[Published on 4/24/23 by Digital Imaging Lab (1142)] It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any copyright clearances. Permission to publish material from this/these transcript(s) must be obtained from the Supervisor of Reference Services and/or the L. Tom Perry Special Collection Coordinating Committee. [Notes added by transcribers are in square brackets. Dashes in square brackets indicate unclear words or letters. indicate words the author inserted to a previously written line.] MSS 9137 - Eli Wiggill Autobiography Number of Pages: 739 ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p003.jpg) J. F. Wiggill [Pen scribble] ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p009.jpg) Book No 1 ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p010.jpg) 1 The Life and Adventures of Mr Eli Wiggill. I was born in Glostershire England in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven, on the fifth day of November. Been the eldest Son of Isica and Elizabath Wiggill. My Mothers maiden name was Grimes of whom I know but little nor do I know but very little on my Fathers side. My father was a Millwright and Carpenter by traid and in them days He was considered a first class work man. And besides myself there were three other Child- ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p011.jpg) -ren George Joseph and my Sister Elizabeth. I know but very little of England only I reme- mber going to school and learning the first rudiments of Education untill I was about eight years old. At that time on the 12 day of July being the last day of the session. Mr. Vansittart, Chancellor of the Exchequer Made that far famed speech which was the leading cause of the embarkation for the Cape of Good Hope of more than four thousand Settlers of various descriptions. Mr Vansittart is reported to have said: The Cape is suited ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p012.jpg) to most of the productions both of temperate and warm climates, of the olive and the Mulberry and vine And persons emigrating to this Settlement would soon find themselves comfortable. But my father thought of emigrating to America long before the Africa[-]an emigration was talked of but never made up his mind to untill the emigra- tion to Africa was talked of so strong. It was then he made up his mind to be one of the number of the four thousand souls who left thire Native land to find a home in ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p013.jpg) Southeastern Africa, It was suggestive of little but waterless wilds, burning suns, the death winds of the desert, and the slave trade. In many minds the distinctions of South, East, and West coasts were little recognised, and their differences—physical, climatic, or social hardly known. But despite the appalling, which is so often associated with the unknown, and despite the gloomy picturs drawn by those who would fain have detained them, there was courage enough in the breasts of those pioners, and of their life compani ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p014.jpg) ons, to brave the dangers, real or imaginary, of a voyage to, and a settlement on, the shores of South Africa, although that was the point remotest of all from the land of their birth, But the day came at last like all other days for to embark, which was in December one thousand eight hundred and nine- teen and arrived Cape Town in March one thousand eight hundred and twenty and in April anchored in Algo Bay, and safely embarked on the following morning. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p015.jpg) at its little fishing village. Upon landing, the Settlers were disappointed to find their locations distant full one hundred miles from the port. Wagons were, however, provided by the Government in sufficient number, at the cost of the immigrants, a debt which was afterwards most considerately remitted, as was the charge also of rations issued for several months; in fact, the Briti- sh Government of that day behaved with the greatest liberality to the young Plantation. On the 18th of April, the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p016.jpg) first or "Chapman party" commenced their inland progress in ninety six wagons from Algoa Bay, afterwards named Port Elizabeth, which at that time numbered thirty five souls, (including its small garison) The name of the Ship which my father embarked on is Kennersly Castle and Mr Bradshow had command of the company or the party that my father belonged too. Mr Samual Bradshaw was the head of that Company and the name of the location was named ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p017.jpg) called Lemons Valley before be it was settled by the new emmigrants, and then it was called New Gloster, after the City that my father came from, The names are as follows Samuel Bradshow the head of the party. Richard Bradshow, Isaca Wiggill, S. Burt, Thomas Brant, William Nuth, Joseph King, Henry King. Philiph King, Samuel Bennet, Thomas Baker, Joshua Davis, John Giddens, with thare Wives and Children. On the locations." It was a forlorn-looking plight in which we found ourselves, when ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p018.jpg) the Dutch waggoners had emptied us and our luggage on to the greensward, and left us sitting on our boxes and bundles "under the open firmament of heaven." Our roughly kind carriers seemed, as they wished us goodbye, to wonder what would become of us There we were in the wilderness; and when they were gone we had no means of following, had we wished to do so We must take root and grow, or die where we stood. But we were standing on our own ground, and it was the first time many could say so. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p019.jpg) This thought roused to action, the tents were pitch ed the nightfires kindled around them to scare away the wild beasts, and the life of a settler was begun. Thus was the land over spread by a new race of occupiers; sanguine in their hopes, and eager to develope its capabilities. Tribes of barbarians had dwelt in it But they had gone (driven out by the British tropes) one year or two before Settlers came, and the new occupants had to dispute the possession of the soil with inhabitants of other kinds (Wild Beasts) such ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p020.jpg) as Elephants Tigers and Wolves Jackalls and hyena were the nightly serenade of the new settlers, to which the little ons listened and trembled. By day even, the tigers deep voice sounded for hours togather amongst the rocks. And packs of wild dogs roved over the country, The country also abounded with game of various kinds such as Spring boks in thousands bounded play fully. As thire snowy backs shone in the sunlight, while the ostriches ruffled thire plumes, hartebeests and quaggas and other ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p021.jpg) antilopes of various kind ranged over the planes of Mount Donkin, or as we Boys used to call it the round hill flats. We "little ones" of those days felt none of the care that weighed on the hearts of our fathers and mothers the wild fruits and flowers so new to us banished both care and fear, and excited by the beautiful flowers and the different kinds of fruits that myself with many others run headlong into dangers both unknown to our parants and ourselves the fruits were of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p022.jpg) There is one little item which I forgot to mention and having missed those two pages I thought I would put it in here, My father bowred a Sled to do some work with having none of his own at that time so he got both Sled and Oxen which was six in Nomber, and having finished the work for which they were bow- red. (The borrowed them of one of the Irish party) Myself and Brother George was sent to take them home he was leading the Oxen and I was driving and flurshing the great whip has boys will do, Then I thought that I would take the Tow and lead the Oxen, and let my brother ride, But before I could get to the head of the Oxen they became frightened and started to run, and ran over ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p023.jpg) me drawing Sled too which cut my leg and layed the bone bare, But it was done so quick that I did not know that I was hurt untill I found my shoe full of blood, the wound was about three inches in length, Then we turned round and went back home again, I could not walk when I found that I was hurt so bad, so my Brother lead the Oxen and I went home on the Sleigh, and was confined to the house for several weeks, which was a great trouble to me for in them days I wanted to be out for we Boys had so much to do what with playing and hunting wildhunny wildfriuts and flowers and many other things so it was a great punishment to me ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p024.jpg) wild grapes of a very large kind and black when ripe and will run over up and over trees in the foriests fifty and an hundred feet high also the wild fig or secemoor and the my- rtal apple avery nice friut and a wild plum which grows on [illegible deletion] a specie of Mahogny they are genarly found in clusters on the ends of the young branches and also the Cape gose berry which is a delisous friut and grows in a pod and many other friuts too numerious ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p025.jpg) to mention which us Boys used to rome about to gather never thinking of any danger, and also the gum from the mimosa which we use to eat, in them days we used to call it the Kaffer thorn, of which the Dutch and English settlers used to draw toga ther with oxon and make thare kroals. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p026.jpg) Chapter 11 I will now try to discri be the features of the Valley or Lemons Valley as it was caled, by being first occupied by Dutch people who left relics of Lemon Trees standing and Grapesvins were also thare and a water ditch was traised which had been used by them for watering thire gardens and Corn fields. And also the ruens of a house which had been built of Mud and distroyed by the Kaffers by five after driving the inhabetants away as also a traching flore which had been ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p027.jpg) use by the Dutch. Well when my parents settled in that Valley I was about ten yeas old and I thought it was the prittyest place I had ever seen for the rising hills and Mountains were so beautiful bedect with all the most beautiful fruits and flowers and a beautiful Serpentine river runs through the center of the Valley and s[---]ted on its sides with the wild dates figs and other beautifu trees and in the distance the [-] rising hills were covered with beautiful grass and evergreens ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p028.jpg) such as the Mimosa, and other spreading threes. Well my father and those of the company began to think that they could not live in Tents always, then they drew lots which should this field and who should have that field and so they continued untill all was sattisfide, then they begun to build thire houses, some with rushes others with reads and others with wattle and dab, neither of which were wind or water tight. My father built ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p029.jpg) His house upon one of the eigh rigeses, of strong material such as stoute posts from six to eight inches square these posts my father carried on his shoulders from the forests from two to four Mites distant, these posts had then to be filed in with wattle which I well re member helping to carry and roofed in with sawed Lumber sawed in an old fashioned saw pit, and when the house was plastered and finished it looked has well as a nice Brick house & would look it was a ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p030.jpg) two stories high, And in this house my Bro Elijah was born, After the they got thire house built it was then that the ground had to be attende to such as gar dens made and fields plowed and sowed which was commenced in good earnest for I have seen men with my own eyes digging by Moonlight And after so much lab our and toil to [-] raise wheat just as it began to bloom and look pro msing it took the rust and was of no use for bread and so it contunied ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p031.jpg) for several years, then they sowed Barley and other grain which was used for bread. But vegetables of all kinds grew well such as Pumpkin Corn Beans Peas and vegetables of every discription But at this difficult time all, the Settlers still re ceived the Government Bashans which without them we must have suffered, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p032.jpg) Chapter III The time soon came which brought three commissioners who apointed the Settlers thire Homesteads, then they spread out one in this place and another in another place four five and six Miles apart, Then they began to live more comfortable and built better Houses, But at the same time they had to go some eighteen to twenty Miles for thire Rashans which was very Labourious for a while but they soon began to get battle around them by saveing an ox nows and then from thare rashans ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p033.jpg) and by so doing they very soon got every man a yoke of oxon, Then they made Sleds and worked with them for a while, and then blockwheeled Wagons were thought of and made which was more conveinant but they did not last long for they soon thought of a better plan than that which was to buy second- hand Wagons from the Dutch settlers who had been in Africa for year before the British settlers came but in a differant Locality, But the Country is so very level [illegible deletion] that it was not much trouble to make ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p034.jpg) roads from one settlement to another which were many in that Locality, But the princiable road which was made was the road to Bathurst where the rashans was, perhaps I had better say what they were, Well we got flour Rice live Sheep oxon, rum. and when the rashons was brought to the Settlement to a sirtain place where they had to be devided, haveing the rum I have seen many a drunken spree, and quarel too. Has Bathurst and the Howie in them days where concidered places of note ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p035.jpg) Bathurst was appoinde by the British Govenerment to be the seite of Governement for the Abany Settlers, They built a large Govern- ment house for the chief Magistrate which was caled in them days the Drausdy House, but to my knowlage it was never occupide by a Magistrate, But at the Kowie which was a Sea port town they built a large Custom House and several Government buildings for the differant Government officers to reside in. Under the directions of Sir Bufane Shaw Donkin, who was ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p036.jpg) acting governor in absence of Lord Charles Summerset, having gone to England on leave, and the building of these places gave empl oyment to the Mechanics and other Labouring Men and by that means many of the Settlers left thire Homesteads and resided in those Villiges and built them very nice and good Houses and all went on well to the best of my knowlage for about two years, Then Lord Charles Sumerset came back and upset and disarrainged all that Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin had done to the great dissati ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p037.jpg) faction of the people, and moved the head quarters to Grahams Town and the Sea port to Algo Bay but now and then Vessels would come to the Kowie with thare Cargo, and was still a little buisness transcacked thare but on account of so many accidents happening through drunkenness and bad man agement the Vessels quit coming there and went to Algo Bay which at the preasant time is a flurishing Seaport Town, both Bathurst and the Kowie beautiful parklike country as anyone would wish to see. The Kowie in the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p038.jpg) year of 1872 by the perseve rance of Mr William Cock the head of Cocks party one of the settlers of 1.20 of all the heads of the partyes of 1820 this Mr Cock is the only one living Chapter 4 Now I must return to again to the days when I was only eleven years old which was about the year of 1822 and 3, in this time the Settlers had got lots of Cattle about them by traiding thar cloathes for which the Dutch were glad to get in return for what they had ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p039.jpg) and then a great many of the Settlers turned thire attention to traiding, and many of them used to carry thire goods on pack oxon but as they done well in traiding and kept makeing a little here and thare they soon got them selves Wagons, Then they would make a trip of five and Six Months at a time but before they done this the Dutch used to ware dresses made of skins but when those traiders begun to take to them dress goods and all sorts of what is dry goods they was witing ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p040.jpg) to pay almost any price and by that means the Settlers soon began to get rich. They would pay a great deal in Soap which they made and it was very good. and also in Ostrich feathers for they were great hunters. But I must say, that is the traiders soon got rich both in goods and Cattle The great Fish river been the boundry line between the Settlers and the Kafirs it been such a bushy and wooded place that the Kafirs used to come [illegible deletion] under the cover of these bushes and steal our ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p041.jpg) Cattle and be gone th with them, and far away before anyone would know any thing about it, and many a time we suffered in this way through their treachery They have many a time come into the Kovoll and into the pasture and taken them almost before our eyes. And very often they have Murdred the herds, and then take the Irons of the plows to make assagais and spears with which they are very expert for they practise with them when very young a [-]treaty was made that the Kafirs should not cross that river neither ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p042.jpg) should the Settlers but they (the Kafiers) would brake it and did which was a great loss to the Settlers very often. When the would be herd ing through the day the Kafirs would be laying in ambush and looking out for the best of either Cattle or sheep and the first thing they would know towards evening and many a time in Midday they have pounsed upon them like Wolves and taken them off and would slaughter some of them right in the thickets, and if they thought they were persued ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p043.jpg) they gorge what they could and leave the rest. The Settlers were earnest and energetic in thire first attempts to make Albany an agricultural district and just as they had got thire Lands in good order and thire Gardens planted then came the great flood of Oct 1823 which reached all the Settlements and sweeping all that came in its way even washing the plowed ground away as deep as the plow went. There was one man had his house built with strong posts with an upstaires to it and himself ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p044.jpg) and his family were in bed when the flood came he got up and thought to keep the water out of his house by makeing a small opening in the wall and instead of leting a little out he let the river in and when he seen what he had done he went back to bed again. The early struggles and privations of the Settlers appealed to the hearts of British humanity never appealed to in vain Con- tributions generous and hearty came from east and west. India joined ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p045.jpg) the Mother country in subscriptions which amoun ted to several thousands pounds. "Boards of Relief" sat, and many cases of painfu[-] interest came before them, and by that means it enabled them to start again although some got more than thare share Poetry Wilderness lands of break and glen, The wolfs and the Lepard's gloomy den; Wilderness plains where the springbok boun And the Lion's voice from the hills resounds, And the vulture circles in airy rounds Are Africa's southern wilds." Cappyed from the lecture of the British Settlers Jubilee May 1870 ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p046.jpg) Chapter 5 About the year eighteen hundred and twenty three there was a young man staying at my father's house whos name was Edward King, He was one of the same party of Settlers that my father and was and of course was very intamate he was one of those traders and had made two or three trips up the Country amongest the Dutch com- munity and returned, Then he indused my father to let him take me with him to help him with his Wagon and Oxen that is, lead the Oxen and herd them when unyoked, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p047.jpg) well my father gave his consent for me to go with him and we started and remained in Graham's Town for some five or six weeks, working at differant kinds of work somtimes hauling firewood Then we started out with Government military stores for the post at fortwilshire which was about fifty mils from Graham's Town right in the heart of Kafir Land, we left Grahams Town and crossed Boata's hill which at that time was very steep and rockey on the Kafir land side, commenced almost one con- tunied low scruby bush ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p048.jpg) of differant species intermixed with all kinds of beautiful runing vines and many of them in full bloom and beautifull blossome all the year round also a beautiful tree which the Dutch calls Speckboom known by the English as the Elephant's food the trees leaves are very thick and sour about the size of an English sixpence but the flowers which it bares is a beautiful Lilac collor rather small, But the wood is very porous and is like spunge and is of no use for either ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p049.jpg) to work or to burn, Through this dense bush, the Government made the road some time before the settlers whent out, [illegible deletion] our first day out from Grahams Town was through was through this bush to what is caled Hermanus Kraul which was a Military port, and I remember it well for I was so tired with that days travel for my limbs aked and hurt me so bad that I could not sleep. and the next morning having to go out from our camp to herd the Oxen and that among what is caled prickely pars from ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p050.jpg) eight to ten feet high, and Child like I began to eat the frute which they bear and not been acquain ted with them I got the thorns into my hands and mouth and for sev eral days I was in such a state, Well it learnt me a good lesson for I knew how to handle them after that, This fort is right on the banks of the great Fish river whos banks is lined with this kind of frute, why it is caled the great Fish river is becaus thase are two rivers of the same ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p051.jpg) name, and one is not so large as the other, although they both run into one finely, When we left this fort Harmanus Kraal we jurny through a simmeler country covered with Bush and over hill and dail and as far as the eye could see it was a dence forest only now and then we would come to an openen in fact it is the dence Fish river Bush which is so well known in that African wilds which gives shelter to Kafirs and Elephan and many other wild Beasts And as we went down the hill to the great Fish ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p052.jpg) river thare I saw Elephants in thare wild state but they did not molest us there we crossed the great fish river what is caled the duble drift an iland devids the stream which gives it that name, It was to the best of my knowlege we staid the se- cond night and the Elephan came down to drink that night that we seen the day before, Elephants genarely drink at night. After leaving the great Fish river or double drift we began to assend avery steep hill when on the top we had a splendid new ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p053.jpg) view of the Country all around for Miles and Miles and the great Fish River lay on both sides of this eminiance like a thread, And from thare to Fort Wilshire we went through the most beautiful parklike Country for about twenty miles or more, Fort Wilshire is named for Colonl Wilshire, the Colonl of one of the British Regiments who helped to drive the Kofirs back from the tract of Country about the year eighteen hundred and eighteen or nineteen where the British Settled in the year of twenty. *The British Settlers of twenty ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p054.jpg) I cannot give a better discrip tion of the Country than from the pen of the Rev Henry, H, Dugmore although the discription that Mr Dug more gives is a few years later than when I was there but has it so graphic and to the point, I give it in his own words. He says, there was another oppertunity afforded for the exercise of the commercial talents of the new colonists. The government, yielding at length to representation that were made to it on the sub- ject, permitted, under certain ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p055.jpg) restrictions, the opening of traide with the Kaffers, A periodical "fair" was establis- hed at Fort Wilshire, where the colonial traders by scores, and the Kaffers by hundreds or thousands, met to exchange wares. The old post, long ago deserted, was a place of note in those days, as the chief defence of the frontier, It has been silant and desolate enough since. Many years have elapsed since its stables were occupied by troop horses since its officers' quarters were scenes of jollity, or the neveille and "tattoo" sounded in the square; but it was a place of some animation, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p056.jpg) and that of a stranger and wild character when "fair-day" arrived. The traders were there with thire beads, buttons, and brass wire; and the Kaffers were there from Mountain range and seacoast lowland, from the Kieshamma to the Key. Long files of women, headed by thire lords and masters, and laden with oschides, horns, and gum, and here and there the more precious merchandize of an Elephant's tusk among them, threaded the brush paths in single file, or convirged down the hill sides towards the center of attraction under ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p057.jpg) the guns of the Fort. The trees that fringed the banks of the Kieskamma River below the port gave shelter to hundreds of swarthy groups of eager barbarians, wondering at the newly acquired value of articles they had formerly deemed worthless. Kaffers have since gleefully told me what dilligent search they used to make for the horns that had long been thrown away; and how the troops of children swarmed among the thorntree thickets, gathering gum for the new market. There were no photogr -aphers in those days, nor had Mr. Sons began his Kaffer ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p058.jpg) sketches, or we might have had some amusing scenes from life fixed for us to contemplate The grim old fort, with its wild scenery around it. would have formed the center of a very characteristic picture. The Motley throng of black, and white, and brown, varied by the red, green, and blue uniforms of "Line", Rifles and Artillery; the groups of women with thire crushing loads gladly laid upon the ground before them; the men, seated on thire heels, kerrie in hand, jealously watching thire property, or choffering with the traders who were making ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p059.jpg) them rival offers for the coveted merchandise; the greedy chiefs, headed by Gaika himself, laying seignorial taxation of thire own people, or pestering the white man for bribes and brandy. Strange Kaffer was spoken on these occasions; and strange Dutch and English too. Inter- preters were at a premium; and sadly perplexed were the traiders now and then by the changes in the Kaffer fashions. Beads that were worth seventy dollars the pound, and buttons that were in universal demand one month might be worth almost not- hing the next. Speculators even in the Fort Wilshire ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p060.jpg) market sometimes burnt thire fingers. There was little to do in brocades or artificial flowers, and as little in thin steel; but the Kaffer men were as particular about their necklaces, and the women about their turban covers and karofs back stripes which is three or four rows of brassbell buttons on their skin Mantles and they also ware in great profusion brass copper and I[--]ery rings on their arms and legs, and they are as peticular in their fashions as the leaders of the made in London or Paris are about their bonnets and ball dresses ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p061.jpg) The Fort Wilshire Fair gave a fresh impulse to the young commerce of Graham's Town, and it formed the commenc ment of an international traid with the Kaffer tribes that acquired great importance in a short time; and, but for the ruinous wars which followed, the result of bar- barian cupidity, stimulated by civilized smugglers of guns and gunpowder, would have aided more than it has done in promoting their civilization. Chapter 6 When I left Fort Wilshire I took the rout to Fort ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p062.jpg) Beaufort which was about twenty five or thirty miles through a beautiful parklike Country, at that time it was a small military station about the year eighteen twenty three it is on the Kat river which is a large and beautiful stream and fring ed with Willows and other trees of very large growth and the scenery of the surrounding Country is very beautiful, Then I went from Fort Beaufort to Grahams Town and haveing to cross the Kanap river which is very dencely wooded especely on the margen and banks, Elephants had been there ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p063.jpg) a day or two before we arrived and broke the trees fearfuly but I did see any of them we went from there to Fish river and forded it as Fee Krall Drift or Ford, and at this Kraall it is one mass of prickely Pears, but I took care not to be so free with them as I was at Harmanus Kraall, which place I tucked on on any return to Grahams Town which is from Fort Beaufort 46 miles, and was at that time a wild but beautiful Country from Harmanus Kraall to Grahams Town I have already discribed the road and the scenery, We staid in Graham's Town ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p064.jpg) for a few weeks at a black smiths shop the owner whos name was William Bear and carried on an extenceive buisness at that both in the smithing and Wagon makeing during this stay, this Edward King went to see my father and on his return he brought word to me (which was false) that he permition from my father that I should go with him on his traiding expedision or to use his own words said he I am going to take you up the country to see the Dutch Boors which means Dutch farmers We stayed a few weeks long er in Grahams Town, after he, King, had seen my father geting things in order for ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p065.jpg) the journey and while staying there I had to go every day to herd the oxen. And one day which I never shall forget I was out with the oxen in Captain Sumerset's cloff when there came up one of the most terfice thunder storms I have never seen one like it since then I was only about twelve or therteen yeas old the thunder just roled on the ground and the lighten ing played around my feet while I took shelter under a very large spreading tree which I learned afterwards that it was the worst place I could have found. And the rain came down in torants and flooded the ground and filled all the streams and ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p066.jpg) rivelets so that I had a great time to get the Oxen and myself home, or to where I was staying such storms are frequuint in Africa and the leightening very often sets fire to Barns and dwelling Houses as well as destroyinng life of both man and Beasts. After a little further delay this Mr King was ready to start which we did in the middle of the night which I learnt afterwards on account of his been so much in dept. He also took with him three pass ingers a Mr and Mrs Mitten and a Mr Dail who were going through the Dutch Settlements which would about six hundred Miles ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p067.jpg) from Grahams Town to Cape Town our first stage out was at a Dutch farme, and I remember the man's name was Nell and it must have being a very old place has the Manure in the Sheep and Cattle karaal were from seven to eight feet deep. The Dutch seldom clears out their kraals but keeps bushing it up with Mimosa thorns so the Cattle is upon a great Mound of dung, and sometimes those kraals takes fire and I have known them to burn for six and seven years, Well our next stage was at another Dutchmans farm whos name was Joseph Van Dick, and there were ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p068.jpg) simeler kraals like the one I have just discribed. This King, genarly done a little traiding at each of these places, we still contunied traveling and passed many farms untill we came to another Dutchmans farm whos name was Geart Ficter, which was quite a Villige in apperance as the Dutchmans Children Marry and settle all around him which accounts for the appearance of a Villaige I think this place is on the little Fish river, and we stayed there for a few days and loaded up some goods which he had left thare on a former ocation and among the goods was ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p069.jpg) a hand Organ with dolls in it to dance when the Organ was played. We still contunied our jurny and past many farms and localitys whos names I used to know in them days but I have forgotton them but it was in the distrect of Sumerset, I remember going over a very ugly rugged hill, or rather Mountain which had been excavated and so Narrow that the Wagon could but barley get over it and if the Wagon had gone a little too much on eather side it would have gone down several hundred feet before it would found rest, At the time I ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p070.jpg) went through on that jurney the farmers were all very rich in Cattle Sheep and Horses, and lived in ease and luxury, for at that time the Dutch were all slave owners, From this place we passd on, and passed many a Dutch farm with their snug houses and beautiful gardens with their rich friuts and Vineyards of the very best kind, from which they made exelant brandy and wines and also reasons and a great many kinds of dryed friuts, On those farms they have very large cellers and have their brandy and wine for yeas they make it in such large quantitys ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p071.jpg) so that they put it away in large barrels and have it all ages. We still traveled on and by and by we came to a farm house on the Foal river we stayed with these people two or three days whos name was Peter Detioe. And here Mr King made a change in Wagons with Detioe, and got six Oxen to boot. While here I was out with the Oxen to herd them which it was my duty to do. When I went out in the Morning I crossed a deep dry Gully or a periodical Stream which is generaly full of water when it rains. This day I stayed a little too late and it seemed to become dark all of a suddon so that I could not find ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p072.jpg) the same place again that I crossed in the Morning. And the Sun had only just gone out of sight when the Wolves and Jackals were howling and barking all around me but at a little distance so that I thought I was taken, Well I tried to keep up my curage knowing that the Wagon road lay below where I was, I kept on down and it just hap pened that one of the Farmers Cows had being left out so when I came up to her she took the lead and My Oxen followed and I followed them and finely she brough us all right home which made me feel very glad and thankful to the Cow. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p073.jpg) We left this place and got on to extensive plains known as kavoo plains which is covered with a great veriety of herds which is very good food for both Sheep and Cattle. But very little water is found in dry times, we traviled for thirty and forty Miles at a time and find no water but the roads were very good, At the time I am writing about, on those plains I have seen hundreds of Ostriches guinea fowls and wild turkeys and many others kinds of Birds, and a great veriety of wild game such as quagas and Hartebeests and Springboks by the thousands and also Lions were plentyful at that time ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p074.jpg) in fact the Lion is always plentyful where so much game abounds, for it is on them he depends on for a living. After we had crossed several of those plains we came to a tributaries to the Sundays river and there we halted for the Night but there was no house near it was a dessolate wild, The banks of the river were thickly wooded with Willows Mimosa Kerie wood which is a very tuff kind of willow from which the wild Bushmen makes their Bows. This track of Country belongs to the District of Graaff Beinet, which was in them days a Dutch Town, one ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p075.jpg) hundred and fifty two miles from Grahams Town. This district contains the highest mountain in Southern Africa, called the Spitskop or Com- passberg, its altitude being computed at 10,250 feet above the level of the sea. Chapter 7 While passing through the District of Graff Beinet I thought I would give a Short sketch of the country and its establishment in early times by the Dutch government, The Division comprises the first tract of country occupied by the Dutch inhabitants in the Eastern Province. It was formed into a district in 1786, and nam ed after the then Governor of the Cape, Van De Graaf, and his ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p076.jpg) wife Reinet. For many years, however, anterior to this, it had been occupied by the white man the colonists, in their migratory excursions from the westward in search of water and pastu rage, penetrating to this neigh bourhood, where they establis hed themselves with their flocks and herds. At that time it was found very thinly inhabited by straggling tribes of Bushmen who sustained a wretched and precarious existence by game, killed with their poisoned arrows by feeding on the larvae of ants, and on locusts large flights of which, and especialy when drought prevails farther in the interior, occasionally spreading over this and the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p077.jpg) adjacent divisions. They possessed neither flocks nor herds, never cultivated the soil, built no houses but lived in the most savage state their habitations being the clefts of the rocks, and their only care that of appeas ing for the moment the craving of hunger. The early colonists the pioneess of civilization found these people for a considerable time exces sively troublesome. The most daring acts of robbery were committed by them; whole flocks of sheep and large num- bers of cattle and horses were frequently driven off and distroyed, not solely for food, but to gratify that sanguinary propensity inherent in Man when living in a savage state. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p078.jpg) These acts of robbery were often attended with the murder of the farmer's herdsmen; and there are also numerous instan ces on record where whole families of the whites have paid for their intrusion into this country by forfeture of their lives. The two classes thus meeting in mutual hostility, a struggle ensued, not mere ly for territory, but for existan ce. Plunder and violence on the one side were follo wed by retaliatory measures on the other; untill the wea ker party gradually gave way, and the country became pre manently settled by the whites, and was included within the limits of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p079.jpg) Colony. The division of Grauff Reinet, when originally formed, was computed to contain 50,000 square miles—but it has been greatly reduced the division of Beaufort (in the Western Province) Colesberg, Crad ock, Somerset, and part of Vitenhage having being dis membered from it. Its entire area is now estimated at 8,600 square mils, with a population of about 9,000 souls. We left the Sundays river and contunied on our jur ney across an extensive coun- try passing a great many farms houses and stoping at some of them to do a little traiding with the people some would buy ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p080.jpg) one thing and some another and the Country abounded with all kinds of game such as already been discribed by and by we came to a great ruged range of mountains which reached hundreds of miles but not as rugged in some places as in others called the Swartberg or in english the Black Mountain, they extended through the whole colony from Cape district to Grahams Town, We halted for the night at a farmhouse which was an opening in the Mountain, it is what the Dutch calls a port and what the Amaric- ans calls Canions, Well we staied two or three days ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p081.jpg) at this place for I remember well when a Boy I was very fond of strouling about and try to see all that was worth seeing so with feeling I started out and went up the Mountain which was so preceptious that when I returned I had to be so careful, or if I had made one misstep and fallen I should have being dashed to peaces. When we left this place we went through the great opening in the Mountain called the Sweartberg Port, a river runs through this place which drains the Country for many miles. But it runs fals sometimes you find a great river then you find in the same river ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p082.jpg) a few miles further on it is a great bed of sand and so it contunies. The banks of this river is thickly wooded with beautiful Mamasa willows and many other kinds of trees, and on each side of this great pass the rocks are several hundred feet high well they are fearful, and I have seen hundreds of Baboons of the largest kind siting here and there on them and looking down on us and makeing an auful barking such a bark, and as well as the Baboon there is thousands yes I may say Millions of conies or backrabbits, for on every little projecting rock I could see one of those little rabbits sitting suning themselves and makeing ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p083.jpg) 74 such a noise, sometimes both night and day, The wild anima in this rugged country are Wolves Tigers Porcupines and wildcats and also the Ant-bear, Now we come to a farmhouse whos name is Knots, we stayed one day at his house and was treated very kindly, for he, Knots, was a very ceivel man, on leaveing there we traveiled for days in and out threading through this way and that way and the river on one side and these rugged preceptious rocks on the other, and only just for the Wagon to travil and I remember one place the rocks were overhanging and we had to travil under them with those Baboons and rabbits for our company. This river ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p084.jpg) was fringed all along its banks with Mimosa. This wild and rugged Country is inhabeted here and there by Dutch Farmers, but not of the wealthest. We still contunied our jurney and campted one night and no house in sight that night their came a great Snowstorm some six inchs and our cattle were turned out so that we could not move for two days and nighs then Mr King went on foot in sirch of help and found a farmhouse some distance from the Wagon, and got Oxen and brough the wagon to the house, then Mr King engaged a Hottentot to hunt for our Oxen who found ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p085.jpg) them very soon then we con tunied on our jurney a day further on but the winter be came so sevear and cold for that country and the Oxen became poor and weak that King made up his mind to stay there for two months, who there Mr Mitten being a Carpenter and Mr Deal a Shoemaker they both worked for the Dutchman, whoes house being large and not much in it we occupied a part of it and boarded ourselves and was very comfort able sometimes riding around and visiting the neighbours and traiding with them. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p086.jpg) Chapter 8 After staying about two months at this place Mr King and myself started off on foot in search of our Oxen which had strayed away We traveled for Miles and seen no one untill night then we came up to a farm house and I was so glad for I was so hungery and thirsty The houses is so far apart in this seccion of the country on account of water being so scarce, but we were kindly treated at this place with plenty to eat and drink and a good bed, The Dutch people in that country are very Hospitable if a stranger stays for a week or two at ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p087.jpg) a time they never charge any thing for board, Well we left those friends the next Morning feeling very much refrished. On another dreary day jurney but not to find such a home at night for there were no house to be seen so we had to lay down when night came, on the ground both hungery and thirsty and the Wolves bark ing and howling around us all night we layed down but not to sleep much, we had an English fowling peice with us but did not use it. Then we started again, on another days jurney and so hungery, we found some old Marrowbones and broke ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p088.jpg) them in peaces to see if we could find some Marrow in them but the Beaste had been dead too long for they were dry and empty but we found water this day, And some wild bitter Kafir Mellons so bitter that we could not eat them. Well we contunied on and on by and by we came to a road, and followed it for a long distance and finely it brought us to a farmhouse in an isolated place up in the Mountains where one would think it imposable for anyone to live but we found a place of reffuge for the next twenty four hours which I enjoyed emencely, In ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p089.jpg) all this time we found no trace of the Oxen then we turned back again by a differant rout and found houses all the way back to our Wagon which saved us a great deal of suffer- ing, But found no Oxen, After we had been back a little while Mr King sold his wagon and what few Oxen he had left to those passingers Mr Mitten and Mr Dail what he got for them in all I dont know but I remember that he got two or three Watches, While we were staying at this place I saw a sight that I never can forget, This Dutch man had a slave boy about fourteen yeas old who had ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p090.jpg) a sister living at the next farm and he would runaway from his home to her, although he had a good home and a good Master, so one day they brought him home and to punish him he was tied to a wagon wheel and the wagon turned on its side so the wheel would turn and every time it turned and the boy came round a man with a large strap in hand and a buckel on the end would give him a cut and the blood would run at every stroak so that the wheel was covered with blood then after such a whip ing they rubbed salt into his wounds then set him ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p091.jpg) to leading the Oxen at plowing with his hands tied fast to the tow, so that he could not run away. After this had all happened we, Mr King, and myself started again on foot and traviled two or three days and passed several very good farms with beautiful surrounding, their Orchords were grand, with Orienges, Lemons, figs, and many other kinds of friuts, And when night came on we were kind ly received by the people of some of these places after trave ling for about three days we came to a farm where a lived a Widdow woman and from her Mr King baught a wagon and I think about fifteen ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p092.jpg) head of Oxen and one Horse and some Cows and one Bull after makeing this purches he started off with the wagon drawn by eight Oxen, And left me behind to ride the horse and drive the lose Stock, the horse was so lazey I could not get him along so I got down to get a switch to help him along but when I was about to mount him again he started off at full gallop and me after him for miles but he out run me and I never saw him any more and when I returned to where I left the stock they were no where to be seen, Then I had them to hunt for and Mr King going on and ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p093.jpg) leaveing me behind for Miles well I had to hunt for the Cattle and found them over a hill then I brought them back to the road and the only way that I knew Mr King had gone, was that I knew the track his Wagon Made by haveing the wheeltiers full of large nails, Well when I came up to him he had got the wagon into an auquord possion coming up to the side of a small river, and haveing no leader the Oxen took a wronge turn and brought both Cattle and Wagon on to a narrow bank between the river and a Mountain so that it was imposable to get the wagon out again ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p094.jpg) unyokeing the Cattle and back ing the wagon out, then we were within one mile of a Dutch farm and coming up to there we halted for the night, and this night the Bull run away and the dogs stole our Meat and the next day he star ted on with the wagon and left me to walk and drive the lose stock. And as usal I had to follow the track of the wagon orels I would never have found my way There were many tracks on the road but his was a differant one by have ing great Nails on the tiers and then I had another eve idence of his goin that road ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p095.jpg) which was, I picked up his tar bucket he had lost of his wagon I carried it a little distance and found it so heavy so I hid it under a bush by the road side and left it. After about two days journey we arrived again at Geart Kreats, the same farm we had been at some time before, and I thought and understoad him that he was takeing me home I think to the best of my knowlege we were traveling for day in the District of Swellendum, This was in the year of eighteen twenty three, then I was about twelve years old. We stayed at Knots's for some time and made arraingment with him to leave the lose ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p096.jpg) Cattle at his place for him to take care of, then him and I started with the Wagon on a back trip to the Swea rtbery Mountains amongest the farms that were scatter ed here and there to buy up a load of Brandy and dried friute to take back to Gra hams Town, our road lead through very stupendious Mountains like those alre ady discribed, we suffered fearfuly for want of water one day we outspaned at a disserted house, it was dissert by its inhabitants but they had left a great many things in it and among them their was a small barrel of biniger, and while mr ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p097.jpg) Mr King went off into the Mountains in seirch of water I enjoyed the viniger by drawing it out of the barrel with a read, After leaving this place we traveled on for several days passing a farm now and then who were not very rich neither in gardens or Cattle but at one of those places one of the men who was their took pitty on me seeing that I was barfoot or dered me a paire of Shoes made for which I were very thankful, As we were traveling along and not taking notice of a turn we were coming to the wagon struck a large tree which toer off the cov er and bows with such ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p098.jpg) force so that it scared him (King) so much he threw his Hat of on one side while he jumped of the other, and then blamed me for it. Well we contunied on our journey yet for days through such a Mountainous country untill we came to some very rick farmers who had full and plenty of everything and the very best of water for which I have suffered so much. They had the most beautiful Vineyards, so exten sive, and their friut trees, I am sure that I saw Pears trees at that place fifty feet high, and it was a fine Cou ntry for growing wheat, and they had their own grist ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p099.jpg) mills right at home. Well instead of this King buying Brandy as he said he was going to do he sold the Wagon and Oxen, and baught Horses, he Mounted me on to one and himself on to another and started off to the differant farmhouses, and I not been use to riding on Horseback I became so sore and tired that I could ride no longer then I told King that I could not sit on the horse any longer and it was no use to try, Then he told me to go too a Dutch farm that we had passed on our way into that part which was about forty miles from where we where then ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p100.jpg) but coming up to a place some fifteen miles from where he started me from, and having to go on foot and all alone I stopt at this place to rest and told the people how I was and where I had to go to yet (some thirty miles) they would not let me go any farther for they said it was not safe for me to go and alone for the way I had to go there were Lions plenty so they kept me with them they washed and cleaned me gave me a comb to dress my head so that I soon began to feel more comfortable and at home more than I had for a long time, I dont know how long I stayed with ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p101.jpg) those kind people it was some time in the Winter when I went there, and I know that the trees were all out in bloom when I left, But while I stayed there I remember I would make myself useful and help their Children to do what ever they were set to do, such as herd Stock or Make garden during my stay at this place I never heard anything of Mr King for about three Months, Then he sent a Messenger after Me to come to a neighboring farmhouse where he was staying, but as he had deceived me so often before I would not go to him with the first message so after a little ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p102.jpg) while he sent again to me with such fair promises to take me home to my parents that I went to him and I had to walk fifteen miles back to him, The Messen ger he sent for me was a Hottentot. The people were very sorry to part with me but when I started they gave me so much good food enough to last me two or three days, Those peoples name was, or, the Jentlemans name was, Danil Straidam of the Sweartberg Devision, of South Africa. Cape Colony. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p103.jpg) Chapter 9 When I got to where he was I hardly knew him for he had been very sick He told me he had been in a secsion of the country where the people were very poor and that he had to live on rice ants and wild game, those rice ants about half an inch long. The nest when dug out of the ground it is like a Haneycomb and as large as a bushel basket this nest is full of eggs which is about a quarter of an inch long and the Natives use it has rice, they are caled the white ant. The white ant, being a vegeta ble feeder, devours articles of ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p104.jpg) vegetable origin only, and leat- her, which by tanning is imbued with a vegetable fla- vor, "A man may be rich to day and poor tomorrow from the ravages of white ants, Himself and another man were prepared for a long journey when I got to him with Horses and provisions has he said to go direct home to Grahams Town, so that my hopes were once more raised thinking to get home once more, so we three started and traviled for about a Fortnight towards Grahams Town, then we turned off quite another direction, and came upon extensive prai- rie flats covered with k[--]oo ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p105.jpg) karoo bush, on those flats Ostrichs Springboks and many other kinds of game abounds, Well after got on to those flats we rode for Miles, and from house to house buying Ostrichs Feathers I have carried great bundles of those beautiful feathers, then the first opprtunity Mr King would sell them eather for money or goods just what the customer might have, then we would go again and buy more and so we travited for months But I dont remember what became of the other Man that started out with us, but I expect his buisness lay in some other direction, Those people of whom we baught the feathers from were independly rich farmers ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p106.jpg) so one day Mr King heard of a trader being in the neighber hood whose name was Mr William Kittson of Wilson's party of Settlers, This jentle- man had seen my father some time before and my father told him if he should happen to find me in any of his travils that he should bring me home with him, Mr King did not want to part with me and tried every way to dodge this man one by wanting me to go with him to swim and tried in many ways to get me out of the way of Mr Kittson but it was no use Mr Kittson would not let me go out of his sight so finly King had to let me ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p107.jpg) go and I have never seen Mr King since but I heard of him many yeas afterwards, Then he making great broad brimed hats for the Dutch people in the district of Swellendam, Where I engage to go with this Mr Kittson it was at the en tranc of the great Swartberg Port, or the Black Mountain Pass, we was then about two or three hundreds miles from Grahams Town, When leaving this place we had to call at all the Dutch farms on our way back to gather up stock that he had bought in com ing and baught as many more has he could both Sheep and Cattle and also Goats and Dutch Soap and fat and Sheepskins ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p108.jpg) While on my way back my eyes became very sore and I was blind for one week, But after traveling for some weeks we arrived in Grahams Town and as soon as my dear Mother heard of my being there she came to meet me with one of my little Sister's in her arms, after I left home my father and family had moved into Grahams Town. And here my father had built a windmill and was living in it, in the lower story after I had been at home a little while my father and ymyself used to go to the Forest to cut timber for to make Plows princebly, so one very windy day while in the Forest a young man came up on ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p109.jpg) the hill and caled to my father and told him that the Mill was on fire so that when we came to it, it was all one Mass of coals, My Mother had gone to Grahams Town on buisness which was about one Mile from the Mill, The Mill was on an eminence overlooking the Town. It was suposed to have taken fire from coales left and shaveings laying about my fathers workbench and the wind blowing the coals and shaveings togather set fire to the place and by that my father lost all he was worth his tools furniture and all so after so many years of hard labour and toil he had to begin the world afresh. After being burnt out ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p110.jpg) my father moved his family into Grahams Town and there he found friends who gave him a house to live in rent free untill he could help himself again. The house was an old Artillery Barracks, which was built before the Town was layed out for it st[--]d in the Middle of the street, My father then went to work and workd hard for one year before he got things comfortable around him again, Then he got the grant of a plot of Land with water rights to build a Grist Mill which he did for the accoma dation of the people, but he found out in a little while that the water was too weak to carry on the Mill without ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p111.jpg) distressing those in the Town who depended on the same water family survesses, so he between times he built another wind Mill up in the same Cluff, and between the two he done a very good buisness, and my self and my brothers used to go into the Forest and cut and saw Timber for my father who contunied working at his traid which was Makeing Wagons and Plows and Carpenter work in genarel, one day while the water wheel was being built came near loseing my life by been jan[--]ed in it while working at the wheel the props gave way and began to swing around and to try to save myself I tryed to step the paddles and ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p112.jpg) did as long as I could then I fell and by so doing that saved my life, about this time I was sixteen years old, and soon after the windmill were completedte[-] and we where begining to be com fortable once more My Mother took sick and died, to the best of my recolection it was about the year eighteen twenty seven My Mother left eight Children myself being the eldest of five Sons and three Daughters, some time after the Death of my Mother I left home for I was so determined to learn the Wagon makeing, and hearing of a good chance with Men who understood the buisness living in longcluff, or Gorges Town I started with a ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p113.jpg) full intention of which was about eighty miles from home But when I had traviled about thirty miles I met with a man whos name is John Rogers, And he persuaded me to stay with him, He was living in a Forest he indused me by offer ing me big wages to stay which I did and helped him to saw timber for six Months at thirty five shillings per Month, Then I left him and went to work for a Dutch man at the same kind of work and for the same pay. Well I worked for those two men for one year, and never got on Months wages or the vallue of a month The Forest at that time was known by the name of ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p114.jpg) Peter Retiff's Bush, on the Luur berg Mountain, Having comp leated the year with those two men I went home again to my father caring with me three tanned sheepskins just enough to make me a pare of Lether Britches or as they are caled in Africa leather Crackers, and one blacksilk Handkerchief. Chapter 10 After returing home I remained with my father and was deter- mined to learn my trade, Well the Timber, in them days was not so easy got as how my Brother and myself used to go into the Forest's and cut down larg trees then make a Sawpit and sawed out our Timber into such as ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p115.jpg) we would want to use for makeing Wagons, sometimes my father would be there with us and we would be there for weeks, but would come home every night and bring a load of Timber with us. The Wames of the Timber's we used is black ironwood White iron wood, white Pear, red Pear, Assagai wood, Sneezewood, Cheshnut, Myrtle wood, Stinkwood, both black and white, and Olivewood, Redelce, Redmilk, and Whitemilk wood, then their is the Yellow wood of two kinds the real Yellow wood, and the other is what is called the Bastard Yellowood, and many other kinds too nu merous to mention. These are all Dutch names for the differ ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p116.jpg) ant kinds of wood, and the English uses them for they can find no better, especley the Sneezewood, for when it is worked it make one Sneeze just like takeing Snuff, and it will keep in the ground as posts for fifty years, and then looks frish and sound, While some of the others will not last more than a year before it begins to rot. Then their is the White elce which is such beautiful wood to work. the Dutch people in Africa have all their Tables and Chests and other articals of furniture genarly made of it, But the Stinkwood is the most used it is more like mahogny and is uesed both for furniture of all kinds and for makeing ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p117.jpg) Wagons, it is a great deal stronger than Mahogany, The old Dutch wagons were made of the Black Stinkwood and it seemed that thare was no end to its wareing doors and window shashes are made from it, And it is taken to England by Shiploads and is used there for makeing gunstocks The axeltrees of those wagons were genearly made of assagaiwood, as I have being so used to working ever since I was able to use tools with all those differant kinds of wood and cuting them both with the ax and the saw, and them, with every other kind of tools, so that I know them all so well, that is the reason I have numerated them. Well about the time that I ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p118.jpg) came home my father married his second Wife, whos name was Miss Mary Seares, by whom he had four Sons and one Daughter their are three of the Sons living married and in very good scir cumstances whos names are James, Moses, Aaron, I contunied with my father and worked at my trade untill I was twenty two years old, then I got married to a Miss Susannah Bently the Daughter of one of the Settlers of eighteen twenty whoes name was Frances, Parrot, Bentley, of Yorkshire England my Wife being their oldest Daughter, At this time I started a buisness for myself in Grahams Town and had two apprenties's and had all the work at Makeing ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p119.jpg) new Wagons that myself and Boys could do and lived very comfortable and at that time Beef and very good too was only one English penny per pound and everything that was eatable was just as cheap accordenly, And on the 7th day of December 1832 my first Child was born whoes name I called John and was Bap tized by the Rev Mr William Shaw who came from England as a Minis ter with the Salem Party of Settlers of eighteen twenty, and belonging to the Wesleyans, to which I was a Member, And in October 14th 1834 my Wife gave birth to a Daughter whose name was Sarah, Ann, and she died November 5th 1835 in the Winterberg in the district of Fortbeaufort, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p120.jpg) I must now come back to Grahams Town things went on smoth and well with me until 1835 up to this date the country were all at peace when the Kaafar War broke out which I can not do better than coppy from the annals of Mr Chase's History of Cape Colony wherein he sketch the War of therty five of which I was an eye wittness and also a sufferer. Mr Chase writes as follows. The reader is requested to take here a hasty glance at the aspect of the doomed British Settlement as it appeared but one week be fore this tremendous and unpro voked onslaught. The little Colony, so lately comenced, notwithstanding all its previous difficulties, had established a growing center of ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p121.jpg) civilization, and fully recovered from the natural effects of trans plantation from another soil. From innumerable happy hamlets the curling smokewreath ascended amid the forest trees surrounding the humble but comfortable dwe llings. On the soft sward of the homesteads gambolled "legions" of blithsome little innocent Chil dren, unsuspicious of danger, Sleek cattle and sheep by thousands grazed on the verdant hills and along the lovely valleys thread ed by some bubbling stream. From the woods resounded the axe the hammer on its anvil beside the glowing forge. The plough quietly followed the steady going oxen, showing how busily engaged were the in ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p122.jpg) habitants in their industrious occupations, little dreading the "Damocles" weapon so suddenly to descend. From being an entire ly consuming community, as at first, the Settlers had secured more than daily provisions, established a commerce with the home they had left in very many instances poor adventurers to the annual value of £125.000, and that despite obstacles enough to appal the most steadfast; but, as Lord Bacon says, "It was not with them as with other men whom small things could discourage, or small discontents cause to wish themselves home again." They had at length set their feet on the high road to prosperity; but, alas! within ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p123.jpg) less than fourteen days, the labours of fourteen years were at once annihilated. Forty-four persons were at once murdered, 369 dwellings consumed. 261 pilla ged, and 172.000 head of livestock carried off by the savage, who had no cause of quarrel against the peaceful inhabitants. What aggravated this wicked inroad was the fact that during the great part of the year the Gove rnor had commenced special negotiations for new, and to them (the Kafirs) a most advantageous system of relation, the details of which His Excellency had, through the Rev. Dr. Philip, then on a tour in Kafirland, enter ed into with the Chiefs, and all except Tyali had expressed ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p124.jpg) satisfaction, The enemy, in over whelming force from 8,000 to 10,000, entered the Settlement in the night between the 21st and 22nd of December, just before the looked for Christmas fest ival, and along a line of thirty miles of frontier, without even attracting the notice of the Missionaries among them, so covert were the conspiraters, boasting that now they would build their huts and villages at Algoa Bay; and by the 26th December their vanguard was already in the vici nity of Uitenhage, nearly one hund red miles westward of the Great Fish River, and only twenty from that of their threatened destination. So sudden and irresistible was the invasion that several extraord ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p125.jpg) inary, and, in any other circumsta nces, ludicrous hairbreadth escapes took place. One in particular, among many others, came to the writers personal knowledge, where a lady was in the homely act of preparing the conventional and time honoured Advent pudding in fact, "welding" the ingredients, when her husband rushed in, caught her up, to her surprise, as she was then attired, thurst her on a horse, and galloped off for "dear life," His houses one a very handsome and costly structure, just finished, with two others of lesser pretensions on neighbouring farms belonging to him were burnt to the ground, his large herds of cattle swept off from all three properties by the bloodstained ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p126.jpg) and infuriated invaders, and this gentleman, like many others, who in the morning arose in the most prosperous circumstances, was that night little better than a beggar, without a change of apparel for himself and family. Before the close of the year all that remained of the flurishing District of Albany was Grahams Town, the village of Salem, and the Missionary Station of Theopolis, into which places the inhabitants had fled for shelter. Within eight days from the time the savages burst into the Colony, a body of them, with their booty, returned into Kafirland, as the Rev. Mr Chalmers discribes, "exulting in their own might and wisdom, because they have been able to ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p127.jpg) obtain so much ill gotton gain; and unless a check be given," wrote he. they will in a few days return to the Colony with redoubled fury. They are a wicked and ungodly race. They expect the Hottentots of Kat River will not fire upon them, but stand neutral, for they are their friends." This statement appears in a communication from the reverend gentleman, dated Chumi, 1st January, 1835, where a meeting was held, the Missionaries forced to be present, trembling for their lives; for, as they wrote, "an angry look just now would be sufficient to send us all into eternity." Here the Rev. Mr Weir was compelled to to pen a letter from the Chiefes with "overtures for peace," a proposal to abstain from farther ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p128.jpg) hostility untill they could get an answer to a demand for compensation for wounding Klo Klo, some charges against Colonel Som erset, all of which were without foundation, and this insolent document was dictated and dis patched only ten days after the invasion began, but after they had secured their emmence plunder were still reeking with the blood of the Coloniests, and had laid waste a thriving and entire dis trict of the Colony. 1835.—The News of the invasion reached Cape Town by express, and took the authorities and public there as much by surprise as it did the border ers; but the most energetic measures were at once under ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p129.jpg) taken. Colonel Smith was instantly dispatched to the Fron tier overland, and reached Graham's Town, a distance of 600 Miles, in six days, Martial law was immediately proclamed over the two border districts, Albany and Somerset, but meanwhile Fort Willshire, on the Keiskamma River, and Kafir's Drift Post, on the Great Fish , were obliged to be evac uated, so fiery and rapid had been the savages' assault, and they were burned by the enemy Of the condition of the country as it was found by the Colonel on his arrival we have his own words:—"Already are seven thousand persons dependent upon the Government for ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p130.jpg) the necessaries of life. The land is filled with the lamentations of the widow and the fatherless. "The war cry echoing wild and loud. "The war of the savage, fierce and proud "Would burst like the storm the thunder cloud "Over Africa's southern wilds." Chapter 11 I now coppy a little from the pen the Rev. H. H Dugmores British Settlers of twenty, their jubilee in May 1870, held in Grahams Town, South Africa. I was not in the Colony, but in Kafferland, when the war of '35 broke out, All our first tidings were from Kaffers. The plunder ing of the traders' stations was, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p131.jpg) to us, the first intimation of what was going forward. The arrival at the Mount Coke Mission of such of the traders themselves as could effect their escape confirmed our worst fears. Some of them had barely saved their lives, and scarcely knew how they had done it. One of them (as he told me himself) had, while the Kaffers were discussing the subject of putting him to Death, given some of them lessions in shooting, that they might kill him with as little pain as possi ble. The climax of triumph seemed to have been reached when the news was spread far and near that Fort Wilshire (the impregna ble, as the Kaffers had deemed it) was abandoned by the English ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p132.jpg) garrison, and had fallen into the possession of Tyali and Macoma. And then return parties of war riors, laden with the spoils of the Settlers' dwellings, passed through the station, taunting us with our helpless condition, and telling they could afford to let us alone for awhile, as they intended to finish us at leisure. The suspence, arisind from the cuting off of all intelligence from the colony, was horrible. The burning homesteads of Lower Albany lighted up the horizon night after night, and imagination was left to paint its most fearful pictures. Where the end was to be we knew not. Days seemed to grow into weeks; and week after week elapsed without ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p133.jpg) any sign of aggressive movement from the Colony; till old Letu, the chief who was protecting us, im patiently exclaimed, "Akuseko 'Mlungu! inkomande ingavelinje, l'apelile bonke!"* The first gleam of relief appeared in an extraordinary commotion that surprised us one Morning. Herds of cattle suddenly made their appearance, driven in eager hast past the station, and towards the Kye, followed by troops of women and children, carrying loads of pots, mats, and baskets, and keeping com pany with the old pack oxen that brought up the rear, laden with heavy milk sacks. A party of us at once mounted on horseback, *There are no white men left! No comando makes its appearance they must be all finished up!" ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p134.jpg) and proceeded towards Wesleyville to find out the cause of the movement. We saw that a sudden panic had seized the tribes which occupied the country between us and the Fish River. The whole upper basin of the Chalumna seemed alive with cattle, streaming down every bushpath from the ridges be yond, and all urged on in one direction—Eastward oh! A night attack (as we learned afterwards), planned and carried out successfuly under the command of the rosey faced veteran, Major Cox, had surprised and destroyed the "Great Place" of the notorious old chief Eno, who himself narrowly and ignobly escaped disguised in the kaross of one of his wives. The frontier ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p135.jpg) Kaffers, who securely revelling in the plunder of the colony, were confounded by the unlooked for exploit. My escort, armed, and looking like a cavalry patrol, might have captured the flying cattle by hundreds; for the few men in charge of them, mistaken us for a part of the invading force, abandoned them, took shelter in the bush as we crossed the path of their flight. If that attack had been at once followed up, it would have confirmed on the side of peace the coast tribes who were then wavering, and it would have shortened the war. I will now relate an incident which happened to my wifes Brother John Bentley, a young man whos name is Thomas ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p136.jpg) Shone, went out to his father's farm but started with Govern ment stores for Bathurst, and it was reported that he had gone to his father's farm in the Nottingham party eight or ten miles from Bathurst. So his parants became very uneasy about their Boy (for they had left their farm drove out and taken shelter in Grahams Town if he was there he would have been killed by some one of the stragling Kaffers, So they prevailed on my Brother in law and a man whoes name was Chipperfield to go in surch of him they started with a Carte and six Oxen belonging to the young Man's father, But when they arrived at a settlement ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p137.jpg) on the road called the Howard's Party. There left the Cart and took the Cattle with them knowing that if they found the young man he would have a Wagon, in going through the Settlements which had been deserted by the Settlers, near to what is called the Waayplaats Wether they were waylayed by day or night it was never known as they had not been heard of for several days and as the young man was safe in Bathurst a party went out in scurch of them I think the party consis ted of about twenty men. about fifteen miles from Grahams Town they found the Yoks and Rims but wether they had been un yoked by themselves or by the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p138.jpg) Kaffers it was never known from there they scirched further and about fifteen yards from the yoks they found my Brother John Bentley dead pearced with several assagai wonds He had crept away into a bush cluff his whip layed by his side but he was in a bad state of decomposion, but expecting to find them dead they took Coffens with them so they gathered my Brothers remains into a Coffen and bur ied him near by where they found him, But they never found his companion, I stayed in Graham's Town untill peace was proclamed, in the mean time doing Military duty, and working ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p139.jpg) at my traid. Then I went from Graham's Town to Bathurst to occupy a property which I had baught before the War broke out and their I remained about two years working at my traid and it was about the year of eighteen therty seven I left Bath urst to go with my father to fulfill a contract which, he my father had made with Government to get five hundred posts of Sneezewood tweelve feet longe and eigh inches squear besides other Timber for rails and pallisadeing to Barrackade one side of Fort Beaufort, we had a great time to find the artical wanted we had to sirch the Forests far and near to get good sollid ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p140.jpg) Timber in Sneezewood, But before we had finished our contract, the order was count ermanded by the Government although they had commenced to put it up when the order came, so the Timber was used for Military out posts for Veranda Posts. While I was engaged in this buisness my little Daughter Sarah Ann died who was abou about three years old, Then I left this place and went to Winterberg, where my Brother George had just got Married and started the Blacksmith buisness, and I started the wagon makeing so we worked togather, but not as partners, for about one year. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p141.jpg) Copyed Our toilworn fathers have sunk to their rest, But their sons shall inherit their hopes bequest. Vallies are smiling in harvest pride; There are fleecy flocks on the Mountain side; Cities are rising to stud the plains; The life-blood of commerce is coursing the veins Of a new-born Empire, that grows, and reigns O'er Afric's Southern Wilds." Chapter 12 Some little time before I left Bathurst I had an engagement to go into the Buchanna Country beyond the Oringe River as an assistant to the Rev. John Edward of the Metdo Wesleyans or Methodists Church, I gave up my buisness in Bathurst and made preprations to go by Mak ing a New Wagon for the purpose which the Socity engaged to pay ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p142.jpg) me for and I also gave up an Apprentise, Then I received a letter countermanding the whole affare from Mr Edwards, not on his personal authourity but the Socity to which be belonged Then I settled down again with my Brother in my buisness but did not feel right for, for a long time I had wanted to go on this mission I thought it would be so pleasant to be in that survies and Preach to the heathens. So, after receiveing that letter I sold the Wagon and made ready to go to work again, While at the Winterberg there came the Rev. G. H. Green at that time was station at that time in Fort Beaufort, he had received a letter from Mr John Edwards requesting ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p143.jpg) him to see me and to know my feelings in regard to going to the Buchanna Country, just after seeing Mr Green Myself and Brother George started to Graham's Town with two wagon's loaded with produce, at that time the roads was not very smoth for as we was going down the old Blinckwater Pass, My Brother Wagon upset and broak the top, or tent all to pecies I beleive half the Wagons that traviled that road upsets for the road was so bad and I have known wagons stick fast on that hill for days and could not move. But when we got to the bottom of the hill we went to work and repaired his Wagon, So when we got into Grahams Town, I saw Mr Edwards and entered into an agreement ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p144.jpg) with him to go into the Bech uana country for which I rece ved a part of the first years Salary, After leaving him in Graham[-] Town Myself and My Brother made a flying visit to Bathurst to see some of our old friends. And from there we went to the Kowie where My Brothers father inlaw lived whose name was Mr Joseph King. Sc, After visiting a few days with our friends we started back home to the Winter berg with our Wagons loaded with goods for our own use, we return[-] back through Grahams Town, takeing back a Mr Phillip King as passenger an old friend of mine but we took another rout to escape that fearful hill, and when we got into what is called ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p145.jpg) Bushneck being a very deep bushey valley while we were traviling through this valley, a comodation House was on the road so we though we would have a little Wine and I sent one of our oxe leaders who was a Hottontott for the wine it was about Sunset, then we went on a little farther and outspaned, or unyoked for the night, has me and my friend King was takeing it easey on the road we lay down on our bed, and while laying there some money jolted out of my pocket afterwards my friend was looking or somthing and found it on the bed, and using a Scripture phrase let us gather up the fragments let nothing be lost so while gathring up those few pence I thought I would look for my pocketbook ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p146.jpg) which I thought I put into the Wagon chest but it was not there and we shirched the Wagon all over but it was no wheres to be found, Has we had not traviled more than a mile Mr King and myself made fier torches by puting fat on sticks and we went back as far as I thought I had the pocketbook but did not fiend it there but before I had missed the book two persons had passed us and my friend King thought perhaps they might have picked it up. And he said let us go and see, so we went back to the Canteen or public house to enquire for it, but I told him that I thought it was a forlorn hope and would ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p147.jpg) not go, but he insisted, and been well acquainted with the propritory and had been for years I went back and enquired of him if their had any one being there haveing a pocketbook to spend any money, he answered No that he knew nothing about it. Then we asked him if their had been two persons their a Man and Woman who we had met on the road. He said yes that they were in another room and were both drunk. My friend said that he felt like shirching the man but Mr Wilkie told him he could not do it without a Shirch warrant Notwithstanding all that was said. My friend rather insisted on shirching the Man. I told them that if it was my book it had my name on it, and also a gold ring and several bank ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p148.jpg) nots so then my friend rolled the man over just like rolling a log for he was dead drunk and put his hand into his pocket and said here it is I'll be bound and as soon as he puled the book out of his pocket I recognised it and said that it was my book the ring and nots were in the book but they had spent about one pound ten Shillings which was in silver, for drink and wareing apprel and some Groceryers which the Shopkeeper gave to me then we went back to our Wagons and related to my Brother our adventure and camped their that night and the next day we reached home in the Winterberg. When I got home I closed out my wagon buisness and made pre ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p149.jpg) puration to go to the Buchanna Country according to agreement with Mr. Edwards which was the worst move that I ever made for at that time Wagon makeing was at its best it as never been as good since It was just then when the Dutch was emegrating farther into the interior towards Natal, They became dissattisfied because the Government freeed or emancipated their Slaves, but the English Govern ment payed them, for them. My Brother George contunied at the buisness and became immencely rich by the Move of the Dutch for they, must have Wagons and would give any price for them eather old or new ones. The last matter worthy notice, and closing this eventful year, ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p150.jpg) was the final extinction of slavery at the Cape, which took place on the first of December, The abolition was proclaimed in 1834, from which period the slaves were indentured for four years, thus exchanging the eternally odious name for that of apprentice. No greater credit has ever been hassumed by the philanthropi sts for England than for this act of humanity, but no greater injury was ever inflicted upon the inhabitants of the Cape than by the Manner in which it was effected. It is true that the munificent sum of twenty Millions sterling was granted for a measure noble in itself and worthy all praise, but with it was a pledge that ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p151.jpg) a just and equitable amount would be awarded to each proprietor. A fair and correct appraisement was made of the 35,745 slaves, for which £3.000.000 ought to have been forthcoming; but the average valuation of £85 per head was reduced in England to £33 12s.; so that, instead of receiving £3. 000.000, the Colony got only £1.2000. 000. To add to the injustice of the act, the Money, instead of being receivable in the Colony, through the Colonial Govern ment, was made payable in London, by which a farther reduction was imposed by the necessity of employing agents. Many families were ruined by these deductions. Several sold their claims in ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p152.jpg) the Colony at a discount of ad 25 to 30 per cent, and some reject the paltry sum awarded to them altogather. Time, it is hoped, has blunted the sense of this manifested wrong, which with the insane native pol icy introduced to supersede that of Govenor D'Urban, drove its victims to migrate beyond the Trans Gariep and to Natal. This I have copyed from J. C. Chase's Cape Colony. Chapter 13 Having settled up all my buis ness and affairs in the Winter berg I started on my Journy to go into the interior with My own Wagon and Oxen eigh in number, with My Wife ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p153.jpg) and two Children whoes names were John and Jemima. My first start was to Fort Beaufort to colect things togather for the journy, My Brother Joseph acompanyed that far, Then I left Fort Beaufort and started farely and travilled at the Base of the Cromey Bush on the road that leads to Cradock, we halted the first day out on the Kaga River the propir- ty of Sir Andrews Stockenstrom who was at that time Lieuten ant Govenor of the frontiers, a traider who had a load of merchandice and on his way up into the Country among the Dutch campet with me that night. And nothing would do but he must have ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p154.jpg) my Wagon and would not take no for an answar, well I thought perhaps I would not need it when I got to my journys end and as I had sold my Oxen to my Brother Joseph before I left the Winter berg on condicions that I would send them back to him by the first oppertunity and on the same terms I sold my Wagon to this traider Mr Bell, for which he payed me in Merchandice out of his Wagon, We journyed togather all the next day to Baviaan's River and stopet at a Dutch Nans farm there I left Mr Bell, Then we went part the Daggosboors Neck which is a dreadful ruf rockey road ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p155.jpg) then from there we crossed the Tarka river where their was a splended Dutch farm owned by a man whoes name is Lumbart and from there we passed many such farms for a fortnight and also pass ing what is called the Storm berg's Spruit a Division so called by a river which runs through it and thickly inha beted by Dutch Farmers, Then we crossed the Great Oringe river which was the first time I had ever seen it and looking down from the hights it was very beautiful all varigated with differant collers of rocks and the river was just as clear as posable and was about three hundred ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p156.jpg) yards wide and was fringed on both sides with beautiful Willows at that time was just budding out, I crossed it at what is called Sand Drift, and another days travil brou ght us to another river called the Calledon which is about half the size of the other one just Mentioned, at the time I passed this place there was no inhabetance no wheres near neither Dutch or Natives but at this time it is thickly Settled by the Dutch farmers and abounds with Game of many differant kinds also the Lordly Lion well we contunied our journy though a wild uninhabeted country with the exception of one Missioner ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p157.jpg) station which belonged to the Friench whoes Name was Rev Mr Rowland and we stayed with them one Night, and found them very agreable company, and the Next Night we stopt and Campt alongside of a very large Rock which had rolled down off the Mountain of which their are many such in that Sec sion of the country, And that night our dog began to bark so I look out of the Wagon and it being very Moonlight I could everything around, and at a little distance perhaps fifty off I distinctly saw a Lion and was going to fier at him but my leader had wakened up and ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p158.jpg) cracked his whip then the Lion just walked leasurely away without interfearing with us. And we rested well untill Morning, when we got up, and eat our bre akfast and started on our Journey again, over a beauti ful road and now and then crossing such pritty streams and rivulets it was rather a flat country but abounded with Springboks Weldebeasts and quaggas also Ostrichs. We contunied on and on utill we came upon some men who belonged to the Thaba Unchu, Missionary Station. I asked of those men how far it was to the Station and they told me that I could get there ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p159.jpg) that night if I would drive hard so I agreed with one of them to drive for me, so he took the whip and from that Moment his tongue and the whip were never still one Minute, and we passed for Miles and Miles Kaffar Gardens which we could see by Moonlight for it got to be about Midnight before we arrived at the Station where the Rev Mr. R. Giddy, was Stationed with a tribe of Barollongs or Buchannas so, we tied the Oxen fast and retired to rest untill morning it being Sunday When Mr Giddy got up and seeing the Wagon knowing that I was on the road he came to me ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p160.jpg) and asked me why I did not call out and let him know that I had come I told him that I did not wish to disturb him then we were very soon invited into the house and took breakfast with them and was treated very kindly, That day I saw the first Congregation of Natives or Bechuanas, so called and Mr Giddy preached to them in their own Language, it was then I began to see what was before me and what I had to do myself when I arriv ed at the Station I was going too, The Thaba Unchu Station takes its Name from a very large Mountain in the Vicinity which is a Native ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p161.jpg) name, and Moroca is the Name of the Chief of that tribe, I knew him well, They build very good substansial round Huts or houses with good Verandas all around them under which they store away their grain in large earth en jars which will hold from four to five bushels each and when they want any for use they draw a plug at the bottom which lets the grain out, They also make baskets of grass which will hold from eight to ten bushels and put them away in the same Manner, And out side of the Verand they build a Screen of reads some twelve feet high just leaving a ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p162.jpg) gangway to go in and out, and at Night that is shut up with a gate made of reads or saplings, Their dress and orn iments are similar to the fronter tribes of Kaffirs, After staying two or three days with Mr Giddy, I started for Umpukani (Mantatees) and when I started Mr Giddy, let me have a frish span of Oxen and a Man to drive for me who knew the road to where I was going, we was two days on the road before we arrived at Mr Edward's Station, through a country flat, and abounding with Game which has already been discribed, On our first outspaning their were hundred ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p163.jpg) of Kaffirs on an hunting exertion carring Umberellas made of Ostrichs fethers to screen them from the sun, as well as to frighten the Game, and if they are short of men they stick these screens into the ground to represent men, and generly have a large nu mbers of dogs of the Grayhound breade to assist in the hunt, When they are pressed by the hunter they make for the water and plung right into it, While we were nooning their was one Weldebeast came and plunged into the water about two hundred yards from us, well sprinkled with assagais, so we went from the Wagon to see the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p164.jpg) sight and on our returning to the Wagon our little girl Jemima, had a bone in her hand which she was still picking from her dinner when a very large Eagle or Hawk, which of the two I dont know but it darted down and took the bone right out off her hand, which startled us all and frightened the Child, well we started on again and went a few Miles farther on and then outspaned for the Night, by the side of a very large rock. I am sure it was as big as a house which had rolled down of the Mountain, and their were Lions in the Vicinity, It was a pritty wild looking ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p165.jpg) country with plenty of grass and water and would make splended farms if it had been taken up for the purpose, Next Morning we contunied our Journy over and through the same pritty country and in and around such pritty hills which made the seenery very beautiful, We also passed a Station on our left two or three Miles distant from us called the Griqua Station, Lishuani or green Cluffs. At that time it was presided over the Rev. H. H. Garner, a Wesleyan Station, This days travil brought us to our des tination, which Made both My Wife and Myself feel very thankful. But was ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p166.jpg) very much disappointed to find Mr and Mrs Edwards away from home, gone on a visit to another Station, but they left word with the people that was liveing there that if we should come to tell me what to do so they showed me the house that I was to occupy and I took possesion and went to work and unload ed the Wagon and soon made ouselves comfortable as we thought, but it was an old house and Tached with reas and when we put the Children to bed the Bugs was so many and so hungery that they just went to eating the poor little things up which woke them up with a scream, And ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p167.jpg) when my wife went to see what was the matter she was frightened at the sight for the poor little creatures was pritty near covered, I never saw bedbugs so numer ous in any place that I was ever in to eaquel that, Umpukani Station is high in the Mountain giving a beautiful and extensive vew over the country for Miles and Miles, and haveing a stream of beautiful water from the Mountain runing past the door, Mr Edwards House was a very large dubble building with house and Chapel all under the same roof which was thached with reads, so all he had to do when he ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p168.jpg) went to preach to his people was to go out of his dineing room into the Chapel, The house being nicely white washed on the outside it could be seen for twenty miles or more on a bright day, soon after my arrival at this place, Mr Edwards came home after been on a tour or preaching, very tired, and the evening service had to be attended to so he said to me which do you think is the best man to night you or me and as I had not been away from home he pressed on me to preach that night I did which was my first attempt in the Dutch langu age which was quite an effert on my part for I had never ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p169.jpg) attempted to speake before on Spiretual things neither in public, in the Language, but haveing a pritty good knowlage of the Language from a Boy I got along well and the people told me that they understood all I said which was more than they did when Mr Edwards first came among them, I took for my text that night, the 11th and 12th virses in the first chapter of St Johns Gospel which reads thus. 1 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 2 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that beleive on his name. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p170.jpg) One of the first things which dvolved upon me after I got settled, was to begin to teach School, and open it with singing and prayer in the Dutch Language, and between school hours, I was buissey at other employments such as makeing doors Mantlepeaces and Garden gate and many other things to fit up Mr Edwards house, and every other Sunday I had to go to the Korannas Station to preach to them, I had to start on Satuarday, which was twenty five miles and go on Horesback, The interpreter was Griquas by the name of John Pinna, he had being in the employ of the Soci ty for years as an interperter ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p171.jpg) and School Master to that tribe of Korannas and he could read the Dutch Language well, it was from this man that I learned to talk the Dutch Language much better than I had known it before I went into that part of the country He took a great likeing to me and the day that he would expect me he [-] could see me comeing some five or six miles and when I would get there he would have the kettle boiling ready to make Tea for me he knew that I was in the habbet of bringing some and he was extravegantly fond of a little, Well on Sunday morning to draw the people togather he would ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p172.jpg) crack a very large Whip under and along the Mountain which would echo for Miles and then we could see the Natives coming from every direction to meeting, which we used to hold under a very large Olive Tree, and they would sit all around on rocks of all sises, Then I would speuke in the Dutch tounge and this man would interpiret in the Korarna Language, and when neither Mr Edwards or Myself were their he would hold service himself, so it contunied for the first six months I was their, Well after service was over then I had to meet the Members of the Church and hold class meeting ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p173.jpg) and when that was over then I would start for home which was a long distance and so lonely and it would be genarly after dark before I reached home I remember once when I was on the road I had such a dreadful fear of meeting a Lion, and I left that their was one near by but I did not see it, Well when I told my friend about it and how I felt, he said that their was one not very fare away, which caused me to have such feelings. At the end of these six months I began to feel a little uncomfo rtable as though I did not want to be so confined so close to one place and I told Mr Edwards how I felt and he asked ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p174.jpg) me how I would like to go and live at the Koranna Station so I told him that I would like it very well so when the district meeting met they appointed me to that place, At this place their has never been a Mission House built untill I went there, Chapter 14 After it was desided at the meeting that I should go to this place, my Wife left Umpukani Station to go back to the colony in compony with Mr H. H. Gar ner and Frinch Missionary whos name was La Meu who was also going to the colony, My wife also took two Children with her I accompanyed her as far ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p175.jpg) as Mr Giddy Station which was Thaba Unchu and a few Miles further for I hated to part with my family for I did not know weather I should ever see my Wife again for she was going a distance of from five to six hundred Miles from me to Bathurst. She tucked at Cradock and the Winterberg where her father was living and went to see her people, But her rea son for going away from me down to Bathurst was to be Confined. She felt timid to be among the Natives at that time this was in the year 1839. And in May 12th she was delivered of a Son whoes name is Jerimia Francis, She was very weak and poorly for some time ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p176.jpg) and while at Bathurst her driver and leader were both sick with the Measels. And also a native family and my little Children all had the Measels in the Wagons while she was returning home to me the farmers on the road side was so affraid of them when they found that they had the Measels they would not let them come near the house so they sone the best they could, and all got home safe after an absence of from four to five Months. But I must go back again to where I parted with my Wife and two little Children to the New Station that I was to bulid up, But before ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p177.jpg) I could begin to do anything in regard to building, I had to go to a place called sand river which the Korannas had baught some time preivous but had never occupied it. but it occupied by the Dutch Emigrants who would not give it up. To see those Emigrants I went in company with the Koranna Chief whos name was Isica Taibush and several of his followers and also a Bastard Man whos name was William Mottle who acted as an Inter preter for me as he understood the Koranna Language, so we talked the Matter over with the Dutch people, But as they were settled there they would not give it up ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p178.jpg) on any terms what ever, Sand river was as hansome and parkelike Country as I ever saw, it was dotted all over with beautiful Mimosa and Koore and other kinds of Trees, This part of the coun at one time had been very thickly inhabeted by a tribe of people called the Mantatees who had been Massecrede and driven bach by a tribe Lodas and Warlike Nation, who gives no quarters but slays both Men Women and Children. Their bones layed bleaching in the Sun at the time that I was there. So we returned back again to where the Korannas was staying a place called Mirametsu. Then I com ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p179.jpg) menced to build the Mission House as the buisness was settled in that way. I built a snug house with four rooms in it which was siting room bedroom and kitchen, and also a smal room for a study which when done it was very comfortable, it was Thacthed with corse grass which is like the fine reads and sewed on with oxhide cut into stripes. Well I had just got two rooms ready for liveing when one of my neighhours came to see me whos name was Rev. Mr Dom has a French missionary who broug two strange men with him to see me and my station and Mr Domhas told me in ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p180.jpg) his broken english who they were, He said they were two of the Society of Friends who was Quakers whos name were Mrss Walker and Backhouse, they had being traviling and writing all of the Missionary Stations in the World as far as they posably could, and took Sketches of all the places and wrote a history on them, and wrote Tracks on the Quaker docterin and distribeted them where ever they went, I was very much surprised in my lonely situa tion to receive those stranger[-] and talking so broad such as Thee and Thou for I had never heard Quakers talk before, and Mr Domhas ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p181.jpg) was very thoughtful for he knew that I was alone (my Wife had not yet returned yet) and he brought food along with him for fear that I might be out and we had dinner togather in my little Study, and I found them intelegant and well informed Men, They made it a practice to preach and talk to the people at every Station so my interpretor cracked his big Whip and very soon had the people togather under the Tree where I always held meeting so one of them commenced to speak in English and I to speak in Dutch to my Interpretor and then he ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p182.jpg) spoke in the Koranna Lang uage so when I had interpre tored for one I thought that I was through but the other one commenced and then I had to begin to inter perate for him. My interpr[-] ter told me after we had got through that I was quite an Efficint Interpreter, at this time Mr Edwards was from home with his family had gone to Graham's Town on buisness, so myself and Mr G Bingham had to full the appointments at Mr Edwards Station and at the request of those Friends we had to be there to meet them on a curtain day named to be there, so when I saw ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p183.jpg) Mr Bingham the first thing he asked me, was, have you seen the Quakers, I told him I had, They both spoke at this Station but would not occupy the Pulpit, so they spoke through Mr Binghams interpreter who was a Man tatee and could speake very good English and also under stode the Basuto Language Mr Walke was speaking and said in a Mistake your teach ers can tell you how to walk but they can not walk in the path them selves. So Mr Backhouse got up and corrected him by saying you mean to say that they can not walk in the path for you ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p184.jpg) so after the service was over we made up a good fier for it was very cold at that time, so we sat and chatted until a late hour, Their were two Sofas in the large sitting room, one of them was quite a good deal longer than the other. and Mr Backhouse being the shortest man of the two got possion of the longes sofa and would not give it up so Mr Walker had to take the short one and put a Chair at the foot to put his feet on, The next morning they took Sketches of the Station. Then we all left that Station and after riding a few Miles togather we ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p185.jpg) sepperated and I went to my home and never saw them any more. But after I had left that country for the colony these Men sent a copy of their travils to all the Stations, from England, but I never got one, Then after a while I heard that Mr Backhouse had died, Just about this time my Wife arrived, I did not know that she was so near home, when I had to go away some twenty five Miles away (when she came) at a Station called the Lishuani Station, And my wife sent a Man after me on Horseback to let me know that she had come. In a jokeig way Mr Bingham said to me ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p186.jpg) you dont beleive that she has come you are not going are you so I told him that I beleived it was true enough and I must go so I returned with the Man whom she sent, and when I got home I found my wife and Children all well and happy to meet again after so long an absence, Then I went to work and finished the House, for she brought some Materials back with her which I needed in building, and also a Man who had being my servant when living in the colony he was a good Man then and I found him very useful and a great help to me about the Station The Koranna Station is quite ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p187.jpg) a Picturesquetic and romantic place the side of the Mountain is strewed with Huge rocks which from time to time has roled down some of them is twenty and thirty feet high and so they run for Miles and in between those rocks we could go in with a Wagon and cut down Timber with very little trouble But the Cluffs and revens are perfectly grand dotted all over with beautiful Trees shrubes and flowers, and in between these rocks the Korannas build their Huts Thare huts are built of what we call Mountain Bam boo, which is very strong and grows from ten to fifteen feet in length ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p188.jpg) these are stuck in the groun[-] about six inches apart which bring them very thick at the top then they are covered in with mats made of rushes which grows from five to six feet high, so they can easy move their huts and carry them away on pack oxen they are a people who are always on the Move from one locality to another and they are very rich in Cattle and Horses and live cheifly on Milk and the Chace they seldom ever cultivate the soil, now and then to grow a little Tobacco, While I was there with them their lived in a naighbouring Cluff a ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p189.jpg) their was a mixed class of people of differant tribes who lived in this Cluff or Valley, and cultivated the soil. And the Korannas had lost Cattle and accused those people of stealing them so unknown to me they actacked them and plundered and drove them with fierarms they took shelter where ever they could find it and many were wounded, so one day a man came to me and want ed me to go with him away up into the Mountain and into a cave where I found a wounded Men, I rode my horse as far as I could and all the way I could where the bullets had struck and grazed the ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p190.jpg) rocks so while I was up there with them I washed and dressed their wounds and prayed with them and left them while I was gone my Wife felt dreadful uneasy for I was the only white Man their. Well I contunied on at my work fixing building and beautifing my home untill the next district meeting when Mr Shaw came who was the general Superinten dent of the Wesleyan Missions in South Eestern Africa He came to the Station himself in company with others. So he wished to see me about erecting a Water Mill for grinding grain for the Stations and he wanted it built at ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p191.jpg) the Plattberg Station, on account of its being a wheat growing country and also haveing plenty of water, so has the meeting had come to that conclusion it was not for me to say no, so Mr Shaw to reconsile me to do so he told that I should have a yearly remuneration over and above my Salary, after I had got things Middlin comfort able and began to feel at home and the people attacthed to me, Then I was to be superseded by a Mr J Hartley a man I had known for years in Graham's Town so then I had to prepare to leave and could not do so untill Mr Hartley came to take charge, so after a few weeks he arrived and ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p192.jpg) we stayed togather for a week untill he became acquainted with the place and he would have me preach so he could see how I managed, Before I leave the Station I want to say a few words in regard to the Koranna Cheifes, Isica Taibush who died of Consump tion after lingering for a few weeks while I was on the Station, and he was superseded by his Brother Geart Taibush, Their Uncle John Taibush was Cheif of the Korannas a few before my time with them this John went out with his followers on a great hunt for wild game as was their custom at times so one night after they had Campted ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p193.jpg) and settled for the Night they seen a Lion in the vicinity of the camp so John said that we must eather kill the Lion or move the camp so they Saddled up their Horses to give chace to the Lion, so on coming up to the Lion they fired and wounded him and John being a brave man he rode up to the Lion, when the Lion turned and chaced him and sprung upon the Horse and laserated and tore him fearfully and John received such fearfull wounds that he died in a day or two afterwards and so ended the life of this brave Koranna Chief, they have had none like him for bravery since. ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p194.jpg) I left Mirametsu and went to Plaatberg where the Rev James Cameron Chairman of the district where he resided I went their to see about the waiter Mill which as been spoken of I remained there for several weeks doing work for Mr Cameron then it was perposed that I should go to Graham's Town to get Iron and other things ready for building the Mill and Mr Cameron proposed to lend me his traveling Wagon to go down with as I had none of my own ----- new page (MSS9137_F1_p197.jpg) Laserated. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p003.jpg) Mr. J. F. Wiggill Layton Davis Co. Utah ch: 23 page 347 of this book tells of Mormon missionaries coming to So Africa from Salt Lake City Utah. Talbots and Wiggills were baptized into church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p004.jpg) Book No 2 ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p005.jpg) Chapter 15 When I got everything and made all arrangements, I had to go to Tabu Unchu to Mr Giddy to get a Span of Oxen before I could starte, so I left Plautberg on Horseback which was about twenty or thirty partly over a flat country <[-]> and <[-]> started alone although it is customery in that coun try to have eather a man or a big Boy to ride with us which the Dutch calls an afterrider,) When I was about half way between the two places, I offsadled, at what is called (Low River) or Lion River so when I thought that my horse had eat and rested long enough, I went to catch ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p006.jpg) him but his being a spirited animal I went up to him to catch him when he got frightened and I mised catching the rim so he got away from me and kept doging around for more than a half an hour so I found there was no other Alterntive only to shoulder the saddle and drive the Horse on ahead of me, which I did untill night over took me. But still tryed to catch him at intervils but could not succeed, and not a soul on the road to help me. I never met a traveler all the distance but I contunied to travel untill some time in the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p007.jpg) night when I came up to a Wagon, that had broke a wheel, the Wagon belonged to a Bastard Man who was trying to mend it and as I knew the Man I proposed to stay with him untill morning. And has I was very hungery and faint I asked him if he would make some tea if he had any so he made the last draw ing he had and I told him that I would bring him more in lue of it on my return which I did. Well it was Winter time and of corse I had to stay the rest of the Night with this Man and haveing no bedcloaths with me he lent me an old ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p008.jpg) wagonsail which was black with age and full of holes, and I had such a job to keep the frost from niping my back. I was so glad when it was Morning, and I was up by times, caught My Horse and started for Mr Giddy's which was about six Miles a way but soon arrived and got warmed up and a good Breakfast which made me feel so much better. So I arranged with Mr Giddy for the Oxen which he sent in due time. Then after I got the Oxen Myself with my family started towards the Caledon river through a country that I had never traviled before ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p009.jpg) but it was a beautiful Undula ted country dotted over with the wild Olive Trees and in what is called the Bottoms was the beautiful Mimosa Trees, Sometimes we where on one side of the River and sometimes on the other so we contunied traviling for eighh or ten day when we came to the Great Oringe river to what was known in that day Buffels flaydrift and when we got there we could not cross for the river was flooded and their was no float or Port at that time so we had to go up the stream about four miles to a Dutch mans place who took us over by takeing our Wagon to ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p010.jpg) all to peaces and takeing it over a peices at a time and then we put the Wagon togather again on a large flat rock in the Bed of the river but before we had got it compleated their came up a dreadful thunder Storm and while it lasted it was fearful. We crossed the Orange just where the Kraai or Crow river so the Dutchman left me right in the bed of the river, and I had to get out the best way that I could Then I put the Oxen to the Wagon and made a start and as the Bank was very steep and had become so soft by the Storm it was ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p011.jpg) just as much as my Oxen could do, but to help them I had dig a ditch some eigh teen inches deep on the upper side of the Wagon to keep it from upsetting, and I had to hold on to a rope as well, But haveing a good driver and also know ing the theory of Wagons myself we got out all safe, And roled on untill we came to Buffels Vallie and Hot Springs which was near boiling. They were Sulpher Springs. When this place was first discovered it [illegible deletion] which was about 1805 it was at that time occasionnally visited by Hunting Parties being the resort of immense herds of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p012.jpg) game and sometimes resorted to for the purpose of pasturage in very seasons but it was at this period too periloies a locality for permanent Occup ation, being inhabited by a few tribes of dangerous Bush Men, and the great lurking place the Sovereign of the Forest the Lordly Lion and Buffolos and other game In 1809 we have the first written account of this remote territory, It was from the pen of amiable Colonel Collins who was ordred to visit and report upon the Lands in the vicinity of the Northern boundary of the Colony which at that time was circumscribed on the Northeast by the Luurberg's ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p013.jpg) river. This officer was accompany ed by Sir Andreas Stockenstrom and Lieut Cowderoy of the 21st Light Dragoons, and on the 3rd of February 1809 this party discov ered a stream recently become celebrated of about two-thirds the volume of the Great or Orang river coming from the north, to which they gave the name of the Caledon, in honor of the then Governor of the colony. They also discov ered another fine stream and as no colonist had been here before says the colonel and the country was destitute of inhabitants from whom we could learn the Name of the river if it had any, we honred it with that of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p014.jpg) Grays River a mark of respect to the honorable H. G. Gray, Lieutennt Governor of the colony, This Name was after wards corrupted into that of Kraai or Crow River. The poneer Coloniest who first dared to commence a permanent establishment in this far cast is said to have been one G. F. Bezuidemhout. This was in the Year 1823 and he squat ted on the place called Gro[-]ne Vallei on the Kraamberg, Other parties soon followed. Stephanus Erasmus, about the same time Petrus de Wet an emigrant from the Neighbour hood of Drakenstein near [illegible deletion] Cape Town planted his household at Boffels Vallei ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p015.jpg) This man I was acquainted with and he told me the hist ory of this Baffels Vallei he told me that when he first came to this place it was a swamp of tall reeds about a Mile in length and about a quarter of a Mile in wedth and that his Cattle used to get swampted in it. Mr de Wet on examining the place he found two Conical shaped Mounds which he turned too and opened and brought the water down to his homestead in a large furrow or sute and watered his Garden and Cornfields and also used it in his house for domestic use when it was cold. When the water was brough into the furrow it was from ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p016.jpg) eight to nine inches square enough to turn a large waterwheel, And when Mr de Wet had opened these Mounds they sunk down to a level with with the Bog, and as the water dryed up the Cattle feed on and eat the reed all away so it is now a bed of Turf and to walk on it, It is like walking on Spunge. Boffels Vallei is a fine open space containing some fourteen thousand acres of fertile ground. A large portion can be irrigated from the Sulpher Springs which issue from two eyes or fountains both are about 78 feet in diameter and one measured 22 feet in depth the quanty of water thrown ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p017.jpg) out has been measured by Mr Surveyer Ford and declared to be 1,497,600 gallons in 24 hours This place of Mr de Wets is about two Miles from the Great Orange River and there is no better water anywheres than that river a Villiage as been erected on the bank of the Orange river just at this place which is called Aliwal North. Having given quite a detail of Aliwal North, and the Sul pher Springs. I contunied on my journy to Grahamstown, we traviled on about ten Miles and halted for the Night where I thought that I would travil through an uninhabited country which was unknown to me I had ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p018.jpg) heard about it but had never traviled it. It being Satuarday Night and in them days we did not make it a practis of traviling on Sunday I remained there and while their two Dutchmen came riding up to me on Horseback so[-] Dutchman like they asked me where I had come from and where I was going too, so I told them where I was going, and they told me that it was not safe for me to go that road alone as I was with my family for they said that it was infested with Lions, so I took their advice and went another road, which led through what is called the Stormberg's Sp[--]it, through a rough ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p019.jpg) rugged country inhabited for Miles by Dutch farms who was very comfortable in rich Orchards Gardens Cornfields and Cattle and Sheep in abu ndance, We traviled through this country for three or four days till we came to a Scotchman farm whos Name was John Kurgon their we were weather bound for two days on account of rain. They were very sivel and obligeing, well we contunied on untill we came to a very steep hill which we had to decend which was called Donkerhook Dark Vallie, it was a terable rugh stoney pass but I got down all safe with but little trouble, to a beautiful ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p020.jpg) flat country dotted over with the Mimosa thorntrees and along the Triberotry to the Class Smiths river which we crossed, their we came to a Station called Haslope Hillls and who resided at that time the Rev. John Ayliff, with whome we stayed over Sunday, and then it took us two days and a half before we reached the Winter- berg, where my Wifes parents lived and also My Brother George. But before we reached them we had a rough road to travil, then we stayed about a week with them and had a good visit, and has I expected two Wagons down to get goods for ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p021.jpg) the Stations They did not intend going any farther than the Winterberg, I had to hire a Wagon and my Brotherinlaw Thomas Bently went with me to Grahamstown which was about fifty five miles passed Fortbeaufort and Fortbrown and so I arrived in Grahamstown. Chapter 16 On my arrivel in Grahams Town I found the arrange ments for the Gristmill at the Station was all countermanded, and all I had to do then was to gather up the Merchandise for the Stations and buy my own supplyes which ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p022.jpg) kept me in Grahamstown a fortnight or three weeks attending to buisness and visiting friends, for I had a great many there, and in the mean time my Brotherinlaw went to Algo Bay, or Port Elizabath, to get a load of fright to Gra hamstown. My driver Cornelious went with him so that he could see the Sea for he had never seen it. So on their return I was ready to start on my home ward journey which we did in a day or two. When we got to the Blinkwater Hill it was so hard to get up that I had to send to my Brother Joseph for ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p023.jpg) a Span of Oxen to help me up the Hill, so when I got back to the Winterberg I found the Wagons there, one of them was the Rev. G. Bingham's privet Wagon, which I loaded with sawed Timber a neat Plow and a wheelbarrow which I got my Father to make while I stayed there, and had some repairs done to the Wagons. My Brother George carried on the wheelright and Blac ksmith buisness. Well in about a week I started back for my home at the Plaatberg Station, and and My Father went with me as far as the Orange ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p024.jpg) river as he had never seen it, he had a great dissire to see it and the surround ing country and My Brother inlaw George Bentley went all the way with me to Plaatberg and also a young Lady went with us as a companian for Mrs Wig gill, her name was Harriot Pote. Before I left My Brother George, I conclued to leave My Son John with him to go to School but instead of his going to school he was sent out to herd Sheep and treated very differant to what I expected him to be by My Brother and his Uncle Having made all arrang ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p025.jpg) ments with my friends and acquaintances I bid them goodby and started with three Wagons on starting I had to encounter a steep grassey ridge of some three Miles long which made it very hard to get up with Loaded Wagons, But when on the top we had a splended view of My Brother's Georges Farm and the country around for Miles. This farm that I call Winterberg proper only in the vecinity of the great Winterberg Mountain but that farm and the one joining it nown by the name of Cale Hock. And the farm in question was owned at that time by My Father Isaac Wiggill. And he called it ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p026.jpg) Pinket Vail after a place he at in England. Well arriving on the top of this ridge we had to decend a long rugged Hill down to the Konap river which we crossed, The Konap river takes its rise from the big Winterberg Mou ntain whos tops in the winter is covered with Snow. The top of this Mountain can be seen in the distance from ninty to a hundred miles in clear weather. Four rivers takes their rise from this mountain First the Konap river then the Kat river then the Swart Key river and the Tavka river. After crossing the Konap river and traveling about six miles we came to ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p027.jpg) [-]oor's of the big Winterberg Mountain which is very steep in places and is from four to five miles in length. But when on the top. On looking back the scenery or view is perfectly grand the valley is dotted over with the Mimosa thorne and other kinds of Trees, besides large Forests of beautiful Timbers and the farms looking rich and gay. Well after leaveing the top of this Mountain, we traveled on for a few Miles on a beautiful level road with grass very corse and sour and it often rains on that hight from Misty clouds so that the water runs in streams, while in the Konap ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p028.jpg) Tarka Valleys the Sun often is shining. We begin to decende down long grassey Valleys leading down to the Tarka river which river we cross half dozen times through a very Stoney rugged country and surrounded by eigh rugged Stoney Mountains. But inhabited all the way by Dutch and English farmers whoes princiable fuel is dung taken from the Sheep carroll and when dryed makes a very hot fier. The farms through that section of country is a good wheat growing country and also good for Sheep, and Cattle. Having traveling through this Valley for about fifteen Miles ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p029.jpg) we turned off to the right leading the Tarke river behind and went over what is called Tafelberg's neck, which is a very ruff and difficalt road for about eigh miles distance and in this vecinity their is an Institution for collord persons which was some time ago established by the Wesleyan Society, in the Tarka district named Haslope Hills Two remarkable hills which stand nearly in the center of this property derive their names from their flattened summits being called the two tables Mountains, Those Mountains are so high and rugged that one of them is accessible and ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p030.jpg) only at one point, being surrounded on all sides by a preceptious hard gran ite rocks standing perpen diclar and to look at some of them they look as though the wind would blow them over. To apperan they seem detacthed from the Mountain in perpendiclar Masses, and on the top of them are level and table shaped and game is found on these Mountains. Having a little buisness with Mr Ayliff so My father and Myself rode over to the Station to see him he being the Missionry stationed there at that time. Well I attended to my buisness with him ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p031.jpg) and we returned to the Wagons and found them outspaned on a nice flatt surrounded with beautiful Mimosa thorns known as Golden thorns. Here we was weather bound for two days it rained so hard that we could not move, and my father began to be very impatiant and was sorry that he had started on the journy with me. But he was all right when the rain was over and the sun was shining. So we traviled on from there for several days passing Dutch farms now and then and also crossing the Kass smits river, and coming ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p032.jpg) to a pass known as Pennhoek which is a steep romantic and elevated pass and very difficult to get up. And wh when on the top of this emenance I just enter upon the track of Country where the Dutchmen told me I had better not go for he said that it was infested with Lions. But haveing three Wagons and pritty strong handed we ventered to go, and found it a very beautiful country with plenty of grass and water and never seen a Lion all the way and it took us three days to travel over it well nothing very peticlur happened ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p033.jpg) only one of the wagons got stuck fast in a swamp place and in geting it out we broke the Disselbome or the Tongue, but we soon replaced it with a new one next morning. After been very near devoured the Night before by Mos quitos, so we soon got through to Buffalo Vallei, on the Orang river, and when we got there we found it impass able, it was flooded, and their being no pont and no Means by which we could cross we turned and went down the river some ten Miles to Mr Hdder and Goldon who had a Pont on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p034.jpg) Well when we arrived at Messrs Holdon and Goldon's Pont the curant was so strong and the rops reaching from one side of the river to the other they had been broken by the rafts of Timber which was broug down by the flood, While I wated we tried several times to get the rops across and failed to do so The way we tried to get the rope across the river was we tied a small rope to the big one, and then started to cross in a small Boat but the stream was so strong that it took the rope down in bow shape, well they could not draw it in, then they attacthed to it a span of ten or twelve oxen to it and they failed to ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p035.jpg) draw it in. and seeing that failed My Father Mr Holder and myself commenced to rep eare a large Boat that was there and just as we got it ready for use the flood was about over so we got the rope over and did not use the Boat that we repaired. Well we got over at last after being detained four weeks their I left my father with Mr Holder they been well acquainted both being Settlers of eighteen twenty. Two or three weeks after I left the river their was a greater flood than had been that season, and they had just taken a Wagon over and was returning and when about the Middle of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p036.jpg) the river. My father and Mr Holder both pulling on the same rope, The pont was taken by the current and reversed which caused Holder and My father to be under the pont and in the water but holding on to the rope and going hand over hand, and when my father got to the cross rope he soon got to the shore. it was a merical that any of them got out alive but to the best of my recolection their were one or two drounded. After leaveing father I journeyed on to the Caladon river and when we got there the river was flooded and full up to its banks so we was detained ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p037.jpg) there one week or more. while waiting at this river to cross and my money having run out and wanting meat, and I did not know how I was going to get any so while stand ing in front of my Wagon I seen a Shilling on the ground I picked it up and scratching around in the sand untill I found seven Shillings in Silver with which I went and baught a Sheep then we had plenty of Meat for our use. Then in the mean time a Dutchman came with a small Boat and we took our Wagons all to peaces and took them over, which was a dangerous undertakeing as the Willows which was ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p038.jpg) thirty feet high we could just see the tops of them now and then so has we got the things over we landed them on an eminance on the opposite side as we thought out of danger, But we did not get the Wagons all over in one day But my own Wagon was all over so we put that togather and My Wife and Children was over so we slept their that night, And just as we got the last wagon over the river rose some two or three feet heigher so that we had to move away off this eminance and in a hurry too or our Wagons and all our effects would have been washed away ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p039.jpg) and after we got away off the bank and out of danger. I had to go to work and repair one of the Wagons which got broke it cost me three Pounds to get them Wagons over that river. This was in the year of eighteen forty one. Well haveing got all things in order ready for moveing on. we started, and those heavy Summer rains with a great deal of Thunder and Lighen ing, and the roads that we had to travel was so soaked by the rain that it was like going through a Swamp and many times we would be as much as a mile out of the road to get on to rocks to keep from sticking fast which we did ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p040.jpg) many a time, and would have to dig the wheels out when they would be sunk in up to the Axletree, and if the Oxen stood afew minits or tramped by trying to pull the Wagon out it would be perfect slush a foot or more deep all around them. We contunied this kind of traveling for three or four days from the Caladon river When we was within a day and a half's travel to Thaba Unchu and toiling so hard and sticking fast every now and then still working the three Wagons, so just before Sunset we saw the black Clouds gathering which seemed to roll and rest upon the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p041.jpg) earth just then we had to cross a small rivelet which on the opsit side was a rockey emeniance which we wanted to reach before dark to camp on thinking we would Safe thine, and with great difficulty we munigged to get two of the Wagons over by dubling the Teams, and by this time it began to rain in torants and got so dark that we could not see what to do, so I gave orders to the driver not to attempt to cross that night but to stay where he was till morning But contrary to my orders and unkown to me he made the attempt and got the Wagon into ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p042.jpg) the middle of the stream with the fore wheels up on the bank and could get no further for it was pitch dark and raining in torants so the Wagon was left. and the earth was so full of water that it could hold no more, so the rain that fell that night flooded the small river and some time in the night it took the Wagon and all its contents down the Stream. Our servant girl wanted to sleep in that Wagon that night but my Wife would not lett her. and that night so has to have a cup of coffee I took a very large umb[-]r ella and made a fier under ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p043.jpg) it on a flat rock and boiled the kettle and made coffee had our supper and then went to bed but not to sleep much for the roreing of the storm and the rushing of the Waters was fearful, so when daylight came, the Wagon was gone it was nowheres to be seen, but the storm had abated and the stream had lowred some three feet so we went down the stream to see if we could see any thing of the Wagon. Well about a quarter of a mile down. we found the under stell or runing gears caught by a chain to a rock which had been left on the diselbom then we went on a little ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p044.jpg) further and found the Plow sunk in a hole in the bed of the river. But as my Wife was so poorley, I left my Wife's Brother George Bentley in charge to surch up and down the river and gather up what he could find and follow me to Thaba Uncha, but before I got there I had to dig my wagon out of the Mud several times, and in about two days My Brother came along with the two Wagons. Having searched the river for seven or eight Miles up and down and after all, about eight Poudnds would have payed for all that was lost. Has the Wagon was Mostly ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p045.jpg) loaded with Timber. so about a month afterwards a Dutch man who lived on the river some miles below. seeing something in the rubbish that the water driven up in a heap, has he had heard of Coffins having feet, he thought that he had found one, But after diging it out he found it to be Mr Bing hams Wheelbarrow, which was washed down with the Wagon. So when I got to Mr Giddy's I learned from him that arrangements had been made while I was away that I was to come and live or reside with Mr Giddy at the Thaba Uncha Station Mostly to finish and put in ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p046.jpg) order for living in a large barn of a place that had been built by a Mr Archable who resided some years on that place he being the first to organize this Station and had this house built but never finished untill I went there and finished it and made a comfortable house of it. But after staying a day or two at Mr Giddy's I started with my family and went to Plaatberg and was there about two weeks, and gathered up my effects and returned again to Mr Giddys Station to assist in Preaching and do what every I was asked to do. This was in the year of eighteen forty one. The first thing ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p047.jpg) was to start on the eight day of August for my old station the Konanna's to get a load of cirtain kinds of hard Timber to use for repeairing Wagons or anything that might be wanted about the station, I started on Horse back leaveing My Wifes Brother George Bentley to come after me with the Wagon I reached the station about eight Oclock at night after riding forty miles. Mr Bentley did not arri ve untill the next day on ac count of his Cattle been unruly which was the tenth. and on Thursday August tenth and Friday 11th I was in the mountains with Mr Hartley cuting wood, and Satuarday 13th in the mou ntain in surch of Wood. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p048.jpg) Sunday the 14th in the Morning I preached to the Korannas through an Interpreter. Monday August 15th I wrode to Mr. W. Shepstone Station called Umpukani a Mantatees Station and it had been actacted that Morning by a Chief of the of Sacuekanyale, but he was repulced by the people of the Station although he took them by surprize at the breake of day, two men of the Station was killed, and five of the enemy, and eight Horses taken by the Men of the Station. Tuesday August 16th I left Umpukani for Lishuani Mr Bingham's Station and stayed there part of two days. Thursday 18th left Lishuani ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p049.jpg) for. Mr. Hartley Station. with Mr. G. Paxton and although our Horses was very weak we got their in good time and all safe. Friday 19th I went with Mr Hartley into a Cluff where he had Plowed a peace of Land and sowed wheat which had be gan to show a beautiful shade of green. Saturday 20th I started from Mr Hartleys to go home on Horseback and arrived there about four Oclock in the after noon all right and in good health. Sunday august 21st I had to take the sirvice for the day as Mr Giddy and Mr Allison been called to Um pukani. on account of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p050.jpg) late disturbance in that part and on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd and 24th I wrote several letters for Moracks the Chief of the Barolongs, on account of the disturbance with the Mantatees and other Tribes. Sunday August 29th I rode to a Bastard Villiage back of the Thaba Unchu Mountains and held Preaching si[-]vies with them, September 17 My Brotherinlaw left Thaba Uncha for the Winterberg in company with Mr Bingham for to fetch up a load of Timber on his own account, Sunday 20th preached to the Bastards at Thaba Uncha in the Morning, Monday 21st ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p051.jpg) came a letter from the Plaatberg station from the Rev J. Camoren stating that things were very un settled still in that quarter Thursday 23rd I sent for Mrs Deneson the Midwife, to who was at the Umpukani Station, which was fifty miles to attend to my Wife. and she stayed with us about a month and on the 13th of Oct eighteen fortyone my Wife gave Birth to a Daughter whos name is Sarah Ann Susannah. and was Baptize by the Rev. R. Giddy. Sunday Sep 26th I preached in the morning in the Bechuana Town to about sixty souls. from the gospel of St Mark ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p052.jpg) and in the Afternoon I preached to a goodly nu mber of Basterds, and Griquas, and I hope not in vain, and in the Evening of the same day Mr Giddy preached and administred the Sacrament to the Members. Monday 27th Mr Giddy commited to the grave the remains of a Griqua. Peter Links. who died on the Station. Thursday Sep 30th My little Son Jeremiah Francis was taken very sick with a fever and as soon as he got a little better. Our little Daughter Jemima was taken down with the same fever which lasted ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p053.jpg) five weeks before they got about again, Sunday Oct 3rd I preached from Revelations, to the people at the Station. From Oct 3rd eighteen forty one up to Oct 30th eighteen forty two I was on the Station with Mr Giddy, employed as before Mentioned, Chapter 17 Copy of a letter from the Chairman of the District. May 1st 1842 Rev J Camoren Dear Brother I have placed you at the disposal of the Rev. W. Shaw general Sup erindent of the Wesleyan Missions in South Easteran ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p054.jpg) Africa, but should he decline employing you in the Albany District, I now write with the concurrence of my Bretheren, to inform you that your engagements with the Bechuana District, will terminate at the end of the preasent year. I remain dear Brother yours truely J. Camoren, Mr Eli Wiggill Thaba Uncha Station, After receiving this letter I contunied working on the Station untill the end of the year. When Mr Giddy and Myself went down to the Muder river and baught a span of Blue Oxen ten in number ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p055.jpg) from a Dutchman whos name was William Pertoues for the sum of 3.00 and fifty six dollars which is about 27 pounds in English money. and from that time I began to repair my Wagon and get things ready to leave Thaba Uncha Station for the Winterberg. Our first days Journey brought me to the Muder river to the residence of William Pertouers who was an old friend of mine. so I stayed a day or two with him and put an Axeltree in a Wagon for him. And on leaveing there we traviled for three or four days through a country inhabe ted by Dutch farmers. Mostly a flat country and abounding with game of various kinds ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p056.jpg) when we touched on Philippolis a London Mission Station, Which is a splendid farming and Cattle country and at that time inhabited by Bastards and Griquas and a few scattered Bushmen, This Station was named after the renowned Rev. Doc. Philip, who was the Superintendent of the London Missionary Stations of South eastern Africa, and a man who was always in hotwater with the Colonyest by advocating the Hottentotes and Kaffers Nations and depreciateing the White inhabit ance. and accuseing them of makeing disturbance between themselves and the Colored poplat For which he gained the ill will of the greatest bulk of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p057.jpg) white poplation. And eventily was Drownded at the Mission Station called Hankey, not many miles from Algo Bay, While he and his Soninlaw was passing through Tunnel for a Cannal which the Doctor had superintended to bring the water through to water the villiage of Hankey. such was the end of this great man who had spent over forty years in the London Mission work and was the head of all the Stations. And from Philipolis we came to the Orange river. which we Forded. but came in contact with a large bolder in the middle of the river, but having good Oxen and also a good driver we got over all right and safe and stayed that night on its banks ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p058.jpg) where we found a company of Soldiers campted their wating orders to go to the freestates, and was amusing themselves by Fishing. And the next day we proceided on our way and arrived at the Village of Colebery, and stayed there over Sunday. And attended service at the Dutch reformed Church. So on the Monday we started on our journey and came up to another large Company Soldiers who was on their way to the free states and we campted with them. And while stoping there we had one of Africas terific thunder storms break over us. which blew down one half of the tents and the camp was one sheet of Water. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p059.jpg) After leaveing Colesberg we contun[-] on and passed several Dutch farms untill we came to the farm of Mr Montgomery who was an Irish Settler. Their I had to stop two or three days on account of My Wife been very sick. But Mrs. Montgomery being a Dutchwoman and clever with Medeian she soon got My Wife all right again. And from there we traviled on passing Dutch and English Farmers, and while passing I heard that My Father was in the Neighbourhood repearing a Waterwheel for a Mr. W. Wright And when I called to see him I was informed that he had finished his work and had gone home to the Winterberg ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p060.jpg) Then about two days journey brought me to the Winterberg Farm where I started from, and arrived there all safe. Chapter 18 When I came to the Winterberg I found my father there. But has he had landed property in the village of Bathurst. So he had rented his place in Winterberg to a man by the name of Cloake Bear. Then when I came down my father prevailed on this man to give up his lease to me which he did Providing I would devide the Crops which he had put in which I agreed too. for that one year. So I settled ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p061.jpg) there and finished the house that My Father had partley built and on the place was a Watermill and also a wind- mill, Then I built a snug workshop and went right into buisness at Wagon make ing, and Blacksmithing and also attended to my Farm. This was in the year of 1843. Well I lived at this place about two years and was real happy and comfort- able. Still belonging to the Wesleyan Society, And now and then preached in the Neighborhood and some times I was called to preach at Fort Beaufort and at Kat River. And while here going to the Blinkwater ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p062.jpg) after Timber for my Wagon buisness. and in returning we had come up a very steep bushey path in the upper Blinkwater Hill. I had just come to the Wagon on Horseback to see how the Wagon had got up the Hill and standing on the upper side of the road looking at the Oxen coming up the Hill. and my Son John who was walking behind the Wagon and on seeing me he turned to look. and while looking at me. A Log rolled of the Wagon and struck him on back and bend of the Log and tore the flesh of leaveing the bone and the Sinews ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p063.jpg) all bare, This happened on the 5th of December 1843. So I had to put him on My Horse after tieing my handkerchiefe around his leg, and leave the Wagon . And lead the horse home which was from four to five Miles. But by good care and attention his Leg soon got well so that in two or three weeks he was able to get around. And on Monday January 9th Myself and My Wife and our Children started to the Bush or Forest, on a little picnic, and while their I cut a Load of Timber for My Shop, While still residing at this place, an accident happened to me ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p064.jpg) while working at the bottom Plank of a Wagon and haveing it up on its edge takeing a little of one side to make it fit in beteen the sides of the Wagon, so just as I had got off the Wagon on to the ground, and turning around to do something to the Bolster a little wind sprong up and blew it over struck me just over the left eye and knocked me senceless to the ground And a neighbour came and bleed me as quick as posable whos name was William Bear, so in a few days with good attention I got around again, but I feel the effects of it to this day, ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p065.jpg) This happened July 2nd 1844 place, and while residing at this My Daughter Margret Alice was born, Oct 11, 1843. And was Baptized by the Rev. C. Holdon. The yars of 1844 and 45 things went well with me and I was very comfortable and happy and had all the work that I could do, When things took a turn and about the Month of Jan 1846 The rumers of War run through Frontier Settlements which made the farmers very uneasey for we had those rumers to contend with for several weeks, And orders came at last from the Mag estrate of Fort Baufort by Circulars to the farmers, to get into Camps and Forts ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p066.jpg) for protection, and myself with many others went to a strong Fort called Post Betieff, to where I moved my family and effects, and we were put under Marshel Law and received our rashery and done Soldiers duty, for the government and to protect ourselves. But the War was not so severe in the part where I was stationed as it was in the Lower districts. which were Fort Beaufort Grahamstown Bathurst and Lower Albany Their were no houses burnt in the Winterberg district but in the Albany districts, they suffered fearfuly by fier and Pillige, ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p067.jpg) and a great many people were killed and hundreds of Cattle Horses and Sheep drove off by the Kaffirs. At a place called Burns Hill on the upper part of the Keiskamma river, which place was reached on the 15th of April 1846 The next day some smart fighting took place when the Mission Station was attacked by the savages who succeeded in Captoring, Pundaring and distroying 63 baggage wagons out of 123 with which the force was incumbered, The expedi tion was then obliged to fall back upon Block Drift This was the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p068.jpg) commencement of disasters soon followed up by others; The New post of Victoria was obliged to be abandon ed and burnt, And all communications with the Colony was thus cut off, 41 more Wagons fell into the enemy's hands at Trumpeter's Drift on the Great Fish River. Fort Peddie was attacked and the Cattle some 4.000 in numbers taken; and in those affair several lives were sacrificed; This War of 1846 is known by the Kafirs and Colonyet as the War of the Axe, from a Kafier haveing stolen an Axe or hatchet, This Kafir was sent to ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p069.jpg) Grahamstown been handcuff with a Hottontot for security and when within a few miles of Fort Beaufort, they were attacted in a bushy pass on the Kat River, by a strong Body of Kafirs who as they found it difficult to libera te their country man from the unfortenate Hottentot they deliberately severed the handcuff at his wrist and then pierced him to Death. While detained at this Post My Wife gave Birth to a Daughter, whom we named Roseanna Maria born Aug 31st 1846. And Baptized by the Rev. G. Smith. Well I rem ained at the Camp while the War lasted, and I think ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p070.jpg) that was about one year, and while there I done some work with my Wagon, and worked some at my traid, and also attended to Military dutys. My Brother George formed a Camp about 8 miles from Post Reteiff, they were about forty men in that Camp and among them was my father who was in Winterberg on buisness His home was at Bathurst so he was detained in Winter berg about 8 months on acco unt of the War and away from his family, And While he was there he acted as Miller for my Brother George in a Windmill, And as the Kaffirs did not come with ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p071.jpg) any force to Winterberg, so there were nothing of any Note transpired in their Camp, neither did anything secariously happen at Port Reteiff. But it was not safe for people to go and settle on their Farms untill Peace was proclamed, Then I returned to my farm again and settled down and comenced my buisness, This was in the year of 1847. Well I stayed on this farm about one year, Then I thought I would get a place of my own has I got tired of paying rent so I went to the Stormberg, and baught the right of a place (that had never been occuped) of a Dutchman under Teodores ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p072.jpg) Rant, and has I left the place where I was my father rented to a man whos name was Mr. John Hoston. and he open ed an accomodation on it, Then I moved my family and my effects from the Winterberg to Teodores Rant. and when I got up there not one of the Dutchmen came to occupy their farms so I was entirly alone in the wilderness and the grass had all been burnt for miles as far as the eye could see, so I only stayed there about three weeks. just long enough partly build a reed house and open a fountain and the wind blowing a huricane pritty ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p073.jpg) rear all the time that I was there. Game was plentyful and my Brotherinlaw Francis Bentley was unmarried and he went to live with me and I also took a Blacksmith with me with an intention to start the Wagon makeing buisness. But I found my self so alone and so far from anybody some 18 or 20 Miles away. So I left it and went to my Brother Joseph on the top of the Stormberg Mountain. And the next day After I arrived a heavy Snowstorm fell which was about a foot deep all over the Stormberg Country, Then I sold the right of that place- ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p074.jpg) to Francis Bentley and he stayed there with my Brother Joseph, and as soon as the roads was fit to travil, I started for the Winterberg again, and stayed there a few weeks and I started and went to Bathurst to where my father was live ing, and my Daughter Jemima was there, so I thought that I would have a visit to the sea and have a look at the old location where my father lived. he would have given this farm to me but I did not like the place so I would not take it to be forced to live on it, so I left there and came to Fort Beaufort. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p075.jpg) Here I hired a house from an old Frinch Lady who Name was Salt and it was said that she was at the Battle of Watterloo and would go and search the Bodys and take what she could get from them, so when I returned to occupy the house has I thought she had rented it to some one els. Then I rented a house in an other part of the Town of one Mr Rorke, It was in very bad condition but I moved into it and went to work and Made it comfortable, and stayed there only a few weeks and Nei ther Myself nor My Wife could stay in it and feel comfortable in it for it was troubled with sombody or somthing ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p076.jpg) we did not know what, Then I started for the Winter berg which was about twenty miles and walked for my Horses were there and I went to see my Wife's father Mr Francis P Bentley who had a Lease on a peice of Land that I wanted to build on, Having made arra ngements to that purpose I went back to Fort Beaufort and gave up the house, giving all that I had done to it into the Bargon and was glad to get rid of it. Then I moved back again to the Winterberg, having my own Wagon and Team so that I was under no expen ce of hireing, and I went on to a pritty Parklike place where thare had never been ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p077.jpg) any improvements made only by Nature, Their I lived in my Wagon and started and built a house, What the Dutch calls a hartebeest house they are made by planting the polls into the ground and then bending the tops in bow shape and then Tacthing from the ground to the top they are made squair and I lived in this house and My Wagon untill I built a large House which was seventy feet front, and contained two bedrooms a large kitchen and a sitting room which was in size twenty feed by twelve, and a large conveiant Shop which was attached to the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p078.jpg) and formed the letter S as well as conveiant out buildings, and then I cleared the Bushes away and planted trees of various kinds and made a good garden. I had a good faithful man whom I hired to help me do all this work whos name was Thomas Duff, a Native of Scotland. Well while I lived at this place I was just has happy and comfortable as I had ever been in my life up to that time. Which was over two years, and in that time on the 6th of May 1849 my Wife gave Birth to a Daughter. whom we called Frances Amelia being our eight Child. And Baptized by the Rev J Ayliff. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p079.jpg) and in this time I had several New Wagons making them to order. And I had from eight to ten Cows in Milk, and also kept my own Wagon and a Span of Oxen ten in Number, and my riding Horses so if Myself or My Wife wanted to visit with a naighbour or take a ride for pleasure, My Horses were always ready. And I also built a nice room in addission to my house for the accomadation of My Father who payed me a visit now and then so that he could be privet and quite and not be troubled with the Children Well just has I had got all fixed and was liveing so com fortable. Rumers of the third ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p080.jpg) Kaffir War came upon us, and I was makeing a Wagon for a Mr Stanton but I had not finished it when he sent for it on account of the rumers of war been so threting from all quarters. so on the first day of December 1850 he took it away to Fort Beaufort unfinished, so the rumers still came day after day which caused us to feel very unsettled. Then all would be quite again for a few days. But in the mean time I sent material and half finished Wagons to Port Retieff and had them put away under the care of a friend Mrs Edwards who resieded there, so I had to break up my buisness so soon after geting it started ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p081.jpg) so nicely and doing so well. It was just about Christmas time when I received a circulan from the Magistrate to inform me to get into Camp has soon as posable that their was no time to lose, so we loaded two Wagons with as much as we could take. leaving Cupbords Bedsteads and many other things in the house. and that day we went as far as my Fatherinlaws place and would have gone further but they were going too so they presuaded me to wait untill morning which I did then we all started togather. But for all their was so much danger the folks was determin to have a merry time before ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p082.jpg) starting, and haveing a fiddle er in the company they had a dance and all seemed to enjoy themselves well, But I could not mix in with them for my feelings was dreadful I can not discribe them, One of the Wagons which carried some of my things away belonged to a Bastard man whos name was Jacob de Pree, He was a man who I had hired of and on for years and placed all confidance in him, and at this time I had rented him a farm which he cultivated on the half. And that night he stayed at his farm. And in the morning. they de Pree and his Son was ready to ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p083.jpg) start with the Wagons for the Camp. But before we had got away the Kaffir's had began to steal Horses that was on the Farm, Well we made a start in the Morning. And after been on the road a little and still traveling we met hundreds of Fingos with their Cattle fleeing from the Kaffirs and going among the Dutch where they thought they would be safe. The Kaffirs and Hattontotts did not think that the Dutch would interfear that they would lay nutrial, and that they would War against the English and Fingo's (that is the Kaffirs) so we traveled on untill we reached Post Reteiff. Where we found ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p084.jpg) the people flocking in from all directions for protection. Chapter 19 The Hottentot whos name was Jacub de Pree that helped me to move my effects to the Post also helped me unload the same and then went back to the Farm, and brought me my share of Potatoes that he had raised on shares. and seemed to be and feel all right when he left me. But instead of going back to the farm has I expected he went to the Upper Blink water which was a Hottentot Settlement. and belonged to the Kat river. which was wholey a Hottentot with the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p085.jpg) exception of a few whites. In the year of 1850. And on Christmas day the work of Death and Blood commenced. In the Military Village of Johannesberg Woburn and Auckland were pillaged and burnt, and many of their Male inhabitants cruelly butchered. And when the rumer of this attack had reached the weake Camps and also that the Hottentots had joined the Kaffirs, And the Kaffirs were in overwhelm ing force, And the small Camps did not feel themselves safe so Mr Bear did not feel safe in his small Camp so he sent to Post Reteiff for an escort to guard them to the Post, and there was about twenty ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p086.jpg) men sent and among them was my Son John although he was only a boy. so when they got there the escort found the people already to move and started in the morning part of the day and came about half way to the Post when a Wheel broke of one of the Wagons so they had to make a full stop for a little while untill they could replace the Wheel Then they started on without been molested and reached the Post sometime in the night. And we heard after wards that it was a luckey thing for them that the Wheel broke. for a few miles further on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p087.jpg) enemy was lieing in Ambush in a Bushcluff on the road where they had to pass, just at the foot of a steep Hill where they had to clime, and as the enemy seen them Camped they left their place of concelement and went to Blinkwater to their own Camp concluding that the party would not come on that Night. So that the brea king of the Wheel was the means likely of saveing the lives of the whole party, This was learned afterwards from some of the enemy, so the enemy that intended to attact this company, never disbanded themselves, but on New Years day 1851 they ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p088.jpg) came > and made an attack on the Post Reteiff, and shot some shots through some of the Portholes. It was then that we knew that the Hottentots had joined the Kaffirs. on finding one of them dead next morning at one of the corners of the Fort, who had been shot from an hastley built Block ade on the outside of one of the gates. And that night they took off thousands of Sheep which was outside the walls, not having rome inside on account of so many Cattle been inside. And about this time a Wagon was sent tou Fort Beaufort for Ammu nition with an escort of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p089.jpg) four men whos names are John Edwards, James Holt, John Hoston, George Gibbins, and on their return on the lower Blinkwater near to a petty Kaffir Chief's korll, whos name is Hermanus. There the Wagon was actacted and plundered and two of the escort was killed. John Hoston and George Gibbins and James Holt was wounded but managed to make his escape to Fort Beaufort. And John Edwards made his escape and reached his home which was at Post Reteiff, and leaving the Wagon and all its contents in the possion of the Kaffirs and on the 7th of January 1851 the Kaffir Chief Harmanus ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p090.jpg) made an unusually bold and desperate attempt to surprise the strong Military Post of Fort Beaufort but after a short and sharp struggle were defeated in which they lost fifty men including the arch-trater Harmanus himself. Well our Cattle were herded in the vecinity of the Post, for a week or two after the Sheep was taken so one morning after they were turned out to graize and several of our men perhaps ten had rode off to look after their farms in about half an hour after they had gone. the Kafirs came down in dev isions from differant dere ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p091.jpg) ctions from the Cluffs and Pounced on the Cattle and a company from the Post rode out to try to hinder them when a scrimage took place. And sometimes our little company would par tly turn the Cattle towards the Post, When the Kafirs would gain on them again But the Kafirs proved the strongest and took them all away, There was a great deal of shoting done, but none of the people of the Post neither wounded or Killed, And but one Kafir Killed, who was a giant in size and right in the midest of the firing and fighting My Son John ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p092.jpg) was one of the formost and his Uncle Francis Bentley had a great time to keep him back. This all happened in sight of the Post, and in this scrimage I lost ten Milk Cows, and a span of ten or twelve oxen. and when our Patrols would be out to Reconnoiter around the vecinity of the Post. the en emy was also on the look out and on several accations the Kafirs tryed to cut our men off from coming to the Post. A Friend of mine whos name is Joseph Allison he resided in what is called Banta's Bush, and a part of the Kat rivers Settlement ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p093.jpg) and hearing of the rumer of War, He thought he would move himself and his effects to the Post, and when he was on the Blinkwater hights. The Kafirs came upon him and releived him of his Wagon and Oxen, And he just barely made his escap to the Post, and about the same time their came over that rigged Mountain six men in the dead of the night on foot to seek protection at Post Reteiff and found it thare one of them was an old Man about 80 Years old then, and I understood that he lived to over 100. His name was Cloake Bear. In the corse of two or three weeks after this an overwhelming host of Kafirs ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p094.jpg) Hottentots combined surrounded the Post and they thought that they draw us out of the Post by turning the water out of the Furrow or Scect, They had stoleon a Cannon from some other Camp and brought it and placed it on a hight and fired down on to the Post and all the damage they done they wounded some Cattle, they kept up a firing for a half a day. The bullets whistled over the Fort and bounded on to the Linc roofs and while one party was fireing at the Fort, another party was Trashing out the farmers wheat with sticks both men and Women and hauling it away in Wagons ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p095.jpg) and plundered farm after farm and took every thing that they could lay their hands on, and the friuts of many kinds were ripe so they just helpt themselves to all they could get besides burning and distroying every thing in their way. Well they con tunied around the Post untill a heavy Thunder Storm came over and we caught a great deal of Water from the the roofes and our enemys said that they might as well leave as we had plenty of water they thought they would starve us out. Well after this attact a week or two, small parties would start out on Horse back to look after their ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p096.jpg) farms. and parties would come to see how we were geting along. at Post Relieff. And all this time reportes was going back and forth what the enemy was doing, who was stealing and Plundring all around from fifty to a hundred miles around and runing off all the Cattle that they could find eather with a herd or without one, and when followed by our men there would always be trouble and generaly lose of life on both sides, and somtimes our people would retake the Cattle, and at another time the enemy would take them entirely. In those scri mages there was always more Kafirs and Hottentots bit the ground than the white people ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p097.jpg) It was about the 8th of Febuary 1851 a large body of the ene my was seen on the mountain side near the Post, both Horse and foot men, We could see them by looking through over spyglasses They had been and attacted a Camp a few miles from us, It was composed of a few farmers who had formed a Camp to protect themselves with a farmer who had a large family of grown up Sons and also Soninlaws which made a large family of themselves so they all joined togather with their naighbours and it was called Smiths Camp, Well the enemy took all the large stock such as Horses Oxen and Cows from this Camp, as there had been no communication from Smiths ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p098.jpg) Camp after seeing the enemy passing a long the mountain we felt ancious to know what had been done, so seven men in our Camp volunteered to go and see, and among them was Francis Bentley my Broinlam and my Son John who was but a Boy, but was always ready if there was anything to be done, soon after our men had left the Post we seen the enemy returning again to Smiths Camp and for two days we heard not hing of what was going on so we were at a loss to know what had taken place at Smiths Camp, until we seen a large body of the enemy on the Mountain side about half mile away from our Post ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p099.jpg) bearing a white flag. And on seeing him coming a Mr James Sweetnum a Fieldcornet, and who had charge of the Post started out also with a flag of Truce, who met halfway be tween our Post and the enemy, and it was then that we learned that the enemy had four of our men Prisnoers and one of them was my Son John, Well after while Mr Sweetnum and the Hottentot rebel was parlyng the one beging for Tobaco, and the other for the Prisnoers we saw a large Body of Men coming toward the Post, And at the first sight of them we did not know whether they were friends or foes, untill the Captain of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p100.jpg) Company rode up to the Post in advance, whos name is Mr Pringle It was then that we knew that they was friends comeing to Post Re teiff for protection. As they had heard through a message that we were Hemed in so they came to our assistance. After this company arrived my Wife my Sister Elizabeth and a Bastard Man went up the hill to where the flag of Truce was, Then they all went to where the prisnoers was, for My Wife was so ancious about her Boy, and when the Hottentots seen my Wife coming towards them some of them knew ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p101.jpg) her and called to her to come along that they would not hurt her. And when she got up to where her Boy was it made her feel so bad to see him looking so distressed for the enemy had striped him of the most of his Cloaths he had been in their hands two days. And this Bastard man explained to them that he was not held as a prisnoer but that he stayed at the Post of his own freewill, and he talked very sharp to them has though he was very angrey, and then he told the Prisnoers who was sitting on the rocks to get up and lets be going, so John asked if he might go ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p102.jpg) and was answered that he could, when one of the enemy asked him if he would fight and shoot at them again, and he told them that he would if he was called upon to do so, When they answered and told him that was right that he could do no other, they had taken his Horse from him that he rode, which was his Mothers, and when she was leaving the Hottentots, she beged of them to take good care of her Horse and use him well for she had, Had him a long while and was very sorry to lose him so they told her not to say a word about your Horse ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p103.jpg) Mrs for you have got your Boy, yes said she I know, but I must talk about my Horse too, and just has they was turning to leave one of the Hottentot men gave John a fine Leg of Mutton to give to his grandmother to whom he at one time had been her servant, and he was the one who was the cause of saveing my son's life. And in regard to those Prisnoers I will relate it here has my Son told it to me after he was released, These seven men was on their return from Smiths Camp, about half way when they saw one Man in a hollow place who was a Hottentot and he called to them ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p104.jpg) and said that he wanted to talk to them His name was Spellman Quivt, he was known by some of them Men so they stopted and talked with him and he spoke has a friend, and four of the seven went to him to hear what he had to say, and as soon as they got up to him a hole party of Hottentots rushed out upon them, and unarmed and dismounted them and took them Prisnoers and by some of the Hottentots knowing my son and to whom he belonged, they did not kill them as it was their intention to do so, so the Kafirs and the Hottentots had quite a time about it the Kafirs wanted to kill them but the Hotten ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p105.jpg) tots would not let them, and to save and protect them from the Kafirs, the Hottentots clung around these four men so thick to save them that the Kafirs could not get near them to hurt them, Then the Kafirs told the Hottentots that they would tell their Chief San -dilli that they were takeing Prisnoers and would not kill them, and the Hottentots told them that they did not care for Sandilli that he was not their Chief, and the Kafirs at the same time would grin over the Hottentots shoulders and call the Prisnoers Sattons). and for safer protection the Hottentots took the Prisnoers to a emty house which belonged to a ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p106.jpg) Dutchman, They told my Son that they did not want to kill or hurt him for they said that they knew his father well and that he (his father was a good man and that he had never done them any harm, But that his father had Preached to them many a time, and they wanted to save his father to make Wagons for them. So the Enemy made this house their place of Rendezvous, and while some watched the prisnoers others was determined to take Smiths Camp and so a body of men went to make the atta ct and Fired at the Camp for hours, But the people had made themselves so secure that the enemy could not get them ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p107.jpg) out, Well they contunied to fire untill they got tired, Then they succeeded in capturing their Sheep which amounted to sever al hundred haveing taken the Cattle before, so they took the Sheep to this house and commenced killing the Sheep just like a pascle of Wolves my Son said that the poor Sheep would run about with assagais and spears sticking in them perfectly tortured. And as the grapes were ripe just at the time they feed the Prisnoers on grapes and mutton. And when the rebels had filled themselves with mutton they started again for Smiths Camp and felt determined to have them out they tryed to set ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p108.jpg) fire to the place but could not succeed, and John said that he felt safer in this house than he would at Smiths Camp, and that he felt so glad that his Mother did not know he was a prisnoer, When the Enemy found that they could do no more damage at the Camp only to kill one man, They left. and started for their Headquarters which was the upper Blin kwater. And it was then that the prisnoers were set at Liberty which as been related Then the Smiths Camp came to Post Reteiff and joined our company for safer protection but had lost all their Stock, ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p109.jpg) Chapter 20 The next thing of note which happened was the attact on my Brother George's Camp. Near the Konap River called the Brambush Spruit, where he had got everything in order both in the way of buisness such as Wagon makeing and Blacksmi thing, and he had his good home with its extenceive vineyards Orange and Lemon Orchards with gardons in great veriety, and also his gristmills and Distillerys where he made a great deal of differant kinds of Liquors, and he had large quantitys stored away in his cellars, and have ing a large threestory building unfinished which he intended ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p110.jpg) for another mill. But hearing of the comeing War he Loopholed it and put it in a steate for defence and its been built of solld rock in the two first storeys and the third storey was Brick and Loopholed, This stoad about thirty or Forty yards from his dwelling House, and he also built one or two Block house's of rock with Loopholes so as to fire on the Enemy, so he got everything ready for an atact, a week or two before he had just got in his years Pro viscions such as groceries and many other things, and at this time there came his tennants and several of his neighbours who was farmers and formed a Camp with him, But it ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p111.jpg) was not a good place for a Camp for the enemy could come within a hundred yards of them before they could be seen, The rebel Hottentots and Kafirs belonging to the upper Blinkwater which was thousands strong had mar ched in the night into the vini city of my Brother's Camp and lay in ambush until sunday morning at the break of day when they attacted the Camp But they came upon them so suddon and so early that they just barely escaped in their night cloaths and all that my Brother saved from his House was a Box with his money and Papers in it, and his Wifes mother was being sick at the time so they just picked her up like a Child ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p112.jpg) and carried her into the Fort and those Blockhouses was used by the Enemy, has well as the Mills and other place to shelter themselves from the Shoots from the Tower, and his own Hottentots Servants joined the enemy and helped to Plunder the house, and when they had taken all they wanted they set fire to the House, which was a Thacthed roof and was easely fired, and while the enemy was Plun dering the house there was only one door that the folkes in the Tower could shoot at with any sattisfaction, so the enemy was perfectly secure in the house, thy kepted up a continualy fireing all that ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p113.jpg) day, and two of the men in the Camp was wounded one in the neck whos name was Willi am Wittle who was just makeing his escape into the Tower. and the other one who was shoot in the Leg was Charles Roper He was Shot from one of the Loopholes, and when the House was burning the people in the Tower were almost sufficated with the heat and smo[-]ke, and the next morning the enemy had decamped and gone, and not one of the people in the Tower had any Tea or Coffee so my Brother went down to the burnt house to see if he could find some, and by hunt ing among the rubbish he found a little Coffee which was very ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p114.jpg) exceptable, and the Cattle was Correlled between the house and the Tower which was protected from the enemy. untill the heat and smoke set them frantic and they broak out, when the enemy drove them all away with them, and on hearing the Shoting a party started out from Post Retieff to Reconnoiter and when on the Hights they could see the enemy both going and comeing to my Brother's Camp loaded with Plunder and going to the upper Blinkwa ter which was a distance of 7 miles to their Camp, and of corse it made me feel very uneasey for I did not know how things was with them untill a party was dispacthed from our Post ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p115.jpg) to find out how matters was with them. after this had passed a party came to there rescus from the Tarka District with Wagons and Oxen to move them away, This district is most ly Dutch with a few English people, and while my Brother was away from his own place the enemy came there with Wagons and gathered up all they could move, such as barrels of differant kinds of liquors,and left their old Wheels and took the new ones that was in the Shop and also took new Wagons, and fired one of the water mills which burnt down But saved the large Barn which was built over the Cellar where the Liquor were ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p116.jpg) and after the trouble was over, and were seurching around they found the dead body of a Mr Curtus, who appea red to be coming to my Brothers house, he was a babouring man who lived in the neig hborhood who had fell into the hands of the enemy and killed Well, my Brother stayed a few weeks at the Tarka Camp for and then returned again with a party of friends to his own place and formed a Camp and held his ground untill the war was over, But occasionly loseing a few head of Stock taken by stragling Kafirs and Hottentots. and myself and family was all this time hemed in at Post ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p117.jpg) Retieff, another incident of the War was the attck of the rebel Camp of Fort Armstrong. of which last named place they had taken possession but were "shelled" out on the 22nd of February [-] by Major General Somerset, with a sever loss of life on the part of the Hottentots. and from the 1st of January up to the 22nd of February they had no check of any note, But they contunied their robbing and Plundering the farmers for miles from fifty to one hundred, They would take the peoples Wagons and Oxen and just load them with stolen goods and take them to Fort Armstrong which is almost Fortifyed by Nature ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p118.jpg) with Precipitous Rocks in the shape of a horseshoe an an ellevated ememeniance an the Kat river itseff, all the farmes or Berger force, from the diffra districts was assembled at Post Retieff several hundred strong as they was to meet Genaral Somerset on the 22nd of February to atack the rebels. the Kafirs and Hottentots. These people started before daylight and left Post Reteiff to meet the General. And although my Son John had so receantly been a Prisnoer he soon made himself ready again, and equipted himself with a Horse a gun and other Cutri ments and was one with them, and they started ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p119.jpg) the nearest way which was over the mountain to meet the general, So when they got down into the valleys in the vinicety of a place called Balfore, and they was atacked by an overwhel ming force of the enemy Hottentots and Kafirs. Who surrounded them on every side and not seeing nor hearing of the general's approach, so they had to stand a scrimage for quite a while and lost two or three men, and several wounded, and also some Horses killed. And while thus situated they at length heard the report of Cannon at Fort Armstrong, and by that they knew ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p120.jpg) that the general was on the ground. although he was two or three hours behind the time appointed to meet those men. But the cause was that he had been at tacked by another party of the enemy, so this part of the men made a great rush through the enemy and joined the General. at Fort Armstrong, Fort Armstrong is what may be called a small vill[-]age where there are two or three trading Stores for the accom odation of Hottentots and Kafirs in the vecinity and their prin cible work was sawing Timber in the surrounding Forests. and the Hottentots would bring ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p121.jpg) their Timber to the Stores and trade it for what they wanted such as Tea and Coffee and many other things, Others would bring produce such as grain of differant and many other things that they raised, So those Storekeepers carried on a good profitable buisness with the Settlement which extended for ten and fifteen in differant directions from the Fort, Has it had been a government Fort and with the government building and also a large Tower built of cut rocks and a Battery built stareshape with angles and Loopholed, and with the privet Buildings there was altogather about twenty deacen ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p122.jpg) looking houses, It was here that the enemy brought in all their Plunder from the surro unding Country and occupied these buildings has well as the Tower and Battery and ceaseing all the Merchantdice in the stores, so when the place was besieged the general found it nessery to demolish the buildings by shell and shot and burn them out by burning the buildings, thee Tower was also full of the enemy and to get them out they reared Timber against it and set fire to it to get the enemy out. it was then that they surrenderd and they took hundreds of Prisnoers. and hundreds more made their escape both men ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p123.jpg) Women and Children, and fled to the stronghold of the Amatola Mountains, and those that was take Prisnores was marched to Fort Hare, and tryed by Court Marshal, and those that were found guilty was to the Cape District to work on the Public works. When my Son John returned from the attack at Fort Armstrong I learned from him and others what transpired there. That they went to work and ransacked the Wagonload of plunder, for there were lots of goods both wearing apparel and Household goods and a great number of Books with the own ers names in them. And when the People had gathered from the pile what they could ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p124.jpg) carry away on horseback they set fire to the rest and distroyed them, And among this company was my Son John , and he gathered a few things to bring away , and among then he had my Brother's Geoge's Spy glass which he owned after he returned to his home, And my Son also got his Horse that the enemy took from him when he was a Prisnoer but it was in poor condicition, And after they had attended to all this buisness they were all hungery and tyered so the company which consisted of Solders farmers and citizens so they made their Camp Fires and made their Tea and Coffee and ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p125.jpg) eat and drank all they wanted, and dead Hottentots and Kafirs laying all around , For the Wolves and Vulturs to feast on, and the enemy's Wagons all that was not burnt was besides some others that belong to other people was taken to Fort Hare, and many of the owners came and took them away, Well after all this was over we had quite a Lull in affairs for some six or seven weeks, and the people began to feel free so myself has many others did visited our Farms, and gathered our vegtables and brought them to the Post And the Pumpkins layed in the feilds so thick that a ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p126.jpg) person could hardly step for them. and no Cattle to eat them, But I went and gathered a Wagonload of them and hauled them to my house and put them in the Cellar, and I also took out a Bees Nest which had not been Molested in my gardon, at this time my house had not been burnt, I was still at the Post, and I had Wagons there unfinished so I went to work and finished them, By makeing a tempery shop and Forge, The first Wagon that I finished I Sold it to get a Span of Oxen for I hated to be without them even in War, Well I had ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p127.jpg) them but a little while when the Kafirs stole them, But before I lost them, myself my two sons a man that I hired went a mile or two from the Fort to get a load of Wood but before we had time to get a stick on the Wagon the Kafirs came and took my Cattle but left the Wagon and of corse I expected that we should all be killed but they did not molest us but when we saw them com ing we run off towards a Farmhouse which was about two miles away But they was so intent on haveing the Oxen so they turned from us ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p128.jpg) and went off with them This was the first and also the last time that I ever run away from eather Hottentots or Kafirs. So the next day I got a Span of Oxen from one of my naighbors and some three or four men went after the Wagon which they found all right even to the Axes. The reason that we escaped so easey, there was a party of men after them and for the sake of haveing the Cattle they turned and run with them and they took them into the Watercluff. And this Wagon I had to sell to get another Span of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p129.jpg) Oxen. And about this time a company of Highlanders under the charge of Captain Bruce took comand of Post Relieff they belonged to the 14th regiment, He stayed quite while at the Post and accor ding to his notions put things in order, And some of the people moved out to give room for the Soldiers, Mr Sweetnum with several other familys went to his Farm and formed a Camp, But I still rem ained at the Post, And haveing Oxen again I sometimes went to the Bush or Forest to get wood for the Soldiers haveing an escort with me. And ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p130.jpg) Captain Bruce also built a Lookout up on an emmi nence back of the Post, which some called Bruce's folly, At this time I also work ed at my trade and done what I was asked to do with my Wagon, And at this time I repaired a burnt House which was in the vicinity of the Post, and went and lived in it, and on the 3rd of November 1852 my Wife gave birth to a Son whom we called Joseph Elijah, and was Baptized by the Rev, Mr Shepstone, at Kamas Town, which is in the District of Queens Town. soon after the Birth of my Son the War Settled down and and things became quite and ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p131.jpg) as the Tambookie Tribes had forf ited a part of their territory hitherto occupied by Mapassa, And at the suggestion of Mr Thomas Holden, Bowker, One of the settlers of twenty, to the then govenor Sir George Cathcart. sent out a Notis to the Farmers to make out an estimate of their losses sustained by the late War, And also to be singd by their Fieldcornets as a witness to their losses to persons that were not Landholders. Those documents had to be brought before a landborad survay which was held at Whittlesea. Whittlesea was established during the government of Sir. Harry Smith. And named by him after his Birthplace in England ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p132.jpg) Then it was preposed to form a new town in the forfited Territory which was to be named Queens Town, In honnor of the Queen, Has a Nucleus and ralling point of the new contemplated Terrytory to be scettled by the Garentees that would receive grants of Land. This District, named after its chief town, situated on the Komani River, exceedingly fertile and well watered, was parcelled out in free grant to numerous applicants, chiefly those who had distinguished themselves in the late struggle, on the tenure of payment of a moderate quitrent, and that the occupant should, independ ant of himself, find two ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p133.jpg) others armed white men, fully equipped with horse saddle, and weapons for every three thousand acres all liable to be called out by government whenever their services should be wanted, and to muster in full force, properly provided, on the Sovereign's Birthday, to be inspected by the authori ties. No farm was to esceed 3,000 acres, and such extent only to be granted where the country could not sustain a large population; and on these terms Sir George Cat heart says, in his dispatch announcing the adoption of his judicious plan, he had applications from all directions from men admirably adapt ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p134.jpg) for the purpose. Chapter 21 Haveing no Land of my own and had been paying rent for years and hearing of this New territory I thought that I would make a move for this New contemplated town and haveing a good Wagon and Oxen of My own, And after been two years at Post Beteiff and the War been over, In the begining of the year of 1853 I started with my family then to begin the world again as it were, And this New place where I intended to locate was some fifty or Sixty from Post Beteiff which was on the other side of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p135.jpg) Big Winterberg Mountain and calling on my way at Kamas Town to visit with a friend for a few days whos name is Stephen Trollip, after staying at this place a few days I became acquainted with Mr J. C. Waner, who had lived in the Tabmookie Country as a Missionry for years. but at this time he had quit the missionry Station and was the Tambookie Agent under government. Himself and family had taken shelter at Kmaus Town with a small Tribe of friendly Tambookies under a petty Chief by the Name of Bombana, so he was just ready to start to where the New Town was to be layed ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p136.jpg) out so I started with him and traviled about two days and a half, when we came to the place where the supposed Town would be layed out which had been the Farms of two of Mr Warner Sons where they had built a good farm house which was burnt down by the enemy in time of the War they had plowed the Land and made water furrows, when I got there I found in waiting. Mr. John Staples, and two or three of his Sons and a Mr Ever and his Son, and Mr. Ridgway and Mr James Jennings and others. And also a compan of Police Mounted, who was ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p137.jpg) stationed there to patroll the country, We were there two or three weeks waiting for the Township to be sur vayed, Well at length Mr Robison came, a Survayer sent by the Government from Cape Town, Then he commenced to lay out the Town with the assistance of those that were there, And I had the honnor of helping to turn the first Sod, as also my Sons John and Jer imiah The town was layed out in Hexagon shape for the purpose of better protection in case of an invasion by the enemy on account of its been on the extream Fronters. And has I had ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p138.jpg) been on the ground so long I had a good apportunity of riding around to make a good selection for a Farm, It was then I heard from the survayer that my pertiti on was granted, and that I might seclect a place just where I chosed in the district of Queen's Town, through the influnce of a friend who was acquainted with the Board and also with my losses and spoke a good word for me who was the Rev. Mr Shepstone with whom I had been ac quainted for many years, so I chose a Farm at the head of the Komami river in what is called the Bongolo ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p139.jpg) Basin in which place there are eight beautiful farms and the one that I chose was granted to me, been a Missionry Station before the War. But the Mission House was burnt down in time of the War, But the walls stoud firm and I rebuilt it, And the place was well supplyed with wood and Water in abundance And while I was there, and my Brother Elijah had also a farm granted to him, I selected a farm for him joining mine, with which he was well pleased when he seen it, At the time (he my Brother) was away in the country with Stock. To take ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p140.jpg) care of them in time of the War. Well when Queen's Town was layed out I got a good City Lot in the center of the town on the cornor of a street by paying five pounds to the government which was some three pounds cheaper than they sold other Lots on account of been on the ground early and haveing to wait so long, Then I commenced to build on my City Lot for I began to feel very ancious to get settled and see my family comfortable once more, and I then began to do Carpenter work for I could turn my hand to all kinds of wood work and I had all the work ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p141.jpg) that I could do besides what I done for myself for every body was ancious to get a home over their heads again, And Queen's Town very soon looked like buisness, For there were Stores established in a little while. I never saw any town or village grow so fast, for the people flocked to it from every direction from the surrounding distri cts looking for farms and City Lots, as there had been so many applycants for places and their names had been pub lished in the Papers, that they made a grand rush for what they could get, That is they came to select farms and buisness Men came from ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p142.jpg) many differant places to buy Lots of ground to build Stores Houses and for buisness's of all kinds, and there were hundreds of farms given out to men who met with such great losses in the War, even merchants came from Whittlesea and started buisness there. And ministers of various denomi nations and built Churches and Chapels. Well has soon as I had my farm granted I remained in Queens town and I sent my two Sons on to it John and Jeremiah who worked a little. they Plowed some and cut and hauled firewood and by this time my Brother Elijah had moved on to his farm so he was com ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p143.jpg) pany for them, and while My Boys were up there, Thare came one of the heavyest Snowstorms that ever was known in that district, it fell from twelve to eighteen inches, But the Snow does not lye long it melted so quick that it caused quite a flood but done no serious damage, Well I contunied to work at the Carpenter work untill the next Spring in Queenstown Then I was Obliged to go to my farm and according to the law that was. I had to build one Fireproof room and occupie the place myself Personly with my family, Then I went to work and plowed and Sowed and raised good ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p144.jpg) Crops and had plenty both for myself and also plenty to sell. And then I rebuilt one wing of the burnt house and made two rooms very comfortable, And as there was a good stream of water runing past the House I built a small gristMill, for my own convenience, And it also became very conveniant for My Naigh bours, for I done a great deal of Grinding for them, And it made no differance where I mov ed to I had all the work that I could do at both makeing New Wagons and Mending old ones, I was so well known and also my work that the people would follow me if it was for Mils, And I had ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p145.jpg) plenty of time to attend to my buisness for my Boys could do the plowing and the most of my farming and attended to Cattle, and about this time a man by the name of William Davis who had no plowed Land on the farm that was granted to him so he came to me and I rented him a peice of mine on which he had a splendid Crop, and he cut it and stacked on my farm and was not in any hurry to trash it, and one windy day the grass had been sat on fire on another farme so that it came with all fury and burnt his Crop up, He did not happen to be there at the time, But if he had it would have made no differance he ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p146.jpg) could not have stoped it. Well after living about one year on my farm my Brotherinlaw Francis Bently came to me and wanted to exihange Town prope rty with me for a part of my farm, It was a good house with four rooms in it, so I exchang with him and then I left my Boys on the other part of the farm and I moved back to Queens town and contunied working at my Trade. and by this time I think thare were not less than one hundred Houses been built in that little time, It was astonishing how fast Queens Town growed and was impr oved, Well I worked and lived in Queens Town about ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p147.jpg) two years when word came to me as well as to others who owned farms that it was Personal and that every man must live on his farm, (But before I left Queens Town my eldest Daughter Jemima was married to a man whos name is George Ellis a Carpenter by Trade,) Then I sold my place and moved back on to my farm and finished my house and had four good large rooms with the fireproof one, Then I built a good storeroom, and contunied makeing and repairing Wagons and had just has much as ever I could do, My Brother also having a farm granted to him. so he had to leave my ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p148.jpg) farm and go and occupy his own farm. so myself and my Son John bought that part of the farm back again, and as my Son was about to be married so he settled right in his uncle's house that he had built on the place. I mentioned further back in my narritive, that we. all those that had farms granted to them, Had to mus ter on the Queens Birthday all mounted equipted, which took place on the 24th of May, and we had to be inspected muster, every Fieldcornet had to bring his men to the general muster and then had to be inspe cted by the civil Commissioner or Resident Magistrate, On ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p149.jpg) that day it was always considered a Holladay, It was in the district of Queens Town where I had to meet, all those farmes that were granted the owner of each farm had to pay a moderate quit rent [---] to the Governme which was perpetual that is to say unredemable, and we had to occupy those farms for three years before we cou ld get our Titledeeds or sell, and if a man did not stay on his farm three years. and left it altogather inside of that time, he forfited it, But very few left their farms for they was too valluable in that district. I concider Queens Town District almost unsur passed by any district on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p150.jpg) Fronteres both for Cattle sheep and Horses, and also as for agricultural purposes it abounds with good grass and plenty of good water. and at the date I am writing it is dotted all over with good Farms and good subst antial Houses with their beuutiful vineyards and Rich Orchards, I would also say that those farmers are all rich and in good sircumstances having no had Kafir invation for the last twenty years, and many of the Kafirs are also very well [---] in middling good sircum stances at this time. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p151.jpg) Chapter 22 But I must say, That some time before the conclusion of the last chapter there is one thing I want to speak of That the fronteres tribes of Kafirs tryed to agitate an arother disturbance by rasing up a Prophet whom they caled Umlangeni, in the first place he councled his people to kill all their Cattle with the exception of two Oxen one white and the other black which was to represent the white people and the black people, which they tortured to death and which lived the longest eather the white one or the black one that ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p152.jpg) would prove which would be the strongest party. and their Prophet also advised the people to distroy all their Crops as well as to distroy all their animals. and he made them beleive that new Cattle would come up out of the ground and that they must make new Kraals to receive them when they rose up out of the ground He also told them that he could hear their horns rattle under the ground, and they beleived him. The influence of the prophet rapidly increased, and the number of his adherents inclu ded the greater part of the people of Kreli and the ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p153.jpg) Gaikas. Slaughtering cattle, which had begun in the past July, continued to be carried on in almost every Kraal, and there was high feastings in all Kafirland. Emissaries were dispatched from Kreli with the behests of the wonder ful seer to Moshesh, to the remote Faku, east of St John<'s> River, to the Tambookies, and Her Majesty's sable, but not loyal, subjects in British Kaffraria. Faku, however, did not see the wizard's de rections with a friendly aspect; Moshesh waited for "something to turn up" the Tambookies were malingerers, but most of the Kafir lieges trembled and obeyed. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p154.jpg) The governor, watching the progress of this extraordinary delusion, continued to prepare all the munitions necessary in the event of war, but calmly, imperceptibly, and without any outward show to alarm the Kafirs and precipitate hostilities. With the prescience belonging to his character he foresaw that the wild sacrifices makeing by the natives would soon render them more and more unfit to cope with the Colony, even under the pressure of that hunger, the desperate nature of which the Chiefs had reck oned upon to impel the in road; and he was made ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p155.jpg) acquainted with the fact that already a schism had arisen among the people, who had ranged themselves into two parties, the beleivers and unbeleivers. A Mr. A Kennedy, an eye witness of the events referred to, gives the following graphic statement: "Whether the Chiefs had communi cated the secret of the intended war to their subjects I am unable to say, but their demeanour at this time evidently showed that they were acquainted with it. Always proud and haughty in their bearing towards the white man, their pride and hauteur were now much increased. With their karosses folded around them, they stalked majestically ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p156.jpg) along, scowling at you, if you happened to meet them, with magligant hatred in their eyes. Fat and saucy from his unusua feasting, in high state of excite ment with the thought of the impending struggle, and of the fine fat herds of cattle which he beleived were soon to glad den his longing gaze, it was at this time you might see the Kafir in his glory. "The cottage in which I was residing was only a stone's throw from the 'winkel' to which the Gaikas mostly brought their cattle for sale, and I had, therefore, an excellent oppor tunity of witnessing their pro ceedings. The place at this time was like a fair. Kafirs, cattle, ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p157.jpg) and goats were in crowds. The cattle were sold for about 5s. each, but the trader there obtained by barter one hundred head for 1s. a piece. He gave 6d. for hides, of which he used to send off several wagon loads dayly, and I heard that he cleared £40,000 by this buisness Goats were sold from 9d. to 1s 6d. at first, but at last became unsaleable, and the place was literally overrun with them most of the Kafirs bought new blankets with the produce of the sale of their cattle, and it was an amusing sight to watch these fine fellows trying on their purchases. Models for a statuary, with Muscles fully developed, such as would ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p158.jpg) excite the admiration of the anatomist, they threw themselves unconciously into the most graceful attitudes; holding the blanket in their hands by two corners, and throwing back their extended arms, they stood for a moment like bronzed statues, displaying their powerful and athletic frames to the greatest advantage; then folded it tightly around them, repeating this operation several times, untill apparently satisfied with the fit. After all this excitement came the reaction. A Kafir's food consistes of mealies, i.e. Kafirs corn, pumkin, and sour milk, with an occasional feast of beef or goat's meat on special occasions, such as a sacrifice or ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p159.jpg) a wedding, &c. The Kafirs had not only destroyed their cows, which supplied them with one of their principal articles of food, their oxen and goats, but also, in accordance with Umla Kazi's command, they had not cultivated the ground, and starvation now stared them in the face. I Shudder still when I call to mind the dread ful scenes of misery I witnessed during this sad time. Such edible roots and bubbs as they could find in the 'veld' served them for food for a time. The favourite of these was the tap root of very young Mimosa trees, such as were from one to two feet high. The veld in many parts where the Mimosa fluris ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p160.jpg) hed became so full of holes, where these had been dug up, that it was quite dangerous to ride over it. A tuber, belonging, I beleive, to the convolvulus tribe, about as large as a small potato, and not unpalatable, was also eaten by them. It is know to them by the name of 'Tgoutsi'. This kind of food. however rather hastened their fate, for it brought on dysentery, and they became living skeletons; numbers of them died, and Kafirs skulls and bones were strewn over the fields. They would doubtless nearly all have perished thus miserably had not the govern ment interfered and saved a great many of them. They were told to come to the commissioners ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p161.jpg) and they would be fed, and when strong enough to travel, be sent into the colony to work. The Gaikas came to Brownlee in great numbers; many, however, perished by the way, too weak to proceed further. Some I have seen drop down dead before my door, when almost at their journey's end. Many died after they arrived, too far gone for the nourishment then given to be of any service; but the greater number recovered, and were dispatched in parties into the colony. A Kafir is naturally generous; give one a piece of bread or tobacco, he divides it with his companion; but hunger makes him selfish. I have seen Mothers snatch bread out of ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p162.jpg) their starving children's mouths and it has been said, but I canno vouch for the truth of this, that one or two instances oc curred of Mothers devouring their infant children. This is too horrible to dwell upon." A statement was made at the time that the number of hides sold to traders, no less than 130,300 cattle had perished, the greater portion having been hilled by orders of the imposter. Why all this suffer ing, had the Kaaffars any thing in veiw, Yes they had and it was this, Umlangeni had been raised up by sons of the Kafir Chiefs who made their followers beleive he (Umlangeni) was a profit ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p163.jpg) and by listening to him the Kafirs thought it was all right and that they was on the way to whelth and prosperity, but where were they to obtain the property promised them the Cheifs though by geting their people to distroy all their living by their secret and deep layed plan, That they would come down on the British Colonys and make war with them drive them away and take all their Stock and provisions But the Governor Sir George Cathcart, then Governor of Cape Colony fearing that there was a secret combine action against the Colony ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p164.jpg) from all that he could learn from agents and Missionerys and Kafirs traiders and others and fearing a fourth Kafir invasion, took the precausion to strengthen all the Out Military Posts on the borders and also in Kafirland, and at the same time supplied all the Military Posts with plenty of Commissary supplyes, And by so doing their plans were all fruste rated, And hence their Missery and starvation which as been spoaken of followed. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p165.jpg) Chapter 23 It was about the year 1857 that I heard there was a strange people had come to Africa from America preaching a strange doctrin and was makeing a great stire in Cape Town, And Baptizing a few of the people and one person was considered so wicked by the Cape papers that the Water was so leadened or heavy with His sins that when it reached the Waterwheel it broake several of the Cogs, And also a young Lady that was Baptized, died soon after and I think was buried, then her friends was so an- cious to have her likeness that they had her exumed. ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p166.jpg) for the perpus. These strange reports went through all the papers from Cape Town to Grahams Town, And has I belonged to the Wesleyans denomonation at that time and had been a Member for at least thirty years, and has I said to a friend that they must have been sent of the Devil to try to deceive the very elect, if it was posable, And I beleive they were called Mormons which I thought was a very strange Name. And the next thing I heard of them been in Grahamtown and Makeing a great stire there, that as far as takking and rang ling and mobing was con- ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p167.jpg) cirne[-]ed but I did not hear that they made any converts there, Then the next thing I heard they had got up into Fortbeaufort and there I heard that these Mormons had Baptized several familys that I was well acquainted with, One a Mr Clark and his Wife and Mr William Loyde and his Wife and also a Mr Thomas Parker and his Wife which made me feel very strange, And there they met with great opposition by been Mobed and having brickl[-]ats stones and rotton Eggs thrown at them from every direction, And storming the House of Mr Thomas Parker where they held ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p168.jpg) their Meetings. And breaking the windows and tried to break open the door, Then the Mob ran the Mormon Preacher's Carrage down into the river which is called Kat river where I beleive it stayed for I never heard of its been got out, The Carrage belonged to a Mr William Walker who had come on a Mission in com pany with two others, whos names are Jessie Haven and Lenord, I, Smith. from Salt Lake City. And they had tracks published in Cape Town and distribueted them in every place has they traviled along and preach the tracks were in two ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p169.jpg) langueges Dutch and English Then the next thing I heard of them they had made their way up into the Winterberg to My Brother George who received them kindly and listened to their teachings and read their tracks. And he been a very steady schrude thinking Man and compareing their tracks with the Scriptures, He found that their tracks and preaching coresponded so well with the New Testament that he came to the conclusion that there must be a great deal of truth in their Doctrin. One of his Naighbours said to him (My Brother) I hear you have got a new ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p170.jpg) religion come among you but my Brother made answ[-] and said that he thought otherwise he thought it was the old religon revived that Christ and his Apostles taught when they were on the earth. So these Mormons Preachers stayed and made his home with my Brother for several weeks preaching around in differant places and explaining this new doctrin as the people called it. Such was the News that was brought to me by people who had been at my Brother House. And I thought it very strange especily for him ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p171.jpg) who had never at any time investgated religon any in peticular. Well some time after these repor I was in Queenstown on buisness, when I heard that My Brother and one Mr William Walker was in Queenstown who had come from Winterberg some sixty or seventy Miles on Horseback princeably to see me, And has I had always been a great Wesleya and a preacher among them My Brother thought he would like to hear what My opinion was and what I thought of the Doctrin, So I had them ride home with me which was about 8 ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p172.jpg) Miles to my farm in Bongolo, And of corse the princeable conversation on the road was about this new religon, And has I had been talking about this new doctrin I got on My Horse and rode around to the differ -ant houses and invited my neighbours to come and hear for themselves what the Mormon preacher would say to them had he Mr Walker would preach at my house that evening, so a few of them came to hear a few of the things that they had heard through ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p173.jpg) the papers. The dis- corse of Mr Walker was princeably on Baptisam and the Savour been Baptized by John in the river Jordon. And also the Multitude that was Baptized on the day of penticost. And of Philip Baptizing the Eunuch, and Mr Walker explained those passages of Scripture to meain that it was intended for ad dults persons or persons who had come to the years of Maturity for the forgivness or washing away of sins by emersion and also by one having authority from God and been ordained ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p174.jpg) of the Lord to the Office of the high priest hood and that Baptism of infants was not of Christs nor his disciples, such was the language of Mr Walke at this Meeting. And any School Boy might read it for himself in the new testam and sprinkling is not found within the lids of the Testament for infants. And when I heard Mr Walker explain things in the manner he did I could not help beleive the truth of it. The next morning after hearing this Sermon one of my Naighbours Mr Staples came to see ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p175.jpg) my house to see Mr Walker and asked him a great many questions on different subjects so after talking some time Mr Staples said well it is the same old controver sy that as been in the differant Churches for Centenarys past. That is the doctin of baptizium I mean. After this my Brother and Mr Walker stayed with me two or three days, and of corse the time was princeably occupied in asking questions on the princeable of Mormonism. and all the questions that I asked was answerd scriptural and sattisfacterly so that ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p176.jpg) I could not gainsay them Mr Walker also brought a Book of Mormon with him and left it with me to read and also several tracks. and one of them astonish ed me more than the others it was called a warning to all People high and low rich and poor, to Kings and Queens and to the Clergy of all de nomonations. And it further stated that they came with a message and authority from the God of heaven as revealed in these latter days through Joseph Smith the Prophet and Mr Walker could ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p177.jpg) vouch for him been an honnest and upright man and sent by the God of Heaven. and the message which he (Joseph Smith) brought received, the nations of the Earth would be judged by it as much so as the antediluvians. was in the days of Noah. It said that they did not come to Africa to quaril or rangle with any party or cect as quarling was no part of the religon of Christ, But that they had a message to deliver and they were detirmined to do it so that they might rid their garments of the blood of all men whom ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p178.jpg) they came in contact with, such were some of the language which was embodyed in the track entitled a warning to all. Having read the Book of Mormon through which gave me great sattisfaction and also the tracks. And while My Brother was with and he been very well of in this Worlds goods and haveing plenty of money at his command all the time, I asked him to Lone me some twenty or thirty Pounds to settle of a few Depts which I had contrached before the Kaffir War of 1851 ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p179.jpg) in the Town of Fort Beaufort. When I asked him he said that he did not know wether he could do it or not but said he would see. My Brother been a man that always took time to think well upon anything of the kind such as bargons or the Lone of money But when he had once given his word it could be depended on so a few weeks after he had left me and gone to his home I had a Dream and I drempd that I went to his house in the Winterberg and that he went with me to Fort Beaufort and settled the Depts that was troubling ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p180.jpg) me, and as I got notice from the partys I was oweing they wanting to settle up their accounts so I rode down to my Brothers, And when I got there I found the Mormon Elder there at My Brother's house and of corse our conversa tion was all on the prince ables of Mormonism, And after staying two or three days My Bro Mr Walker and Myself started on Horseback and went to Fort Beaufort which was about twenty Miles, And just has I had Dreamed My Brother fulfiled it to the very letter for he payed every ----- new page (MSS9137_F2_p181.jpg) penny that I owed in Fort Beaufort. So we stayed one night with Mr Thomas Parker. Iron Monger. whos house was Mr Walker's home when he was in Fort Beaufort, That night I enjoyed myself that very much what with the singing of Mormon Hymns and the conversation which was very interesting and has Mr Walker had a great many Mormon Books and Pamphlets which he had for sale I think I baught one of each kind. For by this eare Manuscripts scarce aditions and works chiefly in dead languages, This Governor named above was Sir George Gray, K. C. B. then Governor of Cape Colony, 1861. And a few yards from the Library Building is a beautiful Statue of Sir George Gray represented in full dress, The Pedestal and Statue was about ten feet high, After walking and looking around untill we were tyred, we went to a Restaurant or Boarding house and got our dinners it was the first dinner ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p140.jpg) we had, had on shore for so long a time that we enjoyed it emencely, and after looking around a little more we returned to the Ship with the Captain in the evening. The next morning I, and my Soninlaw went at ashore in search of some People whos adress we had we started to go to a villige some distance out of town 3 miles. (Mowbray) and as we were on the road we were overtaken by a Dutchman with a Wagon, and we enquired of him if he could tell us where Mr George Rook lived, he said he could show us the House, so we got up in his Wagon and rode into the Village. There the man had buisness to attend to at a store and left the Wagon stand but he had not pointed out the house ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p141.jpg) to us yet, so seeing a Black smith and Wheelwright Shop near by, and we both being of them Trades we thought we would go in to have a look around while the Wagon was stand ing on the street, and while there and in conversation we told the workmen where we were from America, and while we were talk ing there was a Boy had been listening to us, and he went out quitely home to his mother and told her that there were two men in the Shop who had come from America, so directly he came back and told us that his mother would like to see us which made us won der as we were total strangers there, we went with the Boy to see his mother, so when we got to the House the secre of it was this Woman was ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p142.jpg) a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and almost the first question she asked if we were Elders in said Church, of corse we told her we was, Then I asked her if she could tell us where Mr Rook lived, she said yes. I will send my Boy with you to the House, This family name is Penfold, and from there we had to go about a Mile through Avenues of beautifu Pine Trees which lead to Mr Rooks farm, and when Mr Rook seeing us coming and knowing the Boy, he judged that we were Elders and where we were from, He was real glad to see us and made us very welcom to his house. After staying with him awhile, and haveing a good talk togather, We made ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p143.jpg) arraingments with him to come to the Jetty or Landing with his cart and take our Luggage to his , for we understode that we could not leave Cape Town for a week to come, on account of the Steamer been detained over Per time from England and the coasting had just left Cape Town the night before we got there or Landed, so having made arraingmen with Mr Rook to fetch us the next morning we left him and went to the railway Station at Ronderbush, and has we had one mile to walk we arrived there a few min uts too late for the Train had just started, and conse quently we had to wait for the next Train so that threw us a little late. But it just happened that the Captain was late in leaving the City to go to the Ship so we were ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p144.jpg) just in time to go with his Boat. Well next morning Mr Rook was at the Dock in good time to take us with his Cart to his house where we spent the week visiting one place and an other and looking around and also visiting the few members of the Church who were in the vinicity and one day Mr Rook took us up into one of the wooded reveins which runs up the Table Mountain some two miles, and the seceanry was most romantic with Trees and shrubbery and after we got a cirtain hight we turned crossed over a rocky ridge still covered with trees most ly Pine, and coming down into the other Cluff clime over and through Bram bles of two or three kinds such as Blackberys Roseber ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p145.jpg) rys and Cape gooseberryes also the wild grapes that runs up very large trees like large cable ropes then spreads over the tops of the trees forming network where they bear their frute and when the frute is ripe it is jet black and about the sise of a small walnut and very sour, But when Pre served they are very nice and of a beautiful color. and when I saw them it put me in mind of the time when I was a Boy, and used to ramble about the Forests near Grahams Town, and used to climb the Trees and creep over the tops on the network and gather and eat the fruit. so we waded on through this romantic Cluff till we came to a fountain of beautiful spring water which had in former years been lead out into ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p146.jpg) a water Dich or as the Dutch stiles it a Waterfurrow, we followed this furrow for a considrable way through the Forrest, and sometimes on our hands and knees or as some would say on all fours, untill we came to a good sized cemented Tank in Ovel shape about thirty feet long and about twelve feet wide and about three feet deep, But quite dry, which had trees growing in it from 20 to 30 feet high, and a little below that we came to the ruines of a mansion, the blue coloring was still visiable on the walls and as it stoad on the hillside the grounds around it had been Terraced and planted for there were remnants of of differant kinds of ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p147.jpg) Trees such as Chesnuts and Walnuts trees, Mr Rook was very well acquainted with with the place but he never said one word about the ruined mansion till we were right on to it, Then I asked him if he knew the history of it. He told me he did, and at the time the Dutch held the Cape of Good Hope that it was Built and beautified by one of the Dutch governors for his country residence, so on leaving this place we went about one mile down a good Carrage road through a Forrest of trees which is now uesed for bringing firewood down to take to Cape Town, and at that time this place was owned by a Widow Lady and her family whos name was ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p148.jpg) Kreewogon, we finely came out of this mountainous place to the out skirts of the Village of Ronderbush and by the time we arrived at Mr Rooks we were very tired, Rondebosch, is one long succession of jentlemens seats; and in the beauty of its scenery, and comfortable appearances of its homes, is perhaps unsurpassed by any suburbs in any part of the world. with a railway run ing through it to Wynberg the third town in size and importance in the Cape division. it is beautifuly situated at the east base of Table Mountain range. about eight miles distant from Cape Town; Well, I and William went once or twice in to Cape Town through the week to see when the Coast ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p149.jpg) Steamer would be going again to Algo Bay, For it was there we wanted to go. and has we had to stay at Mr Rooks house over Sun day, He invited several of his neighbors, and also the few members of the Chu rch of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints to come to his house on Sunday, That there were Elders from Salt Lake City that would Preach to them, so we held two meetings, afternoon and Evening which was well attended. I explained a great deal to them about the afares in Utah and our religion, the City and its surroundings, which of corse was very interesting to them who had never been in Utah, Well staying the week out the Steamer Bis- marck named after the ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p150.jpg) Prince, She was a German Craft the Captain and all the hands were German people the Captain's name was Mr States. So Mr Rook brought us down to the jetty with his Cart, Then William hired a Boat which took us to the Ship Deadeious where we got the remainder of our Luggage and bid the Captain and the Mate good by who had been very kind to us all through the voyeg, so we were soon on board the Steamer on our way to Algo Bay or as it is often caled Port Elizabeth. If I think we was about 4 days on this Steamer, and there were very high mountains in sight all the way, and when we were about half way we put in to a port caled Mussel Bay, and discharged Cargo and took in quite ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p151.jpg) a large amount of Brandy and other goods. I could see the village in the distance but did not go on shore. The mountains just back of the village cut off the view from seeing very far inland. But from what I could see and understand it was a great fruit gro wing place, and where they made a great deal of Brandy and Wines. and also dryed a great deal of fruits. Then we started on again still keeping the Land in sight but the mountains were not so high and rugged as they was near the Cape we could also see small patches of Forrests dotted here and there over the Landscape, so we Landed in Port Elizabath on Sunday the 3rd of April 1870. Then I went and found an Old acquaintance whos name ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p152.jpg) was Charles Grubb, and Stevedore by buisness. I thought we would stay a few days with him till we could see a way to go on to our friends. But he said he could not acco -madate us, on account of some old friends of his at his house, A Sea Captain and his Wife. But he was kind enough to harness up his Horses and took us to a Ladys house who I was well acquainted with whos name was Mrs Rich. She was real glad to see me and enquire about her Son who was in Utah. And she knew of a room that we could get for a few days. of an acqua intance whos name was Mr Hyman, Then William Hired a Cart to fetch our Luggage from the jetty to the room we had hired ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p153.jpg) which was at Mr. E Slaughter, old Tannery, who Emegrated to Utah some years ago. This Mrs Rich lived on a Public St so she could see all the Wagons coming and going from differant parts of the country, and she knowing that we were wanting a convayance to take us to our friends in the Queenstown District, and the Wagons generaly having the owners name and where they are from on their Wagons so on the monday after Land ing on Sunday she happened to see Wagons passing by with the name. Wiggill. on them they were loaded with Bales of Wool, and at that time William and I were out in search of a convayance and looking around the Town and happened to call at Mrs Riches, and she told us that the Wagons had passed ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p154.jpg) so we went to hunt them up and found them after a while unloading the wool at a merchant's store. And of corse we knew the Wagons by the name, and I enquired of the colored servant or Leader of one of the Wagons where his master was, and he pointed me to where the two men was sitting watching the Wool been w[-]eighed so I went up to them and asked them a few questions who they were and where they were from and they answered me ac cording to my wishes so I was sattisfied who they were. [--] so I found one to be my Brother's Son Henry and the other a man who was in my Brother's employ whos name was Abraham Wild, whos Grandfather I had known in earlyer days I then asked Henry where his Brother Francis was ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p155.jpg) He told me that he was somewhere in the Bay with the other Wagons, so we soon found him, and he expecting me, through a letter which I had sent to my Brother George, so he recognized me directly knowing that I was coming. We thought our selves very luckey to find such a good appertunity to go to our friends with out having to hier, for by this time our money was geting short, so Francis had one of the Wagons fitted up very comfortable for us and also had a light Ladder made for our convenience to get in and out of the Wagon. after seeing my neph ues and makeing all things with them in regard to our pasage, and as we had a days leasure William and I went up on what is caled the Hill. an Emeniance two or three hundred feet ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p156.jpg) above the village, where there are a great many Jentlemans residence's built. I found it greatly improved, built up and streets layed out. and also a beautiful Botanical Garden made since I was there ten years before, from that hill we had a splendid vewe of the village or buisness part of Port Elizabeth and also the harbor and Shiping, and the Sea for miles. Up on this elevated spot is a beautiful level stretch of Land doted over with evergreen trees, and lawn grass which is nice and green all the year round being no frost to check it in the winter, and on this level spot there are hundreds of pritty Cottages built and also a large Hospital. and on the next day which was the seventh of April I stayed at home and ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p157.jpg) wrote letters to my Children back to Utah. While my Daughter and her Husband took a walk on the Beach. and went some two or three miles, which left me quite, and alone to my writing I would have liked to have enjoyed the walk with them but I wanted to get my letters wrote to let my Children know that I had arrived safe in Africa, and on Saturday the ninth my nephue had three of the wagons ready, and we started from the Bay, and went about seven or eight miles to what is caled Zwart kop's River. and Campted there over Sunday. Buisness detained Francis at the Bay untill monday The Zwartkops is not a very big river it takes its rise from the mountains in the vicinety of the Town of Uitenhage about twenty miles distant from where we were Campt ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p158.jpg) Where we Camped the high or spring Tides ebbs and flows up to the crossing which I supose is some four or five miles, The mouth of this is a large Bay a beautiful sheet of water which would make a nice Harbor for Ship ing but like all the African rivers are obstructed by Sandbars, and about one mile from the mouth of this river there is a Bridge caled the Zwartkop's Bridge which is built on Piles which is several hundreds yards in length, we should have crossed this Bridge but it was not safe for Wagons to cross it been out of repair and consequently we had to take the old road which was traviled by the settlers of 1820. and in whos company my own Father and Mother traviled, who had long since pasted away with many others. ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p159.jpg) Zwartkops Chapter 30 Well, we are still at the Ford where we arrived on Saturday and now it is Monday the 11th and as it raine very hard on Sunday night it detained us untill late in geting started for the Hill that we had to travil up was so wet and slippy. But we got the Oxen up and started but with the greatest difficulty. after several hours hard putting for the Wagons was very heavy loaded. Now then that we have got fairly up the Hill I want to take the reader back to where we started from. in the place there is a level flat about a quarter of a mile before we come to the hill which is dotted thickly over with a variety of thorney evergreen trees and many of them bear ing berryes. My Soninlaw ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p160.jpg) remarked that nearly every he saw had thorns on them This hill must have got its name from the early Dut ch Settlers on account of its been black with one mass of differant kinds of underbrush or duarfe forrest trees, and on the top of this hill is one long range of Conical shaped mou nds, covered with a dence growth of trees which it is imposable to penetrate. And those hills ranges for a great many miles from the Sea to Uitenhage some twenty miles. And as this Bush is of such a dark green, boardering on black at a distance it looks black the word Swartl which in English means black and kopes means those Conical hill which as been refered to on the range of the hill from which it as ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p161.jpg) got its name swartkopes and the river runing in a parallel line with the mountain got its name Swartkopes river from the early Dutch Settlers. This bush is intermixed with Aloes and a veriety of runing vines and also plants caled the Milkey Ufobia which grows from twenty to thirty feet heigh with leaves three squair and about two feet in length and gives a small flower up the three angles. This Aloes is the well known bitter Aloes which is sold [-] by the Druggists for Medicen it is extracted from the leafe, and abounds in many parts of South Africa, and whos branched scarlet blossoms looks very handsom and stands like Solders on the Mountain sides and growing from two to ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p162.jpg) five and ten feet high although it is such a bitter plant it is strange to say the flower contains sweet Honey, been once more on the Top of this Mountain Abrham W[-]ld turned off to go to the Salt Pans, Although by his Wagon had a heavy load on, he went and load up as Much Salt as would have loaded an ordinary Wagon, or what the Dutch would have con sidered forty years ago a Load for their Wagons. so we went on some five or six Miles till we came to a Farm House and Outspaned, (Or as it is caled in America Unyoked) the Cattle and Camped there untill Mr Wild returned with his salt. while there we had hard work to get any thing Cooked for the wind blowed such a gail that ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p163.jpg) we could not keep any fire burning till we went under a bank then we managed very well and got up a good dinner, was ready and by the time the dinner to my surprize Mr Wild came back with his load of salt, After we had dinner we inspaned again and left the heigh Land and got down in to a lower part of the Country where it was more mild and mostly through a dence Bush, The road went through bush, and now and then we came to a Farm House, Which was altogather a new Country to me, and lead on to the Sundays river Pont which we had to cross, and this brough us to the mane road leading to Grahams Town, We had to take this rout on account of the Swartkops Bridge been ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p164.jpg) out of repair, This Pont or Ferry Boat is long enough to take on board a large Wagon and twelve Oxen, And is worked by ropes spaned a cross the river. And got over all safe and outspaned for the night. And during the night my Nephew Francis Wiggill came up and joyned us, And at this place there were several Wagons Camped haveing Wild Beasts in them on there way to England, such as Zebras, Lions, and other kinds of animals of which I dont remember, On the next morning we traviled through a park like Country where we had a commanding vew of the lower Country and the Sea at a distance, Here I found living and keeping a wayside accomodation house for Man and Beasts, by the ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p165.jpg) of Charles Fan. Cot, so myself my Daughter and her Husband were invited to take dinner with them, He was trying to rise Cotton, after we had dinner I asked him what there was to pay and he said nothing to old frien And has his Fatherinlaw lived some ten or twelve miles off the road whos name is Charles Talbot and he also been and Old friend of mine, and Brother to Mr Henry Talbot who as is mentioned in this work, He having to go to this place on an erand after a Child he proposed takeing me along with him in his Buggy, And when I got there they were very mu ch surprized for they thought that I was in America and never expected to see me again, so I had to sit up till after Midnight ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p166.jpg) and give them a History of Utah and the Church, And Mr Fan Cot hurryed me away so early the next morning before I could get a cup of Coffee which my friends wanted me to have before starting, But we got some at a place called Dassyklip, which is in En glish Rabbit Rock, And from there he took me to join the Wagons again and was there in time to take Breakfast with my people After taking breakfast we inspaned and started on our jorney, some times travling through beautiful Parklike Country, But not hing of note happened in the four days which it took before we arrived at Gra hams Town, only that we passed some very good farm houses and Hotells on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p167.jpg) road. Afew miles before we arrived at Grahamstown passed through a place known as Howesenport so named after a Mr Howeson, a man whom I knew well when I was a Boy, It was a long Narrow Gorge between two very heigh Mountains but here and there space enough to make small farms The road through it as been made by Government with Convict labour, and at the top part of the Port or Canon, as it is caled in America was a large Wool washing Establishment where the Merchants of Grahamstown sends their Wool to be washed, before Shipping it to England. The distance from this place to Grahamstown seem led so short to me, to what it used when I was younger so we soon arrived in ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p168.jpg) Grahamstown and went through the Main St which is caled high Street, and from entering on this street at the one end and out at the other is not less than two to two and a half miles And while passing through the Town I recog nized many of the Building which I knew when I were a Boy that had undergone no change. But in between those Houses on spaces that was, there had been some spacious buildings put up for Stores, in fact Grahams Town and the vicinity is the place where I spent my Boyhood days, and also where I got Married and entered into buisness. And wher my dear Mother and a Sister lays burryed which causes me to remember it, But when I passed ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p169.jpg) through this Town I felt like a stranger for I had not lived there for the last twenty or thirty years so that a great many of my old acquaintances had passed away and strangers come in their places, and the that was living I had not time to hunt them up, Well we arrived at the out skirts of the Town on to what is known as the Cricket ground, and there we outspaned and stayed there the greater part of the day has my Nephew Francis Wiggill had buisness to attend too, While staying there Myself and Soninlaw started out to deliver a letter and also a parcel to from Henry Dixson of Utah to his aged Father John, Henry, Dixon of Grahamstown, whom we ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p170.jpg) found very feeble and infirm so much so that he was not able to open the letter, And from there William and I, went upon a hill over looking the Town. and also the Cluff where my father lived and had his Water Mill which was caled Wigill's Cluff in the early times, I would liked to have gone down to the old spot once more but I had not time on account of the Wagons been ready to start again It was late in the afternoon when we started and left the buryings and Cricket ground, where we had been staying all the fore part of the day. First crossing what is caled the Grahamstown racecorse flat. And then going over Boauters Hill, Then we ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p171.jpg) went down in the night what is caled the Queens Road which is from seven to eight Miles as near has I can judg. It was excavated out of the Declivtous sides of the hills or Mountains and those Mountains are one Mass of impenetrable under Brush, in fact it is a part of the Great Fishriver Jungle, And full of what the great hunter Gordon Coming, calls whitabit thornes. And the scenery down this road is so romantic and grand that it cant be surpassed, And finely at the bottom of the deep hollow to what is caled Brack river, Then we had assend a hill two or three miles long, And when at the top we came to a beauti ful park like Country all dotted with Bushs a ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p172.jpg) level flat beautifuly decer ated with a great veriety of vines and flowers, This flat was some five or six miles over which brought us to Fort Brown on the Great Fishriver, where there is a splendid Bridge built by the Government, which we crossed in the Night and outspaned on the Opposit side of the river, After traveling from Grahamstown a dis tance of eighteen or twenty Miles without outspaning Here we stayed till it was Midday, to rest and for the Oxen to feed, And as the Fishriver is known to abound with what is caled the Prickely Pear, And as the fruit were just ripe my nephew sent the Hottentot serve [-] to gather two or three buckets full which we ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p173.jpg) enjoyed, but my Nephew seemed to eat emencely of them, but for Myself I felt afraid to eat too much, Starting from there we crossed the Konap river over a Splendid Bridge, Then we assended a hill caled the Konap ridge, through a dence Bush and arriving on the top of this hill we came on to another parklike Country where we Outspaned and rested quite a while Then going goor from* there which we traviled in the night, and left Fort Beaufort on the righ which is 46 miles from Grahamstown, still going on till we came to Kat river where we outspaned, and stayed most of the day there after traveling the greater part of the night ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p174.jpg) From this place we traveled to the commence ment of the new Katberg road where the Convict Village, from this place we begin to go[--] up the Katberg hill which took us nearly half a day to get to the top. The road was cut through a Timber forest and excavated out of the sollid rock in many places, and other places built up by masion work some hun dreds of feet at the heads of Chasms or heads of Clufs just at the top of this hill there were a great veriety of beautiful Shruberg, but the hill contunied in many places very steep after arriving on the top of this hill, we had to desend quite a number of long bare grassey ridges mostly excavated on the steep sides of those ridges. ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p175.jpg) Till we came down to the level, to what is caled Ox Kraal, there we spaned out to get some refreshments, which was late in the day, Here I found living an old acquaintance whos name was John Arm strong. with his Wife and family, who were real glad to see me. They came down to where the Wagons was and we had a long chatt about things of younger days, This place now goes by the name of Busby Park, as well as Ox Kraal The propritor of the farm is named Busby James, and there is an accoma- dation House kept by his Brotherinlaw (a Mr Langfield. From this place we traviled the most of the night till we came to a village caled Whittlesea, and it ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p176.jpg) rained half the night and the next day which detained us at Whittlesea half a day in this time it stoped for a little while and we start ed on again, and we arriv ed at Swartkay there we Outspaned and was detained quite a while on account of the rain, The rain still contunied in showers, but we started on again and came to Classmits river. which we had to cross and which was able to Ford. And from this place one of the Hottenlots servants went on a head from the Wagons to where my Brother Elijah and my Son John was living to inform them that I was on the road, So the next day my Son came to meet us in his Buggy we were about half way between Classmits River and Queenstown when he met us ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p177.jpg) on the Queenstown flat after been absent from each other for ten years. Then he took myself my Daughter (His Sister) her Husband and Child away from the Wagons in his Buggy and we went through Queenstown, But stoped there and got some refrishments, and then went on to the Bongolo which was about eigh miles, Where was received with great joy especily by my Brother Elijah who never expected to see me again. Then my Son John asked his uncle Elijah what he should do with us wheather he should take us home with him or wheather we should stay with my Brother so it was desided that we should stay with my Brother for the preasent. ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p178.jpg) Chapter 31 Well has I have said in the former chapter. I stayed with my Brother Elijah. But I had another Brother, James Wiggill whom I had to visit besides many other relations whom I visited who were all real glad to see me, and has for my Brother Elijah he thought that I had come back to Africa to stay with them, He never gave it a thought that I had only come on a visit and with the intention to go back again to Utah. It was a general question with all my friends, you are not going back to America again I told them all from the first yes if I live I entend to go back some day that I had never seen anything in America to hurt or frighten me. That I was perfectly sattisfied with the doctrin ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p179.jpg) of the Latter day Saints which caused me to leave my home and friends. Had it not been for that I would have lived and died at home with my friends in Africa. so the next day after arriving in Bongolo my son John had buisness to attend to in Queenstown, and having many friends and also a Sister living there I went down with my son in his Buggy, my Sister was married one John Watson He also been the Son of one of the Settlers of 1820. She was my youngest Sister and I had not seen her for years before I left Africa on account of her living in a distant part of the Country, She was very glad to see me once more has I was to see her. and I found many of my old ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p180.jpg) friends making ready to go to attend the great Jubilee of the Settlers of 1820. and amongest the rest I found the Rev. Henry H. Dugmore a person whom I had been acquainted with for many years, He was the principal Lecturer at the meeting or Jubilee He been one of the Settlers Sons and having traviled and seen a great deal of the early life of the Settlers, and been a man of keen abservation he had many anecdotes stored up in his mind which he re[-]ited to as many of the old Settlers as could be got togather, and their Sons and Daughters which were many hundreds if not housands. I did not go myself to this Jubilee has none of my rela tions were going, and I having just come off such a long journey I did feel like ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p181.jpg) traviling a hundred miles just then. and to be a stranger among them and in a strange place, This Jubilee was held in Grahams Town in the year 1870 (May). Then haveing rested a day or two myself and my Soninlaw up the country to see my Brother Joseph and also a Brotherinlaw Francis. P. Bentley who were both living on the same farm, we found them and their familys all well and they were all glad to see me once more we stayed with them two or three days, then I wanted to go and see my Brother George in the Winterberg which was some eighty or ninety miles, so Mr Bentley lent us each a Horse for our journey. Then in a day or two I feeling ancious to see my Brother George William ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p182.jpg) and I started on our journey to the Winterberg, and on that day we went as far as the Swartkia river where a friend of mine was living whos name is Joseph Ralph a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, and has he had not heard of my coming or my arrival, so when he seen me he was struck with amasement and could hardly beleive that it was me, but was very glad to see me, and we stayed with them that night, and the next day we left Mr Ralph and traviled about twenty or thirty miles when we came to the residence of Mr Edward Goddard who reseived us kindly and made us very welcome both him and his good Lady, They live on a Farm near the big Winterberg a place caled Bottle Koot, where he keeps ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p183.jpg) a large flock of wool sheep the farm is so destetute of wood for fuel that they have to depend on the Sheeps Dung which they dig out of the Kraal in large squairs and when it is dry it makes a very hot fier. not only Mr Goddards farm is so desta tute but many others in that neighborhood. Leaving Mr Goddards we took a brid[--] path leading across the spers of the big Winterberg Mountain. from Mr Goddard's farm untill we came to the main road on the upper part of the Tarka river which is from fifteen to twenty miles, By going this rout we saved ourselves some six or seven miles. This road was well known to me has I had travi led it many years before. When we had reached the main road we had about ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p184.jpg) two hours ride mostly up hill along princable sorce of the Tarka river, which takes its rise from the Winterberg mountain, and a part of Country which is destitute of wood and few people residing thear it is a succession of long grassey ridges, spurs of the big Winterberg, till we came to a Plateau overlooking the valley of the Ko[---] river which also takes its rise from the big Winterberg. and from this elevated spot we had a magnificent view which is parklike and dotted here and there with Farm Houses, From this hight it took us about an hour to ride to my Brothers House which was down hill and which is caled the big Winterberg wagon road, and arrived at my Brother George's house all safe, who ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p185.jpg) I had not seen for ten years, He was very glad to see me has I was to see him, and has he was of the same faith and religion has myself we had a long takk about Salt Lake and Utah affares and after spending two or days with him we rode over to a place caled kall hook where I once resided and still had a sister living, so we stayed at her place one night and visited some other friends in that Locality and then returned to my Brothers the next day, William seemed uneasy and ancious to get back to his family whom he left in the Bongolo so he started alone on a differant road to what we had come, and arrived quite late at night at Mr Armstrong's residing at Busby Park where we ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p186.jpg) had caled on our way up and hearing by accident that he had a Cousen living in the neighborhood he caled on him and found him en gaged as a Sheep farmer and well, and gave William quite a history of his relations whom he himself had left in England, and arrived in the Bongolo all safe, and has I had not seen my Brother for such a long time I stayed a few days longer with him and Preached at his house on the Sunday, and when I was ready to leave him got his Soninlaw to returln with me to the Bongolo, as he had never seen that part of the Country, His name is H. Holles. and we return back on the same rout that William Lowe had gone and caled on an Old friend by the ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p187.jpg) name of James Sweentnam which was about 8 miles from my Brother's place and has he pressed us to stay with him the night we concluded to do so and he made us very welcome and the next day we started on and arrived at Mr Armstrong's and stayed with him that night, and the next day we arrived in Bongolo. and when I arrived in Bongolo I found William very busey repairing and papering a Cottage at my Son John's place for his family to live in and of corse I had to turn too and help him, and made two new doors and a dineing Table towards his going to housekeeping, and has he my soninlaw William was a Blaksmith, my Brother Elijah took quite a likeing to him and built a Shop ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p188.jpg) for him in Queenstown to start buisness in for himself, and for this Shop I also made door and window frames for it, and after geting moved and fixed in this house, a Brother of mine Aaron Wiggill who was passing through Bongolo and in company with a Mr Wooley a well known trader with the Dutch, ca[-]hed had been for many years, and has my Brother was going down to Britchkafferarer to see his Farm so he said to me you had better go along with us, it will be such a good chance for you to see the Country we have two Wagons and plenty of room, So I concluded to go with him and the next day we started and I enjoyed myself very much, my Brother was very kind to me, and I saw a Country which I have never seen before and also King William's Town I had heard a great deal about it ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p189.jpg) so after traveling three or four days we arrived at Kingwilliams Town, and as my Brother had some buisness to attend too we stayed there one night. It is a very pritty Town built a nice dry rolling ridges's the Town been built on two or three of those rid ges and on the head of the Buffalo river whos Waters empty themselves some twenty into the Sea, at the Port of East London, The seenery in and around East London Kingwilliam Town is beau tiful and Parklike, and as it as been the military headquarte for many years, and on one of the rises there is built by the British government one of the finest Hospitals in South Africa. The grounds around it is beautifuly layed out with walks and planted with all kinds of Trees and shrubery. Leaving this ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p190.jpg) place we traviled some ten or fifteen miles, and stopted at the place of Mr Nathaniel Brown Fatherinlaw to my Brother a man whom I had known for many years, and stayed over Sunday with him and attended the place of Public worship with him to which place was two or three miles and we went on Horseback and while there I met two or three very Old acquaintance who was very glad to see me and invited us to go home with him and take dinner which invitation we excepted. and after dinner we went back to Mrs Brown's, and on Mon day morning we bid him good by and started on our way thome my Brothers farm which was has neigh has I can recolect was five or six miles it was occupyed by a man whos name was Mr Danieles a Blacksmith by trade and ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p191.jpg) who I was well acquainted with has he had once lived in Queenstown where I got acquainted with him. and has my Brother had a little buisness to transact with Mr Danieles, so I stayed about two days. and my Brother showed me the ruens of the House that our Father used to live in and also the garden of corse I was interested. It is a pritty rolling country and the Kloofs or reviens are threaded with usefull Timber of differant kinds, and the surrounding hights are dotted with the moimosa or what is caled thorn trees with an abundance of grass The house which now stands is built of Stone it is very large and unfinished a story and a half high and covered in with a galvanized Iron roof. Such iron is used mostly all over ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p192.jpg) the country for roofing especily for farm houses as it is consider ed the safest from fire. On the third day my Brother and Mr Wooley left the farm and went on a visit to the seaport of East London, a place which I have not seen myself, I would have gone with them, But having a Daughter living in the neighborhood which I had not seen since my return from America, so Mr Danials was kindenough to let his son go with me, to showe me the way to my Daughter's has I was a stranger in that part of the Country, so we started on Horseback and rode from ten to fifteen miles through a beautif ul Parklike country passing several comfortable looking Farmhouses, and arriving at my Daughter's in the latter part of the day, I wanted the Boy to stay with us that night, But he perfered going home and ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p193.jpg) started that evening, Well I was very happy to see my Daughter and found her quite well and glad to see me, for I came quite unexpected on her has she did not know that I were in that part of the country, She is married to a Mr William James, Well it was arranged that I should stay with her untill my Brother and Mr Wooley returned and they would call for me, which gave me two or three days with my Daughter and to look around the country where she lived, which is a beautiful roling country dotted here and there with the mamosia and in the British Kafferia district on the Gonubie river, There were some of my Old acquaintences living in the neighborhood who I would liked to have seen but it was too far to walk and my Soninlaw ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p194.jpg) was too buisey towith his Sheep so I did not ask him to go and contented myself in talking to my Daughter giving her a history of America, and also of her Brothers and Sisters whom I left in Utah, Then after staying a few days with her my Brother caled according to promis, and I bid my Daughter goodby and left at once as we had to meet the Wagons some ten miles distance at a place caled the Bush Hotell where the Wagons had to pass, and when we arrived Mr Nick elson said they had not passed, and my Brother could not account for it of there not passing and thinking that some accide must have happened He rode back for several miles to where he knew they had passed and was gone all night ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p195.jpg) I was very glad that we did not have to go any further that night for I was so very tired and also sick. and so I had a good nights rest and in the morning I felt better. But soon after my Brother had started to go back to look after the Wagons Mr Nickelson Son came home and told us that the Wagons had passed that afternoon so my Brother had his ride for nothing But while on the road he met with an Old acquai ntance of both his and mine whos name is James Gibbins who I was very glad to see when they came up the next morning, Then we started on and found the Wagons outspaned some five or six miles ahead and in due time we got back to Bongolo ----- new page (MSS9137_F3_p196.jpg) all safe after traviling from fifty to sixty miles and on arriving at Queens Town I found some of my friends there and leaving the my Brother and his Wagons I went with them home to the Bongolo, This was in the month of June 1870. Isaac Wiggill died 26 Feb. 1863 he died at Uitenhage South Africa. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p002.jpg) ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p003.jpg) I. T. Wiggill nh/60 Layton Davis Co. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p005.jpg) Chapter 32 When I arrived at my Brother's I found him and his Son Francis and my Sonin law William K Lowe and William Maythem with thers who had formed themselves into a company to go the Vaal river to hunt and dig for Dimonds, as the hole country was on the move at that time going to the newly discovered Dimond fields which was from five to six hundred miles from Queenstown. There had been such great reports about the finding of Dim onds that it set everybody in motion to go to the fields that could posibley make it sute to leave home. a rush somthing slike it was to Callyefornia at the time gold was found ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p006.jpg) there. Before giving a de tailed account of the Vaal river Diamonds fields I thought I would give a short history about how they were discovered. In 1868 a Child of a Dutch farmer named Jacobs who was living in the banks of the Vaal river would amused it self by picking up the pritty Pebbles and picked up one which attracked its mothers attention, so that she show ed it to one Schalck Van Niecark who was curious in such matters, He was puzzled about its nature, and offered to buy it. But Mrs Jacobs laughed at his offer and gave him the pebble. which afterwards passed carelessly through two intervening pairs of hands befre it reached a gummed envelope ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p007.jpg) A and unregistered to Dr Atherstone of Grahams town, an exceilent Mineralogist This gentleman having examined its physicl character and tested its degree of hardness and density, and its behaviour when subjected to optical tests by means of polarized light pronounced it to be a Diamond. This is the stone which was examined by scientific men of Europan Nations, during the Paris Exhibition of 1867, and purchased at the close of it by Sir Phillip Wodehouse for five hundred pounds, In 1870 Mr Streeter's Dia mond expedition party weare exploring the Transvaal far and wide and ascertaing facts which comple[--] our knowledge of the new wonder of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p008.jpg) The Diamonds world. as the Diamond diggings on the Vaal river and De beers or the New rush as it was caled, and also Du Toits Pan. At Du Toits Pan a Dutch Farmer named Van Wyk who occupied a farm house in this Locality 20 miles south east of Puiel was surprised to find Diamonds imbeded in the walis of his house, which had been built of mud from a naighboring pond, This led to an ex amination of the soil which was soon found to contain Diamonds, on continuing to dig lower and lower Diamonds were still bought to light, nor did they cease when the bed of rock was at length reached. It was but natura that the discovery of Dia monds at the Cape should ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p009.jpg) excite only moderate enthusiasm in Briazil, The Briazilan Diamonds had supplyed the market in [-] Amsterdam and other countrys where the Briazil Diamonds had been in demand, But when the Cape Diamonds were brough to market in such quanties by Diamond holders and so fascinated the Amsterdam lapidaries that for a long time they would cut no other, The Briazilian Market went down and down, and has never recov ered it self, the Cape yield of large Stones enhanced the difficulties of influen cing the Amsterdam lapi daries, they finding a sup erabundance refused to cut small ones, that came from Briazil, so the Bria zil went down in price and the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p010.jpg) Cape Diamonds went up in price, not because they were better but because the Cape Diamonds were larger, To show the earley state of the Diamond diggers on the Vaal river I will coppy a few lines from a News paper caled the Friend, which says that the news from the Diamond field is more encouraging. Looking down the reports given in that paper we find that they mention 46 diamonds as having been found lately. Amongst these are one of 30 carats, one of 26¼ carats, two of 26 each, one of 18 carats, one of 16 carats one of 11 carats, one of 10½ carats and the remainder of weights not stated. The Friend says that of the discoveries not one tenth ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p011.jpg) part is mentioned; but if the parties keep their secret we do not see how this proportion is arrived at. It is, however, reasonable to suppose that every success is not blazed abroad. The diamond mentioned above as weighing 26¾ carats is the one found by Mr Rickets, and was reported by us last week. He is now said to have refused £2.200 for it. The 30 carat diamond is of inferior quality. The Friend says in a postscript that there were non the day of issue £5.000 worth of dia monds in Bloemfontein. The Pniel Mission station appears to be gradually falling into the hand of the diggers. The missionary cannot prevent it. Nor do we see that the Free state will be able to ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p012.jpg) assist Mr. Kallenberg, although the station is said to be in that ter ritory. The papers by last even ing's post chronicle the movements of several parties. Lady Gray. Philippolis. and Rou[-]ville are mentioned as contribu ing their twos and threes to the crowd. Port Eliza beth has started two more companies. from No the Natal papers received by the Saxon we learn that, when one of the maritzburg volunteer companies was called out for drill. twenty members were absent. having left for the diamond fields. This was in 1870. The diamond news could be made very sensahonal; but it is ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p013.jpg) better to say little than too much. No doubt large numbers of diamonds have been found and discoveries are being made every day. About 600 men are at the Fields. The Every day witnesses the departures of parties for the diamond fields. At Hopetown on the great Orange river the people are going mad, and the place is being deserted; so says one of the local corres- pondents. Parties swarms along the roads. A brief but most interest ing letter in the Friends of the Tree State of the 23rd of June gives a fair estimate of the success of the diggers over at least a portion of the field. Whether the writer be an overseer or not, we are not informed; but it seems to be his buisness ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p014.jpg) Diamond to "take a round through the tents," to ascertain what parties have been successful during the day; and, if we may judge from the letter, he has no objection to tell the world the re sult of his visits. Such a gentleman is just the the newspapers and the news reading public are in search of; and as his letter seems singular by destitute of anything like exaggeration. or even en thusiasm. we may. we beleive. rely upon its state ments. It is within the certain knowledg of this gentleman that thirty diamonds had been dis covered in the diggings on the four days previous to the date of his writing (the 7th of June). a "number he remarks, "which consid ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p015.jpg) ering there are about fives hundred men digging, is not so very great after all." He makes a brief reference to the luck of several parties. "Some of the Bloemfontain parties," he tells us, "have been successful. Stock and Van Venrooi have three or four diamonds; Green<'s> party, I beleive, two; but the most fortunate company is Messy. Shaw. Jollie, and Deneys. The very first day they washed. out of two loads of earth a diamond of thirteen carats was found, valued at £320 to £350. They have not found anything since. On the other hand, we hear of dozens of people who have been digging from a month to six weeks. and have got nothing." Some of the Boers, disheartened at their want of success, talk of leaving the fields, while new ones comers are still ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p016.jpg) Diamonds pressing on to try their luck. The Tyd (Free State paper) says:—"The diamond mania is raging among our officials. The Government Secretary has gone and left a man in his place who a few weeks ago knew nothing of the duties of the office. The Postmaster General, who had been pertinacious by importuning the Volks road for assistance, has gone too as fast as he could to the El Dorado, and left his office to anybody to dis charge. The President is very indulgent to all applicants for leave to go; in short, nobody is refused, so that there is reason to beleive that one of these days His Honor will have to dis charge the duties of all the Government offices himself." ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p017.jpg) All the foregoing was in the early stage of the diggings in the Year 1870 on the Banks of the far famed Vaal river, which devieds two Dutch republic an governments, one caled the Orange Free State, represen ted by President Brand, and the other is represented as the Trans Vaal governed by H. Potorus. but the land was owned by a Native whos name was Waterlore He was a Chief of eather the Griquas or Korannas or both togather, and in country was where the diamonds was first discovered at a Mission Station caled Penal. and at a crossing of the river caled Klipe Drifft, or in english it is Stoney Fords and as the diamonds were found near his Stat ion he demanded a cirtain ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p018.jpg) <✓> portian of what the diggers found for a time while the diggers was under the superintendence of a man by the name of Parker also a digger, At this time both these Presidents of the two states wanted to clame the territory where the diamonds were found, and Waterbore the Chief owner of the land gave his clame over to the British Government and to put down all disputes the British Government sent a re- sponsible man to take charge of it, and licensed the diggers so much for a diamond clame to the great annoyence of Preisend Brand and the Dutch republic which caused a paper War for over one Year, Which was ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p019.jpg) Gold eventualy settled by Brand going to England and it was settled thare by the home authoritys which they did by giving the free state several thousand Pounds to be expended on the railway works. A little before this time of the diamond discovery, there was a rumo of the existence of vast and rich fields of gold in the interior, North of the Vaal river, attracting numbers of prospectors but as yet without any positive result. With regard to these gold fields they appared to have been worked by some parties or nations some centurys back as large pits or holes were found where gold had evidently been taken out, and there were ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p020.jpg) fragments of hewn stone lying about in differant places, and near the gold pits, But when or who the people were is unkown at this preasent time. The reader may wonder how it was that a Mission Station was in that locality for forty or fifty years passed and never discovered Diamonds, as many lay on the Surface of the ground I can only account for it in this way, has many parts of Africa strwn with bright Crystles like transparent glass, especily on the Orange river and also on the banks of Caledon and Vaal river, and many other Streams, so I expect the Missionerys and trave -lers must have looked on the diamonds as not ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p021.jpg) -hing more than Crystals. I will now leave the diamond field for a little while. I may speake of it again by and by. Well after returning from King Williamstown and British Kaffravia has mentioned before, to Bon golo where my Son John resided and stayed with him for about two years and went to work at my trade and made some 8 Wagons such as they use for Freighting or Transporting goods from the Seaports to the interer towns and Villiags, and for bringing Wool and other produce to the differant Seaports. Those Wagons are twenty feet in length and about four feet in width, and made of the very best of Materials both of wood ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p022.jpg) Cape Wagon Iron, The axels are made in England. from a model or pattern sent home for the purpose, and are sent out to Africa in differant sizes for both light and havy Wagons, The African or Cape wagon are very different in the make from eather English or Amiracan Wagons. Being a model from the Origenal Dutch Wagons which sutes the country much better than the English or the American Wagons would do, As the Wheels of those Wagons are spoked too stright or in other words not dished enough to hold heavy loads, as a general the roads are eather very rough or very sideling It is a very common thing to see these ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p023.jpg) Wagons drawn by twelve and sixteen well trained Oxen, and two persons to conduct them which is the Leader and the Driver and to protect the goods from the weather when Loaded they have a cover caled the Tarpolen that they draw over the length and breadth of the Wagon when the weather is bad but at other times it is foulded up and carried on the top of the load, and for the conveience of carring passingers they have what is caled a tent in the back part of the Wagon about 8 feet in length. and to get in and out of the Wagon they generaly have a light a Ladder some 6 or 8 feet long which makes it very conveniant for Ladys ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p024.jpg) traveling, and besides that there is also place caled a trap for the purpus of carring the Cooking Utensills, But in English it is caled a step. This Trap is framed and mortised togather with bares and hangs under the back part of the Wagon forming the step After discribing the carriors heavy Wagon which is comonly caled in the Cape the Buck Wagon, I thought I would discribe the Dutch farmers traveling Wagon such as they have had in use for over a hundred years in Cape Colony, There is no people I suppose in the world who is more peticlelar about their Wagons than a Cape Dutchman. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p025.jpg) nor is there any people that is abetter judge of a good Wagon than they are. When they go to exam -ine a Wagon they take hold of the Wheel and give it a shake to see if it is likely to run well, Then they will knock the fellies [-] with their nuckels to see if the Wheel is tite and will ring well, Then they will take a knife and get under the Wagon and chip bits of where it wont be seen to see what kind of wood it is made of, has they are exelant judges of all the wood that Wagons are generaly made of. Then he will ask the Wagonmaker if he can warrant that Wagon to be made of dry and well seasoned wood, Has ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p026.jpg) Cape Wagon a Dutchman would genera ly have his wood drying six or sevan years before he would have it built in a Wagon. and there is but very few L Wheelwright that can please them espec ely an English Wheelright that had lately come over from England, But has I learned my trade in the Cape Colony it came easey for me to make such Wagons as would sute their taste. now I will try and discribe the Dutch traveling wagon In the first place the after Wheels are from four feet ten inches to five feet, and the front Wheels are three feet six inches high, with the felles messure in depth four and a quarter inches with a neat moulden ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p027.jpg) all around each Wheel and every spoke with a neat quarter bead up the center of each spoke leaving a square on the spoke at the Hub, or nave of the Wheel, The length of the Wagon is about 14 feet, and the width three and a half to four feet that is to say between the sids, The sides are framed togather having thirteen flat bars mortised, and the top rail being bent about a foot makeing the side about three feet high at the back part of the Wagon, While the front part of the side is about twenty two inches heigh, and the bottom of the Wagon is made of two inch plank firm ly scrwed or riveted to gather, rivested with ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p028.jpg) crossbars back and front and two in the center projecting about a foot on which rests two side boxes one on each side about three feet in length and about a foot deep, which is compleatly water proof, And in them they pack their Provisions and drinking cups, and in fact every little conveinance that is used on the road when traveling is put into those Boxes and all locked up, And then there is the front Chest which the driver sits on and also the Leader when he is not in front of the Oxen, there is very often a Chest at the back of the Wagon and if not a neat tailboard, ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p029.jpg) Then for the convenience of sleeping they have what swong in the Wagon what is caled in the Cape a Cartle with head and footboard, and on each side of the Wagon, inside, they have canvas pockets which they fill with cloaths and anything they may need when traveling. Now I will dis cribe the top of the Wagon in the first place there is six bars to each sides being twelve in all about four feet in length riveted or scrwed to the sides, on the top of those bars comes the Bows, bent to the shape and riveted to the up right bars, and then comes about twenty bars which is caled the rids ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p030.jpg) Cape Wagon which is neately beaded This tent does not come to the front of the Wagon not by three feet so as to give the driver room to use his Whip, which will reach ten Oxen when he is siting on the Chest. And to make the Wagon more comfortable there is a plank on each side (inside) resting on the top rail, and scrwd or riveted to the upright bars that as been already mentioned which supportes the tent, so the smallest artical can not lose out of the Wagon. On the top of those side boards there is a rail on each side notched and riveted to the upright bars that supports the tent or the top of the Wagon. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p031.jpg) and is the length of the in side of the Wagon. and to these rails on the out side is tacked a lining of green Baze generaly. and over that again is tacked a covering of canvas which is well painted on the outside. and over this again comes the top sail of made of good canvas which covers in the hole, both back front and the sides comeing about 18 inches be low where the undersaile is tacked on, The back and front is left so that they can be roled up in the day, and closely fasten ed down with brass buttons at night, and the sides is also secured with brass buttons driven into these uprights. The buttonholes are made very neatly in the canvas generaly with ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p032.jpg) a soft bit of Leather for a foundation and cut in the shape of a heart, and altogather makes the Wagon perfectly warn and Water proof, So that the heavyest storms can not penetrate and with such Wagons it is a pleasure to travel with a family, But of corse they have a trap at the back of the Wagon like the one discribed on the freight or carrier, Wagon, And for the conveinence of the Dutch Ladys who often weighs as much as three hundreds pounds and over, They have leighter ons which they call Horse Wagons fitted up in the same Manner and is drawn by six or eight Strong Horses. Those Wagons which has been ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p033.jpg) discribed costs from 70 80 and to a hundred pounds Sterling. Chapter 33 After discribing the African Wagons I now settle down with my Son John on his farm 8 miles from Queens Town, To make a few of these Wagons for some of my relations at their particular request, as they were all glad to see me back amongest them once more from America, The Wagons I am about to make is of the discription of the discrip first one discribed [-] which is the fright Wagon which at that time my friends were all engaged in. The first one that I made was for my Brother Elijah. and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p034.jpg) he was very glad to think there was another chance to get another Wagon of my make, H as I had made him one ten years before, before I left Africa to come to America, And that same Wagon he had in his possesion when I went back to Africa. But accedently he had broke one of the front Wheels and strang to say instead of geting that one repaired he had a new Wheel made and after I got to work I repaired it for him Nothing would have induced My Brother to have parted with that Wagon if I had not gone back to Africa a gain to make him another one. For he was keeping it in rememberence of me and my work, ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p035.jpg) [---] But has I was there to make him another Wagon he sold that Wagon for sixty pounds after useing it for ten years, in heavy work, so I made him two Wagons one for a keepsake which had a good of fancy work on it in the way of Carving. and which he kept in Lew of the one that he sold, and the other one he put on the road to hard work, The next one was for my Son John. and the next one was for my Soninlaw William Lowe and the fifth one was for a nephew of mine by the name of James Mer phy, and the sixth one was for my Brother inlaw Francis.P.Bently and the seventh one was for my Brother ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p036.jpg) Moses Wiggill, and the eight one was for Francis Wiggill My Brother's Son For all those Wagons the parties found their own Material that is the Timber. And to these Wagons I neither made sides nor Buck, or rack as the Americans call it, and for makeing those Wagons I received thirty pounds for each one for my labour, Which makes £240, and if I could have stayed longer I could have made as many more and all for my relations, They would often come to see me and want to know when I was going to make them a Wagon, So I had to tell them that I could not make Wagons for them all for my time was ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p037.jpg) too short to stay with them I found it very hard work having to work such very hard wood, I think it was the hardest Timber that I ever worked. and at that time Wagon Timber was very scarce on account of t it been baught up to make Wagons and Carts to go to the Diamond fields for the demand was greater than could be supplyed, and where there was wood to begot it was imposable just then to get a Wagon to go after it where it was to be Sold for they were all going to the Diamond field so most of the parties that I made the Wagons for had to pay almost dubble for the Timber But they did not care ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p038.jpg) so long has they could get it, so that I could make the Wagons while I was there with them. While working at those Wagons I took my time and worked at my leasure has I was not bound to time. so now and then I would two and three days or a week to visit amongest my relations and friends for a change sometimes I would go with my son John for two or three on buisness with his Wagon One time I will mention on the 16th of September 1870 I left the Bongolo with my Son John for to go to the Bush for to get three Loads of Timber into Krelis Old Country a distance of 60 miles, The first day we got to St Marks Mission Station. The station belong ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p039.jpg) to the Church of England and the Minester name was Rev. Cannon Waters. Stayed there on Sunday, and on Monday 18 we left for the Bush which was 20 Miles from the Station and ar rived there at sundown and at night it came on a drizling rain which made it very disagreable and on the next day we went to Mr Winters who kept a small tradeing Store and baught Timber from the Sawers who worked in a Neighboring Forest. And on Tuesday 20th we loaded up three Wagons with Timber. And on the 21 left Mr Winters on our return home, with the Wind blowing a perfect gale while assending a long ridge several miles in length which made it ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p040.jpg) <✓> very disagreable to travil and on the 22 we got to a trading Station which was kept by a German where we stayed all night and found them very agreable people, and I had quite a chat with them untill a late hour all about America. He haveing relations there, in the City of Baltimore And on the 23rd got back to St Marks Station on our way home. And on the 24th arrived in the Bongalo at my Son's house in good health, and haveing seen a part of the Country that I had never seen before, and I was very much pleased with the appearence of it, It was mostly inhab ited by Kaffers belonging to Krelis with here and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p041.jpg) there a White man staying on farms and living under the Kaffer Law and such was Mr Winters where we loaded up the Timber. I was very comfortable when at home with my Son John. And most of the time my Daughter was right there with me who went out to Africa with me which still made it more pleasant But in the mean time she was twice away to the Diamond field with her Husband, and at times my Son would be away to the Diamond fields for a month at a time But his Wife was always at home and made me very com fortable, so the time passed along quite agreable has I had other relations in ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p042.jpg) the Neighborhood that I often went to visit with, and sometimes I would go on Horseback as far has Queenstown and to visit friends living there has I once resided there myself, and also had relations living there. On another occation I made a visit to the Winter berg to see my Brother George Wiggill, has I wished to see him on peticular buisness concirning a long Journey which he was going to take into the Trans Vaal Country which lays beyond the great Orange and Vaal rivers where he had buis ness to attend to, and has I had never seen that Country and he having invited me to accompany him I thought I would go, so on the 16th of Nov ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p043.jpg) ember 1870 I left Bongolo on my way to the Winterberg on Horseback which was some 60 or 70 miles from Bongolo and I went the over a very ruged rough mountain on a road which is caled a Bridle path, being a spoor of the well Hunglip Moun tain in the Queenstown district. This rough path saved me four or five miles other wise I would have had to go right through Queenstown. This broug me to the mission Wesleyan Mission Station at Lesenton which is a very pritty place which as been alread discribe and from there I crossed the Classmits river coming to an old friend of mine Joseph Ralph living on the Swart Kie river where I stayed for the Night. And the next morning after ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p044.jpg) traveling three or four miles I came to Mr Westerber's farm who was a distant relation of mine and I found him in a very poor state of health, But very comfortabley fixed as far as worldly goods is concer ned living a Batchlers life with his Son, and there I had to stay two nights on account of stormy weather, And we talked over a great many things of bygone days, And from there I went across the Country takeing a short cut which my friends directed me which I found without any trouble. and caled on a Mr Padden who had Married a young Lady whom I knew and has I had a Message from her from her friends in America I wanted to see ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p045.jpg) her. She been a Daughter of an old friend of mine by the name of Wall. Her husband was at that time a School Teacher to a Mr George Whightheads Children. She recognized me at once and was very glad to see me, The weather being very bad and made traveling unpleasent I stayed with them two nights. This pl[-] farm was just at the foot of the two noted Table Mountains in the Tavka district. The mornig I left there the clouds was very heavy and I ex pected I should get a thou thorough weting but it kept cloudy all the day and made it pleasent to travil. And in the even ing I arrived at my Brothers House in the Winterberg all right ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p046.jpg) but found him very poorly in health, and I told him that I had come to go with him on that Journey but he had given up the idea of going after giving me all that trouble of riding all them miles on purpose. Well has he had given up going I stayed with him about five weeks and visited my sister Elizebeth who lived about six or seven miles away at a place caled Calehok where she as resied for many years and brought up her family been a widow for many years And from there I visited a friend name George Sumner Father in law to my Brother George, and also other friends who lived in the neighborhood. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p047.jpg) And while staying at my Brothers I intened to visit Post Retelf to see some of my old friends who was living there. but the Knoap river being so Swollen through the late rains that I did not consid er it safe to cross it, so I did not get to see them at all. So at the end of five weeks and on the 14 of Dec I left [-] my Brothers House on my way back to the Bongolo, And when I left the morning was very fine and not a cloud to be seen But when I got to the top of the Winterberg on the Wagon road which crosses over. I could see heavy Clouds luming up at a distance, which I knew well to be thu nder clouds, being accust umed to seeing them ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p048.jpg) that I almost made up my mind that I would get a good soaking before I got to any shelter, has I had about 15 or 20 miles to ride over the spoors or ridges of the big Winter berg on the Tarka side which was a very lonely road, and I was alone and the clouds kept geting more dence and heavy over my head, untill I got within a mile of the first House on the road, When the thunder began to roar and the Lightning began to flash and the rain began to pour down in torents which I was ex pecting from the appea rence of the clouds, and in about five minuts I was wet through haveing to waterproof ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p049.jpg) with me, But when I arrived at the house which was the first on the road and those people were relations of Mr Edr Goddard where I intended to stay that night, So I took Shelter at this place untill the Storm abated siting in my wet cloaths, But they were kind enough to make me a cup of coffee which was very exceptable So when the storm abated I was about to saddle up and start and just then Mr Goddard just happened to drop in and through his kind invitation I went with him and was made very comfortable for the Night and their kindness I shall forget for myself and my Horse, and on the next day I found ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p050.jpg) myself feeling very poorly from takeing a bad cold through geting so wet has I was still 30 miles from my home, I left Mr Goddards the next morning and traviled untill I came to my Old friend Mr Ralphs who resided on a Farm on the Swart Kia river and it was very luckey that I crossed the river that night, for in the night and from the same storm that caught me the day before came down and flooded the river so that I would not have been able to cross it for a day or two, And while I stayed at Mr Ralphs I felt very poorly and wished my self at home, so I started the next morning, And ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p051.jpg) when I came to the Klaas smits river I found that flowing pritty rappid but I got across all safe Then striking across ing the country leaving Lessenton on the left about a half mile, and caling at an acquaintence of mine William Staples has he was about on the Line of road that I was on, and when I reached the house I found that both Him and his Wife was away on a visit to Queenstown, But their Daughter was at home and was very thoughtful and made me a very nice [-]up of Tea which refris hed me has I felt so poorly and in the mean time I rested while my Horse feed, and while there the clouds ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p052.jpg) lumed up as they did the day before and gathered blackness alaround especly in the direction which I was about to ride, As the weather looked so thretning, the girl wanted me to stay all Night and see her Father and Mother said she knew that they would be glad to see me and that they would be at home soon. But being so near home and having that rough and rugged mountain to cross I thought I would start although it looked very suspicious and I thought that I would get another weting but luckely it held up untill I arrived in the Bongolo and stoped at my Brother Elijah house then it just poured ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p053.jpg) down rain with thunder and Lightening like it did the day I got so wet. That part of Cape Colony is very frequently visited with such storms in the Summer time as I have just discribed. So I got home to my Son John's where I made my home on the 16 of December and when I got there I found my Daughter Fannie had come home, who had been away for several months visiting her sister Sarah Ann who lived in the district of King William's Town on a Farm, Her sister and Husband Mr W. James, brought her home to where I was staying, But it happen ed that they had left to retu rn to their home before I arrived for which I was very sorry, For I would liked to have seen them ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p054.jpg) So after I got settled down I made no more long visits for a year for I had so much work before me at makeing those Wagons. So I continued on to work, and about June or July has [---] has I can remember 1871 a letter came to my Brother Elijah saying that my Brother George was dangerously ill and wished Elijah to come down to see him as quick as posable that he wanted to see him, so Elijah and Myself got ready and went with out delay, and when we got there we found him very sick appearently in the last stage of Consumption, And the Doctor of Fort Baufort so in attendance examined him and found that ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p055.jpg) his Lungs were about gone and gave him but very slite hopes of his recovery So my Brother and my self stayed with him a bout a week, The most principal thing that he wanted to see Elijah for was to make him his Executor in cace of his Death has he seemed to know of no other whom he could trust as well has his Brother Elijah, Elijah would rather he would have chosen some one els, but as it was his Brothers particular request he did not like to refuse him and told him that he would do the best he could according to his ability, so during the week he conversed a good deal on differant subjects esp but mostly on reg ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p056.jpg) religion has he had studyed the Bible a good deal of late years and had for more than ten years before had embraced the doctrin and faith of the Latter day Saints which I fully beleived in. so after sattisfing my Brother in buisness matters we left him and returned home, But before we left, Brother Elijah asked him if he would like to take a Journey as far has Queens Town thinking a change might do him good and there being a good Doctor in Queenstown whos name was Doctor Krance, He thought that he would venture if Elijah would come and assist him in the Journey, which Elijah ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p057.jpg) The Death of George promised to do. So after we had got home Elijah started in afew days back to Winterberg to make arraing ments to bring my Brother to the Bongolo if he was not too weak, So having a good comfortable traveling Wagon he thought he could stand the Journey, So he started in company with his Wife and his two little girls and also a Daughter of fifteen by a former Wife, They traveled through the Kat river and up the new Kat Berg road so as to avoid rough roads, and when they arrived on the top of the Katberg Mountain Elijah told me that he breathed better and more free and easey than he had for some time which was oweing to the frish air on the Mountain ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p058.jpg) But when they arrived in the Bongolo which was in the evening, and in the morning of the same day I left to go two or three days with my Son in law William Low and his family on their way to the Diamond field and on the next day my Son John over took us, He also going to the Diamond field, and it was then that I heard of the arrivel of my Brother George in the Bongolo, so I accompanyed them as far as the Village of Dordreht on the top of Stormberg Mountain so after I had bid them good by and seen them started, I stayed and spent a day there with a friend whos name ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p059.jpg) is T. Harden, and leaving there the next day I caled on my Brother Joseph and stayed one night with him, and the next day I went to my Brother in Law Francis Bentleys who lives on the same farm and I found when I got there that he had also gone to the Diamond fields, so I stayed and spent a day or two with his family, I think it was about the third day I saddled up and had started from the House when I seen a Kaffir man going to the house, But as such people are often seen I took no notice of him and when I had got about a few hundred yards from the house I heard my Sister calling after me so I rode back to see what ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p060.jpg) was wanting and when I got to her she told me that the Man had a letter which aught to have been there the day before But the Man lost his way Well the letter contain ed the news of the Death of my Brother George, so when I had heard the news I started again and had about 30 miles to travil alone, and reflec ting on his Death and the many differant seens and changes that we had gone through for we had played and worked a great deal togather, in our time, So when got home the family and friends was just returning from Queens Town from the funir al of my Brother, and soon after I got home ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p061.jpg) my Brother Joseph came to attend the funeral but like myself was too late my Brother just lived one week after coming to the Bongolo. so after seeing him at his own home when my Brother Elijah and I went on the last visit, and when I left him then I thought in my mind and said so to Elijah that I felt that I never would see him again, and so it happen For has it has been stated they were just coming from the funeral when I got home, He being about 58 years old, He was born in Glostershier England in the year 1813. He was what is caled a selfmade man for anything that he ever saw eather in Machine ry. Wagons and a great ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p062.jpg) Millwright which was his favourite buisness in fact he has invented Machinery that he had never seen such as Grape crushing mach inery and also a machine to run by the same Water pour to trach Wheat, And the last time our Father seen him he said well George I dont know where you have got all your knowledge to make all these things that I see here around, You surpass me in makeing machinery altogather, Well he was very ingenious in everything from a Boy He by his hard work and industry he acculat accumulated a great deal of Wealth. as my Brother had a great deal of trouble with what is caled the Orphan Chamber, a kind of ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p063.jpg) Cape Orphan Chamber Bank which takes care of money for Orphan children, has I am writing in America I thought I would explain [--] or give a short account of the Cape Orphan Chamber, In the first place it was established by the Dutch government many years ago, and when the English government took it this Orphan Cham ber remained as it was and contunies so up to this date, and I suppose the reason why is because the greatest part of the community were Dutch, and I expect they thought it a good Law to protect their Orphan Children All marriages that was entered into in the Cape colony came under the Orphan Chamber Law and that was in ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p064.jpg) the Death of case of eather one of the parties, they had to send a statement and that very correct of all they possess eather Landed on money property or any other effects and after the ac count has been investigated by the master as he is so caled He appoints a day of Sale, and accordenly everything is put up at auction, But the sur viveing party as the prv lidge of buying in to half the value of the Estate, and the other half is at the disposial of the master of the Orphan Chamber which as to be sent to him for the minor Children, But if not sent they have to furnish good security The money then lies in the Orphan ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p065.jpg) Chamber Bank on intrest untill the Children become of age or get married, But the intrest can be drawn for the Education and Cloathing of the Children untill they become of age, But if there be any Children of age at the time they receive their portion at the time of settlement But the surviveing partie es not allowed to get mar ried again according to this Law till all is settled up satisfactorily, and any Clergyman marrying such parties before the Estate is settled is liable to a fine. But parties geting married in the Cape Colony by is caled the ante-nuptial contract as the generalty of marriages of late years have entered into this contract to avoid the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p066.jpg) Orphan Chamber's interfearence with their properity. This ante-nuptial Law has far as I can un derstand is for each of the parties before been married to get a docu ment drawn up by a component Lawyer and signed by Witnesses and tested before a magistrate so that each party can will their property to whom they like. so to exempt the settlers of 1820 who were married in England from this Dutch Law that was in force in the Cape Lord Charles Somerset which was at that time governor of Cape Colony issued a proclamation exempting the settlers from this said Dutch Law. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p067.jpg) The following is his procla mation. It shall be considered lawful and of full force to all residents and settlers in the Colony of the Cape of good Hope, being natural born subjects of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to enjoy the same rights of devising their property both in real and personal, as they would be entitled to exercise under the laws and customs of England; provided, however that in case any such natural born subjects shall enter into the marriage state within the Settlement without making a previous marriage settle ment, (ante-nuptial contract) his property shall be ad ministered according to the Colonial Law." Grave doubts of the legal force of this proc ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p068.jpg) lamation have been maintained by two of the Cape Attorneys General, and the consequence has been that several of the settlers after accumulating large wealth, have removed to England to enjoy their birthright; and capita lists thus deterred from settling or remaining in the Colony, the creation of a permanently resident monied aristocracy has been prevented, or at least postponed. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p069.jpg) Chapter 34 So after the Death of my Brother I felt ancious to get those Wagons finished that I had on hand, for by this time I had been away from my Home in Utah about two years. and begining to feel ancious to return home I finished the Wagons, eight in all, and made several fancey Boxes as keepsakes for my friends and feeling more ancious to leave the Bongolo I wanted to spend a month or six weeks in Cape town with a Friend whom I had coresponded with from the time of putting in at Cape Town on my out from America. My friend's name is Mr George Ruck. and settleing all my little affairs and biding my ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p070.jpg) relations and friends farwell has I expect never to see them anymore in this life. and as my Son John and others where about to start with several Wagons loaded with Merchandise for the Diamonds fields. (Three of those Wagons were of my own make) and has I had arrainged to go to the Diamond field with this company I left the Bongolo on the tueel twelfth of December 1872 after staying with my Son about 2 years and a half, which He, and others of my friends done everything they could to make me comfortable while I stayed with them, and there in the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p071.jpg) Bongolo I left my Daughter Fannie with two little Children who went out with me from America. Her husband having started for the Diamond fields some time before. so when we got on the way two days from the Bongolo it brought us to my Brother in Laws farm Francis Bentley where we stayed one day has he was sending two Wagons also loaded with merchandise for the fields Having wished his family farewell, we traveled on till the 15 of December when we came to a Village caled Willow Park, to have some repairs done to one of the Wagons This village contains a Blacksmith shop, and Wheelshop wright shop and also a very large ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p072.jpg) veriety store and an Inn an accommodation for travilers, and on the 16 of the month we left Willow Park. and soon arrived on the top of the Storemberg Mountain range being a high and elevated country laying between the Queens town district and the Orange river, or the district of Albert or Aliwal North. This elevated Country is inhabited by Dutch farmen. But I remember well when it was only inhabited by Game of vairous kinds and Wild Beasts such as Lions Tigers and Wolves. It took us from three to four days to travil over this high country. In the winter it is very cold for Africa. But in the summer when I crossed it. it was ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p073.jpg) very pleasent. And about the 20th of December 1872 we reached Aliwal North on the great Orange river, there we were detained on account of the river being very high, and so many Wagons been there ahead of us which had to be Ferryed over on the Pont or ferryboat, and we had to wait our turn which kept us waiting two days, This river is several hundreds yards wide, and the Pont which is used takes one wagon and twelve Oxen at a times the[---] were two Ponts giving and coming all the time carring Wagons over at one pound each and strange to say in the two years that I was out there the river was in flood so that it was not fordable, and the Wagons ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p074.jpg) Orange had to be taken over on the Pont. so we got over all safe, which was 8 in number to the company that I was with and all being my rel- -ations except one man. We had an addition to our company of two young Ladys who wished to go to the Diamond field one of them was a Miss Saddler whos Parents was at the fields and the other one was a school companion of hers Whos parents lived at Port Elizabeth. So from there we traviled on till we came to the river Caledon which detained one day before we could cross on the Pont, I beleive our company was about the first to cross on that Pont it been just started, and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p075.jpg) Free State they charged one pound for every Wagon. We was then in what is caled the Free State or what is caled the Dutch republican Orange Free State governed by President Brand. which is thickly inhabited by Dutch and English farmers But I knew it when it was inhabited mostly with wild game such as Quaggas Zebras Hartebeest and Blesbaks, Weldebeast and Springboks by thousands and little trups of Ostrichs and where all this game abounded there were no scarcity of the Lordly Lion who preyed and lived on those animals, He would hide himself in bushes on the river side and when the game would come to drink he would spring out upon them, and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p076.jpg) now and then might be seen a small village of Bushmen who also lives on the game mentioned. and at times the Dutch farmers catches their Children and makes servants of them I have seen some of those Children after been taken they are taken care of and get plenty to eat, and are better cared for than when romeing about the country, For the Bushman never cultivates the soil, and if he ever raises anything it is only a little Tobacco, Their food consists generaly of wild game which they kill by pitfall or poisoned arrows and also bulbous roots of different kinds which they know well where to look for, and also Ostrich eggs which they often find from ten to fifteen in the nest away in the Desert prairie ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p077.jpg) Bushman and after useing the meat out of those eggs they use the shells for water vessels, and fix them togather with cords and then hang them around their bodys, and if they are out on a long Journey they bury a mumber of those shells of water in the sand so has to sarve them on their return as water is a very scarice on these prairie deserts, and also amongest their articals of food [-]is the African Locusts and white Ants which they dig out of the earth, and which resembles rice, in fact they are caled rice Ants. and some times they get a little wild Honey to mix with their Locusts and Ants They also make an intoxicate ing drink from the honey and young Bees, mixing the combe with and leting it foment but wheather they ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p078.jpg) Bushmen add any herbs of any kind to help make their Beer or not I do not know. Their homes are generaly in caves in the mountains you can generaly know their orignal caves by the paintings which they leave behind them in the caves painted in redd ochre some resembling their own persons. But they produced images the most ridiculous that are more like apes than human beings and in those caves are drawings of Lions Tigars and many other kinds of animals and in one cave in which I myself were in I saw a drawing of a company of Solders, Whatever they use to make their collors I dont know, But they keep bril- liant I should say for fifty or a hundred years. Many of the caves that ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p079.jpg) In the Orange Free State I was in there is no knowing how long the figures had been painted that I saw and looked quite fresh. If all the exploits and the adventuers with Bushmen and Hottentots by the earley Dutch settlers of the Cape Colony were numerated would fill a volume But as the Bushmans nation is so little known to the civilized world, I have been induced write this short account of them, Having both seen and conversed with them. Having said so much I will return to my friend again on the banks of the Caledon. Well we had several days travil before us over extencive plains but not destute of Mountains we traviled between them leaveing one big flat to begin another and now ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p080.jpg) and then crossing or fording a small river, Those flats were well covered with grass but rather destitute of wood only on the mountian sides where would be a few scraggy trees, The flats had quite a sprinkling of game on them such as springbok Blesbok and guaggas or Wild Ass,s and I now and then an Ostri ch as the Dutch farms was from 20 to 30 miles apart those animals had plenty of room to range, But in the vicinity of the farms they were hunted down pritty well, for we could hear their guns any hour in the daytime, and the flats were litter ly covered with bleached bones of animals that had been killed in former years, At this time of the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p081.jpg) year which was near the last of December the sun shone so hot that we had to lay by in the day, and travil in the night, The roads were very good and the drivers knew it so well that it was no trouble to them For they had often traviled the road before, and thunder storms was every days accourence if it did not come upon us we would see them at a distance, and as my Son often traviled this road he was well acquainted with the Farmers and sometimes they would get him to attend to some little buisness for them and at other times he would call and see them through friendship for they were always glad to see him. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p082.jpg) Orange While on the road we passed a small village at a distance but I forget the name of it, Some of the company went to it and baught a few articles which was needed, and at another time we passed a Moravian Missionary Station caled Betheny, it is like a little village thickly planted with Weeping Willows and Locust trees and also having a beautifull Dam of Water and the people who are taught there are a part of a tribe of Kovanna Hotten tots and Bushmen. and passing along we came to a very peticular friend of my Sons, named Fenter, where my Son leaves his tired Oxen and gets fresh ones uth[--] [--] has been resting for ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p083.jpg) Free State a month or two. And at this place brought in the New Year having had Christmas while near the Caledon River, and at the next farm where Mr Fneter's Brother lived, Mr James Murphy baught a span of twelve Oxen I think at about ten pounds a each they where all fat and in good order, and while they were bargaing for the Oxen I went into Mr Fenter's garden and had a good feast of Mulberys which was of the large kind some of them as large as pigon eggs, and also enjoyed the shade of the Tree, as it was a very hot day, Those Mr Fenters were of a religous sect caled Doopers and will sing no other Hymns in their meeting but the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p084.jpg) Psalms of David, and seldom marry outside their own sect. On leaving Fenters we past over simmerler plains and many farms and on each side has we traviled there were droves of springboks, and could see lots of Game at the distance and swarms of Locusts, and as my Brother Joseph had gone to the Diamond field a few months before we found him living on a farm on the Banks of what is caled the Falt river, It took this name from its gressy appearance for when it is in flood it washes down the mud which looks like grease He was staying at this place for the convinience of his Cattle, for there was plenty of grass, We stayed ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p085.jpg) with him one night, This place is an open flat country with mountains in the distance, destute of wood only on the margan of the river, There is also plenty of good eating fish, this river with its tributary, emptys itself into the great Orange river, On leaveing this place we did not pass many Houses on account of the county been short of good Water, we had several heavy sand ridges to get over before we came to the Diamond field and as some of our Wagons were heavely loaded they a difficult job to get over them, The one that I myself was rideing in was several hours before it got over, But as it was in the night I did not trouble myself to get out of the Wagon has ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p086.jpg) my assistance was not needed and by this time we were drawing near to the field and the surrounding hills were dotted trees in the shape of Umberellas caled the Camelthorn which is very hard and durable of the Mohogany color, we now came to a part of country where there were clumps of Mimosa and other shrub trees of small growth, so I think that we arrived at the field about the 4th of January, <1873> after being ten or twelve days from Queenstown. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p087.jpg) Diamond Field Chapter 35 Has I am now at the Diamond field which as made such a stir in South Africa and also in Europe especily in England, But seems to be very little known in America although a great many people went from America to the African diamond feilds and worked themselves and found diamonds and also baught diamonds off the differs and one Jentleman wrote a short History of the feilds which I heard was a very truthfull account, But I did not see it myself, I have already given an account of the Vaal river diggins in its early state, But that dose not embrace the one which I will now discribe. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p088.jpg) New Rush This one in the begining was caled the New rush, a Dutchman had a farm by the name of De Beer it was said that he found diamonds and kept it a secrete for a while, for he did not want the hundreds of diggers that was at the Vaal river to over run His farm Has a Dutchman dose not like to be crowded, But with all his endevers the secrete leked out, and the concequence was that hun dreds of diggers made one grand rush and took it by storm to the grate annoyance of the Dutchman and his Wife who was very angery about it especely the Wife when they had to leave their farm for they could not keep their stock there any more for it was soon overrun ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p089.jpg) Diamond diggins by thousands of both men and women from all parts of the Colony, so the Dutch man soon sold his farm to a merchant whos name was D. Ebden. of Port Elizabeth and then the diggers had to pay a License for their clames to this Mr Ebden, for a very small bit of ground it might be 20 feet by 6 or 7 feet wide on the surface, so that one man could only get one clame, The way they men done at the first onset after geting a clame for themselves if they had Sons or Nephews they would send them to take up clames, and the advantage of those clames was after they had worked and made hundreds and thousands of Pounds out of them, Moneyed men ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p090.jpg) New Bush was contunily arriving at the feild, and wished to speculate in diamonds digging, and would give five hundred or a thousand Pounds for a half or a quar -ter of a clame. Now I want to give a discription of the field has it was when I was there myself in Jenury 1873, In the first place there is three places about two miles apart lying in a tryangle pasoion First, the first one men tioned as the New rush or Colesberg Coppy so named from a partie of diggers from the Village of Colesberg, and the second is what is caled Old De Beers diamond digging, Then the third is caled De Foitesspan so named after a Dutchman ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p091.jpg) Diamond diggings by the name of De Foite and pan is a shallow sheet of Water which covers two or three Acars of Land in rainy seasons. These diamonds Villages as they may now be caled lays about 20 miles from the Vaal river or what is caled Clipt drift diamond diggings which is also a Village, Now I will discribe the first diggings that I visieted caled De Foites pan and where we unloaded the Merchand- ise which we took up. a good deale of it consisted of Brandy and Gin in fact all kinds of Liquor are taken to the fields. Well I found De Foites pan reguarly layed out in streets with large stores Hotells Resterants and everything for the conveniance of man and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p092.jpg) Beasts, To the best of my recloclection there was a hundred good Houses and several of the Stores were kept by Jews. and also Depots for the Overland passinger Coaches which was coming in two or three times a week from Cape Town Grahams Town and Port Elizabeth, and from all the Villages in the Colony, and besides the Stage Coaches there were Vehicles of all kinds runing from all the Towns and Villages in the Colony and besides these there was an American Company had American made Coaches such as Wells Fargo & Co used across the Contenant in America before the railroad was built. Now I must say ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p093.jpg) somthing about the diggings where the people had excavated seeking [---] and finding diamonds in the clay and gravel to the depth of some sixty or eighty feet untill they came to good frish water which was a great benifet to the people and also releived them from useing the Water from the Horse pond which as been discribed. From this place I went to what is caled the New Rush where my relations were staying, which was about two miles from De Foites pan This New rush the princeable diamond diggings, I hardly know how to discribe it, in fact I feel almost like the Queen of Shaba when she visited Soloman ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p094.jpg) I had heard a great deal about the place from my relations who had being traveling backwards and forwards for two years, But when I seen it myself I could hardly realize that there had been so much done in such a short time, and there seemed to be as much buisness and bus tle has one could emagion would be in London, and to say how many Tents and Houses were there would be imposable but I judge they covered an hundred Acres scattered up and down, and in every direction there were heaps of gravel which the diggers had hauled home to their tents to sive and surch for diamonds which ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p095.jpg) is caled dry diggings some of this gravel is hauled as much as a mile away from the pit where it was taken out to be sived and surched when it is sived it is put on a Table and spreade very thin, with a ledy on the table so that it cant fall of only at a cirtain place where it is pushed of after being examined, Hense so many heaps of gravil for there is thousands of diggers and a heape of gravil to almost every house or tent I remember well when I was there in [---] walking out one day to look around and going down to the clame, and on returning to go to where I was staying with my Sister Mrs Watson, and has I was on my way back I saw some ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p096.jpg) Colesberg Kopye thing that looked like Coal and thought I would have a look at it, and when I came to it I found it to be black rock where they had been diging a Well the Well was an ovel shape ten feet one way and six feet the other and I think some forty or fifty feet deep, and starting from there in the di rection of the tent has I thought where I wanted to go it was then that I lost my way among the gravel hills, and had to retrace my steps to where I started in then I knew where I was, For that was in the vicinity of the store, then I knew where I was then I soon get home. I think I will ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p097.jpg) or New Rush try to discribe the locality of the clames where the gravil out, Has I was there and seen place and was down in the clame which was about one hundred feet deep, and I had a drink of very good fresh water out of a broken bottel which William Lowe my Son in law gave me, He also owned parts of two or three clames and was showing me the differant clames, at that time he had let his clames out on shares to be worked. It happened to be on Sunday when I was down in those clames had it been on a week day I could not have had the chance for the men were there like Bees both White and Black men. But ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p098.jpg) Colesberg Kopye on another occation, on a weekday I was there looking around and down into the clames, all those numerous clames would cover the space of Ten Acers has nigh has I can judge and at first they left roads in between the clames so as to go in between with their Carts to haul the gravil away till they worked down so deep untill they began to cave in and became dangerous so that they had to abandon them and worked the gravil out by other means, which was addapted by means of small wire ropes on which the Bucket run on small pullies wheels those buckets were set in motion by Windlass power by a small rope ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p099.jpg) Or New Rush These Windless's are on the margen of the diamond clame on all four sides, and not being room for all the diggers on the ground they had to build up scaf fold work to make platforms over the heads of other men to work their buckets, and I have heard it remarked that it could not be compaired to any thing but a spiderweb on a dewy morning. and all around the clames was quite large ridges or mountains of gravil which had been taken out at the early stage of the digging, and on the top of these gravil heaps the windless machinery re receted which as already been mentioned above and one ridge which ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p100.jpg) Colesberg Kapye was considerabley higher than the other they named it Mount Aratat. and on one side there was a steamengine drawing the gravil out of the clames with little Trucks runing on rails layed down for the purpose and to work all this mac- hinery there were hundreds of natives from the inter interior I may say thousands employed by the clame owners to work the clames for them and mostly fed on flesh and rice, and that of the best quality, and their pay was eather Fierasrms or silver or gold coins, when set had got their pay they would quit and go home and another set would come and work for the same like pay, and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p101.jpg) or New Rush when asked what they was going to do with the firearms they would answer that they was going to shoot the Dutch farmers. This diamond field that is to say this new rush that I have been trying to discribe, at some age of the world has been a Volcano very eveident, For down in the clame was found a kind of Lavia which had the appearance of Volcanic action, and at other while digging would come down onto layers of soft ashes, and at others it would be like hard Chalk and at other times they would come to differand collors of clay so it was not only gravil that was excuvated out of the clames. These differant ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p102.jpg) Colesberg Kopye kinds of clay when ex posed to the sun and air would slack like Lime, and diamonds would be found in all these differant kinds of clay and gravil, and strange to say that diggers out side of this clame dug holes to try to find diamonds but nonce was found out side that I ever heard of that is to say in the immeidate viscinity of the new rush although one part of the hill looked as likely as the other which was a long grassey ridge and had no appearence of a volcano, and after I was there I heard that they had to use pumps to get the water out of the clames after going down ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p103.jpg) Or New Rush another hundred feet and finding diamonds all the way. a person vewing it from the top it had the appearance of old ruins, For the clames was worked to various depths makeing it appear like the ruins of an Old Castle, and every thing was covered with a white chalk or Whitening which was very injurious to the health of the diggers especely to them who sived the gravil so that several of the Natives died from effects of the accumulation of dust Settleing on their Lungs. Well having discri bed the machinery and Tackel by which they draw the gravil from the clames and many other Items, I will try ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p104.jpg) and discribe the appear ence and traffic and buisness of the place, In walking around the place, I saw scores of Liquer Saloons, some of them was kept in large Markie Tents and others in Cottages, But while I am speaking of Liquer Saloons I will give a short account of one which was kept in a firstclass stile, by a man [---] named Parker who was mentioned in the first part of the diamond digging at the Vaal river and also at the new rush, Having made a great deal of money by buying and selling diamonds he went to England and ordered a Large Hotell fittings and fixings of every discription with the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p105.jpg) Counter and in fact everything of the best that could be got for fit ting up a firstclass Hotell and also brought out several young women experienced waiters to atten in the Hotell but I heard that he did not keep all of them long for some of them soon left him and got married. I heard Their excuse was that they had two much to do in waiting on the people that it keept them buisy from morning till late in the night. This Hotell was opened just about the time that I arrived at the field, and I had the honor of been on the field when the first Govenor arrived sent there by the British Governer ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p106.jpg) ment to take charge of the diamond fields, Whos name was Mr Southy, and who was the Son of one of the British settlers of 1820 and crossed the Ocean in the same Ship with myself, and he has been Office for many years such He held the office of secretary in Cape Town for Government, so when he arrived on the field they gave him a grand reception and also a grand Ball in the evening, and in the vecinity of the Hotell was illuminated with Fireworks which looked very grand, so much for Saloons and Hotells. and while looking around I saw ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p107.jpg) a great many little wooden houses with signs up saying diamonds baught and sold here, and in the streets and alleys there were lots of Boys (I took them to be Jwes) with their satchel buying all the diamonds they could off the diggers, so these Boys was trusted both with money and diamonds and in fact every store and saloon keeper was a dealer in diamonds, and if a digger wanted anything at the store he would take his dia monds and get anything he wanted just the same as if he took gold silver or Bank Notes and in fact there was no scarceity of money while I was there, for every steamer that came ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p108.jpg) from England to Cape Town brought thousands of Pounds for to buy diamon ds with, There was two Lines of Steamers by two separate companys going too and from England every week which would make the voyage in about thirty days, They came loaded with passingers merchan dice and money mostly for the diamond field That traffic increased from 1870 up to the preasent time and as the steamers run so regular and made such quick passages that many of the Old settlers and their Sons took the advantage and went to see their Mother Country Old England. Many of them were born there but brought away when very young ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p109.jpg) and a great many went who was born in Africa to see their relations and friends and also to transact buisness. Takeing with them vallue able lots of Diamonds both for themselves and others, I was on board of one of those Steamers just after come ing into the Dock, She was fitted up very ellegantly with numbers 1st.2nd and 3rd class saloons, at the time I was at the field there were hundreds of Frame buildings that had been framed and fitteted togather in Queenstown and other places, and built most ly of American wood and covered with Galvanized Iron and then loaded up and carried to the diamond field. Besides those there were large Stores built all of Galvanized iron both sides and roof. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p110.jpg) There were also Churches of all denominations built mostly of the same material even the Catholic's rushed out to see what they could do and also the Photographers so that there was hardly one left in the towns, and also the Doctors and Lawyers went, in fact all classes of people even Jews from Germony Hollond and every other place rushed to the diamond field, such is only a faint outline of the Farefaimed diamond field of South Eastern Africa where a great many men made their fortunes and saved themselvs from Bank ruptcy, Th at this date this diamond field was caled Kimberley has I imagion from a London Missionary who resided in that ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p111.jpg) vecinity many years back. by the name of Kimble, and at the preasent date there is Telegraphic comuni cation from all parts of the Colony to the Diamond Field. Chapter 36 after a stay of about one week with my frinds at the diamond field, I Should have looked around more than I did but the Sun shone down so Hot that it was sufficating and very disagreable to be from under shade, in fact it was the hotest part of South Africa that I was ever in, I had all along heard from my friends that it was hot But when I were there I realized it to be so. a day or two before ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p112.jpg) I left the field I went to see the agent of one of the Stage Companys to engage my passage for Cape Town, which cost me twelve Pounds for my passage and eight for my Luggage which consisted of two very large chests which was to be convayed by another train which would take from three weeks to a month in going eight hundred miles, so on takeing leave of my friends at the New Rush, and on the 12th of Januery 1873 my Son John and William Lowe my Son in law came to the agent and also to see that I was comfortablely fixed and the agent told them that he had aloted me the back seat which he thought was the most comfortable ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p113.jpg) my Son told me that the agent had told him that there was a Lady passinger was going to Cape Town and that she was going to occupy part of the back seat with me, so when they had seen me comfortabley seated in the stage, They took their final leave of me by the shake of the hand, They would have left the field before I did but the Herds man had gone to sleep and let a span of twelve or sixteen Oxen stray away which detained them them three or four days, But that day they had conclueded to leave without them. But after I arrived in Cape Town my Son in law wrote to me from Queenstown and told me that he ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p114.jpg) had found his Cattle after a fatigueing search on a Dutchmans farm in the naighborhood of the diamond field. So when I left Du Foits pan it was on Satuanday about noon the stage been pritty well filled with passingers, with the one Lady and a little girl about two years old, The stage was drawn by eight Horses so after we had started I found it pleasent travil ing for the roads was good and the Country all around looked very beautifull, dotted here and there with the Mimosa thorn trees, we traviled on that day and also all night till daylight when we came to the great Orange river which was Sunday Mor ning, and there we had ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p115.jpg) had to wait for an hour for the Ferry men had been on a drunken spree the night before, and could not be aroused and got togather which kept us waiting and then they were not sober but how ever we soon got the stage and Horses on to the Pont or Ferry Boat, none of the passengers had occation to leave their seats while crossing the river, They puled the Ferryboat several hundreds yards up the stream some of the men walking on the bank of the towing the ropes while others men on the Boat were stearing to keep her a scirtain dis tance from the Bank or shore, and when they had towed it as ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p116.jpg) far as necessary those on board took their ors and rowed her to the opposet side of the stream and we landed all safe the river being several hundred yards wide with steep banks on both sides. at this crossing there is an English village caled Hope Town, I but as we did not make any stop there I cant say anything about it, it been Sunday we contunied to travil throu gh a beautiful roling grassey country [-] on eathe hand there were beautiful trees between the Mimosa and the Camelthorn such has I had never seen they were full of beautifull yellow blossoms such as I have seen on the Mi mosa in the lower coun ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p117.jpg) try, and the next day we came to a wilder country. Mostly covered with a shrub caled Kavoo, and as we travild along we could see where the thunder storms had fallen which would be beautiful and green, and perhaps a mile or two everything) farther on every shrub and the grass would be dry and parched and on this line we passed Dutch farmhouses and at one of them we stopt and changed Horses and has we traviled day and night I expect we passed many Houses and farms that I did not see, and sometimes we changed Horses in the night and for the convei nance of the passingers at those places they would have Coffee ready weather ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p118.jpg) it was day or night, I have not forgot how refrishing it was to get a cup of coffee after traviling all day or night or a cup of Tea as it might be with a nice bisket The second day from the Orange river we en countered a dreadful thunder storm such an one as comes so suddon in Africa The thunder was fearful and the Light ening played around the Wheels of the stage, and the rain came down in Torants so that we had to come to a standstill till the heavyest of it passed away, It filled the rivers and creeks in a few minuts, but we get through them all without any trouble When this storm ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p119.jpg) overtook us we were within a mile of two of Beaufort West, which is cheafely a Dutch Village and ac cording to reports it contains 7248 inhabitants, so when we came to this place we found that the storm had been very heavy the river which run through the Village was flooded so that it overrun its banks, we did not stop there but passed on till we came to a place caled the Swart ruins, or black ridges which appeared like Old ruined walls and in some places they were eight or ten feet high, and in other places so low that the stage could go over them quite easey, They appeared to be from three to four feet thick and about a hundred ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p120.jpg) yards between of nice level road, I should think there was between twenty and thirty of those ridges and they were all just as black as coal and has stright as a line But how far they extended through the country I could not say, my opinion is that they have been forced up by Earthquake or Volcanic action at a very earley period, In passing along we traviled through a part of country that was thickly wooded with mimaso and other trees crossing many creeks or rivelet and now and then a farm house Then the country became more mountainous and good water was very ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p121.jpg) scarce through all this track of country and what little there was it was brackish and not pleasant to drink. The following day after passing Beaufort West, having changed Horses at a Dutch Farm, These horses was kept at farmhouses at about from twenty to thirty miles apart and men or their drivers to take care of them, This was done all along the road from the diamond field to Cape Town. We passed a good many farsm houses but stopted at none of them only where we changed Horses. I think we was about halfway from the fields to Cape town when we changed for an unusely smart and frish horses for they started off at ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p122.jpg) pritty good speed, When we had gone about two miles and the road being very ruf and stoany and just before geting those frish horses we took up two extry passingers, and they been large enough to make three or four com mon people, so when we was going along at pritty good speed all of a sudden the iron axel of the stage broake and let the Wheel of which brought us to a full stop, But having an ex tra axel in the Coach we thought or rather the Conducter thought that the breach could soon be repaired, so the Conducter and pass ingers went to work and put the axel in, When done and got on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p123.jpg) road a mile or two we found that it did not act right for there was too much friction, and the Box began to ware away and became so hot that every few miles we had to stop and throw water on it to keep it from takeing fier, Well we traviled has well as we could for some time in that condition when we met two mail Carts which was on the way from the Cape to the fields so the Conducter with a little persuation got them to take what passingers they could to the next station where we changed horses and I happened to be one who was taken the distance was some six ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p124.jpg) or seven miles, and the broken Coach was brough along afterwards with the rest of the passingers, I found that when I arrived at the Station that I knew the place for I was there in the year 1823 when a Boy travling as the reader will remember with Edward King, and what is more remarkabl it was the very place that Mr Kitson took me from this King and home to my parents, I have never seen Edward King from that time, When at this station the Conducter had to make arrange ments to get the passengers to their destination, which was soon effected the Dutchman who ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p125.jpg) happened to be there having a Wagon that answered the purpose so the Conducter went to work and arranged the seats and transfered the Treasure Box from the stage to the Wagon, and while all this was going on I had quite a rest, Having got all things ready and it geting late in the afternoon we star ted again, and soon enter ed a Gorge in the Swart berg Mountains or in other words Black Moun tain range, a range of mountains which reaches from the Cape district to the Eastern Province, and when you once enter those mountains you keep traviling between mountains for several ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p126.jpg) days. after all the passingers got into the borrowed Wagon we were dreadfully crowed and cramped, We had not room eather to sit stand or lean with any conveinence I found it very uncomfortable while in the stage to sit day and night where there was more room. and this Wagon was without springs which made it still more uncomfortable, and in changeing from the stage to the Wagon I lost my back seate and when I spoke to the Conducter about it He answered me very short and said you are not at the diamond field now. But I expect it was his nature for he was an Irishman named Dunn. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p127.jpg) and what made it worse for me I was jamed in along side of two very disagreable passingers, who at this part of the Journey they was full of Brandy and at every stop ing place they would re crute their bottles, which made them disagreable to all the Company, and sometimes would quarel with the Conducter. Well we contunied through those mountains the roads being pritty good till we came to a small village situated on the Hex River jambed in be tween two very high moun tains, Here we halted to change Horses, while stay ing there I managed to get out of the wagon but when I got on to the ground I was so cramped and stiff that I could ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p128.jpg) On the road from scarcely walk, however I managed to get down to the river side which was a beautifull stream the water was so clear, Well I while they were changeing the Horses I took some wine and some other refrishments down to this stream washed my hands and face and eat and drank of what I had which refrished me very much and I felt better. In the vecinity of this village there were a few very handsome mimosa trees and if I remember right they were in full bloom and on the margen of the river there were some very large syca mores Trees But just before we came to this ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p129.jpg) The Diamond field village we came down a very long Hill which had been escavated on the side of a high mountain two or three miles long at a great labour and expence I think it is called Sir Lowry Pass. Why I allude to this place it is so beautiful with shubery on both sids of the road, There growed a Cactus from six to heigh feet in hight and fluted all around like that I have seen columns from four to five inchs thick both milkey and prickely and what is so strange about them they give a small yellow flower all up the angles. On leaving this village we came on to a more open Country and seeing romantic looking mountains in the distance ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p130.jpg) thrown up in all the most fantastical shapes immagniable and every now and then passing beautifull streams coming out from this mountain range, and between those mountains the flats are covered with a kind of shubery caled Karoo or heath and grass in between, and our next halting place was at a town caled Worcester, Here we changed horses, and I got a good dinner, and stoped about two hours and in the meantimes I walked around the Town to stretch my limbs which done me a great deal of good. Worcester is in the Cape devicion Cape Colony and con tains according to re ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p131.jpg) ports 20.000 square miles and contains about 10,000 inhabitants Well after leaveing this village, towards evening of the same day we came to a station caled Darling Bridge not that it was a over a large river but it appeared to me that it was a Bridge being built over a swampy boggy place for a railroad Bridge, Been so named for a Lieut Govenor Darling who was Lieut Govenor of Grahms Town. when we arrived at this station I felt my self compleately wornout and tired and I went to the Hotell and got a Cup of Coffee and somthing to Eat which done me a great deal of good. and after partakeing of these refrishments ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p132.jpg) I thought I would take a walk to strecth my Limbs and have a look at the Bridge already mentioned, and while I was there it began to get dusk and I thought I had better make my way back to the Station before it was quite dark and that I might miss my way and be left, When I got back to the Station it was then quite dark and the Wagon was ready to Start and the Conducter told me He had fixed me a seat in the back of the Wagon and that I had better get in and seated, I took his advice and I had not been long seated when to my surprize those two men who had been so annoying on the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p133.jpg) road to the Company I found was seated along side of me, and in irons Hand cufted togather and has I learnd from the conversation by the passingers that it was for an Assault on the Lady passinger, We very soon got started on the road, But I little thought what kind of a road or what a Night I would have to pass through, Soon after we started I found that we were in a terrible Moun tain pass, which I beleive is caled Bain's Pass in Honor of Andrew Geddes Bain, the one who Superintended cutting this Stupendous Mountain Pass caled the Berg River Mountains in the Western District connecting Cape Town with the interior and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p134.jpg) the diamond field, I would very much liked to have seen this Bass in daylight for it must have been a very dangerous road as the Conducter had a Lamp under the Wagon to see to guide the Horses, Thy also had a Damp in the Wagon and between the two lights or the reflect ion of the lights, they threw the most hideous figgers and Shaddows on to the rocks that I ever saw which put me in mind of Devils and the Infurnal regions, it must be a very rom antic place if I could have seen it by day light for I heard Water rushing in Chasms ap by the sound it appear ed to be an hundred ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p135.jpg) or two feet below the level of the road that we were on, And in the turns and cornors the racks were pilled up like Cordwood out of the way it had been quaried out of this new road it was a hard granit rock, This pass must be three or four Miles long for I thought we would never get to the end of it, It been dark they had to drive very Slow I noticed in one or two openings a Cottage where people seemed to be living. I have often heard of the Roman Catholic Purgatory and I thought I was in it and jamled up by those two hand cuffed men I was com pleatly forsed off my seat by them and got ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p136.jpg) On the road out of the Wagon and thought that I could walk for I was in such Misery that I did not know what to do with myself, I thought that the next Station was near by and I could walk to it but the Conducter told me to get into the Wagon again that I could not walk there that it was too far away, So I had to get into Purggatory again I think in about half an hour we reached the Station a place caled Wellington in the Night which we traviled through that fearful pass Comeing into this Village we drove up to a house what I supposed to be a Magistrate's Office but being in the Night ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p137.jpg) To Cape Town we found no admitance so one of those Men in Irons told the driver to drive to another place which he discribed, so the Wagon was drove to the place and halted and found an Officer there so all the company driver and the Conducter went in to the office and left me to myself in the Wagon for which I was very glad of for I got a little sleep after being six days and nights confined in the Wagon, and to my surprize when daylight came I seen those two men freed from their handcuff[-] and asleep on the Porch of the Office, But how the buisness was settled or how they got free I never heard but I expect money baught them free so they never troubled me afterwards ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p138.jpg) This Village of Wellington is about 80 Miles from Cape Town and at that time was one of the Turminous's of the railroad line leading to the great interior of the western division But since I was there I understand that the railway line runs over Bains Pass and to the village of Worcester. So that same Morning we quit that awfull Wagon and went on board of the Cars which was the greatest relief from Mysery to ease that I ever experianced in all my life we passed several farm houses on each side of the road has we went along, Then we passed a beautifull village caled Stellenbosch a place known far and wide it was laid out many years ago by the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p139.jpg) Dutch govenor whos name was Van der Stell, and was named for him. And I arrived in Cape Town on the 20th of Jenuary 1873 where my friend Mr Ruck met me at the Depot with his Cart and took me home to his House where he re sided in the Village of Roundebosch. After being on the road eight days and Nights in the Wagon and Cars makeing a Journey of eight hundred Miles. Has Mr Ruck and I had been corsponding for over two years of corse I wrote to him to let him know when to meet me at the Depot which he did very punctual almost before I expected, Well I stayed with Mr Ruck and his family about a Month or six weeks makeing ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p140.jpg) his house my home, and visiting around at differ ant villages and friends I feel sorry that I did not visit many other places has I had plenty time on my hands such as Simon, Bay and the Village of Wineberg, But Now and then I would take the Cars and go to Cape Town and look around the City and also the Dock Yard where they had a powerful Steam Engine to draw up Ships which wanted re pairing, And also one in Simon Bay similar which will draw up full riged Ships on to the Slip, Well while I stayed there I enjoyed myself for it was just in the time of fruit there were Grapes in abundance and Peaches ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p141.jpg) Apples and all kinds of Tropical friuts, and the Brandy was only one Shilling per bottle, and very good Wine for Sixpence per bottle So after staying the time already mentioned I found a Brig being fitted out for Boston, The Captain's and Commanders Name was Mr John Bynon. Commander of the Brig Piccadilly. And the Owner was a Mr Muerson Merc hant of Cape Town, This Brig traded regular between Cape Town and Boston she was put on in place of one that was wrecked on the American Coast near Boston. Having discribed Cape Town and its surroun dings in the fore part of this book or History I dont think it nessesary ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p142.jpg) to go into detailes in this part of the book. Chapter 37 having payed my pass age and also that of George Ruck Son of my friend Mr Ruck. so on the 12th of March 1873, I left Cape Town on thidensday There were two other passingers besides Myself in the Cabin one a Mr Jones and the other a Miss Thompson going to a place caled St Johns in Canada to visit her Brother who was a Merchant, And from there she was going to England. The Steamer towed the Brig out of the Dock ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p143.jpg) into the Table Bay where we droped Anchor for a few hours while the Captain went ashore to make final arrange ments before starting. So towards evening we sat sail for the Sea and passed close to what is caled Robings Iland so close that could see the houses, and the next morning we were entirely out sight of land with a Midling rough Sea. When the Captain left Table Bay, he did know whe ther he would put in at St Helena but when we were drawing near to it he thought he would to take in more water and some provicions having a pleasent run that far, with the excieption of the weather being very warm We arrived at the island in the morning part of the day so the Captain and ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p144.jpg) his Wife and Miss Thompson and also Mr Jones went ashore but I remained on board the Vessel, having or feeling no desire to go ashore. Mr Jones visited the Tomb of Napoleon and he said that there was a gard of French Solders around the place, while Napoleon was living his Residence was caled Long Wood Old House. I shant attempt to discribe the island myself as it has already been discribed by other writers esp[---] especi ally by Captain Cook in his Voyages around the world But from the Vessel it looked to be a very ro mantic place I could not see the Town being hiden by a bluf point of the Mountain, I could see a few Batterys, which was situated on the rocks ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p145.jpg) almost over hanging the Sea and the surf dashing and breaking up against them, while the Brig lay at anchor there were several Women came on board to sell friut and some curiositys. And in the meain time a beautifide Mail Steamer caled the Africa stoped at the island on her way from England to Cape Town. so about Sunset the Steamer left for Cape Town, and we left for Boston. The weather contiuned fine and we traviled on at good speed and nothing of much intrest transpired only now and then we would see Ships at a distance and some times one so near that the Cap tain would speak to them when we came to the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p146.jpg) Line, when we found it very warm, And in the evening Old Neptune came on board in his strange dress and long beard, and wanted to know of the Captain if he had any subjects on board to be adopted into his Kingdom The Captain told him yes there was two on board who had never crossed the Line Mr Jones and George Buck, So Neptune told him that he would be on board tomorrow and attend to them speaking in a very rough Manner, So the next day he came according to promis and George Ruck had to go through the Opperation of been Shaved while Mr Jones baught himself ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p147.jpg) off by buying a bottle of Brandy of the Captain and treated the company the bottle was soon emty ed corked up and thrown overboard. This Makes the fourth time that I have crossed the Line. To give the reader an idea of the distance from Cape town to the Line is about twenty one days sail in a packet Ship and I think it is about the same distance from New York to the Line. To the best of my recolec tion after leaving the Line we came to what is generaly known by Seafareing Men as the Gulf Stream it is a Stream which takes its rise in the Gulf of Mexeco. Captains of Vessels whom I have Sailed with say that it is a ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p148.jpg) Stream which runs across the Ocean towards England. There are two tokens by which it can be known when a Vessel is in this Stream. First, the water is warmer than the other part of the Ocean the Ship's cook soon finds that out by haveing to draw so much Water for his use, And secondly it is known by Masses of Weeds floating on the Surface of the Water which is said to come out of the Gulf of Mexeco. I have heard the Sailors say that they Seldom get through that Stream without having a Storm Well on leaving this Stream we came to a very romantic looking island Similar to the island of St Helana ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p149.jpg) caled Fonnando De Hermanha and belonged to Brazil, we were alongside of this island April the ninth 1873. On leaving this place we had a change of weather which was cold and Stormeys and about this time a Vessel passed us by the Name of George Anderson who left the Cape a few days before we She was so near us that with the glass we could see her Name on the Stern as she passed, and the Cap tain wondered at her being so quick on her return and then said he guessed that She had only taken in a Cargo of Brooms, But we heard after wards that She had not been to Boston yet, that She was beating out to Sea to escape Showls of Sand ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p150.jpg) which was in that part of the sea. So then we contiuned on till we came near to Cape Cod when we were enveloped in a heavy Fog, and had to lay too for two days and Nights keeping the foghorn blowing all the time and having no Pilot on board. The Sea was Strewn with the wreck of a Brig which must have been loaded with Lath as the Lath and her spars were floating alaround us. Has soon as the fog abated we soon had a Pilot on board which soon took us into Boston or in other words to the Pier or Dock which was on the 11th of May 1873 after about 60 days from Cape Town. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p151.jpg) The same afternoon after coming into the Dock there came up a terable Thunder Storm and rain and wet the Sails and every thing on deck, And the Captain fear ing to have his Sails stolen he had them wet as they were folded up and put into my Bunk where I had slept all the Voyage so I had to do the best that I could for every thing was in confusion as it generaly is on arriving into port so I had to make my bed on the wet sails. But the next night I done better for I slept in the first Mates Berth all the time while I remained on board. so after staying a few days in Boston looking around and buying a few things for myself and some things for ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p152.jpg) George Ruck the Young Man that I brought over and made arraingments for him to go to the State of Main to his Sister I payed his passage and seen him on board the Cars. And also payed my own passage 65 Dollars to go to Utah from Boston from Boston I went to New York part of the way by Cars and part by Steam Boat arriving in New York on the 16 of May '73 And leaving the same afternoon on the Cars enrout for Utah on what is caled the pan handle Line, and came to Pitsberg where we stayed over Sunday Then on Monday morning we started and continued on the Journey and on or about the 24th of May ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p153.jpg) I arrived in Ogdon which was in the Night and the Conducter told the passingers they could stay in the Cars till morning for which I was glad to hear for I was a stranger there. So the next morning after leaving the Cars. I met Mr John Taylor and W Woodruff two of the twelve Apostles of the Latter day Saints And they knowing that I had just come from off a Mission told me that I should have come all the way for half Fare but I did not know it at the time I payed my fare in Boston but they seen that I only payed half fare from Ogdon to Salt Lake City which was the 25th of May being away from my home a little over three years. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p154.jpg) So having arrived in the City the next day from Ogden I would liked to have caled at Kaysville when on the way from Ogden, but having my Luggage on board the Cars I thought I had better go right through to attend to that and see my Children afterwards So when I arrived in at the Depot I was surprized to see what changes had been made while I was away so I hired a job Wagon to bring my Luggage home to where I lived in the tenth Ward, and all the way I could see large new stores had been built in places where there was nothing when I left, and such gaudy painted signs over the doors and windows well I hardly knew the place to be the same, and in fact I hardly ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p155.jpg) knew my own place when I came to it. But I expect what made it look strang about my home, there had been a large Cottonwood Tree which stood at the corner of the Block which used to be my guide had been cut down, But I soon found the House and had my Luggage unloaded and discharged the Man with his Wagon = [Written in different handwriting] This is as far as my thus history was written by my This is as far as the history of his life was was written by my Grand. Father. Eli. Wiggill in the year 1883. Soon after this he took ill. and so the history was never completed. So I take great ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p156.jpg) pleasure in writing a short sketch of the last years of his life. Soon after his return his wife joined the Josephite or Reorganised Church and did not try to make him comfort -able or happy. so they agreed to separate. He then closed his home and made his home with his son Jerimiah in Kaysville where he was happy. as his son and daughter-in-law were very good and kind in to him. Y 1874. He married a very worthy and good woman. a Mrs Hammer. After living a few ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p157.jpg) months in Haysville. they decided to move to the City. on to his own property. which was on 7th East. between 2nd and 3rd South. Here they lived in peace and happiness. He attending his garden, and doing odd jobs of Carpenting. a during Summer-time. and in the Winter reading, writing or studying. Sometimes his. Grand-daughters from Kaysville would stay with them. He was present at the opening and dedication Services of the Assembly Hall. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p158.jpg) They both enjoyed the Old. Folks Day. in Liberty Park in the year. His Son Joseph was married to Miss. Mary Whitesides of. Kaysville. in 1880<78>. In the Summer of 1881. Joseph was kicked by a horse, which knocked his front teeth out. and injured him severely. In 1882. Grand. Pa was. taken ill. he recovered somewhat from the first Attack. but was never quite well. In November 1883. His Son-in-law. William Lowe and family. arrived in Utah. from South. Africa. ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p159.jpg) He was then ill in bed. but so glad to see them all. After they came he seemed to feel better. At Christmas-time was able to sit up in his chair. On 9th January 1884. being my birthday. he presented me with a book. and gave me a blessing. He felt he would not live another year. He took to his bed again in March. His wife and many kind friends and. neighbours. gave him good Care and nursing. but he grew weaker. and passed away on. the ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p160.jpg) 13th day of. April. being. 72 years. deeply regretted by his family and friends. He was a true and faithful Latter-Day Saint and died in hope. of a sure Resurrection His Casket was of polished. Calz made. according to the directions he gave a few weeks before his death. At his request his body was brought to Kaysville and laid in the Cemetery beside his wife Susannah. The funeral Services in the Meeting House. were largely attended. Several speakers testified ----- new page (MSS9137_F4_p161.jpg) to his life and Character. Brother Talbot speaking of their friendship, began as boys in the far-away. land of. Sunny South. Africa. where they both heard and accepted the Gospel. travelling from there to Utah in the same Company. At the time of his death. he was a High. Preist.