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Both sea and wind miraculously died down and it took them five hours to row to Hout Bay where

they reached shore at 01h00. It was pitch dark but they managed to make their way to some
fishermen’s huts where they woke the occupants who provided them with coffee and shelter until

they proceeded on foot to Cape Town. They arrived there at 19h00 that evening.

RMS Kafir 13 February 1878

The Royal Mail Steamer Kafir was a Union Company iron-steam coaster, built in 1873 by Key,

Kinghorn. She was so rigged that she could sail in favourable weather. (Fig. 4.2). She carried
passengers and cargo between Cape Town and Zanzibar which helped to open up the east African

trade that had been started after Livingstone’s journey across Africa. The Kafir took many
Moslem pilgrims from the Cape to Zanzibar where they transhipped to Mecca. She was regarded

as the finest African coaster of her time with long free decks, airy cabins and saloons similar to
an ocean liner. On the day of her fateful stranding her complement was 72 crew (of whom seven

were Zanzibari Arabs) and 70 passengers. In her holds were many bags of mail for east Africa,

two thousand cases of Admiralty stores for two men - o’ - war at Zanzibar, HMS Fawn and HMS
Swallow, and a package of new specie (coins) for the Portuguese Government in Mocambique.

The steamer was fully insured and most of the consignment of goods was also insured. Very little

was consigned to private parties.

Kafir struck Albatross Rock at 17h30 with a resounding thud that sent many passengers
sprawling. She was travelling at about 9 knots in fine weather under steam and with her sails

spread in a fresh westerly wind. At the time of impact Captain Ward and the Chief Officer
Thomas Perrin were on the poop (stern of the ship). No breakers were seen and she appeared to

be in deep water. She was not a good distance offshore and according to a passenger at the

Inquiry “She quivered and hesitated, then the sea lifted her clear of the rock and she went on.”

It was found, however, that water was pouring into the fore-compartments and into the collision-
bulkheads amidships. The position was serious and Captain Ward ordered Perrin to clew up all

sails and make for the shore, approximately three kilometres off. At about four hundred metres
from the shore she grounded.