Early European Traders West of The Kei River

“In 1826 a few temporary licenses were issued for 
 those wishing to trade beyond the Kei River. 
 The pickings were so rich that within a very short 
 time there were at least 20 traders operating beyond
 the frontier. In 1830 the border was thrown open 
 and trade beyond the Kei was legalised. 
 For the first time people living on the Wild Coast 
 were able legally to exchange their hides, cattle, 
 ivory and later tobacco, grain and wool, for blankets, 
 beads, agricultural implements, knives, horses and firearms, 
 and the settler traders found a ready market and eager customers.” 

                            – Hazel Crampton, The Sunburnt Queen

Toleni Trading Store

We'll start with Toleni Trading Store, about 17 kilometers from Butterworth, Eastern Cape.

The main house

According to the locals that I interviewed on today, this was once a living quarters for the family that once owned the trading post. I wonder if this house wasn't the original railway station hotel?

There was only one tomb in the backyard which, as related by one local, was of a young family member of the original family. Unfortunately the epitaph on the headstone was almost faded out. I could faintly see something like KJM Lucas...

As seen from the N2

Happy Days Store, Flagstaff, Transkei, Eastern Cape. 9 October 1975

I borrowed the The Happy Days Store photo above from David Goldblatt



Below is what's left of iBika Trading Post, Butterworth.