2 Ô2 «S ep1t7e7m 5brer. V /W refpect to this harbour; but a defcription of the coaft that I have met with, fays, that the weftern creek lies in lat. 33 deg. 5 5 min. and that from the outermoft point a reef extends about a mile ou t; and that in the place, where the bay bends in two leagues to the weft, ihips may lie at anchor in good ground, well Sheltered from the north-eaft, north-weft, and fouth winds. There is, however, in this fame defcription an erroneous obfervation, viz. that no other than brackilh or falt-water is to be got at Mqffel-bay. Algoa-bay, which I have briefly mentioned above, I have been obliged to be content with laying down in my map, merely in confequence o f fome hints given by M. A d o l p h u s B u r t z , captain of a Swediih Eaft-Indiaman, on the authority of fome old chart. The defcription of the coaft before referred to, moreover mentions, that Algoa-bay is a deep inlet, where there is abundance of wood and freih water; and alfo that in failing into it, one finds from twenty-four to ten fathom o f water, with a reef extending a league into the fea; which, however, if there be occafion for it, may be avoided, by running round to the north o f it. Inafmuch as the bays above-mentioned (fetting afide another in Krakekamma) feem very well adapted for ufe, at leaft for that o f fmall craft, the ihipping and navigation between them and the Gape ought to be very con- fiderable. However exteniive the colony is, yet it cannot be con- iidered at prefent in any other light than that of a propor- tionably large but weakly confumptive body, in which the circulation of trade is very flow and fluggiih; as between the more diftant members and the heart, or the internal ! provinces provinces and the Cape-, there is only once a year a circu- *775- lation of commodities, by means o f the ordinary waggons ; but i f this body, thus half ftifled as it were, had air given, to it, by opening all the harbours, trade, manufaélures, and agriculture would doubtlefs have new life infufed into them. A farmer, for inftance, has a hundred hours * hard driving to get his timber from MoJJèl-bay to the Cape, and a ftill longer and more laborious journey from Houtniquas. The feventy or eighty rixdollars he can get for a load of it, drawn by ten oxen, (including the felling o f it and bringing it in) hardly pay him for his time and trouble -, but at the fame time his commodity comes to the townsmen at the Cape dear enough at that price ; as a fpar about twenty feet in length and one in diameter, comes to five rixdollars, and ib in proportion for boards and planks. From hence it may eaiily he imagined, that building ïs- extremely expeniive at the Cape; and that confequently many people muft fet themfelves down content without thole conveniencies o f life, for which, however, the country has fufficient materials. The farmer muft, therefore neceflarily buy again, at fo much a dearer rate, his own timber, wrought up into calks, waggons, and other ne- cefiary articles of joinery work ; as he is obliged to carry them all the way by land to and from the Cape, merely to have the iron work put on them, fuppofing that in other refpefts he is able, or has proper tools for making them at home. The company itfelf, therefore, is likewife forced to allot feveral public buildings at the Cape for ftore-houfes, * For an explanation o f this word fee page 1.32,. and
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