Cape Town, 28 February. The river Knysna of which for a long tome was believed being unsuitable to found a harbour was surveyed and found to be an excellent place for a new harbour forming a shelter for the South East storms. The transport brig Emy in service of the sea department of the colony entered the Knysna but was driven back due to the lacking enough knowledge of the local situation and was stranded in the entrance being heavily damaged probably caused by a unknown cliff. The brig of war Podargus was send to support the Emu, entered the river, loaded stores of the Emu and left the river safely thanks to survey of her crew and the helmsman of the Emu. Since then entered the transport Dispatch with a draught of 15” twice the Knysna without any problems for a cargo of timber and was now again departed towards the river for a cargo of (compass)timber.
The signals for entering the Krysna since 1 May 1818 were:
White sign for entering or leaving.
A red banner mentioned that the high tide was positive.
A red sign indicated not to try to enter the river.
A white sign above a red sign indicated to anchor at the entrance while waiting for a favourable wind or tide.
A yellow and blue sign indicated that the pilot boat was waiting but wouldn’t come outwards.
A sign white above blue indicated that the pilot boat would come outwards.
