Page 543
An.1691
They leave the Cape. A Storm arifes.
supplied out of the homeward bound Dutch East India Ships, that were now expected every day, and we waited for them. In the mean time in came the James and Mary, and the Josiah of London bound home. Out of these we thought to have been furnished with men : but they had only e- nough for themselves; therefore we waited yet longer for the Dutch Fleet, which at last arrived: but we could get no men from them.
Captain Heath was therefore forced to get men by stealth, such as he could pick up, whether Sol- diers or Seamen. The Dutch knew our want of men, therefore near 40 of them, those that had a design to return to Europe, came privately and of- fered themselves, and wai ted in the night at places appointed, where our Boats went and fetched 2 or 4 aboard at a time, and hid them ; especially when any Dutch Boat came aboard our Ship. Here at the Cape I met my friend Daniel Wallis, the same who leapt into the Sea and swam at Pulo Condure. After several Traverses to Madagascar, Don Mascarin, Ponticherri, Pegu, Cunni- mere, Maderas, and the River of Hugli, he was now got hither in a homeward bound Dutch Ship. I soon perswaded him to come over to us, and found means to get him aboard our Ship.
About the 23d of May we sailed from the Cape, in the company of the James and Mary, and the Josiah, directing our Course towards the Island Santa Hellena. We met nothing of remark in this Voyage, except a great swelling Sea, out of the S. W. which taking us on the broad side, made us rowl sufficiently. Such of our Water-Casks as were between Decks, running from side to side, were in a short time all staved, and the Deck well washed with the fresh water. The Shot tumbled out the Lockers and Garlands ; and rung a lowd peal, rumbling from side to side, every rowl that the