During the 1830s, in the cold hills to the north of the Kat River valley, between the headwaters of the White Kei and Cacadu rivers, a small group of ‘Bushmen’ congregated under the leadership of a man known only by his isiXhosa name, Madolo, or its various anglicisations. Exactly who these people were, it is difficult to say. Some at least were the descendants of those who had lived in the region for many generations, and had painted on its rocks. Others may have been the descendants of Khoekhoe who had lost cattle, or escaped slaves, or even on occasion a European deserter from the army. Madolo himself had been based in rock shelters on the Kei River, but had been forced higher into the hills by pressure from the abaThembu, especially those under Maphasa. There, in 1839, they were met by James Read Senior, who started a mission among them. Although Read visited the Bushman station when he could, the main work was done by Khoe ‘native assistants’ from the Kat River and by James Read's younger son, Joseph.

During the early nineteenth century, there was increased pressure on the inhabitants of South Africa's (and Lesotho's) mountains, probably in part because the introduction of British-made blankets enabled larger numbers of people to survive the winters in the area. It is thus not so surprising that during the War of the Axe, Madolo fought for the British, with a force estimated at 200 men, under the leadership of Joseph Read. Though they fought well throughout the war, they did not receive the rewards in land that they had expected. This was to influence greatly their subsequent actions.

Document 43: On San land rights

Captain Madoor and others to the Rev. J.J. Freeman

Freemanton, 29 August 1849

Much respected Sir and Father

It is with the greatest pleasure that we bid you welcome to Freemanton, on your arrival from England, and we hope that your coming to the Churches of South Africa will be a blessing.

Before the war we had begun to be very prosperous, but now through the war we are altogether ruined. All the inhabitants here were obliged to leave everything they had, and to help the colonial Government against the Kaffirs.