May.] CIMBEBAS TRIBE— PORT ALEXANDER. 319 



fence of small stakes, stuck in the ground, so close together that a 

 rabbit cannot pass between them. 



The state of society, moral character, manners, habits, and customs 

 of this people are in many respects similar to those I have already 

 described in this chapter ; and where they differ, the balance is in 

 favour of the Hottentots of the higher latitude. These Cimbebas are 

 much more disgustingly filthy than the others, both as to clothes and 

 food ; but I do not believe them to be cannibals, as some voyagers have 

 reported. They appear to have no idea of female chastity, or the 

 sanctity of conjugal contracts ; and the open barefaced manner in 

 which wives and daughters were offered to my seamen, although I 

 strictly forbade all intercourse, was too disgusting to admit of palliation 

 or excuse. 



We were absent from the vessel more than a week, penetrating 

 many leagues into the interior, and collecting much interesting informa- 

 tion tending to confirm my previous opinions of the unparalleled commer- 

 cial advantages which must result from opening an avenue for traffic in 

 this part of Africa. Had it been my good fortune to have been accom- 

 panied by one or more gentlemen of science, the animal, vegetable, 

 and mineral kingdoms of this part of Africa are teeming with new 

 and rich materials, sufficient to have employed their pens for a length 

 of time. The crude notes which I took myself would afford very 

 little satisfaction to the erudite reader ; I shall therefore proceed with 

 my narrative, and refer him to those vivid descriptions which other 

 travellers have already laid before the public. 



May 27th. — On Wednesday, at two, P. M., we returned to the ves- 

 sel, and at four, P. M., we were under way, and stretching out of the 

 bay to the north, with a fine breeze from south-south-west, and fair 

 weather. We examined the coast to Cape Negro, and the entrance 

 of Port Alexander, which we found to be a safe and commodious har- 

 bour for ships of any size, where they may lie in perfect safety, at all 

 seasons of the year. 



Port Alexander is admirably adapted for inland communications with 

 the natives ; and there could not be a better place for jerking beef 

 than the peninsula which forms the west side of the harbour. This 

 bay abounds with fish of various kinds, which may be caught in any 

 quantities with a seine. Fresh water may be had on the south side of 

 the bay, by digging a few feet below the surface of the earth. Ships 

 that anchor here will find natives, who are very shy ; but with a little 

 kind treatment their confidence is easily acquired, and will be followed 

 by acts of courtesy and hospitality. Supplies of sheep and bullocks 

 may be obtained of them at your own prices. Their first apprehen- 

 sion is that every stranger is an enemy and a man-stealer. Perish 

 the traffic ! The outer part of this bay is a fine place for ships to 

 lie in the month of August, for the purpose of taking right whales. 



The coast between Great Fish Bay and Port Alexander is clear of 

 dangers one mile from the shore. Neither are there any dangers in 

 the way of vessels entering the last-mentioned harbour ; only give the 

 sandy point of the northern part of the peninsula a berth of half a 



