fend pou ftds. Even fhould this not be found fuflrcient for the
purpoiète of the fleet and the rteceflary eftabliihment confe-'
quential to Its becoming the naval Ration^ a meafure might be
adopted which could not fail of feciiring a confiant fupply of
freih water to-any amount., This, would be effedted by bringing
it in pipes from the Berg River, which never fails in the
dry eft weather, and thé furface of which, contrary to almoft all
the-other rivers of the colony, is very little funk below the general
furface of the country.- I ihould think that ten thoufand
pounds would go a great way towards accomplilhing this ob-
jedt, fo important to- every nation whole fliippiug trade to the
eaftward of the Cape of Good Hope. Were this once effedted,
the intereft of the capital expended in the undertaking would be
more than defrayed by-an additional port duty of ten dollars o e
two pounds fterling for each fhip j a mere trifle, when compared
to the eafe and fecurity in which fhips would, here ride at anchor,,
and thus avoid the wear and tear of Table Bay, -,befides
the conveniency of careening and repairing and, ,above all, the-
perfedt fafety in which they would remain in, all winds and at
all feafonsof the year-
There can be little doubt, i f a naval eftabliihment was once
formed at Sàldanha Bay, that many coafting veffels and filhing
ihijps would be conftrudted here, as it affords- every convenience
that could be required-for building fhips, which would be the
means of increafing the-coafting trade, and efpecially in the article
of timber, the produce of the colony. Whether any of
the foreft trees of South Africa are fuitable for building fhips
* feems-
«* ¿am