Document 68: State of affairs in Theopolis

Graham's Town, 8 January 1851

Very loving friend Kieviet Pikeur

I take this opportunity to write to you about the present circumstances. I hope you will not take it amiss I did not write to you sooner, but I must say, that I never had any time to write you anything. This does not imply that I am afraid to write anything to my generation (tribe or nation).1 I am not afraid of anybody; but never got the matter in hand so well as at present. Therefore, dear friend Kieviet, I will write to you a little about present circumstances.

Know first then—That the Settlers intend to raise a Levy in their place; £2 is given to every body who is inclined to enter into this Levy service.

Secondly,—That to each Levy is appointed a Commandant, to see that each Levy shall be clothed, and that every one gets his pay, according to the Regulations of the Levy service, established by the settlers (you must not understand that it is the government, for I have received the printed paper last Friday night of the printingoffice, to see if anything was printed therein from the Queen) but there is nothing of the kind written from the part of government, nor of a Governor, and as far as I can understand, the government does not want to have any to do with us colored people—but that the government wants to have this war done (fought) by Settlers and Boers. It is for this reason, the Settlers try their utmost endeavours to raise a Levy Regiment of us colored people at their own expense; but the old people from near the burying ground are unwilling to enter into this service; they are as yet together; and then you must understand also, there is something between the English and the Boers, so you must be prepared for two dangers. Therefore you must try to call in your people who are gone out, for this is not a time to remain separated from each other. These words, dear Kieviet, are the truth. Collect your generation (tribe or nation) together, as much as you possibly can, and get guns, powder, and lead from the government, as quickly as possible to protect our place.