munication at all times difficult; but more efpecially fo in the
winter ¡ 'and few fupplies are to be had at Simon’s'Town ; a
-name with which a collection of about a dozen houfes has molt
unworthily been dignified.
The neceffity of ihips of war being fent round into Simon’s-
Bay for five months in the year might be attended with very
ferrous confequences to the fafety of the colony, as far, at leaft,,
as depended on the exertions of the navy belonging to the fta-
tion. Being a lee port, the chances are greatly againft-their
-being able to.work up. to Table Bay, and ftdl lefs to Sal-
danha Bay, to afford any affiitance in- the event of. an attack
by an enemy’s- fleet; Which, without any interruption;
or moleftation, might difembark troops, and land artillery,,
ftores, and ammunition at Robben Iiland, or any of the windward
bays.
This being the cafe, it would feem more defirable- that tfie
ffiips of war upon the ftation ihould winter in Saldanha Bay,
being not only a windward port with refpeCt to Cape Town, but
one of the beft harbours, perhaps, in- the whole world. Hfere
any number of Ihips may lie in perfeCt fecurity at .all feafons of
the year, either to the northward of the entrance in Hoetjes
Bay, from whence they Gan at all times get out in the winter
months, or to the fouthward in furnmer,: when, with equal fa-
eility, the fouth-eafterly winds will-at any time carry them, out»
On the weft fide of Hoetjes . Bay, nature has ereCted a granite
pier, againft the fides of which ihips may be brought as to the
jL l & fidet