Page 10 - Bulletin 8 2004

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The surveying of the 3,000 km-long Southern African coastline was time-consuming and
took place in stages, and it was some time before the whole coastline had been surveyed.

Thereafter surveys were repeated in more detail at larger scale and with steadily improving
technologies. Three eras can be recognised, with surveys of the Western Cape coastline

comprising part of larger works: the beginnings from 1822 – 1913, the inter-war years 1922

– 1939, and the post-war years.

Era 1: The beginnings of systematic surveying, 1822 – 1913

The foundations for the surveys that were undertaken during this 90-year period were laid
by Captain William Fitzwilliam Owen. (Fig. 1.3). In his sloop Leven, accompanied by

Commander William Cutfied in the brig Barracouta and the schooner-rigged steamboat

Cockburn, he started from Table Bay in 1822 with the survey the African east coast. This
was completed in 1824 and included also the south-east Arabian and Madagascan coasts.

Subsequently he surveyed the Cape west coast and the African coast north of the Congo.

By the time of his return to England in 1827 the survey had covered 30,000 miles of coast
and 53 charts and plans of the African coastline, 27 of Madagascar, and others of Mauritius,

south-east Arabia and the Seychelles, had been produced. The earliest charts of False Bay
and Hout Bay are products of this survey. (Figs. 1.4 - 1.7).

The survey of False Bay was undertaken first as a training exercise and the western coast of

the bay, probably including Kalk Bay, was surveyed using survey boats, one of which

capsized. While this was not an abnormal occurrence when surveying in the surf, and the
crew were able to be guided back to camp by rockets, the coxswain, William Smith,

deserted. When he was later captured in Cape Town he confessed that he:

“… ran away from dislike of engaging in so arduous a service, subject to such
exposure”.