Beschreibung:

Storrar, Patricia & Komnick, Gunther
A COLOSSUS OF ROADS:
Thomas Bain
Published: Murray and Roberts / Concor, Cape Town, 1984
108 pages: illustrations (chiefly colour), portraits, maps (1 on endpapers). Oblong octavo. Paper covered boards, dust wrapper. Signed inscription from Storrar and signed by Komnick on half title page. Storrar describes the roads and mountain passes built by Thomas Bain (1830-1893) and his father, Andrew Geddes Bain (1797-1864), who was born in Scotland, arriving at the Cape in 1816. After turning his hand to saddlery, exploring and farming, Andrew began assisting in the planning and building of passes and roads in 1836. For the rest of his life he was thus employed by the Cape Government. Echo Pass, Michell's Pass, Bainskloof Pass and Katberg Pass as well as the road from Grahamstown to Fort Beaufort are among his legacy. At the same time he drew the first geological map of southern Africa, identified and collected fossils, prospected for minerals and served in the military. He also wrote verse! Thomas was apprenticed to his father at the age of 18 and spent all his working years building passes and roads to link the interior with the coast along the Langeberg and Outeniqua mountains. He also constructed roads to link the towns and villages of the Garden Route thus leading to the opening up of that area. In all he constructed 24 passes the most famous probably being the Swartberg Pass between Prince Albert and Oudtshoorn, the most used today, Victoria Road that he built between Sea Point and Hout Bay whilst he lived in Clifton House. Jacket Condition: Very good Binding Condition: Very good Overall Condition: Very good Size: 22 x 27 cm