is known, that the political views of this people generally act in ſubordination to the deſire of gain, which governs them, and is often in contradiction with their intereſts as a nation.
It was then expected that commiſſaries were to be ſent from Europe, in order to put affairs upon a better footing: but ſuch commiſſaries have been ſent ſeveral times, and the affairs ſtill remained in their former condition.
We laid in a ſufficient ſtock of proviſions at the Cape to ſupply the place of what we had already conſumed. It would have been well if as much of our European ſtock as was bad in its quality had been changed for better. The contractors had deceived us in the quality of the wine which we bought of them. We had paid them double the ordinary price, that we might have it of the beſt quality, and ſuch as would keep for a long time. Part of it, however, was already ſpoiled before we reached the Cape. When we arrived there, it was a matter of the utmoſt importance to have it changed, and the more ſo, as we knew we could not do it in the ſubſequent part of our voyage. We might there have had our choice between the wine of the country and Bourdeaux wine, as a veſſel at anchor in the road had a cargo of the latter on board. Why it was neglected, I am at a loſs to
