The Kafir Wars

An attractive book by the 'David Roberts of South Africa'. Inspired by his friend, the writer and fellow artist, Thomas Baines, Bowler embarked on the Waldensian in December 1861 for his tour of the eastern frontier districts, returning at the end of January 1862 with numerous drawings which formed the basis of this book. The views are reproduced in treble tinted lithography and show localities that achieved fame during the eastern frontier struggles. In his introduction the artist expresses the hope that his work 'if not found very useful in the library among more exhausting books of travel ... will be thought ornamental in the drawing room.' The work is considered to be amongst Bowler's finest, particularly the views of Port Elizabeth and its harbour.

'From a geographical point of view, Bowler's Kafir War series cannot be overestimated. They show the changing face and contours of the Eastern Province and districts more forcibly than the most fluent writing. The gentle streams flowing through wild and dense undergrowth, over rocky ledges; the cattle grazing on the abundant greenery in the native villages of Chumie and Burns Hill, are now to be seen only in the albums of Bowler and Baines. Encroaching civilisation has altered the Border districts to such an extent, that it is hard to believe that these pictures were not merely a figment of Bowler's imagination' (Bradlow).