236 
TRAVELS IN 
of wind, juft as fhe was approaching the entrance of the bayi; 
and in this gale flie muft inevitably have perifhed, had not Cap- 
tain Hotham, with his Majefty's fliip the Adamant, gone out 
to her immediate afTiftance, and fucceeded in towing her off the 
rocky coaft, towards which fhe was rapidly drifting. Now this 
fmgle {hip and her cargo were faid to be eftimated at the value 
of three hundred thoufand pounds; a fum of money equal to 
the maintenance of the civil, military, and contingent expences 
of the Cape, for a whole year.. 
Had the Cape, at this time, been in the hands of the Dutch,, 
the fate of the Countefs of Sutherland muft have been inevit- 
able. In war fhe would have been taken ; and in peace fhe 
would have been fuffered to go on fhore j for the Dutch pofTefs 
neither the adivity nor the willingnefs to give fpeedy affiftance 
to fhips in cafes of diftrefs. 
There is no place, in the homeward-bound voyage from In-^ 
dia, fo proper or fo convenient for the valuable fleets of the 
Eaft India Company to affemble at for convoy, in time of war, 
as the Cape of Good Hope* Here, at a very reafonable rate, 
their crews might be refrefhed with fruits, vegetables, and frefh 
provifions. Salt beef, for the reft of the voyage, might here 
alfo belaid in, affording, thus, a confiderable increafe of ton-, 
nage in each fhip for flowing goods. 
I took notice, in the former volume of this work, of the fait 
provifions that might be prepared at Algoa Bay for vi<i^ualling 
the fleets of the Eaft India. Company. Since that was written I 
,3 have 
