APPENDIX. 207 
its wooded and picturesque banks are thickly populated by 
that real monarch of the forest, the stately elephant. 
The Omcoonas, or Cow. River, is a very fine stream, and 
open at the mouth: its first drift, or ford, is about four miles 
from its zstuary, at which place the river is one hundred 
and fifty yards wide, and three feet deep, | 
Like all the other streams along the coast, it is at 
able for the translucency and sweetness of its waters: 
wild fruits, of some very fine and large kinds, worthy, it is 
imagined, to be introduced into our gardens, are said to be 
abundant in the neighbourhood. Alligators begin to be 
found here, and a- apecigp of the boa is said to infest the 
woods. 
The harbour of N sme is situated. in: lat. 29° 53’, and 
long. 30° 55’, is about three miles in depth by two anda 
half in breadth, containing three small islands, easy of 
access from the shore at low water. The eastern side isa | 
low sandy flat covered with wood, reaching to the margin 
of the sea,and at high tide presents the singular appear- 
ance of an inundated forest. At the head of the bay is a 
large plain covered with trees, bamboos, and long grass, but 
swampy near the water. Three small rivers discharge them- 
selves near this plain. The western side is protected by a 
bluff point of land covered with bush, which has inside of it 
fine anchorage and careening ground. The entrance is about 
three hundred yards wide at high water, and the depth at 
this time twelve feet, which at the equinoctial tides exceeds 
fourteen. It is recommended, in attempting to enter this 
port, for vessels to proceed, with a westerly wind, northwards 
to Omtongala or Fisher’s River, to prevent being carried to 
the westward by the current, when the usually short dura- 
tion of the westerly wind enables the navigator to enter, 
taking advantage of the tide and an easterly breeze. 
