85 
TRAVELS IN 
attempting to land. Almoft a perpetual fwell rolls upon the 
the fandy beach. Being, however, fo conveniently fituated for 
an enemy to communicate with the rebellious boors of Graaf 
Reynet, and equally fo with the Kaffers, General Dundas 
thought it advifable to ftation at the bay a few troops, and to 
ered; a fmall block-houfe for their protedion. It was, indeed, 
furprifing that none of the enemies' cruifers from the Ille of 
France thought of attacking this vulnerable, and hitherto de- 
fencelefs, fpot, fo diftant from the Cape that much mifchief 
might have been effeded long before the government could have 
received information of it. 
The French frigate La Frcnenfe was the only enemy's fliip 
that ventured to look into this or any of the bays during the 
whole war ; at which time the Rattlefnake floop of war, and 
the Camel (lore fhip, happened to be at anchor there. The 
French fhip came in under Danifh colours, and brought up in 
the dufk of the evening between two and three cables' length 
from the Rattlefnake, whofe captain was on fhore with a de- 
tachment of the crew, unable to get on board on account of the 
high furf running upon the beach; but Lieutenant (now Cap- 
tain) Fothergill difplayed, on this occafion, great judgment 
and bravery. Sufpedting her to be an enemy, he fired a fhot 
a-head, of which fhe took no notice ; he then poured in a 
broadfide, which was returned by the frigate. About mid- 
night, the fire from the Camel being filenced, the frigate 
changed her pofition, bringing her broadfide to bear direclly 
upon the Rattlefnake. In this manner they engaged till three 
in the morning, when the frigate thought fit to flip her cable, 
aud 
