SOUTHERN AFRICA. 283 
channel, and considering the bays of Saldanha and St. Helena 
to have the same difference of level with the place at which 
the river is jjroposed to be turned, the general current in the 
new would be tiie same as that in the present channel, and 
this is so very trifling, that let there be given in the new one 
a fall as little as possible at the first, and as great as possible 
near the bay, the tide must nevertheless set up it for many 
miles, and render the water completely salt ; and if it were 
an open canal terminating in a bason, there is reason to sup- 
pose it would soon be choaked up with the sand which the 
wind shifts and rolls about. There is a spring at Witte Klip, 
the White Rock, Avhich is situated on an elevated point 
about six miles to the northward of Hootjes Ba}', which ap- 
pears to be amply sufficient for the supply of a considerable 
fleet of ships, if collected and brought to the hay in pipes, 
the expence of which could not exceed a few thousand 
pounds. 
Even should this not be found sufficient for the purposes 
of the fleet and the necessary establishment consequential to 
its becoming the naval station, a measure might be adopted 
which could not fail of securing a constant supply of fresh 
water to any amount. This v/ould be effected by bringing it 
in pipes from the Berg River, which never fails in the dryest 
weather, and the surface of which, contrary to almost all the 
other rivers of the colony, is very little sunk below the general 
surface of the countr^^ I should think that ten thousand 
pounds would go a great way towards accomplishing this 
object, so important to every nation whose shipping trade to 
the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope. Were this once 
