deed, but all that he could afford he gave with cheerfulness. His neighbor's letter was produced, which he read with great attention, and then said, "my friend is a good man, and I always valued him; but you wanted no other recommendation to my poor services, than your misfortunes."

They remained here during the night, after partaking of a frugal repast which their host had provided, and which was given with many innocent apologies for its scantiness.

Before their departure on the ensuing morning, the farmer generously presented them with nine sheep. The poor man lamented that he could not let them have a morsel of bread"We live, (said he,) the year round chiefly on mutton and game, but seldom enjoy the luxury of a loaf." He insisted, however, on the captain's taking the sheep, which he accepted with many thanks, and then departed on their journey.

During the four or five succeding days, they travelled on from house to house, generally at fifteen or sixteen miles distance from each other, and were received at all of them with a disinterested hospitality. These occurrences are related with a scrupulous attention to fidelity, because the colonists, without distinction have been frequently represented as a ferocious banditti, scarcely to be kept within the pale of authority.

During several days traveling they could get but little bread, and not much water. The countries were alternately hill and dale, and often afforded the most romantic prospects. They frequently perceived vast quantities of wolves, and such droves of that species of deer, which the farmers call spring buck, that one flock alone could not contain less than from twelve to fourteen thousand. Indeed many of the settlers said, they had seen double that number at one time, and frequently killed three at a single shot. Our travelers likewise saw vast quantities of guinea-fowl, which after a shower of rain, are easily caught by the farmer's dogs.

The zebra, and wild ass, is common in these advanced colonies, and many of them were seen. Ostriches were likewise very numerous. They had such plenty of venison at the houses where they stopped, that their stock of nine sheep, furnished by honest Englebrock, was diminished but three in the course of six days.

From the 8th to the 16th of July their journey was not interrupted by any disagreeable occurrence. The countries through which they passed, displayed at every mile a new change of beauties. The mountains were in many places of stupendous height, and the valleys decorated with wood, were astonish

ingly fertile in vegetable productions. One of the most extensive of these valleys, took them no less than three days and a half in passing. It is called by the settlers Long Cluff,* and affords, perhaps, as many romantic scenes as can be found in any spot of the same extent on the face of the earth.

The hills for seventy or eighty miles, run parallel to each other. The lands between are wonderfully rich, and produce vast quantities of a plant, similar in its taste and smell, to our thyme. On this fragrant herb are fed immense quantities of sheep and cattle; they devour it with great eagerness, and it gives the mutton a flavor so like our venison, that an epicure might be deceived in the taste. The valleys are generally level from four to eight miles in breadth, and in several places intersected with rivulets on the borders of which are frequently perceived whole groves of the aloe-tree.

On or about the 14th they reached the settlement of an old and blind man. He had a large family and appeared to possess a comfortable independence. When he heard the story of the travelers, the good farmer burst into tears, and ordered a glass of brandy to be given to each of the crew. After this unusual and cheering repast, he directed some mutton to be delivered to the people, and gave them a pot to dress it in.— He then requested of the captain to mess with the family, which was complied with, and when supper was ended, this worthy creature said he was so pleased with their escaping the dangers of the seas, and the Caffres, that he would celebrate the meeting with a song. He immediately began and sung with the voice of Stentor. A general plaudit succeeded; and then the honest benefactor said, "Now, captain, I have a favor to ask of you. Pray desire all your peple to sing." It was impossible to help laughing at this whimsical request; but it was thought good humor, at such a moment, should not be interrupted; therefore an American sailor was desired to sing one of his best songs. He no sooner began than all the Lascars tuned their pipes; this set a going the Swedes, Portuguese, and Dutchmen, and all the crew; each party sung in their different languages, and at the same time. Such a concert was never heard before; the liberal and merry old colonist was so entertained with their music, that he had nearly dropt from his chair in a fit of laughter.

The captain was provided this night with a sheep-skin, on which he rested under the roof of the farmer's cottage; but there was not room for all, and therefore most of the poor fel

* Lange Kloof (long cleft.)

lows were obliged to sleep in the air. A similar inconvenience had happened so frequently since they reached the colonies, that they determined to separate.

On the morning of the 17th they separated and the captain took with him his chief and third mate, together with one or two more who were solicitous to accompany him. The country, as they advanced, increased in population; and the farm-houses were, in several places, not more than two miles distance from each other. Many of them were beautifully situated, and the lands produced grain, oranges, figs, and lem. ons in abundance. Their grapes likewise appeared to flour. ish, and supplied them with wine and brandies, which they vended chiefly at the Cape. Vast herds of deer and partridges out of all number, were seen, and immense tracts of land covered entirely with aloe-trees.

From the 17th to the 21st, they traveled a mountainous country; but the valleys constantly presented farms and habitations where the industry of the husbandman was amply rewarded. The flocks of sheep were prodigious; but the cattle were not so numerous, nor in such good condition as those seen in the more advanced colonies.

On the 22d they arrived at Zwellingdam,* and proceeded to the landorse-house. The landorset is the chief man of the place, and his settlement consists of about sixteen or eighteen houses, surrounded by a delightful country, and producing grain, vegetables for culinary purposes, grapes and fruits of almost every description.

This gentleman gave them a very hospitable reception, and the next morning furnished the captain with a horse and guide, to conduct him to his brother-in-law's; that nothing might be omitted on his part to secure a favorable reception at the Cape, the captain's worthy host gave them a very kind letter to his friend General Craig, commander in chief, acquainting him of the loss of the ship, and the miseries endured by the crew in their travels through the desert. He also requested the general would do them every kindness in his power, which he would acknowledge as an obligation conferred upon himself.

They arrived at the settlement of Johannes Brinch, at Stallen Bush, on the third or fourth day, after traveling a country highly cultivated, and producing immense forests of the Zwellendam.

+ Land-drost-chief magistrate of a district.

+ Stellenbosch.

aloe-tree.

The farmers live here in affluence, and the crew, continued to experience the most liberal and kind attention during the remainder of their journey.

On their arrival at Stallen Bush, the captain waited on Mr.
Brinch, whose reputation can never be mentioned but in terms
of the most fervent gratitude and esteem.
His residence is

one of those delightful places which, from its natural situa-
tion and fertility, wraps the beholder, the moment he sees it,
in a kind of extacy. The vines there, are reared with great
attention, and are highly productive. Grain, vegetation, and.
fruits, yield abundant crops; and camphire-trees of very large
dimensions thrive also in the settlement. Indeed, the whole
settlement seemed to be so precisely what it should be, that
any alteration must be a deformity. The people here dress
well, but nearer the English than the Dutch style. They
have nothing of that sullen tatiturnity belonging to the char
acter of the Hollander; but are sprightly and good humored.

"I remained two days (says the captain) under the roof of this liberal and benevolent gentleman. He pressed me to stay longer; but I was desirous of reaching the Cape, and therefore declined his hospitable invitation. In the morning, therefore, he provided me with a horse and guide, and I took my departure from Stallen Bush, on the 30th, in the morning. Our journey was but short, and we arrived the same evening at the Cape of Good Hope; and although emaciated in my frame, yet in tolerable health,"

LOSS OF THE SLOOP OF WAR HORNET.

be relied upon

The following account of this lamented ship may
as authentic. It was furnished for the Sailor's Magazine
by a gentleman who served seven years on board of that ship,
and who holds the medal by which a grateful country has
sought to perpetuate the deeds of bravery that have been done
in her. Congress have passed a law giving to the heirs of
the officers, seamen, and marines, who were in the service of
the United States, and lost in the Hornet, a sum equal to six
months pay, in addition to what was due September 10, 1830.

THE United States sloop of war Hornet, which is supposed to have foundered in the tremendous hurricane that swept

along the coast of Mexico, in the early part of September, 1829, was built as a brig in Baltimore, in the year 1805. In the summer of that year, captain, now commodore Isaac Chauncey, was appointed to the command of her. In October, Captain Chauncey sailed from Baltimore for New-York. Shortly after his arrival at the latter port, he received orders to proceed in the Hornet to Hampton Roads, and on his arrival there, received further orders to sail for Charleston, and to cruise off the harbor of that city, for the protection of our commerce against the depredations of privateers; which at that time so frequently annoyed and interrupted our merchant vessels along that coast. In the discharge of the duties connected with that important service, he continued until March, 1806, when, by order of the secretary of the navy, he returned to New-York, and resigned the command of the Hornet to Captain John H. Dent.

Under the latter commander, she was fitted out, and soon after sailed for the Mediterranean, where she remained, until ordered to return to the United States. After her arrival, Captain Hunt commanded her for some time, and made several cruises in her, and in 1810 she proceeded to Washington, at which place she was converted into a ship.

In 1811 the Hornet left Washington for Norfolk, in charge of Mr. Henry E. Ballard, her first lieutenant, now commander of the Delaware. At Norfolk, the late lamented James Lawrence joined her as her commander, and sailed for NewYork, where she took on board Messrs. Biddle and Tayloc, who were proceeding to France and England, as bearers of dispatches to those governments. After performing this service she returned to New-York. War having been declared between the United States and Great Britain, she sail. ed from this port on the 21st of January, 1812, as one of the squadron under Commodore Rogers; she joined in the chase of the Belvidere frigate, and afterwards assisted at the capture of eight vessels during the cruise, she remained with the squadron until its arrival in Boston, August 31st, 1812. Her second cruise during the war, under Captain Lawrence, was in company with the Constitution, Commodore Bainbridge; having separated from that ship on the coast of Brazil, the Hornet captured many very valuable prizes, and blockaded, from the sixth to the twenty-fourth of January 1813, the Bonne Citoyenne, in the harbor of St. Salvador, when the Montague 74 hove in sight, and chased her off. While crui sing off Pernambuco, she captured the British brig Resolution