7 
4823.] 
ter, fifteen and twenty miles inland, 
though wholly, or almost wholly, un- 
noticed by the charts. Our boats, 
which are numerous and well appoint- 
ed, have been fitted with a view to 
this object. It is one, however, that 
requires time; and we are rather fear- 
ful of being hurried. The first point 
in view is the coast of this colony, as 
more immediately connected with the 
situations and capacities of the new 
Settlements. The next, the mouth of 
Rio d’Infanta, or the Great Fish Ri- 
ver; the third, the Reiskamma, ac- 
cording to the native name, or, in the 
old charts, St. Christopher’s River, 
about thirty miles beyond the former, 
and situated in what is called pro- 
perly, ‘“‘the Kaffer country.” Near 
this spot, better than twenty years 
ago, the Hercules, an American ship, 
was wrecked, the crew suffering 
almost incredible hardships before 
they reached the colonial territory. 
The natives whom they fell in with 
behaved much better than could be 
expected from all preceding accounts ; 
farther eastward, however, they are 
well known to be fierce and treacher- 
ous, characteristics which become 
more marked, particularly in the peo- 
ple of the coast, till within a short 
distance of the dependencies of Mo- 
sambique. By some this is attributed 
to the kidnapping system formerly 
prevailing here, during the active 
existence of the slave trade, when it is 
pretty well known that the natives 
were decoyed on-board, secured in 
irons, and afterwards villanously sold 
as slaves. 
We have likewise some very impor- 
tant points in hydrography to ascer- 
tain. It is well known there are 
several real or alleged shoals, two or 
three degrees to the southward of the 
Cape, on which it is believed that 
some of the Indiamen, which have 
been missing at different times in these 
seas, were lost. The chief are the 
Slot Van Capelle and the Telemaque, 
so named from the Dutch and French 
ships that discovered them; but, as 
other vessels have passed over, or 
near, the reported site of these dangers 
without meeting them, doubts have 
been sterted of their actual existence. 
The affirmative evidence is however 
very strong; so circumstantial, indeed, 
as to require a more thau ordinary 
portion of incredulity to disbelieve ; 
but there is as Jittle doubt that, from 
Expedition to the Eastern Coast of Africa. 485 
errors in longitude, they are not in 
the spot originally stated. 
The Telemaque is particularly an 
object of apprehension, from lying in 
the direct track of the summer-pas- 
sage to India. Since we have been in 
this bay, some further evidence has 
transpired, which, from the vast amount 
of property, and the number of valua- 
ble lives constantly at stake in the 
intercourse between India and Eu- 
rope, ought to be widely known. A 
lieutenant in the navy, whose name I 
do not at the moment recollect, com- 
manding a merchantman, declares 
that he lately passed over it (or some 
other) in a gale, not far from the 
alleged site, but was too much alarm- 
ed, and his vessel going too fast, to 
think of sounding,—the sea running 
on it he stated as truly dreadful; so 
that, had not the ship been light, she 
would probably not have lived. His 
majesty’s ship Menai is also stated to 
have seen it, but did not dare ap- 
proach. His majesty’s brig of war 
Heron, in standing to the southward, 
is said to have distinctly seen some- 
thing of the same nature, or at least a 
frightful breaking sea, about five miles 
in extent, near the reputed site of the 
Telemaque; and, meaning to sound, 
was deterred from the measure by 
finding a current urging them toward 
the danger at the rate of five miles an 
hour. ‘The hatches were instantly 
battened down, and, a strong breeze 
prevailing, they made sail, glad to get 
off without farther inquiry. Some of 
the officers believe this to be a kind of 
race, rather than a shoal. I am not of 
that opinion. We know of no such 
race in the ocean without there being 
broken ground to give it existence; 
the water was also discoloured. It is 
aiso believed that, if actually a shoal, 
there is six or seven fathoms on it, 
which agrees with the original French 
discoverer’s statement; the subject is 
of interest to science, and the particu- 
lars will no doubt be transmitted to 
Europe. Gs * “ * 
These particulars have cost me 
many hours from sleep: Mr. i 
who goes home in a transport, has 
kindly promised to deliver them. 
Should our investigation extend to 
Madagascar, which I have not yet 
understood, a new field will be open 
to enquiry. This is a magnificent 
island, abounding in natural wealth of 
every deseription; yet, except St. 
Augustine’s, 
