The island, which is named after the seals (in Dutch Robben) that formerly frequented it, is low and sandy, situate in the mouth of Table Bay. Here are confined such criminals as are judged not worthy of death for terms of years proportioned to the heinousness of their crimes. They are employed as slaves in the Company's service, chiefly in digging for lime-stone, which, though very scarce upon the continent, is plentiful here. Their reason for not letting foreigners land is said to be that formerly a Danish ship, which by sickness had lost the greater part of her crew, came into the Cape and asked for assistance. When this was refused she came down to this island, and sending her boats ashore, secured the guard, and took on Board as many of the criminals as she thought proper to navigate the ship home.
28th. This day we crossed our first meridian and completed the circumnavigation of the globe, in doing which we, as usual, lost a day, which I should upon this occasion have expended properly had not I lost it a second time, I know not how, in my irregular journal at the Cape.
1st May. In the morning at daybreak saw the island of St. Helena about six leagues ahead, and consequently before noon arrived in the road where were found His Majesty's ship Portland, Captain Elliot, sent out to convey home the Indiamen on the account of the likelihood of a breach with Spain, also His Majesty's ship Swallow,[1] which had the day before brought word of the pacific measures adopted by that Court, and twelve sail of Indiamen.
2nd. As the fleet was to sail immediately and our ship to accompany it, it became necessary to make as much of a short time as possible, so this whole day was employed in riding about this island, in the course of which we very nearly made the complete circuit of it, visiting all the most remarkable places that we had been told of.
3rd. Spent this day in botanising on the ridge where the cabbage-trees grow, visiting Cucold's Point and Diana's Peak, the highest in the island, as settled by the observations
- ↑ This was not the consort of the Dolphin in 1766.
