cobbs
sailor’s term for Spanish coins
coxswain
in charge of a boat; captain’s coxswain – in charge of the captain’s barge
cuddy
small cabin or compartment
Dutch East India Company
English for the VOC, Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie
field cornet
subordinate to the
fo’c’sle
the foremost part of the main deck
gimcrack
cheap, showy object
goose-winged
running with one corner of the sail clewed up to give half the area drawing
Great Karoo
vast semi-desert area in southern Africa beyond the Swartberg range, north of Mossel Bay
gunroom
wardroom of a frigate
howitzer
a gun that lobs an explosive shot in a parabola
honorific for a person of note or high birth
Khoikhoi
original peoples met by the Dutch in the Western Cape
spiced syrup-coated small cake
local magistrate, responsible for order and collection of revenues
lee
side opposite to that from which wind is blowing
lobsterbacks
nickname for soldiers, from their red uniforms
loon
slang for lunatic
louring
dark, threatening
Mevrouw
Mrs
Ox-eye
large-scale wind-squall associated with north-east monsoon
casserole of beans and trotters
pickets
soldiers detached from the main body to act as lookouts
pinnace
one of the smaller of the ship’s boats
plain sail
