noon
At last , `` Land , ho ! '' was cried out by the man who was at the mast-head in the morning watch , and soon afterward , the flat top of Table Mountain was distinctly visible from the deck . The _ Surprise _ , running before a fresh breeze , soon neared the land , so that the objects on it might be perceived with a glass . At noon they were well in for the bay , and before three o'clock the _ Surprise _ was brought to an anchor between two other merchant vessels , which were filling up their home cargoes . After a three months ' voyage , passengers are rather anxious to get on shore ; and therefore before night all were landed , and Alexander found himself comfortably domiciled in one of the best houses in Cape Town ; for Mr. Fairburn had , during the passage , requested Alexander to take up his abode with him . Tired with the excitement of the day , he was not sorry to go to bed early , and he did not forget to return his thanks to Him who had preserved him through the perils of the voyage . The next morning Mr. Fairburn said to Alexander -- `` Mr. Wilmot , I should recommend you for the first ten days to think nothing about your journey .