i68 
TRAVELS IN 
water. The 6ift regiment, Sir Robert Wilfon obferves, landed 
at Coflir after having been near fixteen weeks on board, with- 
out having one fick man, though the ftrength of the regiment 
exceeded nine hundred men. 
A thoufand difficulties, it appears, were ftarted in England 
with regard to the failing of this expedition, by people who 
derive their information only from defective books and not from 
local knowledge. The feafon of the Monfoon was ftated to be 
unfavourable for the navigation oflhe Red Sea, and the defarts 
by which it was bordered were held to be totally impaflable. 
But to vigorous and determined minds few things are infur- 
mountable. " The man (Lord Melville) who projeded, and 
*' perfevered in, the expedition to Egypt," faw very clearly 
that the expedition to the Red Sea could not fail under pro- 
per caution and management, and the event proved that he was 
right. 
Having thus fufficlently (hewn, as I conceive, the import- 
ance of the Cape as a military ftation, or depofitary of troops, 
with regard to the healthinefs of the climate, and the effefts 
produced on the conftitution of foldiers, by being feafoned and 
exercifed a fhort time there, I fhall now proceed to rlate the 
comparative imall expence at which the foldier can be fubfifted 
on this ftation, and the faving that muft neceflarily enfue both 
to Government and the Eaft India Company, by fending their 
recruits to the Cap^ to be trained for fervice either in the Eafl: 
or the Weft Indies. 
The 
