When
these Cafres go to hunt in the forest they collect in large numbers,
and cry or shout, so that the beasts are frightened by them, and it is
then easy to slaughter large numbers of them. I have even been told
that these cries frighten the lion.
CHAPTER XXVIII
The Dutch fleet arrives at St. Helena, and the Author gives a description of that Island.
When we
had stayed twenty-two days at the Cape of Good Hope, and found that the
wind was very favourable to us, our Vice-Admiral ordered the anchor to
be hoisted, and we directed our course for the Island of St. Helena.1 As
soon as the sails were set and prayers had been said, all the sailors
and soldiers declared they would go to rest and sleep till they got to
St. Helena. For a steady wind always prevails and bears you, generally
in sixteen or eighteen days, to the anchorage at that island. During
the whole course the sails were not touched, because the wind was
always astern, and the only trouble the sailors had was that fourteen
days after our departure two of them were sent to the mainÂmast top to
watch, in order to sight the island ; for as soon as it is sighted the
pilots should take good care to be ready to cast anchor on the side
facing northwards, and it is necesÂsary to approach the land in order
to cast it, otherwise no bottom can be found. If these precautions are
not taken, and if the anchors do not find bottom, the currents in the
air and ocean carry the vessel quickly past the anchorage and there is
then no hope of returning, because the wind is always contrary and
never changes.
As
soon as two of our anchors were cast into the sea the soldiers and
sailors were summoned, and the crew made the vessel as tight as they
could. They also fixed stages outside to scrape the hull and grease it;
this was accomplished in two days. Then all on board were divided into
two watches, and the Vice-Admiral addressed them from the quarter-deck 1 Compare Ovington, 89 ff.; Voyage ofF. Lerjuat, ii. 203 if.
