Petrus Borchardus Borcherds, b1

• Baptism 1786 Cape Town
• Death Notice 1871 Stellenbosch
• Burial Register 1871 Stellenbosch

AUTO-BIOGEAPHICAL MEMOIR

|rfrua gorrhardu^ gorrfoii.^, ^^,,

CIVIL COMMISSIONER OF CAPE DIVISION AND RESIDENT MAGIS- TRATE FOR CAPE TOWN AND DISTRICT THEREOF, AND CAPE DISTRICT.

A PLAIN NAUEATIYE OP OCCURRENCES

FROM EARLY LIFE TO ADVANCED AGE,

CHIEFLY INTENDED FOR HIS CHILDREN AND DESCENDANTS, COUNTRYMEN AND FRIENDS.

CAPE TOWN:

A. S. ROBERTSON, ADDERLEY-STREET. 1861.

SAUL SOLOMOU & CO., PRINTERS, CAVK TOWN.

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DEDICATED BY PERMISSION TO

SIR GEORGE GREY, K.C.B.,

GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER-IX-CHIKF AT TFIE CAPE OF GOOD HOPK

BIGH COMMISSION F.l! OF BRITISH KAFFRARIA, &c.. Sic, i-c,

WITH ESTEEM AND REOARD

BY HIS MOST HUMBLE AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,

P. B. BOHCHERDS, Senior.

• ~l O ■'^. n

'iZSZ

PREFACE.

Having been spared to reach my seventy-first year, and to serve ray native country as a civil servant for about fifty- six years, and being father of a family of

Children, 17

Grand-children, ... ... ... 30

Great-grand-children, ... ... 10

Children-in-law by marriage, ... 12

Total 69 with the prospect of leaving a numerous descendancy, and being as yet favoured with the partner of my life by my side since 1806, and enjoying a day of rest (having retired from the public service), and thank God ! still in possession of the faculties of mind and body, I undertake the task of giving to posterity a plain account of my life, intermixed with such historical sketches as I may consider of some interest, partly from memory, partly from information, notes, and documents in my possession.

It will, I am confident, be gratifying to my family and friends and pleasing to myself to recall to mind remem- brances of da3's long past, and give me opportunity of paying a tribute of gratitude to parents and valuable friends for the many acts of love and kindness and consideration which I have been favoured W'ith, and especially of those friends to whom I am indebted for promotion in my public career and many blessings which have attended me through life.

It will afibrd me opportunity to recall to memory my early time, the companions of my youth, the happy days of home

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and family circle, and the pleasures enjoyed amongst the villagers of that beautiful little town Stellenbosch, where up to my fifteenth year I spent my early days, free from the care and trouble which attend after-life.

It will further bring me back to the period when, under the auspices of Government, I had opportunity of seeing my native country, travelling to assist in exploring the interior beyond the Orange River and to open communication with various tribes of the bordering aborigines.

Moreover, it will lead me through the various occupations and employments of a public servant from 1801 to 1857, and leave room to communicate events and observations during the changes of Government and under the adminis- tration of twenty Governors and Lieutenant-Governors, and the public men with whom more or less I had the good fortune to come into contact, and to indicate how far I took a share in those institutions which were created to promote education, literature, and science in this colony.

Whilst planning so extensive a course over so wide a field and extending over a period of upwards of half a century, I feel almost discouraged ; for my education was restricted to the limited advantages enjoyed by the colony in my youthful days, — days far less favourable and advantageous than the present, and not comparable with the enlarged scale established for mental improvement enjoyed by the youth of our day.

Indeed, it is only trusting that the good intent and object in view will be kindly considered that induces me to make the present attempt, hoping that He who has so mercifully guided me through life will not withhold the means and ability, so that my offspring may read with satisfaction this plain account of their ancestor, that my countrymen who, through their representatives in Parliament, were pleased to bestow on me a public testimonial and recognition of my past career when advanced years compelled my retirement from service, and my other friends may judge of my pro- ceedings during an interesting course of public and private

life ; and my young fellow civil servants be taught that a strict adherence to duty continued with zeal and integrity, the colonial service ensures ample reward to those who will persevere and surmount obstacles and who are true and faithful to their task, and that the South African public feel and are capable of appreciating and estimating the public servant whose life has been devoted to their welfare and interest.

P. B. BORCHERDS, Senior, Bellevue, Wynberg, January, 1858,

CHAPTER I. SECTIOX I.

I WAS born in Cape Town on the 8th of July, 1786, at the house of my grandmotlier, the widow of Petrus Johannes de Wit, formerly a member of the court of matrimonial and petty civil cases, orphan board, and burgher senate. Her maideii name was Aletta Jacoba Blanckenberg. The house itself is situate at the corner of Adderley and Darling-streets, and now belongs to Mr. Alexander McDonald.

My parents were the Reverend Meent Borcherds, a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and Aletta Jacoba de Wit. He was born at Jemgum, a village in East Frisia, on the 3rd September, 1762, being the junior of the family : his father was Borchardus Borcherds, and his mother, Titia Kempen. My mother was born in Cape Town on the 31st May, 1762.

My father completed his studies in theology at Groningen, and received the appointment of minister for the Cape, from the Honourable the Dutch East India Company, in 1784; and left his mother-country on the 22nd December, 1784, in the Dutch East India Company's vessel, Het Meeuwtje (Little Sea-gull), and

arrived here on the 19th April, 1785. On the 13th of May, 1785, he was appointed as third minister to the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town ; and on the 4th September following, he married, and the issue of that union was three sons and seven daughters.

Being weak in constitution, he applied to be removed to the country, and the governor and council granted his request. His delivery and voice were better suited for a small church, and his inclination led him to prefer a quiet country life to town ; and on the 17th September, 1786, he received his appointment as minister at Stellenbosch, with the happy result that he officiated in that parish, and occasionally, in addition, at the Paarl, and what is now known as Somerset (Hottentots' Holland), under special appointments of Government, consecutively until 9th December, 1830, when his faculties of mind and body sunk, and Govern- ment was moved to grant him, as emeritus, a pension of £300, under the twenty-sixth section of the Church Ordi- nance, which he continued to enjoy until it pleased his Heavenly Father to summon him to leave this earthly abode, and exchange it, I hope and trust, for the regions of the blessed. This happened on the 28th of February, 1832. He was buried at Stellenbosch in the same vault with my dear mother (who had departed this life on the 12th of October, 1830), deeply regretted by children and friends, and the congregation for whom he had laboured upwards of forty-four years.

His mortal remains were, previous to interment, carried, by members of his congregation, before the pulpit which he had filled so many years, together with the remains of one of his dear friends, the wife of his

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successor, the Reverend Tobias Herold, who departed this Ht'e at the same time. The pulpit was covered with mourning ; and the Reverend Abraham Faure, now a minister in Cape Town, who had enjoyed many lessons from him previous to leaving for Europe in pursuit of his studies, and whom the deceased minister was wont to speak of as his young Timothy, delivered a most affecting funeral address, suitable to the solemn occasion, to a large number of the congi'egation ; and when this mournful ceremony was closed, both coffins were carried to the vault, followed by the afflicted family and friends, and deposited a few yards behind the church, where, for some time, stood the bereaved, to take a last farewell glance at the remains of the departed : the sombre and last abode was then closed, and embosomed these reverend and beloved members of the congregation. The village appeared as if in mourning, and long after- wards, even up to this day, their memories are kindly remembered and respected among those who knew them, and shared in their social and religious intercourse. My father had confirmed many as members of the church, had joined almost all the couples then living in the happy union of matrimony, and had administered to all the sacred sacraments. These sacred duties had engen- dered, on the part of his parishioners, feelings of no ordinary attachment ; and the endearing appellation by which he was usually known among them, for many years, was " Father Borcherds."

It happened when my poor mother suddenly died, that he was in Cape Town. During his absence, she had visited my sister Anna, who married Mr. Hendrik Cloete, Dirk's son, and resided at Mariendahl, near

Klapmuts, where she expired. The notice of her death was received by my father with apparent calmness and resignation ; but soon after, deprived of her who so many years had faithfully and affectionately shared life with him, his feelings were overpowered : it showed itself by deep grief and despondency. Some were of opinion that medical treatment might have prevented that result, for it was clear that, when attacked occasion- ally, a termination of blood towards the brain operated, and caused despair and lowness of spirit ; but I am Inclined to believe that, previous to my mother s death, the mind was predisposed to a sombre view of matters ; for, in the beginning of 1830, he believed that he was suddenly to be removed from his parish. However, the Secretary to Government (now Sir John Bell) kindly wrote to him, and relieved his apprehension.

On referring sometimes to his native country, he used to mention how melancholy events had led to his choice of leaving for the Cape. His father was in the mercantile profession, and in good circumstances, when part of his property was suddenly lost by the overflowing of the river Eems during the night ; the grandmother was thus left in reduced circumstances, but from the little she saved the expense of my father's studies were met, and when he was near the completion of his course a fire broke out and deprived her of all. When ordained, he left her then at the age of sixty years and a poor widow, with the view of contributing to her support by seeking foreign employment ; and he was gratified in being enabled to send her from hence some support. But she did not enjoy it long. Many were the narratives and particulars of these melancholy events, and in commu-

nicating them to us in the family circle, my father was at times overwhehiied by the feehng and affection he entertained for his beloved and bereaved mother.

I have found letters of Government approving of his conduct and pastoral care, when he received an increase of income ; and expressing regret at the circumstances which caused his ceasing to officiate.

After his first examination, in 1783, in the classis, he became candidate, and in the same year he passed his second examination at Embden, and obtained his licentia concionandi of the Royal Prussian East Frisia Consistory ; and he was expecting to be appointed in the neighbourhood of Groningen, when a single spark, which originated an extensive fire in the place of his nativity, determined his fate and choice. Amongst the forty-four buildings destroyed, was the house of his aged sexagenarian mother. He was at that moment in church at Leer, under the audience of Professor Chevalier ; on receipt of the disastrous intelligence, he drove off to the spot, and the following is a part of the original note he made, which shows the affection he felt for his distressed parent :

" I left the vehicle and ran with all possible speed to my parental home ; the front stood, but the back part, commonly called the schuur (store), was burnt to the ground ! I ran through the few rooms left and found no human being ; but to my consolation, my small library had escaped, and the room in which I studied had hardly suffered any damage, but a store with cloth and other manufactures, which formed the means of livelihood to my family, was much damaged, and in many spots of the lower part (for the house was double-storied) I saw the

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fire smothering. A deadly silence and solitude prevailed now in the house, which I had left so cheerfully the same morning ; but out of doors the noise was so much the more awful, from the lamentations of the unfortunate sufferers in the neighbourhood, which arose from the burning ruins of their burnt habitations, and the shouting of some hundreds of people working at the fire engines about one hundred yards distant, attempting to arrest the progress of the fire. I also recollect distinctly to have heard the crushing of the gables and other parts of the destroyed buildings ; it was then about ten o'clock at night, and dark ; but beams, burning in full flames, and several other ignited objects, afforded sufficient light to distinguish everything at that scene of misery.

" No person, however, could inform me what had become of my aged mother and family, or those belonging to the household. One ought to have seen such calamity to represent the awful effect it had. Finally, I found her in a bleach-field of one of our neighbours ; I saw a heap of linen, and there sat, solitary and sighing, my aged, beloved, and good mother ; I embraced her with all the cordiality of a deeply sorrow-struck son — but neither of us could speak. Ultimately, she called me by my name, entreated me not to press her arm for she had been bled by a surgeon, hastily, a few moments before, and was apprehensive that the bandage might be loosened. And now I really began to feel the danger which threatened her ; I snatched at a burning piece of wood lying a few yards from us, and saw how the blood was flowing from the wound ; but I was successful in drawing the bandage more tight, and thus her life was saved, whilst I relieved her with a drink of cold water, and afterwards by

strengthening and refreshing draughts and with the assistance of our servant maid, who had meanwhile arrived, I further provided for her."

And this circumstance brought him to tlie positive resolution to proceed to this country ; he applied to the Rev. Herman Hubert at Amsterdam, who was anxious to engage clergymen for the East Indies, and under patronage of his humane friend (for thus my father designated him), and having passed another examination of the classis there, he obtained his appointment as clergyman for this settlement.

As a minister, he was in doctrine and conduct sound and blameless ; versed in the sciences required for his calling and station, he judged and reasoned with sound understanding, and disapproved of fanaticism ; he was not attached to exterior formalities, but appreciated the inward state and Christian feelings of man, the quiet and unobserved communion with God and acknow- ledgment of the Saviour's merit, and the observance and exercise of religious and moral duties, as fundamentally necessary to raise the building of Christianity. He was tolerant and knew how to impart in conversation the beauties of the Christian religion in such a manner as to teach others to derive from it consolation in life and in the hour of death. He spoke amiably and to the point. Being a great admirer of nature, his attention was fixed on the starry heaven at night, and the wonders of the earth, and he often contemplated them to the honour of the Creator, and His almighty power. Those who had the good fortune to meet him familiarly on a fine evening, at the little summer-house, or at the beautiful, clear stream behind his favoured dwelling " La

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Gratitude," can never forget his communications ex- pressive of the greatness and power of God. Cheerfully was he inclined to be a leader to youth and to those destined to follow his profession ; he was a cordial friend and adviser ; he gave most readily full drafts from the fountains of science, and was really happy to find his attempts successful. Nothing was to him more dear than meeting the brother in faith, and pave to him the course in pursuit, and his feeling was never more touched than when brought to recollection of the days spent at the university with his contemporaries. When, sometimes, the conversation of the domestic circle turned on his native country, and the friends left behind, his heart was deeply struck; anxiously he often desired to return, but his numerous family, and limited income, were insurmountable bars ; in latter days, however, and under increasing connections in this country, he became less desirous to repatriate.

As father of a family, he was indefatigable : his salary which until 1812, only amounted to 1,000 rixdoilars, (£75) per annum, he found insufficient to maintain those entrusted to his care. He therefore bought a piece of land, and cultivated and divided it in his leisure hours ; and it pleased Providence to bless this under- taking, so as to produce further means of support to his family. On part of that property, he built a house (still in existence), and named it " La Gratitude," as a proof that he considered all owing to the kindness of Providence, and placed in the portico the emblem of the " all-seeing Eye," which in this the country of his sojourn had watched over him. In high spirit and tone, he would at times praise and thank the

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Omnipotent for this blessing. He used often to repeat this to his children, when exhorting them to trust to God's Providence, relating how he had arrived here with only one golden " ryder,*' and had been blessed far above expectation. He was, with regard to the stranger, hospitable ; and under his roof the " welcome " was the reception of the visitor. Thus lived this village pastor, many years by the side of a faithful and amiable partner, at the head of his family of children. He governed his household gently — pure religion gave the leading tone — the friend was united in the father — sociality charmed the stranger and countryman, and happiness appeared at least temporarily to have taken her seat in that house and family.

Of extensive reading, and gifted with a good memory and lively spirit, he was courted by the social, and the village circles were kept alive during his presence.

He was an ardent lover of poetry and an amateur friend of the muses, and his pen often produced pieces of mental and moral worth ; while, as a colonial historian, he was meritorious, and amongst the first.

In 1812, he framed a family register, considering himself bound to do so as the paterfamilias, and thereto solicited by his children ; and between the ascendants and descendants he placed a poem, in Dutch, which is difficult to translate with sufficient accuracy; but, as it is worth preserving to posterity, I give the original Dutch, and add an attempted translation, both of which will be found in the Appendix.

When, in 1 800, the first printing-press was introduced into this colony, he produced a poem, thankfully re- ceived by the original " Society to promote Agriculture,

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Arts, and Science," established under the patronage of the Governor; and also another, entitled "de Maan" (the moon), and these were the first literary productions of the Cape press. He used to complain, however, of the sad want of taste for reading in those days, inasmuch as even the paper expended in printing was not paid for.

In 1824, he acted as secretary at the first meeting of the General Synod, and afterwards as prceses, and he was active in co-operating to establish the fundamental rules and regulations which were to guide the colonial Dutch church for the future.

On the 26th of October, 1826, when he preached a sermon on the fortieth anniversary of his service as minister of Stellenbosch, the churchwardens and congre- gation presented him, in the church, by the hands of the civil commissioner, D. J. van Ryneveld, Esq., with a silver vase, bearing an appropriate inscription. (Vide Appendix.)

When the service closed, the whole congregation rose, and following their pastor, sang the 133rd Psalm, with feelings showing their cordiality and attachment ; for during so long a period most were known to him as having been confirmed as members of the church, or married, and themselves or their children christened during his ministry : they cherished indeed a fihal affec- tion for him in return.

The 31st of May, 1830, was the last anniversary of the birthday of my beloved mother; and after my father had mentioned at length some particulars of family history from a written memoir, he closed thus :

" But at present I will write no more ; and now I offer to Thee, true and living God, whose doing is

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majesty and whose acts are holy, my cordial thanks that Thou hast granted to me and my dear partner, life and health, and the means to clothe and maintain this numerous family, and to give them a suitable education, so that most of them have been provided for far above our expectation. Thy great name, Lord, be conse- quently thanked and praised, and, for the future, I also entrust my cares with Christian confidence to thee, O Lord, and recommend them and ourselves to Thy gracious and powerful protection, and, God, to Thy holy and safe guidance. A painful experience has often tauo'ht me how vain it is to trust to human aid. But Thou, Supreme, hath never abandoned or forsaken me, Thy unworthy servant. On Thee alone shall I further fix my confidence and trust, for in Thy hand are all human hearts, both of friends and enemies ; they all are Thy servants, Lord, and, therefore, I pray Thee in private forsake not me or my partner in life, whilst age and grey hairs are attained ; be to us and to our numerous offspring, now and ever, a light in darkness, a comfort in sorrow, and power in weakness. Take us further, Gracious and Almighty God, as our heavenly Father, by the right hand, lead us according to Thy counsel, and when once we shall have served accordingly, take us into eternal glory, for Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, our Mediator's sake. Amen."

On the 8th of June, 1830, the family consisted of: children, 10 ; grand-children, 26 ; great grand-children, 5 ; by marriage, 6 ; total, 47. Add to them both parents, 2, will make in all 49. The whole of the family Borcherds,— namely, descendants of, and those connected by marriage with, the Rev. M. Borcherds

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amounts in number at present to 158, including the departed.

He calculated to have preached 2,670 sermons, to have given 2,200 lessons as catechist, christened 4,559 children, confirmed 2,125 members, married 879 couples ; and the collections under his ministration amounted to rixdollars 87,600, or £6,570 ; his income to rix- dollars 73,000, or £5,475, or, on an average, annually about £125.

Having considered these blessings, he thanked the Lord, under date 1 6th June, 1 830, thus :

"The Lord be praised for all his innumerable bless- ings and support under public and domestic avoca- tions, singular relief from many difficulties and cares, remarkable protection in danger, and against machina- tions and oppression of my enemies, so that having re- ceived succours from God, I may stand in public and private welfare. But I perceive that age has approached, and I know not the day of my departure ; therefore I pray Thee, true and living God, who alone canst save and annihilate, graciously to forgive and expunge all my sins, both of neglect and trespass, in public and private life, against Thy holy law, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son, and grant me Thy Holy Ghost, this consolation to my soul, that they shall not tell against me, and such, on account of his merits. Grant that, further, I may spend my days, which are few, in peace, my years in loveliness ; keep me and my partner, children, and farther descendants by Thy right hand. 0, Father, who art in heaven, lead us further according to Thy will, and where and whensoever we shall have served it full, take all of us into Thine eternal glorv and salvation. Amen."

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In the books of resolutions of Heemraden at Stellen- bosch, he found the signature of Barend Borcherds, in 1700, a heemraad and captain of a burgher corps, and this led him to suppose that this man might have been an uncle, missed about that time, and probably enticed by a recruiting gang into the service of the East India Company ; and that, most likely, he was the ancestor of the family Burgers, settled about the Twenty- four Rivers, and elsewhere in the colony. It is remark- able that when I visited, in 1853, the Olifant's River bath, in occupation of a Mr. Burgers, that, amongst the many names cut since 1 700, in the door of the bathing- room, I found one, apparently of old date, of Borcherds. This confirmed me in the opinion above mentioned. As far as my recollection goes, the Burgers family held that bath in occupation.

Tradition states the family Borcherds originated from Westphalia, near Halte, a village on the southern limits of East Frisia. They were mostly agriculturists ; near their dwelling stood an uncommonly thick trunk of an oak-tree. These trunks are there named Bor ; the name is thence taken, as the family arms show. Our arms, like our crest, consists of an oak trunk, with a bough projecting from it. One of my ancestors, having distinguished himself in the presence of the Emperor of Germany and the King of France, received an honourable augmentation of the family arms, — namely, the imperial eagle dimidiated with the lilies, the arms of Borcherds being borne in base of the last.

One of my father's last writings was a description of a flood in 1773, and another in 1775, in his birth-place, and details of the ransom exacted by the French in East

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Frisia, whereby his parents had suffered considerably. Having mentioned his sense of gratitude of his favourable position in life, he feelingly expressed himself with respect to his native country in eloquent terms, of which I give an extract in the Appendix.

Thus sung, for the last time, this affectionate lover of his native country, and dear parent, happy in the circle of his partner and family ; when, suddenly, a cloud of adversity gathered over his grey head, — an arrow was shot, which wounded the heart, and consummated the despondency to which he seemed previously disposed ; and on the 6th September, he wrote as follows :

"0 ! how has my fate been painfully changed since I wrote my last unfinished line (this was 28tli June previous) ; but 1 bow, great and awful God, with confession of guilt, before thy striking rod. I suffer much, and may suffer still more," &c.

On the 12th of October following, he was suddenly bereaved of his partner in life. This was to him the last overpowering stroke ; he lost her to whom he imparted his cares and sorrows, and was thus weaned from the earth by the dispensation of Providence ! Suffering from age and infirmity, his apprehensions and doubts increased ; human aid and consolation failed. In the last days, however, when growing weak, it appeared as if the mind was more calm. He prayed his Creator and Mediator, with tears, for support ; and, desirous of changing life, he died in his residence of " La Gratitude," which he had built, leaving two children unprovided for, for whom he sometimes felt the greatest anxiety. I am unwilling to extend these discursive memoirs unnecessarily, but I think an

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occasional notice of some of the old Cape families with which I am connected will not be uninteresting to the colonial genealogist.

It is reported that the name of my maternal ancestor, De Wit, was originally White, and his Christian name John, and that he arrived in this colony about the year 1700. Amongst the relics in my possession is a copper- plate of his coat of arms, found in his estate by my uncle, Mr. Johannes Henricus de Wit, an officer in the Dutch navy ; the label at the foot of the arms bears the name of " John White. I have also a seal (he left a similar one to each of his children), and porcelain plate (one of a service), bearing the same arms, namely, argent a lion's head, or, on a chevron between three wolves' heads, erased sable ; crest — a wolf's head, erased sable. These arms are still borne by the English family of Stanton White, of Norfolk. A letter was also found in John White, alias De Wit's estate, dated New York, 23rd February, 1755, in answer to one he wrote on the 18th of May, 1754, bearing the signature of Peter and Jane White, but the address runs thus : " A Mynheer D'Heer Jan de Wit

" Oud Burgerraad tot Cabo de Goede Hoop" and it commences — " Mr. John White and Espouse.

" Dear respected Uncle and Aunt."

This is in my possession, written in English, and proves that the present Cape family of De Wit is, in fact, of English origin. Mr. White, or De Wit, married a widow lady, named Adriaansen, and left a considerable landed estate to my maternal gi'andfather, who was born

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23rd August, 1716, and named Petrus Johannes De Wit ; and who possessed, besides several houses in Cape Town, a grant of the farm Stellenberg, in 1772, at Wynberg, a place at Blaauwberg called " Keert de Koe," in 1771, and another in Swellendam (now Riversdale), and left a great quantity of silver plate. I witnessed the division of some amongst his children, of which my mother got her share.

Mr. White, or De Wit, was appointed, in 1744, a commissioner of the court of matrimonial and petty civil cases. In 1761, he produced the first sample (two hundred pounds weight) of Cape aloes, extracted on his farm at Swellendam ; this was purchased by the East India Company, to send to Holland. The medical practitioners declared it to equal the aloe socotrina, if not superior to it. In 1762, again, two or three hundred pounds were exported ; and, in 1764, one thousand pounds, at the rate of thirty stivers per pound, were purchased from him. In 1761, he was one of the orphan-masters.

Family tradition states that our ancestor was a member of a respectable English family, who had been in possession of extensive landed property ; not unlikely, he was either a younger son, proceeding abroad in search of a fortune, or was one of those compelled to leave home, under the disturbed state of the country, about the date of the English revolution. I refer my readers for a curious tradition to the Appendix.

I have been informed that, previous to the capitulation of the Colony in 1795, my grandfather's house was frequented by the principal English officers and families going and coming from India. Among them, were

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Lord Macartney and his suite, then proceeding on tlie well-known embassy to China. In fact, his home appears to have been the resort of all the English in Cape Town ; and I was also informed that his funeral was attended by an English admiral and staff.

I also used to meet the British commanders residing: at the house of my grandmother, immediately after the capitulation.

I believe that when he had determined on making the Cape, then a Dutch settlement, his home, he trans- lated his patronymic to De Wit, a well-known Dutch name, coiTesponding with White, as in like manner did some of the French refugees, on their settlement here, translate their names, or assimilate them to the Dutch pronunciation, so as to be better identified with their adopted country.

My grandfather was one of the commissioners appointed by Government to sell an English vessel, the Desire, in 1777, and the Colebrooke, lost in August, 1778.

I regret that the loss of family papers deprives me of the opportunity of collecting more information regarding this ancestor ; perhaps, the coat of arms may lead to further discovery, and I therefore recommend my chil- dren to preserve it carefully.

Having now given a brief account of my progenitors, I will commence my own memoir, and step back to the days of childhood and boyhood.

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SECTION II.

OCCUBEENCES PRIOR TO 17nj.

When I was about three months old, my parents moved from Cape Town to Stellenbosch (in 1786) ; and when at the age of seven years, I was sent to a Dutch school under the master George Knoop, the parish clerk, com- monly called the Dominie, and remained under his tuition until my tenth year, receiving instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic, the Heidelberg Catechism and " Hellenbroek," a book containing questions and answers upon the whole religious system as taught in our church, and used when candidates were catechised and subse- quently examined for admission as members.

I will attempt to describe a parish school of that time. The master was a gray-headed man, of florid complexion, and lively eye, precise to a nicety, remark- ably clean in appearance and habit, wearing spectacles, and generally a fine linen cap and chintz gown. He sat at his elevated little table, with a library at the back, and the various scholastic implements, such as rulers, pens, &c., spread before him, while the instruments of discipline then in use hung on the wall by his side. In front, stood the large writing-table and benches, generally occupied by about forty or fifty of the rising generation, of all colours, some paying, others admitted gratis, — the latter chiefly from the poor maintained by the church funds. The school-fees ranged from four pence half-penny to one shilling and sixpence a month ; and a roomy house near the church and garden, and suitable outhouses, were allowed by the parish, in addition to the masters small salary.

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Silence was the watchword, and eyes constantly fixed on the books was the rule. The school was opened and closed with prayer. The Bible was first read, then spelling, reading, arithmetic, and wi'iting classes were put in action, the seniors hearing the lessons of the juniors, the master taking the higher classes, Wednesday and Saturday were especially destined for religious instruction in the catechism and the Hellenbroek. Attendance was regular, from eight to eleven in the morning, and from one to four in the afternoon. On Wednesday and Saturday half-holidays were allowed, three days during Easter and Whitsun weeks, and eight during Christ- mas, — and these were the only holidays during the year ; the last included New Year's Day. Thus were the youth of the day plainly instructed in our village, in a manner both suited to their future various secular occupations in life, generally occupations in husbandry, or some mechanical craft, and to qualify them for admission as members of the Dutch Reformed Church, then the predominant and only one in the village ; and this last was considered the highest degree of qualification. The Dominie was generally seen on Fridays, about eleven o'clock, preparing to meet the pastor. He usually dressed in a black coat, cut in the orthodox clerical style, knee breeches, and silver knee and shoe buckles : the shoes high, well blackened, and shining. He wore a wig with two rows of curls, and a small three-cornered cocked hat ; and carried under the left arm a fine rattan walking-stick, silver mounteli^nd walked with a gi-ave and stately face to the parsonage? to receive the minister's directions for the service of the next Sunday, the Psalms intended to be sung by the

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congregation, — so as to prepare himself to lead the singing as harmoniously as practicable, and to draw out lists of intended marriages, christenings, &c., to be entered in the parish registers.

That day was also set apart to examine our habits^ hands, shoes, &c. ; and this little school parade caused much anxiety, for the good old master was determined to teach us cleanliness, and to be neat in appearance. I recollect one afternoon, being anxious to excel, I had had recourse to the point of a raw sheeptail, for the purpose of giving a shine to my shoes. The shoes rubbed with the grease shone when I left home, but the streets were dusty ; and unfortunately, before reaching school, my little feet exhibited the sad spectacle of a dark-brown pair of pantoufles covered with dust. The hour did not allow of my returning, for it had struck One, and when called, amongst the rest, to exhibit myself, I made but a sorry show. I can even now fancy I see the master's astonished look ; no excuse could be made, or satisfactory explanation given ; the crime of not having the shoes properly brushed was proved by the unlucky tail sticking out of my jacket pocket. It was extracted, and produced before my schoolfellows as the corpus delecti, and an example. I received, with the little black strap, circularly shaped at one end for the delinquent's palm, four strokes on the hands, and was made to stand at the door, to deter others from copying my mode of cleaning shoes. This punishment made a deep impression on mynnind, for it was the only one I ever received at my master's hands : his eye told the reluctance with which it was administered, for Peter (such was my school- name) was his little favorite.

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With the schoolmistress I was also on the best of terms. The little silver dubbeltje (a Dutch coin), which was my Sunday allowance, was always spent in the cakes which she so nicely baked ; and on the master's birthday, when the schoolboys greeted him with wishes and congratulations, and little addresses, written under every exertion to please, I was favoured by being invited to be a guest at his family table. Good man ! how, even now, I love and respect thy memory, for you were the only one from whom I ever received public instruction^ and to whom I stand deeply indebted for the elementary part of my education. The Dominie had a good musical ear, and, leading us in the Psalms, he accompanied his voice with the violin, so that we were taught to modulate the tone of our voices, and were generally considered to be good performers. This good tutor, after serving the church for many years, died, regretted by his disciples, and respected by his minister and congregation : he rests in peace in the churchyard at Stellenbosch.

Relieved from school labour, I retired generally with my young school-fellows to the playground, now Queen- square, where kite and ball, and the " kennetje " game, amongst others, amused us ; or, in summer, we visited that beautiful, fresh brook, the Eerste River, which runs through the village, to enjoy a cool bath in its clear waters, before we retired to our homes. Sometimes, in winter, we retired to the school, in front of which stood two lofty oaktrees, some sixty or seventy feet high, at this period stripped of their leaves, to listen to the hundreds of canary birds whistling their last song before the day closed, as if cheerfully acknowledging their being spared to exist, and preparing to roost in the

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branches. Happy, happy days ! Even now I rejoice in the recollection of the past enjoyment, and the fine open and cheerful countenances of my now departed play- fellows. The days of childhood and boyhood were thus usefully and happily spent in and out of doors. Whilst at home I enjoyed every comfort which a dear mother could devise and my beloved parents afford to their young offspring.

One event which left also an impression on my mind was the travelling tour of the family to Overberg, beyond Hottentots' Holland Mountains, to Sweetmilk Valley (Zoetemelks Valley), then the residence of old Mr. Marthinus Theunissen, a European, and ancestor of the Theunissen family, of which one representative, a grandson, resides at present at Vergelegen, Hottentots' Holland, formerly an estate in possession of the famous Governor van der Stell, a personage well known in the history of the colony.

This old gentleman was the superintendent (baas) of the Company's outpost, and had the supervision of the extensive public woods at River Zonder End. He had the kindness to send his wagon and oxen for our family, not only to enjoy the excursion, but also to give my father an opportunity of visiting that part of the parish, for Caledon belonged in those days to the Stellenbosch church. There was no place of worship between that district and Swellendam.

One particular Sunday (it was a beautiful day) the neighbourhood had been invited to attend divine service. In the morning a considerable number had congregated, and as the house was not sufficiently spacious to hold them all, the sermon was delivered in the open air,

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under a large oak-tree ; and I sat before my mother, on a footstool. Even the distance of time has not eifaced the recollection of that day. I ever since bore it in mind.

Another reminiscence of that excursion was my seeing, one morning, old Mr. Theunissen, and some of his sons and neighbours, setting off with a wagon, taking the pastor with them, to see the number of bontebucks then abounding in that part of the country. The wagon returned loaded with game, — amongst them some of that noble species ; and great was the triumph of my father, who had shot an ostrich. The ball was preserved, as a trophy, for many years in his escritoire; and the gun with which he performed that sporting exploit he left me as a present. It stands now before me whilst writing this record.

These visits must have been welcome to many members of the church, for, on such occasions, a number of children was baptized. The farmers of that part of the country were generally poor. They could not conveniently reach their church, without travelling with their families for days in an ox-wagon ; and I have often seen more than one child of the same parents brought to be baptized at the parsonage at the same time.

Much inconvenience (now happily removed) was caused to parents living so remote, not only in getting their children baptized, but also in having them examined and admitted as members of the church. But the greatest of all difficulties, in those days, was to get married. There was but one matrimonial court in the colony, holding session every Saturday in an upper room of a building occupying the site of the late Cape Town prison, and all couples inclined to devote

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themselves on Hymen's shrine were obHged to travel, — some from Graaff-Reinet, some from the borders of the colony, to Cape Town.

The members of that board made a stately appearance when sitting. They were clothed in black, and generally were powdered according to the fashion of the day ; and the happy solicitants for their sanction were ushered in not without ceremony, — to wit, the man who swept the stairs with an ornamented broom, the messenger, bowing and scraping, and were thus con- ducted before this body, consisting of a president and six members, and having satisfactorily answered the questions, namely of age and residence, consent of parents or guardians (of which a certificate had also to be produced), whether or not related in the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or under prior engagement, and, in case of widowers or widows, of having passed the deed of kinderhewys to make provision for the inheritance of children of former marriage, the court rose, particu- larly when the applicants were above the ordinary class, and congratulated the parties on their prospect. Some- times the bride was specially honored by a kiss from the president. The secretary, having ascertained that the banns were duly published, was authorized to issue the certificate permitting the marriage. This ceremony occupied the engaged pair sometimes two months travelling, by ox-wagon, from their homes to town and back again. On their arrival in town they were supplied with suitable dresses, borrowed or hired for the occasion, often not of the neatest fit, and scarcely decent to appear in before the matrimonial board (om voor coinmissaris te gaan). A tale is told that on one of

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these long journeys, the parties changed their minds, and amicably exchanged for other partners.

A notable event of my boyish days, which produced a deep impression, was the arrival of the English fleet under Admiral Elphinstone in False Bay, in 1795. I recollect walking with my father in his garden, and hearing, towards the evening, the firing of guns in the direction of the bay. The next day the signal guns were fired from the several heights where they were planted over the country districts, to call upon the militia (hur- gery) to proceed with all speed to Cape Town, in order to assist the garrison in the defence of the colony.

In those days, when vessels approached Table Bay the first signals were made from Lion's Head, namely, a gun was fired for each vessel seen, and a flag hoisted. On the approach of an enemy further signals were made in the country districts to summon the burgher forces to Cape Town, by firing guns at the signal-posts, under direction of some near resident, who was appointed sig- nalman, and by hoisting a flag, and kindling a beacon fire, so that the smoke should attract notice. In the castle, a red flag (the " blood flag ") was hoisted to indicate war.

These signal posts were, to the best of my recollection, stationed at Salt River (near the present Montagu- bridge) ; Vlaggeberg, on the road to Stellenbosch ; Hottentots' Holland, Tygerberg, Klapmuts, Groenberg, Riebeek's Kasteel, Honigberg, Piketberg, and Tulbagh Mountains ; and thus the intelligence of an approach of the enemy was communicated in a few hours.

The bustle, consternation, and anxiety, on the ar-rival of Admiral Elphinstone, was naturally great. The five companies of cavalry, under the green, blue, red, white,

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and yellow standards, assembled in the village, or rode direct to town. The force thus consisted : Under Captain Laubscher, 105 men; Captain Meyburg, 156, Captain van der Byl, 144 ; Captain Hoffman, 124 ; Captain Cloete, 129 : total, 658 men.

The lamentations of wives, mothers, and families were heard almost from every habitation. The pastor did all he could to pacify them, recommending submission to the duties which the government required. The houses in the village were soon crowded with families who had removed from Cape Town, dreading the calamities of war ; and the parsonage received two or three families of relatives under its hospitable roof.

These bodies of cavalry used to exercise annually in the village, on the " Braak," now Queen's-square. In the month of October, eight days were kept, devoted to drilling during the day, and cheerful meeting of parties in the evening. Every house was thrown open, and the inhabitants received exclusive privilege to sell cakes and refreshments during this period, which was known under the name of "c/e Kermis."

Several families from Cape Town and the environs spent the kermis at Stellenbosch. I faintly recollect and understood since, that the last of these reviews, in 1794, was attended by the acting governor, Mr. Com- missary Abraham Josias Sluysken and some members of the Court of Policy. The select visitors, the landdrost and notables of the village were assembled on the day, 24th October (optrek dag), in an alcove of oak trees, called the Tent, of which the remnant is still to be seen, facing the square by the side of a brook leading to the village watermill. The commissary sat in state in an

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arm chair, whilst the corps defiled by, the officers passing the tent saluting. Music was introduced, and many a pipe of lekker kanaster smoked during this animating scene, and a feu de joie closed the parade. Refreshments in the tent were abundant, and I recollect being admitted with my parents, and having been liberally supplied with cakes, &c., to my little heart's content. I will attempt to describe an officer in uniform. He wore a fine blue coat, the flaps turned up, the breast decorated with silver embroidery, an orange sash, white waistcoat and breeches, high boots, covering the knees, silver spurs, a cocked hat with panage coloured according to the standard of the com- pany, and sword (pallas). He was well mounted, and seated in a high saddle, — the latter sometimes lined with red cloth, embroidered with silver, as were the holsters and saddle cloth. The horses were extremely well fed, and had long tails. Many a time was my attention riveted on the splendours of my worthy friend and relative in later days, Mr. Jacobus Christiaan Faure (father of the Reverend Messrs. Faure of Cape Town and Wynberg), as he passed our house in the rear of his company, as adjutant to the corps.

We were also visited by a burgher corps from Swellendam, on their route to Cape Town, about forty- two in number, under Commandant Petrus Jacobus Delport, and an Italian, one Pisani, dressed in farmers costume, armed with long guns, large curved powder- horns, with hats resembling the present wide-awakes, broad-brimmed, and mounted with the national cockade (red, white, and blue), then the emblem of the revolu- tionary party in Holland.

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The martial spirit even infected the boys. Those of Cape Town and Stellenbosch amounted to about fifty or sixty, and were enrolled under Commandant Michiel Smuts (since an advocate), and Mr. Johannes Smuts, still residing in the Gardens, Cape Town, as lieutenant. We were formed in two companies of infantry, bearing blue and white colours, provided with a drum and little band. We exercised with bamboo guns in the square, and marched through the village, to the amuse- ment of those who were left at home, and not required to frequent the seat of war. I was ensign, and bore a white standard. One day, I recollect, we were invited by the landdrost to call at the drostdy. He was a Mr. H. L. Bletterman, a kind-hearted gentleman, and, as well as his lady, the essence of politeness and civility. Cakes and tea were served in abundance, and, as ensign, I bore an ample share of the little feast.

Three months passed in the state of suspense : from time to time firing was heard. At last the capitulation was signed, and Sir James Craig as commander-in-chief, and Sir Alured Clarke, one of the generals, marched into Cape Town and took possession of the citadel.

The English fleet arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the 10th of June, and the Cape surrendered by capitulation on the 16th September, 1795.

The fleet was under command of Sir George Keith Elphinstone, and the army under Major-General Sir James Craig, and consisted of — the Monarch, 74 guns, commanded by Admiral Elphinstone ; America, 64 guns. Commodore Blunkett ; Ruby, 64 guns. Captain Stan- hope ; Stately, 64 guns. Captain Douglas ; Arrogant, 74 guns, Captain Lucas ; Victorious, 74 guns, Captain

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Clark. Frigates : Sphinx, 24 guns, Captain Bresd ; Echo, 18 guns, Captain Hardy ; Rattlesnake, 16 guns, Captain Spranger.

The British Commanders forwarded to Commissary Mr. Abraham Josias Sluysken, in charge of the Gov- ernment, a letter dated 7th February, 1795, signed by Willem, Prince of Orange, directing him to admit the British troops into the Castle and elsewhere in the colony ; and in Simon's Bay, or any other place of anchorage, to deliver up the vessels of war ; and to consider the British force as the troops and ships of a power in amity and alliance with their High Mightinesses, intended to prevent the colony from being invaded by the French.

The Commissary and Council (Court of Policy), however, rejected the propo'sal to permit the troops to land ; but allowed provisions, feeling inclined to avail themselves of the assistance offered in case of attack of an enemy, which they, however, declared themselves to be in a position to resist.

Meanwhile, every preparation for defence was made. Further proposals to take the colony under British protection were again declined, and all intercourse with the invading force was stopped, and orders were issued to the Resident of Simon's Town to destroy provisions. In return, ships were laid under embargo by the English ; letters seized and opened ; Table and Simon's Bays were blockaded, and troops landed in Simon's Town, and Muizenberg were taken — the Dutch forces retiring to Steenberg and Wynberg.

Pending these proceedings, General Sir Alured Clarke arrived with a fleet of fourteen ships and three

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thousand troops, and took the command. Negotiations were re-opened ; but the Commissary and Court remained determined to defend the colony.

On the 14th of September, the British army marched towards Steenbergand Wynberg, calculated to be between four and five thousand strong. They were opposed by sixteen hundred and sixteen men, divided between different posts, partly in the country, partly in Cape Town, or in the batteries. The English advanced as far as the Drie- koppen (Rondebosch), now Mowbray, when Mr. Com- missary Sluysken, seeing the impossibility of defending Cape Town, and anxious to spare it from assault and plunder, obtained an armistice of twenty-four hours, and on the 16th, the articles of capitulation were mutually signed. In the afternoon. Sir James Craig marched into town with twelve hundred men infantry and two hundred artillery, — and the Dutch garrison, three hundred infantry and two hundred artillery, surrendered. A number of the Dutch troops had pre- viously become insubordinate, and had left or been discharged .

On the 17th September, arrangements having been made for the reception of the British troops, General Clarke marched at the head of two thousand men infantry and a train of artillery into the town, — fourteen hundred sailors, who joined the attack of the 14th, having been sent back to Simon's Bay. The Admiral anchored on the 18th in Table Bay, and proceeded to take up his quarters in the Castle.

And on the 12th November, Mr. Commissary Sluys- ken left the colony for Europe with two hundred officers and men as prisoners of war.

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The original force of the Dutch on the 1st of September, 1 795, consisted as follows : Artillery, under Major Kuchler, 480. Infantry, under Colonel Gordon, 600. Burgher infantry and free blacks in service, 350. Burgher cavalry — of Cape district. Captain de Waal, 127 ; Captain Gous, 117; of Stellenbosch, Captain Laub- scher, 105 ; Captain Meyburg, 156 ; Captain Van der Byl, 144 ; Captain Hoffman, 124; Captain Cloete, 129: of Swellendam, Captain Botha, 96 ; Captain Muller, 80 ; Captain de Jager, 62. Hottentot corps, under the name of Pandouras, Captain J. G. Cloete, 210. Civil servants, a corps under the name of Pennisten, commanded by Baron van Oudtshoorn, 100. Total, 2,830. On the 14th September, this number had dwindled to 1,616, of which about 600 were retained for defence of the town.

The position of Mr. Sluysken was one of difficulty, for whilst these operations were carried on, the interior of the colony was in a disturbed state.

In the commencement of the year 1795, the Land- drost of Graaff-Reinet, Mr. Maynier, had been compelled by the inhabitants to leave, and some of the heemraden and militia officers were threatened with dismissal. Commissioners 0. G. de Wet, Captain von Hugel, and Mr. (afterwards Sir John) Truter, secretary to the Court of Justice, were sent to restore peace, but without success, and were obliged to leave. The Landdrost, Mr. A. Faure, of Swellendam, Captain de Jager, of the burgher cavalry, and the messenger were dismissed by the people, and a burgher, Hermanns Steyn, appointed as landdrost. The chief movers and directors of these insubordinate proceedings were a burgher named Petrus

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Jacobus Delport, wlio assumed the title of National Commandant, and the beforenamed Itahan, Louis Almora Pisani, a deserter, who had been banished under sentence of the court of justice, and since wandering about the country had disseminated disturb- ance and opposition to Government. His sentence had been remitted, and he had been admitted a burgher three years previous. Such was the state of the pubhc mind when the Eno-hsh fleet arrived.

The Government, occupied with the cares of self-defence, had no power to check these district disturbances. Conciliatory letters and other palliative measures and warnings were adopted to preserve peace. At Swellendam, the General met with a little success, for seventy men proceeded to town in defence of the colony under Captain Dirk van Rheenen ; but the greater number, though earnestly solicited, remained at home. A " National Convention " was held at Swellendam, and certain articles were proposed to Government ; the address was signed, " Your faithful burghers to death, and by order of all the national burghers, — P. J. Delport and L. A. Pesany," which, if acceded to, they declared their readiness to spill their last drop of blood in defence of the country, and come to Cape Town.

However, some of these articles were wholly inadmis- sible, and the whole proposition was consequently rejected. Mr. Meyer, a member of the burgher senate, and two captains of the burghers, and Messrs. Meyburg and Horack, were sent to dissuade them for the present from pressing their proposals and to check discontent in Cape and Stellenbosch districts.

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The national commandant arrived meanwhile with some of the Swellendam burghers, and a revolution was apprehended ; but the commissary pacified them to a certain extent. Pisani and two of his accomplices, also discharged soldiers, were apprehended at Tygerberg, on the 14th of August, and confined in the castle, after they had created great alarm and frightened the families of the burghers engaged in the camp.

On the 1st of September, the advanced guards of the British were attacked by some of the mounted burghers and Hottentots, five soldiers were taken prisoners of war, and two posts occupied ; but the sharp fire of the English artillery caused a retreat.

Although the public spirit was kept alive (according to Mr. Sluysken's narrative) by daily rencounters between the troops, and several were wounded and some killed, yet insubordination gained ground by the conduct of the national commandant, Delport, and his followers. Several seditious writings and letters were distributed against the commandino- officers, the members of Govern- ment, and well-disposed burghers, and a rebellion threatened which might favor the English more than their arms. It affected the Hottentot corps (170 strong) who, after the attack, left the camp with their arms, though opposed by the officers, and marched to Cape Town, stating their gi'ievances, namely, that notwith- standing their readiness to fight and risk their lives for the small pay of two rixdollars (three shillings) per month, their wives and children were ill- treated ; that they expected the same treatment after the war ; and that they had a cause of complaint generally against the burgher officers.

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Mr. Commissary Sluysken, however, received them in the castle, reprimanded them gently for their culpable conduct, and promised that their complaints should be investigated and redress given ; w^hereupon they returned the next day under escort of some burgher officers to the camp ; and orders w^ere issued for better pay and to allow them daily a " soopje" (dram of brandy) and some wine, and to inflict no punishment on account of the step taken. They were also better clothed and declared entitled to share in captures.

Under all these difficulties one of the lieutenant- colonels was accused of neglect in assisting to attack the English and placed under arrest in the castle. The country was altogether in a disturbed state and beyond the control of government. Those of Graaff-Reinet complained of the parties in authority ; that taxes were levied notwithstanding they were obliged to bear the expense of protecting themselves ; said they were grieved by being checked in trade by sea ; and considered themselves defrauded by the paper currency. They further complained that the burghers were employed as soldiers, declaring that though not inclined to create disturbances the burden was too oppressive to be borne. They moreover expressed a wish to be relieved from the government of the East India Company, and in the last article of their address observed : " That the lesson of Titus Quintius should be observed, through whose proclamation of liberty so a large body of the people had addressed him with such acclamation, that the ravens fell out of the air ; and that such certainly would again happen," — in the event, I suppose, of their proposals being adopted.

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The disagreement between government and the people was therefore so gTeat that, had the Cape not been captured, the probabihty was that peace and tranquilhty would have been seriously disturbed, internal commotions would have been created, which the want of power on the part of government would have left unchecked, and the country at large would have been exposed to general disorder and disorganization.

The Board of Policy at this period consisted of A. J. Sluysken, Commissary ; Messrs. J. J. Rhenius, J. J. le Sueur, 0. G. de Wet, C. Brand, W. S. van Ryneveld, and E. Bergh, according to Mr. Sluysken's statement to the Home Government.

Full particulars of the articles under which the colony surrendered will be found in the records of the colony. A re-publication would extend my memoir beyond the plan prescribed ; but I will mention an act of magnanimity on the part of the British commanders towards a burgher officer of the Swellendam corps, a Mr. du Plessis, who had distinguished himself by resisting the troops at Muizenberg with a small party of burghers, and had attracted the General's notice by his courage. This man received (as I was told) a present of a handsome gun and fittings as a mark of the Governor's regard ; and he was considered so trustworthy that the British commanders appointed him to communicate to the in- habitants of Swellendam " that the English government would preserve the peace and prosperity of the inhabi- tants ; that all monopoly should cease, and inland trade be free ; invited them to send their cattle to Cape Town ; that no new taxes should be imposed, and the oppressive ones abandoned ; that paper currency should

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retain its value, and the Englisli would pay in specie ; and that in case of misunderstanding, explanations should be given to any respectable parties who should come to town."

After the respective Dutch corps were disbanded a fatal occurrence followed. The commander of the Dutch troops. Colonel Gordon, the African traveller and the discoverer of the Orange River, who had first brought to notice the giraffe or camelopardalis, and who liad introduced into the colony the merino sheep which afterwards supplied New South AVales, was found a few days after the capitulation in his garden below Table Mountain (now belonging to the Rev, Dr. Heyns), deprived of life ; he was supposed to have committed suicide, broken-hearted at the loss of his command, and of being suspected of treason.

On learning that the British commanders resided at the house of my gTandmother Mrs. de Wet, and on hearing that the English soldiers wore red jackets and were described as " moving in bodies like red ants," I felt the greatest curiosity and anxiety to visit Cape Town. At last I prevailed on the good parents to give me leave ; and papa s shooting pony Frolic, and his body servant " Hendrik " mounted on another pony. Prince, were put in service; we started early in the mornina;, crossing the then sandy plains (Cape Flats), and took nearly a whole day getting to Cape Town. The next morning I breakfasted with the English commanders. They seemed rather amused with the young country traveller, whose object was explained, and supphed me plentifully with the good things of the table. Sir James was a short, rather stout man, with a sharp.

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dark, determined eye ; Sir Alured appeared to me more mild and pleasing. Having satisfied myself with the sight of the English soldiers, their marching and drilling, their, to me, strano-e dress, — for some wore lono- black gaiters — others, little cocked hats, I returned to Stel- lenbosch, telling the wonderful tales of what I had seen and experienced to the admiration and surprise of my httle circle of friends and sisters, and particularly to the amazement of my " ayah," or nurse, the kind, good- hearted Leonora, a native of Bengal.

The time now drew near that I was to leave school, soon after which my Father undertook my education. The Latin grammar, the vocabulary of Cellarius, and, ultimately, Cornelius Nepos were introduced, and my time was well occupied by morning and evening lessons, whilst, at the same time, I' assisted in looking after gardening, building, Avine-making and whatever else was required in the husbandry of the family, and which in after-life gave me a taste for these useful occupations. Thus glided my days of youth. We were from time to time visited by English families, and the pastor and his family became more and more known amongst strangers.

A circumstance occurred at the time which gave me unexpectedly an opportunity of learning the elements of the Eno-lish lanoTiao;e. Admiral Sir Huo;h Christian, who commanded the fleet, I think, in 1798, had his eldest son (afterwards Commodore at this station) on board, and a nephew, Mr. Rush worth. The old gentle- man was anxious that he should reside in our famil}-. This was arranged, and they were accompanied by his chaplain. Doctor Dolling, as tutor, Charles, a brother of Sir William Clarke, who commanded the

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84th Regiment, and Osborne a son of Brigadier General Fraser, lads about my age and who soon became my companions. The kind Dr. Dolhng ad- mitted me as one of his pupils and taught me the rudiments of the English language : under his gentle tuition the task was easy and pleasant.

The Doctor's dress was generally a black coat and waistcoat with yellow buckskin breeches, yellow top- boots, with a broad brimmed hat shaped to a point behind ; he wore spectacles on an aquiline nose and had lively eyes. I enjoyed the advantage of studying English under him for some months. I used to meet my com- panions frequently afterwards in town, and now I am the survivor : Osborne and Charles joined the army in India and died in battle ; my friend. Commodore Christian, died some years since in England, — his eldest daughter was married to one of our Judges, the late Mr. Justice Menzies. I lost sight of Rushworth ; he probably is no more.

During the above period our house, " La Gratitude" was built, and we removed from the parsonage. Many are the bricks in that building that were made under my eye, and many were the hours of my superintending the works, whilst my Latin lessons were, nevertheless, expected to be duly finished. By rising at an early hour in the morning and retiring late I managed to accomplish my task so as to give satisfaction, and thus, preparing for the study in Europe of a profession, my days passed on till the year 1 800. In that year the Secretary of Stellen- bosch, Mr. Johannes Wege, who was attached to the board of landdrost and heemraden and the only notary in that district, had the kindness to take me

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into his office as a temporary clerk. This situation gave me information, which in my subsequent career was of the gTeatest service. I obtained some knowledge of the judicial and fiscal proceedings of the district, had opportunities to copy notarial acts and get introduced into practice, and to become acquainted with the corres- pondence of the magistracy, the jurisdiction of which extended at that time over Stellenbosch, Caledon, Paarl, Tulbagh, Worcester, Piketberg, Clanwilliam, Namaqua- land, and part of the Cape Divisions. While thus prosecuting my studies in Mr. Wege's office, I still had the advantage of my father's instruction at home and his encouragement to improve the mind by reading, &c.

Amongst the works he recommended was the history of Vasco de Gama's discovery of the Cape, and this little work (written in black better) gave me a taste for travelling; and it was in 1801 that I had an ample opportunity of gratifying my anxious desire to see the interior of my native country.

In January, 1801, I received my first appointment as junior clerk in the office of the Secretary of Stellenbosch and Landdrost and Heemraden which gave me a salary of five rixdollars or seven shillings and sixpence per month. The payment for the first six months I received in July following, the whole in copper penny pieces. I counted them over and over again, assisted by my sisters; my good old nurse stood by and admired the riches of her pet, and never, I believe, was Croesus more rich, never more raised in imagination and in thought to worldly happiness : in fact, never in after life did money have such an effect as this first fruit of my entrance upon and labour in public life.

40

It was known about the latter end of September of that year, that Government intended to send an expe- dition to the countries beyond the hmits of the colony, and that Mr. Petrus Johannes Truter, a member of the court of justice, was to be the chief commissioner. He was the same gentleman who kindly received my father when he arrived in this colony, and who offered free access to his house — my mother was his niece.

I immediately prevailed on my parent to apply for me to accompany the gentlemen commissioners. Mr. Truter sent a favorable reply ; all haste was made to get my outfit ready, and in two days I was seated on a farmer s ox-wagon and left my family under the tenderest wishes for my safety and success. All that my dear mother could gather and my little Geneva box could hold was packed for me; even a fine honey cake, so capitally baked at Stellenbosch, and enjoyed at Letako, was added. The day after my arrival the expedition started from Cape Town ; this was on the 1st day of October, 1801.

As the following sections will relate to that expedition, and as the present has been sufficiently extended, I now close the narrative of the days of my childhood and boy- hood, with feelings'of gratitude to Him who preserved me when young and spared me in age and advanced years, — to my parents and friends, whose constant care and attention laid the groundwork of a happy and contented mind, and the disposition to exert myself in those duties which constitute the character of a useful member of society. This I recommend my young descendants honestly to strive at ; it is the only course to gain true reward, means of subsistence and to earn the honour and love of our fellow-men.

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SECTION III.

The period had now arrived of departure from the parental roof; I was to commence the world under the eye of strangers, and to lay the groundwork for my future destiny. Happily I met, in the commissioners and secretary, friends who took an interest in me. Under the eye of Mr. Truter I kept the journal of our proceedings and accounts ; under that of Dr. Somer- ville, I enjoyed instruction in languages and scientific subjects ; and as a companion to the secretary, I had an opportunity of closely examining most of the animals and natives who formed the subjects of that splendid collection of drawings which was published in England in coloured plates and folio.

Thus favoured, I commenced my first travels, and on the 1st of October, 1801, as above mentioned, the expedition started from Cape Town. It consisted of six ox-wagons. One fitted out for the commissioners, four loaded with merchandise, suited to the tastes of the barbarous tribes we expected to meet, such as copper, beads, knives, iron staves, tobacco, handkerchiefs, &c., and a liberal supply of medicines, provisions, &c., and which Mr. Godfried Andries Watermeyer, a gentleman of extensive mercantile knowledge, and to whom the outfit had been confided, selected with equal skill and care. The sixth wagon was loaded with ammunition, tents, &c., under the charge of a superintendent of wagons. The entire cost of the expedition was about £1,500 sterUng.

The Government, then administered by Major-General Francis Dundas, had derived from various sources

4-2

some information of the state of the interior, especially relative to the abundance of cattle beyond the Orange River, belonging to the Beriquas. There was a large garrison and naval station in the colony to be provided for, and the Government proclamations of the day show that a scarcity in articles of consumption, especially grain, existed. (I refer my readers to one of these proclamations, dated 26th February, 1801, appointing a special commission to inquire into the means of pro- curing a supply of food under the existing scarcity, of which commission, the late Sir John Barrow was sec- retary).

In this state of affairs it was deemed most desirable that a trade in supplies should be opened with the aborigines and the interior of the colony explored, and as leaders of the expedition entrusted with this impor- tant undertaking, the Government selected Mr. Truter, who had been formerly employed in the Dutch East India Company's Office of Trade (negotie kantoor), and Dr. Somerville, Inspector of Hospitals and a man of scientific acquirements, aided by Mr. Samuel Daniel, an accomplished artist, as secretary ; and hopes were entertained, not merely of opening a useful trade in cattle, but also of making interesting discoveries in the as yet unexplored and unknown inland territory.

The whole expedition consisted of the following members and suite :

Dr. William Somerville, 3

Mr. Samuel Daniel, secretary.

Mr. Petrus Borchardus Borcherds, assistant secretary.

Mr. T. C. Schultz, superintendent of wagons.

Mr. Petrus Johannes Truter, ,

' ^ commissioners.

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7 Dutch farmers.

24 Bastard and other Hottentots.

4 slaves — (together 40 individuals). 120 draught oxen.

18 saddle horses.

20 muskets. And " with the blessing of God " (as Mr. Truter ob- served) "we considered these our numbers and our means of defence to be fully sufficient for our protection and preservation, and, confiding in His goodness, we launched upon the karoo, or desert place, on the 20th October."

This was the muster at Brakkefontein, three hours north of the colonial limits.

Before entering, however, the karoo plains, I will attempt to describe the journey from Cape Town to the boundary and give the simple juvenile observations taken from my notes still extant, for the sake of com- parison of our present rate of travelling with that " sixty years since."

Route to Brakkefontein per ox-wagon :

Hours.

1st Oct., from Cape Town to Pampoenekraal (now

D'Urban) .... 4 „ Pampoenekraal to Middelburg,

(about 2 hours' detention) . 7

2nd „ ,, Middelburg to punt at Berg River . 6 „ Punt to Groenberg, crossing do. . 3^

3rd „ „ Groenberg to Roodesand (now Tul- bagh), passing the Klyne Berg River and Tulbagh Kloof. . 5|-

4th „ „ Roodesand to the place Liefde . 4

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Hours.

4th Oct., from passing Breede River and Roode-

draay (now Worcester) , . 6

5th „ „ Roodedraay to de Vos, Hexe River,

much detained by repeatedly

crossing the river . . .8^

6th ,, to Verkeerde Valley, passed Bokkeveld-

street . . . . .9

7th „ „ Field-cornet Jacob's place, Verkeerde

Valley .... 2

8th ,, „ Doom River in the Karoo, passed

Bokkeveld's Poort . . .12

9th „ „ Ongeluk's River . . .5^

„ Trek River . . . .2

10th ,, „ Tanquas, passing barren country

and the Gousbloemsfoiitein,

Bloemsfontein, Windheuvel, and

Modderfontein . . .8

11th „ „ Klipfontein, passing Roggeveld's

Berg and Blaauw Bank . . 8

12th „ „ Jackhalsfontein . . . .5

13th „ „ Kuylenburg . . . .6

14th „ ,, Groote Riet River, passing de Beer's

Poort . . . . .4

15th „ „ an unoccupied place of a certain

van Wyk, north of Riet River . 2 16th „ „ Gannakraal, passing Stinkfontein,

Tigerhoekberg, Selleryfontein . 7^ 17th and 18th, detained relays not arriving. 19th Oct., to Brakkefontein .... 3

45

Having now reached the boundary of the colony, before preceding further let me recal some occurrences on the above route.

At Roodezand, we were obliged to alter our course for the Witzenberg, as that usual pass was in such a bad state that it could not be crossed. This lengthened our route, and we were obliged to proceed by Hexe River.

The Roodedraay was then a single farm situate be- tween the Breede and Hexe Rivers on an extensive plain ; at present it is built upon and covered by one of the most regularly laid-out towns in the colony, in extent second only to some of the oldest. It consists of four streets in the direction of its length from east to west, and eight in the direction of its breadth, intersecting each other at right angles, , and forming twenty-four squares of eight acres each. The streets are wide (eighty feet), and each one is supplied with a stream of beautiful clear water from the main watercourse, which is led out of the Hexe River, a distance of about five miles. It contains splendid and extensive public buildings for the residence of the civil commissioner, offices, and court-room, with a large garden attached to it, and it is known as the town of Worcester. A beautiful Dutch Reformed church with spire and clock ; a handsome chapel for the coloured people belonging to the Rhenish missionary society, besides several schools and one of the best hotels in the colony, are to be found on the former farm. It is now the seat of the magistracy. Formerly the magistrate (landdrost) resided at Tulbagh, but that place being found to be situated very much out of the way, and being considered incapable of much improvement, the seat of magistracy was changed.

46

Now again, however, Tulbagh has been formed into a division under a civil commissioner and magistrate resident in the village.

I mention this to show the progress of the colony since the period I visited that part of it.

The Hexe River's Kloof was then a very different pass. We were obliged to cross the river several times, as its windings were narrow and frequent. The mountains along the pass were covered with snow almost to their bases. Here I saw for the first time in my life a troop of baboons regaling themselves in a corn-field.

At the next station, the Verkeerde Valley, we were detained by violent hail-storms and rain, and obliged to take up quarters at a shoemaker's, one Mulder, who had a large family, besides some visitors, butcher's knechts or travelling servants. Poor man, he had but one room about sixteen feet square, and in this we were admitted with the family, consisting of about ten or twelve persons. The thatch was leaky, so that some of us could not escape getting wet. This was the first piece of hardship, such as it was, of our travelling adventures. Yet be it said to the credit of this poor man and his wife that they submitted themselves to much inconvenience to give us the best accommodation in their power. How- ever, the next morning we were compensated with the sight of a large and beautiful lake (Verkeerde Valley), in front of the little house, abounding with waterfowl, and in the afternoon by the kind reception we met at the Field- cornet Jacobs' home. I cannot forget the hospitality shown by the family of Jacobs and his wife, and we felt it the more as we had suffered want of provisions and intense cold and much personal inconvenience.

47

From Jacobs' we were accompanied by the field-cornet, Schalk Willem Pienaar, and his brother, who most readily gave the assistance we required ; and passing between two steep mountains (Karoo and Bokkevelds Poort), we reached the Karoo and encamped on the banks of the Doom River. There I was particularly struck with the sterility and barrenness of the fields so different from those I had passed, and by the fine mimosa trees, producing a gum similar to the gum arabic of commerce, described by the traveller Vaillant and others.

Whether owing to the scanty pasture or to some other cause, some of our oxen strayed during the night. The disagreeableness of such an event can be appreciated only by the African traveller to whom the bad news is communicated ; however, thanks to the activity of our field-cornet, we obtained fresh relays and proceeded with- out much detention.

The landdrost of Stellenbosch, Mr. van der Riet, had taken the precaution to send on two inhabitants, Messrs. Willem Wium and Verster, to arrange our relays and other details required for our further pro- gress ; and on their arrival at our camp at Tanquas River, they reported favourably of our future prospects and their arrangements. We also expected Floris Visser, a man well acquainted with the country, and some others to accompany us, but were disappointed ; notwithstand- ing which Messrs. Wium and Verster accompanied us over that steep hill, the Roggeveld Berg, with its dangerous Blaauw Bank. Their company was par- ticularly welcome to me, for they were residents of Stellenbosch. They brought a letter from my father

48

which placed mc in a strange dilemma, as it contained an order to purchase a horse and return with them. This was shown to Mr. Truter. This kind gentleman (my uncle) left it to my choice to return or proceed. I hesitated, and struggled between disobedience and the anxiety to pursue the journey, the latter feeling pre- vailed and I wrote to my parents acquainting them with my resolve. The idea of turning back from a mere apprehension of danger when my companions were ready to encounter the risks of the journey, and thus to lose the finest opportunity of seeing a hitherto unexplored country, was so repulsive to my feelings, that in this instance I disobeyed the parental injunc- tion, hoping that on my return a good account of my travels would pacify them and make them forget the anxieties which, under their tender feelings, they would suffer during my absence.

On the summit, or rather on the plateau, of Rogge- veld Berg, the inhabitants had deserted their farms for the Karoo, to save their cattle and sheep from the effect of cold and snow, — a practice they were in the habit of following annually with their families.

At Roggeveld Berg, with the ready assistance of the field-cornet, Gerrit Maritz, we were supplied by a Mr. Cornelis Coetzee with another wagon and oxen, and provisions, such as flour, &c., a troop of sheep and lambs followed our train as we proceeded, and five of the farmers who were to accompany us on the journey for our guidance and protection, were here added to our nvunber, viz. :

Frans Kruo-er.

o

Johannes Hendrik Cloete.

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Johannes Stephanus Maritz. Caspar Snyder, and Pieter Jacobs.

On the mountain, we suffered much from cold and rain.

Encamped on the Riet River, we obtained intelli- gence from a farmer, Jacobus Erasmus, who casually joined us, that the river abounded with fish. Having to wait for relays, we accompanied him to a part of the stream, where we found a large shoal and caught in our seine about one hundred and fifty fish of three diflierent species ; the largest one foot and seven inches long, was in circumference round the belly five and a half inches, and was of a green olive colour on the back and yellow under the belly, resembling in shape our Cape mullet (harder). The second species had a larger head and smaller eyes, was silvery white under the belly and blueish on the back, measuring (the largest) from head to tail one foot and five inches, and round the middle four and a half inches, and the last also much resembled our Cape mullet.

Having returned to our camp, the haul was placed at the disposal of our good-natured and humorous cook Primrose, who certainly in the shape of roasts and boils produced some very savoury dishes. The only objection to these otherwise delicate fish was the many bones one has to avoid in enjoying them.

Here we saw the first tracks of a lion, so recent that he appeared to have wandered in our neighbourhood durino; the nioht.

On leaving the Riet River we passed the Van der Walt's Poort, a passage between two steep hills. Here it

£

50

was we were informed the Bushmen were in the habit of retiring with stolen cattle or sheep, and especially to that portion called the Bonteberg, which was too rocky and steep to be ascended with horses. The Riet River — Tafel Berg or Table Mountain — was also seen at a distance : it had a flat triangular form, and looked like the foot of a cone divided and deprived of its top. Travelling further northwards we were joined by two other farmers, David Lombaard and David Kruger, and four Hottentots to be added to our train. Having advanced as far as the Kleyn Riet River we were detained through not receiving expected relays ; but we were again successful in catching nearly the same number of fish as before. Some of the oxen ultimately supplied were found unfit, and this caused a little embarrassment.

The muster above mentioned was made before we left Brakkefontein on the boundary.

My next section will contain our travels from the boundary to Letako. But previous to my closing this sketch, I will extract some observations from my manuscript.

Whilst travelling amongst the colonists to the boun- dary, I met from some of them triie kindness and hospitality : they indeed proved on our arrival at their farms that hospitality was not undeservedly ascribed to them as one of their distinguishing virtues by travellers in South Africa.

The colonists of European descent settled in the country as far back as the extremity of Bokkeveld, inhabit in many parts a beautiful and productive region, cultivated by some according to their means and the extent of

51

their knowledge, by others neglected for want of means and inclination to exert themselves, so that there was great room for improvement ; some lived in opulence such as the country could afford, others in great poverty. Happy was the man who owned a farm unencumbered by debt, for unless he suffered great losses in slaves or cattle, or some other cause, he might be considered as settled for life, and required only the advantages which civilized society and town life afford.

The occupation of the farmers, especially at the Koe- bergen, Swartland (now Malmesbury), Roodesand (now Tulbagh), was chiefly limited to the growth of gi'ain, but some cultivated vines in the lastmentioned village, Roodesand. Beyond the Witzenberg and Hexe River, in the Cold and Warm Bokkeveld, breeding of cattle seemed to be the principal occupation of the farmer, although fruits, including the cherry, are produced in perfection. In the Bokkevelds the grape grows, though not fit to make wine, but much brandy is distilled, which is bought with avidity by the more distant farmers and is also largely used for home consumption, mostly in little drams called sopies. This word, by-the-by, I find used in the earliest days of the colony and at the time when Father van Riebeek used to treat the natives and their chiefs on their visits to the Fort.

At the end of the Hexe Riviers Kloof resided a Mr. Wouter de Vos, proprietor of a beautiful and productive farm ; he excelled in the breeding of strong and fine horses, and his reception of visitors and travellers was most hospitable. Amongst other fruits on his farm, I particularly admired and enjoyed the oranges.

E 2

52

Beyond the lastmentioned pass lays the Karoo, a sterile and dry part of the country, crossed by the beds of several rivers, the principal of which are the Groote River, Doom River, Ohphant's Rivier, Tanquas River.

At times these rivers overflow, but in summer they shrink into a chain of holes containing muddy brackish water, and some are entirely dry when the rainy seasons cease ; the banks ai'e generally overgrown with line mimosa trees.

The plants in this part of the country are commonly thorny, and among the heaths is the " Kanna Bush," the ashes of which are very serviceable in soap-boiling, and are collected during the period when the sheepfarmers of the Rogge and Bokkeveklen occupy the Karoo in the winter months, and when a large pot boiling to prepare soap is generally seen in front of the house under the supervision of the wife or daughters. Several species of the Ice-plant are also found in these plains.

When the winter season approaches the inhabitants of Roo'o;eveld and Bokkeveld leave their farms and descend to the Karoo Flats, with their movables and flocks, to avoid the danger of mortality from the excessive cold caused by the heavy falls of snow ; their houses are then left solitary and closed, and the occupants, when in the Karoo, reside in small houses, or rather huts, consisting generally of but one room with a fire place and a small entrance hall, adjoining their sheep-folds {kraals), which are so situated that those inside the dwelling can easily protect all points by their muskets against rapacious animals or robbers : in former days, the kraals used sometimes to be attacked by Bushmen. Others of these nomads live with their families in large

53

wagons and under tents, contrived by spreading out the wagon covering, watching their flocks in the pasturages to which they wandered, and were constantly shifting their station as they required fresh suppHes of grass and water. I have often seen flocks protected at night by large fires made by the herds, who were usually armed ; these watchers, if questioned at any hour during night, could state with accuracy the hour. I have been stiTick with their precision, g-uided as they are solely by the starry heavens; the "seven stars" (pleiades), the morn- ing and evening stars in particular, and others of magnitude, were their chief means of observation. The Hottentots were of much service and assistance as herdsmen.

The mountains we passed were chiefly — the t'Koedoe Mountains, Paardenberg Mountains, Gousbloemskloof Mountains, and Windheuvel Mountains.

The surface of the karoo is commonly flat, with rocks of a brownish colour ; amongst the latter gi'ew a variety of the aloe-plant. The soil consists of a light fine red sand, penetrating through clothing to the skin, and in some parts of small reddish stones. Quachas, ostriches, antelopes, hares, partridges, and the large korhaan (a species of bustard), the wild peacock or paauw (another bustard) inhabit these plains. Swarms of locusts appear at times and destroy the herbage, to the great privation and injury of the cattle. The tract between Bokke and Roggeveld is certainly the most baiTcn I saw during my journey.

And now, my gentle reader, you will, I hope, patiently accompany me while about to ascend the Roggevelds Berg to the country beyond.

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The ascent of the mountain is uncommonly steep and dangerous for wagons. About the middle is the Blaauwe (or blue) bank, requiring all the skill of an expert driver to turn round the windings, besides several rough places. However, we reached the summit without accident, and I expected to meet again with a fine country, but found myself disappointed. The Karoo plains presented from that height an extensive view of some hours' journey distance, crossed by various roads ; the land appeared hardly different from the Karoo we had left behind, while I could perceive no descent from the mountain top. Being elevated several thousand feet above the level of the sea, I could easily account for that excessive cold which drove the farmers with their families and flocks to the lower plains of the Karoo ; in fact, we were not long on this elevation before we could speak from experience of the severity of the climate.

Amongst the heaths which appeared to me differing very little from those in the Karoo, I found one named the " harpuis " (rosin) bush, containing a juice of a gluey substance, having the scent of rosin. Of this herb the sheep are particularly fond, and it forms their chief nutriment.

The inhabitants of this region did not appear to be as civilized in manners as those of the Bokkeveld. They are often content to do without bread, using " biltong " (dried raw meat, generally of game) as a substitute with their meat. Want of education deprived them of opportunity of mental improvement, and some of them could not even write their names. They are, however, generally good-natured and hospitable, but secluded

55

from intercourse with the more progressive of our colonists, and their backwardness contrasted strongly with the advancement of the age.

The pride of this people is to possess a good long gun or musket of rather large calibre, carrying the ball with accuracy at fair distance, and it is astonishing how precisely they make and regulate sights to their guns. The next desirable object is a good horse, strong and trained for the chase ; these, and a good housewife and strong healthy children, a covered or tent wagon with a strong span of oxen, to convey family and baggage, a suitable resting-place (legplek) in the Karoo, with plenty of grass in the season, and the kanna bush for soap-boiling, and a productive and sound flock of sheep (in those days, the hairy and long-tailed description), were then the summit of wishes of that plain, honest, and wandering race, the inhabitants of Roggeveld.

Their sole care seemed to be confined to the support of their numerous families, generally consisting of eight or ten children. A cripple from birth is not often seen, nor are consumptive diseases prevalent. The grown-up youth appeared strong and of florid complexion, but as they advanced in age, more or less inclined to corpu- lency. Medicines are seldom used, — the mother of the family is usually well versed in the art and practice of domestic medicines in cases of indisposition, and a source of comfort and help to the afflicted.

A religious spirit was natural to many, though some, as elsewhere, displayed indifference. A general rule existed in every family to sing in the morning before daybreak, and in the evening previous to going to bed, some selection from the Psalms, or the Hymn-

56

book of Willem Sluiters, a Dutch poet much esteemed amongst them. The missionaries to the Bushman tribes sometimes visited them, and conveyed rehgi- ous instruction by assembhng meetings known as " oeffeningen."

Roggeveld then belonged to the division of Stellen- bosch. The landdrost nominated the field-cornets of the different wards, who reported to him the local occurrences of the day, and every burgher was under his command to turn out, if required, in defence of the country. This service was known under the appellation of ^^ commando gaan' — to go on commando — the term for an armed body of inhabitants dispatched on active service.

Most of the farmers travelled annually with their families to the market in Cape Town to dispose of their produce, such as soap, butter, &c. ; this was sometimes attended with difhculty and loss of cattle, owing to the bad state of the passes and roads. Most of their sheep were disposed of on their farms to butchers' itinerant servants, who travelled amongst them for that purpose. These persons, generally Germans or other foreigners, and commonly known as slaghters knechts, received, previous to their departure from Cape Town, certain printed instructions, and were obliged to attend at the fiscal's office to swear that they would abide by them. This was deemed necessary to prevent fraud and decep- tion being practised on the ignorant farmers. The knechts had extensive power to purchase cattle and sheep, and they carried with them a number of blank promissory notes ready signed by the butchers, intended to be filled up with the amount of the purchase

57

price of the cattle or sheep. These notes, thus secured, had such credit, that they circulated as a paper-currency from hand to hand until presented for payment to the issuer.

The farmer's dress then, as now, was plain. A broad- brimmed hat, well formed to meet the heat of the sun, adorned with a pipe stuck in the band ; a woollen jacket for winter, and occasionally a great coat (schaus- looper) ; a checked or blue shirt, or linen jacket in summer ; leather trowsers (from voering vel) ; a pair of shoes, made of ox-hide by themselves (veldschoenen) ; this was the simple habit worn.

I made many more notes on this part of the country and its population and productions ; but so much has already been written and published about South Africa that I refrain from saying more.

Happy countrymen ! Many of you enjoy, in this simple pastoral life, inestimable blessings. Some of you, possessed of numerous flocks, command even wealth, and all lead a patriarchal life, whilst few are in real want and poverty. Averse to the introduction of novel- ties, you follow the example of your ancestors, and are, even to prejudice, attached to the customs of your ancestors. You require only information and guidance, experience and taste for improvement, and removal of some prejudices — the impression of early years. Some of you acquire a too easy habit of life, and are deficient in proper exertion ; yet with rare exceptions you are on the whole an honest and good-natured race, and happy, though deprived of many comforts and blessings which civilization and intercourse with the more enlightened society of man afford.

58

Considerable changes have, however, been effected since the time I write of. The obstinate adherence to the breed of hairy sheep, with their long fat tails, has gradually been shaken, and many now possess consider- able flocks of merino sheep. The animosity which existed towards the Bushmen on account of their murders and depredations has given way to better feelings t