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READ THIS
Three incidents occur in Chapter 10:
- At a sports day hosted by the mission, Harold Stanbridge explains the philosophy behind recruitment
for the goldmines;
- Walter Brownley gives Victor a dressing down for his insulting attitude towards
Rev. Brompton;
- Finally, we learn a little more about that fateful night when Frances was trapped into having sex with
Victor.
Rinderpest then strikes the Eastern Cape and the mission. The government announces that soon all the
roads will be closed. Victor and Crispin have to leave quickly for Johannesburg and Grahamstown.
Benedict and Mzantzi go with them by wagon to bring back supplies from King William's Town -- and
are humiliated into being dipped as if they were animals.
DROUGHT AND THE RINDERPEST
The period from 1890 through to about 1903 was a time of excruciating drought in the Eastern Cape --
certainly the worst drought in more than 60 years.
At the peak of this drought, the rinderpest broke out. This was a deadly sickness which struck ruminants,
especially cattle.
The rinderpest decimated the herds of cattle in the Eastern Cape, triggering an intense campaign of
quarantine and inoculation.
Because the Whites and the missionaries tended to respond more quickly to a government call for
quarantine than did the amaXhosa, their cattle tended to survive the inoculation.
It is natural, therefore, that the amaXhosa became deeply suspicious. Many believed that the rinderpest
was merely the Whites' deliberate attempt to destroy the Black people's herds.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
CHAPTER 10:
Explain carefully the philosophy behind recruitment for the goldmines. (5)
[Need help?]
The philosophy behind recruitment of labour to the mines was based upon exploitation of an ignorant and
poverty stricken peasant class.
Recruiters would pay cattle to family heads in return for their agreement to send their sons as labourers.
They were given promises of lucrative wages and of wonderful working conditions.
Once the recruits arrived at the mines, however, personnel there made certain that they spent most of
their money -- and ensured that it was well nigh impossible for them to return home.
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Which of the following attributes BEST describes Harold Stanbridge? Explain your answer.
[Need help?]
Since this is an essay question that is worth 30 marks, you need to examine clearly the concepts of
colonialism, racism and capitalism. Read the commentaries on this before answering this question.
Harold Stanbridge was definitely not a typical colonialist.
It's certainly true, on the other hand, that he believed that the Black people were inferior. So, yes, he was
definitely a racist.
But does the word racist BEST describe him?
He was also definitely a capitalist who was prepared to make his fortune through the exploitation of the
Black people by recruiting them to the mines.
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When Frances follows Walter into the church, it is clear that she intends to open her heart to him.
- What stops her from doing so? (4)
[Need help?]
Remember that it took a great deal of courage for Frances to speak to Walter but, as she was about to
do so, Benedict and Helmina walked in and disrupted them.
The moment had therefore passed and Frances was not able to open up again.
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- How will this affect her future relationship with Walter? (5)
[Need help?]
In a sense, it was an opportunity lost but it nevertheless brought Frances closer to Walter, and Walter
knew that something was clearly troubling her soul.
Up until now, Walter had been trying to avoid Frances, but the knowledge of how near she had come to
confiding in him would push him inexorably towards her too.
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To what extent was Frances responsible for the loss of her virginity that fateful night? (30)
- NOTE: Be careful to analyse the text of your book carefully and not jump to false conclusions. Indeed,
if you place any blame on her whatever, you probably have not understood Victorian morality -- or
Frances for that matter. Make sure you have read the commentary to the previous chapter to find a
further discussion on this topic.
[Need help?]
Frances did NOT go to Victor's room to have sex.
She did NOT deserve what happened to her.
Frances had gone to Victor's room to check whether or not his clothing was still there, as a clue to whether
he had had an accident or had gone to Grahamstown without telling her.
Do not argue that she wanted sex. She didn't! The book states quite clearly that it happened
"unexpectedly" and took her by surprise.
It was "too sharp and unexpected," says the author.
Your argument must take cognisance of the fact that Frances was a deeply moral person, a woman of
her times reared on a mission station. She would never have consented to sex outside of marriage.
But please read the commentary on this subject.
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CHAPTER 11:
"Benedict Matiwane had been reborn at the rinderpest dip. Baptised -- not by fire -- but by water and
carbolic."
- Comment on the irony of this statement and what it means to Benedict. (6)
[Need help?]
This is, of course, clearly a reference to the Biblical rebirth by "fire and the Holy Spirit".
In this case, however, Benedict suddenly comes to realise that he would never be recognised as an equal
to Whites, no matter how well educated he is.
It therefore becomes a turning point in his life.
He starts to question even his status at the mission -- and enters into the realm of politics by writing
articles for the local Black newspapers based at East London and King William's Town.
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What tendencies did the dip overseer exhibit? Explain your answer.
- A. Colonialist tendencies;
- B. Racist tendencies. (4)
[Need help?]
The overseer was certainly NOT a true colonialist. He could not in any way perceive the possibility that
Black people could be his equal.
No, he was a racist through and through. He despised all Black people, especially those who appeared
better educated than he.
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Examine the difference between Victor and Crispin's reactions to the overseer's boorish
behaviour. (4)
[Need help?]
Victor wished to avoid conflict with authorities at all costs whereas Crispin was prepared to stand up for
the rights of the innocent.
Be able to explain by their actions how each of these statements is true.
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