SOUTHERN AFRICA. 69 
Before we crofled the mountains through the Attaquas kloof, I 
had occafion to vifit Mofi'el Bay, which lies about 24 miles to 
the fouthward of it. The uncertainty of procuring an annual 
fupply of grain, fufficient for the confumption of the town and 
the garrifon, on account of the frequent failure in the crops, 
had determined the government to renew the encouragement 
which the Dutch Eafl: India Company had found it prudent to 
hold out for the cultivation of corn in that part of the diftridt 
of Zwellendam which was contiguous to Moffel Bay. The 
building they caufed to be ereded for depofiting grain was ca- 
pable of containing ten thoufand bufliels, and was faid to be fre- 
quently filled ; but the whole quantity I was able to procure 
in the neighbourhood, at an advanced price, including both 
wheat and barley, did not exceed fifteen hundred bufhels. 
The Dutch were in pofleffion of a few charts of the coafl: and 
bays, within the limits of the feltlement, but they were con- 
fidered by Admiral Pringle fo very incorreft, that he difpatched 
his Majefty's brig the Hope, having on board Lieutenant Rice, 
as I have already obferved, with inftrudlions to furvey, and 
take the foundings of, all the bays to the eaftward, but particu- 
larly of Moflel Bay, Plettenberg's Bay, and Algoa Bay. From 
this furvey the annexed chart of MoITel Bay was copied, as alfo 
the following obfervations : 
The outermoft point of the bay, called Cape Saint Blaize, lies 
in latitude 34° 10^ fouth ; longitude 22° 18^ eaft (I make it in 
the general chart v^^hich I conftrudted 22° 45'' eafl). The varia- 
tion of the compafs in ^797 v/as 27" 54' well:. The time of 
I high 
