Adamantia : the truth about the South African diamond fields : or, a ...

88 ABDICATION OF COBNELIUS KOK.the British Government having (it appears) promisedAdam Kok a location in some waste lands-known asNo Man's Land-on the western frontier of Natal.In the meanwhile, however, an event had transpired.which, unnoticed and unimportant enough at the time,has now become a matter of considerable interest, andrequires to be mentioned by us in its proper chronologicalorder before dealing with the hegira.About the end of the year 1857 (according toHendrik Hendrikse's statement already referred to inChapters II. and IV.), Cornelius Kok being then veryold and feeble, and feeling unable to continue theproper government of his people, called together ameeting of them, which Adam Kok, the principalGriqua chief, had also been induced to attend fromPhilippolis. At this meeting Cornelius Kok, by theconsent of his subjects, formally abdicated his positionas the chief and captain of Campbell, and made overthe future rule and government to his rightful heir andsuccessor, Captain Adam Kok, his nephew,-fromwhose father he had received the dignity at the sametime the late Andries Waterboer was appointed toGriqua Town.Adam Kok accepted the responsibility and authorityof the chieftainship of the Campbell lands; but, as heresided so far away, at Philippolis, appointed Mr. JohnBartlett, the son of a former missionary at Campbell,as vice or provisional captain in his place.Shortly afterwards, early in 1858, old CorneliusKok died, and at his death-bed the above and otherpolitical matters were further arranged.Waterboer seems to have bgen personally present,with some of his people and councillors, at both events.Digitized by Goog Ie