A General History of Voyages and Travels to the End of the 18th Century (Volume 8) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1813. Excerpt: ... Section XII. Journal of the preceding Voyage by Nicholas Downton, Captain of the Ptpper-cornS iNTrODUCTiON. Captain Nicholas Downton was what was then called lieutenant-general under Sir Henry Middleton, in the sixth voyage set forth by the English East India Company. We once meant only to have given an extract from this journal, to supply the deficiency in the latter part of the former narrative by Sir Henry Middleton; but on a careful examination, we have found its information so superior to most of the early relations of voyages, that we even regret it had been before garbled or abbreviated by Purchas, who tells us, that this article consists only of certain extracts from the Journal of Captain Downton. Some uninteresting details iave however been omitted.--E. 1. Notices of the Voyage between Saldanha Bay and Socotora, both inclusive. The 22d July, 1611, we got sight of the Table and point of Saldanha, bearing east, twelve leagues distant; but owing to calms and contrary winds, it was the 24th before we got moored in the road. We there found three ships belonging to Holland; one of which, bound for Bantam, was commanded by Peter Bat, general of thirteen sail outwardbound, but having spent his main-mast and lost company of his fleet, put in nere to refresh his sick men. The other two were homeward-bound, having made train-oil of seals at Penguin island. Saldanha bay is some fourteen leagues N.N.E. from the Cape of Good Hope, * and ten leagues N. by W. from Cape Falsa, Falso, which is eastward of the former; and hoth of which capes may be seen from the said bay. These two capes are divided by another great bay, False bay, the distance between the two bays being about three leagues of low marshy land, extending north and south, and on either side environed by mountains. 'Purc...