Seven Years in South Africa, Volume 2
Emil Holub opens the second volume of his South African travels by describing his departure from Dutoitspan on 2 March 1875 to begin his major journey of exploration northward, after two preliminary expeditions had prepared him for the venture. Travelling through the Transvaal via Christiana, Strengfontein, and the Harts River valley, he observes farms, game (springbocks, gnus, hartebeests), and Koranna and Batlapin settlements, visiting the near-abandoned Koranna town of Mamusa and its resident merchants. He spends time hunting waterfowl and cranes at Moffat's Salt Lake, then travels through Bechuana territory to Molema's Town, where he is warmly received by King Montsua and Chief Molema, treats them medically, and observes a Barolong wedding and a poisoning trial in which Molema shields an elderly servant accused of murdering a girl who refused to marry him. Continuing through the Malmani valley and Zeerust to the Baharutse town of Linokana, he stays with the missionary Mr. Jensen, studies local agriculture and customs, and proceeds toward the Marico and Limpopo rivers, encountering crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and Boer "Damara emigrants" preparing an ill-fated migration north. Holub has a near-fatal night alone on the Marico riverbank stalked by unseen predators, and Theunissen's rifle later discharges accidentally, grazing his neck. Passing Shoshong, he finds Khame now ruling in place of his father Sekhomo, having banned brandy and reformed the town after defeating Sekhomo in battle. Holub departs for the Zambesi, crossing the Maque plains, the "Durstland," and the great salt-pans of Tsitane, Karri-karri, and Soa, documenting geology, wildlife, and Masarwa and Madenassana peoples. His servant Meriko is briefly terrorized by a party of Matabele salt-collectors, whom Holub pacifies with gifts. Along the Nataspruit he hunts, spends nights watching for lions from trees, and narrowly misses shooting one that approaches within yards. Further north, near Tamafopa and Tamasetze, he continues nocturnal vigils with his servant Pit, witnessing elephants, buffaloes, zebras, and lions, and studies the region's natural history, including detailed notes on South African lion behavior and hippopotamus hunting. Reaching Panda ma Tenka, Holub meets the trader Westbeech's agent Blockley and arranges to accompany him to see King Sepopo of the Marutse-Mabunda kingdom. Travelling via the Leshumo valley, he first sights the Chobe and Zambesi rivers, fulfilling a childhood ambition. Crossing to Impalera, he is received by the Masupia chief Makumba and undertakes his first canoe journey on the Zambesi, observing the river's wildlife, hippopotamuses, and the Masupia villages. At Old Sesheke he is ceremonially received by King Sepopo, given an escort's hut, and briefed on Marutse-Mabunda history, its subject tribes, and administration. He negotiates permission and guides for further exploration, declining two suspect Portuguese-Mambari traders offered to him, and witnesses a theft from his hut, an inconclusive investigation, and a major fire that destroys much of Old Sesheke during the move to the new settlement.
By Emil Holub · First published 1880 · Genre: Travel Literature, Natural History, Exploration Literature · 17 chapters · 138,954 words
First lines
Departure from Dutoitspan -- Crossing the Vaal -- Graves in the Harts River valley -- Mamusa -- Wild-goose shooting on Moffat's Salt Lake -- A royal crane's nest -- Molema's Town -- Barolong weddings -- A lawsuit -- Cold weather -- The Malmani valley -- Weltufrede farm.
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Genres
- Travel Literature — The entire work documents a systematic expedition through Southern-Central Africa, with detailed itineraries, daily progress, and encounters at specific locations from March 1875 onwards.
- Natural History — Extensive cataloging of fauna (birds, antelopes, crocodiles, snakes), flora (mimosas, palms, mapani-trees), and geological formations with scientific nomenclature and detailed behavioral observations.
- Exploration Literature — Documents geographical discovery and mapping of territories, naming of geographic features (Moffat's Salt Lake, Rohlfsberg, Puff-adder valley), and charting of routes through previously traversed interior regions.
- Adventure/Survival Narrative — Contains multiple perilous encounters: lion encounters in darkness, crocodile confrontations, rifle near-misses, treacherous river crossings, and navigation through hazardous terrain and wildlife.
Tags
South Africa · Exploration · Travel narrative · 19th century · Natural history · Wildlife · Hunting · Indigenous peoples · Barolong · Koranna · Transvaal · Memoir
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Seven Years in South Africa, Volume 2 is listed on Textopian as a historical account by Emil Holub, dated 1880 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Historical account
- Author: Emil Holub
- Date: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel Literature, Natural History, Exploration Literature, Adventure/Survival Narrative, Autobiography/Memoir
- Length: 138,954 words
- Structure: 17 chapters, 1,073 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Seven Years in South Africa, Volume 2 by Emil Holub
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Contents
- From the Diamond Fields to the Molapo
- From Jacobsdal to Shoshong
- From Shoshong to the Great Salt Lakes
- From the Nataspruit to Tamasetze
- From Tamasetze to the Chobe
- In the Valleys of the Chobe and the Zambesi
- First Visit to the Marutse Kingdom
- Trip to the Victoria Falls
- Second Visit to the Marutse Kingdom
- Up the Zambesi
- Back again in Sesheke
- Manners and Customs of the Marutse Tribes
- In the Leshumo Valley
- Through the Makalaka and West Matabele Codntries
- From Shoshong to the Diamond Fields
- Last Visit to the Diamond Fields
- Through the Colony to the Coast