Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS.-Except the vegetables before mentioned, hay in some quantity, with a small supply of poultry from the neighbouring farms and cottages, and good mutton in plenty, any other provisions required must be procured from Cape Town; and as waggon-hire is expensive, a ship's disbursements, as far at least as such provisions are concerned, will certainly be heavier here than in Cape Town; but the wear and tear of all sorts in the ship herself will be so much less, and her security so much greater in Simon's than in Table Bay, particularly during the winter months, that such waggon-hire is, comparatively speaking, of little importance. Moreover, boat-hire is cheaper; in fact, ships may do every thing easily with their own boats; and they may also procure from Hottentot's Holland, on the other side of False Bay, opposite to Simon's Town, poultry and other refreshments at cheaper rates than in Cape Town; whilst the whole Bay abounds with excellent fish of various descriptions, easily procurable.

TRADE.-Few vessels enter this Bay with commercial views.-The tonnage in 1821 was 15,000 tons, chiefly to refresh.

MOSSEL BAY is open to S. E. winds, but they seldom blow home, and never for any long period. S. W. winds throw in the greatest swell. Cape St. Blaze, forming its S. extremity, is in latitude 34° 10′ S., longitude 22° 18′ E. The marks for anchorage, which is good, are Seal Island N. W. by W., the Corn Magazine S. W. by S., and the outer point S., in 7 fathoms water, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore. There is a Resident, who has charge of the Corn Magazine, a strong and capacious building; and there is some trade at this place, both with the neighbouring farmers and with George Town, in the district of which it is situated.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS are best procured by application to the Resident, unless you are acquainted with the language. Beef and mutton are to be had from the neighbouring farms, together with fruit and vegetables, but the latter are not plentiful. Fish is abundant, including good oysters and muscles at certain seasons. Brushwood is procured near the bay; but large timber, though in the neighbourhood, is not easily obtainable, except through the farmers. Water is got from a spring near the landing-place, and conveyed into the boats by a hose.

PLETTEMBERG BAY is an open roadstead; but the anchoring ground is good, in 17 or 18 fathoms. Seal Cape, or Cape Delgado, the S. W. point of the Bay, is in latitude 34° 6' S. and longitude 23° 48′ E. The landing-place is on a sandy beach, near the Resident's house. Here are a Timber Magazine, and a Barrack for troops, but both in ruins.

TRADE. The trade here is very inconsiderable, and not likely to increase.

C

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS are best procured at a farm-house, a short way up a small river, whose entrance is generally closed by a sandy bar. Beef, mutton, and fowls may be had here; fruit and vegetables are rather scarce; fish is abundant. Watering is inconvenient; the casks must be rolled nearly 300 yards over a heavy sand, and rafted through a surf that frequently breaks high.

ALGOA, OR ZWARTKOP'S, BAY extends about 10 leagues from Cape Recife, or Rocky Cape; its S. W. point in latitude 34° 2′ S., longitude 26° 40′ E., to Cape Padron, its N. E. extreme. The common anchorage is off the landing-place, in 7 fathoms, about three-quarters of a mile from the shore, Baker's River bearing W. S.; the outermost point of the land S. by E. But you may anchor in any part of the Bay, and chuse your depth of water. On the north side of the river, a block-house, surrounded with a palisade, defends the landing-place, and was originally intended to keep the Caffres in awe. The common landing-place is at the block-house. In the neighbourhood of this Bay, the small town of Bathurst has lately been built.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS are best procured by applying to the Commanding Officer of the troops stationed here, who will send round to the farmers. Most of the traffic is in exchange for supplies with the farmers. The cattle are large and fat; sheep at reasonable prices; poultry equally cheap; and from the stores salt provisions, spirits, and grain might be obtained by a vessel in distress. Vegetables are in small quantities; dried fruits in abundance. Roman snappers, and other fish, are caught near the islands and rocks. Fire-wood is procured a few miles up the country. There is a good spring of fresh water 100 yards within Baker's River; and about three-quarters of a mile to the S. is Baker's Fountain, from whence, with a W. wind, casks may be easily rafted off.

Before concluding this article, it may be proper to state, that the gentleman to whom we are indebted for much of the information relative to Simon's Town and Bay, has lately submitted a plan to the Secretary at Lloyd's, for erecting and supporting lighthouses near Simon's Town, on the Cape Point, Cape Lagullas, Cape St. Blaze, and Cape Recife, with signal stations at the intermediate points, for the purpose of forming a chain of posts along a principal part of the South Coast of Africa, devoted entirely to the preservation of lives, vessels, and cargoes, when in their neighbourhood; and whilst reflecting with him upon the number and value of each annually lost in passing and repassing the Cape of Good Hope, we cannot but wish success to his plan, and that it may in due time engage the attention of Government.

SECTION VI.

EAST COAST OF AFRICA.

NATAL.-The Rio d'Infanta, or Great Fish River, bounds the coast of Natal to the S. The only place frequented by Europeans is

PORT NATAL, in latitude 29° 56′ S., longitude about 31° 30′ E.; the coast generally high. The river is wide at its entrance, but fit only for small vessels. The bar is very dangerous, having only 5 feet at low water. The sea rises but 5 feet more, except in September and October, when at high water 12 feet are found. The course on the bar is to the S. W., the swell being very great; but as it is very narrow, two or three seas will carry over, and then the water deepens to 3, 4, and 5 fathoms. About a mile within the river, over against a piece of barren ground at the declivity of a hill, there is anchorage in 4 fathoms, at a cable's length from the shore. It is best to moor with hawsers to the rocks on shore.

TRADE. The little traffic is with the Portuguese from Mozambique. The natives appear inoffensive, but generally go armed with lances, bows, and arrows.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS.-The bullocks are large and good, and poultry plentiful, exchanged for buttons, iron hoops, &c. The river abounds with fish, and turtle is found.

DELAGOA BAY, Bay of Lorenzo Marques, or Bay of the Holy Ghost, is 7 leagues broad from E. to W., and nearly 20 deep from N. to S.; but the channel, on account of the shoals, is not more than 5 miles broad. The N. point, or Cape St. Mary's, the N. E. point of the island so named, separated by a narrow rocky channel, is in latitude 25° 58′ S., longitude 33 15 E. The chief rivers in the bay are Manica, Delagoa, or English River, and Machavanna. The first and northernmost is choked with mud at its entrance. The second, the only one frequented by English vessels, has a bar, with about 15 feet on it at low water. The third and southernmost is about 8 leagues from Delagoa River, and not navigable for ships; but boats drawing only 6 feet, can go 30 leagues above its entrance, where the traffic is carried on. Delagoa River is much frequented by South Sea whalers, as the bay abounds with whales, and is very safe and commodious. It is navigable by vessels drawing 12 feet water, for 40 miles. Ships com

monly lay about 2 miles up, where they have good depth of water, and are secure from all winds. The natives are Caffres, apparently harmless and good-natured, but cunning, and ask treble the price of their goods. They are great beggars, particularly on the N. side. Higher up the river, the natives are more dangerous than in the bay, and caution must be used whilst trading with them.

TRADE.-A considerable trade was formerly carried on at the rivers for elephants' teeth and gold dust, which has decayed. The Portuguese send here a ship occasionally from Mozambique, and the Parsees of Malabar have sent some small vessels freighted with beads, buttons, cutlery, piece goods, &c. The returns are principally elephants' teeth, (which the natives set a high price upon), ambergris, gold dust, and hippopotamus' teeth, which may be purchased cheap. Coarse blue cloth is the kind of piece-goods most esteemed here.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS are plentiful and reasonable. A kind of master-attendant, called king of the water, informs the chief of the arrival of a ship; and no bullock can be purchased till he comes down to the landing-place, and receives a present of old clothes and liquor. He returns a bullock, after which supplies are obtained daily. The masterattendant remains on board ship as long as you please, and will accompany any officer on shore to trade. The beef is very good. A bullock of 3 or 4 Cwt. may be purchased for a piece of coarse Surat piece-goods; a fowl for an iron hoop, or two metal buttons; vegetables and fruit for old clothes, empty bottles, &c. Turtle is met with. Fire-wood and water are easily procured. Excellent fish abounds in the bays and rivers, and which the natives sell for a mere trifle.

From Delagoa Bay to Cape Corientes, in latitude 24° 1' S., longitude 35° 51' E., the coast is seldom visited by Europeans, and little known.

INHAMBAN BAY AND RIVER.-The E. extremity of the bay is 5 leagues to the N. of Cape Corientes; 3 miles to the W. of which is the entrance of the river, in latitude 23° 47′ S., longitude 35° 52′ E.; but on account of the numerous shoals in the bay, it is frequented by small vessels only. The town is about 8 miles from the entrance of the river. A Portuguese Resident is here; but the trade is inconsiderable, consisting of gold dust, ivory, &c.

SOFALA. This town is situated up a river, (on its N. side), navigable by small vessels only, having a bar at the entrance, with only 12 or 14 feet on it at low water. The fort is on a point of land, insulated at high water, in latitude 20° 15′ S., longitude 34° 45′ E., 4 miles from which is the anchorage, in 5 fathoms, the flag-staff bearing N. 33° W. Ships should

not enter without a pilot. Dangerous shoals lay to the S. of Sofala. A Portuguese Resident is stationed here; and some merchants procure ivory, gold dust, &c. for the ship annually from Mozambique.

TRADE.-The gold procured in the neighbourhood is considerable. The Arabs trade with this part of the coast. Wherever the Portuguese have Residents, a guard is placed on board a vessel, to prevent illicit traffic; but, by favour of the Commandant, trade may be carried on at most of those places they are all subordinate to Mozambique.

Care should be used in communicating with the natives on the less frequented parts of the East Coast of Africa: the acts of slave-dealers have prejudiced them against Europeans.

PROVISIONS AND REFRESHMENTS.-Bullocks and poultry may be had of the natives cheap; but the Portuguese charge dearer for supplies. Fruit, vegetables, and fish are plentiful.

GREAT CUAMA RIVER, called by the natives Zambize, is in many places more than a league broad, and divided, about 20 leagues from its mouth, into two branches, the S. of which is called Lacabo, also divided into two; the other is called Quilimane. The entrance of the former is in about 19° S. latitude; that of the latter in 18° 10' S., longitude 37° 30' E.

QUILIMANE.-This town is on the N. side of the river, about 5 leagues from its mouth, which has a bar, with 2 fathoms on it at low water. Mozambique-vessels here discharge their cargoes into small boats for Sena, the principal settlement, 60 leagues distant, in latitude 17° 37′ S., where large quantities of gold, (of 19 carats only), ivory, wax, rhinoceros' horns, and hides, are annually procured. The Africans, from great distance in the interior, come hither to purchase European and Indian goods for gold, which is very plentiful.

MOZAMBIQUE. This island, in latitude 15° 1' S., longitude about 40° 46′ E., is the chief settlement of the Portuguese on this coast. The harbour is good, formed by the Islands of St. Jago and St. George, to the S. of its entrance, and that of Mozambique, about 3 miles to the N. W. of the others. Mozambique is small, about 3 miles in circumference, to the W. of which is the harbour. Ships generally anchor within St. George's Island, and wait for a pilot to carry them to the proper anchorage. The town is strongly fortified. Many of the houses are well built, but most are huts. Within the fort is a large cistern for water, which is scarce.

TRADE. This has long been the emporium of the Portuguese slavetrade. Their vessels generally stop here in their voyages to and from India, with which a considerable traffic is carried on in vessels under Portuguese colours, or Anglo-Indian ships. The Portuguese put a guard on

« EdellinenJatka »