With shades of Einstein’s relativity of time and distance dilation at high speeds, what relevance does this seemingly illogical question relating time and distance have to the Port Elizabeth of Yore blog.  Patience dear reader, all will be revealed.

Robert Jacob Gordon executed many expeditions into the interior of the Cape Colony. Of particular interest to Port Elizabeth is his second expedition when he swung through the Algoa Bay area from the 15 th to the 23 rd of January 1778. He was taken to the wreck site of the Sacramento where those who could not make the trek up to Delagoa Bay were buried. He also produced two huge panoramas encompassing the sweep of Algoa Bay, one from near the mouth of the Coega river and another from a high point in the Kragga Kamma area.

Main picture: Panorama of Algoa Bay in 1778 by Robert Gordon

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