SOUTHERN AFRICA. 223 
In speaking of the defence of the Cape of Good Hope, 1 
mean to confine the observations I have to make to the penin- 
sular promontory, including the two bays, v/hich are the usual 
resort of shipping. And for the better illustration of what 
follows, I have added a military map of the said peninsula, 
the outline of which was taken, I believe, some years ago by 
a French engineer, was afterwards filled up by different offi- 
cers in the Dutch service, and was examined, corrected, and 
verified with great care and accuracy, b}^ Captain (now Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel) Bridges of the British engineers, under whose 
directions several new and important works were constructed 
by order of Sir James Craig. For the sake of conveniency, I 
found it necessary to reduce the scale to half the size of the 
original drawing, and have added to the Dutch scale of roeds 
one of English yards, the former being to the latter as 4 xW-s" 
to 1. 
This military plan, together with the charts of the bays, I 
have thought it expedient to publish, as multiplied copies of 
them are in the possession not only of the government and 
officers at the Cape, but also of French officers in Europe ; 
and it is presumed they may be of use hereafter, especially to 
those who may be sent on an expedition against this import- 
ant settlement, and who may not have had the opportunity 
of collecting a competent share of local information ; which, 
however, is extremely desirable, where operations are to be 
cariied on against an extensive and dangerous coast. For 
such a purpose, those only ought to be selected who are well ac- 
quainted, not only with the fortified peninsula, but also with 
the different bays and passes of the country, the manners of 
