A woman's wanderings and trials during the Anglo-Boer War

by Jacoba Elizabeth De la Rey

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.