Page 78 - Bulletin 14 2010

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Sea transport to Simon’s Town eventually gave way to the ox-wagon: although boats could carry
heavier loads the journey round Cape Point was longer, more time-consuming (three to ten days),

and more dangerous than a wagon trip that could be made in relative safety within 24 hours. For
instance, in June 1756 a large service boat, the Schuijlenburg, en route from Table Bay with

rigging and materials for Simon’s Bay worth 23,692 guilders, disappeared without trace.

Furthermore, stormy weather could cause deterioration of foodstuffs such as sugar and rice. But
the coast road remained in poor condition and, coupled with the wet, windy and cold weather,

exacted a heavy toll in deaths among the oxen and wear and tear on the wagons. Records show
that the annual death rate among the DEIC’s oxen more than doubled from 1743 onwards

compared to the figures for the previous decade (eg. 601 in 1745 compared to 235 in 1735.) In an
attempt to reduce this burden, the replacement costs of which were a significant loss to the

Company, Muijsenburg and Kalk Bay were used as trans-shipment points for the heavy materials

destined for Simon’s Bay. These were such things as masts, yardarms and booms, rudders, knees,
ships’ timbers, and anchor ropes.

An instance is given, in 1763, of the difficulty of transporting a mast to Muijsenburg for the ship
Noord-Beveland. It required 40 oxen drawing probably three wagons in tandem accompanied by

30 sailors equipped with jacks, crowbars and levers. At Alphen the convoy fell into the Diep
River and 20 more sailors and 20 oxen had to be brought in to assist. The whole journey took

four days. On arrival at Muijsenburg the mast was off-loaded, rolled over the dunes to the sea and
towed by boat to Simon’s Bay. This process was repeated many times in the cases of other ships,

with towing depending on a favourable north wind.

Anchor ropes presented a particular difficulty. They were too heavy for four or five wagons, let

alone one, were up to 275 m long (150 fathoms) and 40 cm in circumference, and could not be
cut into shorter, lighter, more manageable lengths. Unless there was a boat large enough for the

task the rope had to be carried on foot to the False Bay coast by slaves and sailors. They would
leave Cape Town early in the morning and arrive at Kalk Bay in the afternoon.