By way of introduction to my work, I wish, dear reader, to say only this
short word: "I am no book-writer." But I felt that the story of this
struggle, in which a small people fought for liberty and right, is justly
said, throughout the civilized world, to be unknown, and that it was my duty
to record my personal experiences in this war, for the present and for the
future generations, not only for the Afrikander people, but for the whole
world.
Not only did I consider this my duty, but I was encouraged to write by the
urgings of prominent men among my people, of men of various nationalities,
and even of several British officers.
Well, dear reader, I hope that you will not feel disappointed in reading
these experiences, as it is not in me, as is perhaps sometimes the case with
historical authors, to conjure up thrilling pictures, imaginary things, and
put them together merely to make up a book or to make a name for themselves.
Be that far from me ! In publishing my book (although it is written in
simple style) I had one object only, viz. to give to the world a story
which, although it does not contain the whole of the truth as regards this
wondrous war, yet contains nothing but the truth.
The original has been written by me in Dutch, and I can therefore not be
answerable for its translation into other languages.
