Louis Tregardt
Encyclopedia
Louis Johannes Tregardt (1783-1838) (from Swedish
: trädgard, garden) was a farmer from the Cape Colony
's eastern frontier, who became an early voortrekker leader. Shunning colonial authority, he emigrated in 1834 to live among the Xhosa, before he crossed the Orange River
into neutral territory. His northward trek, along with fellow trekker Hans van Rensburg, was commenced in 1836. He led his small party of emigrants into the uncharted interior of South Africa, and settled for a year at the base of the Zoutpansberg
. At this most northerly point of their trek, unhealthy conditions began to take a toll on man and animal. Seemingly abandoned by a follow-up trek, and distant from from supplies and buyers for their ivory, Tregardt abandoned the settlement, and led the party southeastwards to the Portuguese coastal outpost at Delagoa bay
. The oceanward route proved arduous and included the challenge of traversing a section of the northern Drakensberg
. Though reaching the fort at Delagoa bay, a number of their party contracted malaria en route. Tregardt's wife perished at the fort in May 1838, followed by Tregardt six months afterward. He was the only Voortrekker leader to keep a diary of his trek, a valuable document in terms of linguistics and ethnology, besides his observations on the weather patterns, geography and the wildlife of the interior.
. In addition he was a participant in the Graaff-Reinet resistance movements, first against the Dutch East India Company
and later against English colonial governance. For a time Louis farmed near Bruintjeshoogte (i.e. Somerset). He ostensibly had an uneasy relationship with the colonial authorities, and agreed to rent grazing land from Xhosa chief Hintsa.
In 1829 Louis sent his son Carolus to graze their cattle along the Black Kei River
, then the northern boundary of British Kaffraria
. In 1833 (or 34) Louis also crossed the neutral zone to join his son. Here a substantial boer
community, at odds with the colonial government, was already living in exile. With Louis acting as their leader, colonel Harry Smith
deemed him an agitator of the sixth Xhosa war
, and planned to arrest him. Tregardt however moved his family and livestock to grazing land between the Caledon
and Orange River
s, just outside the colony, where he resided in 1835.
, who was to follow his trail. Tregardt started the northward trek with eight families besides his own, and was joined by the trek of Hans van Rensburg, another farmer living in exile. Tregardt and Van Rensburg were the first of the voortrekkers to pass near Thaba Nchu
, where the Barolong
tribe of chief Moroka II was resident.
Upon reaching the Strydpoortberg in the current Limpopo Province, Tregardt and Van Rensburg parted ways, after Tregardt argued that Van Rensburg was expending his ammunition excessively in his pursuit of ivory. Van Rensburg would not be seen again; he and his trek of forty-nine persons were extirpated in June 1836 by a troop of Soshangane
at a ford in Limpopo River
, after a night-long assault.
Tregardt sojourned at the salt pan on the Zoutpansberg's western promontory from May to August 1836, where he was visited by Potgieter's scouting party, who assured him that they would soon catch up and join his trek. In November 1836 Tregardt moved his camp eastwards to more agreeable climes in the vicinity of the later Schoemansdal and Louis Trichardt town. His party was to stay here until June 1837, in which time they built rudimentary houses, a workshop and a school for the twenty-one children. Potgieter’s trek, delayed by conflicts to the south, was however not forthcoming. From June to August 1837 Tregardt's party camped eastwards at the Doorn river (current Doorn River farm), whereafter they departed from the Zoutpansberg to find a new home or trading route to the sea. Their limited communications with the Portuguese indicated that they would be welcomed, and that the east coast was sparsely populated.
, avoiding the Limpopo where the Van Rensburgs were murdered, and the tsetse flies
endemic to the low regions. Tregardt arrived at the Olifants River via Chuniespoort
on October 2, 1837, and consulted chief Sekwati of the Pedi people
about a way forward. Chief Sekwati paid them a friendly visit, and advised that the eastward route was everywhere obstructed by impassable mountains, unless they would leave their wagons behind and proceed by foot.
Tregardt, now aged 54, was however resolute in crossing the mountains, even if the wagons had to be dismantled and transported piecewise. They undertook their own reconnaissance of the increasingly rugged slopes fringing the Olifants, and found a passable slope leading to the summit, after crisscrossing the Olifants a number of times. The wagons, at times partially dismantled and hauled on branches, were taken over the crest of the Drakensberg in a feat taking two and a half months.
Once in the lowveld, the Olifants, Blyde
, Klaserie and Sand
rivers were forded in succession, and the region now known as the central Kruger Park
was traversed without incident. East of the Lebombo range
they encountered different villages of the Gwamba people. All their inhabitants were friendly; they and their chief, Makodelana, presented Tregardt with a number of gifts. Two months later they had reached the Komati River
, which proved difficult to ford, and a number of their animals were lost while crossing. They passed the Vila Luiza outpost and continued along swamps, lagoons and the villages of coastal tribes to reach the fort at Delagoa bay on April 13, 1838.
.
. In Mpumalanga
, a town named Trichardt is situated along his northward route. The Louis Tregardt Trek Memorial Garden is located at the final destination of his trek, in the current Maputo
, and provides a contrast to the city's otherwise communistic and hero worship monuments. An novel by Jeanette Ferreira, Die son kom aan die seekant op (Afrikaans
: The sun rises from the ocean’s side), is based on his journey.
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
: trädgard, garden) was a farmer from the Cape Colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
's eastern frontier, who became an early voortrekker leader. Shunning colonial authority, he emigrated in 1834 to live among the Xhosa, before he crossed the Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
into neutral territory. His northward trek, along with fellow trekker Hans van Rensburg, was commenced in 1836. He led his small party of emigrants into the uncharted interior of South Africa, and settled for a year at the base of the Zoutpansberg
Soutpansberg
The Soutpansberg meaning "Salt Pan Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in the far north of South Africa. It is named for the salt pan located at its western end. The mountain reaches the opposite extremity at in the Matikwa Nature Reserve, some due east...
. At this most northerly point of their trek, unhealthy conditions began to take a toll on man and animal. Seemingly abandoned by a follow-up trek, and distant from from supplies and buyers for their ivory, Tregardt abandoned the settlement, and led the party southeastwards to the Portuguese coastal outpost at Delagoa bay
Maputo Bay
Maputo Bay , formerly Delagoa Bay, Baía da Lagoa is an inlet of the Indian Ocean on the coast of Mozambique, between 25° 40' and 26° 20' S, with a length from north to south of over 90 km long and 32 km wide....
. The oceanward route proved arduous and included the challenge of traversing a section of the northern Drakensberg
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
. Though reaching the fort at Delagoa bay, a number of their party contracted malaria en route. Tregardt's wife perished at the fort in May 1838, followed by Tregardt six months afterward. He was the only Voortrekker leader to keep a diary of his trek, a valuable document in terms of linguistics and ethnology, besides his observations on the weather patterns, geography and the wildlife of the interior.
At the colony
Louis's father Carel was, as civilian officer, much involved in the 18th century Xhosa conflictsXhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
. In addition he was a participant in the Graaff-Reinet resistance movements, first against the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
and later against English colonial governance. For a time Louis farmed near Bruintjeshoogte (i.e. Somerset). He ostensibly had an uneasy relationship with the colonial authorities, and agreed to rent grazing land from Xhosa chief Hintsa.
In 1829 Louis sent his son Carolus to graze their cattle along the Black Kei River
Black Kei River
Black Kei River, , originates southwest of Queenstown, and eventually joins the White Kei River, to become the Great Kei River...
, then the northern boundary of British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria
British Kaffraria was a British colony/subordinate administrative entity in present-day South Africa, consisting of the districts now known as King Williams Town and East London.The term Kaffraria stems from the word "Kaffir"...
. In 1833 (or 34) Louis also crossed the neutral zone to join his son. Here a substantial boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
community, at odds with the colonial government, was already living in exile. With Louis acting as their leader, colonel Harry Smith
Harry Smith
Harry Smith may refer to:* Sir Harry Smith, 1st Baronet , British soldier* Harry Smith , British politician in Falkirk Burghs* Harry Smith , Canadian* Harry B...
deemed him an agitator of the sixth Xhosa war
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
, and planned to arrest him. Tregardt however moved his family and livestock to grazing land between the Caledon
Caledon River
The Caledon River is located in south-east Africa, rising in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho. Origin in the former bantustan of QwaQwa, near the border with Lesotho, southwest of Witsieshoek. It then flows south-west, marking the border with South Africa and Lesotho before entering South...
and Orange River
Orange River
The Orange River , Gariep River, Groote River or Senqu River is the longest river in South Africa. It rises in the Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho, flowing westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean...
s, just outside the colony, where he resided in 1835.
Northward trek
Tregardt coordinated his movements with those of his friend Hendrik PotgieterAndries Hendrik Potgieter
Andries Hendrik Potgieter, known as Hendrik Potgieter was a Voortrekker leader. He served as the first head of state of Potchefstroom from 1840 and 1845 and also as the first head of state of Zoutpansberg from 1845 to 1852.Potgieter was born in the Tarkastad district of the Cape Colony, the second...
, who was to follow his trail. Tregardt started the northward trek with eight families besides his own, and was joined by the trek of Hans van Rensburg, another farmer living in exile. Tregardt and Van Rensburg were the first of the voortrekkers to pass near Thaba Nchu
Thaba Nchu
Thaba Nchu is a town in Free State, South Africa, located 60 km east of Bloemfontein. Its population is largely made up of Tswana and Sotho people. The town was settled in the 1830s and officially established in 1873...
, where the Barolong
Barolong
Rolong is a tribal name for the Tswana living in North West in South Africa, principally in Mafikeng . Other Barolong communities are found in Lotlhakane and Thaba Nchu...
tribe of chief Moroka II was resident.
Upon reaching the Strydpoortberg in the current Limpopo Province, Tregardt and Van Rensburg parted ways, after Tregardt argued that Van Rensburg was expending his ammunition excessively in his pursuit of ivory. Van Rensburg would not be seen again; he and his trek of forty-nine persons were extirpated in June 1836 by a troop of Soshangane
Soshangane
Soshangane was a General of the Zulu King Shaka who broke away from Shaka's hegemony and carved out a Nguni empire of conquest in what is now modern-day Mozambique. Allied with the rival Ndwandwe in 1819, Soshagane fled after defeat by Shaka. He moved north into Mozambique, absorbing or...
at a ford in Limpopo River
Limpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
, after a night-long assault.
Tregardt sojourned at the salt pan on the Zoutpansberg's western promontory from May to August 1836, where he was visited by Potgieter's scouting party, who assured him that they would soon catch up and join his trek. In November 1836 Tregardt moved his camp eastwards to more agreeable climes in the vicinity of the later Schoemansdal and Louis Trichardt town. His party was to stay here until June 1837, in which time they built rudimentary houses, a workshop and a school for the twenty-one children. Potgieter’s trek, delayed by conflicts to the south, was however not forthcoming. From June to August 1837 Tregardt's party camped eastwards at the Doorn river (current Doorn River farm), whereafter they departed from the Zoutpansberg to find a new home or trading route to the sea. Their limited communications with the Portuguese indicated that they would be welcomed, and that the east coast was sparsely populated.
Journey to Delagoa bay
Tregardt decided on a southerly approach to Delagoa bayMaputo Bay
Maputo Bay , formerly Delagoa Bay, Baía da Lagoa is an inlet of the Indian Ocean on the coast of Mozambique, between 25° 40' and 26° 20' S, with a length from north to south of over 90 km long and 32 km wide....
, avoiding the Limpopo where the Van Rensburgs were murdered, and the tsetse flies
Tsetse fly
Tsetse , sometimes spelled tzetze and also known as tik-tik flies, are large biting flies that inhabit much of mid-continental Africa between the Sahara and the Kalahari deserts. They live by feeding on the blood of vertebrate animals and are the primary biological vectors of trypanosomes, which...
endemic to the low regions. Tregardt arrived at the Olifants River via Chuniespoort
Chuniespoort
Chuniespoort is a mountain pass situated in the Limpopo Province, on the R37, the road between Polokwane and Lebowakgomo, South Africa...
on October 2, 1837, and consulted chief Sekwati of the Pedi people
Pedi people
Pedi, , has been a cultural/linguistic term. It was previously used to describe the entire set of people speaking various dialects of the Sotho language who live in the northern Transvaal of South Africa...
about a way forward. Chief Sekwati paid them a friendly visit, and advised that the eastward route was everywhere obstructed by impassable mountains, unless they would leave their wagons behind and proceed by foot.
Tregardt, now aged 54, was however resolute in crossing the mountains, even if the wagons had to be dismantled and transported piecewise. They undertook their own reconnaissance of the increasingly rugged slopes fringing the Olifants, and found a passable slope leading to the summit, after crisscrossing the Olifants a number of times. The wagons, at times partially dismantled and hauled on branches, were taken over the crest of the Drakensberg in a feat taking two and a half months.
Once in the lowveld, the Olifants, Blyde
Blyde River
The Blyde River , or Motlatse River , is a river in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. It has a northwards course in steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, before it enters the lowveld region of the Limpopo province...
, Klaserie and Sand
Sand River (South Africa)
The Sand River, in South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga, provinces. Is 80 kilometers which is very short and shallow compared to the standard river lengths in Africa. It derives its name from the fact that in the drought season the sandy banks starts to show on both sides...
rivers were forded in succession, and the region now known as the central Kruger Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
was traversed without incident. East of the Lebombo range
Lebombo Mountains
The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains, are an 800km long, narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa stretching from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Part of the mountains are found in South Africa,...
they encountered different villages of the Gwamba people. All their inhabitants were friendly; they and their chief, Makodelana, presented Tregardt with a number of gifts. Two months later they had reached the Komati River
Komati River
The Komati River is a river in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. It is long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 111 m³/s at its mouth...
, which proved difficult to ford, and a number of their animals were lost while crossing. They passed the Vila Luiza outpost and continued along swamps, lagoons and the villages of coastal tribes to reach the fort at Delagoa bay on April 13, 1838.
Dissolution of trek
The party of fifty-two persons received a friendly reception from the Portuguese. What appeared to be a new beginning would however turn out to be the gloomy end of the trek as a coordinated movement. Only four days after arriving five persons fell ill with fever. The school teacher Pfeffer and Tregardt’s wife Martha were first to perish from malaria. More persons took ill, though some of Tregardt’s children recovered. Tregardt died six months after his wife. Only by the winter of the next year, 1839, were the 26 survivors transported by schooner to Port NatalDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
.
Legacy
The town Trichardtsdorp was named after him in 1899, commemorating his year-long stay at the base of the ZoutpansbergSoutpansberg
The Soutpansberg meaning "Salt Pan Mountain" in Afrikaans, is a range of mountains in the far north of South Africa. It is named for the salt pan located at its western end. The mountain reaches the opposite extremity at in the Matikwa Nature Reserve, some due east...
. In Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
, a town named Trichardt is situated along his northward route. The Louis Tregardt Trek Memorial Garden is located at the final destination of his trek, in the current Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, and provides a contrast to the city's otherwise communistic and hero worship monuments. An novel by Jeanette Ferreira, Die son kom aan die seekant op (Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
: The sun rises from the ocean’s side), is based on his journey.