though none of the people with me could teftify to have feen
any other fpeeies of that genus frequenting the water, except
Iguanas, from fix to ten feet in length. In the Nile only the
crocodile is found, in fo high a latitude as 31° or 32°; but the
Tricbecus, or Lamantin, frequents both coafts of Africa, from the
Mediterranean to the Cape point, fometimes, though very rarely*
entering the mouths of the rivers.
The Kayman’s river feparates the divifion of Plettenberg’s
bay from the Autiniequas land, a tradt of country which the
Dutch government kept exclufively for its own ufe, both on
account of the grand forefts that were here eafily acceffible, and
the excellent pafturage it afforded for their cattle at all feafons
of the year. The mountains here being near the lea, attradt
the vapors, and caufe a greater quantity of rain to fall than
in any other part o f the colony. This divifion is terminated
to the weftward by the great Brakke river, which rifes in
the forefts above-mentioned, and, running diredtly fouth, discharges
itfelf into Mufcle bay.
Mufcle bay, like all the others on this eoaft of the colony, is
open to the fouth-eaft, but it is fafer and better for ihipping than
either Zwart kops, or Plettenberg’s bay. The weftern point,
called Cape Saint Blaize, is in latitude 34° 10' fouth, longitude
22° 18' eaft, and diflance from the Cape about 240 Engliih
miles. Variation of the compafs was 27° 54' weft, and time of
high water at full and change about three o’clock. When the
winds blow from fouth fouth-weft, wefterly, and round to eaft-
north-eaft, and not too violently, the bay affords fecure and eafy
•s- . anchorage
anchorage for fhips at the diftance of half a mile to that of a
mile from the landing-place. The winds that blow fromeaft to
fouth throw in a heavy fwell; but the fouth-eaft winds never
blow home here as at the Cape.
The general landing-place is upon a fandy beach, at the head
of a fmall bay, into which runs a rivulet of water flightly impregnated
with fait. This ftream does not appear to be capable
of filling above a dozen butts of water in a day. A magazine
for the reception of'grain is eredted near the landing-place. It
is a ftrong ftone building, one hundred and fifty feet in length,
and vrill conveniently hold ten thoufand bufhels of corn. The
price o f this article delivered here is about twenty-two rix-
dollars the load o f thirty-one Winchefter bufhels, or at the
rate o f two ihillings and tenpence the bufhel.
The bay abounds with excellent fifh of various kind, with
mufcles that are large and of a ftrong flavor, and with oyfters of
an excellent quality; and, in the winter months, the black
whale is very plentiful.
Great quantities o f the common aloe grow upon, the plains
that furround Mufcle bay. The infpiflated juice o f this plant
was once an article that afforded a confiderable profit to thofe
who were at the trouble of colledting and preparing it, but the
price is now reduced fo low, about threepence the pound, that it
is no longer confidered as an objedt worthy the attention of the
inhabitants. Three pounds are as much as one perfon catt
colled: and prepare in one day.
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