2.1 Start of the great trek

• How did the Voortrekkers prepare themselves for the battle an hour before it started?
• The position of the camp forced the Ndebele to attack from three sides up the slope. What disadvantage did this hold for them?
• How were the wagons prevented from running down the slopes?
• What weapons were used?
• Why did the Trekkers make use of shooting cages?
• Was there a winner and a loser in the battle?

c) Divide the class into groups and discuss the following:

• Which three rules do you think would have been in force in the laager at Vegkop?
• Each group must make five suggestions about what has to be done in a laager during a battle. The teacher writes each group’s suggestions on the board. Each group chooses the five best suggestions and arranges them in order of importance.Each group must then report its findings.
• How would you improve the ox-wagon against future attacks? Make use of local material.

Meanwhile, Gerrit Maritz’s, Piet Uys’s and Piet Retief’s parties also arrived at Thaba Nchu. Retief was elected as chief leader of the more than 5 000 Trekkers. A Volksraad was elected to maintain law and order. A constitution was adopted to regulate affairs and give the community a republican character. They also decided to exchange land and establish farms.

Difference of opinion on the future route to be followed led to divisions among the Voortrekkers:

Potgieter wanted to establish a strong Boerestaat in the northern interior. There they would be far away from British domination. He did not wish to settle on the land exchanged from Makwana. He did not want to trek to Natal, because he believed that the English would be interested in the coastal area.

• Retief and his followers wanted to go to Natal, because of the fertile land and the harbour of Port Natal.

The Volksvergadering then decided to trek to Natal, over the Drakensberg, while Potgieter’s group would trek northwards.

d) Look at the sketch of the trek over the Drakensberg to Natal and answer the questions:

• What happened to the wheels of the wagon?
• What are the men and women doing?

Why are the trees chopped down?

Assessment

Memorandum

Activity 1

(a) See reasons for the Trek

They respected each another

Place to stay before they continued their trek northwards.

1. Positioned 50 wagons in a square with shooting cages, and filled space between and below the wagons with thorntree branches. Wagons were tied together with chains and leather thongs. Sent out parties on horseback. Prepared their rifles. Women and children gathered in the centre of the laager and the livestock remained outside.

• The Trekkers had a better view – thus limiting any surprises. It was difficult for the Ndebele to attack uphill.

• Stones were placed behind the wagon wheels, and the hand brake was pulled up.

• Trekkers: Sanna, Ndebele: assegais and small shield

• Better view, could safely fire simultaneously from all angles during the ox-head attack formation.

• Voortrekkers defeated the Ndebele, but lost large numbers of livestock. Ndebele lost large numbers of soldiers.