D1.8.38: [Untitled]

D1.8.38: [Untitled]

Newspaper Clippings

Bleek speculates on the fate of Thaba Bosiu and whether the Free Staters have successfully taken all the surrounding accessible parts of Basutoland. Moshesh and his subjects are well-fortified by the almost inaccessible Drakensberg valleys. When they exhaust their provisions, they will likely head southeast, passing into the territories between Natal and the Cape Colony where Nehemiah (Sekhonyana) Moshoeshoe and Adam Kok III's people have been fighting in and around Matatiele. This Basotho influx may trigger more bloodshed despite Moshesh and Faku's present peace as non-immediate neighbours but might change 'when the Drakensberg no longer intervenes between them'. Despite the catch-all term 'Kafir', the AmaMpondo and Basotho are distinct nations, and encroachment from either side threatens conflict. British territories must consolidate their hold over 'terra nullius' like Kaffraria to discourage the Basotho. Moshesh, who offers no reparations for his marauders, remains an obstacle so long as he is undefeated. Basutoland, excluding mission lands, should be apportioned into farms rewarding military service using the Cathcart system. He enumerates how these farms should operate before turning to Bishop Colenso's return to Natal.

Printed newsprint glued on paper

17 August 1865

One cut-out column of printed newsprint mounted on foolscap folio (warped).

Bishop of Natal (Darwin, Huxley, Babbage, Lyell, and Grey support his pursuit of truth)

Pressed clippings of Victorian current affairs opinion pieces by Wilhelm Bleek. Published in Het Volksblad on Thursday, August 17th, 1865.

Van de Sandt de Villiers & Co.