THE KAP-TENT WAGON. 665 



the highly finished vehicle was attainable at all times only by the 

 comparatively wealthy. 



The migration to the region bounded on the east by the 

 Great Fish River may perhaps be regarded as the first trek, 

 but no particular account of it is to be found, owing, conceivably, 

 to its having been so gradual as to present no outstanding event. 

 It was visited in 1778 by Governor van Plettenberg with the 

 object of establishing some order amongst the settlers and fixing 

 their relations with the black tribes. 



The settlers had made their way across the 600 miles of 

 rough, trackless country which separated them from the Penin- 

 sula by means of their wagons. These wagons had been their 

 family homes during their slow progress, while they nomadically 

 depastured their flocks and herds and followed the chase. The 

 disposal of the proceeds of the latter occupation would have 

 necessitated an occasional trip to the Peninsula unless, as is likely, 

 they were followed by traders. Upon this subject information 

 is lacking, but until late in the igth century the " smous," or 

 itinerant trade, was a common visitant, carrying his wares in 

 the Kap-tent wagon to the remote habitations of trekkers and 

 settlers. 



The Kap-tent was to be gradually superseded by the Buck 

 wagon, and the coming into existence of the latter was probably 

 due originally to the nitroduction of wool-bearing sheep. This 

 took place in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. The 

 supply of mutton had previously been the only object of sheep- 

 rearing. They were of fat-tailed parti-coloured kind, which the 

 Boers called " Afrikaansche schaapen," strong and active, and 

 capable of being driven 600 miles to the market. The tent-wagon 

 was too restricted in its holding canacity for the conveyance of 

 bulky wool bales, and the open, railed superstructure was sub- 

 stituted for the tall, straight sides and the canvas roof. As 

 trade expanded the vehicle was suited by increased size and 

 strength to the conveyance of heavy loads of merchandise, com- 

 fort being sacrificed to utility, and the change effected in the 

 course of time an important modification in the condition of the 

 people. Substituting the buck for the kap-tent, the men engaged 

 in the carrying trade, leaving their families at home, subjecting 

 themselves to a very coarsening form of life, which led to a 

 disparity in culture between themselves and the women of their 

 race. The passing of the wagon-transport consequent upon the 

 gradual extension of railways resulted in the coming into exis- 

 tence of a class lacking in culture, without means and without 

 skill above that of the ordinary labourer, whereby they were 

 placed at a disadvantage in the new form of struggle which 

 arose with the discovery of gold. 



Of the Kap-tent wagon the illustration furnished with this 

 paper represents the final type. In this form it was regarded 

 by general agreement as having attained perfection, and although 

 improved in certain respects, in the substitution of iron for the 

 wooden axle for instance, and in general finish, the type is 

 essentially that which formed the travelling home of the voor- 



