Page 77 - English Class 05

The mountain’s clear and stately

Above the town today,

And a fleet of Dutch East India men
Is anchored in the bay.

In search of trade they sail the world,

To Eastern shores they go,
And a deal of bales and barrels

Is stacked and stowed below.

There are spices rare from Java,
And carvings from Japan,

Tea and silks from China

To sell in Amsterdam.

There are cups of finest porcelain,

Plate of blue and white,

Cinnamon and saffron
And nutmeg to delight.

Yes the cargo’s tight and tied, me boys,

Safely in the hold, anchored : ed up
And in the captain’s cabin bales : large bundles
barrels : boxes full of liquid
Are chests of Eastern gold.
stowed : stored

To Table Bay they come, me boys,
Sick with scurvy’s blight ,

But good Cape fruit and good Cape wine,

Soon sets them all to right.

A week or two they’ll linger ,
Then, “Homeward bound!” cry they,

And lift the anchors, set the sails,
And sail nor-west away.
blight : disease
–Paul King linger : stay for a long me over

English-5 77