Page 57 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE HIST OR Y OF SOUTH AFRIC A  55

Where to See the
Colonial Expansion
British colonial history is well
covered in cultural history
and battle site museums
nationwide. Museums at
Grahamstown (pp256–7),
Port Elizabeth (pp250–3),
The Battle of Blood River King William’s Town and
On 16 December 1838, the Ncome River ran red with blood as a East London have displays
468-strong burgher commando defeated 12,500 Zulu warriors in of old weapons, maps and
retribution for the killing of trekker leader Piet Retief and his entourage. pioneer artifacts. Museum
Africa (p314) in Johannes burg
exhibits historic docu ments,
Tallow candles
provided light. war memorabilia and maps.
The Worcester Museum
(p208) is a living showcase
A protective cover made
of tanned hide sheltered of the life styles and farming
the occupants inside. processes of the Voortrekkers.

Quilts were very often
highly prized, complex
pieces of craftsmanship.

Large wheels enabled The Battle of Blood River
the drivers to negotiate Memorial, Dundee, shows a
rough terrain without re-created, life-sized laager.
damaging the wagon.

Water barrel

Nongqawuse
In 1857, a Xhosa prophetess predicted The Kat River Rebellion
that her people would regain their Khoina settlers on the Kat River in the Cape
former power if they des troyed had fought for the government without
all their herds and crops, but compensation, but rebelled in the Eighth
the resulting famine further Fronter War of 1850. With their defeat, their
weak ened their position. land passed to white ownership.

1854 Britain
withdraws
1846 Seventh 1850 Eighth Frontier War, from the 1856 British and German settlers placed on
Frontier War (War in which the Kat River Orange River Eastern Cape border; the Colony of Natal is
of the Axe) Khoina join the Xhosa Sovereignty granted a representative government
1845 1850 1855 1860
1853 Postage stamps available 1857 Thousands of Xhosa in the present-day
1852 The Cape is granted a represen tative in the Cape Colony for the Eastern Cape perish in a famine resulting from
government by Britain. Zuid-Afrikaansche first time an ill-advised prophecy to kill their cattle and
Republiek (Transvaal) is formed destroy crops as a sacrifice to ancestors who
would rise up and drive out white settlers
First postage stamp

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