EBCOEDS

OF THE

CAPE COLONY
From MAY 1809 to MARCH 1811.

COPIED FOR THE CAPE GOVERNMENT, FROM THE

MANUSCRIPT DOCUMENTS IN THE PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE, LONDON,

BY

GEORGE M^CALL THEAL, D.Lit., LL.D,

CXJLOJnAL HISTORIOGRAPHER.

VOL. VII.

PRINTED FOR
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE CAPE COLONY.
1900
 LONDON :
FEINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED,
STAMFORD 8TBBET AND CIIARINO CB063.
56 Records of the Cape Colony.

beyond the northern boundary, and he is supposed to have

proceeded with about 40 men to join Zonie.
An ineffectual attempt having been made to establish some
of the other kraals near the Cape, all those remaining in the
inhabited part of the colony, together with the Kaffres and
Ghonaquas in the service of the farmers, were removed beyond the
Sunday Eiver, and all communication with those nations was cut
off, except such as might be occasionally required between their
chiefs and the officers of government.
Not content with the protection granted to his family, David
Stuurman took measures to increase his strength and to confirm
his independence. He received many Hottentots with whom he
had no relationship, and openly resisted the officers of the district
in the execution of the orders of the landdrost, with respect to
individuals who had broken their contracts. Notwithstanding the
prohibition against harbouring Kaffres or Ghonaquas, he permitted
a whole kraal to remain on his land. It was discovered also that
he had concluded an offensive and defensive alliance with Konga,
of which the colony was the object; and he was on the eve of
proceeding to join that chief, who had repeatedly urged him to take
this step, when the traitor was arrested, and sent with his brother
Boshman and two other leaders of the kraal, and of the former
insurgents, to the Cape. The remainder of these Hottentots
proceeded either to the neighbouring missionary institution of
Bethelsdorp, or to take service with the farmers, according to the
option given them, and the lands which they had occupied were
appropriated to other purposes.

Continuation of Lieutenant Colonel Collins* Journal, hein^j Notes

made on a Journey to the southern branches of the Bivers TKy
and through Kaffraria.

Our party had been agreeably augmented at Zwagers Hoek by

the presence of the landdrost Mr. Stockenstrom, and on our return
to Schaap Ejaal we found nearly thirty farmers from Agter Sneeuw-
berg and Tarka, under their veldcornets Van Eerde and Potgieter,
ready to accompany us. Having made the necessary preparations
for so long a tour, on the 3rd of March we again passed the
boundary, and proceeded about ten miles to a l)ranch of the
88 Records of the Cape Colony.

Tchachoo and his uncle Apaza live close to Kama and Kamanga,
and they have nearly the same number of men.
Kassa and his brother Ponga reside between the Eietberg and
the Zuurveld, and may have about sixty men. Jejanie and
his son Dlaquee are with him. Their numbers may be twenty.
Ootie, a brother of Habana, has also re-enforced him with eight
or ten. These kraals have done more injury to the fanners
within the last year than has been occasioned by those of all
the other chiefs during the same period.
Habana, and his sons Goze and Bellee have forty men ; Galata,
with his brother Moodanie, and his son Doobooka, have about
thirty. They reside together on that part of the Sunday Kiver
nearest to Winterhoek, and since their return from the Coup
have committed a few thefts, which are mostly attributed to Galata.
Gola, sometimes called Nogola, having inherited no vassals, most
of the people that he had at the Ghamka have left him since
their return to the neighbourhood of their legitimate chiefs. He
has now but ten men remaining, with whom he has proceeded, by
permission, to Olella's kraal at Orange Eiver, to bring away his
wife and children. His half brother Ootzee, who was known by
the name of Klaas Meyer at Zwarteberg, has a few more than
that number. He is, I believe, generally about the Eietberg or
the Sunday Eiver.
The kraal where we paid our respects to Zlambie was a
temporary residence only, and it had no appearance of cultivation
in its neighbourhood. The other, which was situated about mid-
way between the Sunday and Bosjesman's Eivers, having long
been his abode during the greatest part of the year, was said to
be well provided with gardens.
In the afternoon we walked up to the kraal, which consisted
of a few huts, built very carelessly. Gweechee had returned,
having left his people at their destination. His good-natured
smile contrasted very much with the sombre looks of the old
people sitting around him, who eyed us with suspicion, and
whispered to each other, at every question, however trivial. A
complaint was made to the young chief by a man who had been
cut in the head by another, and the delinquent was sentenced to
pay an ox to the sufferer.
At sunset we received a visit from Maveechee, the third son of
Zlambie. He had been with his father, who he told us was
 Records of the Cape Colony. 89

coming after him as expeditiously as a lameness to which he is

subject would allow. This youth has the advantage even of his
brothers in his appearance, although, as it is said, he never smiles ;
in that respect differing from his father, whose conversation,
except on subjects of a very serious nature, is stated to be a
succession of laughter.
Maveechee stated that Zlambie had desired him to express his
great regret at having no cattle fit to slaughter. This was to be
considered as an excuse for his not observing the usual Kaffer
hospitality. I told him that it was of no consequence, as our
party had brought a sufficiency of provisions.
In about two hours afterwards we were told that Zlambie had
arrived. I sent the veld cornet (now veld commandant) Stoltz,
who had been my messenger on all occasions during the Kaffer
journey, to invite the chief to our fire. This was declined. I
then went forward with Stoltz and my interpreter, and found him
seated in the midst of a great number of his people^ bearing a
forest of uplifted spears at the edge of the kraal, in which a much
greater number was known to be in waiting.
The moon was full, but obscured by clouds ; and its partial
light served only to increase the solemnity of this interview.
Zlambie rose on my approach, and presented his hand. The
following is the substance of our conversation :
Commissioner. I have long intended to come to you, and hope
you are well.
Zlambie. I am very glad to see you, and thank you for your
inquiries.
C. I saw your messengers the day before yesterday, and am
happy to assure you that, so far from making warlike preparations
against you, the Christians wish to preserve the ancient friendship
that has subsisted between you and them, and to do you all the
good in their power. As a proof of what I say, I have brought
you these presents from their great chief.
Z. I am much obliged to your great chief, but I beg to know
what messengers you allude to.
C. Those sent by you a few days since to Bruintjes Hoogte, to
inquire into the cause of our making commandos against you.
Z. Have you brought them with you ?
C. No, they had not horses, and we could not wait for them.
Z. I have sent no messengers to the colony for a considerable
90 Records of the Cape Colony.

time, except a few weeks since, when I dispatched some to the

farmers who have withdrawn from this neighbourhood, to request to
know the cause of that proceeding.
C. This is very extraordinary. One of them had a badge of office,
Z. He had not received it from me,
C. I intended to complain to you on the subject of the farmers
you mention. Those people could no longer bear the vexations
they daily experienced from wandering KafiFers. I have, however,
desired them to return to their places, but I expect that you will
exert your authority to prevent their being again molested.
Z. I learnt their retreat with much concern. At the time I
happened to be hunting near them, and apprehending it might be
supposed that I was the cause of their removal, I immediately
came back to my kraal. Their return would afford me much
satisfaction, and I shall use my best endeavours to prevent their
sustaining any injury from my people.
C. The best mode will be to permit none of your people to
come among the inhabitants, except when sent by you on business,
with the cane given you by the landdrost. The practice of begging
from the colonists is attended with so much inconvenience that
orders have been given against its continuance.
Z. I hope that when I go among the farmers they will have
orders to give me cattle.
C. When you may wish to visit the landdrost, he will be rejoiced
to see you; but you cannot be permitted to beg from the in-
habitants.
Z. Where are you come from now ?
C, From Gyka, Hinsa, and the Bosjesmen,
Z, What business took you to Hinsa ?
C. To claim some persons belonging to the colony.
Z. Did you get them ?
C. They promised soon to follow me, and Hinsa engaged to
send them if they should persist in remaining, as also any other
persons of that description, whether Christians, slaves, or
Hottentots, who might afterwards come into his territory.
Z. What took you to Gyka ?
C. A desire to renew the friendship that the Christians wish to
maintain with all the Kaffers, as well as to speak to him about
stolen cattle and deserters, and to apprise him that we could not
any longer permit his people to rove among the inhabitants.
 Records of the Cape Colony. 91

Z. Did you obtain what you wanted ?

C, We obtained some cattle, and a promise that the deserters
should be collected and sent to the colony.
Z. Have all my people been sent away from the colony ?
C. Yes, except a few that have contrived to loiter in Camdeboo,
but who are " now on their way down, and the small kraal under
Ogande, who stated that he had your permission to remain in the
colony, and who has been allowed to settle near the Cape.
Z. Did he say that he had my permission ?
C. Yes.
Z. Indeed!
C. Some of the chieftains that are subordinate to you have been
very troublesome 'to the farmers. There is, in particular, one
named Kassa, who is continually stealing from them. I wish
you would order him to leave Zuurveld, and to come near you.
Z. What am I to do if he should refuse to obey me ?
C. You must best know what you should do with disobedient
vassals.
Z. In this case I should do notliing.
C. Is not Kassa under your control ?
Z. He used formerly to live near me.
C. What am I to do if his people should continue to steal ?
Z. Follow the traces to the kraal, demand the cattle, and if
refused, come to me.
C. The farmers have gone to his kraal. On many occasions
they have obtained nothing, in none more than a small proportion
of the theft ; he takes care to conceal the stolen cattle, until he
has an opportunity to send it to other kraals, and I know that the
greatest part of it is sent beyond the Fish Eiver.
Z. How do you know it ?
C. When I was at Gyka's, I received some from his brother
Kom, who acknowledged that it had come from him. It is useless
to take any trouble on this subject, unless you will afford your
assistance. I shall send this veld cornet to you, with a party
to go through the different kraals, if you will let proper persons
go with him.
Z. If too strong a party should come, the people will run away,
conceiving it to be a commando,
C. I shall send no more than one person from each place where
cattle has been stolen. Where can the party find you in a month ?
92 Hecords of the Cape Colony.
Z. At the Kowie Eiver.
C. I also wish that at the same time all Hottentots and slaves
should be given up.
Z. I don't know of any persons of that description.
C. I have heard of some being in the kraals near the sea, and
one has been seen in this kraal.
Z. There is none that I know of.
V. C. Stoltz. I spoke to one this morning. He informed me
that he belongs to Adriaan Louw.
Z. That one ought now to be regarded as a Kafifer, for he has
been with me since his childhood. I gave permission some time
since to two of my people to take a walk to the colony. A farmer
made them a present of a sheep, which they killed on their way
home ; while they were eating it, another farmer approached and
deliberately shot one of them dead on the spot. What am I to do
in such a case ?
C. What is the name of the farmer ?
Z. The surviving one knows it,
C. Where is he ?
Z. He lives in one of my kraals, but is now not here.
C. Send him to make his complaint to the landdrost, or else
when the veld comet comes, let him be produced. If he can prove
the accusation the farmer shall be severely punished. I am
however inclined to think that the sheep was stolen. At all
events you can see, by this unfortunate incident, the necessity
of preventing your people from coming among the inhabitants.
Z. Some time afterwards I sent two men to the bay ; they met
some farmers, who without making the least inquiry, or even
allowing them to approach, began to fire at them ; they took to
flight, and one was drowned in the Sunday Eiver, which happened
to be much swollen. What am I to do in such a case ?
C. Who are the farmers ?
Z. They are not known.
C. I cannot believe that any person could act so wantonly, there
must have been some provocation. I am extremely sorry at any
rate that the poor man should have lost his life, but this is an
additional proof of the necessity of your people discontinuing the
practice of proceeding to the habitations, and you should strictly
forbid their doing so on any account, except when sent by you to
the landdrost with some mark to distinguish them.
 Recm'ds of the Cape Colony. 93
Z. Are there large round beads in this parcel ?
C. Yes, and there is also a present for your wife.
Z. It will make her very happy.
C. Having learnt that Gyka was in the habit of robbing all such
Kaffers as went from this side of the Great Fish Eiver to live near
him, I strongly recommended him to desist from such an improper
proceeding.
Z. Who told you so ?
C. The Kaffers sent away from the interior.
Z. It is Kyno who has stolen their cattle.
C. Then I have been misinformed. Indeed Gyka said that
there was no truth in the report, and promised to receive all such
persons in the most friendly manner.
Z. Where are your waggons ?
C. They are gone by the best road ; and, if you have nothing
further to say, I should wish to go immediately to meet them.
Z. Will you not stay until to-morrow, when we can see each
other, and become better acquainted ?
C. I am sorry that I cannot, I have lost all this day in waiting
for you, and besides, in this warm weather, the best time to travel
is during the night.
Z. Then I have nothing more to say, except to return thanks
again for these presents, and to assure you that although I cannot
pretend to recollect your features, I shall ever retain a grateful
sense of your kindness.
Some loose beads remained in my pockets, which I divided
among Zlambie's people. The old man was highly entertained
at their eagerness in scrambling for them.
We had been twice obliged to cross the Bosjesmans River in
order to reach Zlambie's summer kraal, which was seated on
its left bank. This stream had then scarcely any current, and in
many parts it becomes dry at certain seasons. Having passed
it a third time, we rode about four hours through an open country,
having on our right the Eiet Berg, which the increased brightness
of the moon enabled us clearly to distinguish. This ridge runs
parallel to the Zuure Berg from which it is separated by a rugged
vale of two or three miles in breadth, a favourite residence
of Kaffers, particularly of the minor chiefs. After more than
another hour, which we employed in penetrating the thickets near
Sunday Eiver, we arrived on the banks of that muddy stream,