Greatgrandmother, Cornelia Susana Smit's (nee Sauerman) letter to her husband, Hendrik Adolf Smit, POW in India

This letter was written on the 10 th of November 1902, 
at Honengklip (Heuningklip), 
20 days before my greatgrandfather's death, 
in the Shahjahanpur POW Camp in India.

He never received it, 
which accounts for the reason 
why it is in the family's possession.

She pleads with her husband, HA Smit, 
and loving son, Barend, 
to take the oath of allegiance to Britain, 
seeing that their beloved country, South Africa, 
is already lost.

The Peace Treaty had been signed, at Vereeniging, on the 31st of May, 1902.

She mentions various names and dates, 
of family and friends who had died because of the fever, 
including some children. 
She speaks about those who had already returned 
from exile in India, 
and asks him to extent her greetings to those, 
Hans Potgieter and Hendrik Smit, 
who were still in exile.

She speaks of two horses that she had bought 
(a mare and a stallion) 
and that Herman and Dolf went to fetch 
the horse cart that was in the water. 
Brother Barend wants him (her husband) 
to come to the Colony (the Cape) when they return. 
Brother Barend wishes for their speedy return, 
so that they can make plans about the cattle. 
She asks him to remand her beloved son, Barend, 
to keep his eyes fixed on the Lord, 
our only salvation.

She ends the letter with pen and ink, 
but never with her longing heart, 
greetings from CS Smit and their children.