Like a magnet, a murder or any barbaric act always draws the media’s attention.  In the case of the “manless head” [the opposite of headless man] discovered on the Fishwater Flats in 1840, it certainly did. This case could have acquired the sobriquet “The Case of the Missing Corpse”

Main picture: View of Fishwater Flats

By the time that the pair reached the Fishwater Flats after a full day’s work for Mrs. Korsten of Cradock Place, the sun was slowly setting in the west. From Cradock Place, they had crossed the Pappenkuils River and then had walked all the way along the coast at Deal Party on which the Gurney Settler Party had initially made their new home in the Cape Colony. It was a pleasant invigorating walk on that Sunday afternoon, the 30^th . As the sun slowly disappeared beyond the western horizon, the breeze switched from onshore to off-shore.

Finally they reached the expanse of flat land near the mouth of the Zwartkops River known as the Fishwater Flats. This area was known as an excellent fishing area. Copious volumes of worms were used in the attempts at catching its bountiful fishing stocks.

One of the pair was a gardener for Mrs Korsten and suddenly one of them was startled as he noticed a peculiar form in the distance. Both instinctively veered to intercept the unfamiliar object. Drawing closer the shape became recognisable. Drawing ever closer, eventually the form of a human head became clear, revealing not only into form but also its condition. Upon inspection, they ascertained that it was the head of a white man. Scattered about were several bones, presumably those of the corpse. But despite a brief search, no corpse was found. A further and closer inspection of the head revealed that it was in an extraordinary state of preservation, and the skin was dried out from lying exposed all day long to the sun. Surprisingly the features and the hair were quaintly perfect.

These remains were, it is speculated, those of Theunis Botha, who, with several other persons were washed down the river, along with their wagon, and drowned about sixteen months ago.

On the Sunday prior to the publication of the report in the Graham’s Town Journal  on the 24^th September 1840, an interesting discovery was made at nearly the same spot; a pair of trousers .

In the pocket was found several receipts in favour of one, James Caverly.

Source
Article by the Port Elizabeth Correspondent of the Graham’s Town Journal  dated the 24^th September 1840. The article was supplied by Jon Inggs.