^158 TRAVELS IN 
fafety but, fetting fome of the head fails, they run her afiiore 
between the wharf and the centre of the fea-lines, upon a fmooth 
fandy beach, by Vx^hich means, though the Qiip be loft, the crew 
are faved. 
Our officers feem to be divided in opinion as to the preference 
of Table Bay or Simon's Bay. They are certainly both de- 
fedive, but the latter would appear to be the more fecure, from 
the circumftance of few, if any, fhips having ever been knovvui 
to drive on fhore from their anchors, whilft fcarcely a feafon 
paffes without fome being loft in Table Bay. In the winter 
months, when the wind blows from north to north-weft, forty 
or fifty fliips may lie at anchor perfedtly fecure in Simon's Bay ; 
and eight or ten may be fufficiently fheltered in the ftrongeft 
fouth-eafters. The Great Bay Falfe, of which this is an indent 
or cove, was fo little known at the time of the capture by the 
Britifti forces, that Rear-Admiral Pringle, in the year 1797, 
diredled it to be furveyed and founded, in confequence of which 
the exa£t fituation was afcertained of a very dangerous rock, 
placed directly in the paflage of fhips into Simon's Bay ; a rock,^ 
of the exiftence of which the Dutch were entirely ignorant. 
The annexed chart with the foundings is a copy of the faid 
furvey. 
The ufual months in which fhips refort to Simon's Bay 
are from May to September inclufive. The diftance from * 
Cape Town, being twenty-four miles, and the badnefs of the 
road, moftly ^eep fand and fplafhes of water, render the com- 
munica- 
