Go to the Labyrinth of East London Lore


Port Rex
Cybertrail

An excursion into East London's past

Keith Tankard
Knowledge4Africa.com
Updated: 14 October 2009
(Contact the Project Coordinator)


The Port Rex story is probably one of the oldest legends of East London. There are many people today who still claim that Port Rex was this town's original name, and wish the "original name" could be resurrected.

How true is their claim? What really happened at Port Rex? Follow the Port Rex Cybertrail and you'll find out.

The Trail is divided into many parts. There is a bit of story telling. On the other hand, you will find some historical analysis in which you, the cyber-hiker, will be required to make your own judgements.

To help you to do just that, some of the original source material has also been included, along with some maps to orientate your imagination.

You may find the trail is too big to take in at one go. Return passages have therefore been constructed throughout. Leave the trail at any time, but be careful to mark where you were. You will definitely need to know which door to go through if you wish to rejoin the adventure.

Begin the trail Go to the handy menu


This document is copyrighted. No part of it may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the author.
The sole exception is for educational institutions wishing to reproduce the document as a handout for their students.

Contact: The Project Coordinator





































































Go to the Labyrinth of East London Lore


Port Rex Cybertrail
Handy Menu

Keith Tankard
Knowledge4Africa.com
Updated: 14 October 2009
(Contact the Project Coordinator)


The Arrival of the Knysna

  • We'll have a quick look at that historical moment when the Knysna arrived off the Buffalo River mouth for the first time.

Problems with the Port Rex Story
  • A very brief analysis of the historical problems associated with the Port Rex controversy.

The Province of Queen Adelaide
  • The historical background: Sir Benjamin D'Urban's frontier war and his creation of the Province of Queen Adelaide.

The Very First Survey of the Buffalo River Mouth
  • A description of what happened at the Buffalo River mouth when Harry Smith, John Bailie and company arrived there.

Sir Benjamin D'Urban's Dilemma
  • The Governor faced many serious problems over his Province of Queen Adelaide. We shall look at some of them.

John Bailie's Sojourn at the Buffalo River
  • We travel back to the Buffalo River mouth with John Bailie on his epic journey to conduct a more thorough survey.

A Controversial Flag-Raising Incident
  • We look at who actually raised the British flag for the first time at the Buffalo River mouth: John Bailie or Thomas Biddulph?

Daily Life at the Buffalo River Mouth
  • A moment to catch your breath: we shall watch what the soldiers did on an average day.

Why It Was Called "Port Rex"
  • A look into the great controversy: why was the place called "Port Rex"? Or was it?

Problems with the Evidence
  • A brief analysis of the evidence: can it be trusted?

The Probable Story
  • Why the evidence cannot be trusted

John Bailie: First White Landowner?
  • John Bailie claimed to have been the first White landowner on the eastern bank of the Buffalo River. Did he really own the whole of the Quigney?

What We Really Know about Port Rex
  • A brief summary of what we really know, if anything.

The Source References for This Trail
  • And finally, for those interested in this type of thing, a look at all the source references.

Contact: The Project Coordinator