44 TRAVELS IN 
baggage, therefore, to be embarked, we fet 
fail on the loth of May, in company with 
four other veffels ; and next morning came to 
anchor in Saldanha, 
This bay extends obliquely, towards the 
right of its mouth, about feven or eight 
leagues ; and on the left of the entrance 
there is a fmall creek, called Hoetjes Ba)\ in 
which ten or twelve fliips of war might an- 
chor on a very good bottom : veiTels of leis 
burden might penetrate much farther, and even 
to the fmall ifle of Schaapen Eyland^ which 
would afford them very good flicker. The wa- 
ter found here is inferior, indeed, to that of the 
Cape, but during the bad monfoons it changes 
its nature, and becomes excellent. The pea- 
fants in the neighbourhood fupply fucli ihips 
as remain in the Bay with provifions of every 
kind, at a much cheaper rate than they could 
be procured at in the tov/n i fo that a veffei 
from Europe, outward bound j if prevented 
by the fouth-eaft wind, which is unfavour- 
able for reaching Table Bay, may eafily gain 
that of Saldanha, and be certain of fmding 
every kind of refrefhment in abundance. 
Near this place the company keep a pofl; of 
a few 
