Lewis Walter - The First White Women in Rhodesia by Lewis Walter 17 July 2017

I received this from Lewis on 17 July 2017.

THE FIRST WHITE WOMAN IN RHODESIA

Lewis Walter

Who was the first white woman to live in what was eventually to become Rhodesia ? Mrs Jessie M. Lloyd, in her very detailed little book “Rhodesia’s Pioneer Women”, published in 1960, records a great many who arrived in the country between 1859 and 1896. As she says in her preface, “….not all of them stayed, and some only passed through – nevertheless they came”.

The earliest she names are Mrs Emily Moffatt, wife of Revd. J.S.Moffatt, and Mrs Annie Thomas, wife of Revd. T.M.Thomas. Both arrived at Inyati Mission in 1859, with the opening of the London Missionary Society’s station there.

But there was an earlier arrival - a little Boer girl called Sara Liebenberg who in 1838 travelled to what later became Rhodesia ….albeit as a slave of the Matabele.

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THE “TREKKIES”

In the 1820s and 1830s, many Afrikaners became disgruntled with life under the British in the Cape Colony, and turned their eyes northwards in a move which later became known as the Great Trek. At the time, however, it was referred to as the Emigration, and the trekkers as Emigrants.

Two small groups under Louis Trigardt and Janse van Rensburg were the first to leave the Cape late in 1835. There were only nine fighting men in Trigardt’s party, and ten in that of Janse van Rensburg. Each party was accompanied by wives and about thirty children. They were followed early in 1836 by two larger groups under Andries Potgieter and Sarel Cilliers. The latter included Liebenbergs, Krugers, Steyns, Robbertses and Bothas. In Potgieter’s trek there were forty armed men including boys of sixteen or so who could handle the heavy muzzle-loading muskets. With Cilliers were about twenty- five armed men and boys. Families generally travelled together in groups referred to as trekkies, the same name being applied also to individuals.

As the Potgieter and Cilliers treks moved slowly northward, they were joined by other trekkers, among them people of other nationalities. Some gradually amalgamated into larger groups, but the patriarch of the Liebenbergs, old Barend Godlieb Liebenberg, was
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a difficult man who kept himself and his immediate family aloof from the others. With their children, servants, domestic animals and dogs – and a Scottish meester called Macdonald who taught the children – they formed a self contained separate trekkie with five wagons. This was eventually to cost them dearly.

After crossing the Orange River at separate points, the trekkies amalgamated into one group with 65 armed men including youngsters of 16 or so who could handle a firearm, under the command of Andries Potgieter, with Cilliers as his deputy. They were at last free : free that is of British control. With prayers of gratitude and much rejoicing, they moved slowly on, sometimes stopping for days when their ewes or cows gave birth. Eventually in May 1836 they reached the Sand River, south of the Vaal. Here in June Potgieter left them with stern instructions not to cross the Vaal into Matabele territory while he, Cilliers and ten others rode off to try to find the earlier Trigardt and Janse van Rensburg trekkers, and survey the land for future settlement. They were successful in tracing Louis Trigaardt's trek, but they and the van Rensburgs had parted company some time before. They investigated, and soon established that the van Rensburgs had already been attacked by a hostile tribe, and killed. With heavy hearts, Potgieter, Cilliers and their men returned to the south.

During the absence of Potgieter and Cilliers, their own trekkers had gradually moved north and spread out along the south bank of the Vaal River. In August 1836, ignoring Potgieter’s warning, several groups consisting of Liebenbergs, Steyns, Bothas, Bronkhorsts, Krugers and others, crossed the Vaal into Matabele territory, where a hunting party under a veld kornet from the Eastern Cape, Stephanus Erasmus, had already set up camp. Unaccountably, none formed their wagons into into laager…………

They were now in Mzilikazi's territory, without his permission. His impis continually patrolled his domain on the alert for entry by Zulus, Griquas or others, and they soon sent warning to Mzilikazi that incursions were taking place. His response was to send his most trusted General, Mkalipi, with instructions to destroy the intruders. Towards the end of August 1836 they came across these groups of trekkers who had ignored Potgieter’s warning and crossed the Vaal into Matabele territory. They also found Stephanus Erasmus’ hunting party.

CONFLICT

Stephanus Erasmus was a Field Cornet from a remote part of the Eastern Cape who, with his three sons and others, had been hunting elephant north of the Vaal without seeking permission from Mzilikazi. They were not very successful, and eventually returned to their base on the Vaal. On 24th August 1836 they were hunting for the pot in three separate groups. That evening he and one son returned to find their camp overrun by about 600 Matabele. Several of the other two groups had already been killed, Erasmus' other two sons among them.
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He and his remaining son rode off to warn Barend Liebenberg, who would not believe him, saying that he was merely trying to get the Liebenbergs to return to the Cape Colony. Erasmus could not waste time arguing with the old man, and after repeating the warning rode on to alert the other trekkies. At his warning, thirty five of the Botha and Steyn parties, together with their servants and some other trekkers, immediately formed themselves into laager at a place known as Koppieskraal.. They had increasing fears for the safety of the Liebenbergs, and Rudolf “Dolf” Bronkhorst, a courageous 17 year old, volunteered to ride off through the night to warn them again, but was captured and killed. His father was away with Potgieter at the time, looking for the Trigardt and van Rensburgs treks.

The Matabele attacked the Botha and Steyn laager next morning, but were driven off with heavy losses after a fierce battle lasting about six hours. As the Matabele withdrew, they took with them cattle which the defenders had not been able to bring into the laager.

Among the children in the laager was a little boy called Paul. He was later to become President Kruger of the Transvaal.

During that night, Barend Liebenberg had second thoughts about Erasmus’ warning, and was beginning to form his wagons into laager when another group of Matabele attacked at daybreak. There was slaughter on both sides, but the Liebenbergs had no chance. Within a short time twelve trekkers including old Barend the patriarch, four children and the unfortunate Scottish meester Macdonald, as well as twelve coloured servants, were killed.

Hidden under a sail in a wagon, the Matabele found three children. These were surviving Liebenberg children – little Sara, Anna Maria and Christiaan. Their lives were spared as the Matabele needed them to show how to inspan and drive oxen, and also as trophies for Mzilikazi. Together with Liebenberg wagons and cattle, the three children and three coloured survivors of the attack to assist with the cattle, the raiders departed.
On being presented with the children, Mzilikazi insisted that his warriors did not take children captive, and ordered their return to the Boers. By this time, in the words of an early writer, “the veld was on fire”, and return was not possible.

Just a few days after these incidents, Potgieter, Cilliers and their group arrived back at the Vaal River. As they neared the site of the Liebenbergs' camp, a wagon was seen standing in the river. A man was despatched to investigate, and soon came hurrying back with appalling news : the Liebenbergs had been overrun and most slaughtered.

Potgieter immediately ordered the surviving trekkers to return across the Vaal, and set up a laager. He also sent word to those who had not crossed the Vaal to do likewise. About half formed a laager on the Vet River, and the remainder including the survivors of those who had crossed the Vaal, did so at a place which came to be known as Vegkop, or Battle Hill. Here, with Potgieter in command, fifty wagons were chained together, all the gaps
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between and under them being firmly packed with thorn bushes. In the centre was a smaller circle of wagons, heavily covered with sails as a protection against the expected flights of assegais. This provided cover for the elderly, wounded, and those unable to fight.

Piles of bullets were cast, and the women, girls and boys instructed yet again in rapidly reloading voorlaaiers for the men and bigger boys to use when the attack came, as they knew it would.

On 16th October the Matabele attacked the laager, but were beaten off with fire so fierce that in little more than an hour, over four hundred lay dead. They retreated, but took with them all the horses, cattle and sheep which had not been accommodated within the laager. Pretorius' brother and brother-in-law had been killed, and there were many injuries among the defenders, men, women and children. Very early in the morning, before any hint of the attack, nine year old Barend Liebenberg had taken a flock of sheep out to graze. It was only once the battle had started that the defenders realized he was missing, but there was nothing they could do and they feared the worst.

Late that afternoon after the two burials had taken place and their families and that of young Barend were being consoled, a lookout saw a little figure advancing across the battlefield, whistling and swinging a sjambok. As they watched, they recognized young Barend ! He explained that when the battle started, he hid himself and emerged only later in the afternoon when he was sure it was all over.

The Trekkers had won the battle, but were now without livestock for food and milk. They were also unable to move their wagons without trek oxen. Potgieter sent another brother south to Thaba Nchu to obtain help from the missionaries, and there they found Gerrit Maritz and a large new group of trekkers. Maritz immediately sent oxen under a strong guard, backed up by more cattle from the missionaries and a friendly chief, and the defenders of Vegkop were brought to safety at Thaba Nchu.

Meanwhile, eight days after the battle of Vegkop, Captain Cornwallis Harris, a British officer on leave from his regiment in India, had arrived at Mzilikazi's main base at eGabeni. He was on an extended hunting trip, brought suitable gifts for Mzilikazi, and was well received. While staying at the royal kraal, he was served by an unhappy young Griqua girl, Truey David, who with her cousin Willem had been captured by Mzilikazi in a raid in 1834. She was now one of his many concubines, about 17 years old, and told Cornwallis Harris that the day he arrived at the kraal, Mzilikazi had sent Willem to a distant village with two young Dutch girls who had recently been captured, as he did not want Cornwallis Harris to know of them. She did not mention the boy, but clearly they were the Liebenberg children.

This seems to be the only direct reference to the early fate of these children, though over the years other travellers reported the presence of white youths among the Matabele.
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Years later the Revd. Robert Moffat succeeded in persuading his friend Mzilikazi to let him take Truey back to her family.

After the battle of Vegkop, there were harsh options facing both the Matabele and the trekkers. For the Matabele, this was the destruction of the trekkers. For the trekkers – the destruction of Mzilikazi and Matabele power. It was clear that neither side could survive while the other existed.

For the remainder of 1836, the Matabele spent their time licking their wounds and refurbishing their assegais and shields. The trekkers were concurrently engaged in organizing a mixed army of 107 Boers with 40 mounted and armed Griquas and Korannas, and 60 Barolongs to drive the anticipated captured cattle.

Early in January 1837 this little force set out, and two weeks later at dawn attacked the Matabele town of Mosega. The unsuspecting Matabele were still asleep and were taken by surprise. A fierce battle ensued, and by midday the Matabele fled, leaving more than 400 dead. With over 6000 captured cattle, and wagons which had belonged to the Liebenbergs and Erasmus, the victorious Boer force departed, accompanied by three American missionaries who had established themselves at Mosega. The only casualties among the Boer force were, sadly, four Barolongs killed.

New bands of trekkers were continually arriving at Thaba Nchu, and for much of the rest of 1837 they indulged in their favourite pastime : squabbling among themselves on matters of politics and religion. This caused postponement of action against the Matabele, but by November a mixed force of 360, mainly Boer, had been established. They were opposed by about 12 000 Matabele, and in a fierce nine day running battle in the Marico area, the Matabele were finally defeated with the loss of over 3000 warriors. Not one of the Boer forces was killed.

The trekkers watched the defeated Matabele hordes fleeing from the surrounds of Marico. While this was cause for great celebration among the Boers, it spelt total disaster for the peaceful tribes who lived in the path of the Matabele and were killed or enslaved as they advanced.

The options which had faced the trekkers and the Matabele after the battle at Vegkop had now been resolved – in favour of the trekkers.

THE MARCH TO THE NORTH.

Mzilikazi's initial reaction on being presented with the Liebenberg children in1836 was to insist on their immediate return. He obviously realized that their presence would be a magnet for Trekker attacks, but in the developing circumstances, return was clearly not possible and they remained with their captors. They were never to see their family again
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Tribal custom decreed that Mzilikazi, as king, adopt orphans where there was no family to protect and care for them, and in due course this took place. He gave the children his mother's isibongo Ndiweni, and as their own names were difficult for the Matabele to pronounce, they became known by Ndebele names. Christiaan became Velapi : “Where do you come from ?”. The second child, Anna Maria, became known as Mswanyana : “Why are you always crying ?”. She had been inconsolable since her capture. And little Sara was called Toloyi. The explanation of this name is not clear, but there was a Tolani River in the vicinity. Perhaps there was some connection.

As the Matabele departed from the scene of their major defeat, Sara gradually adopted the role of little mother, mai munini, to one of the royal children. He was a little boy called Jungu, about four years old, and a few years younger than Sara. He was eventually to become known as Lobengula – and the last King of the Matabele. Sara's tasks as the Matabele marched on were to look after his welfare and carry him when he became tired. This was the start of a long association, and it has been said that this formed the basis for Lobengula's understanding and tolerance of the whites who were later to enter his domain.

Days after their departure from the Marico, when Mzilikazi judged they were at a safe distance from any threat of further attack, he called a halt in order to discuss their future. The large numbers of humans and stock slowed their onward movement, as did the presence of many children, the elderly and infirm - including wounded heroes of recent battles with the Boers. Water and grazing for the stock would become an increasing problem, as would the threat of attack by the tribes whose country lay ahead. Safety of the King's heir, young Kulumane, his brothers and sisters and their mothers had to be ensured.

Mzilikazi's decision was that the Matabele would divide into two groups. The first under his personal command and with some of the cattle, would reconnoitre to the north west in search of a future home – perhaps even across the Zambezi. This group – which became known as Igapa – comprised the younger and more active regiments. The second and larger group was under command of Mzilikazi's uncle, Gundwane Ndiweni, and protected by his regiment the Amakanda Mnyama, the Black Brows, by which name it became known. It comprised the royal wives, Mzilikazi's heir Nkulumane, all the non-combatants, and also the bulk of the nation's cattle and other livestock. With them also went the Liebenberg children. They headed to the north east, to a flat-topped hill, which was said to have been described to Mzilikazi by Robert Moffat. The two groups undertook to keep in touch with each other, and a future rendezvous at the hill two seasons later was arranged.

As the Matabele marched on, they gradually lost contact with each other.

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Mzilikazi's Igapa struggled with malaria, tsetse, hostile tribes, and the loss of almost an entire regiment which he had sent ahead to cross the Zambezi to see what lay to the North. Its commanders had engaged Batonka tribesmen to ferry them across the river in two batches, the first being landed on a large island in midstream to which the remainder were to be taken next morning. All would then be conveyed to the north bank. However when day dawned there was no sign of the Batonka or their canoes, and they finally realised that they had been abandoned. Those who tried to swim to the shore either drowned or were taken by crocodiles, and the remainder gradually starved. Those on the South bank eventually reported back to Mzilikazi, and their Indunas were promptly executed for cowardice.

THE PROMISED LAND

Gundwane's Amakanda had a comparatively easy journey, and in 1838 crossed the Limpopo River, east of the present Beit Bridge. Here they settled for a while, and planted crops. After the harvest they recommenced their march, and on the way little Mswanyana, who does not seem to have been very robust, died of dysentery.

They finally found the flat-topped hill they had been told to seek, surrounded by plains of good soil, sweet grass, and flowing streams where they settled after dispersing the existing tribes. They planted crops, and waited for the arrival of their King on whom so much, including the Inxwala (first fruits) ceremony, depended.

Here, two seasons after their parting with Mzilikazi and his band, word was received from wandering tribesmen that the king had been defeated and killed in a great battle. This resulted in great tensions and dissensions among the Matabele, and two factions formed. One declared that no people could live without a leader, and put pressure on Gundwane to appoint Nkulumane king. The other insisted that Mzilikazi must be still alive, and sent out parties to search for him.

Mzilikazi and his depleted army were found only ten days march away. On being informed that plans were afoot to declare Nkulumane king, he was furious and hastened to confront Gundwane. He and other Indunas were found guilty of treason, and executed on the flat-topped hill later to be known as Ntabazinduna. Mzilikazi then ordered that his three sons in direct succession also be killed. These were Nkulumane, Ubuhlelo and Jungu. There are conflicting reports of the fate of Nkulumane. Some insist that he was killed, others that he was spirited away to Zululand. Little is known of Ubuhlelo, but it seems that he was killed.

This left young Jungu, now about six years old, who could not be found. His mai munini Sara Liebenberg, having been forewarned of what would be his fate, had hurried him and

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his sister Nini away to the Matopos where they were concealed by survivors of the Makalanga.

Mzilikazi's return resulted in enormous tribal upheavals, but eventually life returned to what passed for normal. During this period, secret contact was maintained between some of the tribal elders and Sara, and when it was judged safe to do so, Jungu was brought home and reunited with his father. Mzilikazi was overjoyed to discover that the youngster was still alive, and he was welcomed back as part of the Royal family.

The close bond which had formed between Jungu and Sara continued, and in due course she was married to an Induna. She had no children, and eventually died of snakebite.

And what of Christiaan, or Velapi as he was known ? He grew up as a Matabele youth, and became known as a good soldier. He was also known to be difficult and continually fighting with his fellows. His martial ability was noticed by Mzilikazi, and he was later made Induna of a regiment.

Individual regiments carried shields made of cattle hide in distinctive colour and pattern, and Mzilikazi instructed Velapi as to the colour his shields were to be. After the next Inxwala he was called to present his regiment to the King. As they arrived, Mzilikazi turned to Velapi and said coldly : “Those shields are not of the colour I instructed”. Velapi insisted they were exactly as Mzilikazi ordered. Mzilikazi repeated his words and Velapi again said they were exactly as ordered. At a signal from the King, executioners sprang forward and Velapi was clubbed to death. He had committed the unpardonable crime of disagreeing with his king.

It is impossible that Mzilikazi would not have been informed by his advisers if the shields were not being made exactly as he ordered. Did he stage the incident in order to get rid of Velapi who was getting too ambitious ? As with much else, we will never know.........

But his sister Sara Liebenberg was the first white woman recorded to live in what was to become Rhodesia.