fwell andwind prevailing from that quarter in the winter fea-
fon. Captain Blanket,- however, in the year 17844 when he
commanded the Nymph iloop -of, war, ran, out of curiofity,
into Hout Bay, at which the Dutch were exceedingly jealous
and angry* ndne of them having: ever.feen a (hip there before.
It is now defended with a battery and a block-boufe.
As to Simon’s Bay, which lies on the eaflern fide of the pe-
ninfula, in the great bay of Falfe, and is the u fu a l refort of
(hipping for five months in the year, it (hould ieem ;the Dutch
had no idea of their colony being attacked from that quarter, as
the ftrong ground at Muifenberg was entirely unoccupied before
the Britiih expedition appeared in the bay; and all the
works and batteries there were conftrufted between the time
of its arrival and the day the troops marched to attack it.
For the-defence of the various works upon, the Cape penin-
fula, all o f which I have juft enumerated, a garrifon o f five
thoufand men has been confidered, by all who are acquainted
with the place, as the very lead force that would be required ;
and, confequently, no part of it could, with propriety, be detached
into the interior, without expofing the garrifon to danger.
The colony, indeed, is foextenfive, having an unproteded
coaft of 580 miles from Cape Point to the Kaffer country on the
eaft, and of 315 miles from Cape Point to the River Koufiie
sn the north, that an army of ten thoufand men would fcarcely
be fufficient to keep out an enemy, if he were determined to
effed a landing. A large force, however,- landed at any great
diftance from the Cape, could not poffibly be fubfifted. At
^ Moffel
Mofle! Bay it might, perhaps, receive a fmall fupply of corn,
but no cattle; at Plettenberg’s bay, neither the one not the
other. At Algoa Bay an enemy might, at all times, create a
great deal of mifchlef, by putting arms into the hands o f the
Kaffers and Hottentots, who might very eafily be encouraged
to drive the whole colony within the limits of the Cape penin-
fula; a meafure, by which the garrifon and the fettlers would
immediately be ftarved for want of provifions. It is obvious
that fuch a ftep would be attended.with the prefent ruin of the
fettlement, and would not, on that account, be reforted to but
by a defperate or a Machiavelian enemy.
This bay might, however, be very fairly, and fuccefsfuliy,
made ufe of to land about a hundred light dragoons, from
whence, by marching into Graaf Reynet, they would not.only
find the means of mounting and of fubfifting themfelves, .but
might effectually cut off the large fupplies of (heep and cattle
which aré principally furniihed by this diftriCt for the ufe of . the
town and garrifon. A quantity of Spaniih dollars would, enfure
the party a cordial reception from the boors, at leaft as long as
their money failed ; nor do I believe, fo long as the memory of
their laft campaigning is ffeih in their minds, they will ever be
induced again to aflemble iuarms,;on any occafion, againft Europeans.
The Dutch, I underftand, have ftatiorted at this bay
near three hundred troops, to keep the peace between the-boors,
the Kaffers, and the Hottentots, but the greater part would, undoubtedly,
be withdrawn on receiving intelligence of the prefent
war; the weaknefs of the garrifon not admitting of fo large
a detachment being fent off the peninfula, efpecially as in the
month