Page 165 - KBHA Bulletin 10

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Abraham had two emancipated slaves who chose to stay in his employ. A man well
known to Abraham came and asked for a loan. Abraham called for the servant to bring

the money-bag which was kept under the bed. She would place the bag of gold
sovereigns on the table. Abraham then proceeded to count out the £80 requested.

Placing eight piles of ₤10 each, he turned to the borrower and said, “Here is the eighty
th
pounds you want for a period of three months. It is now the n day of (say) February
th
then you will return the money on the n day of May.”

Some years later the son of the previous borrower came and requested a loan of £40.

Again the money-bag was called for and, measuring out the £40 requested and stacking
the neat heaps of ten, he asked for how long the loan was needed. With that the young

man produced a piece of paper he had prepared. “What is this?” Abraham asked. “This

is a note to acknowledge my debt to you of the 40 pounds!” Startled, Abraham looked
up to him as he gathered the £40 and deposited them in the bag again. “If your word is

not enough then I am not prepared to advance you the money!”

Dutch Reformed Church, Kalk Bay; Alexandra Hotel, Muizenberg

Abraham Auret was a man of many skills and a devout Christian. In 1876 he built the

Dutch Reformed Church at Kalk Bay. (Fig. 5.4). Together with his three sons, Hendrik,
Abraham Zacharias, and Frederik he formed a whaling team to be reckoned with on the

False Bay coast. As whaling was seasonal he also launched out on purse net trekking

from Muizenberg beach.

Later, when the men stepped out on their own, both Hendrik and Frederik, as craftsmen,
built boats and engaged in building enterprises. Frederik built the Alexandra Hotel on

the beach front Muizenberg, which stood for many decades and served the visitors for
many years. (Fig. 5.5). The friendly pub was kept busy, while the older residents retold

the whaling stories of the past. He also had a yacht, the “Nukteris”, which ran aground

off Smitswinkels Bay. It was not that long ago that the lead from the keel of the
“Nukteris” was salvaged by skin divers.