Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 4.djvu/173

 this basin that Vasco de Gama was wounded by the Hottentots in 1497, and Francisco d'Almeida massacred with all his followers in 1508. The bay, which is of easy access, is very deep, and is broken into several secondary basins, sheltered by intervening granite headlands, and presenting excellent anchorage to shipping.

Yet this admirable haven, which the Dutch had made their chief naval station and the centre of the postal communications between the United Provinces and their East Indian possessions, has now been almost abandoned. Little is seen on its deserted shores beyond a few isolated farmsteads and fishing stations. In the