274 TABLE BAY. " [1698. 



This Bay seems to penetrate far into the Land, and is 

 about three Leagues Ions;, and two broad. Isle Bobhen lies 

 on the Larhoard,, or left side of the Ship. It is very flat, 

 and about two Leagues about. 



I say Bohljcn, and not Boliii, as it is written by the 

 greatest part of our French Travellers and Geographers, 

 who not understanding the Word, have chang'd the Sence 

 and Orthography of it, as I could prove by a great many 

 Examples. When the French write Bohin, they imagin, I 

 suppose, this Island had its Name from some Bohcrt, whereof 

 Bohin is the Nick-name, but this is grosly erroneous. The 

 Isle was in truth so call'd from certain Fish nani'd in 

 Flemish, Bohhen. They are a sort of Sea-Dogs, found in 

 great abundance about this Island.^ 



The Fort is on the other side of the Bay to the Eight, 

 and almost South-Eastward of this little Island : It lies 

 behind some Hills,- so that you cannot see it till you are got 

 a good way into the Bay, It does not command all of it, 

 as many have unadvisedly Written. It is a regular Fentagon 

 fac'd with Stone, and without any Ditches or Outworks. 

 'Tis well pointed with Artillery, and has 500 Men in Gar- 

 men iu all were saved from the two wrecks." (Theal's History of Smith 

 Africa^ vol. ii, p. 12.) 



1 Vide supra, p. 29. In French edition of Dapper's Africa (pp. 382-90) 

 " Rohhen Eilant''^ is translated Vlls des Lapins^ i.e.. Rabbit Island : an 

 obvious mistake. 



This island is thus described in 1771, when still under the Dutch : 

 "Before the bay lies a small and low island, of something more than 

 three quarters of a league in circumference, called lloJ)hen, or Seal 

 island. It is a barren and rocky spot, interspersed with patches of 

 sandy ground. It serves as a place of exile, or confinement, for criminals 

 sent hither either from the Indies or the Cape. These are obliged to 

 labour for several hours every day, in the service of the Company, 

 chiefly in hewing and transporting of lime-stone, which is afterwards 

 carried by small vessels to the Cape, and is used in the construction of 

 houses, and other works ; they are allowed the necessary provisions by 

 the Company.'' (Stavorinus, I. c., p. 536.) 



^ In orig. : "II est convert par uue hauteur." 



