DORA.  “Algoa Bay is on the coast of that portion of Cape Colony, known by the name of Albany.  It was discovered by Bartholomew Dias.  His sailors becoming discontented with their long voyage, hesitated to proceed any further, and he, to satisfy their scruples, landed with the chief officers and several seamen, on an island in this bay, hoping by the touching solemnities of religion to soften a decision so discouraging to his adventurous hopes.  He caused the sacrament to be administered at the foot of a cross which he then planted with his own hands, and which has given the name of Santa Cruz to the island.  There, upon this rugged spot, at present only visited by a few fishermen, and where European foot had never before trodden, were the symbols of Christianity first displayed in the Southern Ocean.”

MRS. WILTON.  “Graham’s Town is the emporium of these eastern frontier districts of Cape Colony, and its main streets present a scene of incessant commercial activity; while almost every article whether of utility or of ornament, may be as readily obtained as in most of the provincial towns of the mother country.  There are several good inns, where visitors may command and receive every reasonable comfort and attention.  Religious services are well attended, and numerous schools established, in which the children are making encouraging progress.  The flowers and fruits of most parts of Europe flourish here, and the climate is unexceptionable.  There are a great many missionaries in Graham’s Town; and on the whole it may be safely averred, that the general intelligence of the inhabitants is not a whit inferior to that of the middle and lower classes of any country in the United Kingdom.”

EMMA.  “Camtoos or St. Francis Bay, is a few miles further along the coast, and Plestenburg, Mossel, Vaccas, and St. Sebastian’s Bay, are among those in the south of Cape Colony.

“Cow Bay, or Bahia das Vaccas, is in latitude 34 deg. south, longitude 22 deg. east, and is so called on account of the vast number of sea-cows which used to frequent it in former times.  The chief value of these animals is in their ivory tusks, which, being harder than those of the elephant, and not so liable to turn yellow, are much more esteemed by dentists.  Their hides are also valuable for harness leathers; and the skins of the young ones make handsome coverings for trunks.

“St. Sebastian’s Bay is at the mouth of Breede River, and is said to possess good holding ground.  It is seldom visited, except by vessels intending to enter the river; and, as that is not our intention, we will pass it, and go on until we come to False Bay, near the Cape of Good Hope.”

MR. WILTON.  “False Bay is rather a sound than a bay.  It contains within its capacious bosom several fine and safe inlets, among which Simon’s Bay is the most important, for there is the naval arsenal and depot:  but the proximity of the metropolis, and its more convenient bay, distant only twenty-one miles, diverts the whole of the trade from this excellent and perfectly land-locked harbor.”