SOUTHERN AFRICA. 291 
Zwart-kops Bay would appear to hold out no inconsider- 
able advantages in the fishing trade. The bay swarms with 
the black whale, and abounds with every sort of excellent 
fish that frequent the coast of Southern Africa ; and tlie 
neighbouring salt pan would furnish an inconsumable quan- 
tity of strong bay salt ready prepared for use. More solid 
advantages might still be derived to the trading part of the 
nation, and to the East India Company in particular, were 
an establishment formed at this place for the preparation of 
salted beef and fish. The cause of the indifferent quality of 
the Cape beef I have already sufficiently cxj)!ained. The 
cattle in this part of the country, from the Snowy Mountains 
to the sea-coast, are generally in good condition ; and the 
beef that is killed here takes salt and keeps just as well as in 
Europe. If the butchers at the Cape can afford to contract 
for supplying the army with beef at two-pence a pound, after 
having brought the cattle five, six, and seven hundred miles 
at their own expence, and at the loss of almost halt" the weight 
of the animals, it may easily be conceived at how very cheap 
a I'ate vessels bound on long voyages might be victualled at 
Zwart-kops Bay : or, if the meat here prepared should be 
transported to the Cape in coasting vessels, it might be af- 
forde^l there considerably under sixpence a pound. The 
surrounding country is very fertile; and corn in almost any 
quantity might be purchased at the bay for less than three 
shillings a bushel. Hides and skins might also be salted and 
become an article of export. Those of the wild antelopes, 
even with the rough dressing of the uniiiformed peasantry, 
make very fine leather. For strength and durability the skins 
p p .2 
