Cnpe of Good Hope ] ORIENTAL COMMERCE. 



33 



Provisions and Refreshments. — Except the vegetables before men- 

 tioned, hay in some quantity, with a small supply of poultry from the 

 neighbouring farms and cottages, and good mutton in plenty, any other 

 provisions required must be procured from Cape Town; and as waggon-hire 

 is expensive, a sliip^s disbursements, as far at least as such provisions are 

 concerned, will certainty be heavier here than in Cape Town ; but the wear 

 and tear of all sorts in the ship herself will be so much less, and her security 

 so much greater in Simon's than in Table Ray, particularly during the winter 

 months, that such waggon-hire is, comparatively speaking, of little import- 

 ance. Moreover, boat-hire is cheaper ; in fact, ships may do every thing 

 easily with their own boats ; and they may also procure from Hottentot's 

 Holland, on the other side of False Bay, opposite to Simon's Town, poultry 

 ami other refreshments at cheaper rates than in Cape Town ; whilst the 

 whole Bay abounds with excellent fish of various descriptions, easily 

 procurable. 



Teade. — Few vessels enter this Bay with commercial views. — The 

 tonnage in 1821 was 15,0(X) tons, chiefly to refresh. 



MOSSEL BAY is open to S. E. winds, but they seldom blow 

 home, and never for any long period. S. W. winds throw in the greatest 

 swell. Cape St Blaze, forming its S. extremity, is in latitude 34° It) S., 

 longitude 22° 18' E. The marks for anchorage, which is good, are Seal 

 Island N. W. by W., the Corn Magazine S. W. by S., and the outer point 

 S., in 7{ fathoms water, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore. 

 There is a Resident, who has charge of the Corn Magazine, a strong 

 and capacious building ; and there is some trade at this place, both with 

 the neighbouring farmers and with George Town, in the district of which 

 it is situated. 



Provisions and Refreshments are best procured by application to 

 the Resident, unless you are acquainted with the language. Beef and 

 mutton are to be had from the neighbouring farms, together with fruit and 

 vegetables, but the latter are not plentiful. Fish is abundant, including 

 good oysters and muscles at certain seasons. Brushwood is procured near 

 the bay; but large timber, though in the neighbourhood, is not easily 

 obtainable, except through the farmers. Water is got from a spring near 

 the landing-place, and conveyed into the boats by a hose. 



PLETTEMBERG BAY is an open roadstead ; but the anchoring 

 ground is good, in 17 or 18 fathoms. Seal Cape, or Cape Delgado, the 

 S. W. point of the Bay, is in latitude 34° (i S. and longitude 23° 4S E. 

 The landing-place is on a sandy beach, near the Residents house. Here 

 are a Timber Magazine, and a Barrack for troops, but both in ruins. 



Tuade. The trade here is very inconsiderable, and not likely to increase. 



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