day....
Thursday the 29. Last night small breeze of wind ... which brought in a Dutch shipp
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from Zealand, which has been wanting about 6 months [Huys te Duynen, dr 8/11].... Severall of the Dutch Commrs. dined with me to day.
Fryday the 30.... Erly this morning I loosed my Foretopsaile, to give notice that I intend to saile speedily.
Saturday the 31.... wee bent our Stay* sailes, & sent the Long boat for Water.
Sunday the 1 November.... I gave severall of my People leave to walk ashoar.
Monday the 2d.... To day the Fiscall & the Governrs. Son dined with me & the Commrs. of the Dutch shipps, with some Gentlemen from the Shoar, I entertaind them with the discharge of 102 Gunns; A small Dutch shipp bound to Madagascar loosed to day, but could not gett out [Soldaat, dr 12/11].
Tuesday the 3d.... The Madagascar shipp sayled. I brought aboard 39 Sheep.
Wednesday the 4.... In the morning I sent our Yeol [yawl*] a fishing, but they mett with no luck. In Honour of King William's Birth day, I fired 11 Gunns. The Dutch took no notice of it.
Thursday the 5. It blew fresh all last night ... so lowerd Yards & Topmasts.... In Commemoration of the Nationall deliverance from the Gun-powder-Treason Plott, I fired 9 Gunns.
Fryday the 6 ... this morning hauld home the Foretopsle. Sheets, to intimate my Intention of sailing to morrow; Wee hoisted our Yards and Topmasts....
Saturday the 7 ... the wind vear'd againe to NWt ... so I only loosed my shipp ... that nothing might impede our sayling to morrow: so I dropt my Best bower, & rode short; and hoisted up my Longboat* along side, to be ready to whipp her in, as soon as wee gott clear, & to morrow, if it please God, I am resolved to saile. I sent Letters ashoar for England.... The Governr. promisd to forward them by the first opportunity, but not being in Town I was forced to lye ashoar to wait his Comeing, and on
Sunday the 8. Betimes in the morning I came aboard, but having little or no wind ... I waited to see a settlement; Which, betwixt 2 and 3 a Clo: happened to be at SWt & WSWt so I hove up my Best Bower anchr*. and gott to saile. I saluted the Fort with 9 Gunns, and was answer'd with 11 to satisfie for the 2 Gunns they fired lesse, when I came in. I thanked them with one Gun, which was return'd me againe. After some time I fired 7 more, intended as a salute to the Comandore [Swaarte Leeuw] who rides with a fflag, but, I suppose, without Licence from the Governour he could not answer it; So the Rebecca Interloper* conceived it was to her, & gave me 7 Gunns, for whose Civility I return'd 3, which he fir'd againe, then one apeice. Wee went out between the Island & Greene Point.... When we were clear, wee hoisted in our Boats, & stowed them &c [dr 18/11].... In the Evening observed, and made ... 10o56′ Wtly Variation [Declination*]....
The Berg, a large Dutch Hagboat*, bound for Zeloan, sailed with us [Berkel], whose Company, if she goes well, will be very good; but if not, I shall part with ... her. I brought of all my people, pretty well recover'd, except ... two Soldiers, who run away: I now have 95 Seamen, and 12 Soldiers, with all the Passengers I carried out, except Mr.
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John Hunter deceas'd who dyed at sea.
I can't omitt saying something of this place, before I leave it: The Bay (which the Dutch call Table Bay & some English men, erroneously, Saldina Bay) is large, & margind round with white sand; The nearer you ride, in towards the Landing place, the better you are secur'd from the SEt and NW Winds, which at some seasons, in this place, blow exceeding hard. The Town* is but small, & the Houses low, & colour'd white; the Fort*, which is a regular Pentagon, is built near the Bridge [Jetty*], & Commands, & secures the Town. Severall of the Inhabitants have very pretty Gardens, and the Company, a large & spacious one [Garden*], which might be made exceeding fine, if the Dutch men would take the Pains, but it is now very much out of order. The Soyle is rich, & the ayre very wholesome; There is plenty enough of all things in their Seasons, & the scarcity of Inhabitants in the Country, is the only reason, that every thing is not very plentifull. The Dutch say, they inhabit, scatteringly, above 100′ [miles] round; I believe not quite so much: and Doctor Henrick Holderland [Oldenland] tells me he has travelled 400 Dutch miles* into the Country. The Somost [Southernmost] Inhabitants, which are called Hottentots, (for no other reason that I know of, but their frequent singing, & repeating that word [see Hottentots*, Name]) are a Bruitish sort of People, lowe of stature, with costry[?] haire, and are void of Religion, & all manner of Civility: Tho, upon the New Moon, they always seem to show something of Worshipp, by makeing a great Noise, & Singing & Leaping up and down, (which is their modish danceing) but whither that be designed, as an act of Worshipp, I can't tell. Many more of their Fashions & Customs I could mention, but perhaps they are known better already-//-Further up in the Country they are of different Casts, and the Nomost [Northernmost: Namaqua] almost as white as wee are, & as Courteous, and
Civill, as any people in the world, & have a Custom, of offering their Wives and Daughters to the Embraces of their Friends [? his source]. The Dutch report that in 24 hours time they can raise 7000 men: I believe it to be a stretch, only to amaze, & make them selves more Terrible than indeed they are. for I dare say they can't raise near that Number, with their Slaves and all-//-
To the Nod. [Northward] of this place is a very good Bay, called Saldinia Bay, seeming very formidable to the English; but Capt. Vandijle [of Berkel, see dr 21/10], (who came into the Cape directly from thence,) assures me it is a very secure, and good Bay, where Shipps may lye land locked; There is Plenty of sheep & cattel, & aboundance of fish, but the water is not good, which is the Reason why the Dutch have no habitation there, else they would have a ffort, & it would be more frequented than the Cape it self. ... The Dutch Commrs. that came in here, made more than 11o Wtly Variation [Declination*]....
Monday the 9.... At 12 a clock at noon The Cape Good hope bore SEbEt: 19 L. from whence I take my Departure for Fort St. George.... |
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