Life on the great trek  (Page 2/2)

“Women had to prepare food and do the washing and sewing. Sick people were treated with herbs. The men loved hunting and the boys could ride well and could shoot and hunt from an early age. When an animal was shot, the skin was used for cutting thongs that were used as string, sjamboks and matting for homemade chairs. The hollowed-out horns were used to store gunpowder, and candles and soap were made from fat and the gannabos .”

d) Demonstrate games from the Great Trek to your friends.

or

Tell your friend more about life during the Great Trek.

Activity 2:

To use sources to acquire more information on the great trek

[lo 1.2]

a) Do the following assignments as a group.

Group 1:

• You want to participate in the Great Trek. What are the three most important things which you’ll have to find out about before you leave?
• If you suddenly had to take participate in the Great Trek, which ten items would you definitely take with you?

Group 2

• How did the Trek completely change the lives of the following people? ● Men ● Women ● Children
• Would the history of South Africa have been completely different if the Great Trek had not taken place?

Group 3

Study these sketches and complete the following:

• The Voortrekkers used a special _____________, the Sanna.
• The rifle’s ammunition consisted of gunpowder, grease and ________
• When they hunted, the Voortrekkers kept their gunpowder in a __________
• What problems did they experience with their weapons?
• How would you have solved those problems?

Group 4

You are a Voortrekker woman on trek:

• Supply a short list of all the problems you experience with the housekeeping.
• Explain your plans how to solve the problems.

Towards the end of 1835 the first trek parties left the Cape Colony with leaders such as Tregardt and Potgieter. The map below will be of great help during your study of the Great Trek.

Trek groups and routes during the Great Trek

The Great Trek was an attempt by more than 15 000 white frontier farmers to get away from the British government. They left in their ox-wagons to settle and govern themselves elsewhere. The word “great” does not refer to the number of Trekkers (they were only 1/10 of the Cape Afrikaners), but to the far-reaching consequences thereof. It was also not a single trek, but was made up of different groups which left the Cape Colony between 1836 and 1838. They also took Khoina, ex-slaves and black helpers with them, especially as herdsmen.

Assessment

Memorandum

(b) There were also other (additional) reasons:

• Search for additional, fertile territory.
• Adventure
• Drought and locust plagues on the Eastern Frontier.

(c)

(1) beam

(2) chest (wakis)

(3) canvas

(4) potjiekos pot

(5) barrel with tar and fat (grease-can) (grease for wheels)

(6) axle

(d) Attached

Activity 2:

Group 3:

• rifle
• plug (piece of cloth dipped in fat)
• powder horn
• gunpowder sometimes gets damp/wet