284 TRAVELS IN 
effected, the interest of the capital expended in the under- 
taking would be more than defrayed by an additional port 
duty of ten dollars or two pounds sterling for each ship 
a mere trifle, when compared to the ease and security in 
which ships would here ride at anchor, and thus avoid the 
wear and tear of Table Bay, besides the conveniency of 
careening and repairing ; and, above all, the perfect safety 
in which they would remain in all winds and at all seasons 
qf the year. 
There can be little doubt, if a naval estabhshment was 
once formed at Saldanha Bay, that many coasting vessels and 
fishing ships would be constructed here, as it affords every 
convenience that could be required for building ships, which 
would be the means of increasing the coasting trade, and es- 
pecially in the article of timber, the produce of the colony. 
Whether any of the forest trees of South Africa are suitable 
for building ships seems, as yet, a doubtful matter. Hitherto 
they have not had any trial. With respect to size and form 
they are liable to no objections, and there can be little doubt 
that, by felling them at a proper time^ and seasoning them 
in such a manner as the climate may require, they would be 
found to answer all the purposes that might be wanted, not 
only for the hull of a ship but also for masts and yards. So 
little did they know, in the Cape, of the resources of the co- 
lony, with respect to the timber, that of the forty-four distinct- 
species of forest trees, of the wood of which I procured speci- 
mens, that were delivered to Government by Lord Macartney, 
not more than six or eight were in partial use;, of the rest the 
aames even were unknown. 
