WALFISH

BAY  , a harbour of South-West Africa with a coast-line of 20 M. terminated southward by Pelican Point in 22° 54' S., 14° 27' E . It belongs to Great Britain, together with a strip of territory extending 15 M. along the coast south of Pelican Point and with a depth inland from ro to 15 M . The total area is 430 sq. m . Except seaward Walfish Bay is surrounded by German South-West Africa . The northern boundary is the Swakop river; east and south there are no natural frontiers . The coast district, composed of sand dunes, is succeeded by a plateau covered in part with sparse vegetation . The river Kuisip, usually dry, has its mouth in the bay—which forms the finest harbour along a coast-line of over r000 m . The harbour is provided with a pier 200 yds. long and is safe in all weathers . It was formerly frequented by whaling vessels (hence its name) . The town has a small trade with the Hereros of the adjoining German protectorate . A tramway, 11 m. long, runs inland to Rooikop on the German frontier . Pop .

(1904), 997, including 144 whites . Walfish Bay forms a detached portion of the Cape

province of the Union of South Africa . It was proclaimed British territory on the 12th of March 1878, and was annexed to Cape Colony on the 7th of August 1884 (see AFRICA, § 5) . The delimitation of the southern frontier was in 1909 referred to the king of Spain as arbitrator between Great Britain and Germany .