“A Gulf Between the Mountains”: Slavers, Whalers, and Fishers in False Bay, Cape Colony

Abstract

This volume represents a more Africanist approach to the framework of maritime landscapes and challenges of adapting international heritage policy such as the UNESCO convention. While the concept of a maritime landscape is very broad, a more focused thematic strategy draws together a number of case studies in South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, and Nigeria with a common thread. Specifically, the contributors address the sub-theme of sea ports and sea power as part of understanding the African maritime landscape. Sea ports and surrounds are dynamic centers of maritime culture supporting a rich diversity of cultural groups and economic activities. Strategic locations along the African coastline have associations with indigenous maritime communities and trade centers, colonial power struggles and skirmishes, establishment of naval bases and operations, and World War I and II engagements. Introduction: Maritime Landscapes as an African Approach to Maritime Archaeology; Contents; List of Figures ; About the Editor; Contributors; Chapter 1: When Did the€Swahili Become Maritime? A€Reply to€Jeffrey Fleisher et€al. (2015); 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Background to€the€Academic Discourse on€Maritime History of€the€Swahili Coast; 1.3 Documentary and€Archaeological Evidence of€Early Maritimity; 1.4 Conclusion; References; Chapter 2: Port of€Badagry, a€Point of€No Return: Investigation of€Maritime Slave Trade in€Nigeria; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 Background; 2.3 The Maritime Cultural Landscape. 2.4 African Middlemen2.4.1 Chief Mobi (Mobee); 2.4.2 Chief Seriki Abass Williams; 2.5 Slave Relics; 2.6 Built Heritage and€Places of€Significance; 2.6.1 The Vlekete Slave Market; 2.6.2 Slave Barracoons; 2.6.3 Attenuation Well; 2.6.4 The Point of€No Return; 2.7 Intangible Materials of€Slave Trade in€Badagry; 2.7.1 Songs; 2.7.2 Drama; 2.7.3 Freedom Dance; 2.7.4 Names and€Festivals; 2.7.5 Badagry Festival; 2.7.6 Contemporary Beliefs and€Philosophy of€the€Badagry People About€the€Slave Trade; 2.7.7 Attitude; 2.8 Conclusion; References. Chapter 3: "A Gulf Between the€Mountains": Slavers, Whalers, and€Fishers in€False Bay, Cape Colony3.1 Introduction; 3.2 False Bay and Simon's Town; 3.3 Slaves and€Seafaring; 3.4 Whaling and€Fishing; 3.5 Kroomen; 3.6 Material Culture and€Memory; 3.6.1 Buildings and€Exhibits; 3.6.2 Cemetery; 3.6.3 Simon's Town Gravestone Data on€Kroomen Serving on€British Ships in€Late 1800s; 3.6.4 Fishing Culture; 3.7 Conclusions; References; Chapter 4: Technology and€Empire: A€Comparative Analysis of€British and€Dutch Maritime Technologies During the€Napoleonic Era (1792-1815); 4.1 Introduction. 4.2 Cape Town: Global Politics on€a€Local Scale4.3 Bato: History of€the€Dutch 74-Gun Ship of€Line; 4.4 Brunswick: History of€the€British East Indiaman; 4.5 Archaeology and€Analysis of€Bato and€Brunswick; 4.5.1 Scantling Measurements and€Ship Construction; 4.5.2 Iron Knee Measurements; 4.5.3 Wood Samples; 4.5.4 Copper Analysis; 4.6 Conclusion; References; Chapter 5: Bay of€Storms and€Tavern of€the€Seas: The€Role of€Risk in€the€Maritime Cultural Landscape of€the€Cape Town Harbour; 5.1 Introduction; 5.2 A Maritime Cultural Landscapes Approach; 5.2.1 Risk and€the€Maritime Cultural Landscape. 5.3 Methodology5.4 Historical Background; 5.5 Evidence of€Risk in€Table Bay; 5.5.1 The Bay of€Storms; 5.5.2 Shipping Risks; 5.6 Risk Mitigation Strategies in€Table Bay; 5.6.1 Protection of€Ships in€the€Bay; 5.6.2 Management of€Harbour Operations; 5.7 Conclusion; References; Chapter 6: World War I€Shipwrecks of€the€Western Indian Ocean of€Tanzania: Neglected Underwater Heritage Resources; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Overview of€WWI Shipwreck Sites; 6.3 The State of€Shipwreck Research; 6.4 Challenges in Shipwreck Management; 6.5 The Future of€Shipwreck Heritage Management; 6.6 Conclusion; References.