Purch. Pilgr. 1. 723.]
Sec.1. Voyage from England to Surat.
We sailed from Tilbury-hope on the 26th of February, 1620, and anchored
in Saldanha road [Table Bay, at the Cape of Good Hope] on 24th of June,
where we found the Lion homewards-bound, and nine Dutch ships bound for
Bantam, commanded by a gentleman named Nicolas van Baccum, who Was said
to have studied seven years at Oxford. Next morning the Lion and the
Dutch fleet departed, each their several way; and in the evening arrived
the Schidam belonging to Deft, outward-bound, which being suspected by
both admirals, the master was sent for, and producing Us commission,
gave satisfaction. On the 3d of July we made a solemn proclamation of
the right and title of his majesty King James to Saldania, and on the
7th King James's mount was erected.[297]
[Footnote 297: It thus appears that the first fortified station at the
Cape of Good Hope was erected by the English, to whom that colony now
belongs. It would surely be a better appellation for this important
colony, which may be called the key of India, to restore its old name-of
Saldania, than to continue its present awkward denomination, The
Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. - E.]
We sailed from the Cape of Good Hope on the 25th of July, and 26th of
October we put into Dabul roads, where we remained till the 2d of
November to refresh our men, and to provide the two ships bound for
Persia.
