The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1Whymper, Frederick
History
The Sea: Its Stirring Story of Adventure, Peril, & Heroism. Volume 1
Whymper, Frederick
Adventure and adventurers; Arctic regions; Ocean; Voyages around the world
Simon’s Bay, near Table Bay, where Cape Town is situated, is a great
rendezvous for the navy; there are docks and soldiers there, and a small
town. The bay abounds in fish. The Rev. John Milner, chaplain of the
_Galatea_, says that during the visit of Prince Alfred, “large shoals of
fish (a sort of coarse mackerel) were seen all over the bay; numbers came
alongside, and several of them were harpooned with grains by some of the
youngsters from the accommodation-ladder. Later in the day a seal rose,
and continued fishing and rising in the most leisurely manner. At one time
it was within easy rifle distance, and might have been shot from the
ship.”(117) Fish and meat are so plentiful in the colony that living is
excessively cheap.
[Illustration: CAPE TOWN.]
The visit of his Royal Highness the Sailor Prince, in 1867, will long be
remembered in the colony. That, and the recent diamond discoveries, prove
that the people cannot be accused of sloth and want of enterprise. On
arrival at Simon’s Bay, the first vessels made out were the _Racoon_, on
which Prince Alfred had served his time as lieutenant, the _Petrel_, just
returned from landing poor Livingstone at the Zambesi, and the
receiving-ship _Seringapatam_. Soon followed official visits, dinner,
ball, and fireworks from the ships. When the Prince was to proceed to Cape
Town, all the ships fired a royal salute, and the fort also, as he landed
at the jetty, where he was received by a guard of honour of the 99th
Regiment. A short distance from the landing-place, at the entrance to the
main street, was a pretty arch, decorated with flowering shrubs, and the
leaves of the silver-tree. On his way to this his Royal Highness was met
by a deputation from the inhabitants of Simon’s Town and of the Malay
population. “This was a very interesting sight; the chief men, dressed in
Oriental costumes, with bright-coloured robes and turbans, stood in front,
and two of them held short wands decorated with paper flowers of various
colours. The Duke shook hands with them, and then they touched him with
their wands. They seemed very much pleased, and looked at him in an
earnest and affectionate manner. Several of the Malays stood round with
drawn swords, apparently acting as a guard of honour. The crowd round
formed a very motley group of people of all colours—negroes, brown
Asiatics, Hottentots, and men, women, and children of every hue. The
policemen had enough to do to keep them back as they pressed up close
round the Duke.” After loyal addresses had been received, and responded
to, the Prince and suite drove off for Cape Town, the ride to which is
graphically described by the chaplain and artist of the expedition. “The
morning was very lovely. Looking to seaward was the Cape of Good Hope,
Cape Hanglip, and the high, broken shores of Hottentot Holland, seen over
the clear blue water of the bay. The horses, carriages, escort with their
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