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Updated: June 20, 2025
Then, my ceremonial visit being at an end, I returned to the wagon, ordered the oxen to be inspanned, and resumed my journey. The ensuing fortnight was spent in progressing slowly northward through that part of Basutoland which lies between the Machacha mountain range and what is now known as the Caledon River, hunting all the way.
Without delay I proceeded to the Commissiedrift bridge over the Caledon. As I feared, it was occupied by the enemy. Entrenchments had been dug, and schanzes thrown up at both ends. Foiled here, I at once sent a man down to the river to see if it was still rising. It might be the case that there had not been so much rain higher up.
The story of the trekkers is one of surpassing interest, and must enlist for them the sympathy and unbounded admiration of all. By the middle of the year 1837 there were over one thousand waggons between the Caledon and Vaal rivers truly a notable and alarming exodus; and the Boers then began the work of carving out new countries for themselves.
This climate is evidently a styptic of great power, I shall write a few lines to the Lancet about Caledon and its hot baths 'Bad Caledon', as the Germans at Houw Hoek call it. The baths do not concern me, as they are chalybeate; but they seem very effectual in many cases. I mean visitors, not settlers; THEY are everywhere. I look the colour of a Hottentot. Now I MUST leave off.
He was, however, prevented by the forces of nature from carrying out the raid which the British military forces would probably have been unable to prohibit. Heavy rains had fallen in the Basuto Mountains, and the sudden rise of the Caledon and the Orange to flood level obliterated most of the drifts and entrapped him between them.
Therefore, at the end of the fortnight, I crossed the headwaters of the Caledon, and entered what in after years became the Orange Free State, and, still later, the Orange River Colony.
If you can find an old Mulready envelope, send it here to Miss Walker, who collects stamps and has not got it, and write and thank dear good Lady Walker for her kindness to me. You will get this about the new year. God bless you all, and send us better days in 1862. Caledon, Dec. 10th. I did not feel at all well at Simon's Bay, which is a land of hurricanes.
I wish R- could have seen the 'klip springer', the mountain deer of South Africa, which Capt. D- brought in to show me. Such a lovely little beast, as big as a small kid, with eyes and ears like a hare, and a nose so small and dainty. It was quite tame and saucy, and belonged to some man en route for Capetown. Caledon, Dec. 29th.
I felt quite sure that this rumour would reach General Knox that very day, for he had plenty of friends in the neighbourhood of the Caledon and the Orange River. General Froneman had orders to march in the direction of Zanddrift, which is about half-way between Norvals Pont railway bridge and that of Hopetown.
Some drink beer, and drink a good deal, but Choslullah thought it 'very wrong for Malay people, and not good for Christian people, to be drunk beasties; little wine or beer good for Christians, but not too plenty much. I gave him ten shillings for himself, at which he was enchanted, and again begged me to write to his master for him when I wanted to leave Caledon, and to be sure to say, 'Mind send same coachman. He planned to drive me back through Worcester, Burnt Vley, Paarl, and Stellenbosch a longer round; but he could do it in three days well, so as 'not cost Missus more money', and see a different country.
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