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-*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***

-

-

-

-

-

-       A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War

-

-

-

-

-                     TWO GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN BOOKS

-

-

- THE MEMOIRS OF PAUL KRUGER, =Four Times President of the South African

- Republic=. Told by HIMSELF. Translated by A. Teixeira de Mattos. With

- Portraits. Two Volumes. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, 32s.

-

- THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. Edited by Commandant BRESLER. With Introductory

- Chapters by Generals De Wet, Kritzinger, Fouché, Jean Joubert, and the

- Rev. J. D. Kestell. Demy 8vo, cloth. With 30 Maps. 21s.

-

-

-                        LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN

-

-                    [Illustration: The Wanderers.]

-

-

-

-

-                                   A

-

-                           WOMAN’S WANDERINGS

-                               AND TRIALS

-

-                               DURING THE

-

-                             Anglo-Boer War

-

-                                   BY

-

-                        MRS (GENERAL) DE LA REY

-

-                        TRANSLATED BY LUCY HOTZ

-

-                             _ILLUSTRATED_

-

-                                 LONDON

-

-                            T. FISHER UNWIN

-

-                           PATERNOSTER SQUARE

-

-                                MDCDIII

-

-

-

-

-                         _All Rights reserved_

-

-

-

-

-                         LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

-

-

-THE WANDERERS                                             _Frontispiece_

-

-                                                                    PAGE

-

-GENERAL DE LA REY AND HIS STAFF                                       17

-

-MRS DE LA REY BESIDE HER WAGGON                                       36

-

-“THE PICTURE OF MY WANDERING LIFE”                                    63

-

-“OUR PEOPLE”                                                          96

-

-MESDAMES FERREIRA AND BEZUIDENHOUT                                   134

-

-FOUR OF MRS DE LA REY’S CHILDREN, WITH TWO LITTLE GIRL FRIENDS       137

-

-THREE OF MRS DE LA REY’S CHILDREN                                    139

-

-

-

-

-       A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War

-

-

-On the 4th of October 1899 my husband left for the western border. I

-wondered what would be the outcome for me, and I thought of the many

-now leaving, some of whom might never come back. After a short time

-my husband returned and spent one day at home, then he left again on

-commando.

-

-A few days later I went to pay him a visit. I found that all was going

-well, and I met many friends, for the laager was a very big one.

-

-I was in good spirits, but the same day came the order to move to

-Kraaipan with 1200 men. This was not very pleasant news for me.

-

-All was soon ready for the start. It was a lovely evening, the moon

-shone brightly, and the 1200 horsemen rode out, the cannon clattering

-as they went.

-

-I had to spend the night in the laager. Next morning I went home to

-wait there anxiously for what was to happen. That day I heard nothing.

-Next day there was a report that some prisoners of war had been brought

-by train to Kraaipan, and no one on our side was hurt in this first

-fight. A day or two later I returned to the laager, which had been

-moved some distance farther back.

-

-There I found all of good cheer and courage. The same day an order came

-to trek for Kimberley, and I went on for two days with the laager, in

-which were many odd sights. When I had to return I felt it hard that

-all my people must go so far away. That afternoon it had been warm near

-the waggon, and my dear son had taken on himself to prepare our dinner.

-We ate it there all together, and Field-Cornet H. Coetzee, who was with

-us, said he must learn from my son how to make such good things to eat.

-My son had done it very well, though it was the first time that he had

-ever tried to act as cook.

-

-We then took up our journey again. It was curious to me to see so many

-horsemen. That night I had to return; my husband came a little way with

-me and the laager trekked on.

-

-I had now to take leave of my two sons, who were going with the laager.

-My heart was torn, for I did not know if I should see them again.

-

-But time was passing; they had to go on, and I to go back; the waggons

-must be inspanned and the horses saddled.

-

-Then I said to my two sons, “Adrian and Jacobus, let your ways be in

-the fear of the Lord. If I do not see you again upon earth, let me find

-you again in heaven.” And my beloved Adrian, when I said these words,

-looked at me.

-

-We went to spend the night at Mr Du Toit’s house, where we had a

-welcome rest. Next morning my husband went back to the laager and

-I returned home, where I found all well. We kept hearing always

-of fighting. The commando trekked to Freiburg, and from there to

-Kimberley. I had a telegram saying that my husband had gone to the

-Modder River, and I thought of the dangerous work that he had to do.

-Then he had to go farther and farther away. News came of the fight

-at Rooilaagte; it was terrible to hear how many “khakis” had been

-there and how hard our men had had to fight. There were many from the

-Lichtenburg district among them, so that everyone was anxious.

-

-Sunday, the 26th of December, was the nineteenth birthday of my son

-Adrian Johannes. When I went to the village in the morning I met my

-sisters on their way to church. Then we all began to speak of him and

-of how he would fare on his birthday; and we all grew heavy-hearted.

-

-On Monday we were without news. On Tuesday evening a telegram came that

-all was well, which filled me with joy. Yet that night I sat on my bed,

-and could not sleep for anxiety and sorrow till I had earnestly begged

-of the Lord to make me fit to bear the burden He should lay upon me,

-and to let me sleep.

-

-Early next morning I was awake, but the same feeling remained. I got

-out of bed quickly and then saw it was going to rain. On going out it

-felt pleasant after the rain. Suddenly someone cried out, “There is

-Juffrouw Martens.” She came from the village, and my first words were,

-“What am I going to hear?” She came through the house and met me in the

-backyard with these words, “Nonne,[1] I have sorrowful tidings. Your

-husband has sent me a telegram for you, and it says, ‘This morning our

-dearly-beloved son Adrian passed away in my arms from a wound received

-yesterday in a heavy fight, and to-day we shall lay him in the ground

-at Jacobsdaal.’”

-

-[1] _Nonne._ A Dutch-Indian term meaning Mrs or mistress.

-

-It was heartrending for me, but there is comfort to be found at the

-feet of Jesus. All Lichtenburg knew him and loved him. I had not only

-lost my son, but many had lost their friend.

-

-The Sunday after he died, Dominie Du Toit of Lichtenburg chose as his

-text Revelations xxi., verse 7:--“And I will be his God, and he shall

-be my son”--and he said that the Lord had more need of him than we.

-

-    “_I give him to the goodness of God.

-    Ransomed by the Saviour

-    He rises towards Heaven.

-    All shall contemplate him there

-    On the beautiful borders of Heaven

-    By the crystal waters._

-

-    “_Yes, my son is gone away

-    Over the crystal waters.

-    Saviour, wilt thou receive him

-    At Thy side for evermore?

-    Take this son, unto Thee he is given,

-    Take him in Thy Father’s house;

-    Some day we shall find each other

-    Among the jubilant host._

-

-    “_God said, This son is mine,

-    Zealous in the work of the Lord.

-    Barely the space of nineteen years

-    Did he spend as man upon earth.

-    Some day I also shall come there

-    To reign by my Saviour’s might

-    Unto the last generation.

-    Thou, my son, naught can harm thee,

-    Thou hadst to die for the right._

-

-    “_The Lord is trusty and strong,

-    E’er long shall He in His might,

-    Watching the deeds of His people,

-    Teach them to understand.

-    Rest on thou Afrikander son;

-    We shall all one day stand before Jesus,

-    Zealous in the work of the Lord._”

-

-A fortnight after my son’s death I went to join his father and brother.

-After travelling four days I came near the Vaal River. That morning

-we heard a terrible roar of cannon; a great fight was taking place

-at Maggersfontein. I thought then, “Whose turn shall it be to-day to

-give up his life?” When I came to the laager they had already come

-out to meet me, but we missed each other. Just then I met my brother,

-Jan Greef, and as I had heard nothing more about the death of my son

-I asked him to tell me everything. He told me what a great fight it

-had been all day, and how my son had been all day in the thick of the

-fighting and no hurt had come to him. At sunset he was walking with

-his father; suddenly a bomb burst between them. He asked his father if

-the bomb had touched him and his father answered “No.” He said nothing

-more, but went on 150 steps farther before he sat down, saying to his

-father, “The bomb that burst over there struck me.” Then they saw that

-a bullet had entered his right side. They carried him a little way,

-and placed him in a carriage to bring him to the hospital. At four

-o’clock in the morning they reached Jacobsdaal; they bore him into the

-hospital, and the doctor said he would come and take the bullet out

-after breakfast.

-

-All night he had tasted only a little water; now they brought him some

-coffee. He told his father that he must help him to take it; his father

-raised him up in bed and he saw that he was near death. He asked him if

-he did not want to say anything. His answer was, “Nay, father, only lay

-me down.” With these words he drew his last breath. All was over with

-our son. This I heard from my brother.

-

-Then my husband returned, and I heard for the first time how he too had

-been wounded in the arm, and how very ill he also had been before I

-arrived.

-

-From there we went to Maggersfontein and then to the village of

-Jacobsdaal. I had so longed to see my son’s grave, but when I came

-there I found only a mound of earth. Yet, knowing that his dust was

-resting there, it did me good to see it.

-

-Then I went to the hospital. I thought, “If only I could find the

-clothes which he was wearing the last day!” They brought me to the

-room where the clothes of the dead were lying. His father found the

-trousers. We could tell them by the hole that the bullet had made.

-I saw the nurse who had looked after him; she said how patient and

-contented he had been.

-

-There were many of our wounded lying there.

-

-I went back to Maggersfontein. A little way from it was an empty house;

-I went into it as I did not wish to live in the laager. Every morning

-we could hear the firing at Maggersfontein.

-

-Christmas was drawing near. From all sides people sent us dainties and

-anything that they thought would give us pleasure. I used often to go

-to General Cronje’s laager.

-

-In the beginning of the new year 1900 General De la Rey had to retire

-to Colesberg. I went with him to Bloemfontein, and the evening we

-arrived there he had to go on to Colesberg. I went back home, where I

-found our children safe and well.

-

-Every day we kept hearing of battles. I went on with my work on the

-farm, and that made the time pass less slowly. Two months later I went

-to Kroonstad and found my husband there. All the week he had not been

-well, but he got better quickly and started anew on commando.

-

-I went home again, and had not been there long when General De la Rey

-was sent to Mafeking; but while on his way the siege of Mafeking was

-raised.

-

-Then all the commandoes were ordered to Pretoria. My husband came home

-on the 23rd of May, and on the 25th of May the march to Pretoria began.

-That was a hurried trek, for the enemy were in great force.

-

-We did not know now what their next movements would be, so the best

-thing for me to do was to wait for the coming of the enemy.

-

-Five days after the Boers had left the district the Kaffirs came in

-such numbers that they stripped the whole border of cattle, and acted

-abominably towards the women and children.

-

-A week after the Boers left Lichtenburg the troops[2] entered the

-village. I was then on my farm, which lies a quarter-of-an-hour’s

-distance outside.

-

-[2] _Troops._--When an Afrikander speaks of “troops” he always means

-those of the English, probably from having heard so much about

-“troopers.”

-

-Seven horsemen came to my house. I was then in the garden, but on

-seeing them I hastened to the house. Four armed men stood outside; the

-other three had come in and were turning everything upside down.

-

-When I was at the door one of them came towards me with the question,

-“Whose place is this?”

-

-I answered, “De la Rey’s.”

-

-“The General’s?” he asked.

-

-I said, “Yes.”

-

-Then he told me that I must bring my husband out of the house.

-

-I answered, “You have been inside, why don’t you bring him out

-yourself? I cannot do so, because he is on commando.”

-

-“When did he go from here?” he asked me.

-

-“A week since,” I answered.

-

-After asking a few more questions and taking whatever he wanted he went

-away.

-

-I went to the village; I could not remain on the farm alone with the

-children.

-

-From that moment the troops did whatever they liked. I had two horses;

-the Kaffirs had taken all the cattle. I saw now that they were taking

-the horses out of the stable and were going to ride away on them. The

-hardest thing was that one of the horses had belonged to my dead son,

-and I could not bear to part with it. I asked to see General Hunter,

-and I told him about the farm and about my horses. He said he knew

-nothing about the horses, but would make inquiries. The next day my two

-horses were brought back, and I was told that no damage would be done

-to the farm; but all the same they did whatever they liked there, and I

-had to put a good face upon everything.

-

-Every day more troops came past, and the only news I could get from

-them about my people was that they had driven General De la Rey into

-such a tight corner that he would never be able to escape.

-

-I used to say to them then, “Very well. I hope that when you have got

-hold of him you will treat him kindly. Remember, he is only fighting

-for his lawful rights and property.”

-

-[Illustration: General De la Rey and his staff.]

-

-Then again I heard that no, he had not been taken prisoner. (This was

-in June 1902.)

-

-When General De la Rey and his staff were in the east, after they had

-been driven out of Pretoria by the superior numbers of the enemy, the

-people in the west country had a terrible time. The women were for the

-greater part alone on their farms, and their cattle were at the mercy

-of the cruel Kaffirs, who used to come and steal them away, generally

-at night. They would burst into the houses and make their way to the

-women, and tell them that they must have their money, using such

-threats and such violence that many a one fled in the night with her

-children, and often wandered for hours before she could find shelter.

-It was bitter enough for them then; but little could they think that

-all this was but a drop in the cup of their suffering. Many of the

-burghers returned home on this account to see what they could do to

-save their families. Three burghers from this neighbourhood were killed

-during the war--Adriaan Mussman, Adrian De la Rey and Petrus Biel. All

-three were still young, but they fought like the bravest for freedom

-and the right.

-

-Adriaan Mussman was only twenty-two; he did not know the name of fear.

-In the thick of a fierce fight he saw that our guns were in danger. He

-rushed forward with the others who tried to save them. Bullets were

-raining all round him, but nothing could keep him back but death. He

-drew his last breath like a brave hero.

-

-   “_Rude storms may wage round me

-     And darkness prevail,

-   God’s grace shall surround me,

-     His help shall not fail.

-   How long I may suffer

-     His love still shines bright,

-   And leads me through darkness

-     To live in His light._”

-

-   “_The darker the night may be, the more do we pant for the sunshine;

-   The denser the mist may close, the more do we yearn for brightness;

-   The deeper the chasm before me, the more do I sigh for the plains;

-   The darker the future may seem, the greater shall be my redemption._”

-

-As each day drew to a close I was dreading what should happen on the

-next.

-

-One day one of my friends came to tell me that the commandant wanted

-to have my daughter and myself out of the place, but that he could not

-find any pretext for sending us away. I used sometimes to go to my

-farm to see how things were getting on there, but so many “khakis” were

-about that I never knew how to come away quickly enough.

-

-The village had been occupied for about two months when one day I saw

-to my dismay that the enemy were burning things wholesale. That same

-evening they withdrew from the village.

-

-A few days after they had left, our people came back with big

-commandoes.

-

-A week after the “khakis” had gone out of Lichtenburg General De la Rey

-came back to the village, but after spending only a day or two with us,

-he started again for the Rustenburg district.

-

-Then General Douglas returned and occupied the village once more. He

-came to our farm and took away all our sheep. When the English had got

-all our cattle, they went off, and we could again breathe freely.

-

-I went to the place where the cattle used to be kept, and there I found

-the shepherd waiting for me.[3] He had been able to recover one or two

-hundred of our sheep, so that I and my children still had something

-left to us to live upon.

-

-[3] The shepherds are generally Kaffirs who live on the place. The

-following statement shows strikingly in its simplicity how their own

-Kaffirs remained attached to the Boers in spite of all the so-called

-“barbarous treatment.”

-

-Shortly afterwards General De la Rey returned to Lichtenburg.

-

-But General Douglas had not moved very far off, and as soon as he

-heard that General De la Rey was in the place he came back with his

-troops at full speed. But General De la Rey was already far away in the

-distance. Just to show the “khakis” that we were not as starving as

-they thought, I made some bread out of the flour that my husband had

-brought us and sent two fresh loaves to Douglas. The English soon left

-to take up the pursuit again; and now the talk was that they were in

-their 20,000 after De la Rey, and that this time he would never manage

-to escape.

-

-I said again, “Very well, you catch him if you can, but be good to

-him.” A few days later he was still free; the 20,000 had not been able

-to get hold of him.

-

-Shortly afterwards Lord Methuen entered the village and took up his

-quarters. He sent to fetch my two horses, but I would not let them go.

-I said, “No, I will not give them up to you; I shall go and see the

-General himself about it.” “Very well,” was the answer, “you can see

-him to-morrow morning at nine o’clock; that will be the best time.” The

-next morning I started off, but when I got there Lord Methuen could

-not see me; he was too busy, they said. I felt very angry. I turned to

-go back, when just as I had got to my carriage, one of his orderlies

-brought me the message that Lord Methuen was ready to receive me, and

-they took me to him. He asked what he could do for me.

-

-I answered, “For me you cannot do much, for as far as my cattle are

-concerned I have lost nearly everything. But I have still two horses

-left, and one of these belonged to my son, who is dead, and I hope that

-you will not take it away from me.” He gave me his hand and he said,

-“It shall not be taken away from you.” I thanked him and went home

-again. Lord Methuen remained in Lichtenburg for a week. When the place

-was once more empty General De la Rey came back to the village. He

-remained with us for four days. The day he left Lord Methuen returned.

-

-There was a big fight that day not very far from the village. Towards

-nightfall the burghers beat a retreat under General Lemmer, and next

-morning the troops came back to Lichtenburg.

-

-The following day the English commandant came to see me. He had a hard

-task before him, he told me; he had been ordered to burn my house down.

-I asked him where I was to go to with my children if my house were

-burned down.

-

-“I shall leave one of the buildings standing for you.”

-

-I thanked him, and I said to him, “Burn them down, burn the others down

-if you think it fit to do so. Even if you leave one for me, there will

-still be four to burn. However cruel you may seem to be, yet God is

-always gracious.”

-

-He answered that it was very hard indeed for him; but that he had his

-orders and he must obey.

-

-All the same, he went away without burning any of the buildings.

-

-Then came another trial. One afternoon, at about three o’clock, they

-suddenly came to tell me that I must start for Mafeking with my

-daughter in half-an-hour.

-

-“And what about my other children then?” I asked.

-

-“Have you got more children still?” asked the man.

-

-I called all my children together.

-

-“Very well,” he went on then, “you can take all your children with you.”

-

-“And for what reasons am I being sent away in this fashion?”

-

-“When General De la Rey was here you took him in and sheltered him.”

-

-“Yes,” I answered, “I did take him in and shelter him; and I shall do

-it five hundred times more if it please the Lord to spare him. I am

-prepared to go away as a prisoner of war, but I will not do it of my

-own free will. And you say to Lord Methuen that he knows very well

-that my husband is only fighting for his rights and doing his best for

-his country. I will tell you a parable for him. Instead of doing harm

-to our cause, every step you take against us makes it one hundredfold

-stronger. Where only one now calls for vengeance, hundreds shall come

-to be avenged. He can send me wherever he likes, but it will not do you

-any good. I never thought to be so badly treated in the Queen’s name. I

-could not have believed that because you cannot get the better of our

-men you would set to work against their women.”

-

-“Well,” he said, “I must not talk too much, for we have very little

-time.” With that he left me and went to Lord Methuen; but he soon came

-back again, and then said that I had not been _ordered_ to leave the

-place, but that it would be _better_ for me if I were to do so.

-

-“No, I do not think that it would be better for me to go away from my

-own land. I would choose far rather to stay and suffer with my own

-people than go away.”

-

-“Very well, ask General De la Rey, then, what you had better do.”

-

-“No, I shall ask him nothing of the kind. He has his own work, and I

-shall decide and make shift for myself.”

-

-“Very good; then I shall send and ask Commandant Vermaas to take you

-away from here.”

-

-“I can send one of my boys if you will only give him a pass through

-your troops. Then he can go to Commandant Vermaas and ask him to send

-me a span of oxen so that I can get away from here.” This was agreed

-to. Later on it was said that the officers had decided to let me stay

-on in the village, but that I had refused to do so, and had declared

-that I was going away as soon as my oxen arrived.

-

-They kept coming to see me the whole time, and were always talking

-about the war, saying that the Boers had far better give it up.

-

-I used to reply, Yes, it would be a good thing to see an end to the

-war; but it is no small matter for a people to give up their country,

-and that it would cost them a very great deal before they could put an

-end to it.

-

-I asked them, “How strong are the forces that the English have sent to

-South Africa to fight us?”

-

-“Nearly 300,000 strong,” was the officer’s answer.

-

-“We have about 60,000 Transvaalers and Free Staters,” I said, “and we

-have been fighting with you now for over fourteen months; how can you

-possibly expect that we are going to give up our arms of our own free

-will? No! You will have a great deal of trouble before you bring that

-about.”

-

-I was waiting meanwhile in great anxiety for the coming of my oxen, so

-that I should be able to make a start. It was five days more before

-they arrived, for the oxen were kept far away from the village. I got

-everything ready in the meantime to be able to go off as soon as they

-came, for I dreaded every moment that a fresh order would come and that

-I should not be able to go. At last the oxen arrived. When our friends

-saw that they were there, they came hastening from every side to wish

-us God-speed. It was a hard thing for our friends to see us sent

-away in this manner to wander without a home. I said that no, I was

-beginning my travels willingly, but all unknowing where they were going

-to end or what the future had in store for me. One thing I knew, and

-that was, if all my friends were left behind, my Heavenly Father would

-yet be with me.

-

-I hastened to pack everything into the waggon, and prepared to start on

-my pilgrimage.

-

-On Friday, December 1, 1900, I drove out of Lichtenburg after taking

-leave of my friends. The oxen were put to the waggon; the children got

-into it. I had still a couple of milch cows that I could take with me.

-I and my daughter followed behind in my carriage. It was raining hard

-as I left my village behind, not knowing whether ever I should step

-foot in it again. Lord Methuen’s order had been that I was to go ten

-miles away from the village and not to come nearer. Next day I came

-to the place where Commandant Vermaas and his commando were staying.

-He told me that I could go to his farm and remain there as long as

-I liked; but as my husband’s work then lay for the most part in the

-Rustenburg district, I preferred to go on, instead of staying at the

-commandant’s farm. So I went from there to Kafferspan, a place about

-eighteen miles from the village of Lichtenburg. When General De la Rey

-heard that I had been sent out of the village he sent my son Coos to

-come to fetch me. Then I heard that on the 3rd of December 1900 they

-had captured a convoy near Magaliesberg and had struck a good blow at

-the English. I said, “That is right! It is not only I who have been in

-adversity; they too” (the English) “have had their reverses.”

-

-I went from there to Zuurfontein, a place belonging to Mr Kritzinger,

-not far from Rustenburg; he gave me a house to live in. The people

-there were all kind and friendly. After I had been staying with Mr

-Kritzinger about a week, General De la Rey arrived with his staff; it

-was a great delight to see them all again. It was a good thing for

-them, also, that I was out of the village. But after having remained

-a few days they had to go off again to join the commando. Where I was

-living was not very far from the English camp; it was a mountainous

-district, and we could hear the cannon shots distinctly every day. On

-the 13th of December General De la Rey took General Clement’s laager,

-at a place called Nooitgedacht, behind the hills, and for a short time

-after that there was no more fighting. As Christmas was coming nearer

-and nearer, I had been wondering what sort of a Christmastide it would

-be for me; but as the English still kept quiet, General De la Rey

-and his staff came back to us again. They arrived just the day before

-Christmas, and once more I had the great joy of having my own dear ones

-round me. There were a great many people on the farm where I was then

-staying, and on Christmas Day many friends came together there. As soon

-as Christmas was over they all went away again to the commando; but,

-as there was nothing to be done that week, our people all returned for

-the New Year, and, owing to this, we were also able to spend a happy,

-though quiet, New Year’s Day together. A little while later they heard

-that many English laagers were trekking up, and that the place where I

-was staying lay right in their way, so that I had to pack up everything

-in the greatest haste ready for flight. The day was just over when I

-got this news, and we had to pack the waggon in the dark. Very early

-the next morning we left the farm behind us.

-

-As I had some cattle and sheep this time to take with me, and as we did

-not exactly know which way the English were coming, we could not think

-where to move to for safety. After going some distance, we waited to

-hear from which side the laagers were coming. In a day or two we heard

-that the English troops had gone back again, and so I went back also to

-the farm belonging to Mr Kritzinger, whose family had accompanied me in

-my flight. I stayed with them there for two months, and often heard the

-booming of the cannon among the mountains.

-

-[Illustration: Mrs De la Rey beside her waggon.]

-

-For nineteen months after that I wandered round in my waggon, and,

-just as one gets attached to the room in which one sleeps, so did I

-grow to love my waggon. Many a stormy night, when it was blowing and

-raining, have my Kaffirs had a hard job to get the sailcloth covering

-firmly fixed, so that the wind should not blow it right away. Over

-many a hill and across many a river this waggon has taken me safely.

-For in my darkest and most anxious nights never did I fail to put my

-trust in the Lord, and never did His guidance forsake me. Sometimes in

-my journeyings I would come to houses which had not been completely

-destroyed, and where, perhaps, one room would still be under shelter;

-then I would have it cleaned quickly; we would stay there during the

-heat of the day. Sometimes I would come to a place where I had

-meant to spend a few days, and then at once would have to leave in all

-haste and continue my flight. One day we came to Mr Basson’s place

-(in the Lichtenburg district), and, almost the same moment, General

-De la Rey and his staff arrived from the Zwartruggen (in the district

-of Rustenburg). When he came up with my waggon he was tired out, and,

-after having some dinner, he got into the waggon to lie down a little

-and rest. But he had hardly been there half-an-hour when a man came

-hurrying up, crying, “Why are you all so quiet here? The “khakis” are

-upon us!” And there were the “khakis,” just half-an-hour’s distance on

-horseback from my waggon. There was no commando that could have turned

-them; General De la Rey and his staff flew to saddle their horses, and

-jumped up and rode out to see what the “khakis” were doing. When they

-(General De la Rey and his staff) had ridden up the rise they saw that

-the English troops were drawing back. Then I had to fly still farther.

-A bare country lay before me to be crossed, and I thought that this

-time I should never be able to get away safely, but we found afterwards

-that though the “khakis” had been so near us they had had no idea of

-it, and we managed to come away safe and sound. The same thing often

-happened, and it seemed wonderful that I was not taken prisoner. As

-they had blocked up all the roads with their blockhouses, it became so

-difficult to get through that I had to go in the direction of Harts

-River, a bare and unpleasant tract of country. As we went on we found

-thousands of dead sheep lying about, killed by the English. They had

-not been able to keep up with the march, and had been driven together

-and slaughtered, and there they were scattered, some shot, others cut

-down, and others with their heads taken off by a sabre cut. Many a time

-did I repeat, “Ah, this is indeed a cruel war! What bitter suffering

-has it not caused both to man and beast!” Often I have thought, “What

-is going to come out of all these trials and troubles!” Even when I

-looked at the comet I wondered what it could portend that it should

-appear three mornings running in the east, and then again every evening

-in the west, during a whole month--this was in the months of June and

-July 1901. As I was journeying on the open veldt I could see this star

-plainly every evening; and when this sign was no longer to be seen,

-then another made its appearance. Every evening after sunset this other

-token appeared in the sky; a bright red radiance filled the air, and

-would remain visible for about three-quarters of an hour.

-

-    “_Whither, pilgrim--whither art thou flying?

-    We are driven onward by the enemy’s sword.

-    A terrible sword are the guns and the cannon,

-    When man is standing on his defence;

-    But the cruel sword of fire and of hunger,

-    Cutting its way through the heart of a mother,

-    Is more terrible still than the booming of cannon.

-    The keen-edged sword of destruction and terror,

-    Piercing the hearts of Africa’s children,

-    Has taught them a lesson they shall not forget._”

-

-I thought that the enemy were now so far away that we should be able to

-spend some time where we now found ourselves.

-

-General De la Rey fell ill once more and had to join me and take to

-his bed. Early one morning I had just got up when suddenly we heard

-the sound of firing. The English were then only one hour’s distance

-from us; they had covered a great deal of ground in the night, and had

-been for five or six hours in the saddle, hoping to catch the burghers

-at Tafelkop. General De la Rey sprung out of bed. The horses were

-saddled in a moment, and off they rode. The firing was coming nearer

-and nearer. I thought to myself, “I am in for the fighting to-day,”

-but all the same I began packing everything into the cart as quickly

-as possible. Very soon I was in flight once more. It looked as if

-things were going very badly, for all round me people were hurrying

-as hard as they could. It began to rain. The waggons and the mule

-carts came tearing past, and it began to look as if I were going to

-be left behind. It was raining heavily. The booming of the cannon

-sounded closer and closer, and the danger became greater every moment.

-Then suddenly my waggon stuck fast in the mud, and I could not go on

-any farther. It kept on raining, and the burghers kept coming on in

-greater numbers. They stopped by my waggon and tried to drag it out of

-the mud. The fighting kept on, and I told them to go away and leave me

-before they too were forced to share my fate. “No,” they said; “that

-we will never do. What would the General say if we were to leave you

-here and the ‘khakis’ were to take you?” The oxen would not pull any

-more because they stood in so much water. Then the people took hold

-of the wheels and they managed to drag it out. After the waggon had

-stuck fast I went on farther in the spider. There were now so many

-waggons and carriages all close together that it looked like a big

-commando. In the afternoon we stopped to rest; the rain cleared up

-for a little and we had something to eat. Very soon came the order to

-get ready to start again. We had not gone very far when the waggon

-in front remained leaning against a steep bank, over which it had to

-climb. It was raining heavily again. I thought, “How will things go

-with us to-day, we have so many hindrances, and the ‘khakis’ keep on

-advancing?” However, there were a good many burghers, and they helped

-to get the waggons across. My spider also came to a standstill against

-the rocks, so that they (the burghers) had to drag it out. We were in

-danger, and yet we really enjoyed ourselves so much that time went

-quickly. It took several hours before all the waggons had got through.

-Then we drove on more quickly, and by sunset we came to where we meant

-to spend the night. I drove to a house to wait till all the waggons had

-arrived. There was so much water round the house that it was impossible

-to tell where there were ditches or hollows. When driving towards the

-waggons I went into a deep ditch and my driver was thrown off. I and my

-little son remained sitting in the carriage; the horses started off.

-They swerved towards the side of the house; fortunately there were some

-burghers there who ran in front and stopped them. It was already dark.

-I suggested that they had better be unharnessed; I would walk to the

-waggon. Just then my husband came up with his riding horse Bokkie for

-me to ride to the waggon. However, Bokkie’s back was too narrow; as

-sure as I climbed up, off I would slip. Then his other saddle-horse

-came up, and off we rode to the waggons. All were there now, and very

-hungry; it was dark and damp, but luckily, with some dry wood, we

-soon had big fires going to prepare food. The enemy had not come much

-nearer. After a good meal we went to sleep, and early next morning

-I went on again with the waggons. The men folk joined the commando,

-and at Rietfontein, where I had made up my mind to spend some time, I

-went into the school, then empty. There were a good many people in the

-place, and one could get vegetables and fruit. But I had been there

-for only about a week when suddenly a large number of English troops

-entered the Rustenburg district where we were. Off I went again in

-great haste, this time to the Lichtenburg district. I had to drive hard

-to get past. I was lucky, and came safely through. Passing Lichtenburg,

-I came to Badenhorst, and found a deserted shop in which I could take

-up my abode. Here also we had kind friends, who took care to keep us

-supplied with vegetables. One evening, a fortnight later, just as I

-had gone to bed, the report was spread that the “khakis” were coming.

-It was very dark and cold, but I was soon up and dressed and had the

-waggons packed, and off we went again on the road. Next morning it

-seemed true that the “khakis” were behind us; once again we drove past

-Lichtenburg. Now there seemed nothing left for me but to fly with all

-possible speed to the Zwartruggens. When I got there Mr Joubert came

-on with me and brought me far into the mountains. “Here,” he said,

-“no ‘khakis’ had found their way yet.” And there I had to stay. There

-were many big trees growing, and the Marico River looked lovely as it

-flowed along; it was a pleasant spot to stay in. I made an oven so as

-to be able to bake my bread. I set up my hut in the cool shade of the

-trees, where all looked so beautiful and green, and made a stable for

-my horses with some trees and a kraal for the sheep, just as if I were

-destined to live here a long time.

-

-My soap was all finished and I began much to feel the need of it to

-keep my children clean.

-

-I was advised to burn some vogelsent[4] to make soap out of the ashes.

-I gathered some “vogels,” had them burned, and succeeded in making

-some good soap. The children wandered on the mountain side searching

-for wild honey. I thought that if the “khakis” did not worry me, I

-should remain here for a long time. But after a fortnight my husband

-turned up, and said that it was too cold to live out on the veldt,

-and we went back to the farm belonging to Mrs Lombard. From there

-General De la Rey and his staff went on to the Free State, where they

-were to meet President Steyn and General De Wet. I had been here only

-twelve days when early one morning the cannon suddenly began to make

-such a threatening noise that I hastened to pack up my belongings and

-fled away once more. At Drinkfontein I thought that I would wait and

-find out where the “khakis” were moving to. But soon I heard again

-the roaring of the cannon. At that moment I was making some candles;

-water and fat were both hot. It was high time to be on our way, and I

-said, “Get ready and make a start; but I must somehow or other finish

-my work.” The oxen were not by the waggon, so that it was some little

-time before everything was ready; and I had finished my candles when

-the waggon was prepared to start. Then we were again flying as hard as

-we could through the Lichtenburg district across the Harts River. It

-is not a pleasant country to wander in; there are no woods or shady

-trees; and as soon as the “khakis” had gone back, back I returned

-also, to try to find better headquarters. And so the time passed till

-General De la Rey returned. Then he went away again, back to the

-Wolmaransstad district. Meanwhile I kept wandering around. Suddenly we

-heard that many of the enemy’s laagers were advancing together towards

-Klerksdorp. I went on some distance farther, and then from all sides

-the people began to hurry onwards, so that the flight was now beginning

-in earnest. The troops were advancing in great force. We fled in the

-direction of Makouwenkop and then were joined again by General De la

-Rey. At last the Boer commandoes managed to get through, so that they

-got behind the English. Then we had to fly as hard as we could so as

-to keep in front. Some people went back that night, hoping to break

-through the English troops. They said that I ought to go with them; but

-I said, “No, I shall go forward, and I shall see if I cannot escape

-that way.”

-

-[4] _Vogelsent._--Lumps of resin that exude from certain trees.

-

-When we came to the Vaal River we were forced to turn about. We took

-another way back. After driving all day, we stopped for a little. We

-had to get food ready as quickly as possible. It was very dark; but

-later the moon began to shine. We fled on in great anxiety, knowing

-that at any moment the “khakis” might be upon us. My husband said that

-it would be too bad if they were to take me prisoner when he was near

-the waggon, for he would have to fight then, and to leave me to myself.

-I said, “Nay, do not let that disturb you; do what you can to escape

-when they come; the Lord has always preserved me until now, and He will

-continue to do so.” At midnight we stopped for a little to let the oxen

-take a rest; but after an hour or two we pressed forward again in good

-earnest. Bokkie was saddled and marched behind the waggon, and all

-were ready to meet the “khakis.” We hurried on; it was near the break

-of day, and I thought to myself how grateful I should be to the Lord if

-it pleased Him to guide the course of the night so that I might not be

-taken. It grew light and the sun began to shine. All was quiet and we

-stopped to rest. Then it was reported that the “khakis” had gone past

-us.

-

-We were all very happy, and after we had had something to eat, and had

-taken a little rest, we went once more on our way. It was Saturday,

-and we hoped to be able to spend Sunday in peace. When we had gone

-on again, I sat in my waggon and felt very thankful that this time I

-had again escaped with my freedom. And then the words came into my

-head, “Offer your thanks unto the Lord, and call upon the name of the

-Almighty.” “Yes,” I thought, “that is what I have done in my need;

-praise be unto the Lord that He has preserved me from falling into the

-hands of mine enemy. The good God has saved me now and many a time

-before.”

-

-On Sunday we found ourselves in Brakspruit, and there we spent a

-peaceful Sabbath day: on Monday we set out for Wolmaransstad, there we

-found our houses in ruins. It was dreary to return and find the place

-in such a plight.

-

-A little way from Wolmaransstad we went to Mr Bezuidenhout’s farm and

-found that his house was fortunately still intact. We were able to bake

-bread there and make preparations for our next flight. After remaining

-there a week we went back to the Lichtenburg district. At Malgasfontein

-I found refuge in a house whose owners had been taken by the “khakis.”

-As I had a good number of oxen with me, and it was raining just enough,

-I had a lot of mealies sown there, for we were constantly doing

-whatever we could to keep things going. Everybody sowed and planted

-wherever possible. The “khakis” might destroy as much as they liked,

-the Boers were still full of courage.

-

-I had great difficulty at that time to keep things straight; as I have

-many children it grew extremely difficult to keep them all clean.

-Soap was still very scarce; I could not get more anywhere. As far as

-clothes were concerned I was happy as long as they were only clean. A

-man told me he had scraped off some deposit of saltpetre from a wall at

-Schoonspruit and had made good soap. As soon as possible I got a bag of

-it and also made some very good soap, so that I had not to worry about

-that any longer.

-

-After we had been here about three weeks General De la Rey came back

-from the Zwartruggens after the defeat of Colonel Van Donop, which

-took place at Kleinfontein on the 24th of October 1901. It was on

-the 24th of October 1901, the very day that we had been married for

-twenty-five years, that a terrible battle was fought, in which many

-people were killed or wounded, and among them one more good friend of

-ours, Commandant Kritzinger, and his son, both of whom were killed.

-So that we had on this day, instead of a silver wedding feast, a

-terrible shedding of blood. There were great losses on both sides. But

-the burghers were now, however, well supplied again with clothes and

-other things which they had been needing badly. We had made up our

-minds to stay here, when suddenly came the report that the troops were

-advancing. We made a hurried start in the direction of Harts River,

-and went on from there till past the Zoutspannen. When the enemy had

-gone off in another direction back we went again slowly all along the

-Harts River. Whenever we thought that we were going to be left in peace

-for a little while, we would find that the English troops were coming

-in such numbers that we would have to go on trekking backwards and

-forwards without any respite. With the approach of Christmas things

-grew quieter. I went to Doornfontein, Badenhorst’s place. The houses

-had been injured but not quite destroyed, so that I was able to make

-use of one during the time that I remained.

-

-My people were all with me; we spent a pleasant Christmas. Still, we

-were not very far from Klerksdorp, where there were so many “khakis”

-that the day after Christmas we had to begin our march again. A few

-days later I got a message telling me to turn back to Doornfontein;

-and there we all met again and spent the New Year. That was in 1901.

-The day after New Year’s Day there were so many “khakis” about that

-I had to fly past Lichtenburg and take refuge in the Zwartruggens.

-Putfontein, where I next found myself, was utterly destroyed and burnt

-down. As I was greatly concerned because my people had no bread with

-them, I wandered round the desolate place hoping to find an oven which

-had not been destroyed. All the ovens had been broken down, but at last

-I found an attempt at one that the poor women had set up and used for

-preparing bread. I said, “It does not look of much use, still I shall

-try what I can do.” It was late in the evening and rain was falling.

-There was no wood to be got, but I went on with my breadmaking, and the

-boy (a Kaffir) had to try and make a fire somehow or other. He was a

-very sharp boy, and he succeeded in heating the oven.

-

-General Kemps had his laager in the same place. In the evening all the

-burghers came together, and they asked me if I would join in their

-worship. “With pleasure,” I said. It was then quite dark. I went to

-the laager and we had a short service, and after that sang songs out

-of the “Kinderharp.” It was so pleasant that I quite forgot to bake my

-bread. We also sang beautiful hymns that they themselves had composed,

-so that I had a very pleasant evening. I hurried to the oven, where

-I found that the biscuit had risen. It seemed as if the oven were not

-hot enough, and yet I could not get any more fuel for it. I put all the

-bread in and thought “let it bake itself as best it can.” I waited till

-I thought that it was ready and then I sent Sampson, the boy, to bring

-it out of the oven. He came back with it and it looked still as if it

-were quite raw. However, it was always something to eat. I went to

-sleep. Next morning I had hoped to be able to spend a peaceful Sunday.

-A little way from my waggon were some big trees, and as many burghers

-were there, we all agreed to meet under the trees to hold our service.

-I and my children were there and many burghers; but as all had not

-arrived we waited a while until the leader said he would go on with the

-service, and then the people would come fast enough. After we had sung

-he began to speak to us, but it did not look as if any more people were

-coming. We were some distance from the waggons and could see that there

-everyone was hurrying backwards and forwards. I thought that the old

-man did not seem very much inclined to put a stop to his service, but

-things looked to me so grave that I said that we must really go to see

-what was happening. We hurried back to the waggons, and very soon we

-could hear the firing. I started off as quickly as possible. Very soon

-many people in their waggons were keeping up with mine. We fled for

-some distance and then sent out scouts a little way back. General De

-la Rey with his staff came up. It was he who had been under that heavy

-firing; a mark was on his back where a bullet had whizzed past. They

-had all escaped unhurt and were very hungry and tired. It was then that

-the bread I had baked the night before served in good stead. They ate

-some, and that same evening they had to go back. I was thus able still

-to supply them with bread. I went on to the Zwartruggens this time; I

-did not want to go so far into the mountains as it was beginning to

-be very warm there. On the slopes of the mountains large trees were

-growing. I set up my tent in the shade. There was fruit to be had: my

-children were happy.

-

-Then I heard that the enemy were coming with their blockhouses towards

-Lichtenburg. Then I knew I must go out of the mountains; I did not want

-to get blocked up. And we went away again, after having been a week

-there.

-

-At Duikfontein I found large numbers of cattle and sheep that our

-people had brought through the lines. General Kemp’s commando had

-succeeded in doing this and in bringing cattle to other districts

-also. I was still waiting there when General De la Rey arrived with

-his staff. By that time I felt quite rested. He said that it was not

-necessary for me to go at once to Rustenburg. So we merely went to a

-place not very distant. A day or two later there were again so many

-“khakis” gathered in Lichtenburg that we did not dare stay longer, as

-it was only three hours’ distance from the village. We went from there

-to some untilled ground belonging to us, which we kept for the cattle,

-two and a half hours away from Lichtenburg. It was a good neighbourhood

-for fruit; there was plenty of water, and not very distant was a

-large fruit farm. We hoped thus to be able to stay for a while. We sent

-the waggon to get fruit, and we set up our tent under the cool trees.

-

-[Illustration: “The picture of my wandering life”.]

-

-And here you have the picture of my wandering life. When I could set up

-the tent under shady trees and cover the floor with green grass, then

-I felt thoroughly happy and content. Often when in such a good place I

-thought to myself, “If only I could stay here quietly for some time how

-happy and pleasant it would be!” And sometimes I had the good fortune

-to be able to stay for two days or a week in such a spot. But at other

-times it would happen that just as I had got everything in good order,

-then the “khakis” would be upon us and everything would have to be

-taken down quickly to make a fresh start. Often we fled until the

-middle of the night, and when we could stop to rest it would be so dark

-that it was impossible to see one’s hands before one’s eyes. Yet the

-tent would have to be put up before we could get to sleep.

-

-When I saw the bright sun shining in the morning, often I thought, “How

-much pleasanter the sunlight is than the darkness; what joy will it

-be for me when the sun of peace is shining for me again!” Then again

-I would come to a whole district where not a tree or cool spot was to

-be found. The only cool place would be just under the waggon, on the

-ground, and that was so uncomfortable that I could not help sometimes

-crying out, “Why should I have to suffer so grievously?” but the next

-moment I would think, “After the bitter comes the sweet.” When I left

-my house and went into Lichtenburg to live in the village, because I

-felt so lonely on my farm, I thought I was going to stay there until

-the war should come to an end. I never imagined that I should never

-set foot in my house again. I was always particular to keep my house

-neat and clean; it was the greatest pleasure I had to keep my home

-in good order. I used to think sometimes, “Perhaps it is not right

-that I should think so much of my house,” and yet I could not help

-it. A pretty home on a farm, with abundance of cattle and all that is

-needful, always seemed to me the happiest life. When I was wandering

-over the veldt with a tent, and especially when I came to dusty and

-sandy places, I kept thinking all the time of my house, so clean and

-so cool. The day they told me that it had been destroyed I could not

-keep my tears back. It was so hard out on the veldt and I had longed so

-often for my house; now I had to hear that it had been broken up and

-razed to the ground.

-

-But I told myself quickly that I must not weep. “Why should I be better

-off than all my fellow-sufferers whose houses had also been broken up

-or burned down?”

-

-I went back again, this time to Gestoptefontein. That evening General

-De la Rey was in the neighbourhood, but I knew nothing of his movements

-nor he of mine. But he arrived the next morning, for the English were

-now closing up on every side. I got breakfast ready, and after the men

-had had something to eat, off they had to go again, this time to trek

-up against Methuen. I remained in Gestoptefontein so as to be able

-to find out where the troops were moving; and it was soon reported to

-me that they were coming in my direction. These were the troops from

-Klerksdorp, so there we were again, exposed to the danger of being

-surrounded. So many of us came trekking on that we kept getting into

-one another’s path; but we could only say, “The more the merrier,” and

-go on without losing courage. “Now we should have to go to Waagkraal,”

-said everybody. I said, “Very well, the place has a good name, and so

-we can venture it.” It was a very dark night when we reached there. We

-were all hungry, and had first of all to get our food ready. After that

-we went to sleep, and early the next morning a couple of hundred of our

-burghers arrived also.

-

-They were all going nearer now to see what they could do against the

-English forces, but there were so many troops they could not tell where

-to begin.

-

-Most of them went on towards Methuen’s laager to see what they could

-find to do there. The enemy’s troops moved forward to meet them. Our

-burghers were now in Pretorius’s place, where I had been staying quite

-lately; the English army was coming up along the Harts River.

-

-I was now so far from the Boer laager that I began to fear that if the

-English drove them away I should certainly fall into the hands of the

-enemy. We waited in great anxiety to hear what would be the result of

-the battle. The country was very bare and exposed just there, and as

-the troops had many guns with them it was dreadful to think of the

-fighting. Yet on the evening of the 1st of March there came a report

-that the laager was taken and that Lord Methuen had been wounded. I

-could not believe that Lord Methuen was really wounded. The following

-morning I felt a great wish to pay a visit to the laager. I had my

-horses harnessed and started. I had to drive a good way--it seemed to

-me for nearly four hours--and although I had wanted to go back the same

-day to my waggons, I found it would be too late to do so. I arrived at

-the laager in the afternoon, and there I found an enormous crowd of

-men and animals. I asked my husband if really Lord Methuen were here.

-“Yes,” he answered, “it is the man who sent you out of Lichtenburg.”

-“Then I shall go and see him,” I said. I went with my daughter, and we

-found him, quartered with a few tents and waggons, a little distance

-from the laager. When I got there, one of our people, a man called

-Tom, said that he did not want to see any visitors. Yes, that I could

-well understand, that it was not pleasant for him to see the Boers. All

-the same, when he heard that I was there, he said that I might come

-in--that he would like to see me. I went into his tent; there lay the

-great, strong man wounded above the knee, right through the bone. When

-I had come in he begged me to forgive him for all the annoyance he had

-caused me, and he asked if I had suffered much discomfort from all

-that running away. “No,” I said, “it all went much better than I had

-expected. I did not even have to do my best to escape from falling into

-your hands.”

-

-“Oh,” said he, “I have done my best to catch you.” And so we “chaffed”

-each other. As it was a difficult position for both of us, I asked him

-if his leg were hurting him very much. He said, “No, not very much.”

-

-“Then it won’t be a good thing for us,” I said, “if your leg gets cured

-so quickly, then you will come and shoot at us again.”

-

-He laughed and said, “No, I am going away, and I will not shoot at you

-any more.”

-

-Then he told me all about Lichtenburg, and how things were going there,

-and he said that my houses were still unharmed.

-

-I said, “But my dwelling-house has been destroyed.”

-

-“Oh, yes,” he said, “that had to be broken down. General De la Rey

-might have been coming to it some fine morning and firing at me out of

-it. That was why it had to be broken down.”

-

-Then he told me how glad he was to be able to go back to Klerksdorp,

-and he asked me to let the telegram to his wife be sent off as quickly

-as possible.

-

-Then, as I also wanted to send a telegram to my children in Pretoria, I

-told him that he must take good care of it and forward it, so that they

-too should be sure to get it. Yes, he said, he would not fail to do so.

-And he was true to his word; for when I met my children later they said

-they had received it.

-

-Then it grew late and it was time to return. I wished him a speedy

-recovery. When I came to the laager they gave me one of the waggons

-which they had taken from the enemy to sleep in. It was late and I had

-to see to our dinner. But everything seemed in such a muddle among all

-these menfolk; I did not know where to lay my hand upon what I wanted.

-

-There were a few Kaffirs belonging to the English there, and these

-had to help me with my work that evening. It seemed just as if these

-English Kaffirs were thinking, “How aggravating it is to have to do

-with the Boer women;” but that did not help them a bit--they had to

-work.

-

-Fortunately, there was a water dam near the waggon, and we had an

-abundance of water. I got dinner ready, but nobody made his appearance;

-it was very late when at last the men arrived. They had been keeping

-the prayer hour. General De la Key said, and I was very glad to hear

-it; for does not everything depend on the blessing of God? After dinner

-we went to bed; and the next morning, as it was the Sabbath, we went

-to the laager where service was to be held by a missionary who still

-remained with our commandoes. We had hoped to take part in a pleasant

-service, but there was a good deal of discontent among the people

-because Lord Methuen was to be set free, and the preacher took for a

-text, “That it would be displeasing unto the Lord did we allow such a

-man, who had dealt so cruelly with our women and children, to escape

-untried.”

-

-I said, “How bitter is the lot of man! We were all going to praise

-the Lord, and now there is so much sin among us that we should rather

-weep.” But it was true; it seemed almost impossible to be charitable

-when one thought of all that had happened to so many women and children.

-

-They made Methuen come back. General De la Rey said to the burghers,

-“There he is, what do you want me to do to him?”

-

-When they had all heard what General De la Rey had to say about the

-matter, it was agreed to leave it to the officers, and these decided to

-let him go free.

-

-General De la Rey came up to my waggon, and just then Tom came straight

-from Lord Methuen and told us how he was longing to go back, and that

-he was quite ill from dread at the thought of having to go on again.

-

-I had a fat chicken killed, and I took some biscuits and sent them with

-the chicken to the wounded lord.

-

-However it may be, I could not bring myself to think it right to be so

-cruel. People kept asking me how it was possible that I could be kind

-to such a man. I said that so far I had never learned to hate anyone,

-and that therefore I could still do good to my adversary; especially

-when God gave me the grace and the strength to prove to my enemy that,

-in spite of all the desolation and destruction he had wrought, there

-still remained something over for me.

-

-We were camping here under some lovely trees. All my people had got

-here now, and many others kept coming for clothes and tarpaulins and

-all kinds of necessaries, so that fresh heart was put into them to push

-forward with their task.

-

-After a few days we heard that a large number of “khakis” were coming

-on from Klerksdorp.

-

-“Yes,” I said, “now they will be after the Boers again.” General De

-la Rey went to the commando to see that all should be ready to receive

-the “khakis” when they came. However, they kept quiet for the moment in

-Klerksdorp.

-

-I had pitched my tent in a lovely little wood. Everything was looking

-very well; the veldt was in good condition; my cattle were all doing

-very well when suddenly the pest broke out among my animals. This was

-very disappointing; however, it did not go so very badly with them.

-

-The week had come to an end, and I was just going to sleep on Saturday

-night when suddenly General De la Rey and Ferreira and young Coos came

-up to my waggon.

-

-“I was not to wait for them,” they said, “there was such a large number

-of troops in Klerksdorp, and we were not so very far from them.” After

-they had had something to eat, we went to sleep. On Sunday everything

-was quiet. President Steyn had also joined us. We all met in the

-morning at service, and I asked President Steyn to come and dine with

-us that day. We had a very pleasant time, and heard nothing more of the

-English.

-

-Early on Monday morning, just as I had got up, there came a man all

-red with blood asking, “Where is the General?” “Here he is,” I said.

-“General,” he cried, “there are the English.” The horses were quickly

-saddled. I did not know how to hurry enough, to get all my things

-packed, the “khakis” were now so near; however, we had all learned to

-get ready quickly when the enemy was coming. Very soon we had finished

-everything and off we started again, keeping a good look-out to see

-that the troops were not closing upon us.

-

-Very soon we had formed into a very large “trek.”

-

-We started off from Brakspruit. At one o’clock in the afternoon we

-stopped to rest, still not knowing what had happened in the night.

-Later came a rumour that the troops had taken a great many prisoners

-that night, and among others all the members of General De la Rey’s

-staff. “What a fortunate thing,” I said, “that he had been in the

-waggon that night; if it had not been for that he might very well have

-been taken also. It was a merciful ordinance of the Almighty that had

-so guided his steps.” We did not know at the time if all had been taken

-or killed.

-

-I went to the place of Roodewal; there we all waited, including

-President Steyn. We kept a feast day there, Dominie Kestell holding

-the service. We found a large community, with many women and children.

-I was surprised to see how well they were looking. It was now Saturday.

-On Sunday we had to fly once more, this time towards the Harts River.

-From there we went on to Coetzee’s place, where we arrived late in the

-evening. Still later, General De la Rey arrived with his men.

-

-In the morning, after we had had breakfast, the burghers all went

-back to the commando. I got everything ready for our dinner and set

-it to cook, and then went for a moment to the waggon of one of my

-friends. We were sitting there talking, when suddenly there were the

-cannon reverberating again not very far from us. Everyone tried to get

-ready before everyone else; it was not very long before we were all

-once more on the “trek.” There was now a very large number of waggons

-driving on together. Some went towards the clumps of trees, others went

-on over the veldt where there was no road. “It will go hard with us

-to-day,” I thought, “the whole country is so bare; they can see us from

-a very long way off.” Little Coos was close to my waggons. He dashed

-off alone towards the commando. I felt very nervous lest he might come

-suddenly upon the troops. The battle went on; the people in the waggons

-had to get away from it as best they could. Later it began to rain. In

-the afternoon things were quiet, so that we were able to make a halt.

-The food that I had half cooked in the morning had to go once more over

-the fire. “It will soon be ready now,” I said.

-

-In the evening we went on again. We heard that the camp of the “khakis”

-was in Brakspruit, at no great distance from us.

-

-Now we waited to hear in what direction they were moving. The following

-day it began to rain very hard. I had no wood to make a fire. We were

-standing there on a barren rise, looking out to see which way we should

-have to go, and here and there I saw an ant-heap burning. I said to the

-boy,[5] “Set one on fire for us, and put on the ‘kastrol’[6] and let us

-try to get something ready to eat.” I had a large green sailcloth, and

-out of this I made a screen, so that there was lots of room to keep dry

-in, and very soon I had plenty of company round me. That helped to make

-the time pass, but as for eating or drinking, we could do neither. It

-took a very long time before the ant-hill began to burn. I thought, “If

-only the ‘khakis’ would wait till our food could be cooked!” We got on

-so slowly with the ant-hill, the “pap” would not boil. Simson was doing

-all he could to make the fire burn up--we were all very hungry. At last

-there was some good soup ready, and we had friends with us to help us

-eat it, so that we began to enjoy ourselves. We had just finished when

-there came the order, “inspan.” Very quickly we got ready, and away we

-went once more. That evening we had to drive on till very late. It grew

-so dark that we could scarcely see anything, and yet we could not make

-a halt. My boy asked what he should do, as he could not tell whether he

-were on the right path or not. My oxen toiled on slowly, and I said

-that we had better stick to the path and go on. We could not outspan,

-as I had no idea where we were, and we did not even know now if we were

-still on the path that the people in the waggons had taken. On we went,

-and at last, late in the night, came to the waggons. All was silent;

-everyone was fast asleep. I had nothing that I could give the children

-to eat; and the first thing I wanted to do was to milk the cows. We

-waited a little, but no cows came up. We had gone one way and they the

-other; we could not get to them that night. I told the boy to take an

-ox-yoke and chop it up for firewood, so as to be able to get some water

-boiled and make tea. After we had had tea I went to sleep. The Kaffirs

-started out very early in the morning to look for the cows. The boy

-had been very good; he had looked after them the whole night, and he

-now came up to us with all the animals. The calves were close to the

-waggons, and the Kaffirs set to work at once to milk the cows. How glad

-the children were to be able to come to the pailful of milk!

-

-[5] A Kaffir, Simson.

-

-[6] _Kastrol_, from the French _casserole_ = pot or deep pan.

-

-It was a finer day; it had left off raining. We were now in the

-neighbourhood of Schweizer-Renecke.

-

-Then came General De la Rey to my waggons with the news that all the

-Generals were to go the following week to Klerksdorp. I had a great

-many people with me just then--General De Wet and many others.

-

-On Monday, after we had spent a peaceful Sunday all together, the

-Generals started for Klerksdorp. I went to a place not very far from

-Schweizer-Renecke, for the troops were stationed in great force at

-Rooiwal, and were also scattered about at many other places.

-

-Here were a great many “treks” of women and children, who were also

-very much afraid of the troops. Our commandoes were not very far away,

-so that I could easily hear if the “khakis” were coming. I thought

-that if only they would let me stay quietly till the Generals had left

-them I should be happy. But we kept on hearing of more and more troops

-advancing. I said, “How can that be? I thought that while the Generals

-were with them there would be peace for the time.” But no; it grew

-worse. I had a great many people and cattle with me, so that we kept

-ourselves well informed as to what the “khakis” were doing.

-

-We hardly knew now where next to go: the blockhouses were hemming us in

-on every side--we had to be on the watch the whole time. Suddenly we

-saw some horsemen come dashing on, and they called out to us, “Here are

-the ‘khakis.’”

-

-It was a dreadful commotion. Everyone was saddling and harnessing. My

-oxen were not there, and I had no man with me to help. There were many

-people, but they had to see to their own safety. “Ah!” I thought, “if

-only my oxen would come!”

-

-I did not want to be taken prisoner now after having escaped so many

-times, especially when we were, perhaps, nearly at the end of the

-terrible war. If only I could get off this time!

-

-As people passed me they cried out, “Take your spider, and leave your

-waggons and everything behind you.” I replied, “You go on.” And the

-children began to cry, and to say, “What is going to become of us?

-Everyone is hurrying on!”

-

-“Let them go on,” I said. “All their women and children are prisoners;

-why should they trouble about us?” The people who had waggons abandoned

-them and hastened on. As my waggon stood by the way-side they kept on

-telling me that I must come too--that the troops were close at hand. At

-last there were my oxen coming over the rise. The children helped to

-catch all the oxen that we could get inspanned.

-

-Then I saw a troop of horsemen riding up over the rise. I asked the

-people passing me who they were--if they were “khakis” or Boers?

-

-“No,” they said; “they are Boers.”

-

-“Good!” I cried, but I hurried my people all the same. As soon as we

-were ready the whips touched the oxen, and off we went at a good trot.

-

-After we had driven on some little distance the yoke broke.

-

-Then for the first time a good Samaritan passed us. Ada said to him,

-“Do help us so that we can get the ox yoked, and tell us where the

-English are.”

-

-The young man got off his horse and helped us, and he said that the

-“khakis” were not so very near. We went on quickly, then presently we

-heard that there had been a terrible fight. Many of our men had been

-killed or wounded. Oh! what dreadful news for us! I went on. Towards

-evening we halted for a while. After having eaten we started off

-again, for we thought that the troops would be able to get through to

-Schweizer-Renecke, and that we should be straight in their path. Late

-at night we stopped to rest. Early next morning we went on again; then,

-as we heard that they were not coming any nearer, we halted in a place

-not very far from Schweizer-Renecke. As it was near the end of the

-week, we wanted to stay there over Sunday, and this we did. That Sunday

-I had a great many visitors.

-

-I was astonished to see how many women and children were still out,

-and how well they looked, although they were wanderers. We talked

-about the peace that we were hoping for, though not for a peace that

-should impair our independence. It was very pleasant that evening to

-hear the sweet singing of the people as they sat near their waggons.

-The following morning we went to Piet De la Rey’s place, and as he was

-also with us we had made up our minds to stay there. But it did not

-come off, for we found we could get no water there. We went on a little

-farther, closer to Schweizer-Renecke.

-

-My tent had just been pitched when Johannes De la Rey, the son of Piet

-De la Rey, suddenly appeared. He and his brother had both been wounded

-in the last battle.

-

-I had a bed made up in the tent and put him on it, for he was very much

-fatigued from wandering about since he had been wounded.

-

-He was delighted to be able to rest. That afternoon he was taken to the

-hospital in Schweizer-Renecke, his father going with him. There were

-many more wounded. I went to visit them, and found them lying in the

-devastated houses. We thought, “We must make the best of it and take as

-good care of them as possible.”

-

-Going to the landdrost, I told him that as there were troops in

-Bloemhof I thought it would not be advisable to stay any longer in

-Schweizer-Renecke. “Oh, no,” he said; “it is quite safe here. If the

-‘khakis’ do come I shall know it in good time, and you need not be at

-all anxious.”

-

-I said, “Very well, if it is really so then I shall stay on here;” but

-I was not at all easy in my mind. I went to my waggon, which was about

-half an hour’s distance from the village, and told the man who was with

-me that if I were to follow my own instinct I should get ready at once

-and leave the place.

-

-He said that there was no need to go. I let myself be talked over, and

-remained for the night, as they all thought that things were so quiet.

-That night I slept well, and was still sleeping early in the morning

-when up came my boy with these words: “Here are the ‘khakis’!”

-

-This time they were right in the village, where all was in disorder. I

-felt all the worse because I had remained there against my own instinct.

-

-My people hastened to yoke the oxen. Everything was lying on the

-ground, but they packed it all into the waggons very quickly. We had to

-see what was to be done. I asked, “Is the hen-coop open?” There were

-still a few chickens out then. I said still, “Get the chickens into

-it;” but the fighting was coming so near that we had to hurry on.

-

-Then there was such a crowd of men and beasts that it grew very

-difficult to make one’s way through and get away. Commandant Erasmus

-came up and said, “Don’t you run away; it is only wedding-guests who

-are firing like that; those are no ‘khakis.’” I drew up and said, “Go

-and get my chickens.” The boy went back and then came the news that of

-course they were “khakis.”

-

-Then our flight was doubly hasty. The fighting now was much nearer us.

-I thought, “I shall fly to the last.” Then I had more misfortunes.

-There were the chickens out of the coop again. I said, “Let us wait for

-one moment and get the fowls in first, and let the boy come up with the

-cows; for if I can get no milk I shall be very unhappy.”

-

-The animals were all driven forward; the oxen were urged on and we got

-on at a brisk pace.

-

-The ground was vibrating from the firing of the “khakis.” The way was

-full of sand and rocks. It was very rough travelling. I kept wondering

-every moment where the boy could be with the cows; but it was now a

-time when each one had to consider his own safety, without troubling to

-look after me. I was waiting for the moment to come when I should be

-taken prisoner. Fortunately, young Jacobus De la Rey, son of Pieter,

-caught sight of my waggon and came up. He took the whip and began

-driving the oxen onwards while he rode on his horse alongside. He came

-out on the veldt with my waggon, and, as he knew the neighbourhood very

-well, he said, “Aunt, I shall do what I can to get you out safely.”

-

-“Very well,” I said, “but you must not go and get yourself taken for my

-sake. If the English come up with us, then fly away, I shall not come

-to any harm. If they must catch me--well, then, let them do so.”

-

-The mountains were echoing back the sound of their firing. I said,

-“There is one comfort, I cannot see any cannon; if they were to begin

-to fire them at me I should have to give in then.”

-

-We went on as hard as we could. Young Kobus De la Rey said, “They are

-coming over the Rand.”

-

-“Then we are in their hands,” I answered.

-

-Then my boy came up with us and told me that the “khakis” had taken my

-cows. They had so fired upon him that he had taken to his heels and

-left the cows behind. That was bad news; I did not want to listen to

-it, although we too were in great danger, and at any moment they might

-come and take me prisoner also.

-

-[Illustration: “Our people”.]

-

-I told them that they could not go on any longer driving the oxen like

-that. We should have to give in. But still the brave Jacobus kept on,

-and said, “No, aunt, your oxen are getting on very well. Don’t you

-worry about them.”

-

-I could not understand myself how it was that my waggons were not

-taken. There was not one commando there to keep the “khakis” back.

-

-I told myself that when the Lord is working His will, then the greatest

-wonders can happen.

-

-We came up to some steep ground when one of the yokes broke.

-

-“Now they will be able to see us well,” I said; for we had to stand

-still, which was very dangerous. But I kept calm and told myself, “My

-Redeemer is here, and wherever I may go with Jesus it will always be

-well.” And I clung fast to the hope that we should come away safely.

-

-When we had at last got away from these dangerous heights, it seemed at

-once as if the fighting were quieting down. However, we could not tell

-whether they might not fall upon us from in front, as in that direction

-lay a woody and uneven country.

-

-Very soon we heard that they had not come any nearer. But still we

-went on, to get as far away as possible. Then we heard that nearly all

-the people who had been that night in Schweizer-Renecke had been taken

-prisoners, and that the very same landdrost who had told me towards

-sunset that he would be sure to know when the “khakis” were coming had

-had no time that very night to put on his clothes and escape before

-they appeared. I thought how sorry I was that I had not followed my own

-wish; had I done so, we should not have found ourselves in such danger.

-However, it looked again as if we were going to escape, now that the

-fighting was slackening.

-

-After the Almighty I owed my freedom to brave little Jacobus De la Rey

-and Louis De la Rey, who also did his best to get us away safely. When

-the troops were so near that they could have shot at my waggons, so

-that I wanted to stop, they paid no heed, but continued to drive the

-oxen on at full speed.

-

-I had so many children with me and dreaded so much to see them shot

-dead before my eyes that at one moment I thought it would be better to

-give in.

-

-Fortunately, it was not necessary; the danger was now over. It was very

-late before we could make a halt. I had nothing ready in the waggons

-to give the children to eat; but none of them gave me any trouble, not

-even my little Janne, who was only six years old. It was so clever of

-him to understand that when there was nothing to give him he would have

-to wait.

-

-After a short rest we had to go on again. At three o’clock in the

-afternoon we stopped. We had no wood, and my boy, who was thoroughly

-dead beat, did not know how he was going to make a fire. However, by

-the time the evening had come our food was ready.

-

-Now I had no more cows, so that we had to do without the precious

-milk. If my little Janne could get nothing else, he used always to be

-contented with milk.

-

-That evening we went farther. As we were going to unyoke the oxen and

-rest for the night a number of people came past, saying that there

-were troops coming on out of Vryburg. “Ah!” I said, “my oxen are so

-tired, how can I get on any farther to-night?” However, after resting a

-little, I went on again.

-

-At sunrise we halted near a farm, where there were trees with

-undergrowth, so that we could get firewood.

-

-Coffee was just ready when, before I could see to the rest of the

-breakfast, there came the news that the troops were only a couple of

-hours’ riding from us. We should have to go on again. We moved very

-slowly, the oxen being so tired. Fortunately, we found out it was not

-true about the troops coming from Vryburg.

-

-Sometimes all my Kaffirs would be pulling at the sailcloth to hold it

-down and fasten it securely, so that I would think that the awning was

-surely going to be blown away from the waggon. It was dreadful to go

-through those storms in the waggon. However, man’s nature is such that

-when it is once again a beautiful calm evening he thinks no more of the

-storms and the lightnings that are over.

-

-It was again a calm and pleasant day; the “storm” of the “khakis” was

-also over--they had gone back to Klerksdorp and we were able to take a

-little rest. I went to Delport’s place on the Harts River. I had lost

-all my cattle during the flight from Schweizer-Renecke. Here I found

-about fifty-two head belonging to me, which had been driven on with all

-the other cattle during the flight. But I did not get my cows back;

-those had been looted by the English. I waited anxiously to hear what

-our people were doing in Pretoria. A few days later they arrived. I

-said how disheartening it was to have been so worried by the “khakis.”

-They had been doing all they possibly could to harm us during the time

-that the Generals were away. I was very glad when they returned; then

-I could get news of my children in Pretoria, from whom I had not heard

-for so long. A few days later General De la Rey began his meetings. The

-brave burghers were having a bitterly hard life of it at that time and

-their families were in great want.

-

-Nevertheless, they would not abandon their rights. They were determined

-to go on fighting for their freedom and their rights.

-

-These brave men were depending, not on their strength, but on their

-rights.

-

-It was a very grave question to consider.

-

-They had struggled for so long; they had given up wives and children,

-and all that a man holds most precious; there might be thousands of the

-enemy rising up against their small band, and even shutting them in on

-every side; nevertheless, they had long since grown to be convinced

-that it was not they who were fighting, but a Power superior to the

-might of man. But many had been killed or taken, so that they were

-greatly weakened, especially of late.

-

-And worst of all were the defections and treachery.

-

-When a man behaves treacherously it is a terrible thing.

-

-For only think to what all that has brought them. Some became traitors;

-too spiritless to help their own people, they were courageous enough

-to take up arms to help the English; on all those rests the guilt of

-their brothers’ blood. The result was to render those who held on still

-more steadfast and to teach them still greater abhorrence of treachery

-and of bad faith.

-

-As they had struggled and suffered for so long, and it had not pleased

-God to deliver them into the hand of their enemy, they did not wish

-to be themselves the ones to do it. And I was entirely at one with

-them, for their story and mine were one and the same. It still remains

-inexplicable to me how for seventeen months I had been able to fly with

-my children, many a day not knowing what to do.

-

-It is often hard and difficult to “trek” round with so many children

-and not to be able to get clothes and other necessaries for them.

-And yet I was able to say every day, “The Lord has helped me and

-strengthened me, like He helped the widow of Zarephath, so that her

-cruse never failed her, but always remained full.” Often as I lay in

-bed at night, feeling so depressed by the thought of what would come of

-it all, did I repeat Hymn 22, “Rest, my soul, thy God is King,” and the

-last verse, “Your God is King, be contented with your lot.”

-

-And every day the Lord strengthened me in this manner, so that I had no

-right to be faithless. And it was the same with our people.

-

-They went on with their meetings, and every time they decided to

-persevere and not give up. Everywhere it was the same.

-

-I thought, “Who is it that makes the burghers so strong? It is beyond

-man’s comprehension.”

-

-Yet if one remembers the place of Golgotha, then one can better

-understand.

-

-That the Saviour must suffer so much, and yet be innocent, was a

-difficult thing for His disciples to understand at the time. It was

-known throughout the world that the Saviour must die, and undergo the

-most cruel treatment, but men could not tell why it should be.

-

-And we do not know why this people should suffer so bitterly; some day

-we shall learn the reason.

-

-When the meetings were over in the Lichtenburg district they went to

-the Zwartruggens and Marico. I was then in the Lichtenburg district.

-

-As soon as the General had left Lichtenburg the “khakis” began to

-“trek” on.

-

-They were already advancing rapidly towards Vryburg. I heard that they

-were coming on in such large numbers that I thought, “Why is it that

-the ‘khakis’ can never let me have a little peace? I shall go somewhere

-where I can stay in some little comfort, and I will not fly any more,

-for they are busy making peace. Let the ‘khakis’ come if they like.”

-People were all flying away with their cattle as hard as they could.

-They advised me to let my cattle also go with the rest. I said, “I do

-not know what will be best. I have not come across the troops for a

-long time, and I do not know what they would do now if I were to meet

-them.”

-

-I let myself be talked over, and sent all my cattle away. I had two

-waggons; I let one go with the cattle. I remained with one waggon, a

-tent, a spider and four cows. All the rest went in the flight.

-

-The “khakis” came on in large numbers. They came swarming over the

-ground. I said, “Where can all these ‘khakis’ have come from that there

-should be such crowds of them?” Still I did not go away, but stayed on

-at the place called Corsica, belonging to Mr Meyer, where his wife was

-still living and some other women besides.

-

-We kept on hearing of large armies that were advancing. All our men

-were away.

-

-Suddenly we heard the sound of fighting not very far from us. Then all

-at once we saw horsemen coming up over the rise. We saw that they were

-Boers, and we asked where the troops were. “Not far from here,” they

-said. “We have just been fighting with them.”

-

-It was already late and the burghers went away.

-

-In the morning we got up early, knowing that the troops would be

-getting here very soon. We had not even breakfasted yet when we saw

-them coming over the rise.

-

-I thought to myself, “What will they do to me now? I have been fleeing

-before them for eighteen months and they were doing all they could to

-catch me, but in vain. Perhaps they will revenge themselves on me now.

-But,” I thought, “the Lord has always watched over me till to-day, and

-He will continue to do so.”

-

-They stopped a few hundred paces away from us and rode up and down

-there for a little while. Suddenly they dashed up to my waggon, came

-up to where I was sitting behind, and one of them asked me where the

-Boers were.

-

-I answered, “There are none here.”

-

-“When were they here last?”

-

-“They went away from here yesterday afternoon.”

-

-“Where are the commandoes?” he asked.

-

-“I know nothing about the commandoes.”

-

-Then I told him that as the Kaffirs that were among the troops behaved

-so badly and cruelly to women and children I did not want to have

-anything to do with coloured people. I only had to deal with white

-people, and so they must just keep the coloured ones away from me.

-

-He was polite, and said, “Very well, Mrs De la Rey, you shall not be

-troubled by the Kaffirs.”

-

-But they kept coming continually to the waggon. I thought, “It is

-rousing their appetite for burning.” A Kaffir had already told my boy

-when he was by the fire that this waggon and tent would have to be

-burnt.

-

-Colonel Williams came to my daughter in front of the tent and asked

-whose waggon it was. When she had told him came the cruel order, “It

-does not matter to me whose waggon it is. The woman must get out, were

-she the Queen herself, and the waggon and tent must be burnt.”

-

-Then I thought to myself that I must now undergo that about which I

-had heard so much from others. To think that poor women must see their

-things taken away from them and burnt.

-

-I was very angry, and I thought, “Do what you like, I shall say what I

-think and what is right.”

-

-I told them again then who I was, and said that I was not going to let

-them burn my waggon.

-

-For eighteen months long, ever since Lord Methuen sent me out of

-Lichtenburg, I had wandered round with my children. If they wanted to

-burn my things they would have to get an order from a superior officer.

-I was not going to let them do it themselves.

-

-The soldiers kept pressing closer. They had quite surrounded me. I

-thought, “Who knows how cruel they are going to be?”

-

-But here again I remembered that only as far as the Lord would let them

-could they go and no further, and I did not lose faith.

-

-Then suddenly the one with whom I had been talking drew his pocket-book

-out and wrote an order that the waggon, the tent and the cows which I

-had kept should not be touched and that no harm should be done on the

-place. And this was just when, a little way off, in a dwelling-house,

-they had completely taken and destroyed everything. They had taken away

-from there all the blankets and more or less everything that the women

-had had by them. They used to let this be done by the Kaffirs, who took

-great pride in being able to act in such a manner to white women-folks.

-

-And now the officer’s bad temper was quite cured. No one might come

-near my waggon and tent now. The soldiers were ordered back; a guard

-was stationed near us so that we might not be annoyed by the passers-by.

-

-I was delivered from them the next day.

-

-I was longing now to hear what had become of the people who had taken

-the cattle with them.

-

-The report came that evening that they had all been taken.

-

-Then we heard the sound of riding, and we wondered if that could be

-“khakis” again. As we were just a handful of women and children we

-would far rather it were not more “khakis.” They came riding up. It was

-Dr van Rennenkampf and Tom Sisk. How happy we were to see some of our

-own people again! I heard from them then that all those with whom I had

-let my cattle go had been taken prisoners.

-

-There I was now, quite helpless. The people on the farm were very good,

-but they, too, were equally helpless. We had no living animals that we

-could use for “trekking.”

-

-The doctor had his cart and mules, and therefore I told him he must

-just stay here with us. I felt as if I could die of sorrow; I had no

-wish now to stay any longer, but all my cattle were taken and I could

-not get away.

-

-There was nothing here to slaughter; however, I thought to myself that

-things had always come right somehow or other up to now, and that it

-would be the same this time also.

-

-And there came a brave burgher with sheep for the women and children.

-Thus did the Lord always provide that we never should be without

-something to feed us.

-

-And the doctor was there to ride for “mealies,” which was a great help

-to us in those days.

-

-The week was not yet over when we heard that the “khakis” were coming

-back from Vryburg.

-

-I said, “What am I going to do with the ‘khakis’ now? I thought they

-were not coming back again.” And just a week after they had left, back

-they were again. They came towards us in their thousands. However, the

-doctor was with us now. Colonel Williams came up to me and said that

-General Hamilton was coming to see me. He had news of General De la Rey.

-

-“Very well,” I said, “let him come.”

-

-Then came Hamilton with a telegram from General De la Rey asking him if

-he had met me, and what had happened to me.

-

-He said that he had answered that they had met me and had done nothing

-to me, and that all was well with me. We did not know anything yet of

-what they had been doing at Pretoria. We were anxious to have news of

-the peace negotiations, but I could not hear anything more. The English

-behaved reasonably this time and did us no harm. They wanted to stay

-on in the place, but there was not enough water for such a large army,

-therefore they went away again.

-

-I was so unhappy that I had lost all my oxen; and now the water, that

-had always been troubled, was so dirty, owing to all the troops that

-had been staying there, that I felt still less inclination to stop on.

-

-Fortunately Mr D. van der Merwe succeeded in escaping with the

-Government cattle. He gave me two beasts to be slaughtered and two

-milch cows.

-

-It was sad to hear the tales of how the “khakis” were now behaving to

-the people. A woman came to me weeping and grieving bitterly.

-

-“What is the matter with you?” I said.

-

-“Oh, they have taken away my big Bible, in which all my children’s

-names were entered. They have taken everything away--nothing is left to

-me; but if only I could get my Bible back!”

-

-I said, “Why did you not hold it in your arms when the ‘khakis’ were

-taking everything away?”

-

-“Oh,” she said, “I and my children were standing there watching

-everything in bitter anguish. We were in a ruined house. When they

-drove the door in I could not bear to be with them any longer, and

-I went out of the house with the children; and so they took it away

-without my seeing.”

-

-I said, “I think I should have been able to get it back for you; but

-now they have, unfortunately, all gone away, and I am afraid I cannot

-help you.”

-

-These were the hardest days of all for me. My flour had come to an end,

-and although the Boers had a small flour mill with them when they were

-fleeing, I was not able to get at it, so that I had to use my coffee

-mill for grinding. Having so many children with me made it very hard

-sometimes; but the children had also been through so much by this time

-that every difficulty gradually righted itself.

-

-As they were still very young, and had always been used to go regularly

-to school, it was often very wearying for them. It is not very

-comfortable to be constantly wandering over the veldt, especially in

-this fashion.

-

-As we were here to-day and in another place to-morrow, it often

-happened that we could not get a maid to do the washing. Then the

-children would have to do it themselves. They would take the clothes

-and put them in the tub, and then Janne and Hester would have to tread

-on them. But Janne was such a little monkey, he was always playing

-tricks on Hester, and then she would have to undo all his mischief, and

-by herself tread the clothes up and down till they were clean enough

-for the two little girls to finish washing them. Sometimes there was

-very little soap. They would make starch out of green “mealies” (Indian

-corn).

-

-There were many burghers who had been schoolmasters before the war.

-When any of them were near my waggons they would keep school for the

-children. After the waggons had been outspanned they would all sit

-under a shady tree with the master and have lessons. People were often

-surprised to see how well we were getting on for fugitives. I said, “It

-does not all go as smoothly as you think;” but I often wondered myself

-when I thought of how we got through day after day.

-

-We kept the calves close to the waggons, and while we were “trekking”

-they would be marched alongside of the oxen. The cows were sent on

-ahead, so that they could be milked in the evening; and as long as the

-children could have milk they were always content. Sometimes we would

-put the milk into a stone bottle, and thus be able to get butter[7]

-and sour milk as well. Our supply of coffee, though running short,

-was not yet quite finished. As we had so little left, I used to cut

-up petatas[8] into small dice and dry and burn them. These I would

-mix with the coffee beans--one-fourth of coffee to three-fourths of

-petatas--and grind it all up together. This mixture made quite good

-coffee.

-

-[7] _Butter._--Owing to the shaking of the waggon when “trekking,” the

-milk in the stone bottle would gradually be churned into butter.

-

-[8] _Petatas._--A species of potato.

-

-We had all sorts of difficulties. The poor burghers were very badly

-off for clothes. They began tanning sheepskins and using them. We got

-quite clever at dressing the skins, and they were soft and clean. If

-a man had a pair of trousers almost worn out he would patch them up

-with skins. It was the same thing with boots. We called them “armoured”

-clothes. The women and children took “kombaarzen”[9] and made skirts

-and jackets out of them.

-

-[9] _Kombaarzen._--Blankets. In this case the blankets taken from the

-enemy.

-

-I had always kept up through everything. If life grew too hard in one

-place I would move on to another; but when I had lost my cattle, and

-could not leave when I wanted, many a day fell heavily on me. However,

-thanks to the doctor and to a Frenchman who remained near us, things

-were better than they otherwise might have been.

-

-We were waiting in great suspense to hear the result of the

-negotiations. At last there came a man with the news that peace had

-been declared on the 1st of June. It was wonderful. I had been so

-anxious to hear if it would be peace, and now when the news came I

-could not be joyful. I knew nothing for certain yet about the terms,

-and I thought, “That is the reason why I do not feel happier, although

-it is two years and six months now since we began this dreadful and

-pitiless struggle from which we have so often longed to be delivered.”

-

-The children were very happy. The doctor and our Frenchman still had

-their horses, and they rode off that same day. Other burghers fired

-their guns into the air for joy. They did not know what sort of a peace

-it was, but for the moment they could only rejoice.

-

-I did not want to stay any longer where I was, but had still no oxen. A

-short way off there was a man who had a span of Government oxen. I sent

-my boy to this man to get them from him so that I should be able to

-return to my own district.

-

-He sent the oxen, and everything was soon ready for the start,

-although, as I had always had two waggons with me before, it was very

-difficult to get everything packed into one. Whatever I was not able

-to load I left behind me. We had been in this place now for more than

-a month, and the people were sorry to see us going away. But, however

-hard it might be for me, on I went.

-

-The waggon was heavy and the road very sandy, so that very often the

-children had to get out and walk alongside the waggon. The first place

-we came to belonged to Widow Lemmer. The poor old woman was very

-unhappy, for that very week the “khakis” had taken away her cows and

-everything else that she had remaining.

-

-From there I went on again, but heard no talk of peace. I went past the

-Zoutspannen to the place belonging to G. Stolz.

-

-I stopped there that Sunday. In the afternoon it was peaceful, and yet

-I felt so sorrowful. Saturday night I could not sleep, and that night

-I said to my daughter Ada, “I cannot think why I feel like this about

-the peace. If only it is not a surrender of arms, this peace that they

-talk of! But no,” I said, “it cannot be anything like that, for then it

-would not be peace.”

-

-At ten o’clock next morning my children and I all met together for

-worship.

-

-I felt very much affected. There had been so many Sundays spent in

-making war, and now to-day it was peace. Therefore I said to my

-children, “We have been through so many hard and bitter days, and the

-Almighty Father has brought us safely through our weary pilgrimage.

-Let us now thank Him with all our hearts.” I felt that it was only

-God’s goodness that had spared us from falling into the hands of our

-adversary.

-

-That afternoon I went to lie down for a little in my waggon. At four

-o’clock in the afternoon Liebenberg arrived from Klerksdorp and came

-to my waggon with the report of peace. And now I had to hear that it

-was indeed a surrender of our arms.

-

-I did not know how to pacify my children; they wept bitterly, and

-could not find words for their indignation. And yet it was peace all

-the same. I said to them, “Let us keep silence; later on we shall

-understand it all.”

-

-I stayed there till Monday morning. As Liebenberg had come to take me

-to Klerksdorp, and as from there I should be able to go on to Pretoria,

-I soon thought to myself, “What a joy it will be when I can meet my

-children again, after having been separated from them for nearly two

-years.”

-

-But this peace was so distasteful that I could not get over the thought

-of it.

-

-When everything was packed we made ready to start. While I was driving

-I took my day-book. The text for that morning was Gen. xxii. 7: “And

-Abraham said God will provide....”

-

-Now we went on quickly. I met on that road none but sorrowing women and

-children. I said sometimes, “Where can the poor burghers be that we do

-not meet them?”

-

-After having travelled for a couple of days we came to Mr D. van der

-Merwe’s place. There I met several burghers. Van der Merwe was a good

-and clever man and I was glad to be able to talk with him. He told me

-that, however incomprehensible it might all seem, he was sure that the

-officers after having struggled so long and so bitterly would now also

-do their best.

-

-As they had first gone to the Zwartruggens and Marico to see that the

-arms were all given up, I had not seen any of them yet.

-

-We were now in the Lichtenburg district. I waited at Mr van der Merwe’s

-place. It was bitterly cold. It snowed for three days, and during all

-my wanderings this was the worst cold I had experienced. And there was

-no house to shelter us. There were plenty of buildings there, but all

-were more or less in ruins. It was dreadful to see them. Now came the

-time when the burghers in this neighbourhood also had to give up their

-arms.

-

-On the 12th of June the last gun had been given up in the Lichtenburg

-district. That evening my people came for the first time to my tent. I

-thought how bitter it was to meet them in this way. My husband came to

-me and my son, little Coos. Little Coos cried, “Mamma, I have still got

-my gun.”

-

-It was very hard for him; he could stand the war better than the peace.

-I did not want to speak about it with his father. The terrible shedding

-of blood was at end. We had offered up our property and our blood for

-Freedom and Justice.... Where was this freedom? where was this justice?

-

-Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He had to die the cruel death on the

-cross. His death brought us everlasting life; yet Judas killed himself.

-

-We have been betrayed by many of our burghers. We have lost our right

-for a time. Yet they who struggled to the end, and who resolved

-that right must go first without thinking of might, have kept their

-fortitude. However the end may have shaped itself, they are glad not to

-have been Judases.

-

-There was now a great longing on the part of all those around to see

-the members of their families from whom they had been parted for so

-long.

-

-I, too, rejoiced that I could go to Pretoria to see my children, whom I

-had not seen for so long a time. And I thought again of my beloved son,

-whom I had had to give up.

-

-And yet I had not had to sacrifice so much; many a woman had given her

-husband and her children too.

-

-We went on to Klerksdorp in my waggon. As we would have to drive for

-two days before getting there, and as Sunday came in between, on

-that day we made a halt. It was the last Sunday that I spent out on

-the veldt. I thought earnestly of all that had taken place. How many

-Sundays had I not spent in flying before the enemy?

-

-Sunday evening we entered Klerksdorp; Monday morning I sent back the

-waggons which had housed me and my children for twenty months. I had

-grown so used to life in my waggon that I did not like to see it go

-away.

-

-We went to Pretoria that evening, and I found my children in

-well-being. It was pleasant after such a long separation. I had been

-two days in Pretoria when a son was born to my daughter. Then I became

-a grandmother, for this was the first grand-child. He was christened

-Jacobus Herklaas De la Rey. I felt very grateful. In all the bitterness

-of those weary days I was able to say, “But He knoweth the way that I

-take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job xxiii.

-10); and also as in Job ii. 10 (the last part), “What? Shall we receive

-good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this did

-not Job sin with his lips.”

-

-Now, dear brothers and sisters, since we are sure that God shall

-prove His Word, let us stand steadfast in our faith and wait for the

-salvation of the Lord. This is the time of trial; now will the Lord

-see if we are worthy that He should make His wonders manifest unto us

-before the eyes of the whole world.

-

-    “_Though He tarry, He knows His hour,

-    He comes, He surely comes:

-    And all eyes shall contemplate Him,

-    All hearts shall realise the deeds

-    Which He wrought here upon earth._”

-

-[Illustration: Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout.]

-

-One of the three ladies standing up (in the accompanying photograph)

-is my daughter, now Mrs Ferreira; the other two are two Misses

-Bezuidenhout. They have there the very flags of the Transvaal and

-Orange Free State, which are their great treasure. The two Misses

-Bezuidenhout are the daughters of the Widow Bezuidenhout, my husband’s

-eldest sister. She is the mother of nine children; she too had her

-house burned down and all that she possessed taken away from her. I

-have often found her in tears, and she would say to me, “What is to

-become of us all? I and my children have not one single animal left

-alive, and everything on my farm has been destroyed!”

-

-Her daughter (Mrs Bodenstein) is also a mother of seven children, and

-when I saw her she told me that she had nothing for her children, not a

-single blanket had been left to her. When she went to complain to the

-English officer, he only asked her, “Who is the man who did it?” The

-man who did it was nowhere to be found. But the harm had been done, and

-in the same way not one, but many had to suffer. May no other people

-in the world ever have to endure another such war so long as the world

-may last. I do not think that it can be forgotten. I cannot say who it

-was who were wrong, we or our adversaries. But this I can say, that

-it was terrible to bear. Never could I have thought that human beings

-could treat each other in such a way. I know well that war is one of

-the blackest things upon earth, still I cannot depart from all sense

-of justice and put down every sort of barbarity to war and consider it

-right. As we were known to the whole world as two Christian nations,

-I had thought that such things could not be allowed. But I have been

-taught that suffering and misery can go on increasing to the bitter

-end, and that in war no deed can be too hard or cruel to be committed.

-

-[Illustration: Four of Mrs De la Rey’s children, with two little girl

-friends.]

-

-Here are four of my children who during all my wanderings were with me

-all the time. A Frenchman near my waggon took this photograph; he found

-it very amusing to take the children in that way. The girl with the

-revolver is the daughter of Field-Cornet Meyer, at whose place I was

-then staying. The Frenchman slung round the children all the guns and

-revolvers and field-glasses.

-

-At times the children thoroughly enjoyed life out on the veldt. It

-was often trying for them with all the hardships we were constantly

-encountering, but on the whole the children came off better than their

-elders. When there was danger they would begin to cry, but soon it

-would all be forgotten. They were always so ready to help me and to

-make everything easier for me as far as they could. It was very hard

-for them sometimes to look after themselves and keep their clothes

-in order. And as they always went on growing they kept growing out of

-their clothes and wore them out, so that they had to help to patch

-and make the most of them. Sometimes they would have no cups or mugs

-to drink out of--then they would set to work with “jambliks” and try

-to make mugs out of them. My brother, Jan Greef, who used sometimes

-to be near my waggon, would help to make mugs. He was very clever

-at it. Fortunately, I managed to keep always one or two cups and

-saucers. Cups which could break so easily during all that driving

-about had to be taken great care of. We were always trying to find new

-ways of doing things. If we wanted cotton for sewing we would take a

-piece of sailcloth, unravel it and use the threads, or else undo our

-shoe-strings and unravel them. The girls made a large number of

-socks, stockings, bands, etc. We would take some sheep’s wool and card

-it; then the Kaffir boys made little wooden “machines,” and with them

-wove the wool into strands.

-

-[Illustration: Three of Mrs De la Rey’s children.]

-

-Here are also three more of my children, the three youngest. The little

-boy in the middle, Gabriel Johannes, is now six. He often used to say

-to the English soldiers, “Hands up,” and then they would laugh at him.

-It was a pleasure to him to be flying away; whenever we had been long

-in one place, he would say, “I wish we had to run away again; not from

-the ‘khakis,’ but just so as to be driving.” When he heard that the

-burghers had to give up their arms, he said, “I am not going to give my

-gun to ‘khakis’; I would rather break it in pieces; the ‘khakis’ shall

-never have it.” There he has it in his hand. It was such a momentous

-time, even the youngest felt the weight of it.

-

-If I am still to go through many days of hardship in this life, let

-me then cast a glance upon those that are past. Because once we had

-so many good and happy hours, and now find ourselves so bitterly

-oppressed, I have often heard people say that they doubted whether

-there could be a God.

-

-What I used to think of in my days that were most full of sorrow, was

-just that it could be no mortal that was guiding us through everything;

-my past life rose constantly before my eyes. My father, Hendrik Adrian

-Greef, who is now long since dead, was one of the Voortrekkers of

-Transvaal, and he went then to live in Lichtenburg, where I remained

-from my fourth year, till the day I was driven away by the war. My

-father too had had to go through a great deal; for in those days

-the whole place was a wilderness. When my father went on a shooting

-expedition, as we were living alone on the farm, my mother would not

-let him leave her behind; so she used to go with him with her four

-children, of which I was the eldest, then twelve years old. It was a

-wild country; one met only Kaffirs and other savage people. They were

-like wild beasts; as soon as they caught sight of us they would run off

-as hard as they could; thus very often my father could not get anybody

-to show him where there was water. He went on then to the Lake, and

-from there to Damaraland, so that this journey kept us for a year on

-the veldt. We were often in danger from the black Kaffirs, who tried to

-get hold of us; and often we came to places where there was no water to

-be found.

-

-When passing through these later days of trial I often thought of my

-father, for a child does not easily forget what its father has done.

-When living in prosperity, it had always been my wish to walk in the

-ways of the Lord, and now, however hard the storm of injustice might

-strike me, never would it be heavy enough to part me from the love of

-Jesus. In the days when all was well with me I often wondered how it

-would be if I had to bear great troubles; and if I should not then

-despair. When one is happy it is easy enough to be a Christian. And

-though, like everyone else upon this earth, I have my cross, yet the

-Saviour has always made it lighter for me, so that I am able to bear it.

-

-And this weary war has taught me to see one thing clearly;--that the

-bent reed will not be broken. For many a time when I thought, “Now all

-is over,” I would seem to hear God’s voice answering me, and saying,

-“He who persists unto the end shall be saved.” Thus I cannot come to

-understand how in such times men can drift away from God instead of

-drawing closer to Him.

-

-So I can say about myself, “I shall still praise and thank the Lord

-for His Fatherly guidance”; for who was it that watched over me when I

-wandered around for many a stormy day and night?--It was our gracious

-God. Who was it that kept me and mine from falling into the hands of

-our adversary?--It was the Lord, before whom we must all of us come one

-day.

-

-How can I then prove unfaithful? No--however great may be our

-sufferings, I shall always put my trust in the salvation of the Lord.

-

-       *       *       *       *       *

-

-_Praise the Lord, who ever will forgive your sins. How many they may

-be, He will graciously forgive. He knows your sufferings and will

-lovingly cure them. He will cleanse your life from stain, and will

-crown you with goodness and mercy as He saved you in your need._

-

-                                             JACOBA ELIZABETH DE LA REY,

-                                             (born Greef).

-

-

-             COLSTON AND COY. LIMITED, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH

-

-

-

+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+
+       A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War
+
+
+
+
+                     TWO GREAT SOUTH AFRICAN BOOKS
+
+
+ THE MEMOIRS OF PAUL KRUGER, =Four Times President of the South African
+ Republic=. Told by HIMSELF. Translated by A. Teixeira de Mattos. With
+ Portraits. Two Volumes. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, 32s.
+
+ THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. Edited by Commandant BRESLER. With Introductory
+ Chapters by Generals De Wet, Kritzinger, Fouché, Jean Joubert, and the
+ Rev. J. D. Kestell. Demy 8vo, cloth. With 30 Maps. 21s.
+
+
+                        LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN
+
+                    [Illustration: The Wanderers.]
+
+
+
+
+                                   A
+
+                           WOMAN’S WANDERINGS
+                               AND TRIALS
+
+                               DURING THE
+
+                             Anglo-Boer War
+
+                                   BY
+
+                        MRS (GENERAL) DE LA REY
+
+                        TRANSLATED BY LUCY HOTZ
+
+                             _ILLUSTRATED_
+
+                                 LONDON
+
+                            T. FISHER UNWIN
+
+                           PATERNOSTER SQUARE
+
+                                MDCDIII
+
+
+
+
+                         _All Rights reserved_
+
+
+
+
+                         LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+THE WANDERERS                                             _Frontispiece_
+
+                                                                    PAGE
+
+GENERAL DE LA REY AND HIS STAFF                                       17
+
+MRS DE LA REY BESIDE HER WAGGON                                       36
+
+“THE PICTURE OF MY WANDERING LIFE”                                    63
+
+“OUR PEOPLE”                                                          96
+
+MESDAMES FERREIRA AND BEZUIDENHOUT                                   134
+
+FOUR OF MRS DE LA REY’S CHILDREN, WITH TWO LITTLE GIRL FRIENDS       137
+
+THREE OF MRS DE LA REY’S CHILDREN                                    139
+
+
+
+
+       A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials during the Anglo-Boer War
+
+
+On the 4th of October 1899 my husband left for the western border. I
+wondered what would be the outcome for me, and I thought of the many
+now leaving, some of whom might never come back. After a short time
+my husband returned and spent one day at home, then he left again on
+commando.
+
+A few days later I went to pay him a visit. I found that all was going
+well, and I met many friends, for the laager was a very big one.
+
+I was in good spirits, but the same day came the order to move to
+Kraaipan with 1200 men. This was not very pleasant news for me.
+
+All was soon ready for the start. It was a lovely evening, the moon
+shone brightly, and the 1200 horsemen rode out, the cannon clattering
+as they went.
+
+I had to spend the night in the laager. Next morning I went home to
+wait there anxiously for what was to happen. That day I heard nothing.
+Next day there was a report that some prisoners of war had been brought
+by train to Kraaipan, and no one on our side was hurt in this first
+fight. A day or two later I returned to the laager, which had been
+moved some distance farther back.
+
+There I found all of good cheer and courage. The same day an order came
+to trek for Kimberley, and I went on for two days with the laager, in
+which were many odd sights. When I had to return I felt it hard that
+all my people must go so far away. That afternoon it had been warm near
+the waggon, and my dear son had taken on himself to prepare our dinner.
+We ate it there all together, and Field-Cornet H. Coetzee, who was with
+us, said he must learn from my son how to make such good things to eat.
+My son had done it very well, though it was the first time that he had
+ever tried to act as cook.
+
+We then took up our journey again. It was curious to me to see so many
+horsemen. That night I had to return; my husband came a little way with
+me and the laager trekked on.
+
+I had now to take leave of my two sons, who were going with the laager.
+My heart was torn, for I did not know if I should see them again.
+
+But time was passing; they had to go on, and I to go back; the waggons
+must be inspanned and the horses saddled.
+
+Then I said to my two sons, “Adrian and Jacobus, let your ways be in
+the fear of the Lord. If I do not see you again upon earth, let me find
+you again in heaven.” And my beloved Adrian, when I said these words,
+looked at me.
+
+We went to spend the night at Mr Du Toit’s house, where we had a
+welcome rest. Next morning my husband went back to the laager and
+I returned home, where I found all well. We kept hearing always
+of fighting. The commando trekked to Freiburg, and from there to
+Kimberley. I had a telegram saying that my husband had gone to the
+Modder River, and I thought of the dangerous work that he had to do.
+Then he had to go farther and farther away. News came of the fight
+at Rooilaagte; it was terrible to hear how many “khakis” had been
+there and how hard our men had had to fight. There were many from the
+Lichtenburg district among them, so that everyone was anxious.
+
+Sunday, the 26th of December, was the nineteenth birthday of my son
+Adrian Johannes. When I went to the village in the morning I met my
+sisters on their way to church. Then we all began to speak of him and
+of how he would fare on his birthday; and we all grew heavy-hearted.
+
+On Monday we were without news. On Tuesday evening a telegram came that
+all was well, which filled me with joy. Yet that night I sat on my bed,
+and could not sleep for anxiety and sorrow till I had earnestly begged
+of the Lord to make me fit to bear the burden He should lay upon me,
+and to let me sleep.
+
+Early next morning I was awake, but the same feeling remained. I got
+out of bed quickly and then saw it was going to rain. On going out it
+felt pleasant after the rain. Suddenly someone cried out, “There is
+Juffrouw Martens.” She came from the village, and my first words were,
+“What am I going to hear?” She came through the house and met me in the
+backyard with these words, “Nonne,[1] I have sorrowful tidings. Your
+husband has sent me a telegram for you, and it says, ‘This morning our
+dearly-beloved son Adrian passed away in my arms from a wound received
+yesterday in a heavy fight, and to-day we shall lay him in the ground
+at Jacobsdaal.’”
+
+[1] _Nonne._ A Dutch-Indian term meaning Mrs or mistress.
+
+It was heartrending for me, but there is comfort to be found at the
+feet of Jesus. All Lichtenburg knew him and loved him. I had not only
+lost my son, but many had lost their friend.
+
+The Sunday after he died, Dominie Du Toit of Lichtenburg chose as his
+text Revelations xxi., verse 7:--“And I will be his God, and he shall
+be my son”--and he said that the Lord had more need of him than we.
+
+    “_I give him to the goodness of God.
+    Ransomed by the Saviour
+    He rises towards Heaven.
+    All shall contemplate him there
+    On the beautiful borders of Heaven
+    By the crystal waters._
+
+    “_Yes, my son is gone away
+    Over the crystal waters.
+    Saviour, wilt thou receive him
+    At Thy side for evermore?
+    Take this son, unto Thee he is given,
+    Take him in Thy Father’s house;
+    Some day we shall find each other
+    Among the jubilant host._
+
+    “_God said, This son is mine,
+    Zealous in the work of the Lord.
+    Barely the space of nineteen years
+    Did he spend as man upon earth.
+    Some day I also shall come there
+    To reign by my Saviour’s might
+    Unto the last generation.
+    Thou, my son, naught can harm thee,
+    Thou hadst to die for the right._
+
+    “_The Lord is trusty and strong,
+    E’er long shall He in His might,
+    Watching the deeds of His people,
+    Teach them to understand.
+    Rest on thou Afrikander son;
+    We shall all one day stand before Jesus,
+    Zealous in the work of the Lord._”
+
+A fortnight after my son’s death I went to join his father and brother.
+After travelling four days I came near the Vaal River. That morning
+we heard a terrible roar of cannon; a great fight was taking place
+at Maggersfontein. I thought then, “Whose turn shall it be to-day to
+give up his life?” When I came to the laager they had already come
+out to meet me, but we missed each other. Just then I met my brother,
+Jan Greef, and as I had heard nothing more about the death of my son
+I asked him to tell me everything. He told me what a great fight it
+had been all day, and how my son had been all day in the thick of the
+fighting and no hurt had come to him. At sunset he was walking with
+his father; suddenly a bomb burst between them. He asked his father if
+the bomb had touched him and his father answered “No.” He said nothing
+more, but went on 150 steps farther before he sat down, saying to his
+father, “The bomb that burst over there struck me.” Then they saw that
+a bullet had entered his right side. They carried him a little way,
+and placed him in a carriage to bring him to the hospital. At four
+o’clock in the morning they reached Jacobsdaal; they bore him into the
+hospital, and the doctor said he would come and take the bullet out
+after breakfast.
+
+All night he had tasted only a little water; now they brought him some
+coffee. He told his father that he must help him to take it; his father
+raised him up in bed and he saw that he was near death. He asked him if
+he did not want to say anything. His answer was, “Nay, father, only lay
+me down.” With these words he drew his last breath. All was over with
+our son. This I heard from my brother.
+
+Then my husband returned, and I heard for the first time how he too had
+been wounded in the arm, and how very ill he also had been before I
+arrived.
+
+From there we went to Maggersfontein and then to the village of
+Jacobsdaal. I had so longed to see my son’s grave, but when I came
+there I found only a mound of earth. Yet, knowing that his dust was
+resting there, it did me good to see it.
+
+Then I went to the hospital. I thought, “If only I could find the
+clothes which he was wearing the last day!” They brought me to the
+room where the clothes of the dead were lying. His father found the
+trousers. We could tell them by the hole that the bullet had made.
+I saw the nurse who had looked after him; she said how patient and
+contented he had been.
+
+There were many of our wounded lying there.
+
+I went back to Maggersfontein. A little way from it was an empty house;
+I went into it as I did not wish to live in the laager. Every morning
+we could hear the firing at Maggersfontein.
+
+Christmas was drawing near. From all sides people sent us dainties and
+anything that they thought would give us pleasure. I used often to go
+to General Cronje’s laager.
+
+In the beginning of the new year 1900 General De la Rey had to retire
+to Colesberg. I went with him to Bloemfontein, and the evening we
+arrived there he had to go on to Colesberg. I went back home, where I
+found our children safe and well.
+
+Every day we kept hearing of battles. I went on with my work on the
+farm, and that made the time pass less slowly. Two months later I went
+to Kroonstad and found my husband there. All the week he had not been
+well, but he got better quickly and started anew on commando.
+
+I went home again, and had not been there long when General De la Rey
+was sent to Mafeking; but while on his way the siege of Mafeking was
+raised.
+
+Then all the commandoes were ordered to Pretoria. My husband came home
+on the 23rd of May, and on the 25th of May the march to Pretoria began.
+That was a hurried trek, for the enemy were in great force.
+
+We did not know now what their next movements would be, so the best
+thing for me to do was to wait for the coming of the enemy.
+
+Five days after the Boers had left the district the Kaffirs came in
+such numbers that they stripped the whole border of cattle, and acted
+abominably towards the women and children.
+
+A week after the Boers left Lichtenburg the troops[2] entered the
+village. I was then on my farm, which lies a quarter-of-an-hour’s
+distance outside.
+
+[2] _Troops._--When an Afrikander speaks of “troops” he always means
+those of the English, probably from having heard so much about
+“troopers.”
+
+Seven horsemen came to my house. I was then in the garden, but on
+seeing them I hastened to the house. Four armed men stood outside; the
+other three had come in and were turning everything upside down.
+
+When I was at the door one of them came towards me with the question,
+“Whose place is this?”
+
+I answered, “De la Rey’s.”
+
+“The General’s?” he asked.
+
+I said, “Yes.”
+
+Then he told me that I must bring my husband out of the house.
+
+I answered, “You have been inside, why don’t you bring him out
+yourself? I cannot do so, because he is on commando.”
+
+“When did he go from here?” he asked me.
+
+“A week since,” I answered.
+
+After asking a few more questions and taking whatever he wanted he went
+away.
+
+I went to the village; I could not remain on the farm alone with the
+children.
+
+From that moment the troops did whatever they liked. I had two horses;
+the Kaffirs had taken all the cattle. I saw now that they were taking
+the horses out of the stable and were going to ride away on them. The
+hardest thing was that one of the horses had belonged to my dead son,
+and I could not bear to part with it. I asked to see General Hunter,
+and I told him about the farm and about my horses. He said he knew
+nothing about the horses, but would make inquiries. The next day my two
+horses were brought back, and I was told that no damage would be done
+to the farm; but all the same they did whatever they liked there, and I
+had to put a good face upon everything.
+
+Every day more troops came past, and the only news I could get from
+them about my people was that they had driven General De la Rey into
+such a tight corner that he would never be able to escape.
+
+I used to say to them then, “Very well. I hope that when you have got
+hold of him you will treat him kindly. Remember, he is only fighting
+for his lawful rights and property.”
+
+[Illustration: General De la Rey and his staff.]
+
+Then again I heard that no, he had not been taken prisoner. (This was
+in June 1902.)
+
+When General De la Rey and his staff were in the east, after they had
+been driven out of Pretoria by the superior numbers of the enemy, the
+people in the west country had a terrible time. The women were for the
+greater part alone on their farms, and their cattle were at the mercy
+of the cruel Kaffirs, who used to come and steal them away, generally
+at night. They would burst into the houses and make their way to the
+women, and tell them that they must have their money, using such
+threats and such violence that many a one fled in the night with her
+children, and often wandered for hours before she could find shelter.
+It was bitter enough for them then; but little could they think that
+all this was but a drop in the cup of their suffering. Many of the
+burghers returned home on this account to see what they could do to
+save their families. Three burghers from this neighbourhood were killed
+during the war--Adriaan Mussman, Adrian De la Rey and Petrus Biel. All
+three were still young, but they fought like the bravest for freedom
+and the right.
+
+Adriaan Mussman was only twenty-two; he did not know the name of fear.
+In the thick of a fierce fight he saw that our guns were in danger. He
+rushed forward with the others who tried to save them. Bullets were
+raining all round him, but nothing could keep him back but death. He
+drew his last breath like a brave hero.
+
+   “_Rude storms may wage round me
+     And darkness prevail,
+   God’s grace shall surround me,
+     His help shall not fail.
+   How long I may suffer
+     His love still shines bright,
+   And leads me through darkness
+     To live in His light._”
+
+   “_The darker the night may be, the more do we pant for the sunshine;
+   The denser the mist may close, the more do we yearn for brightness;
+   The deeper the chasm before me, the more do I sigh for the plains;
+   The darker the future may seem, the greater shall be my redemption._”
+
+As each day drew to a close I was dreading what should happen on the
+next.
+
+One day one of my friends came to tell me that the commandant wanted
+to have my daughter and myself out of the place, but that he could not
+find any pretext for sending us away. I used sometimes to go to my
+farm to see how things were getting on there, but so many “khakis” were
+about that I never knew how to come away quickly enough.
+
+The village had been occupied for about two months when one day I saw
+to my dismay that the enemy were burning things wholesale. That same
+evening they withdrew from the village.
+
+A few days after they had left, our people came back with big
+commandoes.
+
+A week after the “khakis” had gone out of Lichtenburg General De la Rey
+came back to the village, but after spending only a day or two with us,
+he started again for the Rustenburg district.
+
+Then General Douglas returned and occupied the village once more. He
+came to our farm and took away all our sheep. When the English had got
+all our cattle, they went off, and we could again breathe freely.
+
+I went to the place where the cattle used to be kept, and there I found
+the shepherd waiting for me.[3] He had been able to recover one or two
+hundred of our sheep, so that I and my children still had something
+left to us to live upon.
+
+[3] The shepherds are generally Kaffirs who live on the place. The
+following statement shows strikingly in its simplicity how their own
+Kaffirs remained attached to the Boers in spite of all the so-called
+“barbarous treatment.”
+
+Shortly afterwards General De la Rey returned to Lichtenburg.
+
+But General Douglas had not moved very far off, and as soon as he
+heard that General De la Rey was in the place he came back with his
+troops at full speed. But General De la Rey was already far away in the
+distance. Just to show the “khakis” that we were not as starving as
+they thought, I made some bread out of the flour that my husband had
+brought us and sent two fresh loaves to Douglas. The English soon left
+to take up the pursuit again; and now the talk was that they were in
+their 20,000 after De la Rey, and that this time he would never manage
+to escape.
+
+I said again, “Very well, you catch him if you can, but be good to
+him.” A few days later he was still free; the 20,000 had not been able
+to get hold of him.
+
+Shortly afterwards Lord Methuen entered the village and took up his
+quarters. He sent to fetch my two horses, but I would not let them go.
+I said, “No, I will not give them up to you; I shall go and see the
+General himself about it.” “Very well,” was the answer, “you can see
+him to-morrow morning at nine o’clock; that will be the best time.” The
+next morning I started off, but when I got there Lord Methuen could
+not see me; he was too busy, they said. I felt very angry. I turned to
+go back, when just as I had got to my carriage, one of his orderlies
+brought me the message that Lord Methuen was ready to receive me, and
+they took me to him. He asked what he could do for me.
+
+I answered, “For me you cannot do much, for as far as my cattle are
+concerned I have lost nearly everything. But I have still two horses
+left, and one of these belonged to my son, who is dead, and I hope that
+you will not take it away from me.” He gave me his hand and he said,
+“It shall not be taken away from you.” I thanked him and went home
+again. Lord Methuen remained in Lichtenburg for a week. When the place
+was once more empty General De la Rey came back to the village. He
+remained with us for four days. The day he left Lord Methuen returned.
+
+There was a big fight that day not very far from the village. Towards
+nightfall the burghers beat a retreat under General Lemmer, and next
+morning the troops came back to Lichtenburg.
+
+The following day the English commandant came to see me. He had a hard
+task before him, he told me; he had been ordered to burn my house down.
+I asked him where I was to go to with my children if my house were
+burned down.
+
+“I shall leave one of the buildings standing for you.”
+
+I thanked him, and I said to him, “Burn them down, burn the others down
+if you think it fit to do so. Even if you leave one for me, there will
+still be four to burn. However cruel you may seem to be, yet God is
+always gracious.”
+
+He answered that it was very hard indeed for him; but that he had his
+orders and he must obey.
+
+All the same, he went away without burning any of the buildings.
+
+Then came another trial. One afternoon, at about three o’clock, they
+suddenly came to tell me that I must start for Mafeking with my
+daughter in half-an-hour.
+
+“And what about my other children then?” I asked.
+
+“Have you got more children still?” asked the man.
+
+I called all my children together.
+
+“Very well,” he went on then, “you can take all your children with you.”
+
+“And for what reasons am I being sent away in this fashion?”
+
+“When General De la Rey was here you took him in and sheltered him.”
+
+“Yes,” I answered, “I did take him in and shelter him; and I shall do
+it five hundred times more if it please the Lord to spare him. I am
+prepared to go away as a prisoner of war, but I will not do it of my
+own free will. And you say to Lord Methuen that he knows very well
+that my husband is only fighting for his rights and doing his best for
+his country. I will tell you a parable for him. Instead of doing harm
+to our cause, every step you take against us makes it one hundredfold
+stronger. Where only one now calls for vengeance, hundreds shall come
+to be avenged. He can send me wherever he likes, but it will not do you
+any good. I never thought to be so badly treated in the Queen’s name. I
+could not have believed that because you cannot get the better of our
+men you would set to work against their women.”
+
+“Well,” he said, “I must not talk too much, for we have very little
+time.” With that he left me and went to Lord Methuen; but he soon came
+back again, and then said that I had not been _ordered_ to leave the
+place, but that it would be _better_ for me if I were to do so.
+
+“No, I do not think that it would be better for me to go away from my
+own land. I would choose far rather to stay and suffer with my own
+people than go away.”
+
+“Very well, ask General De la Rey, then, what you had better do.”
+
+“No, I shall ask him nothing of the kind. He has his own work, and I
+shall decide and make shift for myself.”
+
+“Very good; then I shall send and ask Commandant Vermaas to take you
+away from here.”
+
+“I can send one of my boys if you will only give him a pass through
+your troops. Then he can go to Commandant Vermaas and ask him to send
+me a span of oxen so that I can get away from here.” This was agreed
+to. Later on it was said that the officers had decided to let me stay
+on in the village, but that I had refused to do so, and had declared
+that I was going away as soon as my oxen arrived.
+
+They kept coming to see me the whole time, and were always talking
+about the war, saying that the Boers had far better give it up.
+
+I used to reply, Yes, it would be a good thing to see an end to the
+war; but it is no small matter for a people to give up their country,
+and that it would cost them a very great deal before they could put an
+end to it.
+
+I asked them, “How strong are the forces that the English have sent to
+South Africa to fight us?”
+
+“Nearly 300,000 strong,” was the officer’s answer.
+
+“We have about 60,000 Transvaalers and Free Staters,” I said, “and we
+have been fighting with you now for over fourteen months; how can you
+possibly expect that we are going to give up our arms of our own free
+will? No! You will have a great deal of trouble before you bring that
+about.”
+
+I was waiting meanwhile in great anxiety for the coming of my oxen, so
+that I should be able to make a start. It was five days more before
+they arrived, for the oxen were kept far away from the village. I got
+everything ready in the meantime to be able to go off as soon as they
+came, for I dreaded every moment that a fresh order would come and that
+I should not be able to go. At last the oxen arrived. When our friends
+saw that they were there, they came hastening from every side to wish
+us God-speed. It was a hard thing for our friends to see us sent
+away in this manner to wander without a home. I said that no, I was
+beginning my travels willingly, but all unknowing where they were going
+to end or what the future had in store for me. One thing I knew, and
+that was, if all my friends were left behind, my Heavenly Father would
+yet be with me.
+
+I hastened to pack everything into the waggon, and prepared to start on
+my pilgrimage.
+
+On Friday, December 1, 1900, I drove out of Lichtenburg after taking
+leave of my friends. The oxen were put to the waggon; the children got
+into it. I had still a couple of milch cows that I could take with me.
+I and my daughter followed behind in my carriage. It was raining hard
+as I left my village behind, not knowing whether ever I should step
+foot in it again. Lord Methuen’s order had been that I was to go ten
+miles away from the village and not to come nearer. Next day I came
+to the place where Commandant Vermaas and his commando were staying.
+He told me that I could go to his farm and remain there as long as
+I liked; but as my husband’s work then lay for the most part in the
+Rustenburg district, I preferred to go on, instead of staying at the
+commandant’s farm. So I went from there to Kafferspan, a place about
+eighteen miles from the village of Lichtenburg. When General De la Rey
+heard that I had been sent out of the village he sent my son Coos to
+come to fetch me. Then I heard that on the 3rd of December 1900 they
+had captured a convoy near Magaliesberg and had struck a good blow at
+the English. I said, “That is right! It is not only I who have been in
+adversity; they too” (the English) “have had their reverses.”
+
+I went from there to Zuurfontein, a place belonging to Mr Kritzinger,
+not far from Rustenburg; he gave me a house to live in. The people
+there were all kind and friendly. After I had been staying with Mr
+Kritzinger about a week, General De la Rey arrived with his staff; it
+was a great delight to see them all again. It was a good thing for
+them, also, that I was out of the village. But after having remained
+a few days they had to go off again to join the commando. Where I was
+living was not very far from the English camp; it was a mountainous
+district, and we could hear the cannon shots distinctly every day. On
+the 13th of December General De la Rey took General Clement’s laager,
+at a place called Nooitgedacht, behind the hills, and for a short time
+after that there was no more fighting. As Christmas was coming nearer
+and nearer, I had been wondering what sort of a Christmastide it would
+be for me; but as the English still kept quiet, General De la Rey
+and his staff came back to us again. They arrived just the day before
+Christmas, and once more I had the great joy of having my own dear ones
+round me. There were a great many people on the farm where I was then
+staying, and on Christmas Day many friends came together there. As soon
+as Christmas was over they all went away again to the commando; but,
+as there was nothing to be done that week, our people all returned for
+the New Year, and, owing to this, we were also able to spend a happy,
+though quiet, New Year’s Day together. A little while later they heard
+that many English laagers were trekking up, and that the place where I
+was staying lay right in their way, so that I had to pack up everything
+in the greatest haste ready for flight. The day was just over when I
+got this news, and we had to pack the waggon in the dark. Very early
+the next morning we left the farm behind us.
+
+As I had some cattle and sheep this time to take with me, and as we did
+not exactly know which way the English were coming, we could not think
+where to move to for safety. After going some distance, we waited to
+hear from which side the laagers were coming. In a day or two we heard
+that the English troops had gone back again, and so I went back also to
+the farm belonging to Mr Kritzinger, whose family had accompanied me in
+my flight. I stayed with them there for two months, and often heard the
+booming of the cannon among the mountains.
+
+[Illustration: Mrs De la Rey beside her waggon.]
+
+For nineteen months after that I wandered round in my waggon, and,
+just as one gets attached to the room in which one sleeps, so did I
+grow to love my waggon. Many a stormy night, when it was blowing and
+raining, have my Kaffirs had a hard job to get the sailcloth covering
+firmly fixed, so that the wind should not blow it right away. Over
+many a hill and across many a river this waggon has taken me safely.
+For in my darkest and most anxious nights never did I fail to put my
+trust in the Lord, and never did His guidance forsake me. Sometimes in
+my journeyings I would come to houses which had not been completely
+destroyed, and where, perhaps, one room would still be under shelter;
+then I would have it cleaned quickly; we would stay there during the
+heat of the day. Sometimes I would come to a place where I had
+meant to spend a few days, and then at once would have to leave in all
+haste and continue my flight. One day we came to Mr Basson’s place
+(in the Lichtenburg district), and, almost the same moment, General
+De la Rey and his staff arrived from the Zwartruggen (in the district
+of Rustenburg). When he came up with my waggon he was tired out, and,
+after having some dinner, he got into the waggon to lie down a little
+and rest. But he had hardly been there half-an-hour when a man came
+hurrying up, crying, “Why are you all so quiet here? The “khakis” are
+upon us!” And there were the “khakis,” just half-an-hour’s distance on
+horseback from my waggon. There was no commando that could have turned
+them; General De la Rey and his staff flew to saddle their horses, and
+jumped up and rode out to see what the “khakis” were doing. When they
+(General De la Rey and his staff) had ridden up the rise they saw that
+the English troops were drawing back. Then I had to fly still farther.
+A bare country lay before me to be crossed, and I thought that this
+time I should never be able to get away safely, but we found afterwards
+that though the “khakis” had been so near us they had had no idea of
+it, and we managed to come away safe and sound. The same thing often
+happened, and it seemed wonderful that I was not taken prisoner. As
+they had blocked up all the roads with their blockhouses, it became so
+difficult to get through that I had to go in the direction of Harts
+River, a bare and unpleasant tract of country. As we went on we found
+thousands of dead sheep lying about, killed by the English. They had
+not been able to keep up with the march, and had been driven together
+and slaughtered, and there they were scattered, some shot, others cut
+down, and others with their heads taken off by a sabre cut. Many a time
+did I repeat, “Ah, this is indeed a cruel war! What bitter suffering
+has it not caused both to man and beast!” Often I have thought, “What
+is going to come out of all these trials and troubles!” Even when I
+looked at the comet I wondered what it could portend that it should
+appear three mornings running in the east, and then again every evening
+in the west, during a whole month--this was in the months of June and
+July 1901. As I was journeying on the open veldt I could see this star
+plainly every evening; and when this sign was no longer to be seen,
+then another made its appearance. Every evening after sunset this other
+token appeared in the sky; a bright red radiance filled the air, and
+would remain visible for about three-quarters of an hour.
+
+    “_Whither, pilgrim--whither art thou flying?
+    We are driven onward by the enemy’s sword.
+    A terrible sword are the guns and the cannon,
+    When man is standing on his defence;
+    But the cruel sword of fire and of hunger,
+    Cutting its way through the heart of a mother,
+    Is more terrible still than the booming of cannon.
+    The keen-edged sword of destruction and terror,
+    Piercing the hearts of Africa’s children,
+    Has taught them a lesson they shall not forget._”
+
+I thought that the enemy were now so far away that we should be able to
+spend some time where we now found ourselves.
+
+General De la Rey fell ill once more and had to join me and take to
+his bed. Early one morning I had just got up when suddenly we heard
+the sound of firing. The English were then only one hour’s distance
+from us; they had covered a great deal of ground in the night, and had
+been for five or six hours in the saddle, hoping to catch the burghers
+at Tafelkop. General De la Rey sprung out of bed. The horses were
+saddled in a moment, and off they rode. The firing was coming nearer
+and nearer. I thought to myself, “I am in for the fighting to-day,”
+but all the same I began packing everything into the cart as quickly
+as possible. Very soon I was in flight once more. It looked as if
+things were going very badly, for all round me people were hurrying
+as hard as they could. It began to rain. The waggons and the mule
+carts came tearing past, and it began to look as if I were going to
+be left behind. It was raining heavily. The booming of the cannon
+sounded closer and closer, and the danger became greater every moment.
+Then suddenly my waggon stuck fast in the mud, and I could not go on
+any farther. It kept on raining, and the burghers kept coming on in
+greater numbers. They stopped by my waggon and tried to drag it out of
+the mud. The fighting kept on, and I told them to go away and leave me
+before they too were forced to share my fate. “No,” they said; “that
+we will never do. What would the General say if we were to leave you
+here and the ‘khakis’ were to take you?” The oxen would not pull any
+more because they stood in so much water. Then the people took hold
+of the wheels and they managed to drag it out. After the waggon had
+stuck fast I went on farther in the spider. There were now so many
+waggons and carriages all close together that it looked like a big
+commando. In the afternoon we stopped to rest; the rain cleared up
+for a little and we had something to eat. Very soon came the order to
+get ready to start again. We had not gone very far when the waggon
+in front remained leaning against a steep bank, over which it had to
+climb. It was raining heavily again. I thought, “How will things go
+with us to-day, we have so many hindrances, and the ‘khakis’ keep on
+advancing?” However, there were a good many burghers, and they helped
+to get the waggons across. My spider also came to a standstill against
+the rocks, so that they (the burghers) had to drag it out. We were in
+danger, and yet we really enjoyed ourselves so much that time went
+quickly. It took several hours before all the waggons had got through.
+Then we drove on more quickly, and by sunset we came to where we meant
+to spend the night. I drove to a house to wait till all the waggons had
+arrived. There was so much water round the house that it was impossible
+to tell where there were ditches or hollows. When driving towards the
+waggons I went into a deep ditch and my driver was thrown off. I and my
+little son remained sitting in the carriage; the horses started off.
+They swerved towards the side of the house; fortunately there were some
+burghers there who ran in front and stopped them. It was already dark.
+I suggested that they had better be unharnessed; I would walk to the
+waggon. Just then my husband came up with his riding horse Bokkie for
+me to ride to the waggon. However, Bokkie’s back was too narrow; as
+sure as I climbed up, off I would slip. Then his other saddle-horse
+came up, and off we rode to the waggons. All were there now, and very
+hungry; it was dark and damp, but luckily, with some dry wood, we
+soon had big fires going to prepare food. The enemy had not come much
+nearer. After a good meal we went to sleep, and early next morning
+I went on again with the waggons. The men folk joined the commando,
+and at Rietfontein, where I had made up my mind to spend some time, I
+went into the school, then empty. There were a good many people in the
+place, and one could get vegetables and fruit. But I had been there
+for only about a week when suddenly a large number of English troops
+entered the Rustenburg district where we were. Off I went again in
+great haste, this time to the Lichtenburg district. I had to drive hard
+to get past. I was lucky, and came safely through. Passing Lichtenburg,
+I came to Badenhorst, and found a deserted shop in which I could take
+up my abode. Here also we had kind friends, who took care to keep us
+supplied with vegetables. One evening, a fortnight later, just as I
+had gone to bed, the report was spread that the “khakis” were coming.
+It was very dark and cold, but I was soon up and dressed and had the
+waggons packed, and off we went again on the road. Next morning it
+seemed true that the “khakis” were behind us; once again we drove past
+Lichtenburg. Now there seemed nothing left for me but to fly with all
+possible speed to the Zwartruggens. When I got there Mr Joubert came
+on with me and brought me far into the mountains. “Here,” he said,
+“no ‘khakis’ had found their way yet.” And there I had to stay. There
+were many big trees growing, and the Marico River looked lovely as it
+flowed along; it was a pleasant spot to stay in. I made an oven so as
+to be able to bake my bread. I set up my hut in the cool shade of the
+trees, where all looked so beautiful and green, and made a stable for
+my horses with some trees and a kraal for the sheep, just as if I were
+destined to live here a long time.
+
+My soap was all finished and I began much to feel the need of it to
+keep my children clean.
+
+I was advised to burn some vogelsent[4] to make soap out of the ashes.
+I gathered some “vogels,” had them burned, and succeeded in making
+some good soap. The children wandered on the mountain side searching
+for wild honey. I thought that if the “khakis” did not worry me, I
+should remain here for a long time. But after a fortnight my husband
+turned up, and said that it was too cold to live out on the veldt,
+and we went back to the farm belonging to Mrs Lombard. From there
+General De la Rey and his staff went on to the Free State, where they
+were to meet President Steyn and General De Wet. I had been here only
+twelve days when early one morning the cannon suddenly began to make
+such a threatening noise that I hastened to pack up my belongings and
+fled away once more. At Drinkfontein I thought that I would wait and
+find out where the “khakis” were moving to. But soon I heard again
+the roaring of the cannon. At that moment I was making some candles;
+water and fat were both hot. It was high time to be on our way, and I
+said, “Get ready and make a start; but I must somehow or other finish
+my work.” The oxen were not by the waggon, so that it was some little
+time before everything was ready; and I had finished my candles when
+the waggon was prepared to start. Then we were again flying as hard as
+we could through the Lichtenburg district across the Harts River. It
+is not a pleasant country to wander in; there are no woods or shady
+trees; and as soon as the “khakis” had gone back, back I returned
+also, to try to find better headquarters. And so the time passed till
+General De la Rey returned. Then he went away again, back to the
+Wolmaransstad district. Meanwhile I kept wandering around. Suddenly we
+heard that many of the enemy’s laagers were advancing together towards
+Klerksdorp. I went on some distance farther, and then from all sides
+the people began to hurry onwards, so that the flight was now beginning
+in earnest. The troops were advancing in great force. We fled in the
+direction of Makouwenkop and then were joined again by General De la
+Rey. At last the Boer commandoes managed to get through, so that they
+got behind the English. Then we had to fly as hard as we could so as
+to keep in front. Some people went back that night, hoping to break
+through the English troops. They said that I ought to go with them; but
+I said, “No, I shall go forward, and I shall see if I cannot escape
+that way.”
+
+[4] _Vogelsent._--Lumps of resin that exude from certain trees.
+
+When we came to the Vaal River we were forced to turn about. We took
+another way back. After driving all day, we stopped for a little. We
+had to get food ready as quickly as possible. It was very dark; but
+later the moon began to shine. We fled on in great anxiety, knowing
+that at any moment the “khakis” might be upon us. My husband said that
+it would be too bad if they were to take me prisoner when he was near
+the waggon, for he would have to fight then, and to leave me to myself.
+I said, “Nay, do not let that disturb you; do what you can to escape
+when they come; the Lord has always preserved me until now, and He will
+continue to do so.” At midnight we stopped for a little to let the oxen
+take a rest; but after an hour or two we pressed forward again in good
+earnest. Bokkie was saddled and marched behind the waggon, and all
+were ready to meet the “khakis.” We hurried on; it was near the break
+of day, and I thought to myself how grateful I should be to the Lord if
+it pleased Him to guide the course of the night so that I might not be
+taken. It grew light and the sun began to shine. All was quiet and we
+stopped to rest. Then it was reported that the “khakis” had gone past
+us.
+
+We were all very happy, and after we had had something to eat, and had
+taken a little rest, we went once more on our way. It was Saturday,
+and we hoped to be able to spend Sunday in peace. When we had gone
+on again, I sat in my waggon and felt very thankful that this time I
+had again escaped with my freedom. And then the words came into my
+head, “Offer your thanks unto the Lord, and call upon the name of the
+Almighty.” “Yes,” I thought, “that is what I have done in my need;
+praise be unto the Lord that He has preserved me from falling into the
+hands of mine enemy. The good God has saved me now and many a time
+before.”
+
+On Sunday we found ourselves in Brakspruit, and there we spent a
+peaceful Sabbath day: on Monday we set out for Wolmaransstad, there we
+found our houses in ruins. It was dreary to return and find the place
+in such a plight.
+
+A little way from Wolmaransstad we went to Mr Bezuidenhout’s farm and
+found that his house was fortunately still intact. We were able to bake
+bread there and make preparations for our next flight. After remaining
+there a week we went back to the Lichtenburg district. At Malgasfontein
+I found refuge in a house whose owners had been taken by the “khakis.”
+As I had a good number of oxen with me, and it was raining just enough,
+I had a lot of mealies sown there, for we were constantly doing
+whatever we could to keep things going. Everybody sowed and planted
+wherever possible. The “khakis” might destroy as much as they liked,
+the Boers were still full of courage.
+
+I had great difficulty at that time to keep things straight; as I have
+many children it grew extremely difficult to keep them all clean.
+Soap was still very scarce; I could not get more anywhere. As far as
+clothes were concerned I was happy as long as they were only clean. A
+man told me he had scraped off some deposit of saltpetre from a wall at
+Schoonspruit and had made good soap. As soon as possible I got a bag of
+it and also made some very good soap, so that I had not to worry about
+that any longer.
+
+After we had been here about three weeks General De la Rey came back
+from the Zwartruggens after the defeat of Colonel Van Donop, which
+took place at Kleinfontein on the 24th of October 1901. It was on
+the 24th of October 1901, the very day that we had been married for
+twenty-five years, that a terrible battle was fought, in which many
+people were killed or wounded, and among them one more good friend of
+ours, Commandant Kritzinger, and his son, both of whom were killed.
+So that we had on this day, instead of a silver wedding feast, a
+terrible shedding of blood. There were great losses on both sides. But
+the burghers were now, however, well supplied again with clothes and
+other things which they had been needing badly. We had made up our
+minds to stay here, when suddenly came the report that the troops were
+advancing. We made a hurried start in the direction of Harts River,
+and went on from there till past the Zoutspannen. When the enemy had
+gone off in another direction back we went again slowly all along the
+Harts River. Whenever we thought that we were going to be left in peace
+for a little while, we would find that the English troops were coming
+in such numbers that we would have to go on trekking backwards and
+forwards without any respite. With the approach of Christmas things
+grew quieter. I went to Doornfontein, Badenhorst’s place. The houses
+had been injured but not quite destroyed, so that I was able to make
+use of one during the time that I remained.
+
+My people were all with me; we spent a pleasant Christmas. Still, we
+were not very far from Klerksdorp, where there were so many “khakis”
+that the day after Christmas we had to begin our march again. A few
+days later I got a message telling me to turn back to Doornfontein;
+and there we all met again and spent the New Year. That was in 1901.
+The day after New Year’s Day there were so many “khakis” about that
+I had to fly past Lichtenburg and take refuge in the Zwartruggens.
+Putfontein, where I next found myself, was utterly destroyed and burnt
+down. As I was greatly concerned because my people had no bread with
+them, I wandered round the desolate place hoping to find an oven which
+had not been destroyed. All the ovens had been broken down, but at last
+I found an attempt at one that the poor women had set up and used for
+preparing bread. I said, “It does not look of much use, still I shall
+try what I can do.” It was late in the evening and rain was falling.
+There was no wood to be got, but I went on with my breadmaking, and the
+boy (a Kaffir) had to try and make a fire somehow or other. He was a
+very sharp boy, and he succeeded in heating the oven.
+
+General Kemps had his laager in the same place. In the evening all the
+burghers came together, and they asked me if I would join in their
+worship. “With pleasure,” I said. It was then quite dark. I went to
+the laager and we had a short service, and after that sang songs out
+of the “Kinderharp.” It was so pleasant that I quite forgot to bake my
+bread. We also sang beautiful hymns that they themselves had composed,
+so that I had a very pleasant evening. I hurried to the oven, where
+I found that the biscuit had risen. It seemed as if the oven were not
+hot enough, and yet I could not get any more fuel for it. I put all the
+bread in and thought “let it bake itself as best it can.” I waited till
+I thought that it was ready and then I sent Sampson, the boy, to bring
+it out of the oven. He came back with it and it looked still as if it
+were quite raw. However, it was always something to eat. I went to
+sleep. Next morning I had hoped to be able to spend a peaceful Sunday.
+A little way from my waggon were some big trees, and as many burghers
+were there, we all agreed to meet under the trees to hold our service.
+I and my children were there and many burghers; but as all had not
+arrived we waited a while until the leader said he would go on with the
+service, and then the people would come fast enough. After we had sung
+he began to speak to us, but it did not look as if any more people were
+coming. We were some distance from the waggons and could see that there
+everyone was hurrying backwards and forwards. I thought that the old
+man did not seem very much inclined to put a stop to his service, but
+things looked to me so grave that I said that we must really go to see
+what was happening. We hurried back to the waggons, and very soon we
+could hear the firing. I started off as quickly as possible. Very soon
+many people in their waggons were keeping up with mine. We fled for
+some distance and then sent out scouts a little way back. General De
+la Rey with his staff came up. It was he who had been under that heavy
+firing; a mark was on his back where a bullet had whizzed past. They
+had all escaped unhurt and were very hungry and tired. It was then that
+the bread I had baked the night before served in good stead. They ate
+some, and that same evening they had to go back. I was thus able still
+to supply them with bread. I went on to the Zwartruggens this time; I
+did not want to go so far into the mountains as it was beginning to
+be very warm there. On the slopes of the mountains large trees were
+growing. I set up my tent in the shade. There was fruit to be had: my
+children were happy.
+
+Then I heard that the enemy were coming with their blockhouses towards
+Lichtenburg. Then I knew I must go out of the mountains; I did not want
+to get blocked up. And we went away again, after having been a week
+there.
+
+At Duikfontein I found large numbers of cattle and sheep that our
+people had brought through the lines. General Kemp’s commando had
+succeeded in doing this and in bringing cattle to other districts
+also. I was still waiting there when General De la Rey arrived with
+his staff. By that time I felt quite rested. He said that it was not
+necessary for me to go at once to Rustenburg. So we merely went to a
+place not very distant. A day or two later there were again so many
+“khakis” gathered in Lichtenburg that we did not dare stay longer, as
+it was only three hours’ distance from the village. We went from there
+to some untilled ground belonging to us, which we kept for the cattle,
+two and a half hours away from Lichtenburg. It was a good neighbourhood
+for fruit; there was plenty of water, and not very distant was a
+large fruit farm. We hoped thus to be able to stay for a while. We sent
+the waggon to get fruit, and we set up our tent under the cool trees.
+
+[Illustration: “The picture of my wandering life”.]
+
+And here you have the picture of my wandering life. When I could set up
+the tent under shady trees and cover the floor with green grass, then
+I felt thoroughly happy and content. Often when in such a good place I
+thought to myself, “If only I could stay here quietly for some time how
+happy and pleasant it would be!” And sometimes I had the good fortune
+to be able to stay for two days or a week in such a spot. But at other
+times it would happen that just as I had got everything in good order,
+then the “khakis” would be upon us and everything would have to be
+taken down quickly to make a fresh start. Often we fled until the
+middle of the night, and when we could stop to rest it would be so dark
+that it was impossible to see one’s hands before one’s eyes. Yet the
+tent would have to be put up before we could get to sleep.
+
+When I saw the bright sun shining in the morning, often I thought, “How
+much pleasanter the sunlight is than the darkness; what joy will it
+be for me when the sun of peace is shining for me again!” Then again
+I would come to a whole district where not a tree or cool spot was to
+be found. The only cool place would be just under the waggon, on the
+ground, and that was so uncomfortable that I could not help sometimes
+crying out, “Why should I have to suffer so grievously?” but the next
+moment I would think, “After the bitter comes the sweet.” When I left
+my house and went into Lichtenburg to live in the village, because I
+felt so lonely on my farm, I thought I was going to stay there until
+the war should come to an end. I never imagined that I should never
+set foot in my house again. I was always particular to keep my house
+neat and clean; it was the greatest pleasure I had to keep my home
+in good order. I used to think sometimes, “Perhaps it is not right
+that I should think so much of my house,” and yet I could not help
+it. A pretty home on a farm, with abundance of cattle and all that is
+needful, always seemed to me the happiest life. When I was wandering
+over the veldt with a tent, and especially when I came to dusty and
+sandy places, I kept thinking all the time of my house, so clean and
+so cool. The day they told me that it had been destroyed I could not
+keep my tears back. It was so hard out on the veldt and I had longed so
+often for my house; now I had to hear that it had been broken up and
+razed to the ground.
+
+But I told myself quickly that I must not weep. “Why should I be better
+off than all my fellow-sufferers whose houses had also been broken up
+or burned down?”
+
+I went back again, this time to Gestoptefontein. That evening General
+De la Rey was in the neighbourhood, but I knew nothing of his movements
+nor he of mine. But he arrived the next morning, for the English were
+now closing up on every side. I got breakfast ready, and after the men
+had had something to eat, off they had to go again, this time to trek
+up against Methuen. I remained in Gestoptefontein so as to be able
+to find out where the troops were moving; and it was soon reported to
+me that they were coming in my direction. These were the troops from
+Klerksdorp, so there we were again, exposed to the danger of being
+surrounded. So many of us came trekking on that we kept getting into
+one another’s path; but we could only say, “The more the merrier,” and
+go on without losing courage. “Now we should have to go to Waagkraal,”
+said everybody. I said, “Very well, the place has a good name, and so
+we can venture it.” It was a very dark night when we reached there. We
+were all hungry, and had first of all to get our food ready. After that
+we went to sleep, and early the next morning a couple of hundred of our
+burghers arrived also.
+
+They were all going nearer now to see what they could do against the
+English forces, but there were so many troops they could not tell where
+to begin.
+
+Most of them went on towards Methuen’s laager to see what they could
+find to do there. The enemy’s troops moved forward to meet them. Our
+burghers were now in Pretorius’s place, where I had been staying quite
+lately; the English army was coming up along the Harts River.
+
+I was now so far from the Boer laager that I began to fear that if the
+English drove them away I should certainly fall into the hands of the
+enemy. We waited in great anxiety to hear what would be the result of
+the battle. The country was very bare and exposed just there, and as
+the troops had many guns with them it was dreadful to think of the
+fighting. Yet on the evening of the 1st of March there came a report
+that the laager was taken and that Lord Methuen had been wounded. I
+could not believe that Lord Methuen was really wounded. The following
+morning I felt a great wish to pay a visit to the laager. I had my
+horses harnessed and started. I had to drive a good way--it seemed to
+me for nearly four hours--and although I had wanted to go back the same
+day to my waggons, I found it would be too late to do so. I arrived at
+the laager in the afternoon, and there I found an enormous crowd of
+men and animals. I asked my husband if really Lord Methuen were here.
+“Yes,” he answered, “it is the man who sent you out of Lichtenburg.”
+“Then I shall go and see him,” I said. I went with my daughter, and we
+found him, quartered with a few tents and waggons, a little distance
+from the laager. When I got there, one of our people, a man called
+Tom, said that he did not want to see any visitors. Yes, that I could
+well understand, that it was not pleasant for him to see the Boers. All
+the same, when he heard that I was there, he said that I might come
+in--that he would like to see me. I went into his tent; there lay the
+great, strong man wounded above the knee, right through the bone. When
+I had come in he begged me to forgive him for all the annoyance he had
+caused me, and he asked if I had suffered much discomfort from all
+that running away. “No,” I said, “it all went much better than I had
+expected. I did not even have to do my best to escape from falling into
+your hands.”
+
+“Oh,” said he, “I have done my best to catch you.” And so we “chaffed”
+each other. As it was a difficult position for both of us, I asked him
+if his leg were hurting him very much. He said, “No, not very much.”
+
+“Then it won’t be a good thing for us,” I said, “if your leg gets cured
+so quickly, then you will come and shoot at us again.”
+
+He laughed and said, “No, I am going away, and I will not shoot at you
+any more.”
+
+Then he told me all about Lichtenburg, and how things were going there,
+and he said that my houses were still unharmed.
+
+I said, “But my dwelling-house has been destroyed.”
+
+“Oh, yes,” he said, “that had to be broken down. General De la Rey
+might have been coming to it some fine morning and firing at me out of
+it. That was why it had to be broken down.”
+
+Then he told me how glad he was to be able to go back to Klerksdorp,
+and he asked me to let the telegram to his wife be sent off as quickly
+as possible.
+
+Then, as I also wanted to send a telegram to my children in Pretoria, I
+told him that he must take good care of it and forward it, so that they
+too should be sure to get it. Yes, he said, he would not fail to do so.
+And he was true to his word; for when I met my children later they said
+they had received it.
+
+Then it grew late and it was time to return. I wished him a speedy
+recovery. When I came to the laager they gave me one of the waggons
+which they had taken from the enemy to sleep in. It was late and I had
+to see to our dinner. But everything seemed in such a muddle among all
+these menfolk; I did not know where to lay my hand upon what I wanted.
+
+There were a few Kaffirs belonging to the English there, and these
+had to help me with my work that evening. It seemed just as if these
+English Kaffirs were thinking, “How aggravating it is to have to do
+with the Boer women;” but that did not help them a bit--they had to
+work.
+
+Fortunately, there was a water dam near the waggon, and we had an
+abundance of water. I got dinner ready, but nobody made his appearance;
+it was very late when at last the men arrived. They had been keeping
+the prayer hour. General De la Key said, and I was very glad to hear
+it; for does not everything depend on the blessing of God? After dinner
+we went to bed; and the next morning, as it was the Sabbath, we went
+to the laager where service was to be held by a missionary who still
+remained with our commandoes. We had hoped to take part in a pleasant
+service, but there was a good deal of discontent among the people
+because Lord Methuen was to be set free, and the preacher took for a
+text, “That it would be displeasing unto the Lord did we allow such a
+man, who had dealt so cruelly with our women and children, to escape
+untried.”
+
+I said, “How bitter is the lot of man! We were all going to praise
+the Lord, and now there is so much sin among us that we should rather
+weep.” But it was true; it seemed almost impossible to be charitable
+when one thought of all that had happened to so many women and children.
+
+They made Methuen come back. General De la Rey said to the burghers,
+“There he is, what do you want me to do to him?”
+
+When they had all heard what General De la Rey had to say about the
+matter, it was agreed to leave it to the officers, and these decided to
+let him go free.
+
+General De la Rey came up to my waggon, and just then Tom came straight
+from Lord Methuen and told us how he was longing to go back, and that
+he was quite ill from dread at the thought of having to go on again.
+
+I had a fat chicken killed, and I took some biscuits and sent them with
+the chicken to the wounded lord.
+
+However it may be, I could not bring myself to think it right to be so
+cruel. People kept asking me how it was possible that I could be kind
+to such a man. I said that so far I had never learned to hate anyone,
+and that therefore I could still do good to my adversary; especially
+when God gave me the grace and the strength to prove to my enemy that,
+in spite of all the desolation and destruction he had wrought, there
+still remained something over for me.
+
+We were camping here under some lovely trees. All my people had got
+here now, and many others kept coming for clothes and tarpaulins and
+all kinds of necessaries, so that fresh heart was put into them to push
+forward with their task.
+
+After a few days we heard that a large number of “khakis” were coming
+on from Klerksdorp.
+
+“Yes,” I said, “now they will be after the Boers again.” General De
+la Rey went to the commando to see that all should be ready to receive
+the “khakis” when they came. However, they kept quiet for the moment in
+Klerksdorp.
+
+I had pitched my tent in a lovely little wood. Everything was looking
+very well; the veldt was in good condition; my cattle were all doing
+very well when suddenly the pest broke out among my animals. This was
+very disappointing; however, it did not go so very badly with them.
+
+The week had come to an end, and I was just going to sleep on Saturday
+night when suddenly General De la Rey and Ferreira and young Coos came
+up to my waggon.
+
+“I was not to wait for them,” they said, “there was such a large number
+of troops in Klerksdorp, and we were not so very far from them.” After
+they had had something to eat, we went to sleep. On Sunday everything
+was quiet. President Steyn had also joined us. We all met in the
+morning at service, and I asked President Steyn to come and dine with
+us that day. We had a very pleasant time, and heard nothing more of the
+English.
+
+Early on Monday morning, just as I had got up, there came a man all
+red with blood asking, “Where is the General?” “Here he is,” I said.
+“General,” he cried, “there are the English.” The horses were quickly
+saddled. I did not know how to hurry enough, to get all my things
+packed, the “khakis” were now so near; however, we had all learned to
+get ready quickly when the enemy was coming. Very soon we had finished
+everything and off we started again, keeping a good look-out to see
+that the troops were not closing upon us.
+
+Very soon we had formed into a very large “trek.”
+
+We started off from Brakspruit. At one o’clock in the afternoon we
+stopped to rest, still not knowing what had happened in the night.
+Later came a rumour that the troops had taken a great many prisoners
+that night, and among others all the members of General De la Rey’s
+staff. “What a fortunate thing,” I said, “that he had been in the
+waggon that night; if it had not been for that he might very well have
+been taken also. It was a merciful ordinance of the Almighty that had
+so guided his steps.” We did not know at the time if all had been taken
+or killed.
+
+I went to the place of Roodewal; there we all waited, including
+President Steyn. We kept a feast day there, Dominie Kestell holding
+the service. We found a large community, with many women and children.
+I was surprised to see how well they were looking. It was now Saturday.
+On Sunday we had to fly once more, this time towards the Harts River.
+From there we went on to Coetzee’s place, where we arrived late in the
+evening. Still later, General De la Rey arrived with his men.
+
+In the morning, after we had had breakfast, the burghers all went
+back to the commando. I got everything ready for our dinner and set
+it to cook, and then went for a moment to the waggon of one of my
+friends. We were sitting there talking, when suddenly there were the
+cannon reverberating again not very far from us. Everyone tried to get
+ready before everyone else; it was not very long before we were all
+once more on the “trek.” There was now a very large number of waggons
+driving on together. Some went towards the clumps of trees, others went
+on over the veldt where there was no road. “It will go hard with us
+to-day,” I thought, “the whole country is so bare; they can see us from
+a very long way off.” Little Coos was close to my waggons. He dashed
+off alone towards the commando. I felt very nervous lest he might come
+suddenly upon the troops. The battle went on; the people in the waggons
+had to get away from it as best they could. Later it began to rain. In
+the afternoon things were quiet, so that we were able to make a halt.
+The food that I had half cooked in the morning had to go once more over
+the fire. “It will soon be ready now,” I said.
+
+In the evening we went on again. We heard that the camp of the “khakis”
+was in Brakspruit, at no great distance from us.
+
+Now we waited to hear in what direction they were moving. The following
+day it began to rain very hard. I had no wood to make a fire. We were
+standing there on a barren rise, looking out to see which way we should
+have to go, and here and there I saw an ant-heap burning. I said to the
+boy,[5] “Set one on fire for us, and put on the ‘kastrol’[6] and let us
+try to get something ready to eat.” I had a large green sailcloth, and
+out of this I made a screen, so that there was lots of room to keep dry
+in, and very soon I had plenty of company round me. That helped to make
+the time pass, but as for eating or drinking, we could do neither. It
+took a very long time before the ant-hill began to burn. I thought, “If
+only the ‘khakis’ would wait till our food could be cooked!” We got on
+so slowly with the ant-hill, the “pap” would not boil. Simson was doing
+all he could to make the fire burn up--we were all very hungry. At last
+there was some good soup ready, and we had friends with us to help us
+eat it, so that we began to enjoy ourselves. We had just finished when
+there came the order, “inspan.” Very quickly we got ready, and away we
+went once more. That evening we had to drive on till very late. It grew
+so dark that we could scarcely see anything, and yet we could not make
+a halt. My boy asked what he should do, as he could not tell whether he
+were on the right path or not. My oxen toiled on slowly, and I said
+that we had better stick to the path and go on. We could not outspan,
+as I had no idea where we were, and we did not even know now if we were
+still on the path that the people in the waggons had taken. On we went,
+and at last, late in the night, came to the waggons. All was silent;
+everyone was fast asleep. I had nothing that I could give the children
+to eat; and the first thing I wanted to do was to milk the cows. We
+waited a little, but no cows came up. We had gone one way and they the
+other; we could not get to them that night. I told the boy to take an
+ox-yoke and chop it up for firewood, so as to be able to get some water
+boiled and make tea. After we had had tea I went to sleep. The Kaffirs
+started out very early in the morning to look for the cows. The boy
+had been very good; he had looked after them the whole night, and he
+now came up to us with all the animals. The calves were close to the
+waggons, and the Kaffirs set to work at once to milk the cows. How glad
+the children were to be able to come to the pailful of milk!
+
+[5] A Kaffir, Simson.
+
+[6] _Kastrol_, from the French _casserole_ = pot or deep pan.
+
+It was a finer day; it had left off raining. We were now in the
+neighbourhood of Schweizer-Renecke.
+
+Then came General De la Rey to my waggons with the news that all the
+Generals were to go the following week to Klerksdorp. I had a great
+many people with me just then--General De Wet and many others.
+
+On Monday, after we had spent a peaceful Sunday all together, the
+Generals started for Klerksdorp. I went to a place not very far from
+Schweizer-Renecke, for the troops were stationed in great force at
+Rooiwal, and were also scattered about at many other places.
+
+Here were a great many “treks” of women and children, who were also
+very much afraid of the troops. Our commandoes were not very far away,
+so that I could easily hear if the “khakis” were coming. I thought
+that if only they would let me stay quietly till the Generals had left
+them I should be happy. But we kept on hearing of more and more troops
+advancing. I said, “How can that be? I thought that while the Generals
+were with them there would be peace for the time.” But no; it grew
+worse. I had a great many people and cattle with me, so that we kept
+ourselves well informed as to what the “khakis” were doing.
+
+We hardly knew now where next to go: the blockhouses were hemming us in
+on every side--we had to be on the watch the whole time. Suddenly we
+saw some horsemen come dashing on, and they called out to us, “Here are
+the ‘khakis.’”
+
+It was a dreadful commotion. Everyone was saddling and harnessing. My
+oxen were not there, and I had no man with me to help. There were many
+people, but they had to see to their own safety. “Ah!” I thought, “if
+only my oxen would come!”
+
+I did not want to be taken prisoner now after having escaped so many
+times, especially when we were, perhaps, nearly at the end of the
+terrible war. If only I could get off this time!
+
+As people passed me they cried out, “Take your spider, and leave your
+waggons and everything behind you.” I replied, “You go on.” And the
+children began to cry, and to say, “What is going to become of us?
+Everyone is hurrying on!”
+
+“Let them go on,” I said. “All their women and children are prisoners;
+why should they trouble about us?” The people who had waggons abandoned
+them and hastened on. As my waggon stood by the way-side they kept on
+telling me that I must come too--that the troops were close at hand. At
+last there were my oxen coming over the rise. The children helped to
+catch all the oxen that we could get inspanned.
+
+Then I saw a troop of horsemen riding up over the rise. I asked the
+people passing me who they were--if they were “khakis” or Boers?
+
+“No,” they said; “they are Boers.”
+
+“Good!” I cried, but I hurried my people all the same. As soon as we
+were ready the whips touched the oxen, and off we went at a good trot.
+
+After we had driven on some little distance the yoke broke.
+
+Then for the first time a good Samaritan passed us. Ada said to him,
+“Do help us so that we can get the ox yoked, and tell us where the
+English are.”
+
+The young man got off his horse and helped us, and he said that the
+“khakis” were not so very near. We went on quickly, then presently we
+heard that there had been a terrible fight. Many of our men had been
+killed or wounded. Oh! what dreadful news for us! I went on. Towards
+evening we halted for a while. After having eaten we started off
+again, for we thought that the troops would be able to get through to
+Schweizer-Renecke, and that we should be straight in their path. Late
+at night we stopped to rest. Early next morning we went on again; then,
+as we heard that they were not coming any nearer, we halted in a place
+not very far from Schweizer-Renecke. As it was near the end of the
+week, we wanted to stay there over Sunday, and this we did. That Sunday
+I had a great many visitors.
+
+I was astonished to see how many women and children were still out,
+and how well they looked, although they were wanderers. We talked
+about the peace that we were hoping for, though not for a peace that
+should impair our independence. It was very pleasant that evening to
+hear the sweet singing of the people as they sat near their waggons.
+The following morning we went to Piet De la Rey’s place, and as he was
+also with us we had made up our minds to stay there. But it did not
+come off, for we found we could get no water there. We went on a little
+farther, closer to Schweizer-Renecke.
+
+My tent had just been pitched when Johannes De la Rey, the son of Piet
+De la Rey, suddenly appeared. He and his brother had both been wounded
+in the last battle.
+
+I had a bed made up in the tent and put him on it, for he was very much
+fatigued from wandering about since he had been wounded.
+
+He was delighted to be able to rest. That afternoon he was taken to the
+hospital in Schweizer-Renecke, his father going with him. There were
+many more wounded. I went to visit them, and found them lying in the
+devastated houses. We thought, “We must make the best of it and take as
+good care of them as possible.”
+
+Going to the landdrost, I told him that as there were troops in
+Bloemhof I thought it would not be advisable to stay any longer in
+Schweizer-Renecke. “Oh, no,” he said; “it is quite safe here. If the
+‘khakis’ do come I shall know it in good time, and you need not be at
+all anxious.”
+
+I said, “Very well, if it is really so then I shall stay on here;” but
+I was not at all easy in my mind. I went to my waggon, which was about
+half an hour’s distance from the village, and told the man who was with
+me that if I were to follow my own instinct I should get ready at once
+and leave the place.
+
+He said that there was no need to go. I let myself be talked over, and
+remained for the night, as they all thought that things were so quiet.
+That night I slept well, and was still sleeping early in the morning
+when up came my boy with these words: “Here are the ‘khakis’!”
+
+This time they were right in the village, where all was in disorder. I
+felt all the worse because I had remained there against my own instinct.
+
+My people hastened to yoke the oxen. Everything was lying on the
+ground, but they packed it all into the waggons very quickly. We had to
+see what was to be done. I asked, “Is the hen-coop open?” There were
+still a few chickens out then. I said still, “Get the chickens into
+it;” but the fighting was coming so near that we had to hurry on.
+
+Then there was such a crowd of men and beasts that it grew very
+difficult to make one’s way through and get away. Commandant Erasmus
+came up and said, “Don’t you run away; it is only wedding-guests who
+are firing like that; those are no ‘khakis.’” I drew up and said, “Go
+and get my chickens.” The boy went back and then came the news that of
+course they were “khakis.”
+
+Then our flight was doubly hasty. The fighting now was much nearer us.
+I thought, “I shall fly to the last.” Then I had more misfortunes.
+There were the chickens out of the coop again. I said, “Let us wait for
+one moment and get the fowls in first, and let the boy come up with the
+cows; for if I can get no milk I shall be very unhappy.”
+
+The animals were all driven forward; the oxen were urged on and we got
+on at a brisk pace.
+
+The ground was vibrating from the firing of the “khakis.” The way was
+full of sand and rocks. It was very rough travelling. I kept wondering
+every moment where the boy could be with the cows; but it was now a
+time when each one had to consider his own safety, without troubling to
+look after me. I was waiting for the moment to come when I should be
+taken prisoner. Fortunately, young Jacobus De la Rey, son of Pieter,
+caught sight of my waggon and came up. He took the whip and began
+driving the oxen onwards while he rode on his horse alongside. He came
+out on the veldt with my waggon, and, as he knew the neighbourhood very
+well, he said, “Aunt, I shall do what I can to get you out safely.”
+
+“Very well,” I said, “but you must not go and get yourself taken for my
+sake. If the English come up with us, then fly away, I shall not come
+to any harm. If they must catch me--well, then, let them do so.”
+
+The mountains were echoing back the sound of their firing. I said,
+“There is one comfort, I cannot see any cannon; if they were to begin
+to fire them at me I should have to give in then.”
+
+We went on as hard as we could. Young Kobus De la Rey said, “They are
+coming over the Rand.”
+
+“Then we are in their hands,” I answered.
+
+Then my boy came up with us and told me that the “khakis” had taken my
+cows. They had so fired upon him that he had taken to his heels and
+left the cows behind. That was bad news; I did not want to listen to
+it, although we too were in great danger, and at any moment they might
+come and take me prisoner also.
+
+[Illustration: “Our people”.]
+
+I told them that they could not go on any longer driving the oxen like
+that. We should have to give in. But still the brave Jacobus kept on,
+and said, “No, aunt, your oxen are getting on very well. Don’t you
+worry about them.”
+
+I could not understand myself how it was that my waggons were not
+taken. There was not one commando there to keep the “khakis” back.
+
+I told myself that when the Lord is working His will, then the greatest
+wonders can happen.
+
+We came up to some steep ground when one of the yokes broke.
+
+“Now they will be able to see us well,” I said; for we had to stand
+still, which was very dangerous. But I kept calm and told myself, “My
+Redeemer is here, and wherever I may go with Jesus it will always be
+well.” And I clung fast to the hope that we should come away safely.
+
+When we had at last got away from these dangerous heights, it seemed at
+once as if the fighting were quieting down. However, we could not tell
+whether they might not fall upon us from in front, as in that direction
+lay a woody and uneven country.
+
+Very soon we heard that they had not come any nearer. But still we
+went on, to get as far away as possible. Then we heard that nearly all
+the people who had been that night in Schweizer-Renecke had been taken
+prisoners, and that the very same landdrost who had told me towards
+sunset that he would be sure to know when the “khakis” were coming had
+had no time that very night to put on his clothes and escape before
+they appeared. I thought how sorry I was that I had not followed my own
+wish; had I done so, we should not have found ourselves in such danger.
+However, it looked again as if we were going to escape, now that the
+fighting was slackening.
+
+After the Almighty I owed my freedom to brave little Jacobus De la Rey
+and Louis De la Rey, who also did his best to get us away safely. When
+the troops were so near that they could have shot at my waggons, so
+that I wanted to stop, they paid no heed, but continued to drive the
+oxen on at full speed.
+
+I had so many children with me and dreaded so much to see them shot
+dead before my eyes that at one moment I thought it would be better to
+give in.
+
+Fortunately, it was not necessary; the danger was now over. It was very
+late before we could make a halt. I had nothing ready in the waggons
+to give the children to eat; but none of them gave me any trouble, not
+even my little Janne, who was only six years old. It was so clever of
+him to understand that when there was nothing to give him he would have
+to wait.
+
+After a short rest we had to go on again. At three o’clock in the
+afternoon we stopped. We had no wood, and my boy, who was thoroughly
+dead beat, did not know how he was going to make a fire. However, by
+the time the evening had come our food was ready.
+
+Now I had no more cows, so that we had to do without the precious
+milk. If my little Janne could get nothing else, he used always to be
+contented with milk.
+
+That evening we went farther. As we were going to unyoke the oxen and
+rest for the night a number of people came past, saying that there
+were troops coming on out of Vryburg. “Ah!” I said, “my oxen are so
+tired, how can I get on any farther to-night?” However, after resting a
+little, I went on again.
+
+At sunrise we halted near a farm, where there were trees with
+undergrowth, so that we could get firewood.
+
+Coffee was just ready when, before I could see to the rest of the
+breakfast, there came the news that the troops were only a couple of
+hours’ riding from us. We should have to go on again. We moved very
+slowly, the oxen being so tired. Fortunately, we found out it was not
+true about the troops coming from Vryburg.
+
+Sometimes all my Kaffirs would be pulling at the sailcloth to hold it
+down and fasten it securely, so that I would think that the awning was
+surely going to be blown away from the waggon. It was dreadful to go
+through those storms in the waggon. However, man’s nature is such that
+when it is once again a beautiful calm evening he thinks no more of the
+storms and the lightnings that are over.
+
+It was again a calm and pleasant day; the “storm” of the “khakis” was
+also over--they had gone back to Klerksdorp and we were able to take a
+little rest. I went to Delport’s place on the Harts River. I had lost
+all my cattle during the flight from Schweizer-Renecke. Here I found
+about fifty-two head belonging to me, which had been driven on with all
+the other cattle during the flight. But I did not get my cows back;
+those had been looted by the English. I waited anxiously to hear what
+our people were doing in Pretoria. A few days later they arrived. I
+said how disheartening it was to have been so worried by the “khakis.”
+They had been doing all they possibly could to harm us during the time
+that the Generals were away. I was very glad when they returned; then
+I could get news of my children in Pretoria, from whom I had not heard
+for so long. A few days later General De la Rey began his meetings. The
+brave burghers were having a bitterly hard life of it at that time and
+their families were in great want.
+
+Nevertheless, they would not abandon their rights. They were determined
+to go on fighting for their freedom and their rights.
+
+These brave men were depending, not on their strength, but on their
+rights.
+
+It was a very grave question to consider.
+
+They had struggled for so long; they had given up wives and children,
+and all that a man holds most precious; there might be thousands of the
+enemy rising up against their small band, and even shutting them in on
+every side; nevertheless, they had long since grown to be convinced
+that it was not they who were fighting, but a Power superior to the
+might of man. But many had been killed or taken, so that they were
+greatly weakened, especially of late.
+
+And worst of all were the defections and treachery.
+
+When a man behaves treacherously it is a terrible thing.
+
+For only think to what all that has brought them. Some became traitors;
+too spiritless to help their own people, they were courageous enough
+to take up arms to help the English; on all those rests the guilt of
+their brothers’ blood. The result was to render those who held on still
+more steadfast and to teach them still greater abhorrence of treachery
+and of bad faith.
+
+As they had struggled and suffered for so long, and it had not pleased
+God to deliver them into the hand of their enemy, they did not wish
+to be themselves the ones to do it. And I was entirely at one with
+them, for their story and mine were one and the same. It still remains
+inexplicable to me how for seventeen months I had been able to fly with
+my children, many a day not knowing what to do.
+
+It is often hard and difficult to “trek” round with so many children
+and not to be able to get clothes and other necessaries for them.
+And yet I was able to say every day, “The Lord has helped me and
+strengthened me, like He helped the widow of Zarephath, so that her
+cruse never failed her, but always remained full.” Often as I lay in
+bed at night, feeling so depressed by the thought of what would come of
+it all, did I repeat Hymn 22, “Rest, my soul, thy God is King,” and the
+last verse, “Your God is King, be contented with your lot.”
+
+And every day the Lord strengthened me in this manner, so that I had no
+right to be faithless. And it was the same with our people.
+
+They went on with their meetings, and every time they decided to
+persevere and not give up. Everywhere it was the same.
+
+I thought, “Who is it that makes the burghers so strong? It is beyond
+man’s comprehension.”
+
+Yet if one remembers the place of Golgotha, then one can better
+understand.
+
+That the Saviour must suffer so much, and yet be innocent, was a
+difficult thing for His disciples to understand at the time. It was
+known throughout the world that the Saviour must die, and undergo the
+most cruel treatment, but men could not tell why it should be.
+
+And we do not know why this people should suffer so bitterly; some day
+we shall learn the reason.
+
+When the meetings were over in the Lichtenburg district they went to
+the Zwartruggens and Marico. I was then in the Lichtenburg district.
+
+As soon as the General had left Lichtenburg the “khakis” began to
+“trek” on.
+
+They were already advancing rapidly towards Vryburg. I heard that they
+were coming on in such large numbers that I thought, “Why is it that
+the ‘khakis’ can never let me have a little peace? I shall go somewhere
+where I can stay in some little comfort, and I will not fly any more,
+for they are busy making peace. Let the ‘khakis’ come if they like.”
+People were all flying away with their cattle as hard as they could.
+They advised me to let my cattle also go with the rest. I said, “I do
+not know what will be best. I have not come across the troops for a
+long time, and I do not know what they would do now if I were to meet
+them.”
+
+I let myself be talked over, and sent all my cattle away. I had two
+waggons; I let one go with the cattle. I remained with one waggon, a
+tent, a spider and four cows. All the rest went in the flight.
+
+The “khakis” came on in large numbers. They came swarming over the
+ground. I said, “Where can all these ‘khakis’ have come from that there
+should be such crowds of them?” Still I did not go away, but stayed on
+at the place called Corsica, belonging to Mr Meyer, where his wife was
+still living and some other women besides.
+
+We kept on hearing of large armies that were advancing. All our men
+were away.
+
+Suddenly we heard the sound of fighting not very far from us. Then all
+at once we saw horsemen coming up over the rise. We saw that they were
+Boers, and we asked where the troops were. “Not far from here,” they
+said. “We have just been fighting with them.”
+
+It was already late and the burghers went away.
+
+In the morning we got up early, knowing that the troops would be
+getting here very soon. We had not even breakfasted yet when we saw
+them coming over the rise.
+
+I thought to myself, “What will they do to me now? I have been fleeing
+before them for eighteen months and they were doing all they could to
+catch me, but in vain. Perhaps they will revenge themselves on me now.
+But,” I thought, “the Lord has always watched over me till to-day, and
+He will continue to do so.”
+
+They stopped a few hundred paces away from us and rode up and down
+there for a little while. Suddenly they dashed up to my waggon, came
+up to where I was sitting behind, and one of them asked me where the
+Boers were.
+
+I answered, “There are none here.”
+
+“When were they here last?”
+
+“They went away from here yesterday afternoon.”
+
+“Where are the commandoes?” he asked.
+
+“I know nothing about the commandoes.”
+
+Then I told him that as the Kaffirs that were among the troops behaved
+so badly and cruelly to women and children I did not want to have
+anything to do with coloured people. I only had to deal with white
+people, and so they must just keep the coloured ones away from me.
+
+He was polite, and said, “Very well, Mrs De la Rey, you shall not be
+troubled by the Kaffirs.”
+
+But they kept coming continually to the waggon. I thought, “It is
+rousing their appetite for burning.” A Kaffir had already told my boy
+when he was by the fire that this waggon and tent would have to be
+burnt.
+
+Colonel Williams came to my daughter in front of the tent and asked
+whose waggon it was. When she had told him came the cruel order, “It
+does not matter to me whose waggon it is. The woman must get out, were
+she the Queen herself, and the waggon and tent must be burnt.”
+
+Then I thought to myself that I must now undergo that about which I
+had heard so much from others. To think that poor women must see their
+things taken away from them and burnt.
+
+I was very angry, and I thought, “Do what you like, I shall say what I
+think and what is right.”
+
+I told them again then who I was, and said that I was not going to let
+them burn my waggon.
+
+For eighteen months long, ever since Lord Methuen sent me out of
+Lichtenburg, I had wandered round with my children. If they wanted to
+burn my things they would have to get an order from a superior officer.
+I was not going to let them do it themselves.
+
+The soldiers kept pressing closer. They had quite surrounded me. I
+thought, “Who knows how cruel they are going to be?”
+
+But here again I remembered that only as far as the Lord would let them
+could they go and no further, and I did not lose faith.
+
+Then suddenly the one with whom I had been talking drew his pocket-book
+out and wrote an order that the waggon, the tent and the cows which I
+had kept should not be touched and that no harm should be done on the
+place. And this was just when, a little way off, in a dwelling-house,
+they had completely taken and destroyed everything. They had taken away
+from there all the blankets and more or less everything that the women
+had had by them. They used to let this be done by the Kaffirs, who took
+great pride in being able to act in such a manner to white women-folks.
+
+And now the officer’s bad temper was quite cured. No one might come
+near my waggon and tent now. The soldiers were ordered back; a guard
+was stationed near us so that we might not be annoyed by the passers-by.
+
+I was delivered from them the next day.
+
+I was longing now to hear what had become of the people who had taken
+the cattle with them.
+
+The report came that evening that they had all been taken.
+
+Then we heard the sound of riding, and we wondered if that could be
+“khakis” again. As we were just a handful of women and children we
+would far rather it were not more “khakis.” They came riding up. It was
+Dr van Rennenkampf and Tom Sisk. How happy we were to see some of our
+own people again! I heard from them then that all those with whom I had
+let my cattle go had been taken prisoners.
+
+There I was now, quite helpless. The people on the farm were very good,
+but they, too, were equally helpless. We had no living animals that we
+could use for “trekking.”
+
+The doctor had his cart and mules, and therefore I told him he must
+just stay here with us. I felt as if I could die of sorrow; I had no
+wish now to stay any longer, but all my cattle were taken and I could
+not get away.
+
+There was nothing here to slaughter; however, I thought to myself that
+things had always come right somehow or other up to now, and that it
+would be the same this time also.
+
+And there came a brave burgher with sheep for the women and children.
+Thus did the Lord always provide that we never should be without
+something to feed us.
+
+And the doctor was there to ride for “mealies,” which was a great help
+to us in those days.
+
+The week was not yet over when we heard that the “khakis” were coming
+back from Vryburg.
+
+I said, “What am I going to do with the ‘khakis’ now? I thought they
+were not coming back again.” And just a week after they had left, back
+they were again. They came towards us in their thousands. However, the
+doctor was with us now. Colonel Williams came up to me and said that
+General Hamilton was coming to see me. He had news of General De la Rey.
+
+“Very well,” I said, “let him come.”
+
+Then came Hamilton with a telegram from General De la Rey asking him if
+he had met me, and what had happened to me.
+
+He said that he had answered that they had met me and had done nothing
+to me, and that all was well with me. We did not know anything yet of
+what they had been doing at Pretoria. We were anxious to have news of
+the peace negotiations, but I could not hear anything more. The English
+behaved reasonably this time and did us no harm. They wanted to stay
+on in the place, but there was not enough water for such a large army,
+therefore they went away again.
+
+I was so unhappy that I had lost all my oxen; and now the water, that
+had always been troubled, was so dirty, owing to all the troops that
+had been staying there, that I felt still less inclination to stop on.
+
+Fortunately Mr D. van der Merwe succeeded in escaping with the
+Government cattle. He gave me two beasts to be slaughtered and two
+milch cows.
+
+It was sad to hear the tales of how the “khakis” were now behaving to
+the people. A woman came to me weeping and grieving bitterly.
+
+“What is the matter with you?” I said.
+
+“Oh, they have taken away my big Bible, in which all my children’s
+names were entered. They have taken everything away--nothing is left to
+me; but if only I could get my Bible back!”
+
+I said, “Why did you not hold it in your arms when the ‘khakis’ were
+taking everything away?”
+
+“Oh,” she said, “I and my children were standing there watching
+everything in bitter anguish. We were in a ruined house. When they
+drove the door in I could not bear to be with them any longer, and
+I went out of the house with the children; and so they took it away
+without my seeing.”
+
+I said, “I think I should have been able to get it back for you; but
+now they have, unfortunately, all gone away, and I am afraid I cannot
+help you.”
+
+These were the hardest days of all for me. My flour had come to an end,
+and although the Boers had a small flour mill with them when they were
+fleeing, I was not able to get at it, so that I had to use my coffee
+mill for grinding. Having so many children with me made it very hard
+sometimes; but the children had also been through so much by this time
+that every difficulty gradually righted itself.
+
+As they were still very young, and had always been used to go regularly
+to school, it was often very wearying for them. It is not very
+comfortable to be constantly wandering over the veldt, especially in
+this fashion.
+
+As we were here to-day and in another place to-morrow, it often
+happened that we could not get a maid to do the washing. Then the
+children would have to do it themselves. They would take the clothes
+and put them in the tub, and then Janne and Hester would have to tread
+on them. But Janne was such a little monkey, he was always playing
+tricks on Hester, and then she would have to undo all his mischief, and
+by herself tread the clothes up and down till they were clean enough
+for the two little girls to finish washing them. Sometimes there was
+very little soap. They would make starch out of green “mealies” (Indian
+corn).
+
+There were many burghers who had been schoolmasters before the war.
+When any of them were near my waggons they would keep school for the
+children. After the waggons had been outspanned they would all sit
+under a shady tree with the master and have lessons. People were often
+surprised to see how well we were getting on for fugitives. I said, “It
+does not all go as smoothly as you think;” but I often wondered myself
+when I thought of how we got through day after day.
+
+We kept the calves close to the waggons, and while we were “trekking”
+they would be marched alongside of the oxen. The cows were sent on
+ahead, so that they could be milked in the evening; and as long as the
+children could have milk they were always content. Sometimes we would
+put the milk into a stone bottle, and thus be able to get butter[7]
+and sour milk as well. Our supply of coffee, though running short,
+was not yet quite finished. As we had so little left, I used to cut
+up petatas[8] into small dice and dry and burn them. These I would
+mix with the coffee beans--one-fourth of coffee to three-fourths of
+petatas--and grind it all up together. This mixture made quite good
+coffee.
+
+[7] _Butter._--Owing to the shaking of the waggon when “trekking,” the
+milk in the stone bottle would gradually be churned into butter.
+
+[8] _Petatas._--A species of potato.
+
+We had all sorts of difficulties. The poor burghers were very badly
+off for clothes. They began tanning sheepskins and using them. We got
+quite clever at dressing the skins, and they were soft and clean. If
+a man had a pair of trousers almost worn out he would patch them up
+with skins. It was the same thing with boots. We called them “armoured”
+clothes. The women and children took “kombaarzen”[9] and made skirts
+and jackets out of them.
+
+[9] _Kombaarzen._--Blankets. In this case the blankets taken from the
+enemy.
+
+I had always kept up through everything. If life grew too hard in one
+place I would move on to another; but when I had lost my cattle, and
+could not leave when I wanted, many a day fell heavily on me. However,
+thanks to the doctor and to a Frenchman who remained near us, things
+were better than they otherwise might have been.
+
+We were waiting in great suspense to hear the result of the
+negotiations. At last there came a man with the news that peace had
+been declared on the 1st of June. It was wonderful. I had been so
+anxious to hear if it would be peace, and now when the news came I
+could not be joyful. I knew nothing for certain yet about the terms,
+and I thought, “That is the reason why I do not feel happier, although
+it is two years and six months now since we began this dreadful and
+pitiless struggle from which we have so often longed to be delivered.”
+
+The children were very happy. The doctor and our Frenchman still had
+their horses, and they rode off that same day. Other burghers fired
+their guns into the air for joy. They did not know what sort of a peace
+it was, but for the moment they could only rejoice.
+
+I did not want to stay any longer where I was, but had still no oxen. A
+short way off there was a man who had a span of Government oxen. I sent
+my boy to this man to get them from him so that I should be able to
+return to my own district.
+
+He sent the oxen, and everything was soon ready for the start,
+although, as I had always had two waggons with me before, it was very
+difficult to get everything packed into one. Whatever I was not able
+to load I left behind me. We had been in this place now for more than
+a month, and the people were sorry to see us going away. But, however
+hard it might be for me, on I went.
+
+The waggon was heavy and the road very sandy, so that very often the
+children had to get out and walk alongside the waggon. The first place
+we came to belonged to Widow Lemmer. The poor old woman was very
+unhappy, for that very week the “khakis” had taken away her cows and
+everything else that she had remaining.
+
+From there I went on again, but heard no talk of peace. I went past the
+Zoutspannen to the place belonging to G. Stolz.
+
+I stopped there that Sunday. In the afternoon it was peaceful, and yet
+I felt so sorrowful. Saturday night I could not sleep, and that night
+I said to my daughter Ada, “I cannot think why I feel like this about
+the peace. If only it is not a surrender of arms, this peace that they
+talk of! But no,” I said, “it cannot be anything like that, for then it
+would not be peace.”
+
+At ten o’clock next morning my children and I all met together for
+worship.
+
+I felt very much affected. There had been so many Sundays spent in
+making war, and now to-day it was peace. Therefore I said to my
+children, “We have been through so many hard and bitter days, and the
+Almighty Father has brought us safely through our weary pilgrimage.
+Let us now thank Him with all our hearts.” I felt that it was only
+God’s goodness that had spared us from falling into the hands of our
+adversary.
+
+That afternoon I went to lie down for a little in my waggon. At four
+o’clock in the afternoon Liebenberg arrived from Klerksdorp and came
+to my waggon with the report of peace. And now I had to hear that it
+was indeed a surrender of our arms.
+
+I did not know how to pacify my children; they wept bitterly, and
+could not find words for their indignation. And yet it was peace all
+the same. I said to them, “Let us keep silence; later on we shall
+understand it all.”
+
+I stayed there till Monday morning. As Liebenberg had come to take me
+to Klerksdorp, and as from there I should be able to go on to Pretoria,
+I soon thought to myself, “What a joy it will be when I can meet my
+children again, after having been separated from them for nearly two
+years.”
+
+But this peace was so distasteful that I could not get over the thought
+of it.
+
+When everything was packed we made ready to start. While I was driving
+I took my day-book. The text for that morning was Gen. xxii. 7: “And
+Abraham said God will provide....”
+
+Now we went on quickly. I met on that road none but sorrowing women and
+children. I said sometimes, “Where can the poor burghers be that we do
+not meet them?”
+
+After having travelled for a couple of days we came to Mr D. van der
+Merwe’s place. There I met several burghers. Van der Merwe was a good
+and clever man and I was glad to be able to talk with him. He told me
+that, however incomprehensible it might all seem, he was sure that the
+officers after having struggled so long and so bitterly would now also
+do their best.
+
+As they had first gone to the Zwartruggens and Marico to see that the
+arms were all given up, I had not seen any of them yet.
+
+We were now in the Lichtenburg district. I waited at Mr van der Merwe’s
+place. It was bitterly cold. It snowed for three days, and during all
+my wanderings this was the worst cold I had experienced. And there was
+no house to shelter us. There were plenty of buildings there, but all
+were more or less in ruins. It was dreadful to see them. Now came the
+time when the burghers in this neighbourhood also had to give up their
+arms.
+
+On the 12th of June the last gun had been given up in the Lichtenburg
+district. That evening my people came for the first time to my tent. I
+thought how bitter it was to meet them in this way. My husband came to
+me and my son, little Coos. Little Coos cried, “Mamma, I have still got
+my gun.”
+
+It was very hard for him; he could stand the war better than the peace.
+I did not want to speak about it with his father. The terrible shedding
+of blood was at end. We had offered up our property and our blood for
+Freedom and Justice.... Where was this freedom? where was this justice?
+
+Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He had to die the cruel death on the
+cross. His death brought us everlasting life; yet Judas killed himself.
+
+We have been betrayed by many of our burghers. We have lost our right
+for a time. Yet they who struggled to the end, and who resolved
+that right must go first without thinking of might, have kept their
+fortitude. However the end may have shaped itself, they are glad not to
+have been Judases.
+
+There was now a great longing on the part of all those around to see
+the members of their families from whom they had been parted for so
+long.
+
+I, too, rejoiced that I could go to Pretoria to see my children, whom I
+had not seen for so long a time. And I thought again of my beloved son,
+whom I had had to give up.
+
+And yet I had not had to sacrifice so much; many a woman had given her
+husband and her children too.
+
+We went on to Klerksdorp in my waggon. As we would have to drive for
+two days before getting there, and as Sunday came in between, on
+that day we made a halt. It was the last Sunday that I spent out on
+the veldt. I thought earnestly of all that had taken place. How many
+Sundays had I not spent in flying before the enemy?
+
+Sunday evening we entered Klerksdorp; Monday morning I sent back the
+waggons which had housed me and my children for twenty months. I had
+grown so used to life in my waggon that I did not like to see it go
+away.
+
+We went to Pretoria that evening, and I found my children in
+well-being. It was pleasant after such a long separation. I had been
+two days in Pretoria when a son was born to my daughter. Then I became
+a grandmother, for this was the first grand-child. He was christened
+Jacobus Herklaas De la Rey. I felt very grateful. In all the bitterness
+of those weary days I was able to say, “But He knoweth the way that I
+take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job xxiii.
+10); and also as in Job ii. 10 (the last part), “What? Shall we receive
+good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this did
+not Job sin with his lips.”
+
+Now, dear brothers and sisters, since we are sure that God shall
+prove His Word, let us stand steadfast in our faith and wait for the
+salvation of the Lord. This is the time of trial; now will the Lord
+see if we are worthy that He should make His wonders manifest unto us
+before the eyes of the whole world.
+
+    “_Though He tarry, He knows His hour,
+    He comes, He surely comes:
+    And all eyes shall contemplate Him,
+    All hearts shall realise the deeds
+    Which He wrought here upon earth._”
+
+[Illustration: Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout.]
+
+One of the three ladies standing up (in the accompanying photograph)
+is my daughter, now Mrs Ferreira; the other two are two Misses
+Bezuidenhout. They have there the very flags of the Transvaal and
+Orange Free State, which are their great treasure. The two Misses
+Bezuidenhout are the daughters of the Widow Bezuidenhout, my husband’s
+eldest sister. She is the mother of nine children; she too had her
+house burned down and all that she possessed taken away from her. I
+have often found her in tears, and she would say to me, “What is to
+become of us all? I and my children have not one single animal left
+alive, and everything on my farm has been destroyed!”
+
+Her daughter (Mrs Bodenstein) is also a mother of seven children, and
+when I saw her she told me that she had nothing for her children, not a
+single blanket had been left to her. When she went to complain to the
+English officer, he only asked her, “Who is the man who did it?” The
+man who did it was nowhere to be found. But the harm had been done, and
+in the same way not one, but many had to suffer. May no other people
+in the world ever have to endure another such war so long as the world
+may last. I do not think that it can be forgotten. I cannot say who it
+was who were wrong, we or our adversaries. But this I can say, that
+it was terrible to bear. Never could I have thought that human beings
+could treat each other in such a way. I know well that war is one of
+the blackest things upon earth, still I cannot depart from all sense
+of justice and put down every sort of barbarity to war and consider it
+right. As we were known to the whole world as two Christian nations,
+I had thought that such things could not be allowed. But I have been
+taught that suffering and misery can go on increasing to the bitter
+end, and that in war no deed can be too hard or cruel to be committed.
+
+[Illustration: Four of Mrs De la Rey’s children, with two little girl
+friends.]
+
+Here are four of my children who during all my wanderings were with me
+all the time. A Frenchman near my waggon took this photograph; he found
+it very amusing to take the children in that way. The girl with the
+revolver is the daughter of Field-Cornet Meyer, at whose place I was
+then staying. The Frenchman slung round the children all the guns and
+revolvers and field-glasses.
+
+At times the children thoroughly enjoyed life out on the veldt. It
+was often trying for them with all the hardships we were constantly
+encountering, but on the whole the children came off better than their
+elders. When there was danger they would begin to cry, but soon it
+would all be forgotten. They were always so ready to help me and to
+make everything easier for me as far as they could. It was very hard
+for them sometimes to look after themselves and keep their clothes
+in order. And as they always went on growing they kept growing out of
+their clothes and wore them out, so that they had to help to patch
+and make the most of them. Sometimes they would have no cups or mugs
+to drink out of--then they would set to work with “jambliks” and try
+to make mugs out of them. My brother, Jan Greef, who used sometimes
+to be near my waggon, would help to make mugs. He was very clever
+at it. Fortunately, I managed to keep always one or two cups and
+saucers. Cups which could break so easily during all that driving
+about had to be taken great care of. We were always trying to find new
+ways of doing things. If we wanted cotton for sewing we would take a
+piece of sailcloth, unravel it and use the threads, or else undo our
+shoe-strings and unravel them. The girls made a large number of
+socks, stockings, bands, etc. We would take some sheep’s wool and card
+it; then the Kaffir boys made little wooden “machines,” and with them
+wove the wool into strands.
+
+[Illustration: Three of Mrs De la Rey’s children.]
+
+Here are also three more of my children, the three youngest. The little
+boy in the middle, Gabriel Johannes, is now six. He often used to say
+to the English soldiers, “Hands up,” and then they would laugh at him.
+It was a pleasure to him to be flying away; whenever we had been long
+in one place, he would say, “I wish we had to run away again; not from
+the ‘khakis,’ but just so as to be driving.” When he heard that the
+burghers had to give up their arms, he said, “I am not going to give my
+gun to ‘khakis’; I would rather break it in pieces; the ‘khakis’ shall
+never have it.” There he has it in his hand. It was such a momentous
+time, even the youngest felt the weight of it.
+
+If I am still to go through many days of hardship in this life, let
+me then cast a glance upon those that are past. Because once we had
+so many good and happy hours, and now find ourselves so bitterly
+oppressed, I have often heard people say that they doubted whether
+there could be a God.
+
+What I used to think of in my days that were most full of sorrow, was
+just that it could be no mortal that was guiding us through everything;
+my past life rose constantly before my eyes. My father, Hendrik Adrian
+Greef, who is now long since dead, was one of the Voortrekkers of
+Transvaal, and he went then to live in Lichtenburg, where I remained
+from my fourth year, till the day I was driven away by the war. My
+father too had had to go through a great deal; for in those days
+the whole place was a wilderness. When my father went on a shooting
+expedition, as we were living alone on the farm, my mother would not
+let him leave her behind; so she used to go with him with her four
+children, of which I was the eldest, then twelve years old. It was a
+wild country; one met only Kaffirs and other savage people. They were
+like wild beasts; as soon as they caught sight of us they would run off
+as hard as they could; thus very often my father could not get anybody
+to show him where there was water. He went on then to the Lake, and
+from there to Damaraland, so that this journey kept us for a year on
+the veldt. We were often in danger from the black Kaffirs, who tried to
+get hold of us; and often we came to places where there was no water to
+be found.
+
+When passing through these later days of trial I often thought of my
+father, for a child does not easily forget what its father has done.
+When living in prosperity, it had always been my wish to walk in the
+ways of the Lord, and now, however hard the storm of injustice might
+strike me, never would it be heavy enough to part me from the love of
+Jesus. In the days when all was well with me I often wondered how it
+would be if I had to bear great troubles; and if I should not then
+despair. When one is happy it is easy enough to be a Christian. And
+though, like everyone else upon this earth, I have my cross, yet the
+Saviour has always made it lighter for me, so that I am able to bear it.
+
+And this weary war has taught me to see one thing clearly;--that the
+bent reed will not be broken. For many a time when I thought, “Now all
+is over,” I would seem to hear God’s voice answering me, and saying,
+“He who persists unto the end shall be saved.” Thus I cannot come to
+understand how in such times men can drift away from God instead of
+drawing closer to Him.
+
+So I can say about myself, “I shall still praise and thank the Lord
+for His Fatherly guidance”; for who was it that watched over me when I
+wandered around for many a stormy day and night?--It was our gracious
+God. Who was it that kept me and mine from falling into the hands of
+our adversary?--It was the Lord, before whom we must all of us come one
+day.
+
+How can I then prove unfaithful? No--however great may be our
+sufferings, I shall always put my trust in the salvation of the Lord.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_Praise the Lord, who ever will forgive your sins. How many they may
+be, He will graciously forgive. He knows your sufferings and will
+lovingly cure them. He will cleanse your life from stain, and will
+crown you with goodness and mercy as He saved you in your need._
+
+                                             JACOBA ELIZABETH DE LA REY,
+                                             (born Greef).
+
+
+             COLSTON AND COY. LIMITED, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH
+
+
+
 *** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***
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-<body>

-<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***</div>

-

-<h1>A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials

-during the Anglo-Boer War</h1>

-

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter bbox">

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="TWO_GREAT">TWO GREAT

-SOUTH AFRICAN BOOKS</h2>

-

-

-

-<div class="blockquot bt bb">

-

-<p>THE MEMOIRS OF PAUL KRUGER,

-<b>Four Times President of the South African

-Republic</b>. Told by <span class="smcap">Himself</span>. Translated by

-A. Teixeira de Mattos. With Portraits. Two

-Volumes. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, 32s.</p>

-

-<p>THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. Edited by

-Commandant <span class="smcap">Bresler</span>. With Introductory

-Chapters by Generals De Wet, Kritzinger,

-Fouché, Jean Joubert, and the Rev. J. D.

-Kestell. Demy 8vo, cloth. With 30 Maps. 21s.</p>

-</div>

-

-

-<p class="center"><span class="smcap">London</span>: T. FISHER UNWIN</p>

-</div>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-<div class="chapter">

-<figure class="figcenter illowp87" id="001" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/001.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">The Wanderers.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-</div>

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-<div class="chapter">

-<p class="center">

-<span class="small">A</span><br>

-<span class="xbig">

-WOMAN’S WANDERINGS

-AND TRIALS</span><br>

-<span class="small">

-DURING THE</span><br>

-<span class="xbig">

-Anglo-Boer War</span><br>

-</p>

-<p class="center p2">

-BY<br>

-<span class="big">

-<span class="smcap">Mrs</span> (<span class="smcap">General</span>) DE LA REY</span></p>

-<p class="center p2">

-<span class="smcap">Translated by Lucy Hotz</span><br>

-</p>

-<p class="center p2">

-<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br>

-</p><p class="center p4">

-LONDON<br><span class="big">

-T. FISHER UNWIN</span>

-<br>

-<span class="smcap">Paternoster Square</span><br>

-<span class="small">

-MDCDIII</span><br>

-</p>

-</div>

-

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<p class="center"><i>All Rights reserved</i></p>

-</div>

-

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2>

-</div>

-

-

-<table class="autotable">

-<tr>

-<th class="tdl"></th>

-<th class="tdr"> PAGE</th>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wanderers</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <i><a href="#001">Frontispiece</a></i></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">General De la Rey and His Staff</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_17">17</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Mrs De la Rey beside Her Waggon</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#003">36</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">The Picture of My Wandering Life</span>”</td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_63">63</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">Our People</span>”</td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_96">96</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Four of Mrs De la Rey’s Children, with Two Little Girl Friends</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_137">137</a></td>

-</tr>

-<tr>

-<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Three of Mrs De la Rey’s Children</span></td>

-<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_139">139</a></td>

-</tr>

-</table>

-

-<p>

-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p>

-

-

-<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">

-

-<div class="chapter">

-<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_Womans_Wanderings_and_Trials">A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials

-during the Anglo-Boer War</h2>

-</div>

-<hr class="r5">

-

-<p>On the 4th of October 1899 my husband left

-for the western border. I wondered what

-would be the outcome for me, and I thought

-of the many now leaving, some of whom

-might never come back. After a short time

-my husband returned and spent one day at

-home, then he left again on commando.</p>

-

-<p>A few days later I went to pay him a visit.

-I found that all was going well, and I met

-many friends, for the laager was a very big

-one.</p>

-

-<p>I was in good spirits, but the same day

-came the order to move to Kraaipan with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>

-1200 men. This was not very pleasant news

-for me.</p>

-

-<p>All was soon ready for the start. It was a

-lovely evening, the moon shone brightly, and

-the 1200 horsemen rode out, the cannon

-clattering as they went.</p>

-

-<p>I had to spend the night in the laager.

-Next morning I went home to wait there

-anxiously for what was to happen. That day

-I heard nothing. Next day there was a

-report that some prisoners of war had been

-brought by train to Kraaipan, and no one on

-our side was hurt in this first fight. A day

-or two later I returned to the laager, which

-had been moved some distance farther back.</p>

-

-<p>There I found all of good cheer and

-courage. The same day an order came to

-trek for Kimberley, and I went on for two

-days with the laager, in which were many odd<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>

-sights. When I had to return I felt it hard

-that all my people must go so far away. That

-afternoon it had been warm near the waggon,

-and my dear son had taken on himself to

-prepare our dinner. We ate it there all

-together, and Field-Cornet H. Coetzee, who

-was with us, said he must learn from my son

-how to make such good things to eat. My

-son had done it very well, though it was the

-first time that he had ever tried to act as cook.</p>

-

-<p>We then took up our journey again. It

-was curious to me to see so many horsemen.

-That night I had to return; my husband

-came a little way with me and the laager

-trekked on.</p>

-

-<p>I had now to take leave of my two sons,

-who were going with the laager. My heart

-was torn, for I did not know if I should see

-them again.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p>

-

-<p>But time was passing; they had to go on,

-and I to go back; the waggons must be inspanned

-and the horses saddled.</p>

-

-<p>Then I said to my two sons, “Adrian

-and Jacobus, let your ways be in the fear of

-the Lord. If I do not see you again upon

-earth, let me find you again in heaven.”

-And my beloved Adrian, when I said these

-words, looked at me.</p>

-

-<p>We went to spend the night at Mr Du

-Toit’s house, where we had a welcome rest.

-Next morning my husband went back to the

-laager and I returned home, where I found all

-well. We kept hearing always of fighting.

-The commando trekked to Freiburg, and from

-there to Kimberley. I had a telegram saying

-that my husband had gone to the Modder

-River, and I thought of the dangerous work

-that he had to do. Then he had to go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>

-farther and farther away. News came of the

-fight at Rooilaagte; it was terrible to

-hear how many “khakis” had been there

-and how hard our men had had to fight.

-There were many from the Lichtenburg

-district among them, so that everyone was

-anxious.</p>

-

-<p>Sunday, the 26th of December, was the

-nineteenth birthday of my son Adrian

-Johannes. When I went to the village in

-the morning I met my sisters on their way to

-church. Then we all began to speak of him

-and of how he would fare on his birthday;

-and we all grew heavy-hearted.</p>

-

-<p>On Monday we were without news. On

-Tuesday evening a telegram came that all

-was well, which filled me with joy. Yet that

-night I sat on my bed, and could not sleep for

-anxiety and sorrow till I had earnestly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>

-begged of the Lord to make me fit to bear

-the burden He should lay upon me, and to

-let me sleep.</p>

-

-<p>Early next morning I was awake, but the

-same feeling remained. I got out of bed

-quickly and then saw it was going to rain.

-On going out it felt pleasant after the rain.

-Suddenly someone cried out, “There is

-Juffrouw Martens.” She came from the

-village, and my first words were, “What am

-I going to hear?” She came through the

-house and met me in the backyard with

-these words, “Nonne,<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> I have sorrowful

-tidings. Your husband has sent me a telegram

-for you, and it says, ‘This morning our

-dearly-beloved son Adrian passed away in

-my arms from a wound received yesterday in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>

-a heavy fight, and to-day we shall lay him in

-the ground at Jacobsdaal.’”</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> <i>Nonne.</i> A Dutch-Indian term meaning Mrs or

-mistress.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-

-<p>It was heartrending for me, but there is

-comfort to be found at the feet of Jesus. All

-Lichtenburg knew him and loved him. I had

-not only lost my son, but many had lost their

-friend.</p>

-

-<p>The Sunday after he died, Dominie Du

-Toit of Lichtenburg chose as his text Revelations

-xxi., verse 7:—“And I will be his

-God, and he shall be my son”—and he

-said that the Lord had more need of him

-than we.</p>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>I give him to the goodness of God.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Ransomed by the Saviour</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>He rises towards Heaven.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>All shall contemplate him there</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>On the beautiful borders of Heaven</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>By the crystal waters.</i></div>

-  </div>

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Yes, my son is gone away</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the crystal waters.</i></div><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Saviour, wilt thou receive him</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>At Thy side for evermore?</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Take this son, unto Thee he is given,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Take him in Thy Father’s house;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Some day we shall find each other</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Among the jubilant host.</i></div>

-  </div>

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>God said, This son is mine,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Zealous in the work of the Lord.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Barely the space of nineteen years</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Did he spend as man upon earth.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Some day I also shall come there</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>To reign by my Saviour’s might</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Unto the last generation.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Thou, my son, naught can harm thee,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Thou hadst to die for the right.</i></div>

-  </div>

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>The Lord is trusty and strong,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>E’er long shall He in His might,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Watching the deeds of His people,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Teach them to understand.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Rest on thou Afrikander son;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>We shall all one day stand before Jesus,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Zealous in the work of the Lord.</i>”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<p>A fortnight after my son’s death I went to

-join his father and brother. After travelling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>

-four days I came near the Vaal River. That

-morning we heard a terrible roar of cannon;

-a great fight was taking place at Maggersfontein.

-I thought then, “Whose turn shall it

-be to-day to give up his life?” When I

-came to the laager they had already come out

-to meet me, but we missed each other. Just

-then I met my brother, Jan Greef, and as I

-had heard nothing more about the death of

-my son I asked him to tell me everything.

-He told me what a great fight it had been all

-day, and how my son had been all day in the

-thick of the fighting and no hurt had come to

-him. At sunset he was walking with his

-father; suddenly a bomb burst between them.

-He asked his father if the bomb had touched

-him and his father answered “No.” He said

-nothing more, but went on 150 steps farther

-before he sat down, saying to his father,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>

-“The bomb that burst over there struck

-me.” Then they saw that a bullet had entered

-his right side. They carried him a

-little way, and placed him in a carriage to

-bring him to the hospital. At four o’clock in

-the morning they reached Jacobsdaal; they

-bore him into the hospital, and the doctor

-said he would come and take the bullet out

-after breakfast.</p>

-

-<p>All night he had tasted only a little water;

-now they brought him some coffee. He told

-his father that he must help him to take it; his

-father raised him up in bed and he saw that

-he was near death. He asked him if he did

-not want to say anything. His answer was,

-“Nay, father, only lay me down.” With

-these words he drew his last breath. All was

-over with our son. This I heard from my

-brother.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p>

-

-<p>Then my husband returned, and I heard

-for the first time how he too had been

-wounded in the arm, and how very ill he also

-had been before I arrived.</p>

-

-<p>From there we went to Maggersfontein and

-then to the village of Jacobsdaal. I had so

-longed to see my son’s grave, but when I

-came there I found only a mound of earth.

-Yet, knowing that his dust was resting there,

-it did me good to see it.</p>

-

-<p>Then I went to the hospital. I thought,

-“If only I could find the clothes which he

-was wearing the last day!” They brought

-me to the room where the clothes of the dead

-were lying. His father found the trousers.

-We could tell them by the hole that the bullet

-had made. I saw the nurse who had looked

-after him; she said how patient and contented

-he had been.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p>

-

-<p>There were many of our wounded lying

-there.</p>

-

-<p>I went back to Maggersfontein. A little

-way from it was an empty house; I went

-into it as I did not wish to live in the laager.

-Every morning we could hear the firing at

-Maggersfontein.</p>

-

-<p>Christmas was drawing near. From all

-sides people sent us dainties and anything

-that they thought would give us pleasure. I

-used often to go to General Cronje’s laager.</p>

-

-<p>In the beginning of the new year 1900

-General De la Rey had to retire to Colesberg.

-I went with him to Bloemfontein, and the

-evening we arrived there he had to go on to

-Colesberg. I went back home, where I found

-our children safe and well.</p>

-

-<p>Every day we kept hearing of battles. I

-went on with my work on the farm, and that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>

-made the time pass less slowly. Two months

-later I went to Kroonstad and found my husband

-there. All the week he had not been

-well, but he got better quickly and started

-anew on commando.</p>

-

-<p>I went home again, and had not been

-there long when General De la Rey was sent

-to Mafeking; but while on his way the siege

-of Mafeking was raised.</p>

-

-<p>Then all the commandoes were ordered to

-Pretoria. My husband came home on the

-23rd of May, and on the 25th of May the

-march to Pretoria began. That was a hurried

-trek, for the enemy were in great force.</p>

-

-<p>We did not know now what their next

-movements would be, so the best thing for

-me to do was to wait for the coming of the

-enemy.</p>

-

-<p>Five days after the Boers had left the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>

-district the Kaffirs came in such numbers

-that they stripped the whole border of cattle,

-and acted abominably towards the women

-and children.</p>

-

-<p>A week after the Boers left Lichtenburg

-the troops<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> entered the village. I was then

-on my farm, which lies a quarter-of-an-hour’s

-distance outside.</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> <i>Troops.</i>—When an Afrikander speaks of “troops”

-he always means those of the English, probably from

-having heard so much about “troopers.”</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p>Seven horsemen came to my house. I was

-then in the garden, but on seeing them I

-hastened to the house. Four armed men

-stood outside; the other three had come in

-and were turning everything upside down.</p>

-

-<p>When I was at the door one of them came

-towards me with the question, “Whose place

-is this?”</p>

-

-<p>I answered, “De la Rey’s.”</p>

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p>

-<p>“The General’s?” he asked.</p>

-

-<p>I said, “Yes.”</p>

-

-<p>Then he told me that I must bring my

-husband out of the house.</p>

-

-<p>I answered, “You have been inside, why

-don’t you bring him out yourself? I cannot

-do so, because he is on commando.”</p>

-

-<p>“When did he go from here?” he asked

-me.</p>

-

-<p>“A week since,” I answered.</p>

-

-<p>After asking a few more questions and

-taking whatever he wanted he went away.</p>

-

-<p>I went to the village; I could not remain

-on the farm alone with the children.</p>

-

-<p>From that moment the troops did whatever

-they liked. I had two horses; the Kaffirs

-had taken all the cattle. I saw now that

-they were taking the horses out of the stable

-and were going to ride away on them. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>

-hardest thing was that one of the horses had

-belonged to my dead son, and I could not

-bear to part with it. I asked to see General

-Hunter, and I told him about the farm and

-about my horses. He said he knew nothing

-about the horses, but would make inquiries.

-The next day my two horses were brought

-back, and I was told that no damage would

-be done to the farm; but all the same they

-did whatever they liked there, and I had to

-put a good face upon everything.</p>

-

-<p>Every day more troops came past, and the

-only news I could get from them about my

-people was that they had driven General De

-la Rey into such a tight corner that he would

-never be able to escape.</p>

-

-<p>I used to say to them then, “Very well.

-I hope that when you have got hold of him

-you will treat him kindly. Remember, he is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>

-only fighting for his lawful rights and property.”</p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="002" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/002.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">General De la Rey and his staff.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>Then again I heard that no, he had not

-been taken prisoner. (This was in June

-1902.)</p>

-

-<p>When General De la Rey and his staff were

-in the east, after they had been driven out

-of Pretoria by the superior numbers of the

-enemy, the people in the west country had

-a terrible time. The women were for the

-greater part alone on their farms, and their

-cattle were at the mercy of the cruel Kaffirs,

-who used to come and steal them away, generally

-at night. They would burst into the houses

-and make their way to the women, and tell

-them that they must have their money, using

-such threats and such violence that many a

-one fled in the night with her children, and

-often wandered for hours before she could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>

-find shelter. It was bitter enough for them

-then; but little could they think that all this

-was but a drop in the cup of their suffering.

-Many of the burghers returned home on this

-account to see what they could do to save

-their families. Three burghers from this

-neighbourhood were killed during the war—Adriaan

-Mussman, Adrian De la Rey and

-Petrus Biel. All three were still young, but

-they fought like the bravest for freedom and

-the right.</p>

-

-<p>Adriaan Mussman was only twenty-two;

-he did not know the name of fear. In the

-thick of a fierce fight he saw that our guns

-were in danger. He rushed forward with the

-others who tried to save them. Bullets were

-raining all round him, but nothing could keep

-him back but death. He drew his last breath

-like a brave hero.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Rude storms may wage round me</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent2"><i>And darkness prevail,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>God’s grace shall surround me,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent2"><i>His help shall not fail.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>How long I may suffer</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent2"><i>His love still shines bright,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>And leads me through darkness</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent2"><i>To live in His light.</i>”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>The darker the night may be, the more do we pant for the sunshine;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The denser the mist may close, the more do we yearn for brightness;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The deeper the chasm before me, the more do I sigh for the plains;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The darker the future may seem, the greater shall be my redemption.</i>”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<p>As each day drew to a close I was dreading

-what should happen on the next.</p>

-

-<p>One day one of my friends came to tell me

-that the commandant wanted to have my

-daughter and myself out of the place, but

-that he could not find any pretext for sending<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>

-us away. I used sometimes to go to my farm

-to see how things were getting on there, but

-so many “khakis” were about that I never

-knew how to come away quickly enough.</p>

-

-<p>The village had been occupied for about

-two months when one day I saw to my

-dismay that the enemy were burning things

-wholesale. That same evening they withdrew

-from the village.</p>

-

-<p>A few days after they had left, our people

-came back with big commandoes.</p>

-

-<p>A week after the “khakis” had gone out

-of Lichtenburg General De la Rey came back

-to the village, but after spending only a day

-or two with us, he started again for the

-Rustenburg district.</p>

-

-<p>Then General Douglas returned and occupied

-the village once more. He came to our

-farm and took away all our sheep. When the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>

-English had got all our cattle, they went off,

-and we could again breathe freely.</p>

-

-<p>I went to the place where the cattle used

-to be kept, and there I found the shepherd

-waiting for me.<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> He had been able to

-recover one or two hundred of our sheep, so

-that I and my children still had something

-left to us to live upon.</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> The shepherds are generally Kaffirs who live on the

-place. The following statement shows strikingly in its

-simplicity how their own Kaffirs remained attached to

-the Boers in spite of all the so-called “barbarous treatment.”</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p>Shortly afterwards General De la Rey

-returned to Lichtenburg.</p>

-

-<p>But General Douglas had not moved very

-far off, and as soon as he heard that General

-De la Rey was in the place he came back

-with his troops at full speed. But General

-De la Rey was already far away in the distance.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>

-Just to show the “khakis” that we

-were not as starving as they thought, I made

-some bread out of the flour that my husband

-had brought us and sent two fresh loaves to

-Douglas. The English soon left to take up

-the pursuit again; and now the talk was that

-they were in their 20,000 after De la Rey,

-and that this time he would never manage to

-escape.</p>

-

-<p>I said again, “Very well, you catch him if

-you can, but be good to him.” A few days

-later he was still free; the 20,000 had not

-been able to get hold of him.</p>

-

-<p>Shortly afterwards Lord Methuen entered

-the village and took up his quarters. He

-sent to fetch my two horses, but I would not

-let them go. I said, “No, I will not give

-them up to you; I shall go and see the

-General himself about it.” “Very well,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>

-was the answer, “you can see him to-morrow

-morning at nine o’clock; that will

-be the best time.” The next morning I

-started off, but when I got there Lord

-Methuen could not see me; he was too

-busy, they said. I felt very angry. I

-turned to go back, when just as I had got

-to my carriage, one of his orderlies brought

-me the message that Lord Methuen was ready

-to receive me, and they took me to him. He

-asked what he could do for me.</p>

-

-<p>I answered, “For me you cannot do much,

-for as far as my cattle are concerned I have

-lost nearly everything. But I have still two

-horses left, and one of these belonged to my

-son, who is dead, and I hope that you will

-not take it away from me.” He gave me his

-hand and he said, “It shall not be taken

-away from you.” I thanked him and went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>

-home again. Lord Methuen remained in

-Lichtenburg for a week. When the place

-was once more empty General De la Rey

-came back to the village. He remained

-with us for four days. The day he left Lord

-Methuen returned.</p>

-

-<p>There was a big fight that day not very

-far from the village. Towards nightfall the

-burghers beat a retreat under General Lemmer,

-and next morning the troops came back to

-Lichtenburg.</p>

-

-<p>The following day the English commandant

-came to see me. He had a hard task before

-him, he told me; he had been ordered to burn

-my house down. I asked him where I was to

-go to with my children if my house were

-burned down.</p>

-

-<p>“I shall leave one of the buildings standing

-for you.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p>

-

-<p>I thanked him, and I said to him, “Burn

-them down, burn the others down if you

-think it fit to do so. Even if you leave one

-for me, there will still be four to burn.

-However cruel you may seem to be, yet

-God is always gracious.”</p>

-

-<p>He answered that it was very hard indeed

-for him; but that he had his orders and he

-must obey.</p>

-

-<p>All the same, he went away without

-burning any of the buildings.</p>

-

-<p>Then came another trial. One afternoon,

-at about three o’clock, they suddenly came

-to tell me that I must start for Mafeking

-with my daughter in half-an-hour.</p>

-

-<p>“And what about my other children

-then?” I asked.</p>

-

-<p>“Have you got more children still?”

-asked the man.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p>

-

-<p>I called all my children together.</p>

-

-<p>“Very well,” he went on then, “you can

-take all your children with you.”</p>

-

-<p>“And for what reasons am I being sent

-away in this fashion?”</p>

-

-<p>“When General De la Rey was here you

-took him in and sheltered him.”</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” I answered, “I did take him in and

-shelter him; and I shall do it five hundred

-times more if it please the Lord to spare him.

-I am prepared to go away as a prisoner of war,

-but I will not do it of my own free will. And

-you say to Lord Methuen that he knows very

-well that my husband is only fighting for his

-rights and doing his best for his country. I

-will tell you a parable for him. Instead of

-doing harm to our cause, every step you take

-against us makes it one hundredfold stronger.

-Where only one now calls for vengeance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>

-hundreds shall come to be avenged. He can

-send me wherever he likes, but it will not

-do you any good. I never thought to be so

-badly treated in the Queen’s name. I could

-not have believed that because you cannot

-get the better of our men you would set to

-work against their women.”</p>

-

-<p>“Well,” he said, “I must not talk too

-much, for we have very little time.” With

-that he left me and went to Lord Methuen;

-but he soon came back again, and then said

-that I had not been <i>ordered</i> to leave the

-place, but that it would be <i>better</i> for me if

-I were to do so.</p>

-

-<p>“No, I do not think that it would be

-better for me to go away from my own

-land. I would choose far rather to stay

-and suffer with my own people than go

-away.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p>

-

-<p>“Very well, ask General De la Rey, then,

-what you had better do.”</p>

-

-<p>“No, I shall ask him nothing of the kind.

-He has his own work, and I shall decide and

-make shift for myself.”</p>

-

-<p>“Very good; then I shall send and ask

-Commandant Vermaas to take you away from

-here.”</p>

-

-<p>“I can send one of my boys if you will

-only give him a pass through your troops.

-Then he can go to Commandant Vermaas and

-ask him to send me a span of oxen so that I

-can get away from here.” This was agreed

-to. Later on it was said that the officers had

-decided to let me stay on in the village, but

-that I had refused to do so, and had declared

-that I was going away as soon as my oxen

-arrived.</p>

-

-<p>They kept coming to see me the whole<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>

-time, and were always talking about the war,

-saying that the Boers had far better give it

-up.</p>

-

-<p>I used to reply, Yes, it would be a good

-thing to see an end to the war; but it is no

-small matter for a people to give up their

-country, and that it would cost them a very

-great deal before they could put an end

-to it.</p>

-

-<p>I asked them, “How strong are the forces

-that the English have sent to South Africa to

-fight us?”</p>

-

-<p>“Nearly 300,000 strong,” was the officer’s

-answer.</p>

-

-<p>“We have about 60,000 Transvaalers and

-Free Staters,” I said, “and we have been

-fighting with you now for over fourteen

-months; how can you possibly expect that

-we are going to give up our arms of our own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>

-free will? No! You will have a great deal

-of trouble before you bring that about.”</p>

-

-<p>I was waiting meanwhile in great anxiety

-for the coming of my oxen, so that I should

-be able to make a start. It was five days

-more before they arrived, for the oxen were

-kept far away from the village. I got everything

-ready in the meantime to be able to go

-off as soon as they came, for I dreaded every

-moment that a fresh order would come and

-that I should not be able to go. At last the

-oxen arrived. When our friends saw that

-they were there, they came hastening from

-every side to wish us God-speed. It was a

-hard thing for our friends to see us sent away

-in this manner to wander without a home. I

-said that no, I was beginning my travels willingly,

-but all unknowing where they were

-going to end or what the future had in store<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>

-for me. One thing I knew, and that was,

-if all my friends were left behind, my

-Heavenly Father would yet be with me.</p>

-

-<p>I hastened to pack everything into the waggon,

-and prepared to start on my pilgrimage.</p>

-

-<p>On Friday, December 1, 1900, I drove out

-of Lichtenburg after taking leave of my

-friends. The oxen were put to the waggon;

-the children got into it. I had still a couple

-of milch cows that I could take with me. I

-and my daughter followed behind in my carriage.

-It was raining hard as I left my

-village behind, not knowing whether ever I

-should step foot in it again. Lord Methuen’s

-order had been that I was to go ten miles

-away from the village and not to come nearer.

-Next day I came to the place where Commandant

-Vermaas and his commando were

-staying. He told me that I could go to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>

-farm and remain there as long as I liked; but

-as my husband’s work then lay for the most

-part in the Rustenburg district, I preferred to

-go on, instead of staying at the commandant’s

-farm. So I went from there to Kafferspan, a

-place about eighteen miles from the village

-of Lichtenburg. When General De la Rey

-heard that I had been sent out of the village

-he sent my son Coos to come to fetch me.

-Then I heard that on the 3rd of December

-1900 they had captured a convoy near

-Magaliesberg and had struck a good blow at

-the English. I said, “That is right! It is

-not only I who have been in adversity; they

-too” (the English) “have had their reverses.”</p>

-

-<p>I went from there to Zuurfontein, a place

-belonging to Mr Kritzinger, not far from

-Rustenburg; he gave me a house to live

-in. The people there were all kind and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>

-friendly. After I had been staying with

-Mr Kritzinger about a week, General De la

-Rey arrived with his staff; it was a great

-delight to see them all again. It was a

-good thing for them, also, that I was out

-of the village. But after having remained

-a few days they had to go off again to

-join the commando. Where I was living

-was not very far from the English camp;

-it was a mountainous district, and we could

-hear the cannon shots distinctly every day.

-On the 13th of December General De la

-Rey took General Clement’s laager, at a

-place called Nooitgedacht, behind the hills,

-and for a short time after that there was

-no more fighting. As Christmas was coming

-nearer and nearer, I had been wondering

-what sort of a Christmastide it would

-be for me; but as the English still kept<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>

-quiet, General De la Rey and his staff came

-back to us again. They arrived just the day

-before Christmas, and once more I had the

-great joy of having my own dear ones

-round me. There were a great many people

-on the farm where I was then staying,

-and on Christmas Day many friends came

-together there. As soon as Christmas was

-over they all went away again to the commando;

-but, as there was nothing to be

-done that week, our people all returned

-for the New Year, and, owing to this,

-we were also able to spend a happy, though

-quiet, New Year’s Day together. A little

-while later they heard that many English

-laagers were trekking up, and that the place

-where I was staying lay right in their way,

-so that I had to pack up everything in

-the greatest haste ready for flight. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>

-day was just over when I got this news,

-and we had to pack the waggon in the

-dark. Very early the next morning we

-left the farm behind us.</p>

-

-<p>As I had some cattle and sheep this time

-to take with me, and as we did not exactly

-know which way the English were coming,

-we could not think where to move to for

-safety. After going some distance, we waited

-to hear from which side the laagers were

-coming. In a day or two we heard that

-the English troops had gone back again,

-and so I went back also to the farm belonging

-to Mr Kritzinger, whose family

-had accompanied me in my flight. I stayed

-with them there for two months, and often

-heard the booming of the cannon among

-the mountains.</p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="003" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/003.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Mrs De la Rey beside her waggon.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>For nineteen months after that I wandered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>

-round in my waggon, and, just as

-one gets attached to the room in which

-one sleeps, so did I grow to love my waggon.

-Many a stormy night, when it was blowing

-and raining, have my Kaffirs had a

-hard job to get the sailcloth covering firmly

-fixed, so that the wind should not blow

-it right away. Over many a hill and across

-many a river this waggon has taken me

-safely. For in my darkest and most

-anxious nights never did I fail to put my

-trust in the Lord, and never did His

-guidance forsake me. Sometimes in my

-journeyings I would come to houses which

-had not been completely destroyed, and

-where, perhaps, one room would still be

-under shelter; then I would have it

-cleaned quickly; we would stay there

-during the heat of the day. Sometimes I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>

-would come to a place where I had meant

-to spend a few days, and then at once would

-have to leave in all haste and continue

-my flight. One day we came to Mr Basson’s

-place (in the Lichtenburg district), and,

-almost the same moment, General De la

-Rey and his staff arrived from the Zwartruggen

-(in the district of Rustenburg).

-When he came up with my waggon he was

-tired out, and, after having some dinner,

-he got into the waggon to lie down a little

-and rest. But he had hardly been there

-half-an-hour when a man came hurrying

-up, crying, “Why are you all so quiet

-here? The “khakis” are upon us!” And

-there were the “khakis,” just half-an-hour’s

-distance on horseback from my waggon. There

-was no commando that could have turned

-them; General De la Rey and his staff flew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>

-to saddle their horses, and jumped up and

-rode out to see what the “khakis” were doing.

-When they (General De la Rey and his staff)

-had ridden up the rise they saw that the

-English troops were drawing back. Then

-I had to fly still farther. A bare country

-lay before me to be crossed, and I thought

-that this time I should never be able to

-get away safely, but we found afterwards

-that though the “khakis” had been so near

-us they had had no idea of it, and we

-managed to come away safe and sound.

-The same thing often happened, and it

-seemed wonderful that I was not taken

-prisoner. As they had blocked up all the

-roads with their blockhouses, it became so

-difficult to get through that I had to go in the

-direction of Harts River, a bare and unpleasant

-tract of country. As we went on we found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>

-thousands of dead sheep lying about, killed

-by the English. They had not been able

-to keep up with the march, and had been

-driven together and slaughtered, and there

-they were scattered, some shot, others cut

-down, and others with their heads taken

-off by a sabre cut. Many a time did I

-repeat, “Ah, this is indeed a cruel war!

-What bitter suffering has it not caused both

-to man and beast!” Often I have thought,

-“What is going to come out of all these

-trials and troubles!” Even when I looked

-at the comet I wondered what it could portend

-that it should appear three mornings

-running in the east, and then again every

-evening in the west, during a whole month—this

-was in the months of June and

-July 1901. As I was journeying on the

-open veldt I could see this star plainly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>

-every evening; and when this sign was

-no longer to be seen, then another

-made its appearance. Every evening after

-sunset this other token appeared in the

-sky; a bright red radiance filled the air,

-and would remain visible for about three-quarters

-of an hour.</p>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Whither, pilgrim—whither art thou flying?</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>We are driven onward by the enemy’s sword.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>A terrible sword are the guns and the cannon,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>When man is standing on his defence;</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>But the cruel sword of fire and of hunger,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Cutting its way through the heart of a mother,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Is more terrible still than the booming of cannon.</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The keen-edged sword of destruction and terror,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Piercing the hearts of Africa’s children,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Has taught them a lesson they shall not forget.</i>”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<p>I thought that the enemy were now so far

-away that we should be able to spend some

-time where we now found ourselves.</p>

-

-<p>General De la Rey fell ill once more and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>

-had to join me and take to his bed. Early

-one morning I had just got up when suddenly

-we heard the sound of firing. The

-English were then only one hour’s distance

-from us; they had covered a great deal of

-ground in the night, and had been for five or

-six hours in the saddle, hoping to catch the

-burghers at Tafelkop. General De la Rey

-sprung out of bed. The horses were saddled

-in a moment, and off they rode. The firing

-was coming nearer and nearer. I thought to

-myself, “I am in for the fighting to-day,”

-but all the same I began packing everything

-into the cart as quickly as possible. Very

-soon I was in flight once more. It looked as

-if things were going very badly, for all

-round me people were hurrying as hard as

-they could. It began to rain. The waggons

-and the mule carts came tearing past,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>

-and it began to look as if I were going to

-be left behind. It was raining heavily.

-The booming of the cannon sounded closer

-and closer, and the danger became greater

-every moment. Then suddenly my waggon

-stuck fast in the mud, and I could not go

-on any farther. It kept on raining, and the

-burghers kept coming on in greater numbers.

-They stopped by my waggon and tried to

-drag it out of the mud. The fighting kept

-on, and I told them to go away and leave me

-before they too were forced to share my fate.

-“No,” they said; “that we will never do.

-What would the General say if we were to

-leave you here and the ‘khakis’ were to

-take you?” The oxen would not pull any

-more because they stood in so much water.

-Then the people took hold of the wheels and

-they managed to drag it out. After the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>

-waggon had stuck fast I went on farther in

-the spider. There were now so many waggons

-and carriages all close together that it looked

-like a big commando. In the afternoon we

-stopped to rest; the rain cleared up for a

-little and we had something to eat. Very

-soon came the order to get ready to start

-again. We had not gone very far when the

-waggon in front remained leaning against a

-steep bank, over which it had to climb. It

-was raining heavily again. I thought, “How

-will things go with us to-day, we have so

-many hindrances, and the ‘khakis’ keep on

-advancing?” However, there were a good

-many burghers, and they helped to get the

-waggons across. My spider also came to a

-standstill against the rocks, so that they

-(the burghers) had to drag it out. We

-were in danger, and yet we really enjoyed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>

-ourselves so much that time went quickly.

-It took several hours before all the waggons had

-got through. Then we drove on more quickly,

-and by sunset we came to where we meant to

-spend the night. I drove to a house to wait

-till all the waggons had arrived. There was so

-much water round the house that it was

-impossible to tell where there were ditches or

-hollows. When driving towards the waggons I

-went into a deep ditch and my driver was

-thrown off. I and my little son remained

-sitting in the carriage; the horses started off.

-They swerved towards the side of the house;

-fortunately there were some burghers there

-who ran in front and stopped them. It was

-already dark. I suggested that they had

-better be unharnessed; I would walk to the

-waggon. Just then my husband came up

-with his riding horse Bokkie for me to ride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>

-to the waggon. However, Bokkie’s back was

-too narrow; as sure as I climbed up, off I

-would slip. Then his other saddle-horse came

-up, and off we rode to the waggons. All

-were there now, and very hungry; it was

-dark and damp, but luckily, with some dry

-wood, we soon had big fires going to prepare

-food. The enemy had not come much nearer.

-After a good meal we went to sleep, and

-early next morning I went on again with the

-waggons. The men folk joined the commando,

-and at Rietfontein, where I had made

-up my mind to spend some time, I went into

-the school, then empty. There were a good

-many people in the place, and one could get

-vegetables and fruit. But I had been there

-for only about a week when suddenly a large

-number of English troops entered the Rustenburg

-district where we were. Off I went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>

-again in great haste, this time to the Lichtenburg

-district. I had to drive hard to get

-past. I was lucky, and came safely through.

-Passing Lichtenburg, I came to Badenhorst,

-and found a deserted shop in which I could

-take up my abode. Here also we had kind

-friends, who took care to keep us supplied

-with vegetables. One evening, a fortnight

-later, just as I had gone to bed, the report

-was spread that the “khakis” were coming.

-It was very dark and cold, but I was soon up

-and dressed and had the waggons packed, and off

-we went again on the road. Next morning it

-seemed true that the “khakis” were behind

-us; once again we drove past Lichtenburg.

-Now there seemed nothing left for me but to

-fly with all possible speed to the Zwartruggens.

-When I got there Mr Joubert came on with

-me and brought me far into the mountains.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>

-“Here,” he said, “no ‘khakis’ had found their

-way yet.” And there I had to stay. There

-were many big trees growing, and the Marico

-River looked lovely as it flowed along; it was

-a pleasant spot to stay in. I made an oven

-so as to be able to bake my bread. I set up

-my hut in the cool shade of the trees, where

-all looked so beautiful and green, and made a

-stable for my horses with some trees and a

-kraal for the sheep, just as if I were destined

-to live here a long time.</p>

-

-<p>My soap was all finished and I began much

-to feel the need of it to keep my children

-clean.</p>

-

-<p>I was advised to burn some vogelsent<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> to

-make soap out of the ashes. I gathered some

-“vogels,” had them burned, and succeeded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>

-in making some good soap. The children

-wandered on the mountain side searching

-for wild honey. I thought that if the

-“khakis” did not worry me, I should

-remain here for a long time. But after a

-fortnight my husband turned up, and said

-that it was too cold to live out on the veldt,

-and we went back to the farm belonging to

-Mrs Lombard. From there General De la

-Rey and his staff went on to the Free State,

-where they were to meet President Steyn

-and General De Wet. I had been here only

-twelve days when early one morning the

-cannon suddenly began to make such a

-threatening noise that I hastened to pack

-up my belongings and fled away once more.

-At Drinkfontein I thought that I would wait

-and find out where the “khakis” were moving

-to. But soon I heard again the roaring of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>

-the cannon. At that moment I was making

-some candles; water and fat were both hot. It

-was high time to be on our way, and I said,

-“Get ready and make a start; but I must

-somehow or other finish my work.” The

-oxen were not by the waggon, so that it was

-some little time before everything was ready;

-and I had finished my candles when the

-waggon was prepared to start. Then we

-were again flying as hard as we could through

-the Lichtenburg district across the Harts

-River. It is not a pleasant country to

-wander in; there are no woods or shady

-trees; and as soon as the “khakis” had gone

-back, back I returned also, to try to find

-better headquarters. And so the time passed

-till General De la Rey returned. Then he

-went away again, back to the Wolmaransstad

-district. Meanwhile I kept wandering around.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>

-Suddenly we heard that many of the enemy’s

-laagers were advancing together towards

-Klerksdorp. I went on some distance

-farther, and then from all sides the people

-began to hurry onwards, so that the flight

-was now beginning in earnest. The troops

-were advancing in great force. We fled in

-the direction of Makouwenkop and then

-were joined again by General De la Rey.

-At last the Boer commandoes managed to

-get through, so that they got behind the

-English. Then we had to fly as hard as we

-could so as to keep in front. Some people

-went back that night, hoping to break

-through the English troops. They said that

-I ought to go with them; but I said, “No,

-I shall go forward, and I shall see if I cannot

-escape that way.”</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> <i>Vogelsent.</i>—Lumps of resin that exude from certain

-trees.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p>When we came to the Vaal River we were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>

-forced to turn about. We took another way

-back. After driving all day, we stopped for a

-little. We had to get food ready as quickly as

-possible. It was very dark; but later the

-moon began to shine. We fled on in great

-anxiety, knowing that at any moment the

-“khakis” might be upon us. My husband said

-that it would be too bad if they were to take

-me prisoner when he was near the waggon, for

-he would have to fight then, and to leave me

-to myself. I said, “Nay, do not let

-that disturb you; do what you can to escape

-when they come; the Lord has always preserved

-me until now, and He will continue

-to do so.” At midnight we stopped for a

-little to let the oxen take a rest; but after

-an hour or two we pressed forward again

-in good earnest. Bokkie was saddled and

-marched behind the waggon, and all were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>

-ready to meet the “khakis.” We hurried on;

-it was near the break of day, and I thought

-to myself how grateful I should be to the

-Lord if it pleased Him to guide the course of

-the night so that I might not be taken. It

-grew light and the sun began to shine. All

-was quiet and we stopped to rest. Then it was

-reported that the “khakis” had gone past us.</p>

-

-<p>We were all very happy, and after we had

-had something to eat, and had taken a little

-rest, we went once more on our way. It was

-Saturday, and we hoped to be able to spend

-Sunday in peace. When we had gone on

-again, I sat in my waggon and felt very thankful

-that this time I had again escaped with

-my freedom. And then the words came into

-my head, “Offer your thanks unto the Lord,

-and call upon the name of the Almighty.”

-“Yes,” I thought, “that is what I have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>

-done in my need; praise be unto the Lord

-that He has preserved me from falling into

-the hands of mine enemy. The good God

-has saved me now and many a time

-before.”</p>

-

-<p>On Sunday we found ourselves in Brakspruit,

-and there we spent a peaceful Sabbath

-day: on Monday we set out for Wolmaransstad,

-there we found our houses in ruins. It

-was dreary to return and find the place in

-such a plight.</p>

-

-<p>A little way from Wolmaransstad we went

-to Mr Bezuidenhout’s farm and found that

-his house was fortunately still intact. We

-were able to bake bread there and make

-preparations for our next flight. After remaining

-there a week we went back to the

-Lichtenburg district. At Malgasfontein I

-found refuge in a house whose owners had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>

-been taken by the “khakis.” As I had a

-good number of oxen with me, and it was

-raining just enough, I had a lot of mealies

-sown there, for we were constantly doing

-whatever we could to keep things going.

-Everybody sowed and planted wherever possible.

-The “khakis” might destroy as

-much as they liked, the Boers were still full

-of courage.</p>

-

-<p>I had great difficulty at that time to keep

-things straight; as I have many children it

-grew extremely difficult to keep them all

-clean. Soap was still very scarce; I could

-not get more anywhere. As far as clothes

-were concerned I was happy as long as they

-were only clean. A man told me he had

-scraped off some deposit of saltpetre from a

-wall at Schoonspruit and had made good soap.

-As soon as possible I got a bag of it and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>

-also made some very good soap, so that I

-had not to worry about that any longer.</p>

-

-<p>After we had been here about three weeks

-General De la Rey came back from the Zwartruggens

-after the defeat of Colonel Van Donop,

-which took place at Kleinfontein on the

-24th of October 1901. It was on the 24th

-of October 1901, the very day that we had

-been married for twenty-five years, that a

-terrible battle was fought, in which many

-people were killed or wounded, and among

-them one more good friend of ours, Commandant

-Kritzinger, and his son, both of

-whom were killed. So that we had on this

-day, instead of a silver wedding feast, a

-terrible shedding of blood. There were great

-losses on both sides. But the burghers were

-now, however, well supplied again with

-clothes and other things which they had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>

-needing badly. We had made up our minds

-to stay here, when suddenly came the report

-that the troops were advancing. We made

-a hurried start in the direction of Harts River,

-and went on from there till past the Zoutspannen.

-When the enemy had gone off in

-another direction back we went again slowly all

-along the Harts River. Whenever we thought

-that we were going to be left in peace for a

-little while, we would find that the English

-troops were coming in such numbers that we

-would have to go on trekking backwards and

-forwards without any respite. With the

-approach of Christmas things grew quieter.

-I went to Doornfontein, Badenhorst’s place.

-The houses had been injured but not quite

-destroyed, so that I was able to make use of

-one during the time that I remained.</p>

-

-<p>My people were all with me; we spent a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>

-pleasant Christmas. Still, we were not very

-far from Klerksdorp, where there were so

-many “khakis” that the day after Christmas

-we had to begin our march again. A few

-days later I got a message telling me to turn

-back to Doornfontein; and there we all met

-again and spent the New Year. That was

-in 1901. The day after New Year’s Day

-there were so many “khakis” about that I had

-to fly past Lichtenburg and take refuge in

-the Zwartruggens. Putfontein, where I next

-found myself, was utterly destroyed and

-burnt down. As I was greatly concerned

-because my people had no bread with them,

-I wandered round the desolate place hoping

-to find an oven which had not been destroyed.

-All the ovens had been broken down, but at

-last I found an attempt at one that the poor

-women had set up and used for preparing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>

-bread. I said, “It does not look of much

-use, still I shall try what I can do.” It was

-late in the evening and rain was falling.

-There was no wood to be got, but I went on

-with my breadmaking, and the boy (a Kaffir)

-had to try and make a fire somehow or other.

-He was a very sharp boy, and he succeeded

-in heating the oven.</p>

-

-<p>General Kemps had his laager in the same

-place. In the evening all the burghers came

-together, and they asked me if I would join

-in their worship. “With pleasure,” I said.

-It was then quite dark. I went to the laager

-and we had a short service, and after that

-sang songs out of the “Kinderharp.” It was

-so pleasant that I quite forgot to bake my

-bread. We also sang beautiful hymns that

-they themselves had composed, so that I had

-a very pleasant evening. I hurried to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>

-oven, where I found that the biscuit had

-risen. It seemed as if the oven were not hot

-enough, and yet I could not get any more

-fuel for it. I put all the bread in and

-thought “let it bake itself as best it can.” I

-waited till I thought that it was ready and

-then I sent Sampson, the boy, to bring it out

-of the oven. He came back with it and it

-looked still as if it were quite raw. However,

-it was always something to eat. I went to

-sleep. Next morning I had hoped to be able

-to spend a peaceful Sunday. A little way

-from my waggon were some big trees, and as

-many burghers were there, we all agreed to

-meet under the trees to hold our service. I

-and my children were there and many

-burghers; but as all had not arrived we

-waited a while until the leader said he would

-go on with the service, and then the people<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>

-would come fast enough. After we had sung

-he began to speak to us, but it did not look

-as if any more people were coming. We

-were some distance from the waggons and

-could see that there everyone was hurrying

-backwards and forwards. I thought that the

-old man did not seem very much inclined to

-put a stop to his service, but things looked

-to me so grave that I said that we must

-really go to see what was happening. We

-hurried back to the waggons, and very soon

-we could hear the firing. I started off as

-quickly as possible. Very soon many people

-in their waggons were keeping up with mine.

-We fled for some distance and then sent out

-scouts a little way back. General De la Rey

-with his staff came up. It was he who had

-been under that heavy firing; a mark was on

-his back where a bullet had whizzed past.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>

-They had all escaped unhurt and were very

-hungry and tired. It was then that the

-bread I had baked the night before served in

-good stead. They ate some, and that same

-evening they had to go back. I was thus able

-still to supply them with bread. I went on

-to the Zwartruggens this time; I did not

-want to go so far into the mountains as it

-was beginning to be very warm there. On

-the slopes of the mountains large trees were

-growing. I set up my tent in the shade.

-There was fruit to be had: my children were

-happy.</p>

-

-<p>Then I heard that the enemy were coming

-with their blockhouses towards Lichtenburg.

-Then I knew I must go out of the mountains;

-I did not want to get blocked up. And we

-went away again, after having been a week

-there.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p>

-

-<p>At Duikfontein I found large numbers of

-cattle and sheep that our people had brought

-through the lines. General Kemp’s commando

-had succeeded in doing this and in

-bringing cattle to other districts also. I was

-still waiting there when General De la Rey

-arrived with his staff. By that time I felt

-quite rested. He said that it was not necessary

-for me to go at once to Rustenburg. So

-we merely went to a place not very distant.

-A day or two later there were again so many

-“khakis” gathered in Lichtenburg that we

-did not dare stay longer, as it was only three

-hours’ distance from the village. We went

-from there to some untilled ground belonging

-to us, which we kept for the cattle, two and a

-half hours away from Lichtenburg. It was a

-good neighbourhood for fruit; there was

-plenty of water, and not very distant was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>

-large fruit farm. We hoped thus to be able

-to stay for a while. We sent the waggon to

-get fruit, and we set up our tent under the

-cool trees.</p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="004" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/004.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">“The picture of my wandering life”.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>And here you have the picture of my

-wandering life. When I could set up the

-tent under shady trees and cover the floor

-with green grass, then I felt thoroughly

-happy and content. Often when in such a

-good place I thought to myself, “If only I

-could stay here quietly for some time how

-happy and pleasant it would be!” And

-sometimes I had the good fortune to be able

-to stay for two days or a week in such a

-spot. But at other times it would happen

-that just as I had got everything in good

-order, then the “khakis” would be upon

-us and everything would have to be

-taken down quickly to make a fresh start.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>

-Often we fled until the middle of the

-night, and when we could stop to rest it

-would be so dark that it was impossible to

-see one’s hands before one’s eyes. Yet the

-tent would have to be put up before we

-could get to sleep.</p>

-

-<p>When I saw the bright sun shining in the

-morning, often I thought, “How much pleasanter

-the sunlight is than the darkness; what

-joy will it be for me when the sun of peace is

-shining for me again!” Then again I would

-come to a whole district where not a tree or

-cool spot was to be found. The only cool

-place would be just under the waggon, on the

-ground, and that was so uncomfortable that I

-could not help sometimes crying out, “Why

-should I have to suffer so grievously?” but

-the next moment I would think, “After the

-bitter comes the sweet.” When I left my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>

-house and went into Lichtenburg to live in

-the village, because I felt so lonely on my

-farm, I thought I was going to stay there

-until the war should come to an end. I

-never imagined that I should never set foot

-in my house again. I was always particular

-to keep my house neat and clean; it was the

-greatest pleasure I had to keep my home in

-good order. I used to think sometimes,

-“Perhaps it is not right that I should think

-so much of my house,” and yet I could not

-help it. A pretty home on a farm, with

-abundance of cattle and all that is needful,

-always seemed to me the happiest life. When

-I was wandering over the veldt with a tent,

-and especially when I came to dusty and

-sandy places, I kept thinking all the time

-of my house, so clean and so cool. The day

-they told me that it had been destroyed I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>

-could not keep my tears back. It was so

-hard out on the veldt and I had longed so

-often for my house; now I had to hear that

-it had been broken up and razed to the

-ground.</p>

-

-<p>But I told myself quickly that I must not

-weep. “Why should I be better off than all

-my fellow-sufferers whose houses had also

-been broken up or burned down?”</p>

-

-<p>I went back again, this time to Gestoptefontein.

-That evening General De la

-Rey was in the neighbourhood, but I knew

-nothing of his movements nor he of mine.

-But he arrived the next morning, for the

-English were now closing up on every side.

-I got breakfast ready, and after the men had

-had something to eat, off they had to go

-again, this time to trek up against Methuen.

-I remained in Gestoptefontein so as to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>

-able to find out where the troops were moving;

-and it was soon reported to me that they

-were coming in my direction. These were

-the troops from Klerksdorp, so there we were

-again, exposed to the danger of being surrounded.

-So many of us came trekking on

-that we kept getting into one another’s path;

-but we could only say, “The more the merrier,”

-and go on without losing courage.

-“Now we should have to go to Waagkraal,”

-said everybody. I said, “Very well, the

-place has a good name, and so we can venture

-it.” It was a very dark night when we

-reached there. We were all hungry, and had

-first of all to get our food ready. After that

-we went to sleep, and early the next morning

-a couple of hundred of our burghers arrived

-also.</p>

-

-<p>They were all going nearer now to see what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>

-they could do against the English forces, but

-there were so many troops they could not tell

-where to begin.</p>

-

-<p>Most of them went on towards Methuen’s

-laager to see what they could find to do there.

-The enemy’s troops moved forward to meet

-them. Our burghers were now in Pretorius’s

-place, where I had been staying quite lately;

-the English army was coming up along the

-Harts River.</p>

-

-<p>I was now so far from the Boer laager that

-I began to fear that if the English drove them

-away I should certainly fall into the hands of

-the enemy. We waited in great anxiety to

-hear what would be the result of the battle.

-The country was very bare and exposed just

-there, and as the troops had many guns with

-them it was dreadful to think of the fighting.

-Yet on the evening of the 1st of March there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>

-came a report that the laager was taken and

-that Lord Methuen had been wounded. I

-could not believe that Lord Methuen was

-really wounded. The following morning I

-felt a great wish to pay a visit to the laager.

-I had my horses harnessed and started. I

-had to drive a good way—it seemed to me

-for nearly four hours—and although I had

-wanted to go back the same day to my

-waggons, I found it would be too late to do

-so. I arrived at the laager in the afternoon,

-and there I found an enormous crowd of men

-and animals. I asked my husband if really

-Lord Methuen were here. “Yes,” he answered,

-“it is the man who sent you out of Lichtenburg.”

-“Then I shall go and see him,” I said.

-I went with my daughter, and we found him,

-quartered with a few tents and waggons,

-a little distance from the laager. When<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>

-I got there, one of our people, a man called

-Tom, said that he did not want to see any

-visitors. Yes, that I could well understand,

-that it was not pleasant for him to see the

-Boers. All the same, when he heard that

-I was there, he said that I might come in—that

-he would like to see me. I went into

-his tent; there lay the great, strong man

-wounded above the knee, right through the

-bone. When I had come in he begged me to

-forgive him for all the annoyance he had

-caused me, and he asked if I had suffered

-much discomfort from all that running away.

-“No,” I said, “it all went much better than I

-had expected. I did not even have to do my

-best to escape from falling into your hands.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh,” said he, “I have done my best to

-catch you.” And so we “chaffed” each

-other. As it was a difficult position for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>

-both of us, I asked him if his leg were

-hurting him very much. He said, “No,

-not very much.”</p>

-

-<p>“Then it won’t be a good thing for us,”

-I said, “if your leg gets cured so quickly,

-then you will come and shoot at us again.”</p>

-

-<p>He laughed and said, “No, I am going

-away, and I will not shoot at you any

-more.”</p>

-

-<p>Then he told me all about Lichtenburg,

-and how things were going there, and he

-said that my houses were still unharmed.</p>

-

-<p>I said, “But my dwelling-house has been

-destroyed.”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, yes,” he said, “that had to be

-broken down. General De la Rey might

-have been coming to it some fine morning

-and firing at me out of it. That was why

-it had to be broken down.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p>

-

-<p>Then he told me how glad he was to be

-able to go back to Klerksdorp, and he

-asked me to let the telegram to his wife

-be sent off as quickly as possible.</p>

-

-<p>Then, as I also wanted to send a telegram

-to my children in Pretoria, I told him that

-he must take good care of it and forward

-it, so that they too should be sure to get

-it. Yes, he said, he would not fail to

-do so. And he was true to his word; for

-when I met my children later they said

-they had received it.</p>

-

-<p>Then it grew late and it was time to

-return. I wished him a speedy recovery.

-When I came to the laager they gave me

-one of the waggons which they had taken

-from the enemy to sleep in. It was late

-and I had to see to our dinner. But everything

-seemed in such a muddle among all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>

-these menfolk; I did not know where to

-lay my hand upon what I wanted.</p>

-

-<p>There were a few Kaffirs belonging to the

-English there, and these had to help me

-with my work that evening. It seemed

-just as if these English Kaffirs were thinking,

-“How aggravating it is to have to do

-with the Boer women;” but that did not

-help them a bit—they had to work.</p>

-

-<p>Fortunately, there was a water dam near

-the waggon, and we had an abundance of

-water. I got dinner ready, but nobody

-made his appearance; it was very late

-when at last the men arrived. They had

-been keeping the prayer hour. General De

-la Key said, and I was very glad to hear

-it; for does not everything depend on the

-blessing of God? After dinner we went to

-bed; and the next morning, as it was the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>

-Sabbath, we went to the laager where

-service was to be held by a missionary

-who still remained with our commandoes.

-We had hoped to take part in a pleasant

-service, but there was a good deal of discontent

-among the people because Lord

-Methuen was to be set free, and the

-preacher took for a text, “That it would

-be displeasing unto the Lord did we allow

-such a man, who had dealt so cruelly with

-our women and children, to escape untried.”</p>

-

-<p>I said, “How bitter is the lot of man!

-We were all going to praise the Lord, and

-now there is so much sin among us that

-we should rather weep.” But it was true;

-it seemed almost impossible to be charitable

-when one thought of all that had happened

-to so many women and children.</p>

-

-<p>They made Methuen come back. General<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>

-De la Rey said to the burghers, “There

-he is, what do you want me to do to

-him?”</p>

-

-<p>When they had all heard what General

-De la Rey had to say about the matter, it

-was agreed to leave it to the officers, and

-these decided to let him go free.</p>

-

-<p>General De la Rey came up to my waggon,

-and just then Tom came straight from Lord

-Methuen and told us how he was longing

-to go back, and that he was quite ill from

-dread at the thought of having to go on

-again.</p>

-

-<p>I had a fat chicken killed, and I took

-some biscuits and sent them with the

-chicken to the wounded lord.</p>

-

-<p>However it may be, I could not bring

-myself to think it right to be so cruel.

-People kept asking me how it was possible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>

-that I could be kind to such a man. I

-said that so far I had never learned to

-hate anyone, and that therefore I could

-still do good to my adversary; especially

-when God gave me the grace and the

-strength to prove to my enemy that, in

-spite of all the desolation and destruction

-he had wrought, there still remained something

-over for me.</p>

-

-<p>We were camping here under some lovely

-trees. All my people had got here now, and

-many others kept coming for clothes and

-tarpaulins and all kinds of necessaries, so

-that fresh heart was put into them to push

-forward with their task.</p>

-

-<p>After a few days we heard that a large

-number of “khakis” were coming on from

-Klerksdorp.</p>

-

-<p>“Yes,” I said, “now they will be after the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>

-Boers again.” General De la Rey went to the

-commando to see that all should be ready to

-receive the “khakis” when they came. However,

-they kept quiet for the moment in

-Klerksdorp.</p>

-

-<p>I had pitched my tent in a lovely little

-wood. Everything was looking very well;

-the veldt was in good condition; my cattle

-were all doing very well when suddenly the

-pest broke out among my animals. This

-was very disappointing; however, it did not

-go so very badly with them.</p>

-

-<p>The week had come to an end, and I was

-just going to sleep on Saturday night when

-suddenly General De la Rey and Ferreira and

-young Coos came up to my waggon.</p>

-

-<p>“I was not to wait for them,” they said,

-“there was such a large number of troops in

-Klerksdorp, and we were not so very far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>

-them.” After they had had something to eat,

-we went to sleep. On Sunday everything

-was quiet. President Steyn had also joined

-us. We all met in the morning at service,

-and I asked President Steyn to come and

-dine with us that day. We had a very

-pleasant time, and heard nothing more of

-the English.</p>

-

-<p>Early on Monday morning, just as I had

-got up, there came a man all red with blood

-asking, “Where is the General?” “Here

-he is,” I said. “General,” he cried, “there

-are the English.” The horses were quickly

-saddled. I did not know how to hurry

-enough, to get all my things packed, the

-“khakis” were now so near; however, we

-had all learned to get ready quickly when

-the enemy was coming. Very soon we had

-finished everything and off we started again,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>

-keeping a good look-out to see that the

-troops were not closing upon us.</p>

-

-<p>Very soon we had formed into a very large

-“trek.”</p>

-

-<p>We started off from Brakspruit. At one

-o’clock in the afternoon we stopped to rest,

-still not knowing what had happened in the

-night. Later came a rumour that the troops

-had taken a great many prisoners that night,

-and among others all the members of General

-De la Rey’s staff. “What a fortunate thing,”

-I said, “that he had been in the waggon that

-night; if it had not been for that he might

-very well have been taken also. It was a

-merciful ordinance of the Almighty that had

-so guided his steps.” We did not know at the

-time if all had been taken or killed.</p>

-

-<p>I went to the place of Roodewal; there we

-all waited, including President Steyn. We<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>

-kept a feast day there, Dominie Kestell holding

-the service. We found a large community,

-with many women and children. I was

-surprised to see how well they were looking.

-It was now Saturday. On Sunday we had

-to fly once more, this time towards the Harts

-River. From there we went on to Coetzee’s

-place, where we arrived late in the evening.

-Still later, General De la Rey arrived with his

-men.</p>

-

-<p>In the morning, after we had had breakfast,

-the burghers all went back to the commando.

-I got everything ready for our dinner and set

-it to cook, and then went for a moment to

-the waggon of one of my friends. We were

-sitting there talking, when suddenly there

-were the cannon reverberating again not

-very far from us. Everyone tried to get

-ready before everyone else; it was not very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>

-long before we were all once more on the

-“trek.” There was now a very large number

-of waggons driving on together. Some went

-towards the clumps of trees, others went

-on over the veldt where there was no road.

-“It will go hard with us to-day,” I thought,

-“the whole country is so bare; they can see

-us from a very long way off.” Little Coos

-was close to my waggons. He dashed off

-alone towards the commando. I felt very

-nervous lest he might come suddenly upon

-the troops. The battle went on; the people

-in the waggons had to get away from it as

-best they could. Later it began to rain. In

-the afternoon things were quiet, so that we

-were able to make a halt. The food that I

-had half cooked in the morning had to go

-once more over the fire. “It will soon be

-ready now,” I said.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p>

-

-<p>In the evening we went on again. We

-heard that the camp of the “khakis” was in

-Brakspruit, at no great distance from us.</p>

-

-<p>Now we waited to hear in what direction

-they were moving. The following day it

-began to rain very hard. I had no wood

-to make a fire. We were standing there on

-a barren rise, looking out to see which way

-we should have to go, and here and there I

-saw an ant-heap burning. I said to the

-boy,<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> “Set one on fire for us, and put on

-the ‘kastrol’<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and let us try to get something

-ready to eat.” I had a large green sailcloth,

-and out of this I made a screen, so that there

-was lots of room to keep dry in, and very

-soon I had plenty of company round me.

-That helped to make the time pass, but as

-<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>for eating or drinking, we could do neither.

-It took a very long time before the ant-hill

-began to burn. I thought, “If only the

-‘khakis’ would wait till our food could be

-cooked!” We got on so slowly with the

-ant-hill, the “pap” would not boil. Simson

-was doing all he could to make the fire burn

-up—we were all very hungry. At last

-there was some good soup ready, and we

-had friends with us to help us eat it, so

-that we began to enjoy ourselves. We had

-just finished when there came the order,

-“inspan.” Very quickly we got ready, and

-away we went once more. That evening we

-had to drive on till very late. It grew so

-dark that we could scarcely see anything,

-and yet we could not make a halt. My

-boy asked what he should do, as he could

-not tell whether he were on the right path<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>

-or not. My oxen toiled on slowly, and I

-said that we had better stick to the path

-and go on. We could not outspan, as I had

-no idea where we were, and we did not even

-know now if we were still on the path that

-the people in the waggons had taken. On

-we went, and at last, late in the night, came

-to the waggons. All was silent; everyone

-was fast asleep. I had nothing that I could

-give the children to eat; and the first thing

-I wanted to do was to milk the cows. We

-waited a little, but no cows came up. We

-had gone one way and they the other; we

-could not get to them that night. I told

-the boy to take an ox-yoke and chop it up

-for firewood, so as to be able to get some

-water boiled and make tea. After we had

-had tea I went to sleep. The Kaffirs started

-out very early in the morning to look for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>

-the cows. The boy had been very good; he

-had looked after them the whole night, and

-he now came up to us with all the animals.

-The calves were close to the waggons, and

-the Kaffirs set to work at once to milk the

-cows. How glad the children were to be

-able to come to the pailful of milk!</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> A Kaffir, Simson.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> <i>Kastrol</i>, from the French <i>casserole</i> = pot or deep pan.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-

-<p>It was a finer day; it had left off raining.

-We were now in the neighbourhood of

-Schweizer-Renecke.</p>

-

-<p>Then came General De la Rey to my

-waggons with the news that all the Generals

-were to go the following week to Klerksdorp.

-I had a great many people with me just then—General

-De Wet and many others.</p>

-

-<p>On Monday, after we had spent a peaceful

-Sunday all together, the Generals started for

-Klerksdorp. I went to a place not very far

-from Schweizer-Renecke, for the troops were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>

-stationed in great force at Rooiwal, and were

-also scattered about at many other places.</p>

-

-<p>Here were a great many “treks” of women

-and children, who were also very much afraid

-of the troops. Our commandoes were not

-very far away, so that I could easily hear if

-the “khakis” were coming. I thought that

-if only they would let me stay quietly

-till the Generals had left them I should be

-happy. But we kept on hearing of more and

-more troops advancing. I said, “How can

-that be? I thought that while the Generals

-were with them there would be peace for the

-time.” But no; it grew worse. I had a

-great many people and cattle with me, so

-that we kept ourselves well informed as to

-what the “khakis” were doing.</p>

-

-<p>We hardly knew now where next to go:

-the blockhouses were hemming us in on every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>

-side—we had to be on the watch the whole

-time. Suddenly we saw some horsemen come

-dashing on, and they called out to us, “Here

-are the ‘khakis.’”</p>

-

-<p>It was a dreadful commotion. Everyone

-was saddling and harnessing. My oxen were

-not there, and I had no man with me to help.

-There were many people, but they had to see

-to their own safety. “Ah!” I thought, “if

-only my oxen would come!”</p>

-

-<p>I did not want to be taken prisoner now

-after having escaped so many times, especially

-when we were, perhaps, nearly at the

-end of the terrible war. If only I could get

-off this time!</p>

-

-<p>As people passed me they cried out, “Take

-your spider, and leave your waggons and

-everything behind you.” I replied, “You

-go on.” And the children began to cry, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>

-to say, “What is going to become of us?

-Everyone is hurrying on!”</p>

-

-<p>“Let them go on,” I said. “All their

-women and children are prisoners; why

-should they trouble about us?” The people

-who had waggons abandoned them and hastened

-on. As my waggon stood by the way-side

-they kept on telling me that I must

-come too—that the troops were close at

-hand. At last there were my oxen coming

-over the rise. The children helped to catch

-all the oxen that we could get inspanned.</p>

-

-<p>Then I saw a troop of horsemen riding up

-over the rise. I asked the people passing

-me who they were—if they were “khakis”

-or Boers?</p>

-

-<p>“No,” they said; “they are Boers.”</p>

-

-<p>“Good!” I cried, but I hurried my people

-all the same. As soon as we were ready the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>

-whips touched the oxen, and off we went at a

-good trot.</p>

-

-<p>After we had driven on some little distance

-the yoke broke.</p>

-

-<p>Then for the first time a good Samaritan

-passed us. Ada said to him, “Do help us so

-that we can get the ox yoked, and tell us

-where the English are.”</p>

-

-<p>The young man got off his horse and helped

-us, and he said that the “khakis” were not so

-very near. We went on quickly, then presently

-we heard that there had been a terrible

-fight. Many of our men had been killed or

-wounded. Oh! what dreadful news for us!

-I went on. Towards evening we halted for a

-while. After having eaten we started off

-again, for we thought that the troops would

-be able to get through to Schweizer-Renecke,

-and that we should be straight in their path.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>

-Late at night we stopped to rest. Early

-next morning we went on again; then, as we

-heard that they were not coming any nearer,

-we halted in a place not very far from

-Schweizer-Renecke. As it was near the end

-of the week, we wanted to stay there over

-Sunday, and this we did. That Sunday I

-had a great many visitors.</p>

-

-<p>I was astonished to see how many women

-and children were still out, and how well they

-looked, although they were wanderers. We

-talked about the peace that we were hoping

-for, though not for a peace that should impair

-our independence. It was very pleasant that

-evening to hear the sweet singing of the

-people as they sat near their waggons. The

-following morning we went to Piet De la

-Rey’s place, and as he was also with us we

-had made up our minds to stay there. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>

-it did not come off, for we found we could

-get no water there. We went on a little

-farther, closer to Schweizer-Renecke.</p>

-

-<p>My tent had just been pitched when

-Johannes De la Rey, the son of Piet De la

-Rey, suddenly appeared. He and his brother

-had both been wounded in the last battle.</p>

-

-<p>I had a bed made up in the tent and put

-him on it, for he was very much fatigued

-from wandering about since he had been

-wounded.</p>

-

-<p>He was delighted to be able to rest. That

-afternoon he was taken to the hospital in

-Schweizer-Renecke, his father going with

-him. There were many more wounded. I

-went to visit them, and found them lying in

-the devastated houses. We thought, “We

-must make the best of it and take as good

-care of them as possible.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p>

-

-<p>Going to the landdrost, I told him that

-as there were troops in Bloemhof I thought it

-would not be advisable to stay any longer in

-Schweizer-Renecke. “Oh, no,” he said; “it

-is quite safe here. If the ‘khakis’ do come

-I shall know it in good time, and you need

-not be at all anxious.”</p>

-

-<p>I said, “Very well, if it is really so then I

-shall stay on here;” but I was not at all easy

-in my mind. I went to my waggon, which

-was about half an hour’s distance from the

-village, and told the man who was with me

-that if I were to follow my own instinct I

-should get ready at once and leave the place.</p>

-

-<p>He said that there was no need to go. I

-let myself be talked over, and remained for

-the night, as they all thought that things

-were so quiet. That night I slept well, and

-was still sleeping early in the morning when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>

-up came my boy with these words: “Here

-are the ‘khakis’!”</p>

-

-<p>This time they were right in the village,

-where all was in disorder. I felt all the

-worse because I had remained there against

-my own instinct.</p>

-

-<p>My people hastened to yoke the oxen.

-Everything was lying on the ground, but

-they packed it all into the waggons very

-quickly. We had to see what was to be

-done. I asked, “Is the hen-coop open?”

-There were still a few chickens out then. I

-said still, “Get the chickens into it;” but

-the fighting was coming so near that we had

-to hurry on.</p>

-

-<p>Then there was such a crowd of men and

-beasts that it grew very difficult to make

-one’s way through and get away. Commandant

-Erasmus came up and said, “Don’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>

-you run away; it is only wedding-guests who

-are firing like that; those are no ‘khakis.’”

-I drew up and said, “Go and get my

-chickens.” The boy went back and then

-came the news that of course they were

-“khakis.”</p>

-

-<p>Then our flight was doubly hasty. The

-fighting now was much nearer us. I thought,

-“I shall fly to the last.” Then I had more

-misfortunes. There were the chickens out of

-the coop again. I said, “Let us wait for one

-moment and get the fowls in first, and let

-the boy come up with the cows; for if

-I can get no milk I shall be very unhappy.”</p>

-

-<p>The animals were all driven forward; the

-oxen were urged on and we got on at a brisk

-pace.</p>

-

-<p>The ground was vibrating from the firing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>

-of the “khakis.” The way was full of sand

-and rocks. It was very rough travelling. I

-kept wondering every moment where the boy

-could be with the cows; but it was now a

-time when each one had to consider his own

-safety, without troubling to look after me.

-I was waiting for the moment to come when

-I should be taken prisoner. Fortunately,

-young Jacobus De la Rey, son of Pieter,

-caught sight of my waggon and came up.

-He took the whip and began driving the

-oxen onwards while he rode on his horse

-alongside. He came out on the veldt with

-my waggon, and, as he knew the neighbourhood

-very well, he said, “Aunt, I shall do

-what I can to get you out safely.”</p>

-

-<p>“Very well,” I said, “but you must not

-go and get yourself taken for my sake. If

-the English come up with us, then fly away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>

-I shall not come to any harm. If they must

-catch me—well, then, let them do so.”</p>

-

-<p>The mountains were echoing back the

-sound of their firing. I said, “There is one

-comfort, I cannot see any cannon; if they

-were to begin to fire them at me I should

-have to give in then.”</p>

-

-<p>We went on as hard as we could. Young

-Kobus De la Rey said, “They are coming

-over the Rand.”</p>

-

-<p>“Then we are in their hands,” I answered.</p>

-

-<p>Then my boy came up with us and told

-me that the “khakis” had taken my cows.

-They had so fired upon him that he had

-taken to his heels and left the cows behind.

-That was bad news; I did not want to listen

-to it, although we too were in great danger,

-and at any moment they might come and

-take me prisoner also.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp92" id="005" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/005.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">“Our people”.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>I told them that they could not go on any

-longer driving the oxen like that. We should

-have to give in. But still the brave Jacobus

-kept on, and said, “No, aunt, your oxen are

-getting on very well. Don’t you worry about

-them.”</p>

-

-<p>I could not understand myself how it was

-that my waggons were not taken. There was

-not one commando there to keep the “khakis”

-back.</p>

-

-<p>I told myself that when the Lord is

-working His will, then the greatest wonders

-can happen.</p>

-

-<p>We came up to some steep ground when

-one of the yokes broke.</p>

-

-<p>“Now they will be able to see us well,”

-I said; for we had to stand still, which was

-very dangerous. But I kept calm and told

-myself, “My Redeemer is here, and wherever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>

-I may go with Jesus it will always be well.”

-And I clung fast to the hope that we should

-come away safely.</p>

-

-<p>When we had at last got away from these

-dangerous heights, it seemed at once as if

-the fighting were quieting down. However,

-we could not tell whether they might not fall

-upon us from in front, as in that direction lay

-a woody and uneven country.</p>

-

-<p>Very soon we heard that they had not

-come any nearer. But still we went on, to

-get as far away as possible. Then we heard

-that nearly all the people who had been that

-night in Schweizer-Renecke had been taken

-prisoners, and that the very same landdrost

-who had told me towards sunset that he

-would be sure to know when the “khakis”

-were coming had had no time that very

-night to put on his clothes and escape before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>

-they appeared. I thought how sorry I was

-that I had not followed my own wish; had

-I done so, we should not have found ourselves

-in such danger. However, it looked again as

-if we were going to escape, now that the

-fighting was slackening.</p>

-

-<p>After the Almighty I owed my freedom to

-brave little Jacobus De la Rey and Louis De

-la Rey, who also did his best to get us away

-safely. When the troops were so near that

-they could have shot at my waggons, so that

-I wanted to stop, they paid no heed, but continued

-to drive the oxen on at full speed.</p>

-

-<p>I had so many children with me and

-dreaded so much to see them shot dead before

-my eyes that at one moment I thought it

-would be better to give in.</p>

-

-<p>Fortunately, it was not necessary; the

-danger was now over. It was very late<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>

-before we could make a halt. I had nothing

-ready in the waggons to give the children to

-eat; but none of them gave me any trouble,

-not even my little Janne, who was only six

-years old. It was so clever of him to understand

-that when there was nothing to give

-him he would have to wait.</p>

-

-<p>After a short rest we had to go on again.

-At three o’clock in the afternoon we stopped.

-We had no wood, and my boy, who was

-thoroughly dead beat, did not know how he

-was going to make a fire. However, by the

-time the evening had come our food was

-ready.</p>

-

-<p>Now I had no more cows, so that we had to

-do without the precious milk. If my little

-Janne could get nothing else, he used always

-to be contented with milk.</p>

-

-<p>That evening we went farther. As we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>

-were going to unyoke the oxen and rest for the

-night a number of people came past, saying that

-there were troops coming on out of Vryburg.

-“Ah!” I said, “my oxen are so tired, how

-can I get on any farther to-night?” However,

-after resting a little, I went on again.</p>

-

-<p>At sunrise we halted near a farm, where there

-were trees with undergrowth, so that we could

-get firewood.</p>

-

-<p>Coffee was just ready when, before I could

-see to the rest of the breakfast, there came

-the news that the troops were only a couple

-of hours’ riding from us. We should have to

-go on again. We moved very slowly, the

-oxen being so tired. Fortunately, we found

-out it was not true about the troops coming

-from Vryburg.</p>

-

-<p>Sometimes all my Kaffirs would be pulling

-at the sailcloth to hold it down and fasten it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>

-securely, so that I would think that the

-awning was surely going to be blown away

-from the waggon. It was dreadful to go

-through those storms in the waggon. However,

-man’s nature is such that when it is

-once again a beautiful calm evening he thinks

-no more of the storms and the lightnings that

-are over.</p>

-

-<p>It was again a calm and pleasant day; the

-“storm” of the “khakis” was also over—they

-had gone back to Klerksdorp and we

-were able to take a little rest. I went to

-Delport’s place on the Harts River. I had

-lost all my cattle during the flight from

-Schweizer-Renecke. Here I found about

-fifty-two head belonging to me, which had

-been driven on with all the other cattle during

-the flight. But I did not get my cows back;

-those had been looted by the English. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>

-waited anxiously to hear what our people

-were doing in Pretoria. A few days later

-they arrived. I said how disheartening it

-was to have been so worried by the “khakis.”

-They had been doing all they possibly could

-to harm us during the time that the Generals

-were away. I was very glad when they returned;

-then I could get news of my

-children in Pretoria, from whom I had not

-heard for so long. A few days later General

-De la Rey began his meetings. The brave

-burghers were having a bitterly hard life of it

-at that time and their families were in great

-want.</p>

-

-<p>Nevertheless, they would not abandon

-their rights. They were determined to go on

-fighting for their freedom and their rights.</p>

-

-<p>These brave men were depending, not on

-their strength, but on their rights.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p>

-

-<p>It was a very grave question to consider.</p>

-

-<p>They had struggled for so long; they

-had given up wives and children, and all

-that a man holds most precious; there might

-be thousands of the enemy rising up against

-their small band, and even shutting them

-in on every side; nevertheless, they had

-long since grown to be convinced that it

-was not they who were fighting, but a

-Power superior to the might of man. But

-many had been killed or taken, so that they

-were greatly weakened, especially of late.</p>

-

-<p>And worst of all were the defections and

-treachery.</p>

-

-<p>When a man behaves treacherously it is

-a terrible thing.</p>

-

-<p>For only think to what all that has

-brought them. Some became traitors; too

-spiritless to help their own people, they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>

-courageous enough to take up arms to help

-the English; on all those rests the guilt of

-their brothers’ blood. The result was to

-render those who held on still more steadfast

-and to teach them still greater abhorrence

-of treachery and of bad faith.</p>

-

-<p>As they had struggled and suffered for

-so long, and it had not pleased God to deliver

-them into the hand of their enemy,

-they did not wish to be themselves the

-ones to do it. And I was entirely at one

-with them, for their story and mine were

-one and the same. It still remains inexplicable

-to me how for seventeen months

-I had been able to fly with my children,

-many a day not knowing what to do.</p>

-

-<p>It is often hard and difficult to “trek”

-round with so many children and not to

-be able to get clothes and other necessaries<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>

-for them. And yet I was able to say

-every day, “The Lord has helped me and

-strengthened me, like He helped the widow of

-Zarephath, so that her cruse never failed her,

-but always remained full.” Often as I lay

-in bed at night, feeling so depressed by

-the thought of what would come of it all,

-did I repeat Hymn 22, “Rest, my soul, thy

-God is King,” and the last verse, “Your

-God is King, be contented with your

-lot.”</p>

-

-<p>And every day the Lord strengthened me

-in this manner, so that I had no right

-to be faithless. And it was the same with

-our people.</p>

-

-<p>They went on with their meetings, and

-every time they decided to persevere and

-not give up. Everywhere it was the same.</p>

-

-<p>I thought, “Who is it that makes the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>

-burghers so strong? It is beyond man’s

-comprehension.”</p>

-

-<p>Yet if one remembers the place of

-Golgotha, then one can better understand.</p>

-

-<p>That the Saviour must suffer so much,

-and yet be innocent, was a difficult thing

-for His disciples to understand at the time.

-It was known throughout the world that the

-Saviour must die, and undergo the most

-cruel treatment, but men could not tell

-why it should be.</p>

-

-<p>And we do not know why this people

-should suffer so bitterly; some day we shall

-learn the reason.</p>

-

-<p>When the meetings were over in the

-Lichtenburg district they went to the Zwartruggens

-and Marico. I was then in the

-Lichtenburg district.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p>

-

-<p>As soon as the General had left Lichtenburg

-the “khakis” began to “trek” on.</p>

-

-<p>They were already advancing rapidly

-towards Vryburg. I heard that they were

-coming on in such large numbers that I

-thought, “Why is it that the ‘khakis’ can

-never let me have a little peace? I shall

-go somewhere where I can stay in some

-little comfort, and I will not fly any more,

-for they are busy making peace. Let the

-‘khakis’ come if they like.” People were all

-flying away with their cattle as hard as

-they could. They advised me to let my

-cattle also go with the rest. I said, “I

-do not know what will be best. I have

-not come across the troops for a long time,

-and I do not know what they would do

-now if I were to meet them.”</p>

-

-<p>I let myself be talked over, and sent all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>

-my cattle away. I had two waggons; I

-let one go with the cattle. I remained with

-one waggon, a tent, a spider and four cows.

-All the rest went in the flight.</p>

-

-<p>The “khakis” came on in large numbers.

-They came swarming over the ground. I

-said, “Where can all these ‘khakis’ have

-come from that there should be such crowds

-of them?” Still I did not go away, but

-stayed on at the place called Corsica, belonging

-to Mr Meyer, where his wife was

-still living and some other women besides.</p>

-

-<p>We kept on hearing of large armies that

-were advancing. All our men were away.</p>

-

-<p>Suddenly we heard the sound of fighting

-not very far from us. Then all at once we

-saw horsemen coming up over the rise. We

-saw that they were Boers, and we asked

-where the troops were. “Not far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>

-here,” they said. “We have just been

-fighting with them.”</p>

-

-<p>It was already late and the burghers went

-away.</p>

-

-<p>In the morning we got up early, knowing

-that the troops would be getting here very

-soon. We had not even breakfasted yet

-when we saw them coming over the rise.</p>

-

-<p>I thought to myself, “What will they do

-to me now? I have been fleeing before them

-for eighteen months and they were doing all

-they could to catch me, but in vain. Perhaps

-they will revenge themselves on me now.

-But,” I thought, “the Lord has always

-watched over me till to-day, and He will

-continue to do so.”</p>

-

-<p>They stopped a few hundred paces away

-from us and rode up and down there for a

-little while. Suddenly they dashed up to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>

-my waggon, came up to where I was sitting

-behind, and one of them asked me where the

-Boers were.</p>

-

-<p>I answered, “There are none here.”</p>

-

-<p>“When were they here last?”</p>

-

-<p>“They went away from here yesterday

-afternoon.”</p>

-

-<p>“Where are the commandoes?” he asked.</p>

-

-<p>“I know nothing about the commandoes.”</p>

-

-<p>Then I told him that as the Kaffirs that

-were among the troops behaved so badly and

-cruelly to women and children I did not want

-to have anything to do with coloured people.

-I only had to deal with white people, and so

-they must just keep the coloured ones away

-from me.</p>

-

-<p>He was polite, and said, “Very well, Mrs

-De la Rey, you shall not be troubled by the

-Kaffirs.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p>

-

-<p>But they kept coming continually to the

-waggon. I thought, “It is rousing their

-appetite for burning.” A Kaffir had already

-told my boy when he was by the fire that

-this waggon and tent would have to be

-burnt.</p>

-

-<p>Colonel Williams came to my daughter in

-front of the tent and asked whose waggon it

-was. When she had told him came the cruel

-order, “It does not matter to me whose

-waggon it is. The woman must get out,

-were she the Queen herself, and the waggon

-and tent must be burnt.”</p>

-

-<p>Then I thought to myself that I must now

-undergo that about which I had heard so

-much from others. To think that poor

-women must see their things taken away

-from them and burnt.</p>

-

-<p>I was very angry, and I thought, “Do what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>

-you like, I shall say what I think and what

-is right.”</p>

-

-<p>I told them again then who I was, and said

-that I was not going to let them burn my

-waggon.</p>

-

-<p>For eighteen months long, ever since Lord

-Methuen sent me out of Lichtenburg, I had

-wandered round with my children. If they

-wanted to burn my things they would have

-to get an order from a superior officer. I

-was not going to let them do it themselves.</p>

-

-<p>The soldiers kept pressing closer. They

-had quite surrounded me. I thought, “Who

-knows how cruel they are going to be?”</p>

-

-<p>But here again I remembered that only as

-far as the Lord would let them could they

-go and no further, and I did not lose faith.</p>

-

-<p>Then suddenly the one with whom I had

-been talking drew his pocket-book out and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>

-wrote an order that the waggon, the tent and

-the cows which I had kept should not be touched

-and that no harm should be done on the place.

-And this was just when, a little way off, in a

-dwelling-house, they had completely taken

-and destroyed everything. They had taken

-away from there all the blankets and more

-or less everything that the women had had

-by them. They used to let this be done by

-the Kaffirs, who took great pride in being

-able to act in such a manner to white women-folks.</p>

-

-<p>And now the officer’s bad temper was quite

-cured. No one might come near my waggon

-and tent now. The soldiers were ordered

-back; a guard was stationed near us so that

-we might not be annoyed by the passers-by.</p>

-

-<p>I was delivered from them the next day.</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p>

-

-<p>I was longing now to hear what had become

-of the people who had taken the cattle with

-them.</p>

-

-<p>The report came that evening that they

-had all been taken.</p>

-

-<p>Then we heard the sound of riding, and we

-wondered if that could be “khakis” again.

-As we were just a handful of women and

-children we would far rather it were not

-more “khakis.” They came riding up. It

-was Dr van Rennenkampf and Tom Sisk.

-How happy we were to see some of our own

-people again! I heard from them then that

-all those with whom I had let my cattle go

-had been taken prisoners.</p>

-

-<p>There I was now, quite helpless. The

-people on the farm were very good, but they,

-too, were equally helpless. We had no living

-animals that we could use for “trekking.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span></p>

-

-<p>The doctor had his cart and mules, and

-therefore I told him he must just stay here

-with us. I felt as if I could die of sorrow;

-I had no wish now to stay any longer, but

-all my cattle were taken and I could not get

-away.</p>

-

-<p>There was nothing here to slaughter; however,

-I thought to myself that things had

-always come right somehow or other up to

-now, and that it would be the same this time

-also.</p>

-

-<p>And there came a brave burgher with sheep

-for the women and children. Thus did the

-Lord always provide that we never should be

-without something to feed us.</p>

-

-<p>And the doctor was there to ride for

-“mealies,” which was a great help to us in

-those days.</p>

-

-<p>The week was not yet over when we heard<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>

-that the “khakis” were coming back from

-Vryburg.</p>

-

-<p>I said, “What am I going to do with the

-‘khakis’ now? I thought they were not

-coming back again.” And just a week after

-they had left, back they were again. They

-came towards us in their thousands. However,

-the doctor was with us now. Colonel

-Williams came up to me and said that

-General Hamilton was coming to see me.

-He had news of General De la Rey.</p>

-

-<p>“Very well,” I said, “let him come.”</p>

-

-<p>Then came Hamilton with a telegram from

-General De la Rey asking him if he had met

-me, and what had happened to me.</p>

-

-<p>He said that he had answered that they

-had met me and had done nothing to me,

-and that all was well with me. We did not

-know anything yet of what they had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>

-doing at Pretoria. We were anxious to have

-news of the peace negotiations, but I could not

-hear anything more. The English behaved

-reasonably this time and did us no harm.

-They wanted to stay on in the place, but

-there was not enough water for such a

-large army, therefore they went away

-again.</p>

-

-<p>I was so unhappy that I had lost all my

-oxen; and now the water, that had always

-been troubled, was so dirty, owing to all the

-troops that had been staying there, that I

-felt still less inclination to stop on.</p>

-

-<p>Fortunately Mr D. van der Merwe succeeded

-in escaping with the Government

-cattle. He gave me two beasts to be

-slaughtered and two milch cows.</p>

-

-<p>It was sad to hear the tales of how the

-“khakis” were now behaving to the people.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>

-A woman came to me weeping and grieving

-bitterly.</p>

-

-<p>“What is the matter with you?” I said.</p>

-

-<p>“Oh, they have taken away my big Bible,

-in which all my children’s names were

-entered. They have taken everything away—nothing

-is left to me; but if only I could

-get my Bible back!”</p>

-

-<p>I said, “Why did you not hold it in your

-arms when the ‘khakis’ were taking everything

-away?”</p>

-

-<p>“Oh,” she said, “I and my children were

-standing there watching everything in bitter

-anguish. We were in a ruined house. When

-they drove the door in I could not bear to be

-with them any longer, and I went out of the

-house with the children; and so they took it

-away without my seeing.”</p>

-

-<p>I said, “I think I should have been able to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>

-get it back for you; but now they have,

-unfortunately, all gone away, and I am afraid

-I cannot help you.”</p>

-

-<p>These were the hardest days of all for me.

-My flour had come to an end, and although

-the Boers had a small flour mill with them

-when they were fleeing, I was not able to get

-at it, so that I had to use my coffee mill for

-grinding. Having so many children with

-me made it very hard sometimes; but the

-children had also been through so much by

-this time that every difficulty gradually

-righted itself.</p>

-

-<p>As they were still very young, and had

-always been used to go regularly to school, it

-was often very wearying for them. It is not

-very comfortable to be constantly wandering

-over the veldt, especially in this fashion.</p>

-

-<p>As we were here to-day and in another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>

-place to-morrow, it often happened that we

-could not get a maid to do the washing.

-Then the children would have to do it themselves.

-They would take the clothes and put

-them in the tub, and then Janne and Hester

-would have to tread on them. But Janne was

-such a little monkey, he was always playing

-tricks on Hester, and then she would have

-to undo all his mischief, and by herself

-tread the clothes up and down till they

-were clean enough for the two little girls to

-finish washing them. Sometimes there was

-very little soap. They would make starch

-out of green “mealies” (Indian corn).</p>

-

-<p>There were many burghers who had been

-schoolmasters before the war. When any of

-them were near my waggons they would keep

-school for the children. After the waggons

-had been outspanned they would all sit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>

-under a shady tree with the master and have

-lessons. People were often surprised to see

-how well we were getting on for fugitives.

-I said, “It does not all go as smoothly as

-you think;” but I often wondered myself

-when I thought of how we got through day

-after day.</p>

-

-<p>We kept the calves close to the waggons,

-and while we were “trekking” they would be

-marched alongside of the oxen. The cows

-were sent on ahead, so that they could be

-milked in the evening; and as long as the

-children could have milk they were always

-content. Sometimes we would put the milk

-into a stone bottle, and thus be able to get

-butter<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and sour milk as well. Our supply

-of coffee, though running short, was not yet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>

-quite finished. As we had so little left, I

-used to cut up petatas<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> into small dice and

-dry and burn them. These I would mix with

-the coffee beans—one-fourth of coffee to three-fourths

-of petatas—and grind it all up together.

-This mixture made quite good coffee.</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> <i>Butter.</i>—Owing to the shaking of the waggon when

-“trekking,” the milk in the stone bottle would gradually

-be churned into butter.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> <i>Petatas.</i>—A species of potato.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p>We had all sorts of difficulties. The poor

-burghers were very badly off for clothes.

-They began tanning sheepskins and using

-them. We got quite clever at dressing the

-skins, and they were soft and clean. If a

-man had a pair of trousers almost worn out

-he would patch them up with skins. It was

-the same thing with boots. We called them

-“armoured” clothes. The women and children

-took “kombaarzen”<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and made skirts

-and jackets out of them.</p>

-

-<div class="footnote">

-

-<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> <i>Kombaarzen.</i>—Blankets. In this case the blankets

-taken from the enemy.</p>

-

-</div>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p>

-

-<p>I had always kept up through everything.

-If life grew too hard in one place I would

-move on to another; but when I had lost my

-cattle, and could not leave when I wanted,

-many a day fell heavily on me. However,

-thanks to the doctor and to a Frenchman

-who remained near us, things were better

-than they otherwise might have been.</p>

-

-<p>We were waiting in great suspense to hear

-the result of the negotiations. At last there

-came a man with the news that peace had

-been declared on the 1st of June. It was

-wonderful. I had been so anxious to hear

-if it would be peace, and now when the news

-came I could not be joyful. I knew nothing

-for certain yet about the terms, and I thought,

-“That is the reason why I do not feel happier,

-although it is two years and six months now

-since we began this dreadful and pitiless<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>

-struggle from which we have so often longed

-to be delivered.”</p>

-

-<p>The children were very happy. The doctor

-and our Frenchman still had their horses, and

-they rode off that same day. Other burghers

-fired their guns into the air for joy. They

-did not know what sort of a peace it was, but

-for the moment they could only rejoice.</p>

-

-<p>I did not want to stay any longer where I

-was, but had still no oxen. A short way off

-there was a man who had a span of Government

-oxen. I sent my boy to this man to

-get them from him so that I should be able to

-return to my own district.</p>

-

-<p>He sent the oxen, and everything was soon

-ready for the start, although, as I had always

-had two waggons with me before, it was very

-difficult to get everything packed into one.

-Whatever I was not able to load I left behind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>

-me. We had been in this place now for more

-than a month, and the people were sorry to

-see us going away. But, however hard it

-might be for me, on I went.</p>

-

-<p>The waggon was heavy and the road very

-sandy, so that very often the children had to

-get out and walk alongside the waggon. The

-first place we came to belonged to Widow

-Lemmer. The poor old woman was very

-unhappy, for that very week the “khakis”

-had taken away her cows and everything else

-that she had remaining.</p>

-

-<p>From there I went on again, but heard no

-talk of peace. I went past the Zoutspannen

-to the place belonging to G. Stolz.</p>

-

-<p>I stopped there that Sunday. In the

-afternoon it was peaceful, and yet I felt so

-sorrowful. Saturday night I could not sleep,

-and that night I said to my daughter Ada,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>

-“I cannot think why I feel like this about the

-peace. If only it is not a surrender of arms,

-this peace that they talk of! But no,” I said,

-“it cannot be anything like that, for then it

-would not be peace.”</p>

-

-<p>At ten o’clock next morning my children

-and I all met together for worship.</p>

-

-<p>I felt very much affected. There had been

-so many Sundays spent in making war, and

-now to-day it was peace. Therefore I said to

-my children, “We have been through so

-many hard and bitter days, and the Almighty

-Father has brought us safely through our

-weary pilgrimage. Let us now thank Him

-with all our hearts.” I felt that it was only

-God’s goodness that had spared us from

-falling into the hands of our adversary.</p>

-

-<p>That afternoon I went to lie down for a

-little in my waggon. At four o’clock in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>

-afternoon Liebenberg arrived from Klerksdorp

-and came to my waggon with the report

-of peace. And now I had to hear that it was

-indeed a surrender of our arms.</p>

-

-<p>I did not know how to pacify my children;

-they wept bitterly, and could not find words

-for their indignation. And yet it was peace

-all the same. I said to them, “Let us keep

-silence; later on we shall understand it all.”</p>

-

-<p>I stayed there till Monday morning. As

-Liebenberg had come to take me to Klerksdorp,

-and as from there I should be able to go

-on to Pretoria, I soon thought to myself,

-“What a joy it will be when I can meet my

-children again, after having been separated

-from them for nearly two years.”</p>

-

-<p>But this peace was so distasteful that I

-could not get over the thought of it.</p>

-

-<p>When everything was packed we made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>

-ready to start. While I was driving I took

-my day-book. The text for that morning

-was Gen. xxii. 7: “And Abraham said God

-will provide....”</p>

-

-<p>Now we went on quickly. I met on that

-road none but sorrowing women and children.

-I said sometimes, “Where can the poor

-burghers be that we do not meet them?”</p>

-

-<p>After having travelled for a couple of days

-we came to Mr D. van der Merwe’s place.

-There I met several burghers. Van der

-Merwe was a good and clever man and I was

-glad to be able to talk with him. He told

-me that, however incomprehensible it might

-all seem, he was sure that the officers after

-having struggled so long and so bitterly

-would now also do their best.</p>

-

-<p>As they had first gone to the Zwartruggens

-and Marico to see that the arms were all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>

-given up, I had not seen any of them

-yet.</p>

-

-<p>We were now in the Lichtenburg district.

-I waited at Mr van der Merwe’s place. It

-was bitterly cold. It snowed for three days,

-and during all my wanderings this was the

-worst cold I had experienced. And there was

-no house to shelter us. There were plenty of

-buildings there, but all were more or less in

-ruins. It was dreadful to see them. Now

-came the time when the burghers in this

-neighbourhood also had to give up their arms.</p>

-

-<p>On the 12th of June the last gun had been

-given up in the Lichtenburg district. That

-evening my people came for the first time to

-my tent. I thought how bitter it was to

-meet them in this way. My husband came

-to me and my son, little Coos. Little Coos

-cried, “Mamma, I have still got my gun.”</p>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p>

-

-<p>It was very hard for him; he could stand

-the war better than the peace. I did not

-want to speak about it with his father. The

-terrible shedding of blood was at end. We

-had offered up our property and our blood for

-Freedom and Justice.... Where was this

-freedom? where was this justice?</p>

-

-<p>Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He had to

-die the cruel death on the cross. His death

-brought us everlasting life; yet Judas killed

-himself.</p>

-

-<p>We have been betrayed by many of our

-burghers. We have lost our right for a time.

-Yet they who struggled to the end, and who

-resolved that right must go first without

-thinking of might, have kept their fortitude.

-However the end may have shaped itself,

-they are glad not to have been Judases.</p>

-

-<p>There was now a great longing on the part<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>

-of all those around to see the members of

-their families from whom they had been

-parted for so long.</p>

-

-<p>I, too, rejoiced that I could go to Pretoria

-to see my children, whom I had not seen for

-so long a time. And I thought again of my

-beloved son, whom I had had to give up.</p>

-

-<p>And yet I had not had to sacrifice so

-much; many a woman had given her husband

-and her children too.</p>

-

-<p>We went on to Klerksdorp in my waggon.

-As we would have to drive for two days

-before getting there, and as Sunday came in

-between, on that day we made a halt. It

-was the last Sunday that I spent out on the

-veldt. I thought earnestly of all that had

-taken place. How many Sundays had I not

-spent in flying before the enemy?</p>

-

-<p>Sunday evening we entered Klerksdorp;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>

-Monday morning I sent back the waggons

-which had housed me and my children for

-twenty months. I had grown so used to life

-in my waggon that I did not like to see it

-go away.</p>

-

-<p>We went to Pretoria that evening, and I

-found my children in well-being. It was

-pleasant after such a long separation. I had

-been two days in Pretoria when a son was

-born to my daughter. Then I became a

-grandmother, for this was the first grand-child.

-He was christened Jacobus Herklaas

-De la Rey. I felt very grateful. In all the

-bitterness of those weary days I was able to

-say, “But He knoweth the way that I take;

-when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as

-gold” (Job xxiii. 10); and also as in Job ii.

-10 (the last part), “What? Shall we receive

-good at the hand of God and shall we not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>

-receive evil? In all this did not Job sin

-with his lips.”</p>

-

-<p>Now, dear brothers and sisters, since we

-are sure that God shall prove His Word, let

-us stand steadfast in our faith and wait for

-the salvation of the Lord. This is the time of

-trial; now will the Lord see if we are worthy

-that He should make His wonders manifest

-unto us before the eyes of the whole world.</p>

-

-<div class="poetry-container">

-<div class="poetry">

-  <div class="stanza">

-    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Though He tarry, He knows His hour,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>He comes, He surely comes:</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>And all eyes shall contemplate Him,</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>All hearts shall realise the deeds</i></div>

-    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Which He wrought here upon earth.</i>”</div>

-  </div>

-</div>

-</div>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="006" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/006.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>One of the three ladies standing up (in

-the accompanying photograph) is my daughter,

-now Mrs Ferreira; the other two are two

-Misses Bezuidenhout. They have there the

-very flags of the Transvaal and Orange

-Free State, which are their great treasure.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>

-The two Misses Bezuidenhout are the

-daughters of the Widow Bezuidenhout, my

-husband’s eldest sister. She is the mother

-of nine children; she too had her house

-burned down and all that she possessed

-taken away from her. I have often found

-her in tears, and she would say to me, “What

-is to become of us all? I and my children

-have not one single animal left alive, and

-everything on my farm has been destroyed!”</p>

-

-<p>Her daughter (Mrs Bodenstein) is also a

-mother of seven children, and when I saw

-her she told me that she had nothing for her

-children, not a single blanket had been left

-to her. When she went to complain to the

-English officer, he only asked her, “Who is

-the man who did it?” The man who did it

-was nowhere to be found. But the harm had

-been done, and in the same way not one, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>

-many had to suffer. May no other people in

-the world ever have to endure another such

-war so long as the world may last. I do not

-think that it can be forgotten. I cannot say

-who it was who were wrong, we or our adversaries.

-But this I can say, that it was

-terrible to bear. Never could I have thought

-that human beings could treat each other in

-such a way. I know well that war is one of

-the blackest things upon earth, still I cannot

-depart from all sense of justice and put down

-every sort of barbarity to war and consider it

-right. As we were known to the whole world

-as two Christian nations, I had thought that

-such things could not be allowed. But I

-have been taught that suffering and misery

-can go on increasing to the bitter end, and

-that in war no deed can be too hard or cruel

-to be committed.</p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="007" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/007.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Four of Mrs De la Rey’s children, with two little girl friends.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p>

-

-<p>Here are four of my children who during

-all my wanderings were with me all the time.

-A Frenchman near my waggon took this

-photograph; he found it very amusing to

-take the children in that way. The girl with

-the revolver is the daughter of Field-Cornet

-Meyer, at whose place I was then staying.

-The Frenchman slung round the children all

-the guns and revolvers and field-glasses.</p>

-

-<p>At times the children thoroughly enjoyed

-life out on the veldt. It was often trying for

-them with all the hardships we were constantly

-encountering, but on the whole the

-children came off better than their elders.

-When there was danger they would begin to

-cry, but soon it would all be forgotten. They

-were always so ready to help me and to make

-everything easier for me as far as they could.

-It was very hard for them sometimes to look<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>

-after themselves and keep their clothes in

-order. And as they always went on growing

-they kept growing out of their clothes and

-wore them out, so that they had to help to

-patch and make the most of them. Sometimes

-they would have no cups or mugs to

-drink out of—then they would set to work

-with “jambliks” and try to make mugs out

-of them. My brother, Jan Greef, who used

-sometimes to be near my waggon, would help

-to make mugs. He was very clever at it.

-Fortunately, I managed to keep always one or

-two cups and saucers. Cups which could

-break so easily during all that driving about

-had to be taken great care of. We were

-always trying to find new ways of doing

-things. If we wanted cotton for sewing we

-would take a piece of sailcloth, unravel it

-and use the threads, or else undo our shoe-strings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>

-and unravel them. The girls made a

-large number of socks, stockings, bands, etc.

-We would take some sheep’s wool and card

-it; then the Kaffir boys made little wooden

-“machines,” and with them wove the wool

-into strands.</p>

-

-<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="008" style="max-width: 62.5em;">

-  <img class="w100" src="images/008.jpg" alt="">

-  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Three of Mrs De la Rey’s children.</p></figcaption>

-</figure>

-

-<p>Here are also three more of my children,

-the three youngest. The little boy in the

-middle, Gabriel Johannes, is now six. He

-often used to say to the English soldiers,

-“Hands up,” and then they would laugh

-at him. It was a pleasure to him to be

-flying away; whenever we had been long

-in one place, he would say, “I wish we

-had to run away again; not from the

-‘khakis,’ but just so as to be driving.”

-When he heard that the burghers had to

-give up their arms, he said, “I am not

-going to give my gun to ‘khakis’; I would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>

-rather break it in pieces; the ‘khakis’

-shall never have it.” There he has it in

-his hand. It was such a momentous time,

-even the youngest felt the weight of it.</p>

-

-<p>If I am still to go through many days

-of hardship in this life, let me then cast

-a glance upon those that are past. Because

-once we had so many good and happy

-hours, and now find ourselves so bitterly

-oppressed, I have often heard people say

-that they doubted whether there could be

-a God.</p>

-

-<p>What I used to think of in my days

-that were most full of sorrow, was just

-that it could be no mortal that was guiding

-us through everything; my past life

-rose constantly before my eyes. My father,

-Hendrik Adrian Greef, who is now long

-since dead, was one of the Voortrekkers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>

-of Transvaal, and he went then to live

-in Lichtenburg, where I remained from

-my fourth year, till the day I was driven

-away by the war. My father too had had

-to go through a great deal; for in those

-days the whole place was a wilderness.

-When my father went on a shooting expedition,

-as we were living alone on the

-farm, my mother would not let him leave

-her behind; so she used to go with him

-with her four children, of which I was

-the eldest, then twelve years old. It was

-a wild country; one met only Kaffirs and

-other savage people. They were like wild

-beasts; as soon as they caught sight of

-us they would run off as hard as they

-could; thus very often my father could not

-get anybody to show him where there was

-water. He went on then to the Lake, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>

-from there to Damaraland, so that this

-journey kept us for a year on the veldt.

-We were often in danger from the black

-Kaffirs, who tried to get hold of us; and

-often we came to places where there was

-no water to be found.</p>

-

-<p>When passing through these later days

-of trial I often thought of my father, for

-a child does not easily forget what its

-father has done. When living in prosperity,

-it had always been my wish to

-walk in the ways of the Lord, and now,

-however hard the storm of injustice might

-strike me, never would it be heavy enough

-to part me from the love of Jesus. In the

-days when all was well with me I often

-wondered how it would be if I had to bear

-great troubles; and if I should not then

-despair. When one is happy it is easy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>

-enough to be a Christian. And though,

-like everyone else upon this earth, I have

-my cross, yet the Saviour has always made it

-lighter for me, so that I am able to bear it.</p>

-

-<p>And this weary war has taught me to

-see one thing clearly;—that the bent reed

-will not be broken. For many a time

-when I thought, “Now all is over,” I

-would seem to hear God’s voice answering

-me, and saying, “He who persists unto

-the end shall be saved.” Thus I cannot

-come to understand how in such times

-men can drift away from God instead of

-drawing closer to Him.</p>

-

-<p>So I can say about myself, “I shall

-still praise and thank the Lord for His

-Fatherly guidance”; for who was it that

-watched over me when I wandered around

-for many a stormy day and night?—It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>

-was our gracious God. Who was it that

-kept me and mine from falling into the

-hands of our adversary?—It was the Lord,

-before whom we must all of us come one

-day.</p>

-

-<p>How can I then prove unfaithful? No—however

-great may be our sufferings,

-I shall always put my trust in the salvation

-of the Lord.</p>

-

-<hr class="tb">

-

-<p><i>Praise the Lord, who ever will forgive

-your sins. How many they may be, He

-will graciously forgive. He knows your

-sufferings and will lovingly cure them.

-He will cleanse your life from stain,

-and will crown you with goodness and

-mercy as He saved you in your need.</i></p>

-

-<p class="right">

-<span class="smcap">Jacoba Elizabeth De la Rey</span>,<br>

-(born Greef).

-</p>

-

-

-<p class="center p4">

-COLSTON AND COY. LIMITED, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH<br>

-</p>

-

-<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***</div>

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+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***</div>
+
+<h1>A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials
+during the Anglo-Boer War</h1>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter bbox">
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="TWO_GREAT">TWO GREAT
+SOUTH AFRICAN BOOKS</h2>
+
+
+
+<div class="blockquot bt bb">
+
+<p>THE MEMOIRS OF PAUL KRUGER,
+<b>Four Times President of the South African
+Republic</b>. Told by <span class="smcap">Himself</span>. Translated by
+A. Teixeira de Mattos. With Portraits. Two
+Volumes. Demy 8vo, cloth gilt, 32s.</p>
+
+<p>THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. Edited by
+Commandant <span class="smcap">Bresler</span>. With Introductory
+Chapters by Generals De Wet, Kritzinger,
+Fouché, Jean Joubert, and the Rev. J. D.
+Kestell. Demy 8vo, cloth. With 30 Maps. 21s.</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">London</span>: T. FISHER UNWIN</p>
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<figure class="figcenter illowp87" id="001" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/001.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">The Wanderers.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+</div>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center">
+<span class="small">A</span><br>
+<span class="xbig">
+WOMAN’S WANDERINGS
+AND TRIALS</span><br>
+<span class="small">
+DURING THE</span><br>
+<span class="xbig">
+Anglo-Boer War</span><br>
+</p>
+<p class="center p2">
+BY<br>
+<span class="big">
+<span class="smcap">Mrs</span> (<span class="smcap">General</span>) DE LA REY</span></p>
+<p class="center p2">
+<span class="smcap">Translated by Lucy Hotz</span><br>
+</p>
+<p class="center p2">
+<i>ILLUSTRATED</i><br>
+</p><p class="center p4">
+LONDON<br><span class="big">
+T. FISHER UNWIN</span>
+<br>
+<span class="smcap">Paternoster Square</span><br>
+<span class="small">
+MDCDIII</span><br>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<p class="center"><i>All Rights reserved</i></p>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS">LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2>
+</div>
+
+
+<table class="autotable">
+<tr>
+<th class="tdl"></th>
+<th class="tdr"> PAGE</th>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">The Wanderers</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <i><a href="#001">Frontispiece</a></i></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">General De la Rey and His Staff</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_17">17</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Mrs De la Rey beside Her Waggon</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#003">36</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">The Picture of My Wandering Life</span>”</td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_63">63</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl">“<span class="smcap">Our People</span>”</td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_96">96</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_134">134</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Four of Mrs De la Rey’s Children, with Two Little Girl Friends</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_137">137</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+<td class="tdl"><span class="smcap">Three of Mrs De la Rey’s Children</span></td>
+<td class="tdr"> <a href="#Page_139">139</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p>
+
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h2 class="nobreak" id="A_Womans_Wanderings_and_Trials">A Woman’s Wanderings and Trials
+during the Anglo-Boer War</h2>
+</div>
+<hr class="r5">
+
+<p>On the 4th of October 1899 my husband left
+for the western border. I wondered what
+would be the outcome for me, and I thought
+of the many now leaving, some of whom
+might never come back. After a short time
+my husband returned and spent one day at
+home, then he left again on commando.</p>
+
+<p>A few days later I went to pay him a visit.
+I found that all was going well, and I met
+many friends, for the laager was a very big
+one.</p>
+
+<p>I was in good spirits, but the same day
+came the order to move to Kraaipan with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span>
+1200 men. This was not very pleasant news
+for me.</p>
+
+<p>All was soon ready for the start. It was a
+lovely evening, the moon shone brightly, and
+the 1200 horsemen rode out, the cannon
+clattering as they went.</p>
+
+<p>I had to spend the night in the laager.
+Next morning I went home to wait there
+anxiously for what was to happen. That day
+I heard nothing. Next day there was a
+report that some prisoners of war had been
+brought by train to Kraaipan, and no one on
+our side was hurt in this first fight. A day
+or two later I returned to the laager, which
+had been moved some distance farther back.</p>
+
+<p>There I found all of good cheer and
+courage. The same day an order came to
+trek for Kimberley, and I went on for two
+days with the laager, in which were many odd<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span>
+sights. When I had to return I felt it hard
+that all my people must go so far away. That
+afternoon it had been warm near the waggon,
+and my dear son had taken on himself to
+prepare our dinner. We ate it there all
+together, and Field-Cornet H. Coetzee, who
+was with us, said he must learn from my son
+how to make such good things to eat. My
+son had done it very well, though it was the
+first time that he had ever tried to act as cook.</p>
+
+<p>We then took up our journey again. It
+was curious to me to see so many horsemen.
+That night I had to return; my husband
+came a little way with me and the laager
+trekked on.</p>
+
+<p>I had now to take leave of my two sons,
+who were going with the laager. My heart
+was torn, for I did not know if I should see
+them again.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span></p>
+
+<p>But time was passing; they had to go on,
+and I to go back; the waggons must be inspanned
+and the horses saddled.</p>
+
+<p>Then I said to my two sons, “Adrian
+and Jacobus, let your ways be in the fear of
+the Lord. If I do not see you again upon
+earth, let me find you again in heaven.”
+And my beloved Adrian, when I said these
+words, looked at me.</p>
+
+<p>We went to spend the night at Mr Du
+Toit’s house, where we had a welcome rest.
+Next morning my husband went back to the
+laager and I returned home, where I found all
+well. We kept hearing always of fighting.
+The commando trekked to Freiburg, and from
+there to Kimberley. I had a telegram saying
+that my husband had gone to the Modder
+River, and I thought of the dangerous work
+that he had to do. Then he had to go<span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span>
+farther and farther away. News came of the
+fight at Rooilaagte; it was terrible to
+hear how many “khakis” had been there
+and how hard our men had had to fight.
+There were many from the Lichtenburg
+district among them, so that everyone was
+anxious.</p>
+
+<p>Sunday, the 26th of December, was the
+nineteenth birthday of my son Adrian
+Johannes. When I went to the village in
+the morning I met my sisters on their way to
+church. Then we all began to speak of him
+and of how he would fare on his birthday;
+and we all grew heavy-hearted.</p>
+
+<p>On Monday we were without news. On
+Tuesday evening a telegram came that all
+was well, which filled me with joy. Yet that
+night I sat on my bed, and could not sleep for
+anxiety and sorrow till I had earnestly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span>
+begged of the Lord to make me fit to bear
+the burden He should lay upon me, and to
+let me sleep.</p>
+
+<p>Early next morning I was awake, but the
+same feeling remained. I got out of bed
+quickly and then saw it was going to rain.
+On going out it felt pleasant after the rain.
+Suddenly someone cried out, “There is
+Juffrouw Martens.” She came from the
+village, and my first words were, “What am
+I going to hear?” She came through the
+house and met me in the backyard with
+these words, “Nonne,<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> I have sorrowful
+tidings. Your husband has sent me a telegram
+for you, and it says, ‘This morning our
+dearly-beloved son Adrian passed away in
+my arms from a wound received yesterday in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span>
+a heavy fight, and to-day we shall lay him in
+the ground at Jacobsdaal.’”</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> <i>Nonne.</i> A Dutch-Indian term meaning Mrs or
+mistress.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+<p>It was heartrending for me, but there is
+comfort to be found at the feet of Jesus. All
+Lichtenburg knew him and loved him. I had
+not only lost my son, but many had lost their
+friend.</p>
+
+<p>The Sunday after he died, Dominie Du
+Toit of Lichtenburg chose as his text Revelations
+xxi., verse 7:—“And I will be his
+God, and he shall be my son”—and he
+said that the Lord had more need of him
+than we.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>I give him to the goodness of God.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Ransomed by the Saviour</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>He rises towards Heaven.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>All shall contemplate him there</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>On the beautiful borders of Heaven</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>By the crystal waters.</i></div>
+  </div>
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Yes, my son is gone away</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Over the crystal waters.</i></div><span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Saviour, wilt thou receive him</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>At Thy side for evermore?</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Take this son, unto Thee he is given,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Take him in Thy Father’s house;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Some day we shall find each other</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Among the jubilant host.</i></div>
+  </div>
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>God said, This son is mine,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Zealous in the work of the Lord.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Barely the space of nineteen years</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Did he spend as man upon earth.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Some day I also shall come there</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>To reign by my Saviour’s might</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Unto the last generation.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Thou, my son, naught can harm thee,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Thou hadst to die for the right.</i></div>
+  </div>
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>The Lord is trusty and strong,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>E’er long shall He in His might,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Watching the deeds of His people,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Teach them to understand.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Rest on thou Afrikander son;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>We shall all one day stand before Jesus,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Zealous in the work of the Lord.</i>”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>A fortnight after my son’s death I went to
+join his father and brother. After travelling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span>
+four days I came near the Vaal River. That
+morning we heard a terrible roar of cannon;
+a great fight was taking place at Maggersfontein.
+I thought then, “Whose turn shall it
+be to-day to give up his life?” When I
+came to the laager they had already come out
+to meet me, but we missed each other. Just
+then I met my brother, Jan Greef, and as I
+had heard nothing more about the death of
+my son I asked him to tell me everything.
+He told me what a great fight it had been all
+day, and how my son had been all day in the
+thick of the fighting and no hurt had come to
+him. At sunset he was walking with his
+father; suddenly a bomb burst between them.
+He asked his father if the bomb had touched
+him and his father answered “No.” He said
+nothing more, but went on 150 steps farther
+before he sat down, saying to his father,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span>
+“The bomb that burst over there struck
+me.” Then they saw that a bullet had entered
+his right side. They carried him a
+little way, and placed him in a carriage to
+bring him to the hospital. At four o’clock in
+the morning they reached Jacobsdaal; they
+bore him into the hospital, and the doctor
+said he would come and take the bullet out
+after breakfast.</p>
+
+<p>All night he had tasted only a little water;
+now they brought him some coffee. He told
+his father that he must help him to take it; his
+father raised him up in bed and he saw that
+he was near death. He asked him if he did
+not want to say anything. His answer was,
+“Nay, father, only lay me down.” With
+these words he drew his last breath. All was
+over with our son. This I heard from my
+brother.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span></p>
+
+<p>Then my husband returned, and I heard
+for the first time how he too had been
+wounded in the arm, and how very ill he also
+had been before I arrived.</p>
+
+<p>From there we went to Maggersfontein and
+then to the village of Jacobsdaal. I had so
+longed to see my son’s grave, but when I
+came there I found only a mound of earth.
+Yet, knowing that his dust was resting there,
+it did me good to see it.</p>
+
+<p>Then I went to the hospital. I thought,
+“If only I could find the clothes which he
+was wearing the last day!” They brought
+me to the room where the clothes of the dead
+were lying. His father found the trousers.
+We could tell them by the hole that the bullet
+had made. I saw the nurse who had looked
+after him; she said how patient and contented
+he had been.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span></p>
+
+<p>There were many of our wounded lying
+there.</p>
+
+<p>I went back to Maggersfontein. A little
+way from it was an empty house; I went
+into it as I did not wish to live in the laager.
+Every morning we could hear the firing at
+Maggersfontein.</p>
+
+<p>Christmas was drawing near. From all
+sides people sent us dainties and anything
+that they thought would give us pleasure. I
+used often to go to General Cronje’s laager.</p>
+
+<p>In the beginning of the new year 1900
+General De la Rey had to retire to Colesberg.
+I went with him to Bloemfontein, and the
+evening we arrived there he had to go on to
+Colesberg. I went back home, where I found
+our children safe and well.</p>
+
+<p>Every day we kept hearing of battles. I
+went on with my work on the farm, and that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span>
+made the time pass less slowly. Two months
+later I went to Kroonstad and found my husband
+there. All the week he had not been
+well, but he got better quickly and started
+anew on commando.</p>
+
+<p>I went home again, and had not been
+there long when General De la Rey was sent
+to Mafeking; but while on his way the siege
+of Mafeking was raised.</p>
+
+<p>Then all the commandoes were ordered to
+Pretoria. My husband came home on the
+23rd of May, and on the 25th of May the
+march to Pretoria began. That was a hurried
+trek, for the enemy were in great force.</p>
+
+<p>We did not know now what their next
+movements would be, so the best thing for
+me to do was to wait for the coming of the
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Five days after the Boers had left the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span>
+district the Kaffirs came in such numbers
+that they stripped the whole border of cattle,
+and acted abominably towards the women
+and children.</p>
+
+<p>A week after the Boers left Lichtenburg
+the troops<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> entered the village. I was then
+on my farm, which lies a quarter-of-an-hour’s
+distance outside.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> <i>Troops.</i>—When an Afrikander speaks of “troops”
+he always means those of the English, probably from
+having heard so much about “troopers.”</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>Seven horsemen came to my house. I was
+then in the garden, but on seeing them I
+hastened to the house. Four armed men
+stood outside; the other three had come in
+and were turning everything upside down.</p>
+
+<p>When I was at the door one of them came
+towards me with the question, “Whose place
+is this?”</p>
+
+<p>I answered, “De la Rey’s.”</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p>
+<p>“The General’s?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>I said, “Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>Then he told me that I must bring my
+husband out of the house.</p>
+
+<p>I answered, “You have been inside, why
+don’t you bring him out yourself? I cannot
+do so, because he is on commando.”</p>
+
+<p>“When did he go from here?” he asked
+me.</p>
+
+<p>“A week since,” I answered.</p>
+
+<p>After asking a few more questions and
+taking whatever he wanted he went away.</p>
+
+<p>I went to the village; I could not remain
+on the farm alone with the children.</p>
+
+<p>From that moment the troops did whatever
+they liked. I had two horses; the Kaffirs
+had taken all the cattle. I saw now that
+they were taking the horses out of the stable
+and were going to ride away on them. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>
+hardest thing was that one of the horses had
+belonged to my dead son, and I could not
+bear to part with it. I asked to see General
+Hunter, and I told him about the farm and
+about my horses. He said he knew nothing
+about the horses, but would make inquiries.
+The next day my two horses were brought
+back, and I was told that no damage would
+be done to the farm; but all the same they
+did whatever they liked there, and I had to
+put a good face upon everything.</p>
+
+<p>Every day more troops came past, and the
+only news I could get from them about my
+people was that they had driven General De
+la Rey into such a tight corner that he would
+never be able to escape.</p>
+
+<p>I used to say to them then, “Very well.
+I hope that when you have got hold of him
+you will treat him kindly. Remember, he is<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>
+only fighting for his lawful rights and property.”</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp94" id="002" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/002.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">General De la Rey and his staff.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>Then again I heard that no, he had not
+been taken prisoner. (This was in June
+1902.)</p>
+
+<p>When General De la Rey and his staff were
+in the east, after they had been driven out
+of Pretoria by the superior numbers of the
+enemy, the people in the west country had
+a terrible time. The women were for the
+greater part alone on their farms, and their
+cattle were at the mercy of the cruel Kaffirs,
+who used to come and steal them away, generally
+at night. They would burst into the houses
+and make their way to the women, and tell
+them that they must have their money, using
+such threats and such violence that many a
+one fled in the night with her children, and
+often wandered for hours before she could<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>
+find shelter. It was bitter enough for them
+then; but little could they think that all this
+was but a drop in the cup of their suffering.
+Many of the burghers returned home on this
+account to see what they could do to save
+their families. Three burghers from this
+neighbourhood were killed during the war—Adriaan
+Mussman, Adrian De la Rey and
+Petrus Biel. All three were still young, but
+they fought like the bravest for freedom and
+the right.</p>
+
+<p>Adriaan Mussman was only twenty-two;
+he did not know the name of fear. In the
+thick of a fierce fight he saw that our guns
+were in danger. He rushed forward with the
+others who tried to save them. Bullets were
+raining all round him, but nothing could keep
+him back but death. He drew his last breath
+like a brave hero.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Rude storms may wage round me</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent2"><i>And darkness prevail,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>God’s grace shall surround me,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent2"><i>His help shall not fail.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>How long I may suffer</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent2"><i>His love still shines bright,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>And leads me through darkness</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent2"><i>To live in His light.</i>”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>The darker the night may be, the more do we pant for the sunshine;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The denser the mist may close, the more do we yearn for brightness;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The deeper the chasm before me, the more do I sigh for the plains;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The darker the future may seem, the greater shall be my redemption.</i>”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>As each day drew to a close I was dreading
+what should happen on the next.</p>
+
+<p>One day one of my friends came to tell me
+that the commandant wanted to have my
+daughter and myself out of the place, but
+that he could not find any pretext for sending<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>
+us away. I used sometimes to go to my farm
+to see how things were getting on there, but
+so many “khakis” were about that I never
+knew how to come away quickly enough.</p>
+
+<p>The village had been occupied for about
+two months when one day I saw to my
+dismay that the enemy were burning things
+wholesale. That same evening they withdrew
+from the village.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after they had left, our people
+came back with big commandoes.</p>
+
+<p>A week after the “khakis” had gone out
+of Lichtenburg General De la Rey came back
+to the village, but after spending only a day
+or two with us, he started again for the
+Rustenburg district.</p>
+
+<p>Then General Douglas returned and occupied
+the village once more. He came to our
+farm and took away all our sheep. When the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>
+English had got all our cattle, they went off,
+and we could again breathe freely.</p>
+
+<p>I went to the place where the cattle used
+to be kept, and there I found the shepherd
+waiting for me.<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> He had been able to
+recover one or two hundred of our sheep, so
+that I and my children still had something
+left to us to live upon.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> The shepherds are generally Kaffirs who live on the
+place. The following statement shows strikingly in its
+simplicity how their own Kaffirs remained attached to
+the Boers in spite of all the so-called “barbarous treatment.”</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards General De la Rey
+returned to Lichtenburg.</p>
+
+<p>But General Douglas had not moved very
+far off, and as soon as he heard that General
+De la Rey was in the place he came back
+with his troops at full speed. But General
+De la Rey was already far away in the distance.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>
+Just to show the “khakis” that we
+were not as starving as they thought, I made
+some bread out of the flour that my husband
+had brought us and sent two fresh loaves to
+Douglas. The English soon left to take up
+the pursuit again; and now the talk was that
+they were in their 20,000 after De la Rey,
+and that this time he would never manage to
+escape.</p>
+
+<p>I said again, “Very well, you catch him if
+you can, but be good to him.” A few days
+later he was still free; the 20,000 had not
+been able to get hold of him.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards Lord Methuen entered
+the village and took up his quarters. He
+sent to fetch my two horses, but I would not
+let them go. I said, “No, I will not give
+them up to you; I shall go and see the
+General himself about it.” “Very well,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>
+was the answer, “you can see him to-morrow
+morning at nine o’clock; that will
+be the best time.” The next morning I
+started off, but when I got there Lord
+Methuen could not see me; he was too
+busy, they said. I felt very angry. I
+turned to go back, when just as I had got
+to my carriage, one of his orderlies brought
+me the message that Lord Methuen was ready
+to receive me, and they took me to him. He
+asked what he could do for me.</p>
+
+<p>I answered, “For me you cannot do much,
+for as far as my cattle are concerned I have
+lost nearly everything. But I have still two
+horses left, and one of these belonged to my
+son, who is dead, and I hope that you will
+not take it away from me.” He gave me his
+hand and he said, “It shall not be taken
+away from you.” I thanked him and went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span>
+home again. Lord Methuen remained in
+Lichtenburg for a week. When the place
+was once more empty General De la Rey
+came back to the village. He remained
+with us for four days. The day he left Lord
+Methuen returned.</p>
+
+<p>There was a big fight that day not very
+far from the village. Towards nightfall the
+burghers beat a retreat under General Lemmer,
+and next morning the troops came back to
+Lichtenburg.</p>
+
+<p>The following day the English commandant
+came to see me. He had a hard task before
+him, he told me; he had been ordered to burn
+my house down. I asked him where I was to
+go to with my children if my house were
+burned down.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall leave one of the buildings standing
+for you.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p>
+
+<p>I thanked him, and I said to him, “Burn
+them down, burn the others down if you
+think it fit to do so. Even if you leave one
+for me, there will still be four to burn.
+However cruel you may seem to be, yet
+God is always gracious.”</p>
+
+<p>He answered that it was very hard indeed
+for him; but that he had his orders and he
+must obey.</p>
+
+<p>All the same, he went away without
+burning any of the buildings.</p>
+
+<p>Then came another trial. One afternoon,
+at about three o’clock, they suddenly came
+to tell me that I must start for Mafeking
+with my daughter in half-an-hour.</p>
+
+<p>“And what about my other children
+then?” I asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Have you got more children still?”
+asked the man.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span></p>
+
+<p>I called all my children together.</p>
+
+<p>“Very well,” he went on then, “you can
+take all your children with you.”</p>
+
+<p>“And for what reasons am I being sent
+away in this fashion?”</p>
+
+<p>“When General De la Rey was here you
+took him in and sheltered him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” I answered, “I did take him in and
+shelter him; and I shall do it five hundred
+times more if it please the Lord to spare him.
+I am prepared to go away as a prisoner of war,
+but I will not do it of my own free will. And
+you say to Lord Methuen that he knows very
+well that my husband is only fighting for his
+rights and doing his best for his country. I
+will tell you a parable for him. Instead of
+doing harm to our cause, every step you take
+against us makes it one hundredfold stronger.
+Where only one now calls for vengeance,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>
+hundreds shall come to be avenged. He can
+send me wherever he likes, but it will not
+do you any good. I never thought to be so
+badly treated in the Queen’s name. I could
+not have believed that because you cannot
+get the better of our men you would set to
+work against their women.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” he said, “I must not talk too
+much, for we have very little time.” With
+that he left me and went to Lord Methuen;
+but he soon came back again, and then said
+that I had not been <i>ordered</i> to leave the
+place, but that it would be <i>better</i> for me if
+I were to do so.</p>
+
+<p>“No, I do not think that it would be
+better for me to go away from my own
+land. I would choose far rather to stay
+and suffer with my own people than go
+away.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p>
+
+<p>“Very well, ask General De la Rey, then,
+what you had better do.”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I shall ask him nothing of the kind.
+He has his own work, and I shall decide and
+make shift for myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very good; then I shall send and ask
+Commandant Vermaas to take you away from
+here.”</p>
+
+<p>“I can send one of my boys if you will
+only give him a pass through your troops.
+Then he can go to Commandant Vermaas and
+ask him to send me a span of oxen so that I
+can get away from here.” This was agreed
+to. Later on it was said that the officers had
+decided to let me stay on in the village, but
+that I had refused to do so, and had declared
+that I was going away as soon as my oxen
+arrived.</p>
+
+<p>They kept coming to see me the whole<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>
+time, and were always talking about the war,
+saying that the Boers had far better give it
+up.</p>
+
+<p>I used to reply, Yes, it would be a good
+thing to see an end to the war; but it is no
+small matter for a people to give up their
+country, and that it would cost them a very
+great deal before they could put an end
+to it.</p>
+
+<p>I asked them, “How strong are the forces
+that the English have sent to South Africa to
+fight us?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nearly 300,000 strong,” was the officer’s
+answer.</p>
+
+<p>“We have about 60,000 Transvaalers and
+Free Staters,” I said, “and we have been
+fighting with you now for over fourteen
+months; how can you possibly expect that
+we are going to give up our arms of our own<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>
+free will? No! You will have a great deal
+of trouble before you bring that about.”</p>
+
+<p>I was waiting meanwhile in great anxiety
+for the coming of my oxen, so that I should
+be able to make a start. It was five days
+more before they arrived, for the oxen were
+kept far away from the village. I got everything
+ready in the meantime to be able to go
+off as soon as they came, for I dreaded every
+moment that a fresh order would come and
+that I should not be able to go. At last the
+oxen arrived. When our friends saw that
+they were there, they came hastening from
+every side to wish us God-speed. It was a
+hard thing for our friends to see us sent away
+in this manner to wander without a home. I
+said that no, I was beginning my travels willingly,
+but all unknowing where they were
+going to end or what the future had in store<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>
+for me. One thing I knew, and that was,
+if all my friends were left behind, my
+Heavenly Father would yet be with me.</p>
+
+<p>I hastened to pack everything into the waggon,
+and prepared to start on my pilgrimage.</p>
+
+<p>On Friday, December 1, 1900, I drove out
+of Lichtenburg after taking leave of my
+friends. The oxen were put to the waggon;
+the children got into it. I had still a couple
+of milch cows that I could take with me. I
+and my daughter followed behind in my carriage.
+It was raining hard as I left my
+village behind, not knowing whether ever I
+should step foot in it again. Lord Methuen’s
+order had been that I was to go ten miles
+away from the village and not to come nearer.
+Next day I came to the place where Commandant
+Vermaas and his commando were
+staying. He told me that I could go to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>
+farm and remain there as long as I liked; but
+as my husband’s work then lay for the most
+part in the Rustenburg district, I preferred to
+go on, instead of staying at the commandant’s
+farm. So I went from there to Kafferspan, a
+place about eighteen miles from the village
+of Lichtenburg. When General De la Rey
+heard that I had been sent out of the village
+he sent my son Coos to come to fetch me.
+Then I heard that on the 3rd of December
+1900 they had captured a convoy near
+Magaliesberg and had struck a good blow at
+the English. I said, “That is right! It is
+not only I who have been in adversity; they
+too” (the English) “have had their reverses.”</p>
+
+<p>I went from there to Zuurfontein, a place
+belonging to Mr Kritzinger, not far from
+Rustenburg; he gave me a house to live
+in. The people there were all kind and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>
+friendly. After I had been staying with
+Mr Kritzinger about a week, General De la
+Rey arrived with his staff; it was a great
+delight to see them all again. It was a
+good thing for them, also, that I was out
+of the village. But after having remained
+a few days they had to go off again to
+join the commando. Where I was living
+was not very far from the English camp;
+it was a mountainous district, and we could
+hear the cannon shots distinctly every day.
+On the 13th of December General De la
+Rey took General Clement’s laager, at a
+place called Nooitgedacht, behind the hills,
+and for a short time after that there was
+no more fighting. As Christmas was coming
+nearer and nearer, I had been wondering
+what sort of a Christmastide it would
+be for me; but as the English still kept<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>
+quiet, General De la Rey and his staff came
+back to us again. They arrived just the day
+before Christmas, and once more I had the
+great joy of having my own dear ones
+round me. There were a great many people
+on the farm where I was then staying,
+and on Christmas Day many friends came
+together there. As soon as Christmas was
+over they all went away again to the commando;
+but, as there was nothing to be
+done that week, our people all returned
+for the New Year, and, owing to this,
+we were also able to spend a happy, though
+quiet, New Year’s Day together. A little
+while later they heard that many English
+laagers were trekking up, and that the place
+where I was staying lay right in their way,
+so that I had to pack up everything in
+the greatest haste ready for flight. The<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span>
+day was just over when I got this news,
+and we had to pack the waggon in the
+dark. Very early the next morning we
+left the farm behind us.</p>
+
+<p>As I had some cattle and sheep this time
+to take with me, and as we did not exactly
+know which way the English were coming,
+we could not think where to move to for
+safety. After going some distance, we waited
+to hear from which side the laagers were
+coming. In a day or two we heard that
+the English troops had gone back again,
+and so I went back also to the farm belonging
+to Mr Kritzinger, whose family
+had accompanied me in my flight. I stayed
+with them there for two months, and often
+heard the booming of the cannon among
+the mountains.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="003" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/003.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Mrs De la Rey beside her waggon.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>For nineteen months after that I wandered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>
+round in my waggon, and, just as
+one gets attached to the room in which
+one sleeps, so did I grow to love my waggon.
+Many a stormy night, when it was blowing
+and raining, have my Kaffirs had a
+hard job to get the sailcloth covering firmly
+fixed, so that the wind should not blow
+it right away. Over many a hill and across
+many a river this waggon has taken me
+safely. For in my darkest and most
+anxious nights never did I fail to put my
+trust in the Lord, and never did His
+guidance forsake me. Sometimes in my
+journeyings I would come to houses which
+had not been completely destroyed, and
+where, perhaps, one room would still be
+under shelter; then I would have it
+cleaned quickly; we would stay there
+during the heat of the day. Sometimes I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>
+would come to a place where I had meant
+to spend a few days, and then at once would
+have to leave in all haste and continue
+my flight. One day we came to Mr Basson’s
+place (in the Lichtenburg district), and,
+almost the same moment, General De la
+Rey and his staff arrived from the Zwartruggen
+(in the district of Rustenburg).
+When he came up with my waggon he was
+tired out, and, after having some dinner,
+he got into the waggon to lie down a little
+and rest. But he had hardly been there
+half-an-hour when a man came hurrying
+up, crying, “Why are you all so quiet
+here? The “khakis” are upon us!” And
+there were the “khakis,” just half-an-hour’s
+distance on horseback from my waggon. There
+was no commando that could have turned
+them; General De la Rey and his staff flew<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>
+to saddle their horses, and jumped up and
+rode out to see what the “khakis” were doing.
+When they (General De la Rey and his staff)
+had ridden up the rise they saw that the
+English troops were drawing back. Then
+I had to fly still farther. A bare country
+lay before me to be crossed, and I thought
+that this time I should never be able to
+get away safely, but we found afterwards
+that though the “khakis” had been so near
+us they had had no idea of it, and we
+managed to come away safe and sound.
+The same thing often happened, and it
+seemed wonderful that I was not taken
+prisoner. As they had blocked up all the
+roads with their blockhouses, it became so
+difficult to get through that I had to go in the
+direction of Harts River, a bare and unpleasant
+tract of country. As we went on we found<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span>
+thousands of dead sheep lying about, killed
+by the English. They had not been able
+to keep up with the march, and had been
+driven together and slaughtered, and there
+they were scattered, some shot, others cut
+down, and others with their heads taken
+off by a sabre cut. Many a time did I
+repeat, “Ah, this is indeed a cruel war!
+What bitter suffering has it not caused both
+to man and beast!” Often I have thought,
+“What is going to come out of all these
+trials and troubles!” Even when I looked
+at the comet I wondered what it could portend
+that it should appear three mornings
+running in the east, and then again every
+evening in the west, during a whole month—this
+was in the months of June and
+July 1901. As I was journeying on the
+open veldt I could see this star plainly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span>
+every evening; and when this sign was
+no longer to be seen, then another
+made its appearance. Every evening after
+sunset this other token appeared in the
+sky; a bright red radiance filled the air,
+and would remain visible for about three-quarters
+of an hour.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Whither, pilgrim—whither art thou flying?</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>We are driven onward by the enemy’s sword.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>A terrible sword are the guns and the cannon,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>When man is standing on his defence;</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>But the cruel sword of fire and of hunger,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Cutting its way through the heart of a mother,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Is more terrible still than the booming of cannon.</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>The keen-edged sword of destruction and terror,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Piercing the hearts of Africa’s children,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Has taught them a lesson they shall not forget.</i>”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>I thought that the enemy were now so far
+away that we should be able to spend some
+time where we now found ourselves.</p>
+
+<p>General De la Rey fell ill once more and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span>
+had to join me and take to his bed. Early
+one morning I had just got up when suddenly
+we heard the sound of firing. The
+English were then only one hour’s distance
+from us; they had covered a great deal of
+ground in the night, and had been for five or
+six hours in the saddle, hoping to catch the
+burghers at Tafelkop. General De la Rey
+sprung out of bed. The horses were saddled
+in a moment, and off they rode. The firing
+was coming nearer and nearer. I thought to
+myself, “I am in for the fighting to-day,”
+but all the same I began packing everything
+into the cart as quickly as possible. Very
+soon I was in flight once more. It looked as
+if things were going very badly, for all
+round me people were hurrying as hard as
+they could. It began to rain. The waggons
+and the mule carts came tearing past,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>
+and it began to look as if I were going to
+be left behind. It was raining heavily.
+The booming of the cannon sounded closer
+and closer, and the danger became greater
+every moment. Then suddenly my waggon
+stuck fast in the mud, and I could not go
+on any farther. It kept on raining, and the
+burghers kept coming on in greater numbers.
+They stopped by my waggon and tried to
+drag it out of the mud. The fighting kept
+on, and I told them to go away and leave me
+before they too were forced to share my fate.
+“No,” they said; “that we will never do.
+What would the General say if we were to
+leave you here and the ‘khakis’ were to
+take you?” The oxen would not pull any
+more because they stood in so much water.
+Then the people took hold of the wheels and
+they managed to drag it out. After the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>
+waggon had stuck fast I went on farther in
+the spider. There were now so many waggons
+and carriages all close together that it looked
+like a big commando. In the afternoon we
+stopped to rest; the rain cleared up for a
+little and we had something to eat. Very
+soon came the order to get ready to start
+again. We had not gone very far when the
+waggon in front remained leaning against a
+steep bank, over which it had to climb. It
+was raining heavily again. I thought, “How
+will things go with us to-day, we have so
+many hindrances, and the ‘khakis’ keep on
+advancing?” However, there were a good
+many burghers, and they helped to get the
+waggons across. My spider also came to a
+standstill against the rocks, so that they
+(the burghers) had to drag it out. We
+were in danger, and yet we really enjoyed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>
+ourselves so much that time went quickly.
+It took several hours before all the waggons had
+got through. Then we drove on more quickly,
+and by sunset we came to where we meant to
+spend the night. I drove to a house to wait
+till all the waggons had arrived. There was so
+much water round the house that it was
+impossible to tell where there were ditches or
+hollows. When driving towards the waggons I
+went into a deep ditch and my driver was
+thrown off. I and my little son remained
+sitting in the carriage; the horses started off.
+They swerved towards the side of the house;
+fortunately there were some burghers there
+who ran in front and stopped them. It was
+already dark. I suggested that they had
+better be unharnessed; I would walk to the
+waggon. Just then my husband came up
+with his riding horse Bokkie for me to ride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>
+to the waggon. However, Bokkie’s back was
+too narrow; as sure as I climbed up, off I
+would slip. Then his other saddle-horse came
+up, and off we rode to the waggons. All
+were there now, and very hungry; it was
+dark and damp, but luckily, with some dry
+wood, we soon had big fires going to prepare
+food. The enemy had not come much nearer.
+After a good meal we went to sleep, and
+early next morning I went on again with the
+waggons. The men folk joined the commando,
+and at Rietfontein, where I had made
+up my mind to spend some time, I went into
+the school, then empty. There were a good
+many people in the place, and one could get
+vegetables and fruit. But I had been there
+for only about a week when suddenly a large
+number of English troops entered the Rustenburg
+district where we were. Off I went<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>
+again in great haste, this time to the Lichtenburg
+district. I had to drive hard to get
+past. I was lucky, and came safely through.
+Passing Lichtenburg, I came to Badenhorst,
+and found a deserted shop in which I could
+take up my abode. Here also we had kind
+friends, who took care to keep us supplied
+with vegetables. One evening, a fortnight
+later, just as I had gone to bed, the report
+was spread that the “khakis” were coming.
+It was very dark and cold, but I was soon up
+and dressed and had the waggons packed, and off
+we went again on the road. Next morning it
+seemed true that the “khakis” were behind
+us; once again we drove past Lichtenburg.
+Now there seemed nothing left for me but to
+fly with all possible speed to the Zwartruggens.
+When I got there Mr Joubert came on with
+me and brought me far into the mountains.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>
+“Here,” he said, “no ‘khakis’ had found their
+way yet.” And there I had to stay. There
+were many big trees growing, and the Marico
+River looked lovely as it flowed along; it was
+a pleasant spot to stay in. I made an oven
+so as to be able to bake my bread. I set up
+my hut in the cool shade of the trees, where
+all looked so beautiful and green, and made a
+stable for my horses with some trees and a
+kraal for the sheep, just as if I were destined
+to live here a long time.</p>
+
+<p>My soap was all finished and I began much
+to feel the need of it to keep my children
+clean.</p>
+
+<p>I was advised to burn some vogelsent<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> to
+make soap out of the ashes. I gathered some
+“vogels,” had them burned, and succeeded<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>
+in making some good soap. The children
+wandered on the mountain side searching
+for wild honey. I thought that if the
+“khakis” did not worry me, I should
+remain here for a long time. But after a
+fortnight my husband turned up, and said
+that it was too cold to live out on the veldt,
+and we went back to the farm belonging to
+Mrs Lombard. From there General De la
+Rey and his staff went on to the Free State,
+where they were to meet President Steyn
+and General De Wet. I had been here only
+twelve days when early one morning the
+cannon suddenly began to make such a
+threatening noise that I hastened to pack
+up my belongings and fled away once more.
+At Drinkfontein I thought that I would wait
+and find out where the “khakis” were moving
+to. But soon I heard again the roaring of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span>
+the cannon. At that moment I was making
+some candles; water and fat were both hot. It
+was high time to be on our way, and I said,
+“Get ready and make a start; but I must
+somehow or other finish my work.” The
+oxen were not by the waggon, so that it was
+some little time before everything was ready;
+and I had finished my candles when the
+waggon was prepared to start. Then we
+were again flying as hard as we could through
+the Lichtenburg district across the Harts
+River. It is not a pleasant country to
+wander in; there are no woods or shady
+trees; and as soon as the “khakis” had gone
+back, back I returned also, to try to find
+better headquarters. And so the time passed
+till General De la Rey returned. Then he
+went away again, back to the Wolmaransstad
+district. Meanwhile I kept wandering around.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>
+Suddenly we heard that many of the enemy’s
+laagers were advancing together towards
+Klerksdorp. I went on some distance
+farther, and then from all sides the people
+began to hurry onwards, so that the flight
+was now beginning in earnest. The troops
+were advancing in great force. We fled in
+the direction of Makouwenkop and then
+were joined again by General De la Rey.
+At last the Boer commandoes managed to
+get through, so that they got behind the
+English. Then we had to fly as hard as we
+could so as to keep in front. Some people
+went back that night, hoping to break
+through the English troops. They said that
+I ought to go with them; but I said, “No,
+I shall go forward, and I shall see if I cannot
+escape that way.”</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> <i>Vogelsent.</i>—Lumps of resin that exude from certain
+trees.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>When we came to the Vaal River we were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>
+forced to turn about. We took another way
+back. After driving all day, we stopped for a
+little. We had to get food ready as quickly as
+possible. It was very dark; but later the
+moon began to shine. We fled on in great
+anxiety, knowing that at any moment the
+“khakis” might be upon us. My husband said
+that it would be too bad if they were to take
+me prisoner when he was near the waggon, for
+he would have to fight then, and to leave me
+to myself. I said, “Nay, do not let
+that disturb you; do what you can to escape
+when they come; the Lord has always preserved
+me until now, and He will continue
+to do so.” At midnight we stopped for a
+little to let the oxen take a rest; but after
+an hour or two we pressed forward again
+in good earnest. Bokkie was saddled and
+marched behind the waggon, and all were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>
+ready to meet the “khakis.” We hurried on;
+it was near the break of day, and I thought
+to myself how grateful I should be to the
+Lord if it pleased Him to guide the course of
+the night so that I might not be taken. It
+grew light and the sun began to shine. All
+was quiet and we stopped to rest. Then it was
+reported that the “khakis” had gone past us.</p>
+
+<p>We were all very happy, and after we had
+had something to eat, and had taken a little
+rest, we went once more on our way. It was
+Saturday, and we hoped to be able to spend
+Sunday in peace. When we had gone on
+again, I sat in my waggon and felt very thankful
+that this time I had again escaped with
+my freedom. And then the words came into
+my head, “Offer your thanks unto the Lord,
+and call upon the name of the Almighty.”
+“Yes,” I thought, “that is what I have<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>
+done in my need; praise be unto the Lord
+that He has preserved me from falling into
+the hands of mine enemy. The good God
+has saved me now and many a time
+before.”</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday we found ourselves in Brakspruit,
+and there we spent a peaceful Sabbath
+day: on Monday we set out for Wolmaransstad,
+there we found our houses in ruins. It
+was dreary to return and find the place in
+such a plight.</p>
+
+<p>A little way from Wolmaransstad we went
+to Mr Bezuidenhout’s farm and found that
+his house was fortunately still intact. We
+were able to bake bread there and make
+preparations for our next flight. After remaining
+there a week we went back to the
+Lichtenburg district. At Malgasfontein I
+found refuge in a house whose owners had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span>
+been taken by the “khakis.” As I had a
+good number of oxen with me, and it was
+raining just enough, I had a lot of mealies
+sown there, for we were constantly doing
+whatever we could to keep things going.
+Everybody sowed and planted wherever possible.
+The “khakis” might destroy as
+much as they liked, the Boers were still full
+of courage.</p>
+
+<p>I had great difficulty at that time to keep
+things straight; as I have many children it
+grew extremely difficult to keep them all
+clean. Soap was still very scarce; I could
+not get more anywhere. As far as clothes
+were concerned I was happy as long as they
+were only clean. A man told me he had
+scraped off some deposit of saltpetre from a
+wall at Schoonspruit and had made good soap.
+As soon as possible I got a bag of it and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>
+also made some very good soap, so that I
+had not to worry about that any longer.</p>
+
+<p>After we had been here about three weeks
+General De la Rey came back from the Zwartruggens
+after the defeat of Colonel Van Donop,
+which took place at Kleinfontein on the
+24th of October 1901. It was on the 24th
+of October 1901, the very day that we had
+been married for twenty-five years, that a
+terrible battle was fought, in which many
+people were killed or wounded, and among
+them one more good friend of ours, Commandant
+Kritzinger, and his son, both of
+whom were killed. So that we had on this
+day, instead of a silver wedding feast, a
+terrible shedding of blood. There were great
+losses on both sides. But the burghers were
+now, however, well supplied again with
+clothes and other things which they had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span>
+needing badly. We had made up our minds
+to stay here, when suddenly came the report
+that the troops were advancing. We made
+a hurried start in the direction of Harts River,
+and went on from there till past the Zoutspannen.
+When the enemy had gone off in
+another direction back we went again slowly all
+along the Harts River. Whenever we thought
+that we were going to be left in peace for a
+little while, we would find that the English
+troops were coming in such numbers that we
+would have to go on trekking backwards and
+forwards without any respite. With the
+approach of Christmas things grew quieter.
+I went to Doornfontein, Badenhorst’s place.
+The houses had been injured but not quite
+destroyed, so that I was able to make use of
+one during the time that I remained.</p>
+
+<p>My people were all with me; we spent a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>
+pleasant Christmas. Still, we were not very
+far from Klerksdorp, where there were so
+many “khakis” that the day after Christmas
+we had to begin our march again. A few
+days later I got a message telling me to turn
+back to Doornfontein; and there we all met
+again and spent the New Year. That was
+in 1901. The day after New Year’s Day
+there were so many “khakis” about that I had
+to fly past Lichtenburg and take refuge in
+the Zwartruggens. Putfontein, where I next
+found myself, was utterly destroyed and
+burnt down. As I was greatly concerned
+because my people had no bread with them,
+I wandered round the desolate place hoping
+to find an oven which had not been destroyed.
+All the ovens had been broken down, but at
+last I found an attempt at one that the poor
+women had set up and used for preparing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>
+bread. I said, “It does not look of much
+use, still I shall try what I can do.” It was
+late in the evening and rain was falling.
+There was no wood to be got, but I went on
+with my breadmaking, and the boy (a Kaffir)
+had to try and make a fire somehow or other.
+He was a very sharp boy, and he succeeded
+in heating the oven.</p>
+
+<p>General Kemps had his laager in the same
+place. In the evening all the burghers came
+together, and they asked me if I would join
+in their worship. “With pleasure,” I said.
+It was then quite dark. I went to the laager
+and we had a short service, and after that
+sang songs out of the “Kinderharp.” It was
+so pleasant that I quite forgot to bake my
+bread. We also sang beautiful hymns that
+they themselves had composed, so that I had
+a very pleasant evening. I hurried to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>
+oven, where I found that the biscuit had
+risen. It seemed as if the oven were not hot
+enough, and yet I could not get any more
+fuel for it. I put all the bread in and
+thought “let it bake itself as best it can.” I
+waited till I thought that it was ready and
+then I sent Sampson, the boy, to bring it out
+of the oven. He came back with it and it
+looked still as if it were quite raw. However,
+it was always something to eat. I went to
+sleep. Next morning I had hoped to be able
+to spend a peaceful Sunday. A little way
+from my waggon were some big trees, and as
+many burghers were there, we all agreed to
+meet under the trees to hold our service. I
+and my children were there and many
+burghers; but as all had not arrived we
+waited a while until the leader said he would
+go on with the service, and then the people<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>
+would come fast enough. After we had sung
+he began to speak to us, but it did not look
+as if any more people were coming. We
+were some distance from the waggons and
+could see that there everyone was hurrying
+backwards and forwards. I thought that the
+old man did not seem very much inclined to
+put a stop to his service, but things looked
+to me so grave that I said that we must
+really go to see what was happening. We
+hurried back to the waggons, and very soon
+we could hear the firing. I started off as
+quickly as possible. Very soon many people
+in their waggons were keeping up with mine.
+We fled for some distance and then sent out
+scouts a little way back. General De la Rey
+with his staff came up. It was he who had
+been under that heavy firing; a mark was on
+his back where a bullet had whizzed past.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>
+They had all escaped unhurt and were very
+hungry and tired. It was then that the
+bread I had baked the night before served in
+good stead. They ate some, and that same
+evening they had to go back. I was thus able
+still to supply them with bread. I went on
+to the Zwartruggens this time; I did not
+want to go so far into the mountains as it
+was beginning to be very warm there. On
+the slopes of the mountains large trees were
+growing. I set up my tent in the shade.
+There was fruit to be had: my children were
+happy.</p>
+
+<p>Then I heard that the enemy were coming
+with their blockhouses towards Lichtenburg.
+Then I knew I must go out of the mountains;
+I did not want to get blocked up. And we
+went away again, after having been a week
+there.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span></p>
+
+<p>At Duikfontein I found large numbers of
+cattle and sheep that our people had brought
+through the lines. General Kemp’s commando
+had succeeded in doing this and in
+bringing cattle to other districts also. I was
+still waiting there when General De la Rey
+arrived with his staff. By that time I felt
+quite rested. He said that it was not necessary
+for me to go at once to Rustenburg. So
+we merely went to a place not very distant.
+A day or two later there were again so many
+“khakis” gathered in Lichtenburg that we
+did not dare stay longer, as it was only three
+hours’ distance from the village. We went
+from there to some untilled ground belonging
+to us, which we kept for the cattle, two and a
+half hours away from Lichtenburg. It was a
+good neighbourhood for fruit; there was
+plenty of water, and not very distant was a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>
+large fruit farm. We hoped thus to be able
+to stay for a while. We sent the waggon to
+get fruit, and we set up our tent under the
+cool trees.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="004" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/004.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">“The picture of my wandering life”.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>And here you have the picture of my
+wandering life. When I could set up the
+tent under shady trees and cover the floor
+with green grass, then I felt thoroughly
+happy and content. Often when in such a
+good place I thought to myself, “If only I
+could stay here quietly for some time how
+happy and pleasant it would be!” And
+sometimes I had the good fortune to be able
+to stay for two days or a week in such a
+spot. But at other times it would happen
+that just as I had got everything in good
+order, then the “khakis” would be upon
+us and everything would have to be
+taken down quickly to make a fresh start.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>
+Often we fled until the middle of the
+night, and when we could stop to rest it
+would be so dark that it was impossible to
+see one’s hands before one’s eyes. Yet the
+tent would have to be put up before we
+could get to sleep.</p>
+
+<p>When I saw the bright sun shining in the
+morning, often I thought, “How much pleasanter
+the sunlight is than the darkness; what
+joy will it be for me when the sun of peace is
+shining for me again!” Then again I would
+come to a whole district where not a tree or
+cool spot was to be found. The only cool
+place would be just under the waggon, on the
+ground, and that was so uncomfortable that I
+could not help sometimes crying out, “Why
+should I have to suffer so grievously?” but
+the next moment I would think, “After the
+bitter comes the sweet.” When I left my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>
+house and went into Lichtenburg to live in
+the village, because I felt so lonely on my
+farm, I thought I was going to stay there
+until the war should come to an end. I
+never imagined that I should never set foot
+in my house again. I was always particular
+to keep my house neat and clean; it was the
+greatest pleasure I had to keep my home in
+good order. I used to think sometimes,
+“Perhaps it is not right that I should think
+so much of my house,” and yet I could not
+help it. A pretty home on a farm, with
+abundance of cattle and all that is needful,
+always seemed to me the happiest life. When
+I was wandering over the veldt with a tent,
+and especially when I came to dusty and
+sandy places, I kept thinking all the time
+of my house, so clean and so cool. The day
+they told me that it had been destroyed I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span>
+could not keep my tears back. It was so
+hard out on the veldt and I had longed so
+often for my house; now I had to hear that
+it had been broken up and razed to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>But I told myself quickly that I must not
+weep. “Why should I be better off than all
+my fellow-sufferers whose houses had also
+been broken up or burned down?”</p>
+
+<p>I went back again, this time to Gestoptefontein.
+That evening General De la
+Rey was in the neighbourhood, but I knew
+nothing of his movements nor he of mine.
+But he arrived the next morning, for the
+English were now closing up on every side.
+I got breakfast ready, and after the men had
+had something to eat, off they had to go
+again, this time to trek up against Methuen.
+I remained in Gestoptefontein so as to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>
+able to find out where the troops were moving;
+and it was soon reported to me that they
+were coming in my direction. These were
+the troops from Klerksdorp, so there we were
+again, exposed to the danger of being surrounded.
+So many of us came trekking on
+that we kept getting into one another’s path;
+but we could only say, “The more the merrier,”
+and go on without losing courage.
+“Now we should have to go to Waagkraal,”
+said everybody. I said, “Very well, the
+place has a good name, and so we can venture
+it.” It was a very dark night when we
+reached there. We were all hungry, and had
+first of all to get our food ready. After that
+we went to sleep, and early the next morning
+a couple of hundred of our burghers arrived
+also.</p>
+
+<p>They were all going nearer now to see what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>
+they could do against the English forces, but
+there were so many troops they could not tell
+where to begin.</p>
+
+<p>Most of them went on towards Methuen’s
+laager to see what they could find to do there.
+The enemy’s troops moved forward to meet
+them. Our burghers were now in Pretorius’s
+place, where I had been staying quite lately;
+the English army was coming up along the
+Harts River.</p>
+
+<p>I was now so far from the Boer laager that
+I began to fear that if the English drove them
+away I should certainly fall into the hands of
+the enemy. We waited in great anxiety to
+hear what would be the result of the battle.
+The country was very bare and exposed just
+there, and as the troops had many guns with
+them it was dreadful to think of the fighting.
+Yet on the evening of the 1st of March there<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>
+came a report that the laager was taken and
+that Lord Methuen had been wounded. I
+could not believe that Lord Methuen was
+really wounded. The following morning I
+felt a great wish to pay a visit to the laager.
+I had my horses harnessed and started. I
+had to drive a good way—it seemed to me
+for nearly four hours—and although I had
+wanted to go back the same day to my
+waggons, I found it would be too late to do
+so. I arrived at the laager in the afternoon,
+and there I found an enormous crowd of men
+and animals. I asked my husband if really
+Lord Methuen were here. “Yes,” he answered,
+“it is the man who sent you out of Lichtenburg.”
+“Then I shall go and see him,” I said.
+I went with my daughter, and we found him,
+quartered with a few tents and waggons,
+a little distance from the laager. When<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>
+I got there, one of our people, a man called
+Tom, said that he did not want to see any
+visitors. Yes, that I could well understand,
+that it was not pleasant for him to see the
+Boers. All the same, when he heard that
+I was there, he said that I might come in—that
+he would like to see me. I went into
+his tent; there lay the great, strong man
+wounded above the knee, right through the
+bone. When I had come in he begged me to
+forgive him for all the annoyance he had
+caused me, and he asked if I had suffered
+much discomfort from all that running away.
+“No,” I said, “it all went much better than I
+had expected. I did not even have to do my
+best to escape from falling into your hands.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh,” said he, “I have done my best to
+catch you.” And so we “chaffed” each
+other. As it was a difficult position for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span>
+both of us, I asked him if his leg were
+hurting him very much. He said, “No,
+not very much.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then it won’t be a good thing for us,”
+I said, “if your leg gets cured so quickly,
+then you will come and shoot at us again.”</p>
+
+<p>He laughed and said, “No, I am going
+away, and I will not shoot at you any
+more.”</p>
+
+<p>Then he told me all about Lichtenburg,
+and how things were going there, and he
+said that my houses were still unharmed.</p>
+
+<p>I said, “But my dwelling-house has been
+destroyed.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, yes,” he said, “that had to be
+broken down. General De la Rey might
+have been coming to it some fine morning
+and firing at me out of it. That was why
+it had to be broken down.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span></p>
+
+<p>Then he told me how glad he was to be
+able to go back to Klerksdorp, and he
+asked me to let the telegram to his wife
+be sent off as quickly as possible.</p>
+
+<p>Then, as I also wanted to send a telegram
+to my children in Pretoria, I told him that
+he must take good care of it and forward
+it, so that they too should be sure to get
+it. Yes, he said, he would not fail to
+do so. And he was true to his word; for
+when I met my children later they said
+they had received it.</p>
+
+<p>Then it grew late and it was time to
+return. I wished him a speedy recovery.
+When I came to the laager they gave me
+one of the waggons which they had taken
+from the enemy to sleep in. It was late
+and I had to see to our dinner. But everything
+seemed in such a muddle among all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>
+these menfolk; I did not know where to
+lay my hand upon what I wanted.</p>
+
+<p>There were a few Kaffirs belonging to the
+English there, and these had to help me
+with my work that evening. It seemed
+just as if these English Kaffirs were thinking,
+“How aggravating it is to have to do
+with the Boer women;” but that did not
+help them a bit—they had to work.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, there was a water dam near
+the waggon, and we had an abundance of
+water. I got dinner ready, but nobody
+made his appearance; it was very late
+when at last the men arrived. They had
+been keeping the prayer hour. General De
+la Key said, and I was very glad to hear
+it; for does not everything depend on the
+blessing of God? After dinner we went to
+bed; and the next morning, as it was the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span>
+Sabbath, we went to the laager where
+service was to be held by a missionary
+who still remained with our commandoes.
+We had hoped to take part in a pleasant
+service, but there was a good deal of discontent
+among the people because Lord
+Methuen was to be set free, and the
+preacher took for a text, “That it would
+be displeasing unto the Lord did we allow
+such a man, who had dealt so cruelly with
+our women and children, to escape untried.”</p>
+
+<p>I said, “How bitter is the lot of man!
+We were all going to praise the Lord, and
+now there is so much sin among us that
+we should rather weep.” But it was true;
+it seemed almost impossible to be charitable
+when one thought of all that had happened
+to so many women and children.</p>
+
+<p>They made Methuen come back. General<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>
+De la Rey said to the burghers, “There
+he is, what do you want me to do to
+him?”</p>
+
+<p>When they had all heard what General
+De la Rey had to say about the matter, it
+was agreed to leave it to the officers, and
+these decided to let him go free.</p>
+
+<p>General De la Rey came up to my waggon,
+and just then Tom came straight from Lord
+Methuen and told us how he was longing
+to go back, and that he was quite ill from
+dread at the thought of having to go on
+again.</p>
+
+<p>I had a fat chicken killed, and I took
+some biscuits and sent them with the
+chicken to the wounded lord.</p>
+
+<p>However it may be, I could not bring
+myself to think it right to be so cruel.
+People kept asking me how it was possible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>
+that I could be kind to such a man. I
+said that so far I had never learned to
+hate anyone, and that therefore I could
+still do good to my adversary; especially
+when God gave me the grace and the
+strength to prove to my enemy that, in
+spite of all the desolation and destruction
+he had wrought, there still remained something
+over for me.</p>
+
+<p>We were camping here under some lovely
+trees. All my people had got here now, and
+many others kept coming for clothes and
+tarpaulins and all kinds of necessaries, so
+that fresh heart was put into them to push
+forward with their task.</p>
+
+<p>After a few days we heard that a large
+number of “khakis” were coming on from
+Klerksdorp.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes,” I said, “now they will be after the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>
+Boers again.” General De la Rey went to the
+commando to see that all should be ready to
+receive the “khakis” when they came. However,
+they kept quiet for the moment in
+Klerksdorp.</p>
+
+<p>I had pitched my tent in a lovely little
+wood. Everything was looking very well;
+the veldt was in good condition; my cattle
+were all doing very well when suddenly the
+pest broke out among my animals. This
+was very disappointing; however, it did not
+go so very badly with them.</p>
+
+<p>The week had come to an end, and I was
+just going to sleep on Saturday night when
+suddenly General De la Rey and Ferreira and
+young Coos came up to my waggon.</p>
+
+<p>“I was not to wait for them,” they said,
+“there was such a large number of troops in
+Klerksdorp, and we were not so very far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>
+them.” After they had had something to eat,
+we went to sleep. On Sunday everything
+was quiet. President Steyn had also joined
+us. We all met in the morning at service,
+and I asked President Steyn to come and
+dine with us that day. We had a very
+pleasant time, and heard nothing more of
+the English.</p>
+
+<p>Early on Monday morning, just as I had
+got up, there came a man all red with blood
+asking, “Where is the General?” “Here
+he is,” I said. “General,” he cried, “there
+are the English.” The horses were quickly
+saddled. I did not know how to hurry
+enough, to get all my things packed, the
+“khakis” were now so near; however, we
+had all learned to get ready quickly when
+the enemy was coming. Very soon we had
+finished everything and off we started again,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>
+keeping a good look-out to see that the
+troops were not closing upon us.</p>
+
+<p>Very soon we had formed into a very large
+“trek.”</p>
+
+<p>We started off from Brakspruit. At one
+o’clock in the afternoon we stopped to rest,
+still not knowing what had happened in the
+night. Later came a rumour that the troops
+had taken a great many prisoners that night,
+and among others all the members of General
+De la Rey’s staff. “What a fortunate thing,”
+I said, “that he had been in the waggon that
+night; if it had not been for that he might
+very well have been taken also. It was a
+merciful ordinance of the Almighty that had
+so guided his steps.” We did not know at the
+time if all had been taken or killed.</p>
+
+<p>I went to the place of Roodewal; there we
+all waited, including President Steyn. We<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span>
+kept a feast day there, Dominie Kestell holding
+the service. We found a large community,
+with many women and children. I was
+surprised to see how well they were looking.
+It was now Saturday. On Sunday we had
+to fly once more, this time towards the Harts
+River. From there we went on to Coetzee’s
+place, where we arrived late in the evening.
+Still later, General De la Rey arrived with his
+men.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning, after we had had breakfast,
+the burghers all went back to the commando.
+I got everything ready for our dinner and set
+it to cook, and then went for a moment to
+the waggon of one of my friends. We were
+sitting there talking, when suddenly there
+were the cannon reverberating again not
+very far from us. Everyone tried to get
+ready before everyone else; it was not very<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>
+long before we were all once more on the
+“trek.” There was now a very large number
+of waggons driving on together. Some went
+towards the clumps of trees, others went
+on over the veldt where there was no road.
+“It will go hard with us to-day,” I thought,
+“the whole country is so bare; they can see
+us from a very long way off.” Little Coos
+was close to my waggons. He dashed off
+alone towards the commando. I felt very
+nervous lest he might come suddenly upon
+the troops. The battle went on; the people
+in the waggons had to get away from it as
+best they could. Later it began to rain. In
+the afternoon things were quiet, so that we
+were able to make a halt. The food that I
+had half cooked in the morning had to go
+once more over the fire. “It will soon be
+ready now,” I said.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p>
+
+<p>In the evening we went on again. We
+heard that the camp of the “khakis” was in
+Brakspruit, at no great distance from us.</p>
+
+<p>Now we waited to hear in what direction
+they were moving. The following day it
+began to rain very hard. I had no wood
+to make a fire. We were standing there on
+a barren rise, looking out to see which way
+we should have to go, and here and there I
+saw an ant-heap burning. I said to the
+boy,<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> “Set one on fire for us, and put on
+the ‘kastrol’<a id="FNanchor_6" href="#Footnote_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and let us try to get something
+ready to eat.” I had a large green sailcloth,
+and out of this I made a screen, so that there
+was lots of room to keep dry in, and very
+soon I had plenty of company round me.
+That helped to make the time pass, but as
+<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>for eating or drinking, we could do neither.
+It took a very long time before the ant-hill
+began to burn. I thought, “If only the
+‘khakis’ would wait till our food could be
+cooked!” We got on so slowly with the
+ant-hill, the “pap” would not boil. Simson
+was doing all he could to make the fire burn
+up—we were all very hungry. At last
+there was some good soup ready, and we
+had friends with us to help us eat it, so
+that we began to enjoy ourselves. We had
+just finished when there came the order,
+“inspan.” Very quickly we got ready, and
+away we went once more. That evening we
+had to drive on till very late. It grew so
+dark that we could scarcely see anything,
+and yet we could not make a halt. My
+boy asked what he should do, as he could
+not tell whether he were on the right path<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>
+or not. My oxen toiled on slowly, and I
+said that we had better stick to the path
+and go on. We could not outspan, as I had
+no idea where we were, and we did not even
+know now if we were still on the path that
+the people in the waggons had taken. On
+we went, and at last, late in the night, came
+to the waggons. All was silent; everyone
+was fast asleep. I had nothing that I could
+give the children to eat; and the first thing
+I wanted to do was to milk the cows. We
+waited a little, but no cows came up. We
+had gone one way and they the other; we
+could not get to them that night. I told
+the boy to take an ox-yoke and chop it up
+for firewood, so as to be able to get some
+water boiled and make tea. After we had
+had tea I went to sleep. The Kaffirs started
+out very early in the morning to look for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>
+the cows. The boy had been very good; he
+had looked after them the whole night, and
+he now came up to us with all the animals.
+The calves were close to the waggons, and
+the Kaffirs set to work at once to milk the
+cows. How glad the children were to be
+able to come to the pailful of milk!</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> A Kaffir, Simson.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_6" href="#FNanchor_6" class="label">[6]</a> <i>Kastrol</i>, from the French <i>casserole</i> = pot or deep pan.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+<p>It was a finer day; it had left off raining.
+We were now in the neighbourhood of
+Schweizer-Renecke.</p>
+
+<p>Then came General De la Rey to my
+waggons with the news that all the Generals
+were to go the following week to Klerksdorp.
+I had a great many people with me just then—General
+De Wet and many others.</p>
+
+<p>On Monday, after we had spent a peaceful
+Sunday all together, the Generals started for
+Klerksdorp. I went to a place not very far
+from Schweizer-Renecke, for the troops were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>
+stationed in great force at Rooiwal, and were
+also scattered about at many other places.</p>
+
+<p>Here were a great many “treks” of women
+and children, who were also very much afraid
+of the troops. Our commandoes were not
+very far away, so that I could easily hear if
+the “khakis” were coming. I thought that
+if only they would let me stay quietly
+till the Generals had left them I should be
+happy. But we kept on hearing of more and
+more troops advancing. I said, “How can
+that be? I thought that while the Generals
+were with them there would be peace for the
+time.” But no; it grew worse. I had a
+great many people and cattle with me, so
+that we kept ourselves well informed as to
+what the “khakis” were doing.</p>
+
+<p>We hardly knew now where next to go:
+the blockhouses were hemming us in on every<span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span>
+side—we had to be on the watch the whole
+time. Suddenly we saw some horsemen come
+dashing on, and they called out to us, “Here
+are the ‘khakis.’”</p>
+
+<p>It was a dreadful commotion. Everyone
+was saddling and harnessing. My oxen were
+not there, and I had no man with me to help.
+There were many people, but they had to see
+to their own safety. “Ah!” I thought, “if
+only my oxen would come!”</p>
+
+<p>I did not want to be taken prisoner now
+after having escaped so many times, especially
+when we were, perhaps, nearly at the
+end of the terrible war. If only I could get
+off this time!</p>
+
+<p>As people passed me they cried out, “Take
+your spider, and leave your waggons and
+everything behind you.” I replied, “You
+go on.” And the children began to cry, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>
+to say, “What is going to become of us?
+Everyone is hurrying on!”</p>
+
+<p>“Let them go on,” I said. “All their
+women and children are prisoners; why
+should they trouble about us?” The people
+who had waggons abandoned them and hastened
+on. As my waggon stood by the way-side
+they kept on telling me that I must
+come too—that the troops were close at
+hand. At last there were my oxen coming
+over the rise. The children helped to catch
+all the oxen that we could get inspanned.</p>
+
+<p>Then I saw a troop of horsemen riding up
+over the rise. I asked the people passing
+me who they were—if they were “khakis”
+or Boers?</p>
+
+<p>“No,” they said; “they are Boers.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good!” I cried, but I hurried my people
+all the same. As soon as we were ready the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>
+whips touched the oxen, and off we went at a
+good trot.</p>
+
+<p>After we had driven on some little distance
+the yoke broke.</p>
+
+<p>Then for the first time a good Samaritan
+passed us. Ada said to him, “Do help us so
+that we can get the ox yoked, and tell us
+where the English are.”</p>
+
+<p>The young man got off his horse and helped
+us, and he said that the “khakis” were not so
+very near. We went on quickly, then presently
+we heard that there had been a terrible
+fight. Many of our men had been killed or
+wounded. Oh! what dreadful news for us!
+I went on. Towards evening we halted for a
+while. After having eaten we started off
+again, for we thought that the troops would
+be able to get through to Schweizer-Renecke,
+and that we should be straight in their path.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>
+Late at night we stopped to rest. Early
+next morning we went on again; then, as we
+heard that they were not coming any nearer,
+we halted in a place not very far from
+Schweizer-Renecke. As it was near the end
+of the week, we wanted to stay there over
+Sunday, and this we did. That Sunday I
+had a great many visitors.</p>
+
+<p>I was astonished to see how many women
+and children were still out, and how well they
+looked, although they were wanderers. We
+talked about the peace that we were hoping
+for, though not for a peace that should impair
+our independence. It was very pleasant that
+evening to hear the sweet singing of the
+people as they sat near their waggons. The
+following morning we went to Piet De la
+Rey’s place, and as he was also with us we
+had made up our minds to stay there. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>
+it did not come off, for we found we could
+get no water there. We went on a little
+farther, closer to Schweizer-Renecke.</p>
+
+<p>My tent had just been pitched when
+Johannes De la Rey, the son of Piet De la
+Rey, suddenly appeared. He and his brother
+had both been wounded in the last battle.</p>
+
+<p>I had a bed made up in the tent and put
+him on it, for he was very much fatigued
+from wandering about since he had been
+wounded.</p>
+
+<p>He was delighted to be able to rest. That
+afternoon he was taken to the hospital in
+Schweizer-Renecke, his father going with
+him. There were many more wounded. I
+went to visit them, and found them lying in
+the devastated houses. We thought, “We
+must make the best of it and take as good
+care of them as possible.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span></p>
+
+<p>Going to the landdrost, I told him that
+as there were troops in Bloemhof I thought it
+would not be advisable to stay any longer in
+Schweizer-Renecke. “Oh, no,” he said; “it
+is quite safe here. If the ‘khakis’ do come
+I shall know it in good time, and you need
+not be at all anxious.”</p>
+
+<p>I said, “Very well, if it is really so then I
+shall stay on here;” but I was not at all easy
+in my mind. I went to my waggon, which
+was about half an hour’s distance from the
+village, and told the man who was with me
+that if I were to follow my own instinct I
+should get ready at once and leave the place.</p>
+
+<p>He said that there was no need to go. I
+let myself be talked over, and remained for
+the night, as they all thought that things
+were so quiet. That night I slept well, and
+was still sleeping early in the morning when<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>
+up came my boy with these words: “Here
+are the ‘khakis’!”</p>
+
+<p>This time they were right in the village,
+where all was in disorder. I felt all the
+worse because I had remained there against
+my own instinct.</p>
+
+<p>My people hastened to yoke the oxen.
+Everything was lying on the ground, but
+they packed it all into the waggons very
+quickly. We had to see what was to be
+done. I asked, “Is the hen-coop open?”
+There were still a few chickens out then. I
+said still, “Get the chickens into it;” but
+the fighting was coming so near that we had
+to hurry on.</p>
+
+<p>Then there was such a crowd of men and
+beasts that it grew very difficult to make
+one’s way through and get away. Commandant
+Erasmus came up and said, “Don’t<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>
+you run away; it is only wedding-guests who
+are firing like that; those are no ‘khakis.’”
+I drew up and said, “Go and get my
+chickens.” The boy went back and then
+came the news that of course they were
+“khakis.”</p>
+
+<p>Then our flight was doubly hasty. The
+fighting now was much nearer us. I thought,
+“I shall fly to the last.” Then I had more
+misfortunes. There were the chickens out of
+the coop again. I said, “Let us wait for one
+moment and get the fowls in first, and let
+the boy come up with the cows; for if
+I can get no milk I shall be very unhappy.”</p>
+
+<p>The animals were all driven forward; the
+oxen were urged on and we got on at a brisk
+pace.</p>
+
+<p>The ground was vibrating from the firing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span>
+of the “khakis.” The way was full of sand
+and rocks. It was very rough travelling. I
+kept wondering every moment where the boy
+could be with the cows; but it was now a
+time when each one had to consider his own
+safety, without troubling to look after me.
+I was waiting for the moment to come when
+I should be taken prisoner. Fortunately,
+young Jacobus De la Rey, son of Pieter,
+caught sight of my waggon and came up.
+He took the whip and began driving the
+oxen onwards while he rode on his horse
+alongside. He came out on the veldt with
+my waggon, and, as he knew the neighbourhood
+very well, he said, “Aunt, I shall do
+what I can to get you out safely.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very well,” I said, “but you must not
+go and get yourself taken for my sake. If
+the English come up with us, then fly away,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>
+I shall not come to any harm. If they must
+catch me—well, then, let them do so.”</p>
+
+<p>The mountains were echoing back the
+sound of their firing. I said, “There is one
+comfort, I cannot see any cannon; if they
+were to begin to fire them at me I should
+have to give in then.”</p>
+
+<p>We went on as hard as we could. Young
+Kobus De la Rey said, “They are coming
+over the Rand.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then we are in their hands,” I answered.</p>
+
+<p>Then my boy came up with us and told
+me that the “khakis” had taken my cows.
+They had so fired upon him that he had
+taken to his heels and left the cows behind.
+That was bad news; I did not want to listen
+to it, although we too were in great danger,
+and at any moment they might come and
+take me prisoner also.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span></p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp92" id="005" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/005.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">“Our people”.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>I told them that they could not go on any
+longer driving the oxen like that. We should
+have to give in. But still the brave Jacobus
+kept on, and said, “No, aunt, your oxen are
+getting on very well. Don’t you worry about
+them.”</p>
+
+<p>I could not understand myself how it was
+that my waggons were not taken. There was
+not one commando there to keep the “khakis”
+back.</p>
+
+<p>I told myself that when the Lord is
+working His will, then the greatest wonders
+can happen.</p>
+
+<p>We came up to some steep ground when
+one of the yokes broke.</p>
+
+<p>“Now they will be able to see us well,”
+I said; for we had to stand still, which was
+very dangerous. But I kept calm and told
+myself, “My Redeemer is here, and wherever<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>
+I may go with Jesus it will always be well.”
+And I clung fast to the hope that we should
+come away safely.</p>
+
+<p>When we had at last got away from these
+dangerous heights, it seemed at once as if
+the fighting were quieting down. However,
+we could not tell whether they might not fall
+upon us from in front, as in that direction lay
+a woody and uneven country.</p>
+
+<p>Very soon we heard that they had not
+come any nearer. But still we went on, to
+get as far away as possible. Then we heard
+that nearly all the people who had been that
+night in Schweizer-Renecke had been taken
+prisoners, and that the very same landdrost
+who had told me towards sunset that he
+would be sure to know when the “khakis”
+were coming had had no time that very
+night to put on his clothes and escape before<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>
+they appeared. I thought how sorry I was
+that I had not followed my own wish; had
+I done so, we should not have found ourselves
+in such danger. However, it looked again as
+if we were going to escape, now that the
+fighting was slackening.</p>
+
+<p>After the Almighty I owed my freedom to
+brave little Jacobus De la Rey and Louis De
+la Rey, who also did his best to get us away
+safely. When the troops were so near that
+they could have shot at my waggons, so that
+I wanted to stop, they paid no heed, but continued
+to drive the oxen on at full speed.</p>
+
+<p>I had so many children with me and
+dreaded so much to see them shot dead before
+my eyes that at one moment I thought it
+would be better to give in.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately, it was not necessary; the
+danger was now over. It was very late<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>
+before we could make a halt. I had nothing
+ready in the waggons to give the children to
+eat; but none of them gave me any trouble,
+not even my little Janne, who was only six
+years old. It was so clever of him to understand
+that when there was nothing to give
+him he would have to wait.</p>
+
+<p>After a short rest we had to go on again.
+At three o’clock in the afternoon we stopped.
+We had no wood, and my boy, who was
+thoroughly dead beat, did not know how he
+was going to make a fire. However, by the
+time the evening had come our food was
+ready.</p>
+
+<p>Now I had no more cows, so that we had to
+do without the precious milk. If my little
+Janne could get nothing else, he used always
+to be contented with milk.</p>
+
+<p>That evening we went farther. As we<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span>
+were going to unyoke the oxen and rest for the
+night a number of people came past, saying that
+there were troops coming on out of Vryburg.
+“Ah!” I said, “my oxen are so tired, how
+can I get on any farther to-night?” However,
+after resting a little, I went on again.</p>
+
+<p>At sunrise we halted near a farm, where there
+were trees with undergrowth, so that we could
+get firewood.</p>
+
+<p>Coffee was just ready when, before I could
+see to the rest of the breakfast, there came
+the news that the troops were only a couple
+of hours’ riding from us. We should have to
+go on again. We moved very slowly, the
+oxen being so tired. Fortunately, we found
+out it was not true about the troops coming
+from Vryburg.</p>
+
+<p>Sometimes all my Kaffirs would be pulling
+at the sailcloth to hold it down and fasten it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>
+securely, so that I would think that the
+awning was surely going to be blown away
+from the waggon. It was dreadful to go
+through those storms in the waggon. However,
+man’s nature is such that when it is
+once again a beautiful calm evening he thinks
+no more of the storms and the lightnings that
+are over.</p>
+
+<p>It was again a calm and pleasant day; the
+“storm” of the “khakis” was also over—they
+had gone back to Klerksdorp and we
+were able to take a little rest. I went to
+Delport’s place on the Harts River. I had
+lost all my cattle during the flight from
+Schweizer-Renecke. Here I found about
+fifty-two head belonging to me, which had
+been driven on with all the other cattle during
+the flight. But I did not get my cows back;
+those had been looted by the English. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span>
+waited anxiously to hear what our people
+were doing in Pretoria. A few days later
+they arrived. I said how disheartening it
+was to have been so worried by the “khakis.”
+They had been doing all they possibly could
+to harm us during the time that the Generals
+were away. I was very glad when they returned;
+then I could get news of my
+children in Pretoria, from whom I had not
+heard for so long. A few days later General
+De la Rey began his meetings. The brave
+burghers were having a bitterly hard life of it
+at that time and their families were in great
+want.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, they would not abandon
+their rights. They were determined to go on
+fighting for their freedom and their rights.</p>
+
+<p>These brave men were depending, not on
+their strength, but on their rights.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span></p>
+
+<p>It was a very grave question to consider.</p>
+
+<p>They had struggled for so long; they
+had given up wives and children, and all
+that a man holds most precious; there might
+be thousands of the enemy rising up against
+their small band, and even shutting them
+in on every side; nevertheless, they had
+long since grown to be convinced that it
+was not they who were fighting, but a
+Power superior to the might of man. But
+many had been killed or taken, so that they
+were greatly weakened, especially of late.</p>
+
+<p>And worst of all were the defections and
+treachery.</p>
+
+<p>When a man behaves treacherously it is
+a terrible thing.</p>
+
+<p>For only think to what all that has
+brought them. Some became traitors; too
+spiritless to help their own people, they were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span>
+courageous enough to take up arms to help
+the English; on all those rests the guilt of
+their brothers’ blood. The result was to
+render those who held on still more steadfast
+and to teach them still greater abhorrence
+of treachery and of bad faith.</p>
+
+<p>As they had struggled and suffered for
+so long, and it had not pleased God to deliver
+them into the hand of their enemy,
+they did not wish to be themselves the
+ones to do it. And I was entirely at one
+with them, for their story and mine were
+one and the same. It still remains inexplicable
+to me how for seventeen months
+I had been able to fly with my children,
+many a day not knowing what to do.</p>
+
+<p>It is often hard and difficult to “trek”
+round with so many children and not to
+be able to get clothes and other necessaries<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>
+for them. And yet I was able to say
+every day, “The Lord has helped me and
+strengthened me, like He helped the widow of
+Zarephath, so that her cruse never failed her,
+but always remained full.” Often as I lay
+in bed at night, feeling so depressed by
+the thought of what would come of it all,
+did I repeat Hymn 22, “Rest, my soul, thy
+God is King,” and the last verse, “Your
+God is King, be contented with your
+lot.”</p>
+
+<p>And every day the Lord strengthened me
+in this manner, so that I had no right
+to be faithless. And it was the same with
+our people.</p>
+
+<p>They went on with their meetings, and
+every time they decided to persevere and
+not give up. Everywhere it was the same.</p>
+
+<p>I thought, “Who is it that makes the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span>
+burghers so strong? It is beyond man’s
+comprehension.”</p>
+
+<p>Yet if one remembers the place of
+Golgotha, then one can better understand.</p>
+
+<p>That the Saviour must suffer so much,
+and yet be innocent, was a difficult thing
+for His disciples to understand at the time.
+It was known throughout the world that the
+Saviour must die, and undergo the most
+cruel treatment, but men could not tell
+why it should be.</p>
+
+<p>And we do not know why this people
+should suffer so bitterly; some day we shall
+learn the reason.</p>
+
+<p>When the meetings were over in the
+Lichtenburg district they went to the Zwartruggens
+and Marico. I was then in the
+Lichtenburg district.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p>
+
+<p>As soon as the General had left Lichtenburg
+the “khakis” began to “trek” on.</p>
+
+<p>They were already advancing rapidly
+towards Vryburg. I heard that they were
+coming on in such large numbers that I
+thought, “Why is it that the ‘khakis’ can
+never let me have a little peace? I shall
+go somewhere where I can stay in some
+little comfort, and I will not fly any more,
+for they are busy making peace. Let the
+‘khakis’ come if they like.” People were all
+flying away with their cattle as hard as
+they could. They advised me to let my
+cattle also go with the rest. I said, “I
+do not know what will be best. I have
+not come across the troops for a long time,
+and I do not know what they would do
+now if I were to meet them.”</p>
+
+<p>I let myself be talked over, and sent all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>
+my cattle away. I had two waggons; I
+let one go with the cattle. I remained with
+one waggon, a tent, a spider and four cows.
+All the rest went in the flight.</p>
+
+<p>The “khakis” came on in large numbers.
+They came swarming over the ground. I
+said, “Where can all these ‘khakis’ have
+come from that there should be such crowds
+of them?” Still I did not go away, but
+stayed on at the place called Corsica, belonging
+to Mr Meyer, where his wife was
+still living and some other women besides.</p>
+
+<p>We kept on hearing of large armies that
+were advancing. All our men were away.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly we heard the sound of fighting
+not very far from us. Then all at once we
+saw horsemen coming up over the rise. We
+saw that they were Boers, and we asked
+where the troops were. “Not far from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>
+here,” they said. “We have just been
+fighting with them.”</p>
+
+<p>It was already late and the burghers went
+away.</p>
+
+<p>In the morning we got up early, knowing
+that the troops would be getting here very
+soon. We had not even breakfasted yet
+when we saw them coming over the rise.</p>
+
+<p>I thought to myself, “What will they do
+to me now? I have been fleeing before them
+for eighteen months and they were doing all
+they could to catch me, but in vain. Perhaps
+they will revenge themselves on me now.
+But,” I thought, “the Lord has always
+watched over me till to-day, and He will
+continue to do so.”</p>
+
+<p>They stopped a few hundred paces away
+from us and rode up and down there for a
+little while. Suddenly they dashed up to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>
+my waggon, came up to where I was sitting
+behind, and one of them asked me where the
+Boers were.</p>
+
+<p>I answered, “There are none here.”</p>
+
+<p>“When were they here last?”</p>
+
+<p>“They went away from here yesterday
+afternoon.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where are the commandoes?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“I know nothing about the commandoes.”</p>
+
+<p>Then I told him that as the Kaffirs that
+were among the troops behaved so badly and
+cruelly to women and children I did not want
+to have anything to do with coloured people.
+I only had to deal with white people, and so
+they must just keep the coloured ones away
+from me.</p>
+
+<p>He was polite, and said, “Very well, Mrs
+De la Rey, you shall not be troubled by the
+Kaffirs.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p>
+
+<p>But they kept coming continually to the
+waggon. I thought, “It is rousing their
+appetite for burning.” A Kaffir had already
+told my boy when he was by the fire that
+this waggon and tent would have to be
+burnt.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel Williams came to my daughter in
+front of the tent and asked whose waggon it
+was. When she had told him came the cruel
+order, “It does not matter to me whose
+waggon it is. The woman must get out,
+were she the Queen herself, and the waggon
+and tent must be burnt.”</p>
+
+<p>Then I thought to myself that I must now
+undergo that about which I had heard so
+much from others. To think that poor
+women must see their things taken away
+from them and burnt.</p>
+
+<p>I was very angry, and I thought, “Do what<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>
+you like, I shall say what I think and what
+is right.”</p>
+
+<p>I told them again then who I was, and said
+that I was not going to let them burn my
+waggon.</p>
+
+<p>For eighteen months long, ever since Lord
+Methuen sent me out of Lichtenburg, I had
+wandered round with my children. If they
+wanted to burn my things they would have
+to get an order from a superior officer. I
+was not going to let them do it themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The soldiers kept pressing closer. They
+had quite surrounded me. I thought, “Who
+knows how cruel they are going to be?”</p>
+
+<p>But here again I remembered that only as
+far as the Lord would let them could they
+go and no further, and I did not lose faith.</p>
+
+<p>Then suddenly the one with whom I had
+been talking drew his pocket-book out and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span>
+wrote an order that the waggon, the tent and
+the cows which I had kept should not be touched
+and that no harm should be done on the place.
+And this was just when, a little way off, in a
+dwelling-house, they had completely taken
+and destroyed everything. They had taken
+away from there all the blankets and more
+or less everything that the women had had
+by them. They used to let this be done by
+the Kaffirs, who took great pride in being
+able to act in such a manner to white women-folks.</p>
+
+<p>And now the officer’s bad temper was quite
+cured. No one might come near my waggon
+and tent now. The soldiers were ordered
+back; a guard was stationed near us so that
+we might not be annoyed by the passers-by.</p>
+
+<p>I was delivered from them the next day.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span></p>
+
+<p>I was longing now to hear what had become
+of the people who had taken the cattle with
+them.</p>
+
+<p>The report came that evening that they
+had all been taken.</p>
+
+<p>Then we heard the sound of riding, and we
+wondered if that could be “khakis” again.
+As we were just a handful of women and
+children we would far rather it were not
+more “khakis.” They came riding up. It
+was Dr van Rennenkampf and Tom Sisk.
+How happy we were to see some of our own
+people again! I heard from them then that
+all those with whom I had let my cattle go
+had been taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>There I was now, quite helpless. The
+people on the farm were very good, but they,
+too, were equally helpless. We had no living
+animals that we could use for “trekking.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span></p>
+
+<p>The doctor had his cart and mules, and
+therefore I told him he must just stay here
+with us. I felt as if I could die of sorrow;
+I had no wish now to stay any longer, but
+all my cattle were taken and I could not get
+away.</p>
+
+<p>There was nothing here to slaughter; however,
+I thought to myself that things had
+always come right somehow or other up to
+now, and that it would be the same this time
+also.</p>
+
+<p>And there came a brave burgher with sheep
+for the women and children. Thus did the
+Lord always provide that we never should be
+without something to feed us.</p>
+
+<p>And the doctor was there to ride for
+“mealies,” which was a great help to us in
+those days.</p>
+
+<p>The week was not yet over when we heard<span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span>
+that the “khakis” were coming back from
+Vryburg.</p>
+
+<p>I said, “What am I going to do with the
+‘khakis’ now? I thought they were not
+coming back again.” And just a week after
+they had left, back they were again. They
+came towards us in their thousands. However,
+the doctor was with us now. Colonel
+Williams came up to me and said that
+General Hamilton was coming to see me.
+He had news of General De la Rey.</p>
+
+<p>“Very well,” I said, “let him come.”</p>
+
+<p>Then came Hamilton with a telegram from
+General De la Rey asking him if he had met
+me, and what had happened to me.</p>
+
+<p>He said that he had answered that they
+had met me and had done nothing to me,
+and that all was well with me. We did not
+know anything yet of what they had been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>
+doing at Pretoria. We were anxious to have
+news of the peace negotiations, but I could not
+hear anything more. The English behaved
+reasonably this time and did us no harm.
+They wanted to stay on in the place, but
+there was not enough water for such a
+large army, therefore they went away
+again.</p>
+
+<p>I was so unhappy that I had lost all my
+oxen; and now the water, that had always
+been troubled, was so dirty, owing to all the
+troops that had been staying there, that I
+felt still less inclination to stop on.</p>
+
+<p>Fortunately Mr D. van der Merwe succeeded
+in escaping with the Government
+cattle. He gave me two beasts to be
+slaughtered and two milch cows.</p>
+
+<p>It was sad to hear the tales of how the
+“khakis” were now behaving to the people.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span>
+A woman came to me weeping and grieving
+bitterly.</p>
+
+<p>“What is the matter with you?” I said.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, they have taken away my big Bible,
+in which all my children’s names were
+entered. They have taken everything away—nothing
+is left to me; but if only I could
+get my Bible back!”</p>
+
+<p>I said, “Why did you not hold it in your
+arms when the ‘khakis’ were taking everything
+away?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh,” she said, “I and my children were
+standing there watching everything in bitter
+anguish. We were in a ruined house. When
+they drove the door in I could not bear to be
+with them any longer, and I went out of the
+house with the children; and so they took it
+away without my seeing.”</p>
+
+<p>I said, “I think I should have been able to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span>
+get it back for you; but now they have,
+unfortunately, all gone away, and I am afraid
+I cannot help you.”</p>
+
+<p>These were the hardest days of all for me.
+My flour had come to an end, and although
+the Boers had a small flour mill with them
+when they were fleeing, I was not able to get
+at it, so that I had to use my coffee mill for
+grinding. Having so many children with
+me made it very hard sometimes; but the
+children had also been through so much by
+this time that every difficulty gradually
+righted itself.</p>
+
+<p>As they were still very young, and had
+always been used to go regularly to school, it
+was often very wearying for them. It is not
+very comfortable to be constantly wandering
+over the veldt, especially in this fashion.</p>
+
+<p>As we were here to-day and in another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>
+place to-morrow, it often happened that we
+could not get a maid to do the washing.
+Then the children would have to do it themselves.
+They would take the clothes and put
+them in the tub, and then Janne and Hester
+would have to tread on them. But Janne was
+such a little monkey, he was always playing
+tricks on Hester, and then she would have
+to undo all his mischief, and by herself
+tread the clothes up and down till they
+were clean enough for the two little girls to
+finish washing them. Sometimes there was
+very little soap. They would make starch
+out of green “mealies” (Indian corn).</p>
+
+<p>There were many burghers who had been
+schoolmasters before the war. When any of
+them were near my waggons they would keep
+school for the children. After the waggons
+had been outspanned they would all sit<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span>
+under a shady tree with the master and have
+lessons. People were often surprised to see
+how well we were getting on for fugitives.
+I said, “It does not all go as smoothly as
+you think;” but I often wondered myself
+when I thought of how we got through day
+after day.</p>
+
+<p>We kept the calves close to the waggons,
+and while we were “trekking” they would be
+marched alongside of the oxen. The cows
+were sent on ahead, so that they could be
+milked in the evening; and as long as the
+children could have milk they were always
+content. Sometimes we would put the milk
+into a stone bottle, and thus be able to get
+butter<a id="FNanchor_7" href="#Footnote_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> and sour milk as well. Our supply
+of coffee, though running short, was not yet<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>
+quite finished. As we had so little left, I
+used to cut up petatas<a id="FNanchor_8" href="#Footnote_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> into small dice and
+dry and burn them. These I would mix with
+the coffee beans—one-fourth of coffee to three-fourths
+of petatas—and grind it all up together.
+This mixture made quite good coffee.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_7" href="#FNanchor_7" class="label">[7]</a> <i>Butter.</i>—Owing to the shaking of the waggon when
+“trekking,” the milk in the stone bottle would gradually
+be churned into butter.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_8" href="#FNanchor_8" class="label">[8]</a> <i>Petatas.</i>—A species of potato.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p>We had all sorts of difficulties. The poor
+burghers were very badly off for clothes.
+They began tanning sheepskins and using
+them. We got quite clever at dressing the
+skins, and they were soft and clean. If a
+man had a pair of trousers almost worn out
+he would patch them up with skins. It was
+the same thing with boots. We called them
+“armoured” clothes. The women and children
+took “kombaarzen”<a id="FNanchor_9" href="#Footnote_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> and made skirts
+and jackets out of them.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote">
+
+<p><a id="Footnote_9" href="#FNanchor_9" class="label">[9]</a> <i>Kombaarzen.</i>—Blankets. In this case the blankets
+taken from the enemy.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p>
+
+<p>I had always kept up through everything.
+If life grew too hard in one place I would
+move on to another; but when I had lost my
+cattle, and could not leave when I wanted,
+many a day fell heavily on me. However,
+thanks to the doctor and to a Frenchman
+who remained near us, things were better
+than they otherwise might have been.</p>
+
+<p>We were waiting in great suspense to hear
+the result of the negotiations. At last there
+came a man with the news that peace had
+been declared on the 1st of June. It was
+wonderful. I had been so anxious to hear
+if it would be peace, and now when the news
+came I could not be joyful. I knew nothing
+for certain yet about the terms, and I thought,
+“That is the reason why I do not feel happier,
+although it is two years and six months now
+since we began this dreadful and pitiless<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>
+struggle from which we have so often longed
+to be delivered.”</p>
+
+<p>The children were very happy. The doctor
+and our Frenchman still had their horses, and
+they rode off that same day. Other burghers
+fired their guns into the air for joy. They
+did not know what sort of a peace it was, but
+for the moment they could only rejoice.</p>
+
+<p>I did not want to stay any longer where I
+was, but had still no oxen. A short way off
+there was a man who had a span of Government
+oxen. I sent my boy to this man to
+get them from him so that I should be able to
+return to my own district.</p>
+
+<p>He sent the oxen, and everything was soon
+ready for the start, although, as I had always
+had two waggons with me before, it was very
+difficult to get everything packed into one.
+Whatever I was not able to load I left behind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>
+me. We had been in this place now for more
+than a month, and the people were sorry to
+see us going away. But, however hard it
+might be for me, on I went.</p>
+
+<p>The waggon was heavy and the road very
+sandy, so that very often the children had to
+get out and walk alongside the waggon. The
+first place we came to belonged to Widow
+Lemmer. The poor old woman was very
+unhappy, for that very week the “khakis”
+had taken away her cows and everything else
+that she had remaining.</p>
+
+<p>From there I went on again, but heard no
+talk of peace. I went past the Zoutspannen
+to the place belonging to G. Stolz.</p>
+
+<p>I stopped there that Sunday. In the
+afternoon it was peaceful, and yet I felt so
+sorrowful. Saturday night I could not sleep,
+and that night I said to my daughter Ada,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span>
+“I cannot think why I feel like this about the
+peace. If only it is not a surrender of arms,
+this peace that they talk of! But no,” I said,
+“it cannot be anything like that, for then it
+would not be peace.”</p>
+
+<p>At ten o’clock next morning my children
+and I all met together for worship.</p>
+
+<p>I felt very much affected. There had been
+so many Sundays spent in making war, and
+now to-day it was peace. Therefore I said to
+my children, “We have been through so
+many hard and bitter days, and the Almighty
+Father has brought us safely through our
+weary pilgrimage. Let us now thank Him
+with all our hearts.” I felt that it was only
+God’s goodness that had spared us from
+falling into the hands of our adversary.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon I went to lie down for a
+little in my waggon. At four o’clock in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span>
+afternoon Liebenberg arrived from Klerksdorp
+and came to my waggon with the report
+of peace. And now I had to hear that it was
+indeed a surrender of our arms.</p>
+
+<p>I did not know how to pacify my children;
+they wept bitterly, and could not find words
+for their indignation. And yet it was peace
+all the same. I said to them, “Let us keep
+silence; later on we shall understand it all.”</p>
+
+<p>I stayed there till Monday morning. As
+Liebenberg had come to take me to Klerksdorp,
+and as from there I should be able to go
+on to Pretoria, I soon thought to myself,
+“What a joy it will be when I can meet my
+children again, after having been separated
+from them for nearly two years.”</p>
+
+<p>But this peace was so distasteful that I
+could not get over the thought of it.</p>
+
+<p>When everything was packed we made<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>
+ready to start. While I was driving I took
+my day-book. The text for that morning
+was Gen. xxii. 7: “And Abraham said God
+will provide....”</p>
+
+<p>Now we went on quickly. I met on that
+road none but sorrowing women and children.
+I said sometimes, “Where can the poor
+burghers be that we do not meet them?”</p>
+
+<p>After having travelled for a couple of days
+we came to Mr D. van der Merwe’s place.
+There I met several burghers. Van der
+Merwe was a good and clever man and I was
+glad to be able to talk with him. He told
+me that, however incomprehensible it might
+all seem, he was sure that the officers after
+having struggled so long and so bitterly
+would now also do their best.</p>
+
+<p>As they had first gone to the Zwartruggens
+and Marico to see that the arms were all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span>
+given up, I had not seen any of them
+yet.</p>
+
+<p>We were now in the Lichtenburg district.
+I waited at Mr van der Merwe’s place. It
+was bitterly cold. It snowed for three days,
+and during all my wanderings this was the
+worst cold I had experienced. And there was
+no house to shelter us. There were plenty of
+buildings there, but all were more or less in
+ruins. It was dreadful to see them. Now
+came the time when the burghers in this
+neighbourhood also had to give up their arms.</p>
+
+<p>On the 12th of June the last gun had been
+given up in the Lichtenburg district. That
+evening my people came for the first time to
+my tent. I thought how bitter it was to
+meet them in this way. My husband came
+to me and my son, little Coos. Little Coos
+cried, “Mamma, I have still got my gun.”</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span></p>
+
+<p>It was very hard for him; he could stand
+the war better than the peace. I did not
+want to speak about it with his father. The
+terrible shedding of blood was at end. We
+had offered up our property and our blood for
+Freedom and Justice.... Where was this
+freedom? where was this justice?</p>
+
+<p>Jesus was betrayed by Judas. He had to
+die the cruel death on the cross. His death
+brought us everlasting life; yet Judas killed
+himself.</p>
+
+<p>We have been betrayed by many of our
+burghers. We have lost our right for a time.
+Yet they who struggled to the end, and who
+resolved that right must go first without
+thinking of might, have kept their fortitude.
+However the end may have shaped itself,
+they are glad not to have been Judases.</p>
+
+<p>There was now a great longing on the part<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span>
+of all those around to see the members of
+their families from whom they had been
+parted for so long.</p>
+
+<p>I, too, rejoiced that I could go to Pretoria
+to see my children, whom I had not seen for
+so long a time. And I thought again of my
+beloved son, whom I had had to give up.</p>
+
+<p>And yet I had not had to sacrifice so
+much; many a woman had given her husband
+and her children too.</p>
+
+<p>We went on to Klerksdorp in my waggon.
+As we would have to drive for two days
+before getting there, and as Sunday came in
+between, on that day we made a halt. It
+was the last Sunday that I spent out on the
+veldt. I thought earnestly of all that had
+taken place. How many Sundays had I not
+spent in flying before the enemy?</p>
+
+<p>Sunday evening we entered Klerksdorp;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>
+Monday morning I sent back the waggons
+which had housed me and my children for
+twenty months. I had grown so used to life
+in my waggon that I did not like to see it
+go away.</p>
+
+<p>We went to Pretoria that evening, and I
+found my children in well-being. It was
+pleasant after such a long separation. I had
+been two days in Pretoria when a son was
+born to my daughter. Then I became a
+grandmother, for this was the first grand-child.
+He was christened Jacobus Herklaas
+De la Rey. I felt very grateful. In all the
+bitterness of those weary days I was able to
+say, “But He knoweth the way that I take;
+when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as
+gold” (Job xxiii. 10); and also as in Job ii.
+10 (the last part), “What? Shall we receive
+good at the hand of God and shall we not<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>
+receive evil? In all this did not Job sin
+with his lips.”</p>
+
+<p>Now, dear brothers and sisters, since we
+are sure that God shall prove His Word, let
+us stand steadfast in our faith and wait for
+the salvation of the Lord. This is the time of
+trial; now will the Lord see if we are worthy
+that He should make His wonders manifest
+unto us before the eyes of the whole world.</p>
+
+<div class="poetry-container">
+<div class="poetry">
+  <div class="stanza">
+    <div class="verse indent0">“<i>Though He tarry, He knows His hour,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>He comes, He surely comes:</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>And all eyes shall contemplate Him,</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>All hearts shall realise the deeds</i></div>
+    <div class="verse indent0"><i>Which He wrought here upon earth.</i>”</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="006" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/006.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Mesdames Ferreira and Bezuidenhout.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>One of the three ladies standing up (in
+the accompanying photograph) is my daughter,
+now Mrs Ferreira; the other two are two
+Misses Bezuidenhout. They have there the
+very flags of the Transvaal and Orange
+Free State, which are their great treasure.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span>
+The two Misses Bezuidenhout are the
+daughters of the Widow Bezuidenhout, my
+husband’s eldest sister. She is the mother
+of nine children; she too had her house
+burned down and all that she possessed
+taken away from her. I have often found
+her in tears, and she would say to me, “What
+is to become of us all? I and my children
+have not one single animal left alive, and
+everything on my farm has been destroyed!”</p>
+
+<p>Her daughter (Mrs Bodenstein) is also a
+mother of seven children, and when I saw
+her she told me that she had nothing for her
+children, not a single blanket had been left
+to her. When she went to complain to the
+English officer, he only asked her, “Who is
+the man who did it?” The man who did it
+was nowhere to be found. But the harm had
+been done, and in the same way not one, but<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>
+many had to suffer. May no other people in
+the world ever have to endure another such
+war so long as the world may last. I do not
+think that it can be forgotten. I cannot say
+who it was who were wrong, we or our adversaries.
+But this I can say, that it was
+terrible to bear. Never could I have thought
+that human beings could treat each other in
+such a way. I know well that war is one of
+the blackest things upon earth, still I cannot
+depart from all sense of justice and put down
+every sort of barbarity to war and consider it
+right. As we were known to the whole world
+as two Christian nations, I had thought that
+such things could not be allowed. But I
+have been taught that suffering and misery
+can go on increasing to the bitter end, and
+that in war no deed can be too hard or cruel
+to be committed.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="007" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/007.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Four of Mrs De la Rey’s children, with two little girl friends.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p>
+
+<p>Here are four of my children who during
+all my wanderings were with me all the time.
+A Frenchman near my waggon took this
+photograph; he found it very amusing to
+take the children in that way. The girl with
+the revolver is the daughter of Field-Cornet
+Meyer, at whose place I was then staying.
+The Frenchman slung round the children all
+the guns and revolvers and field-glasses.</p>
+
+<p>At times the children thoroughly enjoyed
+life out on the veldt. It was often trying for
+them with all the hardships we were constantly
+encountering, but on the whole the
+children came off better than their elders.
+When there was danger they would begin to
+cry, but soon it would all be forgotten. They
+were always so ready to help me and to make
+everything easier for me as far as they could.
+It was very hard for them sometimes to look<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>
+after themselves and keep their clothes in
+order. And as they always went on growing
+they kept growing out of their clothes and
+wore them out, so that they had to help to
+patch and make the most of them. Sometimes
+they would have no cups or mugs to
+drink out of—then they would set to work
+with “jambliks” and try to make mugs out
+of them. My brother, Jan Greef, who used
+sometimes to be near my waggon, would help
+to make mugs. He was very clever at it.
+Fortunately, I managed to keep always one or
+two cups and saucers. Cups which could
+break so easily during all that driving about
+had to be taken great care of. We were
+always trying to find new ways of doing
+things. If we wanted cotton for sewing we
+would take a piece of sailcloth, unravel it
+and use the threads, or else undo our shoe-strings<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>
+and unravel them. The girls made a
+large number of socks, stockings, bands, etc.
+We would take some sheep’s wool and card
+it; then the Kaffir boys made little wooden
+“machines,” and with them wove the wool
+into strands.</p>
+
+<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="008" style="max-width: 62.5em;">
+  <img class="w100" src="images/008.jpg" alt="">
+  <figcaption class="caption"><p class="center">Three of Mrs De la Rey’s children.</p></figcaption>
+</figure>
+
+<p>Here are also three more of my children,
+the three youngest. The little boy in the
+middle, Gabriel Johannes, is now six. He
+often used to say to the English soldiers,
+“Hands up,” and then they would laugh
+at him. It was a pleasure to him to be
+flying away; whenever we had been long
+in one place, he would say, “I wish we
+had to run away again; not from the
+‘khakis,’ but just so as to be driving.”
+When he heard that the burghers had to
+give up their arms, he said, “I am not
+going to give my gun to ‘khakis’; I would<span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span>
+rather break it in pieces; the ‘khakis’
+shall never have it.” There he has it in
+his hand. It was such a momentous time,
+even the youngest felt the weight of it.</p>
+
+<p>If I am still to go through many days
+of hardship in this life, let me then cast
+a glance upon those that are past. Because
+once we had so many good and happy
+hours, and now find ourselves so bitterly
+oppressed, I have often heard people say
+that they doubted whether there could be
+a God.</p>
+
+<p>What I used to think of in my days
+that were most full of sorrow, was just
+that it could be no mortal that was guiding
+us through everything; my past life
+rose constantly before my eyes. My father,
+Hendrik Adrian Greef, who is now long
+since dead, was one of the Voortrekkers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>
+of Transvaal, and he went then to live
+in Lichtenburg, where I remained from
+my fourth year, till the day I was driven
+away by the war. My father too had had
+to go through a great deal; for in those
+days the whole place was a wilderness.
+When my father went on a shooting expedition,
+as we were living alone on the
+farm, my mother would not let him leave
+her behind; so she used to go with him
+with her four children, of which I was
+the eldest, then twelve years old. It was
+a wild country; one met only Kaffirs and
+other savage people. They were like wild
+beasts; as soon as they caught sight of
+us they would run off as hard as they
+could; thus very often my father could not
+get anybody to show him where there was
+water. He went on then to the Lake, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>
+from there to Damaraland, so that this
+journey kept us for a year on the veldt.
+We were often in danger from the black
+Kaffirs, who tried to get hold of us; and
+often we came to places where there was
+no water to be found.</p>
+
+<p>When passing through these later days
+of trial I often thought of my father, for
+a child does not easily forget what its
+father has done. When living in prosperity,
+it had always been my wish to
+walk in the ways of the Lord, and now,
+however hard the storm of injustice might
+strike me, never would it be heavy enough
+to part me from the love of Jesus. In the
+days when all was well with me I often
+wondered how it would be if I had to bear
+great troubles; and if I should not then
+despair. When one is happy it is easy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>
+enough to be a Christian. And though,
+like everyone else upon this earth, I have
+my cross, yet the Saviour has always made it
+lighter for me, so that I am able to bear it.</p>
+
+<p>And this weary war has taught me to
+see one thing clearly;—that the bent reed
+will not be broken. For many a time
+when I thought, “Now all is over,” I
+would seem to hear God’s voice answering
+me, and saying, “He who persists unto
+the end shall be saved.” Thus I cannot
+come to understand how in such times
+men can drift away from God instead of
+drawing closer to Him.</p>
+
+<p>So I can say about myself, “I shall
+still praise and thank the Lord for His
+Fatherly guidance”; for who was it that
+watched over me when I wandered around
+for many a stormy day and night?—It<span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span>
+was our gracious God. Who was it that
+kept me and mine from falling into the
+hands of our adversary?—It was the Lord,
+before whom we must all of us come one
+day.</p>
+
+<p>How can I then prove unfaithful? No—however
+great may be our sufferings,
+I shall always put my trust in the salvation
+of the Lord.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p><i>Praise the Lord, who ever will forgive
+your sins. How many they may be, He
+will graciously forgive. He knows your
+sufferings and will lovingly cure them.
+He will cleanse your life from stain,
+and will crown you with goodness and
+mercy as He saved you in your need.</i></p>
+
+<p class="right">
+<span class="smcap">Jacoba Elizabeth De la Rey</span>,<br>
+(born Greef).
+</p>
+
+
+<p class="center p4">
+COLSTON AND COY. LIMITED, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH<br>
+</p>
+
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A WOMAN'S WANDERINGS AND TRIALS DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>