and a convenient fandy cove, eafily to be difcovered m that neighbourhood,
a ftream o f excellent frelh water flows into, which though to all
appearance not better in quality than the water we received on board,
was yet more pleafing to the eye, not being of fo deep a colour.
Princefs Royal’s Harbour .admits of a palfage into it about a quarter ol
a mile wide; neareft to the northern Ihore the depth is 5 or 6 fathoms, but
on the fouthern, not more than 2^ and 3 fathoms water; occafioned by
banks of coral rock which are very confpicuous, and, not being liable to
any of the violent agitations o f the fea, are by no. means dangerous.
Within the points of entrance, the depth is regularly from 4 to 7 fathoms,
and the bottom clear, good holding ground. This depth, though
occupying part only of the harbour, yet affords a fuflicient fpace,for
feveral veffels to ride in fafety. . .
Oyfter Harbour is rendered admifiible alone for veffels o f a middle
fize, by the lhallownefs of the water on the bar, extending from Ihore to
Ihore, on which we found 17 feet water only, although the depth m-
creafed from 5 to 7 fathoms on each fide. The deep water within the
harbour did not feem of any great extent. In both thefe harbours the
communication with the country is rendered unpleafant by the Ihallow
depth of water in mod places extending to a great diftance from the
Ihore. This inconveniency could eafily be remedied, Ihould it ever be
an objeft fo to do, by wharfs; although it is not unlikely that on a more
minute infpeftion the neceflity for fuch a meafure would ceafe to appear.
In navigating the found, we did not obferve any danger that was not
fufficiently confpicuous to be avoided: circumftances however did not
admit of-.our. acquiring that fatisfaftory information refpefting Princefs
Royal and Oyfter harbours which fall into it, that could have been wilhed;
yet fo far as relates to the found, the annexed Iketchwill I believe be
found to contain no very material error.
. The appearance of this country along the coafts, refembles, in mod
refpefts, that of Africa about the cape of Good Hope. The furface
feemed to be chiefly compofed of fand mixed with decayed vegetables,
varying exceedingly in point o f richnefs; and although bearing a great
fimilarity, yet indicating a foil fuperior in quality to that in the imme-
1 diate
diate neighbourhood of Cape Town. The principal component part j f a
of this country appeared to be coral; and it would feem that its eleva- 1---- ----- .
tion above the-ocean - is of modern date, not only from the ftiQres, and
the bank which extends along the coaft being, generally fpeaking, C om ,
pofed of'coral,, as was evident by. our lead never defending to the bottom
without bringing up coral on its return ; but by :coral being found
on the higheft hills we afcended; particularly on the fummit of Bald-
Head, which is fufficiently above the level of the fea to be feen at 12 or
14 leagues diftance. Here the coral was entirely in its original ftate!
particularly in one level fpot, comprehending about eight acres, which produced
not the leaf! herbage on the white fand that occupied this fpace ;
through which the branches of coral protruded, and were found Handing
exaftly like thofe feen in the beds o f coral beneath the furface of the
fea, with ramifications of different fizes, fome not half an inch, others
four or five inches in circumference. In thefe fields of coral, (if the term
field be allowable,) of which there were feveral, fea Ihells were in
great abundance, fome nearly in a perfeft ftate ftill adhering to the coral,
others in different ftages of decay. The coral was friable in various
degrees; the extremities of the branches, fome of which were nearly four
feet above the fand, were eafily reduced to powder, whilft thofe clofe
to, or under the furface, required fome fmall force to break them from
the rocky foundation from whence they appeared to fpring. I have feen
coral in many places at a confiderable diftance from the fea; but in no
other inftance have I feen itTo elevated, and in fuch a ftate of perfeftion.
In the lower lands we frequently met with cxtenfiv.e tracts occupied
by a kind of okerifh fwampy peat, or moorilh foil of a veiy dark brown
colour, forming as it were a cruft, which {hook and trembled when
walked upon; with water oozing through, or runping over the furface,
in all direftions. Through this foil moft o f the ftreams take their .courfe,
and it is to their impregnation in the paffage, that the general high colour
o f the water is to be attributed. Thefe Iwamps were not always
confined to low and level fpots, but were found on the acclivity o f the
higher lands ; and where'thefe did not occupy the fides .of the hills, the
foil was deep, and appeared infinitely more productive than the furface
V o l . I. H of
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