Port Elizabeth of Yore: Delalande – the Naturalist versus Hudson, the Diarist

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Pierre-Antoine Delalande (1787-1823), a naturalist of French extraction, formed the rearguard of a cohort of explorers such a Sparrman, Thunberg and Burchell to the southern tip of Africa in the latter half of the 18th century and early 19th century.

When passing through Algoa Bay – Port Elizabeth would only be established in 1820 – Delalande would encounter Frederick Korsten, an entrepreneur with fingers in a multitude of pies: exporting salted beef to Mauritius, milling flour, whaling and sealing amongst a host of activities based at Cradock Place.

Another visitor was contemporaneously staying at Cradock Place with Frederick Korsten: Samuel Eusebius Hudson, the diarist. Would they coexist peacefully, or would they be analogous to oil and water?

Main picture: Pierre Antoine Delalande

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Early irrigation schemes on the Gamtoos River

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 1 Comment

The Gamtoos Valley is a very fertile region. All that it required to convert it into a lush farm was water. Even prior to the 1820 Settlers arriving in Algoa Bay, various people were aware of its significance, but none could not actualise its potential as both the Khoi and the Trekboers were nomadic by nature and lived off the land. Hence fertile arable land was not a priority.

It was a countrywide tour by Frederick Korsten that would plant the seed of combining cattle and the salt from the saltpans near Bethelsdorp to produce salted beef for export. Once ensconced at Papenkuilsfontein, having purchased it from Thomas Ferreira in1812, Korsten spotted the nearby Hankey on which to create a farm. 

This blog covers the disastrous attempt by Korsten to create an irrigated farm on the Gamtoos as well as briefly dealing with two subsequent successful schemes.

Main picture: Philip’s Tunnel

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Port Elizabeth of Yore: Business acumen of Frederick Korsten assessed

By Dean McCleland in Port Elizabeth of Yore 0 Comment

Korsten possessed the temperament to succeed as an entrepreneur in spades, yet as will be shown, he was not necessarily successful in every venture which he tackled. In comparison with his friend Samuel Hudson, he was less dogmatic and more disciplined, but ultimately only marginally more successful.

Samuel Eusebius Hudson was a friend Korsten of long standing who was also an entrepreneur at heart. From his diary one is able compare their management and business styles and divine the flaws in each’s business character.

Main picture: Cradock Place painted by Walford Arbouin Harries in 1870

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