SOUTHERN AFRICA. 87 
and fheer ofF to fea. The Rattlefnake was much damaged in 
her rigging, received many fhot between wind and water, had 
three men killed and feveral wounded. La Preneufe mounted 
44 guns, and had on board upwards of three hundred men. 
This affair decided General Dundas as to the expediency of 
ereding a fmall work for the defence of the landing-place, and 
a block-houfe furrounded with a pallifade for the protection of 
the men to be fcationed there. Thefe precautions were the 
more neceffary as whalers and neutral fhips fometimes look into 
Algoa Bay and purchafe refrefhments from the boors in ex- 
change for gunpowder. The raifchief that an enemy might 
efFe£t by landing here and putting mufquets and ammunition 
into the hands of the Kaffers, is not to be calculated ; and thefe 
people for fome years back have been ftationed in vaft numbers 
upon the banks of the Sunday River, which difcharges itfelf 
into Algoa Bay oppofite the iflands of St. Croix, where it may 
be feen, by the chart, there is fecure anchorage and convenient 
communication. 
Trom the moment this bay became a military ftation, the face 
of the furrounding country began to put on a new appearance. 
The flip of ground, contiguous to the landing place, was con- 
verted into gardens ; and the ftupid boors flared with wonder, 
and were flruck with aftonifliment, :.t the variety and quantity 
of vegetables they produced. Thefe people, alio, foon found 
the benefit of a ready market for the confumption of their pro- 
duce. Many trifling articles, fuch as milk and eggs, from 
which they had never before derived the leaft advantage, were 
now 
