In 1752 Governor Ryk Tulbagh dispatched a well-kitted-out expedition with the ultimate goal of discovering who and what lay beyond the eastern frontier of the colony, then the Great Brak River.
Into the Hitherto Unknown: Ensign Beutler’s Expedition to the Eastern Cape, 1752
Published by Van Riebeeck Society for the publication of Southern African historical documents.
Translated by Thea Toussaint van Hove and Michael Wilson
Edited and introduced by Hazel Crampton, Jeff Peires and Carl Vernon
ISBN 978-0-9814264-4-0
Price R150 for members and R200 for non-members
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Sarah Cohen
Non-Fiction
Led by the young Dutch East India Company ensign, August Friedrich Beutler, 71 men and 11 ox wagons embarked on a 3 000km journey.
Written in eloquent literary style, Into the Hitherto Unknown: Ensign Beutler’s Expedition to the Eastern Cape, 1752, is a rich text guaranteed to keep you intrigued and expand your knowledge on the region’s human, animal and botanical life and the political dynamics of the time.
The volume carries footnotes to explain the text. In addition, Carl Vernon has recalculated Beutler’s route and mapped it accordingly in this volume. Portions of the expedition’s original colour map by Carel Wentzel are also included.
Except for accounts by the Hubner survivors, the Beutler Journal is regarded as the very earliest written record of the Eastern Cape.
In it you will read about fauna and the flora of the region, remarkable discoveries, events and travels. You will learn of the naming of rivers in the region, trades and racial complexities.
For me the most intriguing section of the book is the journey from Bushman's River to the Great Fish River from 21 May to 2 June 1752. The journals kept describe the numerous kloofs and woods that lay between them and their rest at Kowie River, where the water was described as muddy and unpleasant to drink and firewood was found among aloes and wild bushes.
The tales of poisons used by Hottentots on their assegais, arrows and harpoons was especially fascinating.
The volume captures surreal moments on Page 35 when there is a discovery of a poisonous fish eaten in Mossel Bay. One man died and another remained unconscious for three days, but recovered.
The book left me with the hunger to learn more about the history of the Eastern Cape and I have confidence that this volume is suitable for the young and the young at heart wishing to expand their knowledge of the region in all aspects.
It can be bought through the publishers. Read more about this process on the Van Riebeeck Society website athttp://www.vanriebeecksociety.co.za, or call them at 021 423 8424 on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays from 9.30am-13.30pm.
The book is among those to be celebrated at the fourth annual Rhodes University Book Launch on Thursday 24 October. The event will be held in the Senior Common Room at 5pm.
By: Sarah Cohen
Source: Grocotts Mail