COLLECTIBLE BOOKS: Another look at Slagtersnek
The rebellion on the Eastern Cape frontier in 1815 needs to be seen in a different light
The Slagtersnek Rebellion in 1815 is a well-known event in SA history, but some historians claim the truth has been hidden from the public.Ian D Colvin in his book, Romance of Empire, SA, which was auctioned online by Westgate Walding Auctioneers last week, took a different view of the rebellion. (The Romance of Empire series was produced in the first half of the 20th century.)A few people have tried to arrive at the truth, but the daunting task of wading through bulky files containing hundreds of pages of letters is a tough undertaking."SA historian Dr GM Theal who should have cleared up the confusion has only been one more raven croaking on a tree, one which the ravens of discord occupied since the five rebels were hanged in the memorable year of Waterloo," Colvin said in the book.To claim the rebellion was the result of English tyranny or Dutch patriotism was "a preposterous fable".Apparently the rebels planned to persuade the indigenous people to kill all who would not join them...
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