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... Sir Francis Drake called it "the fairest cape on the circumference of the earth" while the Portuguese called it the "Cape of Storms" and "The Den of Adamastor", a fearsome legendary monster. Table Bay in particular, with Table Mountain as a backdrop, has always been a source of fascination. ... During stormy months, passing ships were frequently wrecked in Table Bay and thousands of unfortunate souls perished at the mouth of the Salt River. ...
During the Dutch occupation, the waters of Table Bay lapped the walls of the Castle of Good Hope. ... Ships anchored in the bay while slaves ferried cargo and people back and forth. ... Flags of many nations fluttered in the bay and cargo ships disgorged coffee from Brazil, coal from Wales, mules from Argentina and pine from Sweden as well as immigrants from Britain, Germany and St Helena.
Increasing numbers of shipwrecks necessitated the building of a proper harbour which was made possible by newly developed blasting techniques and the use of steam driven machinery. ...
Dramas were regularly played out in Table bay. ... The following description by a visitor to the Cape during the 19th century captures this atmosphere well: "(T)he coolies, some eighty or a hundred of them, who had been coaling a steamer, were brought back to shore in a large cargo boat, and as the boat was being slowly rowed over the dead calm blue waters, in which it was mirrored, the leader, generally a clear tenor, would strike up a few bars, after which the whole company would fall in, a chorus of stentorian voices resounding over the Bay, entrancing in its grandeur and with thrilling effect .
Approximate Word count = 1211
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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