Contents

No. 17, January 1985

Articles

• Handel langs die vroegste roetes. / De Vaal, JB
• Richards Bay. / Minnaar, AdV
• Daniëlskuil - die tronk-mite. / Snyman, PHR
• Grahamstown's assumption convent. / Hunt, KS
• Dullstroom 1884 - 1984. / De Jong, C

Book reviews

• Minnaar, A. de V. 1984. Empangeni: a historical review to 1983. [Book review] / Smith, KW
• 1984. Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir kultuurgeskiedenis 1 & 2. [Boek resensie] / Snyman, PHR

Editorial

It would be informative if one could ascertain to what extent the actions of an individual and a community ate determined by a sense of the past. After all, almost everybody is, at one stage or another, encouraged to learn and to seek inspiration from the past. Those who ignore the warnings of history must take heed that they will suffer by repeating the mistakes of the past. Even Ex-President Paul Kruger advised, in his last message to his people, that one should take what was good from the past and on that build the future.

If it is accepted that history influences viewpoints, is a factor in decisionmaking, and determines actions (and there is no reason to doubt this) then it is important that closer attention be paid to the nature of what is called history or referred to as the past. In effect. it is often not what actually happened in the past that is applicable but rather what the individual or community believes about it. Unfortunately fact and fiction become difficult to separate in history that has been passed down. Often unpleasant or unflattering events in the life of an individual or of a people are left out or distorted to protect those involved (oneself, family, leaders, or the nation). Sometimes myths, created to explain the remnants of the past, are elevated to become historical facts. It also happens that incorrect and romanticised derivations, made without verification as to the truth, are passed down from generation to generation.

This distorted, fabricated, and false rendering of the past is often accepted and incorporated in to the history that influences present attitudes and gives direction to the future. It is, therefore, essential that every historian should deliberately involve himself with the often thankless task of unmasking the past and exposing myths. If history is to be used as the foundation of a meaningful society it need not be stressed that it should be sound.

Redaksioneel

Dit sou insiggewend wees as bepaal kon word in watter mate die indiwidu en die gemeenskap se optrede met 'n historiese bewussyn in verband gebring kan word. Immers, feitlik almal word in een of ander stadium aangemoedig om te leer en inspirasie te put uit die verlede. Diegene wat die waarskuwings van die geskiedenis ignoreer, word gemaan dat hulle daarvoor gestraf sal word deur die foute van die verlede te herhaal. Selfs oud-president Paul Kruger het in 'n laaste boodskap sy yolk opgeroep om uit die verlede dit wat goed is, te neem en die toekoms daarop te bou.

As dit aanvaar word dat die geskiedenis wel gesindhede vaslê, 'n faktor by besluitneming is en optrede bepaal (en daar is geen rede om dit te betwyfel nie), is dit belangrik om die wese van die sogenaamde geskiedenis of verlede wat ter sprake is, van nader te bekyk. Dit is naamlik dikwels nie dit wat werklik in die verlede plaasgevind het waarom dit hier gaan nie, maar wel om wat die indiwidu of gemeenskap daaromtrent glo. Ongelukkig is dit so dat feit en fiksie in oorgelewerde geskiedenis nie maklik te onderskei is nie. Dikwels word die onaangename en onvleiende gebeurtenisse in die lewe van 'n enkeling of 'n volk verswyg of verdraai om die betrokkenes (eie persoon, familie, leiersfigure, die volk) te beskerm. Soms word mites wat geskep word om oorblyfsels uit die verlede populêr te verklaar, verhef tot feitelike geskiedenis. Dit kom ook voor dat verkeerde en geromantiseerde afleidings gemaak en sonder verifikasie as die waarheid van geslag tot geslag oorgelewer word.

Hierdie verdraaide, gefabriseerde en vervalste weergawes van die verlede gaan dikwels deur as en word inderdaad beliggaam in die geskiedenis wat gesindhede in die hede bepaal en rigtinggewend ten opsigte van die toekoms is. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat elke historikus hom bewustelik sal besig hou met die dikwels ondankbare taak om die verlede te ontmasker en van mites te suiwer. As die geskiedenis bruikbaar wil wees as fondament vir 'n betekenisvolle samelewingstruktuur, is dit belangrik dat dit sover as moontlik sonder krake sal wees.