orders to their eruizers to let us pafs unmolefted. This; as-
far as related to the French, we had fufficient reafon to
think true ; as Mr. Brandt had already delivered to Captain
Gore, a letter from Mr. Stephens, inclofing a copy o f Monf.
de Sartine’s orders, taken on board the Eicorne. With re--
fpect to the Americans, the matter ftill retted on report; but
Baron Plettenberg allured us, that he had been exprefsly-
told, by the Commander o f a Spanifh ihip, which had
touched at the Cape, that he, and a l l the officers o f his.-
nation, had received orders to the fame effeft. Thefe affiir-
ances confirmed Captain Gore in the refolution he had:
taken, o f maintaining, on his part, a neutral co n d u it; and-
accordingly, when, on the arrival o f the Sybil, to convoy
the India fhips home, it was propofed to him to accompany
them on their paflage, he thought proper to decline an offer,
the acceptance o f which might, in cafe we had fallen in
with any o f the enemies fhips, have brought him into, a
very difficult and embarraffing fituation.
Du ring our flay at the Cape, we met with every proof o f
the moft friendly difpofition toward us, both in the Governor
and principal perfons o f the place, as well Africans as
Europeans. At our firft arrival, Colonel Gordon, the Commander
o f the Dutch forces, with whom, on our former
vifit here, I had the happinefs o f being on a footing o f in timacy
and friendfhip, was abfent on a journey into the interior
parts o f Africa, but returned before our departure;
He had, on this occafion, penetrated farther up the country
than any other traveller had done before him, and made
great additions to the valuable colledtion o f natural curi-
ofities with which he has enriched the Mufeum o f the Prince
b f Orange. Indeed, a long refidence at the Cape, and the
® powerful
powerful affiftance he has derived from his rank and fitua-
tion there, joined to an a ¿live and indefatigable fpirir, and > Ap.nt‘ •
an eager thirft after knowledge, have enabled him to acquire
a more intimate and perfedl knowledge o f this part o f
Africa, than could have fallen to the lot o f any other person:
and it is with great pleafure I can congratulate the
Public on the information I have received o f his intentions
to give the. world, from his own hand, a hiftory o f his
travels. c.
Falfe Bay, fituated to the Eaftward o f the Cape o f Good
Hope, is frequented by fhipping during the prevalence o f
the North-Weil winds, which begin to blow in May, and make
it dangerous to lie in Table Bay. It is terminated on the
Weft by the Cape o f Good Hope, and on the Eaftward by
Falfe Cape.
T he entrance o f the Bay is fix leagues wide, the tw o ■
Capes bearing from each other due Eaft and Weft. About
eleven miles from the Cape o f Good Hope, on the Weft fide,...
is fituated Simon’s Bay, the only convenient ftation for fhips ■
to lie in ; for although the road without it affords good-,
anchorage, it is too open, and but ill circumftanced for
procuring ne.Ceffaries, the town being fmall, and fupplied ;
with provisions from Cape Town, which is aboue twenty-
four miles diftant. To the North North Eaft o f Simon’s
Bay, there are feveral others, from which-it m a y be eafily
diftinguiffied, by a remarkable fandy way to the Northward
o f the town, which makes a ftriktng object. In fleering
for the harbour, along the Weft ihore, there is- a fmall' flat :
rock, called Noah’s Ark, and about a mile to thé North Eaft
o f it, feveral others, called the Roman Rocks. Thëfe lie
one mile and a h a lf from the anchoring place ; and either
be tw ee a •