//KABBO

My Capture and Journey to Cape Town

by

//Kabbo

I came from that place, I came (here),  when I came from my place, when I was eating a springbok. The Kafir took me; he bound my arms. (  ) We (that is, I) and my son, with my daughter’s husband, we were three, when we were bound opposite to (?) the wagon, while the wagon stood still. We went away bound to the Magistrate; we went to talk with him; we remained with him.

We were in the jail. We put pur legs into stocks. The Korannas came to us, when our legs were in the stocks; (  ) we were stretched out (?) in the stocks. The Korannas came to put their legs into the stocks; they slept, while their legs were in the stocks. They were in the house of ordure (?). While we were eating the Magistrate’s sheep, the Korannas came to eat it. We all ate it, we and the Korannas.

We went; we ate sheep on the way, (  ) while we were coming to Victoria; our wives ate their sheep on the way, as they came to Victoria.

We came to roll stones at Victoria, while we worked at the road. We lifted stones with our chests; we rolled great stines. We again (  ) worked with earth. We carried earth, while the earth was upon the handbarrow. We carried earth; we loaded the wagon with earth; we pushed it. Other people walked along. We were pushing the wagon’s wheels; we were pushing; we poured (  ) down the earth; we pushed it back. We again loaded it, we and the Korannas. Other Korannas were carrying the handbarrow. Other people (i.e. Bushmen) were with the Korannas; they were also carrying earth; while the earth was upon the handbarrow. They again came to load the handbarrow with earth.

We again had (  ) our arms bound to the wagon chain; we walked along, while we were fastened to the wagon chain, as we came to Beaufort, while the sun was hot. They (our arms) were set free in the road. We got tobacco from the Magistrate; we smoked, going along, with sheep’s bones. We came into Beaufort jail. The rain fell upon us, while we were in (  ) Beaufort jail.

Early (the next) morning, our arms were made fast, we were bound. We splashed into the water; we splashed, passing through the water in the river bed. We walked upon the road, as we followed the wagon, while the wagon went first. We walked, following the wagon, being bound, until we, being bound, came to the Breakwater. (  ) On the way, we ate sheep as we came to the Breakwater; we came (and) worked at it.

(  ) A white man took us to meet the train in the night. We early sat in the train; the train ran, bringing us to the Cape. We came into the Cape prison house when we were tired, we and the Korannas; we lay down to sleep at noon.

II

My wife was there; I was there; my son was there; my son’s wife was there, while she carried a little child (on her back); my daughter was there, while she also carried a little child; my daughter’s husband was there; we were like this (in number). Therefore, the Kafir police took us, when we were like this, while we were not numerous; (  ) the Kafirs took us, while we were not numerous.

We went to sit in the wagon; the Kafirs took us away, as we sat in the wagon. Our wives also sat in the wagon. They got out of the wagon; they walked upon their feet. The wagon stood still; we got out of the wagon; we lay down, when we had first made a fire. (  ) We roasted lamb’s flesh; my son’s wife roasted a springbok, which I had killed with my arrow. We smoked; we lay down. The day broke; we made a fire; we smoked early in the morning.

Then, we left them, we went away to the Megistrate; while we (who were in the wagon) ran along, we were upon the road, while our wives (  ) walked upon their feet. We ran, leaving them, while we altogether ran, leaving them.

Then we went to talk with the Magistrate; the Magistrate talked with us. The Kafirs took us away to the jail at night. We went to put our legs into the stocks; another white man laid another (piece of) wood upon our legs. (  ) We slept, while our legs were in the stocks. The day broke, while our legs were in the stocks. We early took out our legs from the stocks, we ate mest; we again put our legs into the stocks; we sat, while our legs were in the d stocks. (  ) We lay down, we slept, while our legs were inside the stocks. We arose. We smoked, while our legs were inside the stocks. The people boiled sheep’s flesh, while our legs were in the stocks.

The Magistrate came to take our legs out of the stocks, because he wished that we might sit comfortably, that we might eat; for, it was his sheep that we were eating. (  ) Katten (“Piet Rooi”) came (and) ate with us of the Magistrate’s sheep, while we were eating it; also another man, Kkabbi-ddau; also !kwarra-ga-|k(e)ow.

They again put their legs into the stocks; they slept, while their legs were in the stocks. Other Korannas also came, they came into another house, another “jail house.”

III

I have said to thee that the train (fire wagon) is nice. I sat nicely in the train. We two sat in (it), we (I) and a black man.

(  ) A woman did seize my arm; she drew me inside, because I should have fallen, therefore she drew me in. I sat beside a black man; his face was black; his mouth (was) also black; for they are black.

White men are those whose faces are red, (  ) for they are handsome. The black man he is ugly, thus his mouth is black, for his face is black.

The black man then asked me : “Where dost thou come from?” I said to the black man: “I come from this place.” The black man asked me: “What is its name?” (  ) I said to the black man: “My place is the Bitterpits.”

IV

Thou knowest that I sit waiting for the moon to turn back for me, that I may return to my place.

That I may listen to all the people’s stories, when I visit them; that I may listen to their (  ) stories, that which they tell; they listen to the Flat Bushmen’s stories from the other side of the place. They are those which they thus tell, they are listening to them; while the other !xoe-ssho-!kui (the sun) becomes a little warm, that I may sit in the sun; that I may (  ) sitting, listen to the stories which yonder come (?), which are stories which come from a distance. Then, I shall get hold of a story from them, because they (the stories) float out from a distance; while the sun feels (  ) a little warm; while I feel that I must altogether visit; that I may be talking with them, my fellow men.

For, I do work here, at women’s household work. My fellow men are those who (  ) are listening to stories from afar, which float along; they are listening to stories from other places. For, I am here; I do not obtain stories; because I do not visit, so that I might hear (  ) stories which float along; while I feel that the people of another place are here; they do not possess my stories. They do not talk my language; for, they visit their like; while they feel that work’s people (they) are, (  ) those who work, keeping houses in order. They work (at) food; that the food may grow for them; that they should get food which is good, that which is new food.

The Flat Bushmen go to each other’s huts; that they may smoking sit in front of them. (  ) Therefore. They obtain stories at them; because they are used to visit; for smoking’s people they are. As regards myself (?) I am waiting that the moon may turn back for me; that I may set my feet forward in the path. (  )For, I verily (?) think that I must only wait the moon; that I may tell my Master (Chief), that I feel this is the time when I should sit among my fellow men, (  ) who walking meet their like. They are listening to them; for, I do think of visits; (that) I ought to visit; (that) I ought to talk with my fellow men; for, I work here, together with women; (  ) and I do not talk with them; for, they merely send me to work.

I must first sit a little, cooling my arms; that the fatigue may go out of them; because I sit. I do merely (  ) listen, watching for a story, which I want to hear; while I sit waiting for it; that it may float into my ear. These are those to which I am listening with all my ears; while I feel that (  ) I sit silent. I must wait (listening) behind me, while I listen along the road; while I feel that my name floats along the road; they (my three names) float along my place; I will go to sit at it; (  ) that I may listening turn backwards (with my ears) to my feet’s heels, on which I went; while I feel that a story is the wind. It (the story) is wont to float along to another place. Then, our names do pass through those people; (  ) while they do not perceive our bodies go along. For, our names are those which, floating, reach a different place. Then, our names do pass through those people; (  ) while they do not perceive our bodies go along. For, pur names are those which, floating, reach a different place. The mountains lie between (the two different roads). A man’s name passes behind the mountains’ back; (  ) those (names) with which he returning goes along. While he (the man) feels that the road is that which lies thus; and the man is upon it. The road is around his place, because the road curves. The people who (  ) dwell at another place, their ear does listening go to meet the returning man’s names; those with which he returns. He will examine the place. For,the trees of the place seem to be handsome; because (  ) they are grown tall; while the man of the place (myself) has noot seen them, that he might walk among them. For, he came to live at a different place; his place it is not. For, it was so with him that (  ) people were those who brought him to the people’s place, that he should first come to work for a little while at it. He is the one who thinks of (his) place, that he must be the one to return.

He only awaits the return of the moon; that the moon (  ) may go round, that he may return (home), that he may examine the water pits; those at which he drank. He will work, putting the old hut in order, while he feels that he has gathered his children together, that they may (  ) work, putting the water in order for him; for, he did go away, leaving the place, while strangers were those who walked at the place. Their place it is not; for my father’s father’s place it was. And then my father (  ) did possess it; when my father’s father died, my father was the one who possessed it. And when my father died, my elder brother was the one who possessed the place; my elder brother died, (  ) (then) I possessed the place. And then I married when grown up, bringing !kuobba-an to the place, because he felt that he was alone; therefore, he grew old with his wife (  ) at the place, while he felt that his children were married. His children’s children talked, they, by themselves, fed themselves; while they felt that (  ) they talked with understanding.

Therefore, they (my children) placed huts for themselves; while they felt that they made huts for themselves; they made their huts nicely; while my hut stood alone, (  ) in the middle; while they (my children) dwelt on either side. Because my elder brother’s child (Betje) married first, they (my own children) married afterwards; therefore, their cousin’s child grew up first; while she (the cousin) felt that (  ) she married, leaving me; she who, from afar, traveling came to me; because I was the one who feeding, brought her up. Her father was not the one who had fed her. For, her father died, leaving her. I was the one who went (and) fetched her, (  ) when her mother had just died; I brought her to my house. As I felt that I had not seen her father die, I also did not see her mother die; for, her mother too, (  ) died, leaving her; I only heard the story.

And then I went to fetch her (Betje), while I felt that I was still a young man, and I was fleet in running to shoot. And I thought that she would (  ) get plenty of food, which I should give her. She (would) eat it. She (would) eat with my (own) child, which was still (an only) one. And then they would both grow, going out from me (to play near the hut); because they both ate my game (“shot things”). For, I was (  ) fresh for running; I felt that I could, running, catch things.

Then, I used to run (and) catch a hare, I brought it to my home, while it was in my bag, while the sun (  ) was hot. I felt that I had not seen a springbok. For, I saw a hare. I used to shoot, sending up a bustard. I put it in (to the bag) (and) brought it home. My wife would come to pluck it, at home. She (  ) boiled it in the pot; that we might drink soup. On the morrow I would hunt the hare, I would be peeping about in the shade of the bushes. I would shoot it up, that the children might eat. For, the springbok were gone away. Therefore, I was (  ) shooting hares, that I might chasing, cause them to die with the sun, when they had run about in the noonday’s sun. They were “burnt dead” by the sun; while I remember that the hare does not (  ) drink; for it eats dry bushes, while it does not drink, putting in water upon the dry bushes which it crunches. Therefore, it remains thirsty there, while it does not drink. It dwells, (  ) sitting in the summer (heat), because it does not understand water pans, so that it might go to the water, so that it might go to drink. For it waits, sitting in the sun.

Therefore, I (  ) chase it, in the sun, that the sun may, burning, kill it for me, that I mat eat it, dead from the sun; while I feel that I was the one who chased it, while it s went along in fear of me. It, in fear, lay down to die (  ) from the sun; because it had become dry (while running about) in the sun; because it saw me when I followed it. It did not stop to walk, that it might look backwards. For it (  ) had run about, when it was tired. It seemed as if it were about (?) to die; because it had been obliged to run about. Therefore, it went to lie down to die; because fatigue had killed it; while it had run (  ) about in the heat; for (it) was the summer sun, which was hot. The ground was hot which was burning its feet.

Therefore, I used to go to pick it up, as it lay dead. I laid it in (  ) the arrow’s bag. I must, going along, look for another hare. It would spring up (running) into the sun; it would, being afraid, run through the sun, while I ran following it. I must, going along, wait, so that the sun might, burning, kill it. (  ) I would go pick it up, when it lay dead. I would sitting, break its (four) legs, and then I should put it in. I thought that another hare would probably dwell opposite it. (  ) I must first go to seek round in the neighborhood of the form. For it seemed to be married. I must, seeking around. Look for the female hare, that I might also chase it, when I had unloosened (and) laid down the bag. I must chase it, (  ) with my body. I must run very fast, feeling that I should become thirsty.

I shall go to drink at home. For the children will have probably fetched water (ostrich eggshell). For, my wife (was) used to send them to the water, thinking that I had walked (  ) about in the sun when the sun was hot; because I thought that |kui (vegetable food) would kill the children for me. The rain must first fall, and then, I should be looking around, while I looked around, seeking for ( a pair of) ostriches which are wont to seek the water along the “Har River”, (  ) that they may, going along, drink the water. I must, going round in front, descend into the “Har River”. I must (in a stooping position) steal up to them in the inside of the river bed. I must lie (on the font of my body) in the river bed; that I might shoot, lying in the river bed. For, the western ostriches do, seeking water, come back; that they may, going along, (  ) drink new water.

Therefore. I must sit waiting for the Sundays on which I remain here, on which I continue to teach thee. I do not again await another moon, for this moon is the one about which I (  ) told thee. Therefore, I desired that it should do thus, that it should return for me. For I have sat waiting for the boots, that I must put on to walk in; which are strong for the road.  (  ) For, the sun will go along, burning strongly. And then, the earth becomes hot, while I still am going along halfway. I must go together with the warm sun, while the ground is hot. For, a little road it is not. For, it is a great road; (  ) it is long. I should reach my place, when the trees are dry. For, I shall walk, letting the flowers become dry while I still follow the path.

Then, autumn will quickly be (upon) us there; (  ) when I am sitting at my (own) place. For, I shall not go to other places; for, I must remain ay my (own) place, the name of which I have told my Master; he knows it; he knows, (having) put it down. And thus (  ) my name is plain (beside) it. It is there that I sit waiting for the gun; and then, he will send the gun to me there; while he sends the gun in a cart; that which running, takes me the gun. While he thinks, that I have not forgotten; that my body may be quiet, as it was when I was with him; while I feel that I shoot, feeding myself. For, starvation was that on account of which I was bound,---starvation’s food,---(  ) when I starving turned back from following the sheep. Therefore, I lived with him, that I might get a gun from him; that I might possess it. That I might myself shoot, feeding myself, while I do not eat my companions’ food. For, I eat my (own) game.

For, a gun is that which takes care of an old man; it is that with which we kill the springbok which go through the cold (wind); we go eat, in the cold (wind).  We do, satisfied with food, lie down (in our huts) in the cold (wind). It (the gun) is strong against the wind. It satisfies a man with food in the very middle of the cold.

From: Wilhelm Bleek and Lucy Lloyd, Specimens of Bushman Folklore (Londaon: Allen, 1911).