Understanding heritage:

The grading of Adam Kok III’s laager settlement at Mount Currie

by Celeste Rossouw and Anton C. van Vollenhoven

he identification and assessment Formally proclaimed Griqua heritage of heritage in contemporary sites are poorly represented in Kwa- TSouth Africa is complex terri- Zulu-Natal. Importantly, all formally tory. It is an emotive act, in addition proclaimed sites in the province prior to one that is deeply political. Impor- to 1994 were downgraded one level in tantly, current thinking prioritises the 1999 when the National Heritage Re- promotion of heritage sites that were sources Act (NHRA, 25 of 1999) was previously marginalised in listings and promulgated. All downgraded heritage proclamations. One of the communities sites (now considered grade II) had to least represented is that of the Griqua. be reassessed based on their scientific, This paper uses the case study of a social, historic, technical or aesthetic Griqua heritage site to explain the pro- values mapped against criteria listed cess of identification, assessment and in the Act. proclamation of sites in contemporary The laager of Adam Kok III at Koks- KwaZulu-Natal in order to showcase tad was chosen as a case study to reveal the rigour with which decisions are the grading process of heritage sites as made as well as the complex territory followed by the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa in which such decisions lie. and Research Institute (the Institute).

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The methodology used included a in its features. As such the Adam Kok III literature study, the identification of in- laager site is believed to be of high cul- terested and affected parties, interviews, tural significance for the and surveys of the laager site. and therefore the Institute investigated By assessing the site in terms of the possibility of formally grading it. the stipulated criteria for cultural sig- Heritage grading follows a number nificance as presented in the Act, as of logical steps. These are presented well as those indicated in the national in order to support the grading recom- legislation, the Adam Kok III laager mendation of the original laager site at was graded as a provincial heritage site. Mount Currie as a grade II heritage site This study can thus be used as a model and clarify the process of grading and to grade similar sites of historical or proclamation of heritage in KwaZulu- archaeological importance and can also Natal. assist in recommending best-practice The purpose of this article is to management guidelines. As this paper expand upon the methodology used employs terminology that may be con- during the grading process for the site. sidered contentious there is a glossary It reflects the process that determines on pages 28–29. whether the site has cultural sig- nificance or not. This involves evalu- Introduction ation of cultural, social, scientific and Adam Kok III is considered the last of aesthetic values in accordance with the great Griqua leaders of Transoran- international protocols for the protec- gia (the area between the Modder and tion of historical sites, as well as South Orange rivers with as its African practice.2 Identifying the main headquarters) and Griqualand East. research question is an intrinsic part of He led the Griqua to a new land, the the grading process, which leads to as- so-called Nomansland, later to become sessment of the degree of significance known as East Griqualand. Nomans- of the different criteria listed in section land was located on the south-east side 3(3) of the NHRA. These are: of the below the Sotho • the importance of the site for the kingdom and between the sources of the community, or in national history; 1 Umzimvubu and Umzimkulu rivers. • whether it is an unusual, rare or The Griqua arrived here in 1863 and endangered aspect of the natural or named their settlement De Laager. They cultural heritage of the country; started a new life, laying out streets, a • the potential of the site to reveal stronghold, a church, a school and a information that contributes to an fort. This eventually grew into what is understanding of ’s today . natural or cultural heritage; The importance of the laager lies in • the importance of the site in reveal- the social value it has for the Griqua ing the most important character- community, who revalidate the site on istics of certain classes of South an annual basis. Furthermore, the his- Africa’s natural or cultural places torical significance of the site reflects or objects; its importance and rarity in comparison • the importance of the site with regard with other Griqua heritage sites. The to specific aesthetic characteristics laager also conforms to technical value on which a community or cultural

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group place value; Kok I and Adam Kok I’s son-in-law, • the potential of the site to represent Barend Barends.8 Cornelius Kok had a high value of creative or techni- been born at Piquetberg and received cal achievements in a specific time the staff of office in 1795. They roamed period; the area of the Orange River up until • a strong or special association with 1804 when the London Missionary a specific community or cultural Society (LMS) persuaded them to settle group for social, cultural or religious at Klaarwater. In 1813 under the influ- reasons; ence of missionary John Campbell they • a strong or special association with changed their name from Bastard to the life and work of a person, a group Griqua to honour their Khoekhoen ori- or an organisation of importance in gin and altered the name of Klaarwater the ; to Griquatown.9 • places of meaning with relation Adam Kok II preferred to live a life to the history of slavery in South of hunting and trading. In 1828 he tried Africa.3 to relinquish his authority to his son Cornelius Kok III, but after his son died, A brief background to the Griqua he had to resume the chieftainship. He The origins of the Griqua centre on also tried to relinquish his authority to Adam Kok I (1710–1800). Oral tradi- his son-in-law Hendrik Hendrickse, but tion suggests that he was either a cook was unsuccessful.10 on board a ship in Table Bay, from Andries Waterboer, who led the which he escaped, or that he was a slave Griqua of Griquatown between 1820 and cook for either Governor Hendrik and 1853, was of pure San ancestry. He Swellengrebel or Ryk Tulbach at the was the missionaries’ preferred leader Cape.4 A third account states that he was since he was educated at Griquatown the illegitimate son of a slave woman under their influence. He was stricter in the domestic unit of a Dutch gover- with his followers than Adam Kok II nor at the Cape; he was born in 1710 and Barends and served as kaptyn over and his father’s name is not known.5 both and Transorangia Either way, by 1751 he had obtained until 1837.11 grazing rights to a farm at Stinkfontein. Another Griqua group moved from Here he met remnants of the Grigriqua the to settle around Khoekhoen group.6 Oral tradition Philippolis on the invitation of John relates that Adam Kok I married the Philip, superintendent of the LMS in daughter of the leader of the Grigriqua South Africa. He established a mission clan. He gathered Bastards, escaped station for the San at Philippolis, the slaves and Khoekhoen of the Grigriqua oldest town in the Free State. Philip’s group together with rogue white set- invitation was to ensure the San’s safety tlers. This group grew to such an extent after he left the area and also allow for that the freed slaves to settle at Philippolis. In recognised Adam Kok I as a kaptyn.7 1826 Adam Kok II (first mentioned as From the mid- to late-1790s two a kaptyn of the Griqua in 1813), took groups of Griqua settled 50 kilometres possession of Philippolis and control outside Prieska Drift under the leader- of the lands between the Modder and ship of Adam Kok I’s son, Cornelius Orange rivers.12

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Other sources explain that the LMS’s between Adam Kok III, Waterboer and invitation to this Griqua group was a the British government led to a division means to control Adam Kok II, who of the Griqua state into two Griqua was not interested in a settled life and states (Griqualand West under Water- being a chief. Instead he wanted to re- boer and Transorangia under Adam main aloof as initiator of the Bergenaar Kok III), with joint council meetings group with Barend Barends (Adam Kok and co-operation in mutual matters I’s son in law) in the 1820s and 1830s.13 such as military.18 In 1838 an Act was It is also known that the Griqua under passed by Adam Kok III that forbade Adam Kok II’s leadership did not en- the sale of Griqua land to Europeans.19 courage the protection of the San, but In 1840 this Act was modified when it rather their annihilation.14 was decided that the Griqua could lease In 1827 trekboers moved into this lands occupied by trekboers for a fee, Griqua territory and from 1833 a se- that the Griqua had to pay for improve- vere drought resulted in their illegal ments erected by the trekboers on the occupation of Griqua lands. Many leased farms, and that they could lease Griqua started to leave Philippolis.15 the farms for at least 40 years.20 To solve this problem Adam Kok II After the Republic of Natalia was met his and it was decided annexed in 1843 by the British, more that they would allow trekboers to lease voortrekkers arrived to settle in Trans­ these farms. However, Adam Kok II’s orangia. Adam Kok III met Governor so-called short-term leases resulted in Peregrine Maitland to try to limit the some 1 500 white farmers permanently number of voortrekkers leasing farms settling in Griqua territory by 1834. in Griqua territory. In 1846 Maitland In the same year Philip decided that decided to mollify Griqua grievances by Adam Kok II (1760–1835) had to be dividing their land into alienable and in- accorded the same authority as leader alienable land. Alienable land, between that Andries Waterboer (1789–1853) the Modder and Riet rivers, allowed for enjoyed in West Griqualand (Water- farm leases of up to 40 years; while on boer led Griquatown from 1820 until inalienable land, south from the Riet his death in 1853).16 Philip’s rationale River to the Orange River, boers who was that this would secure the northern already leased here had to leave the frontier for the Cape Colony and that it farm once their lease had expired.21 would assist in curtailing Adam Kok II’s In 1847 Maitland was replaced by raiding activities. Urged on by Philip’s Sir Harry Smith who altered Maitland’s advice, Adam Kok II travelled to Cape agreement in 1848 by claiming the Town to see Governor Sir Benjamin Queen’s sovereignty over all the people d’Urban to obtain independent rule over between the Orange and the Vaal rivers. Transorangia. However, Adam Kok II Smith informed the Griqua that the boers died at Berg River without having met did not have to quit when their leases D’Urban.17 expired in the inalienable territory until the Griqua had paid back money for Adam Kok III and the move to improvements done by the boers.22 the By the time of the Bloemfontein Con- In 1837 Adam Kok III took over as vention of 1854 the British had aban- kaptyn of Transorangia and a treaty doned the Orange River Sovereignty,

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage which became a boer republic named the (1814–1835). Because of the . A secret deed drawn territory’s emptiness, it was known as up between the Free State Republic Nomansland. The British wanted the and the British government provided Griqua to settle here to function as a that from the date of the treaty every buffer between the Bushman raiders of farm leased to a European by a Griqua the Drakensberg and the Natal settlers or subject of Adam Kok III in any part and between Orange Free State and the of the territory, would become part and Cape Colony.29 parcel of the new boer republic.23 On 12 May 1863, the Griqua arrived The Griqua wanted to prepare for at the foot of Mount Currie and called war with the boer republic. However, it De Laager. Each family built a house the Cape governor Sir of sods just where they outspanned.30 advised them to move to Nomansland, In total there were about 200 of these a buffer zone between Natal and the huts in the settlement.31 Reverend Wil- Cape Colony and under the protection liam Dower, minister of the Griqua, of Faku of the Mpondo. In 1859 Kok III described the settlement as having an obtained permission from Grey to settle irregular layout as streets were not par- in Nomansland as a British subject.24 allel. A narrow building that functioned Kok’s trek involved 3 000 people, in- as a stronghold, church and school cluding Cornelius Kok II from Campbell was built in the centre. A loop-holed, and several black people.25 However, sod wall fort with corner bastions was according to Oberholster, the trek con- erected around it. One corner included sisted of 2 000 people, 300 wagons and an underground powder magazine.32 carts and 20 000 head of livestock.26 At On 14 August 1869, when Dower Hangklip in , the Griqua camped first visited Mount Currie, he explained for a year until the spring of 1862. As a that he would agree to be the Griqua’s result of severe drought, they lost more minister only if they left the laager and than 1 000 of their livestock. In addi- built a proper town. The Griqua for- tion, the son of Moshoeshoe, Nehemia, mally moved to Kokstad in the middle stole many of their horses and cows. of 1872.33 However, the British annexed From October 1862 to February 1863, Griqualand East from 1874–1879 and it the Griqua crossed the Drakensberg. became part of the Cape Colony. When they reached Berg Vyftig, later to become Mount Currie, they were highly Modern history impoverished.27 Mount Currie was When the was named after Walter Currie, commander formed in 1910, the Cape Colony be- of the Frontier Armed and Mounted came the . During the Police, who met Faku to negotiate with National Party era (1948–1994) the Gri- him to allow the settlement of the Griqua qua were classified as one of the groups in his territory.28 identified as coloured; for instance Cape Before the Griqua settled around Coloured, Malay, Griqua and Other Mount Currie, the area was under Coloured. For fear that their genetic Faku’s authority. Despite having rela- origin would result in placement at a tively abundant resources, it was lower level than other non-European very thinly populated possibly as a groups, they stressed the fact that they result of the upheavals caused by the were of European descent rather than

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage of slave or Khoekhoen descent.34 In theory guiding the management strate- the 1980s, Kokstad became part of gies of rock art sites in South African , a or self-governing and America.38 By linking different homeland set apart for specific race and theories to rock art sites, Blundell shows ethnic groups in South Africa during the that a theoretical approach (for instance era. the minimalist or museum-as-metaphor In 1994 Kokstad was incorporated theories) can lead to specific manage- into KwaZulu-Natal.35 Today it is part of ment strategies at publicly accessible the Greater Kokstad Local Municipality rock art sites.39 in the Harry Gwala District Municipal- The Institute’s Access Policy stipu- ity. The people who consider themselves lates that if archaeological excavations Griqua can mostly be found in and are necessary (which links with the around the areas of Griqualand East and scientific value of the laager) and if Griqualand West and at Kranshoek in sites are opened as tourism destinations the Western Cape. Since the advent of (which links with the social/tourism democracy, the Griqua have referred to value of the site), management plans themselves as First Nation people, and and strategies are legally required.40 they now stress the fact that they are For these reasons this article includes descendants of the Khoekhoen, San and proposed management strategies, even slaves rather than of European descent.36 though it is also scholarly in nature. As a result this article briefly refers Methodology to schools of thought pertaining to the In the case of the Adam Kok III laager fluidity of the identity of the Griqua site, the grading process generally using ideas of social constructivism as prescribed by heritage authorities was well as Khoisan revisionism. This is followed. It first consisted of a literature important as changes in this regard may review focusing on the history of the influence the heritage significance of the Griqua, Adam Kok III and his laager site under discussion. site. Second, it included an identifica- Last, it has to be indicated that several tion of stakeholders, interviews, site meetings were attended in which input visits, and identification of the heritage was obtained from identified stakehold- components of the laager; and ended ers and in which the Institute informed in a description of each component, them of the grading process. The its function, and management recom- stakeholders informed the Institute of mendations. challenges they faced regarding the con- Developing a management strategy servation and management of the site. In formed part of this project. This took this way these matters could be attended into consideration theories put forward to during the process. Stakeholders by authors such as David Lowenthal, as included the East Griqualand Tradi- well as management strategies pertain- tional Council, as well as the National ing to heritage sites offered by various Khoisan Council. The East Griqualand authors to show how theory can guide Traditional Council was represented heritage site management.37 This was by Joseph Jansen, Jimmy Marais, C.B. enriched by the work of local heritage Waltroom, Henry Venter, Bronwyn scholar Geoffrey Blundell in his MA Maneveldt, and Viviene and Gabriël dissertation that focused on the lack of Marais. The last also represented the

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National Khoisan Council. Other im- A.A.S. le Fleur I.43 Le Fleur focused on portant stakeholders were the Griqua- land claims and on the development of land Independent Church Committee, settlement schemes for the Griqua, to Kokstad’s chamber of commerce, the encourage self-reliance. He believed East Griqualand Museum (a member that the Griqua people could be brought of the Griqualand Independent Church together on this farm from Kokstad as Committee), the East Griqualand Land one nation.44 The site was officially Claim Department and Pioneer Griqua opened on 11 May 2001 and has since Council. Representation was as follows: become a national heritage site.45 the Griqualand Independent Church The Robberg Monument at Krans­ Committee was represented by the hoek includes the grave of Le Fleur and minister, Ebrahim Persent and A.G. commemorates the reformist’s life.46 Jood; Kokstad’s chamber of commerce Jakkalskraal, close to Kranshoek, is con- by Margi Fleming; the East Griqualand nected to Le Fleur’s prophesies since he Museum by the curator, Audrey Steen- announced to the Griqua that this farm kamp; the East Griqualand Land Claim would become the breadbasket of the Department by Cyril Gangerdine; and Griqua in times of hunger. In 2001 the the Pioneer Griqua Council by Paul title deeds were officially handed over Pienaar. to A.A.S. le Fleur II. None of the Griqua states have a laager site.47 The only heri- Rationale tage resources that can be linked to them After 1997, when Amafa41 was es- are modern built environments, graves tablished as the provincial heritage and monuments.48 This reinforces the resources authority in KwaZulu-Natal, idea that the Adam Kok III laager site only three heritage sites were formally can potentially be of cultural signifi- proclaimed as grade II sites in the Kok- cance, but this needs to be measured in stad area. These were the bandstand, the terms of the values stipulated in table 1. old town hall and the Kokstad Museum; At a superficial level, the scientific but none of these were Griqua sites. value will be high, especially within Subsequently, a number of heritage an archaeological context, if research sites and monuments were declared to reveals that a more holistic study of the honour Griqua people in South Africa. settlement is needed. This category will These were the Ratelgat National Her- be highest if it can be proved there is itage Site, the Robberg Monument at potential for archaeological excavation. Kranshoek, the farm Jakkalskraal (of The social importance of Kok III’s the reformist le Fleur) and the bronze laager site can be investigated by es- statue of Adam Kok III erected next to tablishing the degree of support from the Greater Kokstad municipal building contemporary Griqua communities: on Heritage Day in 2018.42 this is measured by whether it is visited The Ratelgat farm, on the Cape West and memorialised on a regular basis Coast includes a Griqua museum, tra- through commemorative events and the ditional matjeshuise (mat-houses), Late community’s initiative in requesting a Stone Age rock engravings and modern formal proclamation of the site. accommodation for guests. It is linked to The historical significance goes the cultural revival of the Griqua under hand-in-hand with the degree of impor- the leadership of their forefather, Chief tance of the laager site and its rarity in

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VALUE HIGH MEDIUM LOW NONE Aesthetic X Social X Historical X Scientific X Architectural Not applicable Linguistic Not applicable Technological X Table 1: Summary of the Statement of Significance of the Adam Kok Laager Site comparison with other Griqua heritage were only semi-civilised.49 Reverend sites. In addition, the significance of William Anderson, one of the first mis- Adam Kok III’s (1811–1878) contri- sionaries of the LMS who visited the bution to the Griqua people’s cultural Griqua in 1800 and settled among them successes and initiatives in comparison in 1804,50 complained that ‘such is the with other Griqua leaders is important. natural laziness of the bastards that not The technical and aesthetical criteria one fifth of their good land at Griqua- of analysis pertain to any built envi- town is brought under cultivation.’51 ronment feature. In this case the fort, William Dower bemoaned the idleness its construction and material used, its of the Griqua and explained that they layout, location and visual appearance hated work.52 These colonial viewpoints need to be analysed. based on the political ‘standard of ci- vilisation’ prevailed until more recent Three ways of conceptualising liberal exceptions such as writings by Griqua identity Robert Ross published in the middle of This article considers three ways of the 1970s.53 conceptualising Griqua identity: the Khoisan revisionist writers such Victorian colonial view establishing as Ross use Marxist models mainly racial difference; more recent Khoisan based on economic and political fac- revisionist theories; and last, social tors to distinguish between master and constructivism. subordinate classes.54 Revisionists see From the earliest documentary re- the Khoisan as an economic underclass sources of the eighteenth and nineteenth rather than a distinctive cultural entity. centuries up until the late 1960s and Carmel Schrire and John Wright also early 1970s, the Griqua were subject focus on the Khoisan beyond the Kala- to generalisations that were mainly hari debate, suggesting that during the negative. Missionary John Camp- colonial/pioneer period, intermarriage bell, traveller and merchant George led to increased hybridisation and the Thompson, and botanist and Quaker formation of new identities.55 The origin missionary James Backhouse said that of so-called coloured identity is one they lacked determination and were example, resulting from intermarriage improvident. In the social construct of between European colonists, slaves and the time, Campbell reasoned that they indigenous San and Khoekhoen people.

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Critique of this analytical framework a road from Hangklip to Berg Vyftig/ is that the subordinate class, in this Mount Currie – are often ignored.58 case coloured people, is reduced to Ross further elaborates that his- marginal status and its contributions torically there were means for the sup- to the culture of the master class is not pressed classes to emulate the success considered. The ability to influence of the master class: at the end of the and manipulate interaction is not suf- nineteenth century a Malay leader stood ficiently highlighted and requires more the chance to be elected a member of investigation than the simplistic mode the Cape House of Assembly, but the of production narrative.56 election rules were changed. Further, For instance, Ross paints a bleak at the Kat River Settlement, Khoisan picture of the Griqua by the 1970s. He had to pay cash on delivery during elaborates that all that was left of Philip- sheep auctions while white farmers polis was the layout of the town, and all had several months to settle their debt. that was left of Griqua identity in Kok- However, while the 1913 Natives’ Land stad was the church. He believes that Act hastened the end of the wealthier the Griqua’s sense of community was indigenous farmers’ enterprises, access gone and that they had forgotten their to markets for Griqua farmers was a heritage.57 Given this reliance on heri- problem as railways almost completely tage being the material and not allowing avoided their reserves.59 for the intangible, this assumption was As opposed to the rigorous economic proven wrong given the cultural revit- framework of the revisionists, social alisation in the Griqua community from constructivism considers identities the early 2000s, manifested in tourism as fluid. During colonial times, both programmes, days commemorating indigenous groups as well as European Adam Kok’s birthday and a new interest settlers influenced each other, implying in identifying and formally declaring that the borrowing of cultural traits, Griqua heritage landscapes, sites and materials and institutions did not just monuments as provincial resources, follow the process of the indigenous especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the group accepting these traits from the Western Cape. Ross accentuates the settlers; but vice versa. Second, traits, Griqua as an economic underclass and material and institutions that were adop­ ignores their cultural resilience. ted during the process of acculturation, Ross stresses that the trope of the were in many instances accepted with Griqua as a bunch of lazy people who newly created values and uses, leading obtained the best land but were too in- to an increase in hybridity in the colo- dolent to farm it with success, reflects nial context. the prejudice of colonists as well as Accordingly, both groups constructed conservative academics. He explains new identities. Social constructivism that the positive contributions of the also explains post-apartheid Griqua Griqua – such as their role in opening up identity, which is fundamentally fluid, the interior of southern Africa for trade shown in cases such as land claims in through Botswana and beyond, their which all Khoisan groups tend to form success in farming merino sheep, as a united front in favour of whoever well as the significant effort in clearing makes the claim. The same fluidity applies whenever

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage aboriginal languages have the chance interested parties such as those repre- to be marketed or publicised by means senting the East Griqualand Traditional of the Pan Southern African Language Council and the Griqualand Independ- Board. During the San descendant ent Church Committee, as well as one ceremony held in July 2019 at the representative of the East Griqualand Kamberg Nature Reserve in the cen- Museum, were against the proposal. tral Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Their rational was that they believed Heritage Site, San descendants with that a new site museum on authentic different languages came together. They archaeological terrain would lead to included the Dumisa clan (from the the Disneyfication of the only authentic southern Drakensberg around Mpendle) Griqua military settlement left in South as well as the !Xunthali and Kwedam Africa. Based on this group’s reasoning, San speakers from the Northern Cape. the Griqua of Kokstad already had the On the first day of the festival all groups East Griqualand Museum where the his- attended the Eland San Descendant tory of Adam Kok III and the Griqua of Ceremony in which an eland is offered Griqualand East was exhibited.60 at the Rock Art Heritage Site of Game Pass Shelter. All descendants take part Case study: Adam Kok III’s in the prayer session, which is only open laager site to San descendants, suggesting that The site, which was nominated for this is perceived as common heritage. grading as a provincial site by Audrey San descendant, ritual specialist and Steenkamp, Gabriël Marais and Paul ceremonial leader Richard Duma, ac- Pie­naar (refer to the methodology sec- credited by the Institute as a rock art tion to see which Khoisan or Griqua custodian, ensured that the code of con- council or organisation they represent- duct was adhered to during the ritual. ed) consists of the following historical components (see figure 1): a memorial, Adam Kok’s laager site can be un- the Griqua Pilgrimage Square, a ruin derstood as a site of contestation on a hill above the Griqua Pilgrimage Fluid identity formation is not without Square, an unknown archaeological its drawbacks. In contrast with such col- feature, the narrow building in the lective stances, Griqua society can also middle of the laager that functioned as be described as fractured, particularly a council hall, church and school and when it comes to making management other features. The monument, Pil- decisions concerning Griqua heritage grimage Square of the Griqua National sites of importance. In this respect, Independent Church and the ruin on Adam Kok III’s laager site may even the hill are all situated within Mount be viewed as a site of contestation. Currie Nature Reserve. The location of Funding was obtained from the National the walled square area and the narrow Lottery Fund to establish a museum hall are on the property of the Kokstad at the laager site in the Mount Currie Research Station. This is beneficial, Nature Reserve, but the project never since their position ensures that guests started. While Griqua representatives and tour groups visiting the monument, identified in the land restitution process picnic area and Pilgrimage Square in and the Pioneer Griqua Council were Mount Currie do not collect artefacts in favour of the development, other or walk over sensitive archaeological

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xxxx Boundary fence Archaeological features Figure 1: Map of Adam Kok III’s laager settlement (design, Sumari Uys, 11 October 2019) features such as hut floors. With the description of each of these, some management intervention is indicated.

Memorial The memorial to Kok III’s laager (figure 2) consists of a sandstone monument surrounded by three pine trees and it gives a summarised history of the settlement. The picnic area consists of a square grassed area surrounded by pine trees (there were originally four). The site functions as a picnic area for schools and visi- tors and is visited every month by schools as part of East Griqualand Museum’s outreach programme. Management recommendations for this would include replanting the one pine tree that died. The area must Figure 2: Pine trees around De Laager Monument be monitored once a month since (photograph, C. Rossouw, 29 April 2013) it is officially open to the public.

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Griqua Pilgrimage Square Ruin on a hill above the Griqua The Griqua Pilgrimage Square con- Pilgrimage area sisted of a square lawn grass area where The ruin is made up of a collection of white stinkwood trees were planted square and circular walls constructed in the form of a cross in 1972 when of piled-up boulders of different sizes this site was developed by members measuring up to half a metre high, of the Griqua National Independent hidden from sight by a thick screen of Church.61 This was the first church to thorn trees. Its function is not clear, but be established in Griqualand. Accord- it could have been a livestock post or a ing to Milner Snell this area constituted defensive post during the time that the the graveyard of the settlement. He laager was occupied as a Griqua settle- maintained that the graves were without ment from 1863 to 1872. headstones and only piled up boulders Even if Kok III constructed a fort of different sizes were used to construct and had cannons, it was never used in the graves.62 At present no gravestones battle. However, after the Griqua left the have been detected. The function of laager to settle in the town of Kokstad, the site is to act as a gathering space the laager site was used in April 1878 to commemorate the birthday of Adam as a defensive post during the Griqua Kok III also known as Founders Day on Rebellion. The exact position of this 16 October each year.63 defensive post is not known and only When the site was surveyed, it was an archaeological investigation would noted that the square was threatened by prove that perhaps the ruin on the north- an infestation of ou hout, which must western side of Adam Kok’s laager be removed. The shrub is also known functioned as the rebel’s military post as oldwood in English and umtshitshi in April 1878. Or it could even be a very in Zulu. It is often a straggly shrub or recently constructed kraal. a dense small evergreen tree, which The research value of the ruin can grows up to 7 metres tall and 5 metres only be investigated if the hill is burnt wide.64 Also, some of the white stink- to uncover the archaeological footprint wood trees that were destroyed by a of this feature. This would allow the site fire must be replanted: Adam Kok III’s to be mapped and excavated in order to laager is located within Mount Currie, a determine the functions of the different nature reserve, where annual fire breaks sections/rooms of the site. Management are burnt to encourage plant growth. On recommendation would be to burn a one occasion the fire spread into the firebreak around the hill, about 10 me- pilgrimage landscape and some of the tres from the bottom, to ensure that the white stinkwood trees were destroyed. fire does not move into the Pilgrimage When the survey was done only a Square below. single line of trees was visible. To ad- dress this problem a fire break must be Unknown archaeological feature burnt approximately 10 metres from It is believed that this might have func- Pilgrimage Square to protect the area tioned either as a shop, accommodation against fire during annual burning. for the missionaries or as the entrance The white stinkwood trees that were to the fort (figure 3). Two large trees destroyed must be replaced. planted at the top of this feature might have served to mark the entrance to this

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage walled area. The stone blocks at the top The area should also be burned annu- of the square are semi-dressed while the ally to harden and conserve what is left rocks of the walls forming the two sides of the narrow hall earthwork footprint and bottom of the walled feature were and hut floors. built of random rubble. The function of the square walled The narrow building in the middle area just above the fenced-off earthwork of the laager hall is unknown. It might have func- This building was made of sod walls tioned as accommodation for Reverend and functioned as a council hall, church William Murray because when William and school. Management recommenda- Dower reached Mount Currie in August tions regarding this site would include 1869 he was accommodated in the best an annual burn to conserve the earth- house in the laager. The latter was a dis- work and hut floors. This site is not open used shop, the same building that was to the public. occupied by Murray to teach talented Griqua children at the settlement.65 Other features The second possible function of this Other features identified included seven square-walled area could have been hut floors and ox-wagon roads. The hut the position of the laager shop that floors were identified to the right of the the company Goodliffe and Ballance square-walled area. Some track marks bought, around the middle of 1872. that could be ox-wagon roads that led They purchased it for £75, the same from the laager site to town were identi- amount paid by the Griqua Church four fied to the left of the square-walled com- years before.66 Goodliffe and Ballance plex and the narrow sod-wall footprint. still conducted their business from the Management recommendations laager after the Griqua moved to Kok- would include an annual burn to con- stad in 1872.67 serve the hut floors and controlled visits. A question to pose that only an Only researchers or people with a per- archaeological­ excavation could solve mit should be allowed on this property. is to ask whether this square-walled After excavation and rehabilitation of area functioned as all the above. An- the site its opening as a tourism destina- other question is whether the walled tion could be taken into consideration. site could have been part of the original The process of developing the site for fort that surrounded the narrow building tourism purposes would be to impose that functioned as a school, church and a buffer of at least 5 metres around council hall or whether it was located every archaeological feature identified above the fort as a separate walled unit and to create a trail route by gently with its own function. Initially it was removing the grass where the pathway assumed on the basis of drawings of the is constructed. Care must be taken old fort in J.J. Oberholster’s book that never to introduce cement walkways these two units were both located inside as such development is not reversible. the fort wall, but during the survey it The trail can be lined on both sides by became clear that they are not aligned at small white painted rocks to act as psy- the right angle to function as one com- chological barriers: fencing would have ponent. The accuracy of the drawing too large an impact and compromise in his publication can be questioned.68 both the visual landscape as well as the

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage research potential of any archaeological ing schools and visitors to the laager site deposit that may be present. It would be as part of a Griqua tourism node. This best not to introduce information panels includes Margaret and Adam Kok III’s but rather to train Griqua custodians to grave; the Griqua National Independent accompany guests to and from the site, Church and the oldest Griqua homes to interpret the features, to relate the in Kokstad; graves of descendants of code of conduct to the guests, and to Kok III in the municipal cemetery; and supervise their behaviour. People prefer Adam Kok III’s laager. being guided since they can ask ques- The historical value of Kok III’s tions rather than reading information laager site is high because of his con- from a brochure or pamphlet; and the tributions and initiatives relating to guide can also learn from the visitor. Griqua culture and the pioneer phase of their history, in both Transorangia Conclusion: statement of signifi- and Griqualand East compared with the cance and grading recommendation contributions of other Griqua leaders As far as the social value of the site discussed above. They failed to estab- is concerned, people of the Griqua lish lasting towns and Kok II’s initiative National Independent Church com- in the establishment of Philipstown was memorate the birthday of Kok III by rather induced by Philip. Although both visiting the pilgrimage site. It also Waterboer and Adam Kok II’s settled serves to commemorate Founders Day towns based on the missionary ideals of on 16 October each year. The aim is to a financially independent peasant farm- honour the cultural history of the Griqua ing community were successful, Adam and the achievements of Adam Kok III Kok III was the only Griqua leader who who established Griqualand East. Social issued title deeds to his followers.69 value is thus regarded as high. The scientific value of the laager site The tourism value of the laager site is is exceptionally high. At present the ar- also very high. Custodians focus on tak- chaeological footprint and the extent of

Figure 3: Part of the footprint of the unknown archaeological feature (photograph, C. Rossouw, 16 February 2018)

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Adam Kok III’s settlement are unknown The same applies to so-called coloured and an elaborate survey is needed to people.72 Originally the term Bastard investigate more features and map the signified people with greater attachment entire site. The archaeological research to Christianity than the Khoekhoen, or value has large potential as the site has slaves. not undergone any excavation. Bergenaars: many Bastards served in Last, regarding the technical value it commandos in the Cape and some of was noted by Dower that the fort was those enlisted members left the country a very creditable structure for purposes to pursue a life more in keeping with of defence and there was nothing equal their own nomadic life. This resulted to it from King William’s Town to in the formation of opportunistic groups Pietermaritzburg.70 Perhaps another such as the Bergenaars. Some, such research question would be to compare as Adam Kok II and Barend Barends, the layout and defensive qualities of the joined the San and groups footprint with other forts in the East- such as the Koranna between the 1820s ern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Taking and the early 1830s in order to raid set- Dower’s argument into consideration, tlements under missionary control.73 it seems that the technical value of the This included the Batlaping and other site is at least medium. Tswana groups as well as Griquatown Although the site does not seem to under the control of Waterboer.74 have any specific aesthetic value, it remains clear from the above that its boers: directly translated this word cultural significance is very high. The means farmer. However, within the grading recommendation for Adam context of southern Africa’s settler his- Kok III’s laager site is thus valuable tory the word is charged with political enough to be proclaimed as a site of significance since the Dutch settlers provincial importance taking into con- (boers) wanted to obtain political inde- sideration the values discussed above. pendence from the British by establish- Adam Kok III’s laager site could not ing republics.75 The word boer is also be graded at national level as it prob- emotive, especially when used in de- ably has value only to a section of the rogatory fashion to identify . community, limited to the province. In kaptyn: the Griqua people referred to comparison to other provincial heritage their leader or chief using the Dutch sites in KwaZulu-Natal, such as the word kaptyn.76 Isandhlwana Anglo-Zulu Battlefield, the laager site of Kok III does seem Khoekhoen: is the common-gender plu- less significant. ral of khoe in Nama and Koranna and means people. Without the ‘n’ at the end Glossary it can be used as an adjective. The term Bastard: Samuel Halford relates that ‘men of men’ or Khoikhoi is outdated.77 many Griqua were people of European trekboers: this term refers to the first and San or Khoekhoen blood and that group of Dutch-speaking settlers who they referred to themselves as Bastards moved beyond the border of the Cape in the eighteenth century. Despite the Colony mainly for economic purposes term being derogatory for Europeans, such as grazing lands for their livestock. 71 the Bastards were proud of the name. In the earlier stages of their seasonal

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Natalia 50 (2020) CC-BY-NC cc Natal Society Foundation 2020 Understanding heritage migrations they returned to the Cape stories/southafrica/kok-adam-ii/ (accessed 19 Colony to pay tax to the British govern- July 2019). 78 11 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– ment and were loyal to the British. 1937, pp. 37, 51; Griqua Royal House, The voortrekkers: the voortrekkers were Griqua history’ www.griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed 19 July 2019). mainly defined by their political attempt 12 Scott Balson, Children of the Mist: The Lost to gain independence from the British Tribe of South Africa (Australia, Interactive government and to create their own Presentations, 2007), pp. 137–139. republics.79 13 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– 1937, pp. 40–41. Volksraad and veldkornette: a Volksraad 14 DACB, ‘Kok II, Adam’ https://dacb.org/ stories/southafrica/kok-adam-ii/ (accessed is similar to a parliament and the Griqua 19 July 2019); Marais, The Cape Coloured adopted it from the Dutch settlers; they People 1652–1937, pp. 41. also adopted the Dutch magisterial sys- 15 Balson, Children of the Mist, pp. 156–157. tem known as veldkornette.80 16 DCAB, ‘Kok II, Adam’ https://dacb.org/ stories/southafrica/kok-adam-ii/ (accessed 19 July 2019); Griqua Royal House, ‘The Notes Griqua history’ www.griquaroyalhouse.com 1 John Shephard, In the Shadow of the Drak- (accessed 19 July 2019); Marais, The Cape ensberg: The Story of East Griqualand and Coloured People 1652–1937, p. 49. its People (, T.W. Griggs, 1976), p. 45. 17 DACB, ‘Kok II, Adam’ https://dacb.org/ 2 See, for instance, ICOMOS, The Australia stories/southafrica/kok-adam-ii/ (accessed 19 ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural July 2019). Significance (the Burra Charter) (Burra, 18 Griqua Royal House, ‘The Griqua history’ ICOMOS, 2013), pp. 2–3.; James S. Kerr, The www.griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed 19 July Conservation Plan: A Guide to the Prepara- 2019). tion of Conservation Plans for Places of Euro- 19 ibid. pean Cultural Significance(Sydney, National 20 Balson, Children of the Mist, p. 157. Trust of Australia (NSW), 2013), pp. 8, 14–15, 21 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– 58; South African Heritage Resources Agency, 1937, p. 54. Site Management Plans: Guidelines for the 22 ibid., pp. 54–55. Development of Plans for the Management of 23 William Dower, The Early Annals of Kokstad Heritage Sites or Places (Pretoria, SAHRA, and Griqualand East; edited by Christopher 2013), pp. 5–6; International Charter for the Saunders (Pietermaritzburg, University of Conservation and Restoration of Monuments Natal Press, 1978; originally published Port and Sites (the Venice Charter) (Venice, ICO- Elizabeth, Jas. Kemsley, 1902), p. 10. MOS, 1996), pp. 1–3. 24 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– 3 National Heritage Resources Act (25 of 1999), 1937, p. 59. p. 14. 25 ibid., p. 60. 4 Alfred Wannenburgh, Forgotten Frontiersmen 26 J.J. Oberholster, The Historical Monuments (Cape Town, Howard Timmins, 1980), p. 39. of South Africa (Cape Town, Rembrandt van 5 Shephard, In the Shadow of the Drakensberg, Rijn Foundation of Culture for the National pp. 26–27. Monuments Council, 1972), p. 172. 6 Wannenburgh, Forgotten Frontiersmen, p. 40. 27 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– 7 Griqua Royal House, ‘The Griqua history’ 1937, p. 60. www.griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed 19 July 28 Shephard, In the Shadow of the Drakensberg, 2019). p. 43. 8 Johannes S. Marais, The Cape Coloured Peo- 29 ibid. ple 1652–1937 (Johannesburg, Witwatersrand 30 Oberholster, The Historical Monuments of University Press, 1957), p. 32; Griqua Royal South Africa, p. 173. House, ‘The Griqua history’ www.griquaroy- 31 Balson, Children of the Mist, p. 228. alhouse.com (accessed 19 July 2019). 32 Dower, The Early Annals of Kokstad and 9 ibid. Griqualand East, pp. 14–15. 10 Dictionary of African Christian Biography 33 Oberholster, The Historical Monuments of (DACB), ‘Kok II, Adam’ https://dacb.org/ South Africa, p. 173.

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34 Wikipedia, ‘Griqua people’ https:// qua Nation, ‘Griquas today: trivia and book en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Griqua_people (ac- references’ www.tokencoins.com/griqua5. cessed 19 July 2019). html (accessed 19 July 2019); East Griqualand 35 Wikipedia, ‘Griqualand East’ https://wikipe- Museum, Servant of God: The Early Years of dia.org/wiki/Griqualand_East (accessed 19 the Reformer, Andrew Abraham Stockenström July 2019). le Fleur (Kokstad, East Griqualand Museum, 36 Allegra Louw (comp.), Griqua Identity: A Bib- 2003), pp. 9–10, 12. liography https://aridareas.co.za/wp-context/ 46 The Griqua Historical Cultural Tour and Jak- uploads/2018/07/Allegra-Louw-Griqua-bibli- kalskraal Chalets Accommodation brochure, ography.pdf. (accessed 1 November 2018). ‘People of the mist: the Griqua community of 37 David Lowenthal, The Past is a Foreign Kranshoek’ plett-tourism.co.za/wp-content/ Country (Cambridge, Cambridge University uploads/2015/10/GRIQUA-BROCHURE- Press, 1985); David Lowenthal, Possessed by FINAL.pdf (accessed 19 July 2019). the Past: The Heritage Crusade and the Spoils 47 The first state is Griqualand West including of History (New York, Free Press, 1996). Griquatown, Campbell and Daniëlskuil. The 38 Geoffrey Blundell, The Politics of Public second state with its city, Philippolis, was Rock Art: A Comparative Critique of Rock known as Transorangia, located between the Art Sites Open to the Public in South Africa Modder and Orange rivers. The third state and the United States of America (MA thesis, was governed by Adam Kok III in Griqual- University of the Witwatersrand, 1996). and East from 1863–1874. DACB, ‘Kok II, 39 ibid., pp. 27–65. Adam’ https://dacb.org/stories/southafrica/ 40 KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute, kok-adam-ii/ (accessed 19 July 2019); Griqua Policy with Regard to Rock Art Conservation Royal House, ‘The Griqua history’ www. in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Addendum griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed 19 July A: Guidance and Procedures with Regard to 2019); South African History Online, ‘Griqua the Access to Rock Art Sites in the Province community’ https://www.sahistory.org.za/ of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg, KZN article/griqua-community (accessed 19 July Amafa, 2017), pp. 4–7. 2019); ‘Griqualand (South African)’ https:// 41 When KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial heritage www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za-griqu.html resources agency was established in 1997, it (accessed 19 July 2019). was called Amafa/Heritage KwaZulu-Natal. 48 The Griqua Historical Cultural Tour and Jak- However, after the agency amalgamated kalskraal Chalets Accommodation brochure, with the premier’s office in 2018 its name ‘People of the mist: the Griqua community of was changed to KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Kranshoek’ plett-tourism.co.za/wp-content/ Research Institute. uploads/2015/10/GRIQUA-BROCHURE- 42 Eyewitness News, ‘David Mabuza un- FINAL.pdf (accessed 19 July 2019). veils Adam Kok’s statue’ https://ewn. 49 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– co.za/2018/09/24/david-mabuza-unveils- 1937, pp. 45–46. adam-kok-s-statue (accessed 8 January 2019). 50 Griqua Royal House, ‘The Griqua history’ 43 Andrew Abraham Stockenström le Fleur was www.griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed 19 July elected as leader of the Griqua in 1894. He is 2019). known as the Reformer because of his efforts 51 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– to reorganise the Griqua people, who had for 1937, p. 44. many years been leaderless after the death of 52 This is a primary resource although it was Adam Kok III on 28 April 1878. written long after Dower experienced the 44 Le Fleur’s first trek from Kokstad was not events. successful. His second migration led to the 53 Robert Ross, Adam Kok’s Griquas: A Study Griqua moving from Kokstad and other areas in the Development of Stratification in South to Kranshoek, close to Plettenberg Bay, where Africa (Cambridge, Cambridge University more than a thousand Griqua can be found Press, 1976). today. This is still a pilgrimage space for the 54 Geoffrey Blundell, Nqabayo’s Nomansland: Griqua of South Africa. San Rock Art and the Somatic Past (Uppsala, 45 The Griqua Historical Cultural Tour and Jak- Uppsala University, 2004), p. 25. kalskraal Chalets Accommodation brochure, 55 ibid., pp. 23–24. Two conflicting groups refer ‘People of the mist: the Griqua community of to the San in the Kalahari: the traditionalists Kranshoek’ plett-tourism.co.za/wp-content/ and the Kalahari revisionists. The traditional- uploads/2015/10/GRIQUA-BROCHURE- ists stereotype the San as a pristine hunter- FINAL.pdf (accessed 19 July 2019); The Gri- gatherer group with fixed and unchanging

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identity. Many even believe that they are 1901 up to contemporary times. Most of the extinct and a relic of the Stone Age. Revision- older material used the word coloured. From ists, like James Denbow, Edwin Wilmsen and the 1980s, the term so-called coloured was Robert J. Gordon, view the San in the Kalahari favoured. Today First Nation is preferred. as an economic underclass in a patron-client 73 The Cape government conscripted them to relationship with the Sotho and Tswana. take part in commandos. South African His- 56 Blundell, Nqabayo’s Nomansland, pp. 24–25. tory Online, ‘Towards a people’s history: 57 Ross, Adam Kok’s Griqua, p. 1. Griqua community’ https://www.sahistory. 58 ibid., pp. 1–2. org.za/article/griqua-community (accessed 59 ibid., pp. 7–9. 19 July 2019); Marais, The Cape Coloured 60 Interview with Griqua descendant, Audrey People 1652–1937, p. 37. Steenkamp, Griqualand East Museum, Kok- 74 Adam Kok II and Barend Barends left Gri- stad, 18 April 2015. quatown when Waterboer became the leader 61 Interview with Audrey Steenkamp, East Gri- in 1820 as Waterboer was stricter with his qualand Museum, Kokstad, 29 April 2013. followers. He was not as phlegmatic as Adam 62 Interview with Milner Snell, Kokstad College, Kok II or Barends. Waterboer grew up under Kokstad, 16 February 2019. the missionaries’ guidance and adhered to 63 Interview with Audrey Steenkamp, East Gri- their ideals of establishing a permanent qualand Museum, Kokstad, 29 April 2013. agricultural town rather than following a 64 SANBI, ‘Plantz Africa: biodiversity for life’ semi-nomadic lifestyle as Adam Kok II and http://pza.sanbi.org/leucosidea-sericea (ac- Barends preferred. cessed 8 January 2019). 75 Christoffel F.J. Muller, 500 Jaar Suid- 65 Dower, The Early Annals of Kokstad and Afrikaanse Geskiedenis (Pretoria, Academica, Griqualand East, p. 29. 3rd ed., 1990), p. 153. 66 ibid., p. 37. 76 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– 67 ibid., p. 40. 1937, pp. 62–63; South African History 68 Oberholster, The Historical Monuments of Online, ‘Towards a people’s history: Griqua South Africa, pp. 172–173. community’ https://www.sahistory.org.za/ 69 Marais, The Cape Coloured People 1652– article/griqua-community (accessed 19 July 1937, p. 43. 2019); Griqua Royal House, ‘The Griqua his- 70 Dower, The Early Annals of Kokstad and tory’ www.griquaroyalhouse.com (accessed Griqualand East, p. 15. 19 July 2019). 71 Samuel J. Halford, The Griquas of Griqua- 77 Hilary J. Deacon. and Janette Deacon, Human land: A Historical Narrative of the Griqua Beginnings in South Africa: Uncovering the People, their Rise, Progress and Decline Secrets of the Stone Age (Cape Town, David (Cape Town, Juta, 1950), pp. 15–16. Philip Publishers, 1999), p. 130. 72 In January 2019 San descendants asked the 78 Muller, 500 Jaar Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedenis, State to remove the term ‘so-called coloured p. 153. people’ from legislation. However, the sources 79 ibid. referred in this article date to the period from 80 Balson, Children of the Mist, p. 151.

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