The Kowie opens up to the sea
This is part two of a series about our town compiled by the late Douglas Bailes. It is republished here, with permission from Pat Bailes and the Kowie Museum, transcribed by Sue Gordon.
In 1836, William Cock arrived at the Kowie, and unaided and without the advice of engineers or other experts, set out to divert the course of the river by closing the flow along the eastern channel and diverting it along the west bank and then cutting a new entrance to the river harbour so that shipping would sail along the new and deeper channel.
To launch his project, Cock engaged ‘a mechanic’, named
Stephen Gradwell, as a supervisor of a large gang of Hottentots [sic] and later 30 men from the 27th Regiment lent to him by the lieutenantgovernor.
Cock’s work does not resemble the present appearance of the river-mouth, and to understand what he did, one must visualise the place more or less as Kate Pigot described it. A reference to the map below will help.
In February 1841, Cock advertised in the newspapers that the Africaine, 80 tonnes, which had been specially built for the Kowie trade, was under the command of Captain C Salmond. Now the Kowie became the talk of the country.
A note in the Almanac and Annual Register claimed: “At present vessels drawing eight feet of water may enter the river at the west bank and when the steam tug, which has been ordered, arrives, we doubt not but that vessels of a larger burthen will be found in the Kowie.”
The Kowie: The river opens up to the seas:
We are happy to learn the Kowie is now open, and that the question of the practicability of the undertaking, in the opinion of judicious individuals, be considered as settled.
Early on Sunday morning,
the river opened up for itself a way to the sea through the new channel on the western side, and the depth of the channel has gradually increased from 5 to 10 feet at low water.
We understand the sand is gradually clearing away every tide, and is conveyed by the current to the eastern bank of the river, thus filling up the old channel. Along the ledge of rocks which form the western boundary there is deep water, which continues quite out to sea ... (South African Commercial Advertiser Saturday February 20 1841)
Navigation of the Kowie
The importance of opening the mouth of the Kowie River for the debarkation of goods and passengers for Albany, and for the more ready exportation of whatever surplus produce the Settlers may have to dispose of, seems to be now fully understood by the public of the Cape; but to our readers in England it may be proper to state, that at Algoa Bay, at the distance of 150 miles from the centre of the English settlements, has been hitherto the only port where the colonists could receive supplies, and ship their grain (when they shall raise any), their tallow, cheese, butter ... for the Cape market.
The Kowie is a small river, running through the centre of the English location and falling into the ocean about eight miles from the village of Bathurst.
It is, like most of our South African rivers, obstructed by a bar of sand at the mouth, but affords nevertheless a passage for boats and small craft in favourable weather, and has been thought by several very competent judges capable of considerable improvement.
The Colonial Government has, ever since the arrival of the settlers, directed its earnest attention to ascertain and render available the capabilities to this important little harbour, in spite of much difficulty and some disaster, in establishing an anchorage and founding a village at Port Kowie.
We do think that great credit is due to the Government for its anxiety to obtain success in this enterprise, and its determination to deserve it.
Nor is this slight praise, for we believe that public opinion has been generally very unfavourable as to the probability of its success.
We visited the spot ourselves two years ago, and felt strong apprehensions that it would not do.
But we begin to hope, notwithstanding some recent disappointments, that we were mistaken, and that it will eventually succeed, to the incalculable benefit of the Settlers, and the honour of those by whose directions the enterprise is conducted.
At all events, it is well worth the thorough trial it is now undergoing. And we are happy to understand, that the anchorage off the mouth of the river is considered by experienced ship-masters, who have repeatedly discharged cargoes there, as even more secure than Algoa Bay.
It possesses better holding ground and besides a vessel, even should she break from her moorings, can always without difficulty, stand out to sea, on one tack or the other and whether the South-East or North-West winds prevail.”