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— The Great Trek is one of the most epic sagas in all of Western History. Today I release Chapter 8: The Great Trek (Part1) [click] in my series Who stole the Land. The series was initiated as my response to the detestable idea of the present Black Racist ANC government of South Africa to steal the legally acquired land of white people because they are white. This chapter covers the period 1836 to late 1837, focusing on the early Trekkers, their arrangements with black chiefs, their proper acquisition of land in what would become the Free State, and their first three clashes with Mzilikazi, the Terror of the Plains. It introduces the main Trekker leaders and records Piet Uys’ dream of a United States in Southern Africa.

I have elected to divide the Great Trek into two parts, the second dealing with events in Natal and across the Vaal River. Americans might well call these folks “Trailblazers” or “Pathfinders”, but is a little different when one tries to do that in Africa and one finds oneself attacked by thousands upon thousands of deadly, disciplined, and highly trained Zulu warriors. An American wagon circle attacked by a few Plains Indian (First Nations) braves on ponies is just simply not the same thing, folks.

The Canadian historian Theal observed that it was those who had lost most and suffered most who were least inclined to return to the comparative safety of the Birtish-run Cape Colony. I believe it takes an American to understand this last statement. Nevertheless, let the record show that some British Settlers also joined in the Great Trek, such as the Liversage family. There were lots of British Settlers who had become “Afrikaners by the heart and English by mouth”, but they were subject to different rules, as was described in Chapter 5.

I suggest folks actually read the references I provide and check things for themselves. I put a massive amount of work into providing those from online sources at places people do not usually look.

Herewith, I start on Chapter 9, which will take several weeks. As always, history is far more fascinating than fiction writers could ever dream up. And, somewhere back there, is the truth that politicians never want to face and can’t afford to hear.

— Harry Booyens