34 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Cape of Good Hope. 



Provisions and Refreshments are best procured at a farm-house, 

 a short way ujj a small river, whose entrance is generally closed by a sandy 

 bar. Beef, mutton, and fowls may be had here ; fruit and vegetables are 

 rather scarce ; fish is abundant. Watering is inconvenient ; the casks must 

 be rolled nearly 300 yards over a heavy sand, and rafted through a surf 

 that frequently breaks high. 



ALGOA, or ZWARTKOFS, BAY extends about 1 0 leagues from 

 Cape Recife, or Rocky Cape ; its S. W. point in latitude 34° 2 S., longi- 

 tude 2G° 40 E., to Cape Padron, its N. E. extreme. The common anchor- 

 age is off the landing-place, In 7 fathoms, about three-quarters of a mile 

 from the shore, Baker s River bearing W. \ S.; the outermost point of 

 the land 8. by E. But you may anchor in any part of the Bay, and chuse 

 your depth of water. On the north side of the river, a block-house, sur- 

 rounded with a palisade, defends the landing-place, and was originally 

 intended to keep the CafiTres in awe. The common landing-place is at the 

 block-house. In the neighbourhood of this Bay, the small town of Bathurst 

 has lately been built. 



Provisions and Refreshments are best procured by applying to the 

 Commanding Officer of the troops stationed here, who will send round to 

 the farmers. Most of the traffic is in exchange for supplies with the 

 farmers. The cattle are large and fat ; sheep at reasonable prices ; poultry 

 equally cheap ; and from the stores salt provisions, spirits, and grain might 

 be obtained by a vessel in distress. Vegetables are in small quantities ; 

 dried fruits in abundance. Roman snappers, and other fish, are caught 

 near the islands and rocks. Fire-wood is procured a few miles up the 

 country. There is a good spring of fresh water 100 yards within Baker's 

 River ; and about threes juarters of a mile to the S. is Baker's Fountain, from 

 whence, with a W. wind, casks may be easily rafted off. 



Before concluding this article, it may be proper to state, that the 

 gentleman to whom we are indebted for much of the information relative 

 to Simons Town and Bay, has lately submitted a plan to the Secretary 

 at Lloyd's, for erecting and supporting lighthouses near Simon a Town, 

 on the Cape Point, Cape LaguUas, Cape St. Blaze, and Cape Recife, with 

 signal stations at the intermediate points, for the purpose of forming a chain 

 of posts along a principal part of the South Coast of Africa, devoted entirely 

 to the preservation of lives, vessels, and cargoes, when in their neighbourhood ; 

 and whilst reflecting with him upon the number and value of each annually 

 lost in passing and repassing the Cape of Good Hope, we cannot but 

 wish success to his plan, and that it may in due time engage the attention 

 of Government. 



