Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/101

WALVISOH BAY. 75 T(>P(X5RAPHT. Hitherto the northern section of the coast between the Cunene and Wulvi«ch Buy has not possessed a single 8oiip)rt visited by shipping. The Angra Fria ("Cold Buy "), lying north of the suudy promontory of Cubo Frio (" Cold Point") is merely a little creek ofToring uo kind of shelter against the surf and the prevailing south-west winds. Some 120 miles farther on the Ogdcn coral reefs enclose a fine harbour and tranquil sheet of water, where fish disport themselves in myriads. But the neighbouring coast is uninhabited, and this well-sheltered haven attracts no traffic. At present the only outlet of the whole region of Damara and Namaqualand is the commodious ani spacious inlet of Wahisch Bay, which lies altnost exactly midway between the Cunene and Orange estuaries, and which gives access to the two chief fluvial basins of the country, the Tsoakhub and the Kuisip. A channel 24 feet deep gives easy acctss to large vessels, which can ride at anchor in 20 or 28 feet of water within a few cables of the coast. Here they are completely sheltered except against the north and north-west winds, which seldom blow on this part of the coast. The bay, which owes its name to the numerous schools of whales formerly abounding in the neighbouring waters, is still visited by these cetaceans, and also teems with other marine animals^ vast shoals of fish penetrating with the tides far up the creeks, where they are sometimes left in the shallow lagoons by the receding waters. At one time a large export trade in ivory and ostrich feathers was carried on at this port, which has long been regularly visited by traders from the Cape to procure live-stock for the southern markets. The Colonial Government had accordingly taken steps at an early date to secure possession of this vital jwint on the Damara-Namaqua seaboard, so that when they annexed this region the Germans were obliged to respect the little British enclave, which has a total area of about 700 square miles^ But the English, on their part, fearing the local traffic might be diverted by the new arrivals to some other point of the coast, hastened to diclare Walvisch Bay a free port for all exports and import* from Europe and the colonies. The chief inland stations which are thus supplied with manufactured goods through Walvisch Bay are : (hnaruru, which has been converted into the principal market of the Herero people ; Otyinihingne, on the Tsoakhub ; Ohalmnja and Otyikango, or New Barmen, higher up on the same watercourse ; licbohoth, on a tribu- tary of the Euisip. On the sandhills encircling the bay are camped a few hundred Topnaars, whom the local dealers are forbidden to supply with spirituous drinks. Were the British Government at any time to obstruct the trade of Walvisch Bay, the Germans have still in the immediate neighlwurhood the port of Samitncli Hacen {Porto do Ilhvo), which might be constituted the centre of their commercial operations in their new dependency. Although less capacious than Walvisch Bay, and also exposed to the danger of silting up, this creek has the advantage of being sheltered from all winds and of possessing a supply of fresh water stored