THE BAY OF NATAL ca 1860      [ Picture ]

This view of the Bay is from the seaward end of the Bluff ca 1860 looking across the Point and Bay towards the heavily wooded Berea, with the buildings of D'Urban clustered onshore, right. A sailing ship negotiates the entrance channel in the foreground, dhows and other small craft are seen in the Bay, and the tug Pioneer, her single stack smoking, is in the centre of the picture, near the Point. At left is the signal station and signalman's house on the Bluff. Its possible that the tall building on the extreme right represents St. Paul's Church.

The painting can be dated as post December 1859 because the steam vessel shown is undoubtedly the Pioneer, Natal's first steam tug. She was 124 tons and was despatched (fitted with masts and sails) from the Thames at the end of July 1859, arriving in Durban 111 days later, having made the journey under sail only, her paddles being fitted in the Bay after her arrival here. On Boxing Day 1859 she was shown, flag-bedecked, to the assembled populace, and crossed the Bar with various dignitaries on board, sailing out into a choppy sea beyond the Bluff - to the discomfort of some of her passengers.

A rare find, this little watercolour in ornate embossed surround, was one of several original drawings in a mid-nineteenth century "Album amicorum", bound in gilt maroon calf. The artist has signed himself (more probably herself) "L.C." and entitled the picture "Bay of Natal & Town of D'Urban".

Quite apart from the fact that this picture is a delightful piece of Nataliana, it is of particular significance to me, because it shows a view of Durban which would have been a familiar one for at least two of my ancestors:
1. Captain William BELL, my great great grandfather, Port Captain of Natal and commander of the Conch. He lived on the Bluff at Conch Villa and died in 1869. His memorial stands in West Street Cemetery. 2. Thomas Alfred GADSDEN, my great grandfather and founder of the Natal GADSDEN family. He married Captain Bell's daughter and was Lighthousekeeper from the 1860s to 1880s. This is precisely how he would have seen the port and the town from his vantage point on the Bluff. [See "Keeper of the Bluff Light".]

The painting is now part of my own collection and has not previously been published.

© Rosemary Dixon-Smith July 2004