ZA04A – Andrew Geddes Bain

Stitcher:  Penny Cornell – Cape Town, Western Cape

Andrew Geddes Bain (1797–1864), road builder, surveyor, geologist, explorer and journalist, was born in Thurso. He arrived in Cape Town in 1816 and by 1832, without any formal civil engineering training, began to construct roads and mountain passes. These made inhospitable mountain areas accessible, opening up remote districts for commerce, and many are still in use. The secret of all his passes is the amazing retaining walls which have supported traffic over decades. A fossil (Dyconodon Bainii) and a fish (Sandelia Bainsii) are named after him and he produced the first Geological map of South Africa.

 ZA04A Anndra Geadais MacIlleBhàin
Rugadh Anndra Geadais MacIlleBhàin (1797–1864) neach-togail rathaidean, neachtomhais, clach-eòlaiche, rannsachair agus neachnaidheachd, ann an Inbhir Theòrsa ann an Gallaibh. Ann an 1816 ann am Baile Chip, gun trèanadh foirmeil innleadaireachd sìobhalta sam bith, dhealbh e agus thog e bealaich sna beanntan anns a’ Cheap an Iar agus an Ear. Bha na bealaich sin a’ toirt ruighinneachd air raointean de na beanntan a bha do-sheachanta roimhe, a’ fosgladh a-mach sgìrean eile airson malairt agus tha mòran dhiubh air an cleachdadh fhathast. Is e dìomhaireachd nam bealach aige uile, na ballachan taic mhìorbhaileach a tha air trafaig a ghiùlain thar nan deichean de bhliadhnaichean. Tha fosail (Dyconodon Bainii) agus iasg (Sandelia Bainsii) air an ainmeachadh às a dhèidh agus thug e a’ chiad mhapa clach-eòlachail de Afraga a Deas gu buil.