Early Farming Struggles 119 



burg company erected expensive works again, but 

 during the war of 1900 these were also abandoned. 

 Some machinery is there still. It is curious that 

 several rather severe earthquake shocks have passed 

 over the pan during the time I have known it. We 

 had some pleasant picnic parties there from Pretoria 

 in the early days, when the little European com- 

 munity were like one family. Since then, the pan 

 has been much destroyed by lessees cutting down 

 most of the big trees, and generally injuring the 

 property. There were many beautiful birds, green 

 parroquets, green sprews, blue jays, honey birds and 

 much game, but the Kaffirs from the kraals near by 

 have destroyed all animal life. These farms are 35 

 miles from " The Willows," and I used to start after 

 midnight, ride down and count up the cattle at sun- 

 rise. This kept the herdsmen on the alert, my chief 

 trouble was that of the Boer neighbours setting fire 

 to the dry winter grass, when a strong wind was 

 blowing on to my farm. One old fellow, Wolmarans, 

 was the worst culprit, and was caught in the act 

 more than once. Old Jan Hennings and Rasmus 

 Erasmus, both told me that my only chance was to 

 burn old Wolmarans out once or twice, and then it 

 would stop, but this I would not do. The country 

 all about this Salt Pan I believe to be tin-bearing, 

 the formation being similar to that in Kameel Port 

 and Enkeldoorn, and gold has been found in the 

 vicinity. It lies also in the line of diamond pipes of 

 the Premier and Kaalfontein Mines ; which are 

 visible from the top of the Salt Pan kopje, to the east. 



On August 4th, 1869, I sowed gum tree seeds 

 which are to-day the big trees in the large planta- 

 tions. On August 2nd, I built the wagon house on 

 14 The Willows " myself, my first and last attempt at 

 brick laying and carpentry. In those days we had 



