• Blog
  • AmaBhulu the Book
  • A 350-year Odyssey
  • AmaBhulu Topics
  • About AmaBhulu
  • About the author
  • Cliffwood Fogge

AmaBhulu

~ The Birth and Death of the Second America

AmaBhulu

Tag Archives: President John Adams

Mandela almost born American!

10 Saturday Oct 2015

Posted by Harry Booyens in The US & South Africa

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

African National Congress (ANC), Afrikaners, amaBhulu, amaThembu, Cape of Good Hope, Fish River, Grosvenor, Hercules, Nelson Mandela, President John Adams, Shipwreck, South Africa, Tamboekie, United States

The Eastern Cape Frontier, June 1796

— It is a winters day like any other, some 600 miles by oxwagon east of Cape Town. We are on the New Year’s River, a tributary of the Bushman’s River on the outermost limits of Christian civilization [1]. See the map below and click to enlarge. The location is not far from the 21st century town of Alicedale behind the Suurberg, west of Grahamstown.

Frontier 1796JdPThere have already been two wars with the amaXhosa people who have been pushing westward over the Keiskamma River. The powerful amaRharhabe Xhosa leaders, who have allied with the White Afrikaners, have been trying to bring the local chiefs to heel. This effort has not been successful. Relations therefore remain tense. Groups such as the amaTinde, amaMbalu, imiDange and and particularly the amaGqunkhwebe have repeatedly crossed the Fish River border into the Suurveld. Chief Cungwa (“Congo”) of the amaGqunukhwebe is now living pretty much full time west of the Bushman’s River near the 21st century town of Alexandria. Ironically, it is close to where Diaz turned back in 1488. In the distant future, a road sign near Alexandria will still read “Congoskraal“.

Jan du Plessis is dressing two carcasses of animals his son shot the previous day. He is doing this immediately outside his mud brick and thatch roof house. Jan is a captain in the militia and a rather remarkable man for his time and place. While he lives on the far frontier, he is a literate man and his diary will survive into the 21st century. He is 64 years old; the grandson of the immigrant Jean Prieur du Plessis from Poitiers. His younger sons live on the farm and he has one daughter who is not yet married.

AmaCover2Jan’s grandson, also Jan du Plessis, will one day be one of the two leaders of the so-called Double Trek in the Great Trek. They will arrive at Piet Retief’s camp in Natal on the very day of the Bloukrans Massacre. He will eventually fight at the pivotal Battle of Blood River. The present account, as well as that of the younger Jan and his relatives on the Great Trek, may be read in AmaBhulu.

When Jan looks up, he sees a sight that freezes the blood in his veins. Standing dead still some distance away are two Black Tamboekie warriors, assegais (throwing spears) in hand [2]. It is only three years since the last war with the vicious amaXhosa, and here he is now confronted with the Tamboekies. They live even further away to the east than the true Xhosa, and these two are totally out of place. He yells to his sons in the house, and turns to fetch his schietgeweer―his musket―and the powder horn. But then some disheveled white men and even Indians appear among the Tamboekies.

Captain Stout

The leader is an American ship’s captain named Benjamin Stout. They have been aided by these two Tamboekie warriors all the way from the land of the Tamboekies where they were shipwrecked. Jan promptly dispatches his sons with a wagon to collect the rest of the shipwrecked men, who are beyond exhaustion and have been left along the way.

That evening, Stout discusses the state of the country with Jan, who makes it clear that the farmers distant from the Cape are disgusted with the Dutch East India Company [3]. It taxes them, makes rules for them, does not understand their needs, and then leaves them in the lurch in times of danger. They would welcome any decent liberal authority on the local coast and they would be happy indeed to trade with them.

Only in Africa

At this point, Stout asks Jan the one question that has bothered him all day since their arrival:

“What on earth are the two massive carcasses you are dressing outside the house?”

Jan responds without blinking an eye:

“Two rhinoceros my son shot yesterday.”

Getting to Cape Town

Jan arranges for the men to be taken to the distant Cape. He writes a note in Dutch for Stout and his party to show to all the farmers along the way to aid in their passage. The captain  will later immortalize this note in a book:

Good Friends,
Be so good as to help these people forward towards the Cape. They are Americans, who have lost their ship beyond the river Biga. The Caffers have brought these people to me.
Your friend, Jan Du Plessis, the elder.

The River “Biga” is some 15km south of the present coastal town of Hamburg. In the 21st century the name of the river is spelled Bira, but in isiXhosa an “r” is pronounced as the guttural “g” in Dutch. In fact, the shipwreck occurred near the wreck of the Grosvenor, which was at the Mkweni River far to the north, halfway between Port St. Johns and Port Edward on what is today the Pondoland Coast [5]. Since Stout’s day, the Tamboekies, or at least their territories, have moved more inland.

Wreck_of_the_Grosvenor02The survivors are taken by wagon to Cape Town. One, a Swede named Peter Ernst Wahlstrand, elects to stay in the colony. He will become the Graaff-Reinet Court Messenger [4] and will eventually marry Maria Magdalena Olivier, an Afrikaans lady in the author’s ancestral family. In this way, a Swede shipwrecked on an American ship in Africa will become and Afrikaner. Fact is usually stranger than fiction.

An American Colony in South Africa?

On 16 June 1796, the American ship, the Hercules, was wrecked on the Suurveld coast. The Master of this ship was Captain Benjamin Stout. He was well treated by the amaThembu (“Tamboekie”) subgroup of the extended isiXhosa speaking nations, and was impressed by the countryside. He was equally impressed with the White Afrikaner farmers who went out of their way to help his party get back to the Cape. When Stout returned to Europe, he wrote as follows to his relative, President John Adams, suggesting the establishment of an American colony on the Southeast Coast in the land of the amaThembu [6] :

To the Honorable John Adams,
President of the Continental Congress of the United States of America.

Sir,
If this Narrative be transmitted across the Atlantic, and should find its way to your hand, receive it as the voluntary homage of a native of America, who from his earliest life hath been taught to venerate and admire your virtues and your talents. […]   It has never been understood, when the Dutch took possession of the Cape of Storms, as it was originally styled by the Portuguese, that they also claimed a title to the whole of the southern part of Africa; such an undefined and unlimited claim must at once appear not only presumptuous, but preposterous; and on this ground I argue, that the people of any nation have an unquestionable right (provided the natives give their assent) to settle on such parts of the southern continent of Africa, as do not interpose with the lands already in possession of the colonists.

By the early years of the 1800s, American ships were trafficking up and down the southeast coast of the present South Africa. Ever more American sailors were calling for an American presence in South Africa. Britain prized its trade route between Britain, the Cape and the River Platte in South America. Losing America was one thing, but conceding its trade routes to the Americans was another matter altogether.

In the event, President Adams turned down Stout’s suggestion. Thereby died the intriguing thought that, had he accepted, Nelson Mandela, the later South Africa’s first Black president, might very well have been born an American citizen or subject. Nelson Mandela was a Thembu; a Tamboekie!


REFERENCES

  1. Tributary of the Bushman’s River; J.S. Marais, Maynier and the First Boer Republic, (1944), Maskew Miller, p. 59, places Jan here.
  2. AmaThembu, an isiXhosa speaking nation that has historically provided wives for the amaXhosa kings.
  3. Jan was apparently unaware the Cape had changed hands to the British in Sep. 1795; Stout discovered this later
  4. The Missionary Magazine for 1800, Vol. 5, (1800), p. 217; Recounted in Vanderkemp’s missionary travels
  5. Originally published 1797. Republished in UK: Stout, Benjamin, Cape of Good Hope and Its Dependencies: An Accurate and Truly Interesting Description of Those Delightful Regions, (1820), Edwards & Nibb, London; see p. 53
  6. Ibid, see p. 2

AmaBhulu the book

AmaBhulu

AmaBhulu on Amazon

Click the image above to access AmaBhulu on Amazon.com

Follow AmaBhulu on WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

From Reader’s Reviews

■ “This is a book that all liberty loving people should read.”

■ “It will change you. Your eyes will be opened although they may become a bit misty…”

■ “This is an amazing book…a Masterpiece of commitment & research excellence… simply put, an OUTSTANDING BOOK!”

■ “I learnt more in that book about South Africa than I learnt in everything else I read about South Africa combined…”

■ “It puts to bed so many of the myths that are fundamental to what happened…”

■ “More than once, this book wrung my heart, and tears from my eyes.”

■ “Wholly worth it. If only millions more would read this labor of love and sorrow.

■ “What Americans must learn from South Africa’s tragedy”

■ “…it should be read by every American who cares about his or her country. ”

■ “An ‘eye-opener’ of a book…A towering Achievement. ”

■ “…an Intellectual Tour de Force, telling the real story of South Africa…”

■ “…riveting.”

■ “A wonderful read… the first historical work that I am unable to put down.”

■ “A fantastic read, well written, well researched… A Spellbinding book.”

■ “Fascinating in its storyline. Painstaking in its research. Chilling in its honesty.”

■ “…meticulously researched and unabashedly presents the facts weaved into an engaging story line. A must read!”

■ “…a passionate, meticulously documented history of South Africa.”

■ “A must read for scholars, history buffs and those simply interested in the unvarnished truth.”

■ “This is not a sugar-coated history, and contains hard truths that not everyone will like to see in writing…”

■ “… an objective and accurate view of South African history, as well as a realistic view of the future…”

AmaBhulu

Canadian ER Physician: “I am a Boer from South Africa”

Opening the Year with Scott Balson

Opening the Year with Scott Balson

Interview with Alex Newman

Interview with Alex Newman

Livestream with Scott Balson

Livestream with Scott Balson

One Year of Silence

One Year of Silence

The Black Racist Virus

The Black Racist Virus

Trailer for AmaBhulu YouTube Channel

Trailer for AmaBhulu YouTube Channel

The Farm Murder of Bredin Horner

The Farm Murder of Bredin Horner

Harry Booyens Livestream with Scott Balson

Harry Booyens Livestream with Scott Balson

Senekal! o’ Senekal!

Senekal! o’ Senekal!

AmaBhulu Topics

  • A 350-year Odyssey
  • About AmaBhulu
  • About the Author
  • AmaBhulu the Book
  • AmaBhulu Topics
    • Black and White South African Allies
      • The Black King seeks White Help
      • The White Giant and the Black King
      • The Black King with the White Stepfather
      • Until the Birds of Prey have Consumed them Away
      • Slagtersnek – Where men die twice
    • God Bless the Good Ship China
    • Groot Matewis Schilpadbeen se mense
    • Pierre Jourdan de Cabrières and the other man
    • Radio Interview with Harry Booyens, author of AmaBhulu
    • Senekal o’ Senekal
    • South Africa: Who stole the Land?
      • 1. The Time of the Portuguese 1487-1647
      • 2. The Dutch founding of the Settlement at the Cape – 1652
      • 3. Setting the Fish River Boundary 1750-1779
      • 4. The Two Frontier Wars between the Afrikaners and the amaXhosa
      • 5. The British Cape Frontier before the Great Trek 1799-1836
      • 6. The World of the Black People before the Mfecane: 1816
      • 7. The Mfecane – Twenty Years of Hell on Earth: 1816-1836
      • 8. The Great Trek-1: 1836-1837 – The Trans-Orange
      • 9. The Great Trek-2: 1837-1841: Transvaal and Natal
    • The 1975 US Congress gave us 9/11
    • The Cape, the Rabbit, and the Man from Java
    • The First American in Africa
    • The First True European Settler in South Africa
    • The South African Family Booyens
  • Contact Author

Goodreads

Cliffwood Fogge Publishing

Recent Posts: AmaBhulu

Canadian ER Physician: “I am a Boer from South Africa”

Opening the Year with Scott Balson

Opening the Year with Scott Balson

Interview with Alex Newman

Interview with Alex Newman

Livestream with Scott Balson

Livestream with Scott Balson

One Year of Silence

One Year of Silence

The Black Racist Virus

The Black Racist Virus

Recent Posts

  • Canadian ER Physician: “I am a Boer from South Africa” February 5, 2022
  • Opening the Year with Scott Balson January 30, 2022
  • Interview with Alex Newman December 17, 2021
  • Livestream with Scott Balson December 17, 2021
  • One Year of Silence December 17, 2021
  • The Black Racist Virus December 20, 2020
  • Trailer for AmaBhulu YouTube Channel December 11, 2020
  • The Farm Murder of Bredin Horner December 3, 2020
  • Harry Booyens Livestream with Scott Balson November 21, 2020
  • Senekal! o’ Senekal! November 6, 2020
  • “America Must Fall”-2 October 14, 2020
  • The Great Trek – Part 2: 1837-1841 September 23, 2020
  • “America must Fall” – Part 2 August 23, 2020
  • Hope in Eastern Europe? June 5, 2020
  • Ricky Grenell and the Satchel of Doom May 19, 2020
  • Who stole the Land?: The Great Trek- Part 1 May 17, 2020
  • Who Stole the Land? – Status Check May 2, 2020
  • Dan Happel and Four Afrikaners March 29, 2020
  • Pompeo speaks; Marx sits …and sits February 20, 2020
  • Walking to President Trump January 1, 2020
  • America, see your future! December 8, 2019

Top Posts & Pages

The First True European Settler in South Africa
About AmaBhulu
The Black King with the White Stepfather
8. The Great Trek-1:  1836-1837 - The Trans-Orange
Slagtersnek - Where men die twice
Dying for the Land
5. The British Cape Frontier before the Great Trek 1799-1836
One Year of Silence
Canadian ER Physician: "I am a Boer from South Africa"

Archives

  • February 2022 (1)
  • January 2022 (1)
  • December 2021 (3)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (2)
  • October 2020 (1)
  • September 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (1)
  • May 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • January 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (2)
  • November 2019 (2)
  • September 2019 (5)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (2)
  • March 2019 (7)
  • February 2019 (1)
  • January 2019 (2)
  • December 2018 (4)
  • November 2018 (4)
  • October 2018 (4)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (8)
  • July 2018 (2)
  • June 2018 (4)
  • May 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (1)
  • January 2018 (3)
  • December 2017 (3)
  • November 2017 (2)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (2)
  • August 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (2)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (4)
  • December 2016 (2)
  • November 2016 (5)
  • October 2016 (3)
  • September 2016 (4)
  • August 2016 (1)
  • July 2016 (3)
  • June 2016 (2)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (3)
  • February 2016 (3)
  • January 2016 (3)
  • December 2015 (3)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (8)
  • September 2015 (3)
  • August 2015 (1)
  • July 2015 (1)
  • June 2015 (1)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • March 2014 (5)
  • February 2014 (3)

Website Powered by WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • AmaBhulu
    • Join 182 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • AmaBhulu
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...