554 TRAVELS IN 
September inciufive. Saldanha Bay has yet no defences what- 
foever, but I underftand it was the intention of the Dutch Go- 
vernment to fortify the entrance. 
Having now pointed out fome of the principal conveniences 
that the Cape polTefTes as a naval ftation, it will be right to men- 
tion the difadvantages under which it labours in this point of 
view. The moll ferious of thefe, which, indeed, is the only 
material one that I am acquainted with, is the want of a fecure 
and convenient harbour for refitting, repairing, or building fliips. 
The two principal bays that are reforted to by flipping, one in 
the fummer, the other in the winter months, are entirely open, 
and expofed to the two prevailing winds, the north-weft and 
the fouth-eaft ; nor does it appear to be pradticable, by any ex- 
pence, to render them fecure and flieltered, nor to conftru£t any 
kind of dock or harbour for the reception of large {hips, and 
fcarcely even of fmall craft. 
If any thing of this kind were to he attempted it could only 
extend to the accommodation of the latter, and the only place 
for this purpofe would be at Rogge Bay, where nature has laid 
an excellent foundation of rock, clofe to which there is a con- 
fiderable depth of water, where the fwell of the fea is broken 
by the jutting points on which are ereded the Amfterdam and 
the Chavonne batteries. At all events, this would be a much 
better and more convenient landing place than at the prefent 
wooden wharf, which is barely kept up at an enormous annual 
expence. 
In 
