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CHAPTER II. 

 Knysna. 



A BOUT midway between Cape Agulhas and Port 

 Elizabeth is a narrow gateway in the cliffs that 

 form the coast in these parts, known as the Knysna 

 Heads. The big liners pass it unnoticed, keeping well 

 out to sea ; years ago a small Castle line boat would 

 put in here now and again, but owing to modern 

 requirements and the ever-increasing demand for large 

 vessels, Knysna has long ceased to become a regular 

 port of call. 



Even the two small cargo boats which ply between 

 Cape Town and Knysna, going occasionally as far as 

 Port Elizabeth, have sometimes to steam about for 

 hours in the open sea, waiting for a suitable opportunity 

 to cross the bar. Mistakes do not occur twice to the 

 same boat on such a dangerous piece of coast as this 

 is, and the pilot who lives at the Heads, and puts up 

 his signals to the approaching vessel outside, is certainly 

 one of the most responsible, if not one of the most 

 important men in the neighbourhood. Sailing vessels 

 never seem to pass through this gateway, and no one 

 who was unacquainted with the coast would care to 

 bring his ship into the natural harbour which lies 

 within. The slightest error or miscalculation on the 

 part of the skipper, and the unfortunate vessel would 



