It is estimated from early records that the first Dutch Settlers arrived at Nieuwoudtville ca. 1725 and that the first farm Groenrivier was granted in 1750. Historically the records of the early travellers are of great significance.
When information is sought in the journals of the pioneer travellers in South Africa, no reference will be found to "Nieuwoudtville", as the town was only established and named approximately 100 years ago by the then new Dutch Reformed Church Congregation. The Congregation bought a farm from a Mr Nieuwoudt, and then laid out the town. This in itself is a most beautiful story of "modern" property development.
Reference will however be found in the journals of many of the early travellers if you look up "Bokkeveld". The Bokkeveld Mountains at Nieuwoudtville are not to be confused with the Koue Bokkeveld Mountains near Ceres or with the Warm Bokkeveld.
One of Sweden's most famous botanists, Carl Peter Thunberg, visited the Cape in the 18th Century. Thunberg visited the Bokkeveld and writes most eloquently on his visit to the Bokkeveld and his stay on the farm Groenrivier, approximately 1 km from Nieuwoudtville.
A quote from Thunberg's diary on his visit to the Bokkeveld in 1974.
"On the 2nd of November we rode up the Bokkeland mountains with two pairs of oxen, with which the farmer who had passed us, kindly assisted us, ours being quite fatigued and disabled, and the mountains so steep that several Hottentots were obliged to hold the conveyances fast with cords to prevent them oversetting. This mountain was not only very steep, but likewise very hilly, and abounded with slate, above there was a steep ridge, and the sides of the crown itself were almost perpendicular. The top of the mountain was level, the air colder, and the plain abounded in grass.
Bokkeveld lies between the 30th and 31st degrees south of the equator. In ascending this mountain we discovered a species of aloe (Aloe dichotoma) the stem of which, when a proper thickness, is hollowed out, and used by the Hottentots for a quiver for their arrows.
Weary but not a little pleased, we afterwards arrived at Clas Losper's farm, whither we intended indeed to have gone the preceding year, but were prevented by an accident. In this honest farmer, during the few days stay we made with him, we found as generous a host as we had before found in him a faithful guide and kind assistant. He was the richest sheep grazier in the whole country; and was at this time in possession of at least twelve thousand sheep, and above 600 full grown horned cattle, besides about 200 calves."
Where time allows, all visitors to Nieuwoudtville should view the spectacular sandstone ruins on this farm Groenrivier, where Thunberg stayed in November 1774, 227 years ago.
Other travellers also visited the Bokkeveld during their peregrinations through Southern Africa. From his journal we know that Robert Jacob Gordon visited the Bokkeveld and so did William Patterson. For more details on their travels we recommend PIONEER TRAVELLERS IN SOUTH AFRICA by Vernon S Forbes (published AA Balkema/Cape Town/Amsterdam)
Of particular interest to all historians will be Henry Lichtenstein's TRAVELS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA Vols 1 & 2 (published by the Van Riebeeck Society of Cape Town Vols 10 & 11). Lichtenstein travelled in South Africa from 1803 to 1806. He arrived shortly after the end of the first British Occupation of the Cape which was from 1795 to 1803. Historically the period 1803 to 1806 is referred to as the Batavian period and preceded the second British occupation in 1806.
All the books referred to above and many other historical works can be consulted in Hendrik Van Zijl's library in the SMIDSWINKEL RESTAURANT & INFO CENTRE. |
