During my stay in Simons Bay I made several qxpursions to
the tops of the. hills which overhang- Simon s Town, and was
much ’surprized to find there an extensive fiat, with a rivulet
running through it, i The soil mid extent of it appear capable
of producing, abundance of vegetables, and affording the means
of rearing poultry, &c. I t is therefore singular that tins., fine
piece of ground should have been so long neglected, when these
articles are so extremely scarce and dear. In the confined spot
pn which Simons Town stands there being mo. suph conveniences,
the inhabitants, as well asttliQSe.on .feoafd^iplj.mu^t
depend pii. supplies from the opposite side of Table Bay, .where
a small Creek, called Gordon s Bay, penetrates, into Hottentot
Holland.
- In mentioning this Creek, it may nothfe improper to observe,
that from its proximity to the Kloof, (a hill isoi called/) - and
other circumstances, it would be ia favourable place! fhr 'U-fdC?
barkation, in case of any future attack upon {the Cape, pven
should ;the principal landing be effected in Table Bay; a mea?
sure which appears to me by no means impra.pticahle,in a country
which naturally presents so many obstacles to the progress
of an army:
It, is not for me to decide on the advantages or.disadvantages
which the retention of this Colony might be of to Britain. Its.
productions in its present state > ^ e;c^ ta«% triflirig to; this
country; but the great extent and unequal surface of. th§ ''country
affording such a variety of soils and climate, it is .probable
that by a proper exertion of the. natives, many useful articles of
produce might be introduced, and the.making of wine carried,
both in variety and quality to a very great degree, of- improvement
and trade. An inland navigation could be conducted be*
tween False and Table Bay, which would greatly obviate the
inconvenience arising from ships being obhged to shift round at
the
the^articular seis óns. I t would likewise save the expence ot
land-datriagé fori many irticlfss from kiie placé-to-another.
^ The Creeks^ ’alsdff whicIFHave 'beSi^ repently ascertained by
Captain !%allewer, peUëtratiflf^into thé’ 'vast' WrfeétsT on the
Eastern Cóast^’ÖfftlntÖé méans loFeltendihg thé coasting trade»
the‘I sftfély"of which* I KWt® already hi-niéd;t would be" greatly secured?
By- thé ,Md öT've%sél§‘with’slidin'g khfehk* 4
With all the> im^M^%rie$ts thisJ Country is capable of, the
probability's;. that-fffi©^ revenues’’ would neffèfidéfray ■’ the -ex-
•pënée in the hands of the ^English, thoughrit/ would bfe: eatable
of 'inüöh7arin erfactee in the"po^sessiofiJrdFdn'ènterpriziSig* Maritime
Pbwer like ours.
S I t is,to be hoped that’fhelkte mild arid’yifst GnvérUmèhFhas’
left a *favourible*v impression of ltMdBri1;ish character ■ on the
■minds of the discerning part ofHhe inhabitants yétat%he^'sam,b
time it ds to Èé; 'féirêeT th a tjj tfre£ democtatic p rin c ipM ^ h ich
haf^l been ’instiled into the Dutch' by‘tfieif Ff'êrïéh ri^ghbours
n t^ d n ie /h iv e many warm C^ife’Town an'dritS vicinitylw
Perhaps it wöuld not- b ë ?fair< td^sderMn
of the African Dutch from the variety! of people of all fiations
in thbtöwn, “or those in its neighbourhood^ ^ ffi^ h a b its ’ Ordié-
positions are^afi^efeth by an inter'G’bu/s&' with Cffffireé,-‘Bösch-
'iü?én,’ and vagrant Höttentots. "P ro b a b ly ^ may b^more ’successful
in '1 the Midland Districts,' *such!*ds-;fJh^'TtVehty^FoiFr
Rivers, | Roodtland, and'the co&rse of the feroa<FBiypf.:.v 'TÊftre
' w.e view the African Boor, whoée: simplicityri#hM0&Mr0yedby
dttaeks from thedne sicfe^d'r-his^éèmfótt from ?Wb3©tthëf#?> He
abounds with the nècëssaries' of life, - and^as'foutdbw^indUCe-
m&té’fo indulge* avarice or fèfehsuality^j The' sale of a- fey^Cat-
tlè';tógether with some trips annually ltd CapCTdw#with butter,
and other articles of émail bulk, procure him the ■meads>ïèf’providing
clothes, coffee, tfea and sugar. ' Wide, brandy* and toil
bacco