A Family Affair - A Son's Desperate Search for the Father He Never Knew

A Family Affair

A son's desperate search for the father he never knew.

© Peter Cleary 2015

ISBN 978-0-6399340-3-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Published by Peter Cleary Books Mtunzini, KZN, 3867

www.peterclearybooks.co.za

peter@peterclearybooks.co.za

Cover photograph by Peter Cleary

Cover design by Jo Petzer of Cosmic Creations

This is for my mother, Beryl Alice Cleary, a pioneer woman.

Book One | Chapter 1

From the branches of the tree where he was sitting he could see the village of Salem in the valley below. They had been in that new place for nearly two years and he decided he liked it much better than the farm where they had first lived when they came to the new country.

After they had landed in Port Elizabeth they had been required to travel by ox wagon to Bathurst, the small town where all the settlers had to report to be allocated the farm land they had been promised. Most of the families who had come on the same ship as them went to Bathurst.

He did not really understand how it all worked but his father had told them that they were going to this new land in Africa and they would be pioneers. His father said that word with pride and he was glad that his father was excited about it because he had not been a happy man for a long time, and they all knew that something had to change.

The land they were given was near the coast where the Kowie River ran into the sea and at first it was very exciting to visit the small town there and swim in the river near the mouth where the sea came in and there were no crocodiles. There were two towns on the river: the one on their side was called Port Kowie and the one on the other side towards where the sun rose was called Port Frances. Father said that was rather silly to give two names, and most people agreed with him.

But they did not often go to the river because of all the work on the farm, and because they never had any money.

He was old enough now to realise that the farm had never been something that his father fully understood, and it was only his stubborn nature that kept them there for over two years, hacking away at the bush to clear it for crops that they could grow for food and for barter to get the other necessities like soap and sugar. He did not like to remember those hard times, living in the small shack they had built themselves.

Then his father heard that there was a store in a little town called Salem, only about 30 miles away, into the interior. The owner had died and his widow wanted someone to run it for her because she had never understood anything about commerce. Well, that was something his father did know about because he had worked in a store all of his life before they came to Albany.

He remembered the day they had arrived at the town and had been given instructions where to find the widow and they had all stood on her verandah wondering what she would be like, while his father knocked on the door. They were seven on that day: his father and mother, his older sister Liz and the other three younger siblings, two boys and a girl. They were eight now because his mother had made another sister.

They all stood on that verandah, just about in a line, wondering what the lady would look like and how old she was and things like that. And, of course, whether she would like them and give his father the job to run her store. That was definitely the most important thing because they had nothing but the Cape Cart and the two donkeys that pulled it, and the clothes on their backs and the last of the food they had harvested.

Eventually the door opened and there was the lady, looking quite old, and very tired and maybe angry because her first word was not very friendly.

Yes?

Excuse us, madam. I hope we did not disturb, said their father.

What do you want?

I am a storekeeper by trade, madam, and I’ve heard you are looking for someone to run your store.

The lady looked at all of us in turn and then at our cart in her yard.

If you are a trained storekeeper why are you so poor? And why do you have so many children?

His father appeared not to be troubled by her rude words and explained slowly.

We came to Albany two years ago, madam. That was in the year 1830. We came on the Settler grant and were given land to farm near the mouth of the Kowie River. I am not a farmer, good lady, and the land was poor, covered in dense bush, the ground rocky, no bottom lands suitable for good crops, nor grassland for beasts. It was a failure, madam, this I freely admit. I am a storeman, and I’m a hard worker. Give us a chance, please, madam, to prove that we can run your store in a proper manner.

He had never heard his father make such a long speech.

They could see that the woman was considering what their father had said, and she did not look as angry.

What is your name?

My name is Belmont, madam, Will Belmont, and this be my wife Rosemary, and our children Elizabeth, James, Rebecca, George and Richard.

He had named them according to age, pointing to each in turn, including Richard who was in their mother’s arms.

You should not call me madam, Mr Belmont. I am Mrs Webb, and you may address me thus.

Yes, Mrs Webb.

Now, Mr Belmont, how can I be sure you have the skill and the experience to run my store. What sort of store did you work in when you lived in the old country?

We lived in Yarmouth, Mrs Webb, which is not a very big town, and the stores where I worked were all general dealers selling all sorts of goods, like food and clothes, and even hardware.

And did you have knowledge of the money side and how to keep account of the goods, matters such as that?

Yes, missus, that is what we called store management. I was in charge of a small store before we come out here.

Then why did you come, if you had such a position?

I wanted to be my own boss, Mrs Webb.

But now you would be working for me.

Yes, but I have no capital to start a store. I would hope that if you find me suitable and I can make money for you, that you would consider making me a junior partner in time, Mrs Webb.

That’s very cheeky.

I apologise if you find it so, Mrs Webb, but I prefer you to understand my reasons. There is no risk to you if you accept me as I shall take very little in the way of wages until you find my worth, just the things necessary to keep my family fed and clothed.

The woman looked at them again, this time seeming to focus on the sorry state of their dress, and then she smiled, as if she found something amusing.

That will take some doing, Mr Belmont, to clothe your family.

It seemed then that Mrs Webb had come to a decision.

Very well, Mr Belmont, you shall have your chance to persuade me.  Come, let us go and see the store and you can tell me how you would run it. Let your family rest here, on the verandah. I will have my servant bring them some nourishment.

*

James Belmont remembered that day so well because it was the start of a much better time for the family.

His reverie was disturbed by the sound of a small stone crashing through the leaves near his head. They have found me!

He swung under the branch he had been sitting on and dropped to the ground below, immediately setting off running for the more dense bush, running barefoot, but not fast enough because another small stone tagged him, right between the shoulder blades.

You’re dead! came the jubilant cry of one of the opposing team, and he stopped and stood still, as the rules demanded of him.

They came out of the bush, the three members of the opposing team, two white boys and a Fingo.

That’s the lot of you, said Fred, their leader.

Where’re the others, then?

Oh, we got the lot. You were the last. Good hiding place, Jimmy.

With that the two members of his team, both Fingo boys, came out of the bush.

Yebo, they got us, said Enoch. He was the biggest of the Fingo boys and James’s best friend. They cheated us Jimmy, they used stones instead of marula pips. Look here where they hit me.

He showed the place on his arm where the stone from the slingshot had hit him, raising a welt.

Jeepers, Fred, you know our mothers don’t like this game. What if you’d hit one of us in the eye?

Well we didn’t, did we?

Ja, but you might have.

Don’t be a softie, Jimmy. Enoch’s a Fingo, they can take it.

Not in the eye. No-one can take that.

Ja, you’re a softie.

Don’t call me that. Shall we see who the softie is?

I don’t want to fight you, Jimmy. We’re playing slingshot now.

Well then watch what you say. Okay, it’s our turn now. You go.

When the three opposing team members were out of earshot and out of sight, James addressed his two team members.

We’re not going to cheat. Use the marula pips. You all got them?

Yebo, they answered.

Okay, let’s go.

*

Rosemary Belmont was in the kitchen when he got home, the rich meat smell of a stew announcing her presence.

Hallo, ma.

Is that a sling in your hand, young man?

Ja, ma, we’ve been shooting doves.

Don’t lie to me, you’ve been playing slingshot again, with that horrible boy, Fred.

James found it almost impossible to lie to his parents.

Ja, ma, sorry.

One day I’m going to get really angry and have your father beat you. Why do you disobey me, James?

There was no answer to that question.

All right then, go and clean up and get the younger boys cleaned up. Daddy will be home soon. And send Liz to me.

*

James could see that his father was filled with news but he would not talk in front of the younger children. He finished his meal quickly and agitated at the time the children were taking.

What’s the matter, pa? asked their mother.

Wait for the little ones to go to bed, ma, then we can talk.

Is it bad news?

Wait, ma.

Eventually all of the children had finished their meals and their father instructed Elizabeth and James to put the children to bed and come back to the kitchen.

James took George and Richard outside first to have a wee and wash their hands at the basin at the back door, and then to the boys’ room, and was as impatient as his father with the slowness of the normal nightly process.

When he returned to the lighted area in the kitchen he was ahead of his sister, who had the longer job of putting baby Jane to bed in the girls’ room.

There was silence between his mother and father, and he sensed the tension which was building because of the anticipated news. It was not often that something new happened in their small community.

Elizabeth soon returned and slipped onto the bench alongside her brother.

Right, started their father, I wanted us all to share this news. I fear there is danger coming.

What pa? asked their mother, yet again.

Patience, ma, I’m going to tell you.

Nevertheless he took his time, not really wanting to frighten them, but knowing it was necessary they be prepared.

There was a commando raid last week, over the Keiskamma, to get cattle back that had been stolen. I know that is news we hear often, but this time they killed a chief who is the brother of Maqoma. You know of Maqoma, ma, he is that chief who is always threatening war.

Yes, I know him. This is very bad. Did they not know who they were killing?

I don’t know.

When did this happen?

Last week Tuesday.

So that’s nearly a week.  That’s a long time for us to hear. What do you think will happen, pa?

The men were all talking in the store. We think it could lead to another war.

Oh no! Will we be safe here?

I think so, ma. That’s a long way from here, more than a hundred mile.

But they could come here, if there were enough of them. Does Maqoma command many?

Nigh on ten thousand, they say.

Oh no, their mother said again. What shall we do?

I don’t know, ma. I have a duty to look after the store and it might be nothing. None of the men are taking their families to Grahams Town. They want to protect their property, if it comes to a fight. We have nearly fifty men here and all have muskets and can fight, and the Fingo will fight with us, as they have no love for the Xhosa, the way they’ve been treated.

I suppose we must do the same.

Yes, I think so. Now listen, children, I wanted you to hear as well because you must also be ready if you are needed, and be strong for the younger ones. Will you do that?

They could not really assimilate what they had been hearing and reacted more to the emotion of their parents. There was always talk about the danger of living near the frontier, but never in specifics. The last war with the Xhosa, which they had heard being referred to as the ‘War of Nxele’, had taken place before they came to Albany, even before they had been born.

I know where we can hide, pa, said James.

His father was amused.

So, you think we must hide?

I don’t know, pa. Just saying.

Well tell me then.

It’s a real good place, pa. It’s where I take my team and Fred’s team can never find us.

And where’s that, son?

It’s behind that big hill over there, pa.

He pointed in the direction.

That’s to the west, Jimmy, away from Grahams Town.

I don’t know that, pa, but there are some caves on the other side, about half way down. They are hard to find because they are hidden by bushes. I only found them because the dogs smelt something in there and I followed them in.

You must be careful, Jimmy, there’re still leopards around here.

I know, pa, but I threw stones in first.

And what did you find in that cave?

It was a dead genet cat.

How did it die?

I don’t know. It was just smelly fur and some bones sticking out.

Well, I’m glad you know that place, Jimmy, but I don’t think we will need to hide. I don’t know if we’ll need to do anything. We must just be careful and keep close to the village.

Book One | Chapter 2

Elements of the rampaging Xhosa army came to Salem on Christmas Day, 1834. They came over the hills from the east in the late afternoon, and they came with stealth, bypassing the outlying farms to maintain the element of surprise.

The joyous celebrations which accompanied Christmas had been muted by the news of the destruction being caused by the approaching Xhosa army, and there was some preparation for the defence of the village. But the last news had been of an attack on a community still a considerable distance from them and they harboured the hope that the insurrection would fizzle out before it reached them, and so the defence was weak.

There were some men with guns who remained on the lookout during the church service and the communal lunch under the trees, but the occasion and the merriment of the children convinced most that it was a normal Christmas celebration.

The Belmont children, like many others, were sent to their house for their afternoon nap, supervised by a disgruntled Elizabeth and James, and the adults settled into a pleasant warm afternoon of socialising with their neighbours.

Their first intimation of danger was the discharge of a musket from one of the sentries who was sufficiently alert to see a number of Xhosa warriors sneaking into the village.  He also screamed a warning, the panic clear in his voice.

They’s coming!  They’s coming! From the east!

With the surprise gone the Xhosa warriors rose from their hiding places and ran pell-mell into the village square, throwing their spears and following the trajectory of the missiles, with their short stabbing spears at the ready, their voices raised in a terrifying chant.

Although badly outnumbered and with few weapons, the settlers resisted with desperation. The men ran bravely to position themselves at the forefront to protect their women and children. Some of them plucked the spears from the ground and used them to defend themselves but the long spears were easily deflected and the warriors were in at their bodies, stabbing.

Will Belmont was one of the first to fall, the chair he was wielding caught by two warriors and their hardened iron spears penetrated his body. He caught the one to himself and held on but the other stabbed him repeatedly in the back and his grip loosened and they let him fall to the ground and ran forward again, pursuing the fleeing women and children, no mercy in their hearts.

*

James and his sister Elizabeth had no need for the afternoon sleep and they were at the kitchen table, inspecting the crude toys that had been carved for them as Christmas presents when they heard the first shot, followed by the pandemonium of screams and the angry shouts of the men.  They ran to the kitchen window and looked fearfully as the two opposing groups met and clashed and the phalanx of warriors broke through the white men.

The Belmont house was north of the square, about three hundred yards distant, but they could see clearly the settler men, women and children falling before the horde of warriors. For long moments they were paralysed by the scene, trying with great fear to see their parents but unable to find them in the confusion of bodies and swift action.

James was the first to recover.

Quick, Liz! We must get the others and run!

She obeyed, running into the girls’ room, shouting for them to awaken, raising seven-year-old Rebecca bodily out of the bed and picking up baby Jane.

James was doing the same, waking the two boys who were utterly confused and disoriented. On that day George was four, almost five, and Richard three. Fortunately all of the children were dressed, and he could quickly shepherd them onto the verandah on the north side of the house, out of sight of the village square.

When Elizabeth joined them he gave her the instructions for what his frightened brain had worked out.

We’re going to run out this way, Liz, to those bushes over there. Just keep close to me. I’ll have to help the boys.

His sister could only nod, not trusting herself to speak in case she cried in front of the younger ones.

James took the hands of the two boys and pulled them along at the fastest speed they could make. They reached the thick bushes within moments but by then he had another crisis on his hands as both the boys and the baby were crying.

We have to hush them now, Liz.

He left the baby to her and knelt before the two boys.

You have to be quiet now, boys. There are some bad men coming after us and they mustn’t hear us. Do you understand?

George quietened immediately but Richard continued to sniffle and he knew the youngest boy would need help. He picked him up.

Liz, we’re going over that way.

Without hands he indicated the direction by ducking his head towards a hill to their west.

We’ll go around there and go to that cave I told ma and pa about. Do you remember?

She managed a choked affirmative reply.

Come, let’s go then. Try to keep the girls quiet.

The bush through which they moved was dense but he had the benefit of having played daily in the area and knew the easiest routes. They came to the rough track that was the road to Grahams Town and he stopped them and went forward himself because the point at which they were to cross could be seen for more than a hundred yards in each direction.

He could see nothing of the Xhosa raiding party, nor any other human movement and he signalled to Liz and she brought the others up to him and they crossed quickly, disappearing once more into the thick bush.

James had to stop frequently to rest from carrying his young brother but eventually the boy struggled in his arms to be put down and was able to carry on himself and that allowed him to take it in turns to share with Elizabeth the burden of carrying Jane. The younger children were starting to whine, questioning why they were leaving their home and he was overly harsh with them, still terrified himself with the chance of them being exposed.

The fear of capture had the advantage of keeping his mind from the terrible scenes they had witnessed, and from the horror of thinking about the fate of his parents. His predicament, and the responsibility of holding the fate of his siblings in his hands, was not something an eleven-year-old should have been subjected to, and was to be regarded with wonder in the future.

The small band of children were unable to see beyond their immediate surroundings but they could hear the awful sounds from the village behind them, the pitiful cries of the wounded and the deep male voices of the warriors, rejoicing in their easy victory. When they crossed the saddle of the hill they still had no direct sight of the village but they could see the flames above the treeline and the pall of smoke reaching high into the sky, almost vertical in the still evening air.

Book One | Chapter 3

The night in the cave after the attack on the village was something he remembered with great clarity into his adulthood, and became one more memory that he wished he could forget.

When they reached the cave it was still light enough to see right to the back wall and he explored all the cavities knowing it would soon be pitch black in there. Towards the back of the cave the floor was solid rock and irregular, but there were soft sandy patches towards the front and that was where they would sleep, although it was more dangerous.

It was a temporary shelter but he felt huge relief that they had escaped the immediate danger. And he was exhausted, the burden of responsibility had rested heavily upon him and that, together with the physical exertion and the sustained adrenalin rush left him weak, his legs shaking.

He was afraid he might give in to the emotion he felt and even in his young years he knew that would precipitate an emotional collapse of all of them so he left the cave and sat near the mouth, where he gave vent to his pent up feelings of fear and the growing horror of what had happened to his parents, and the tears ran down his face and he choked back the sobs so that the others did not hear.

In a while Elizabeth came out to join him and sat at his side. He had been the stronger but it was her turn. She took his hand.

You were wonderful, Jimmy. We’d all be dead if it wasn’t for you.

He could only nod his gratitude for her belief in him.

What do you think will happen?

He had not really thought it through, but he gave some consideration to the future.

I don’t know how long they’ll be down there, Liz. We might have to stay another night, and we’ve no food or water. The young ones will start crying and that will be dangerous if they haven’t gone. Do you think you can keep Jane quiet?

We are lucky that ma stopped feeding her and she can eat other food, but without any food or water she will cry.

Can you keep her quiet just for tonight?

I don’t know, Jimmy. I’ll try my best.

They were quiet after that, both thinking about the possibilities.

What will happen after we think it’s safe?

We will walk to Grahams Town, Liz.

That’s far. How far do you think?

You know. We take five hours to get there in the cart. Pa said it’s twenty mile. I think it will take us all day, maybe more. We can’t walk on the road, ‘cause they might be there. And the young ones will get tired easily. We can’t carry them all.

After another silence she spoke about what was on both of their minds.

Ma and pa are dead, aren’t they?

I think so.

She started crying softly and it was his turn to be the comforter, and she eventually calmed.

I suppose they will ask other parents to take us. Will they let us stay together, Jimmy?

I don’t know, Liz. I don’t know anything about that.

When he considered it he realised the unlikelihood of a family taking in all six of them and that was a devastating thought. They were a family and now, more than any other time, they needed to stay together.

They heard talking in the cave.

Are we going to tell them?

I think we have to, even though the little ones mightn’t understand. What else can we say?

I will do it, Jimmy, you’ve done enough.

He looked at her and saw the determined set of her jaw.

*

He lay in the dark, unable to get comfortable, his uncovered limbs chilled, and desperate to find the relief of sleep.

For once all of the others were asleep, Jane in Elizabeth’s arms, the other three huddled together. Only he lay alone, and lonely with his thoughts.

He wondered what had happened to the Fingos, the mFengu as they called themselves. They lived separately from the white community yet they were allies, if not quite equals. He knew, from Enoch’s tales, that they had been thrust out of the north by the Zulu people and had come to live with the Xhosa but they were treated like slaves, like ‘dogs’, Enoch had said.

When the wars between the white settlers and the natives – both Xhosa and Khoikhoi – happened, they had made boundaries between the warring peoples, to try to keep the peace. James knew that the boundary at that time was the Keiskamma River. Well, those boundaries did not apply to the Fingo, who came to live among the whites and to even fight with them against the other natives. His father had told him the Fingo were good marksmen and fierce fighters.

In Salem there were a handful of Fingo people, only three families, the vanguard of many more as the wars unfolded and they came to live among the settlers. Some of them worked as servants to the white settlers but most of them were farmers or traders for themselves. Enoch’s father had a farm and he had horses which he bred and sold. He was the leader of the three families.

Would they have been killed as well? He didn’t know, and he didn’t want to think about that. Each time he did he was unable to stop the images returning, those terrible images of people being killed, children being killed, clubbed down as they tried to run away. It was too terrible to remember and he tried to think of other things. Concentrate on tomorrow.  What will I do?

He would have to find them food and water, and that meant he would have to go back to the village. Perhaps he could go now, while the others were asleep, go to the top of the hill and listen for noises down in the valley of the village. He could see that it was lighter outside the cave so there would be a moon to light his way. He knew the way. He would not go down to the village, just to the top of the hill, to listen.

Then the jackals started their wailing. They were not close and he was not afraid of them, but they reminded him of the other wild animals out there, definitely leopards, and they sometimes had hyena come close to the village and kill sheep, and even their dogs. His plan dissolved.

He tried to sleep again. Think of nothing.

*

He must have slept because when he next opened his eyes the mouth of the cave was lighter and he could see the stone ceiling above him and he knew it was dawn. He looked at the others and found Elizabeth’s eyes on him. She mouthed the words They’re all asleep, and he nodded his understanding and got up, stretching to get the stiffness out of his back and legs, and moved to the mouth of the cave, and stood there listening.

At first there was nothing then he heard far away the raucous cry of the hadedas that lived in the gum trees planted around the village, and soon other birds began their early morning song, mostly bulbuls which were numerous in that area.

Then he was alarmed to hear something close at hand, moving with stealth through the bush, and his heart raced and he moved until his back was to the stone wall at the mouth of the cave. It could be an animal, perhaps a cow, because the cattle would not have been herded into the kraals the previous day.

He listened hard, cupping his ears with his hands, but he heard nothing more, and he started hoping he had been mistaken. The hope was shortlived; he heard again the noise that had startled him, and then a voice, a strangled whisper:

Jimmy.

He recognised the voice of Enoch, and his relief made him weak in the knees, until he had another thought: his friend might have been forced to show where they were, and the Xhosa warriors might be with him.

The voice came again.

Jimmy, are you in there?

He had no choice but to reveal their presence.

Ja, Enoch, come.

The Fingo boy emerged through the bushes and James saw he was carrying a large gourd in the one hand and a stalk clustered with bananas in the other.

Man, I’m happy to see you, Jimmy!

Me too, Enoch, to see you alive. I thought you all would have been killed as well.

No, I think nearly all of us got away, because we heard them and we ran.

But you came back to help us?

Yebo, I’ve got some water and these bananas. They is still a bit green, Jimmy, but there wasn’t nothing else.

James could still not comprehend that his friend would have had the courage to return and look for them.

You wanted to help us?

You my friend, Jimmy.

Where’s your pa?

I not know. Everyone ran but I hided because of our game.  I know those places. This morning I went back but I couldn’t find you. I had to find you, Jimmy, so you would tell me what to do.

We’re going to Grahams Town.

Yebo, I thought so. I want to go with you.

What about your family, Enoch?

I not know where they are.

I’m sorry. I’m happy if you come with us, and maybe your daddy will come to Grahams Town too, to look for you.

Yebo, he will look for me.

Did you see the warrior men? He wouldn’t say the word ‘kafir’ in front of his friend.

No, I think they gone.

And the village, what did you see?

I don’t want to say.

Please Enoch, you must.

Everyone they died, Jimmy, but I not find you. Your house is burned but I remember cave, and I come here.

They heard baby Jane cry.

Come, Enoch, let us give the young ones some water.

Book One | Chapter 4

The sun was well up before James plucked up the courage to go back to the village. He persuaded Enoch to stay in the cave with the others. That was not hard; he could tell that Enoch had been frightened by all he had seen and was superstitiously terrified to have to witness it again.

From the top of the hill he could see the village, nearly all burnt, only stone walls standing, tendrils of smoke curling into the air in places.

And everywhere lay people. They had left them where they killed them, and now there were birds, crows and others, and pigs and jackals among the bodies. A soft wind was blowing towards him and he got the strong smell of the burnt buildings and their contents and another smell he could not define, a sickly sweet smell, and the possibility that it was the smell of the dead people left him shaking with horror.

His mother and father were down there, and he could not leave without seeing them. He did not know if he could walk among those dead people, but he had to try. And he had to see if he could find anything that would be useful to them in the walk to Grahams Town.

He stayed at the top of the hill for a long time, watching closely for any signs that the Xhosa raiding party had remained in the vicinity, stayed until his resolve was strong enough for him to start down, using the animal pathways he knew so well, and which would shield him from any watching eyes.

James approached the village from the west, where his house once stood. Again he watched from the shelter of bushes for any human life and finally he left his cover and walked, exposed, to his home. It was a pile of rubble and twisted iron. It seemed there could be nothing of use for him, but he had to try and he pulled sheeting off where the kitchen had been. All that he could see was scorched, the table at which they had sat as a family, burnt black and broken.

He started hyperventilating, his breathing ragged and fast and he ran back to the shelter of the bush. He could not stay there any longer; he could not go into that village square and find his parents. He had to leave.

On the way back to the cave – half-walk, half-run – he managed to recover his composure, knowing it was only he who could lead them away from that place, and he had to be strong for his brothers and sisters, and for his friend Enoch.

*

By the late afternoon, when James started to look for a place for them to spend the night, they were all suffering stomach cramps from the green bananas. Water had not been a problem with many small streams full as it was the middle of the rain season, but they had found no food but for the bunch of bananas and they were finished.

James was sure they were more than halfway to Grahams Town, and they probably had less than a half-day’s march but the small ones were exhausted, even though he had returned to the easier way on the road between the towns once he was sure there were no marauding Xhosa warriors in the area. He knew the place they had reached, a gorge cut by the river beyond which lay a beautiful sheltered valley and then a high mountain which was the last obstacle before they