Namaqualand Flower Tours. 24th August 2020 to 16th September 2020 -- 3 x tours.
24th August 2020. I start my first Namaqualand Flower tour. We have had months of anxiety as the C19 lockdown and the uncertainty that surrounded it made it impossible to confirm any tours until 5 days before we departed.
In those last five days Peter Joseph has made bookings for the first two tours. We have had to change overnight accommodation to match availability. Prices higher that we should be paying. But finally I am able to set off on Monday morning.
The Seven x day tour
- Port Elizabeth to Carnarvon / Loxton
- Carnarvon to V Rhynsdorp
- V Rhynsdorp to Springbok
- Springbok to Citrusdal
- Citrusdal to Darling
- Darling to Matjiesfontein
- Matjiesfontein to Port Elizabeth
We take the R63 which is known as the Karoo Highlands Route.
Williston shopping mall.
Calvinia Hantam huis for Breakfast. The Museum is closed. I leave the Kettle donated by Esther Botha with Lorraine. Memci will collect it for the museum.
Plant at the Pen is mightier than the sword.
We stop to feel what does Zero Degrees feel like. There is no wind and so it is not as bightingly cold as I would have thought.Carpets of flowers
Koppie in Nieuwoudville Wildflower reserve. Now R25pp
On top of the Viewsite.
Graaff Reinet honouring Jewish Pedlars. In Hebrew. In Memory
Graaff Reinet. Margie; Sheila and Sally at Obesa.
Graaff Reinet. Our Courtyard restaurant. Other restaurants have closed; Jansenville the Ark and Noorsveld. In Graaff Reinet the Blue Magnolia. Closed. Very sad to see the negative effect of the extended lockdown on business
Outside the Obesa is the tree with cucumber like seeds.
I meet Ricardo at the Victoria West Apollo theater. The theater now has occasional movies and a few live shows over the last couple of years.
Loxton accommodation at the Rooi Granaat or the KarosOn the road between Loxton and Carnarvon Osfontein gasteplaas.
In Loxton .. I enquire at the police station about the Kasteel Drive for 13km and turn right at the sign. Drive a further 11km to the Sheep and then a few kays to the Castle.
Dries
Wiese’s father bought the Castle from Jan Hugo who was an eccentric man and had
built the Castle. As a sailor he’d seen many castles in Europe
and had developed a love of castles and cathedrals.
He decided
to build a castle on his farm so he visited Europe again and looked for one he
liked and wanted to duplicate. No plans
existed to he sketched it on the back of a packet of 30 cigarettes, and then
proceeded to build it in Loxton. It is a replica of one he chose to copy in
Bavaria. It is remarkable considering
that he had no construction background.
Whenever he
embarked on a project he did extensive research. It took 5 years to build and was completed
in 1974.
One day Jan
Hugo decided that his son was not interested in farming so he put the lot up
for sale. Dries Wiese’s father, Uncle
Willie, said Jan was prepared to sell the farm
and everything, but was not prepared to speak to the potential
purchaser. Along with the castle were
motor cycles, lorries, an aeroplane with an aerodrome, Model T fords, a Buick
of an American President, steam engines – it looked like an open air museum,
everything stood around. Driese’s
father made an offer and bought the lot, so the farm and Bavarian Castle became
the property of the Wiese family.
Dries says : It is for us a house, a home and a roof over our heads
Flowers at the castle.
Rocks on the way to the Castle and also between Carnarvon and Williston. It appears that they bubble up from the ground.
The Castle Sign on the dirt road. Turn Right here and drive for a further 11km to the Sheep.
Nieuwoudville Wild Flower Reserve. Today we experienced the very best of this reserve.Koppie with the Uitkyk and View Point.
From the View Point looking down.
carpets of flowers .... The best.
The waterfall has water.
This 90m waterfall is a spectacular sight when water thunders down into the deep pool during our rainy season. F
A Salt bush?
Leading to the waterfall.
Salt Bush?
Nieuwoudville ... The Ebeneezer Church hall is closed. We have tea at a cafe. The orange daisies are amazing.
Cup and SaucerCup and Saucer
Letterklip
Dak van Namakwaland
Nieuwoudville Gang.
Nieuwoudvilee Wildflower Reserve
Namaqualand Wildflower Reserve Kammieskroon
Naked Ladies
Butter Tree
Butter Tree at the waterfall.
Ants carrying flower petals
Ants at Ramskop
Freeze of people
Rock art trail . Looking for the art
Ramskop Nature reserve
Rooibos tea shop
Yellow flower
Darling with Margie; Sheila; Janny; Hebe and Sally
Darling. Evita se Perron
Velddrif Flamingos
Yellow flower
Laaiplek. Berg River.
Moertoegepomp on the road between Langebaan and Paternoster
Whale Rib Waffle restaurant. Waffles with everything.
Cotton flower
Cotton looking flower
Postberg with the Gang. Sally; Hebe; Sheila; Janny and Margie.
Postberg in the West Coast Nature Reserve. View Point
In our room we have this radio station selector.Hebe looks across to the snow covered mountains.
Margie, Sally and Sheila at the Gydo Pass viewpoint.
View point on the Gydo Pass
At Matjiesfontein we stay in the main hotel.
Graveyard near to Matjiesfontein.
Treats for Chris. Aaron, Mia and Zara
Cold in Mathiesfontein. I had to run the car for nearly 30 minutes before the ice on the windscreen melted.
Meiringspoort.
Orchids in the Gydo Pass Orange Satyre.
Each evening we would play this card game called Sugar; Honey; Iced Rooibos Tea. SHIRT. Two packs of cards; Deal three face down (you may not look at these cards) Deal three face up; Deal three to hold in your hand. You may now exchange cards between those in your hand and the face up cards on the table. Balance of the cards face down on the table. Player to the left of the dealer plays first.
Play a card face up. The next player my play a card same or higher value. If they are not able to do so they forfeit the play and must pick up the face up pack. Wildcards: These cards may be played over any card including a card of higher value. Two --- Start again. Any card higher is valid. Five -- Glass card. The card below is the value to beat. Ten. This closes the pack. All cards below the ten are removed from the table. Should the card be a Glass Card (Five) and the total of the cards below the five and the card you play be four of a kind, this too closes the pack. Should you close the pack, you may play a second time.
Should you be able to play 4 x same card value -- This too closes the pack.
As long as there are cards in the face down center. You must always have a minimum of three cards in your hand. So if you have just your three cards in your hand an you play; you must pick up.
Once you have played out all the cards in your hand you may now play the face up cards you were dealt. Once you have played the face up cards and you have no cards in your hand; you may play the face down cards; Once you have played all cards out, you are the winner.
On the road to Williston
Mimci with the kettle that Esther Botha donated
Train in the Calvinia Museum
Between Williston and Calvinia.
In Calvinia. Where the wagons would garther for market and church. The biggest Post Box. In front of the Hantam Huis Restaurant where we have breakfast.
Flowers as above
Flowers as above -- two leaved cape Tulip.
Flowers as above Two leaved Cape Tulip
Flowers as above
Flowers as above
Nieuwoudville wildflower reserrve. Steve and Peter
Lookout point
Lookout point 2
Nieuwoudville. Stella; Barbara; Marinda; Nita
Flowers at their best
Nieuwoudville waterfall. Doorn River 90 m drop
Doorn River
Small waterfall.
Vanrhynspass lookout with Nita. Barbara; Marinda; Stella and Steve.
Leaving Loxton at minus 2 degrees.
Flowers on the road to Hondeklip baai
Flowers with strange looking seed pods
Road to Hondeklipbaai. We took the first road from Garies about 20km tough gravel and then a further 60km really tough road. On the way back we had about 60km corrugated road and 20km tar road before getting back onto the N7
Kammieskroon for tea.
This district is known as the Namakwa. Named from the Nama people who lived here 200 years ago.
Hondeklipbaai. There is a rock that is supposed to look like a dog. We saw some rocks that could have been the Dog. But we were never quite sure.
Tea at the Kamieskroon padstal. From here straight to Springbok for our third night.
Steve and I make the braai at Bydidam
N7 up to Springbok
Ramskop Clanwilliam dam is full to overflowing
Englishmans grave. Graham Clowes. Killed in the line of duty in January 1901
Englishmans grave at the end of the Pakhuis Pass tar road. R364
Ramskop flower reserve. Bad condition. Not well kept. Flowers look pretty misterable.
30km of dirt road to WupperthalPakhuis Pass
Leipoldt grave. 1880 - 1947
Bydidam lights on the dam.
Cormorants at Laaiplek
Darling at Evita se Perron
Fishing boats at Laaiplek
Breakfast at Paternoster.
Blikkies Pizzeria for breakfast
Paternoster
Flamintos at Velddrif
Long lines at West Coast decided us to see the flowers at the entrance.
Flowers at the West Coast reserve.
View from the Gydo Pass. Marinda; Nita; Barbara; Steven; Stella.
Gydo Pass 866m high
Matjiesfontein We stay in the Lord Milner Hotel.
Matjiesfontein Station.
On the way to the Gydo Pass we pass through Prince Alfreds Hamlet.
Water shed of Wolsley. Leads to the Berg and the Breede Rivers
Matjiesfontein hearse in the morning sunlight of Matjiesfontein
Sign in the pub at Matjiesfontein.
Meiringspoort is one of our last stops.
Riebeek Kasteel for a brief bit of shopping.
Orchids of the Gydo Pass. Orange Satyre.
7 x people in the car .... luggage fits well.
Braai time at Van Rhynsdorp.
Dinner at The Lords Kitchen / house in Carnarvon
Cross set up by the Ermelo farmers.
Crunchies for padkos.
Our gang at the van Rhynsdorp Pass. Richard and Pru Till. Alida Strassburg from Ja Bay. Adelheid from Jay Bay. Lynn Crichton and Gail Cousins.
Corbelled house construction.
At the Jansenville Hospital. Donation of 20 baby jerseys knitted by a friend of Barbara.
Tea and cake at the Kuier Vreugde with Piet and Elsa in Kamieskfoon.
Letterklip at Garies
Ermelo East Farmers. Support the farming community in Loxton with gifts and set up the cross at the Church Square.
Magrietha Prinsloo memorial in Loxton.
Mimci has a bible weighing about 10kg dated 1750
Mimci is the curator of the Calvinia Museum and has time to spend with us explaining about the Abraham Esau memorial, The Kettle donated by Esther Botha and the history of this museum.
Dinner at Carnarvon with Alida; Richard; Priscilla; Garl; Lynn and Adelheid.
Rocks and flowers at Nieuwoudtville wildflower reserve.
Rocks at the Koppie at Nieuwoudtville.
Rocky area of Nieuwoudtville
Yellow flowers below the Koppie
The Purple flower with droopy petals is a Honger Blom
Van Rhynsdorp Pass is 820m high as you approach it.
Ossewa passed through Loxton in 138
Magrietha Prinsloo Monument.
Card evenings at V Rhynsdorp.
Purple droopy petals -- Honger Blom Not sure why it has this name. See also Sencio Arenarius for more information.
Lynn finds a bell and so I too purchase one for home.
Frank went up to Springbok and Nababeep.
Hongerblom or Senecio Arenarius.
Peter in the Nieuwoudtville flower reserve.
Ramskop is in poor condition. not at all worth the visit. But this is the best view point for the dam.
We have breakfast at Travellers rest and this is where I purchase the Bell for home.
The two groups got together this evening for a braai. Alida Strassburg and Adelheid. Priscilla and Richard Till. Connie. Gail. Robin. Lynn and Rose.
Day four of Flower Tour 3 with Lynn; Gail; Richard and Pru Till; Alida and Adelheid
We leave our V Rhynsdorp cottages at 8am in a drizzle. There is a chilly wind blowing all day. We drive through the Oliphants Rivier and Cederberg Valley past the Orchards and vinyards. A tribute to the ingenuity and technical expertise of SA farming. The Canal that leads from the Clanwilliam dam irrigates farms all the way to the Atlantic ocean at Vredenberg.
We drive in at Clanwilliam and into the Pakhuispas to the Leipoldt Grave. It is miserable and cold so not too much outdoors this morning. At the Travellers rest we stop for Breakfast. Lynn discovers a door Bell so Adelheid and I also purchase one each. After a prolonged breakfast where we get to chatting to a variety of people we continue to the Englishmans Grave where a car load of people are relieving themselves. No one is interested in having a look. Back to Clanwilliam and Ramskop which is in poor condition. We look at the Dam and drive on to Citrusdal and Bydidam
Frank is our Braai Master this evening. try to create a space for everyone to join in and get to know each other. It is the 6 from my vehicle.... Gail; Lynn; Richard; Priscilla; Adelheid and Alida. Plus the group from Frank's vehicle -- John; Rose and Connie.
We leave Bydidam and Citrusdal and drive over the Piekeneerskloof past Cardossie (restaurant) which has been closed up to now -- It appears that it may be open again. And down into the beautiful valley of the Piketberg mountain range. Piquetberg was the original name for this town. I google and find tha the town has a population of about 15 000. Mostly Coloured and Afrikaans. We visit the High school where a friend of Gail and Lynn is the vice head. It is a beautiful colonial school. We see the town from a different view point -- it has some lovely old buildings dating back many years.Paternoster. We find the Beulah Restaurant. Expensive but fun being on the beach front. This morning is chilly and it starts to rain so we all move indoors. I meet Rodney who is the owner and he suggests we visit his Deli / Bakery also called Beulah just past the Darling turn off. This turns out to be a little adventure as we had not decided what to do for supper. I find some Smoked beef and Ciabata which will be our supper tonight.
Inside the Beulah restaurant.
Buying Nartjies on the road. Wave Clayton down with a R20 and we buy two bags of delicious Nartjies for R30 and he then adds a further 7 for the car. A fun stop.
Our 5th night on the Flower tour is at Goedgedacht. A Citrus and Olive farm near to Riebeek Kasteel. We have a fun evening with cards and a supper of Ciabata; Seed Rolls; Brie; Roast beef; Lettuce and Tomato and some Escourt bangers which I do in the small oven. Being a Monday we are allowed to buy alcohol today. So everyone has stocked up and we have good evening. I buy two 6 packs of Darling Merlot.
Matjiesfontein. Bus ride with Johnny.Canola in the Cederberg near to Ceres
Unknown crop. Maybe cabbage?
Unknown
Elisna is the sales assistant at the Cecilia shop at the bottom of the Gydo Pass. I buy some dried pears
Dinner at Matjiesfontein. Frank; Connie; Rose v d Vywer and John Robbins.
Mother and baby at Goedgedacht
Goedgedacht duck.
Dinner with Alida Strassburg; Adelheid; Gail Cousins; Lynn Crichton; Priscilla and Richard Till.
Riebeek Kasteel pastries.
Pecan Nut Danish. Yummy.
Our group in Wolseley. Lynn; Alida; Richard; Adelheid; Priscilla and Gail.
Water shed information.
Day 6 . ... Another exciting day on the Flower Tour. We leave Goedgedacht over the Bothmaspas for a short stop in Riebeek Kasteel where I drop off some goodies with Chris and Estelle for Nicky. We continue to Tulbach; Wolsley and over the Nuwekloofpas and the Michelle Pass to Ceres and the Gydo Pass to the Kouebokkeveld.
At Riebeek Kasteel we stop for a coffee and pastry from Panera. I drop off some stuff for Nicky with Chris and Estelle. Onwards to Tulbach; Wolseley for the Water Shed; Into Ceres for breakfast at Deje Brew at the bottom of the Witzenberg Mountains. Then up the Gydo Pass to see the Orchids / Orange Satyre and view point. We turn around up in the Koue Bokkeveld and Skurwe mountains. Outside of Ceres we see snow on the top of the mountains. Stop at Cecilias for some dried fruit made locally. Elisna is the friendly lady who assists us and gives us some local information.
On the way to Touws River we stop to try to identify a crop with white flowers. Past Klondyke cherry farm turn off to the Bo Swaarmoed and up to the Theronsberg Pass at 1080m. We hit the N1 and turn into the BP for a break. Nina is the owner of the tourist shop.
A stop at the Matjiesfontein Graveyard and finally arrive in Matjiesfontein where we are staying at the Lord Milner Hotel. A walk around followed by the Bus Tour with Johnny. A drink in the bar before dinner and cards is how we end the day.
We stop in Kareedouw for pancakes in this coffee shop. Really good pancakes.Walking up to the Meiringspoort Waterfall
The waterfall is flowing strongly.
Our last day of the Flower Tour 3.
Wednesday 16th September 2020
We leave Matjiesfontein at 7am and stop at Laingsburg for Coffee. Then on to Prince Albert Road where we turn Right to Prince Albert. Lazy Lizard for Breakfast. Ryno and Dennis are on duty. We have a good healthy breakfast and move on to Meiringspoort. Lynn leads the way and Richard and I follow up to the Waterfall. Stop to see the Herrie inscription. Left at De Rust and on to Uniondale where we are unable to find Sarie in the Uniondale Poort. Onto the Langkloof. Two Stop and Go. Kareedouw for pancakes at the Sweaty Dutchman with Pacht. Drop Aldeheid and Alida in J Bay and then back to PE by 5.30pm.
People:
Peter and Moyna Joseph. Tutor; Mentor; Banker; Reservations and communications
Frank Smith; Tourist Guide and companion for third Flower Tour
Flower Tour One: Janny Mejeirink Dutch citizen living in PE for many years. Tour Operator. Sally Potgieter (wife of the late Flip); Hebe Usher; Sheila Thysse and Margie Lamont... Pals in PE
Flower Tour Two: Stella and Steve Gaudin; Marinda Roux (SAARP); Nita Stumpher; Barbara Berkley (mother of Gillian MPRG)
Flower Tour Three: Rose v d Vywer (wife of the late Book keeper Hardy); John Robbins friend of Rose; Connie Mother of Millside Karen. Lynn Crighton and Gail Cousins (Friends of the ladies from Tour 1) -- Both ex Round Table 8. Adelheid Peltenberg Dutch. Lives in Jeffreys Bay for many years. Tour Guide. Alida Strassberg lives in J Bay; Richard and Priscilla Till -- Richard used to work at B& E where Barbara worked.
Cillier School. Antoinette; Magrietha Prinsloo.
Graaff Reinet. Johan at Obesa
Victoria West: Ricardo at Apollo Theater
Loxton. Hesther and Chris at Rooi Granaat and Charne at Loxton Lodge.
Carnarvon. Pieter
Calvinia -- Mimci at the Museum, Lorraine at Hantam huis.
Van Rhynsdorp; Jasper
Garies -- Sonja
Kamieskroon: Piet and Elsa
Springbok: Marius
Bydidam: Andrew and Linda
Beulah restaurant in Paternoster -- Rodney. Also at the Darling R27 interchange. Deli and bakery.
Goedgedacht: Jacques and Director Deon.
Darling Diaz: Pat and Bobby
Ceres: Deja Brew: Janine and Sussa
Ceres: Cecilia fruit and nuts: Elisna
Matjiesfontein: Cindy and Shannon and Gert and Johnny. Karen civil engineer at Sutherland
Prince Albert: Lazy Lizard: Juan from Peru and Karen; Aryna & David locals; Rhyno and Dennis and Neil.
Kareedouw: Sweaty Dutchman -- Pacht. (Pancakes)
Features.
Leaving PE R75 on the left -- Groot Winterberg. Jansenville: Groot Rivierberg.
Graaff Reinet: R63 Tandjiesberg and Spandaukop. Nqweba Dam. Filling up in Feb 2020 after over a year of drought. Oubergpas. Voetpadpas. Blue Cranes.
Carnarvon: R63. Groot Karroo. Kareeberge. SKA (Square Kilometer Array).
Calvinia. Hantamsberge.
Van Rhynsdorp: R21. Van Rhynspas. And Bokkeveldberge.
Kamieskroon: N7. Kamiesbergpas. Burkes Pass on the N7.
Clanwilliam to Vredendal. Oliphantsrivier Irrigation System.
Clanwilliam: Pakhuispas. Swartland. Cederberge.
Riebeek Kasteel to Matjiesfontein: Bothmaspas; Nuwekloofpas; Bokkeveld & Michelle's Pass at Ceres; Witzenberg; Gydo Pass to the Kouebokkeveld; Skurweberge. Theronsbergpas; Hex River Berge. Hottentotskloof Pass.
Matjiesfontein to PE: Meirinspoort; Uniondale Poort; Langkloof. Kougaberge on the left.
Three Great tours.
Flowerrs and people were the best.
Learned many new things.
Look forward to 2021
In the shadow of the gallows of Butcher's neck, the large family circle, Prinsloo, decided to farewell the Cape Colony and to move into the hinterland. They wanted to get away from the authority of the English. Of their plans, however, did not get too much right, until Piet Retief decided to move in 1837.
As an eleven-year-old girl, Magrietha Prinsloo (known in the history of the Trekkers known as Catharina) joined the migrant company of Piet Retief to seek a new future in the miracle suits, untamed Natalia.
It was probably the biggest event in little Magrietha's short-lived life to make the move and to enter the unknown country with the many dangers it holds. On unbanted ways, the Tractor chariots, two to three side by side, paved a way to the Great River, where the chariots found a safe exodus through rafts.
The bland-onetone of the Free State plain was soon forgotten when the Trekker chariots began the journey over the Drakensberg. There was as much alternation in problems and dangers as there were in nature tables. Without considering the childhood mood of Magrietha or anyone else, the jaw wagons slowly set down the mountain sloes to the much-spoken future home, the wonderland, Natalia. Wildlife and fiercely lay their future land there at their feet.
Poor Magrietha – could she ever have thought, in her wildest dreams, what would become of the much-promised country for her, her mates, her family and her fellow Trekkers? She had no say, but, like every Trekker daughter, had to fulfil her daily duties, without the time to dream dreams.
While Piet Retief negotiated with his seventy men with Dingane to transfer a portion of the uninhabited Natalia to the Trekkers, Magrietha stood with her parents and several other companys in a small camp along the Blaauwkrans River. Higher and lower along the river there were other small camps. As the Trek Company broke up into smaller companys in order to find pastures for everyone's cattle.
This temporary downtime in the Trek allowed, her mother and all women time to bake bread and rusks, make biltong, make clothes, and to wash, and of course Father and Boet and all the Uncles regularly had to get their cup of coffee, and who could brew a nicer cup of coffee then Magrietha?
Female intuition warned Magrietha and others of an impending danger -- Why does their leader, Piet Retief, and his company take so long? Everyone is so hasty to start a new future in this wonderland with its numerous rivers and fertile earth.
On Saturday evening, 17 February 1838, the darkest night the Trekkers had ever experienced, arrived. As usual, Magrietha and her people were going to bed early, because everyone was tired following a long day. In the distance, in other camps, Magrietha could still hear the bark of the dogs, before she finally falls asleep late that night. Yet Magrietha had, in her sleep, an intuitive sense of impending danger. Her dreams were confused. When Magrietha awakened, the whole camp was immersed in fire and chaos. Storming Zulu, with assegais and shield skins held high in the air in light of burning chariots against the black backdrop of the dark night. Gunshots popping, barking dogs and fighting, people screaming, the Impis storm the sleeping camp.
Many husband, wife and child went into their sleep of eternity without knowing what had happened. When Magrietha realised that she was alone, she fled to a burning Trek Wagon, where she saw a whirling multitude. She thought it was her people. What she saw there was so overcoming that all fear and anxiety disappeared — even the cold steel of blood-stained spears that struck her, no fear, anxiety or pain arose with her because she had to find her parents, No family and friends to assist them. Magrietha wanted to be with her family as she faced the danger.
From the light of the burning wagons she runs into the darkness of the night. When the darkness of exhaustion and unconsciousness overcome her, she still did not realise that she had sustained numerous assegaai wounds
Afraid to open her eyes when she regained consciousness the next day, she lay silent until she heard voices speaking to her. Slowly and terrified, she opened her eyes — afraid of what her eyes would see. The most horrible murder scene displayed in front of her. Beside her, against her and around her, there were numerous severely maimed corpses of her own family members. Dozens of children's bodies, with gaping wounds, The horrors of the murder scene were indescribable,
Soon a woman, Thérése Viglione, the spouse of an Italian merchant who did not camp far from Moordspruit, arrived. She had medicine with her to assist and nurse Magrietha and the other wounded so that they soon recovered with a determined will to live.
As fine and fragile and innocent as she was, Magrietha not only became a martyr, but also became a heroine in our folk history for the offspring who are now in an own, free homeland, without worry or care to inhabit the land drenched with her blood.
That pure and noble sacrificial blood of Magrietha Prinsloo calls us to pay tribute and honour to those who had to pay such a precious price on the path of South Africa. During the Voortrekker Centenary in 1938, one of the ox wagons of the Symbolic Ossewatrek received the name of Magrietha Prinsloo, to carry out a memorial trek throughout South Africa. Here on Evaton, where the Magrietha Prinsloo voortrekkerwa left its tracks indelibly, we received her name as the name for our school. Her imaginary image is on our school badge and her ideal: "The Best for the Supreme" is our school motto. We pay tribute to Magrietha Prinsloo, the darling-Voortrekker.
After killing Piet Retief and about 100 people of his delegation, the Zulu King Dingane sent his impis to kill the remaining voortrekkers who were camped at Doringkop, Bloukrans (Blaauwekrans), Moordspruit, Rensburgspruit and other sites along the Bushman River (Zulu: Mtshezi), in the present province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa,[1] near the town of Weenen.
"Not a soul was spared. Old men, women and babies were murdered in the most brutal manner."[2]
Death toll[edit]
Among the Voortrekkers, 41 men, 56 women and 185 children were killed.[3] In addition another 250[3] or 252[4] Khoikhoi and Basuto that accompanied the Voortrekkers were killed,[5] bringing the casualties to 532–534.
The murdered included George Biggar, the son of Alexander Biggar, a trader at Port Natal. Biggar and his second son, Robert, subsequently participated and died in retaliatory attacks on the Zulus. Most people camped at the Klein- and Groot-Moordspruit were murdered. Here a Boer woman, Johanna van der Merwe, sustained 21 assegai wounds but survived.[1] The camps at Rensburgspruit, where Hans van Rensburg and Andries Pretorius were camped,[1] successfully defended themselves.
Hans van Rensburg's party were compelled to leave their wagons and retreat on foot to a hill, Rensburgkoppie, which was protected by a cliff on one side. Here they were cornered by the Zulus, whom they kept at bay with limited ammunition. When their ammunition was almost exhausted a young man, Marthinus Oosthuizen, arrived on horseback. By shouting instructions they informed him where to locate and salvage ammunition from their camp. This Oosthuizen was able to deliver by charging with his horse through the Zulu file, while covered by the defenders of the hill. With the defense strengthened, the Zulus retreated.[6]
Two months afterwards, on 15 April 1838, Andries Pretorius reflected in his journal: "As we were separated from one another, they succeeded in their attack at daybreak at Blaauwekrans, thereby killing 33 men, 75 women and 123 children."[7] This implies a total of 231 deaths at the Blaauwekrans camps. The name Blaauwekrans (Zulu: Msuluzi) refers to bluish cliff faces present in the area.[1]
Aftermath[edit]
The Piet Retief Delegation massacre and the Weenen massacre were the motivation for the Voortrekkers to confront the Zulus in battle on 16 December 1838 when 470 Voortrekkers fought against an estimated 15,000 to 21,000 Zulus; which the Voortrekkers won. The battle is known as the Battle of Blood River.[8]
The town of Weenen (Dutch for "crying" or "weeping")[9] was established in KwaZulu-Natal two months after the massacre.[10
Early life[edit]
Retief was born to Jacobus and Debora Retief in the Wagenmakersvallei, Cape Colony, today the town of Wellington, South Africa. His family were Boers of French Huguenot ancestry: his great-grandfather was the 1689 Huguenot refugee François Retif, from Mer, Loir-et-Cher near Blois; the progenitor of the name in South Africa.[1] Retief grew up on the ancestral vineyard Welvanpas, where he worked until the age of 27.
After moving to the vicinity of Grahamstown, Retief, like other Boers, acquired wealth through livestock, but suffered repeated losses from Xhosa raids in the period. These prompted the 6th Cape Frontier War. (Retief had a history of financial trouble. On more than one occasion, he lost money and other possessions, mainly through land speculation. He is reported to have gone bankrupt at least twice, while at the colony and on the frontier.)[2] Such losses impelled many frontier farmers to become Voortrekkers (literally, "forward movers") and to migrate to new lands in the north.
Retief wrote their (Dutch speaking settlers/ Boer) manifesto, dated 22 January 1837, setting out their long-held grievances against the British government . They believed it had offered them no protection against armed raids by the native bantus, no redress against Foreign Government Policies (British), and financially broke them through the Slavery Abolition Act 1833 which freed their slaves; with compensation offered to owners, which hardly amounted to a quarter of the slaves' market value. Retief's manifesto was published in the Grahamstown Journal on 2 February and De Zuid-Afrikaan on 17 February, just as the emigrant Boers started to leave their homesteads.
Great Trek[edit]
Retief's household departed in two wagons from his farm in the Winterberg District in early February 1837 and joined a party of 30 other wagons. The pioneers crossed the Orange River into independent territory. When several parties on the Great Trek converged at the Vet River, Retief was elected "Governor of the United Laagers" and head of "The Free Province of New Holland in South East Africa." This coalition was very short-lived, and Retief became the lone leader of the group moving east.
On 5 October 1837 Retief established a camp of 54 wagons at Kerkenberg near the Drakensberg ridge. He proceeded on horseback the next day, accompanied by Jan Gerritze Bantjes and fourteen men with four wagons, to explore the region between the Drakensberg and Port Natal, now known as kwaZulu Natal. This was Bantjes's second visit to Port Natal, his first having been there in 1834 on the "Kommissitrek" reconnaissance mission . At Port Natal Retief was taken by the potential of the bay and the possibilities of it becoming a Dutch free trade port. Bantjes and two companions were sent back to the laager at Kerkenberg with a message to the camp on 2 November 1837, announcing to the trekkers that they may now enter Natal.
Due to his favourable impression of the region, Retief started negotiations for land with the Zulu king Dingane kaSenzangakhona (known as Dingane/ Dingaan) in November 1837. After Retief led his band over the Drakensberg Mountains, he convinced Voortrekker leaders Gerrit Maritz and Andries Hendrik Potgieter to join him in January 1838.
On Retief's second visit to Dingane, the Zulu agreed to Boer settlement in Natal, provided that the Boer delegation recover cattle stolen by the rival Tlokwa nation. This the Boers did, their reputation and rifles cowing the people into handing over some 700 head of cattle.[3]
At Retief's request, J.G.Bantjes drew up the famous Piet Retief / Dingaan Treaty outlining the areas of Natal to be secured for the Boers to settle and start their new farms and harbour. This was done and to be ratified at the Zulu King's kraal.
Death[edit]
Despite warnings, Retief left the Tugela region on 25 January 1838, in the belief that he could negotiate with Dingane for permanent boundaries for the Natal settlement. The deed of cession of the Tugela-Umzimvubu region, although dated 4 February 1838, was signed by Dingane on 6 February 1838, with the two sides recording three witnesses each. Dingane invited Retief's party to witness a special performance by his soldiers, whereupon Dingane ordered his soldiers to capture Retief's party and their coloured servants.
Retief, his son(Pieter Cornelis), men, and servants, about 100 people in total, were taken to a nearby ridge, kwaMatiwane, named after Matiwane, one of Dingane's tribal chiefs who were executed in a horrific manner[4] The Zulus killed the entire party by clubbing them and killed Retief last, so as to witness the deaths of his son, and his comrades. Retief's chest was sawn open and his heart and liver removed and brought to Dingane in a cloth. Their bodies were left on the KwaMatiwane hillside to be eaten by vultures and scavengers,[5] as was Dingane's custom with his enemies. Dingane then directed the attack against the Voortrekker laagers,[4] which plunged the migrant movement into temporary disarray and in total 534 men, women and children were killed.
Following the Voortrekker victory at Blood River, Andries Pretorius and his "victory commando" recovered the remains of the Retief party. They buried them on 21 December 1838.
Also recovered was the undamaged deed of cession from Retief's leather purse, written by Jan Gerritze Bantjes, Retief's secretary, as later verified by a member of the "victory commando", E.F. Potgieter. Two exact copies survive, (either of which could be the original) but legend states the original deed disappeared in transit to the Netherlands during the Anglo-Boer War. The site of the Retief grave was more or less forgotten until pointed out in 1896 by J.H. Hattingh, a surviving member of Pretorius's commando. A monument recording the names of the members of Retief's delegation was erected near the grave in 1922.[6]
Legacy[edit]
The town of Piet Retief was named after him as was (partially) the city of Pietermaritzburg. (It is reported by the Voortrekker Minister of that time, Erasmus Smit, whom served with Piet Retief, in his Diary, that on 23 October 1838 the Voortrekker "Council of the legislative body...has named the first village settlement... Pieter Maritz Burg. The first name is after the late deceased His Excellency Pieter Retief, formerly the Governor, and the second name is after His Honour the late deceased G.M. Maritz, the President of the Council of policy in the camp."[7]
Some however continue to speculate that the "Maritz" part was a naming after Gerrit Maritz, another Voortrekker leader, from the start. However, Pietermaritzburg was originally Pietermauritzburg, thereby incorporating both Retief's first and second name. It was only afterwards that the "u" was dropped and it was decreed that Maritz also be remembered in the title.[8]
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