270 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



the country was deluged with long and continuous floods, many houses 

 -were washed down and most of the emigrants were subjected to great 

 suffering and privation ; so much so, that the Government had to 

 come to the rescue and supply them witli rations from the military 

 commissariat. 



Notwithstanding their bitter disappointments, the indomitable 

 pluck of the old settlers and their determination to surmount ditti- 

 culties, while still believing in the natural resources of their adopted 

 country, spurred them on in still further efforts, and many of the 

 settlers' sons and grandsons have inherited this same spirit. 



When they found one branch of farming did not pay, they started 

 another : when wheat failed, the settlers sowed mealies, pumpkins and 

 potatoes ; and having no money to buy coffee, they grew a little barley, 

 which they roasted and used as a substitute (to tliis day it is still 

 used by some up-country farmers) ; instead of sugar they used honey, 

 and the leaves of wild shrubs were infused for tea. 



In course of time their clothes became the worse for wear, and no 

 fresh supplies being at hand, they made their jackets, trousers, skirts 

 and shoes out of tanned hides and sheepskins, which were certainly 

 more durable than comfortable. The ladies did not require the then 

 worn crinoline, for sheepskins would stand up straight and stiff oi 

 themselves ! 



The emigrants were looked upon by tiie natives as interlopers, as 

 people to be molested, and their herds and flocks were constantly 

 preyed upon, The continual deprivations made by wild beasts also 

 increased the ditHculties of farming. 



Tlie wars of 183-4 and 1850 caused ruin and desolation in many 

 homes ; the inhabitants had often to flee for their lives, or go into 

 laager for months, and on their return would find their homesteads 

 burnt to the ground and most of their stock carried away. 



The English settlers in Albany imported a large number of good 

 Spanish merino sheep of the fine wool type, and it was from those 

 sheep that other parts of the colony were stocked, namely, the districts 

 •of Colesberg, Beaufoi't West, Victoria West, and all these districts 

 became in turn the centres of distribution elsewhere. 



In the early days sheep throve well in Alban}' — right down to 

 the coast ; there were no diseases to speak of, but, on the other hand, 

 there were other drawbacks in the shape of wild animals, such as wild 

 dogs, lions, and wolves, which abounded in those days. The flocks 

 had to be guarded by day and safely housed by night. 



The settlers were very particulai- about the get-up of their wool ; 

 the sheep wei-e washed befoit; shearing and every fleece was neatly 

 rolled up and tied before placing in the bale. The wool was then 

 shi})ped and sold on the Lonrlon market as washed, and realised 

 iis high as 2s. 6d. per lb. 



The export of wool in those days was very small, and even in 1830 

 only amounted to 33,000 lbs. from the whole of the colony. After 

 that, the production of wool increased by leaps and bounds, until in 

 1872 it apparently reached its maximum of 40 million lbs. weight. 



