The
Plotting
II
The
Plot Thickens
 1
2 3 4
Ten
days later in May 1978, I was sitting with Jim Michener at a table in
the small kitchen of the St. Michaels studio, as we began our long journey
together with the Van Doorns, the Afrikaner family in The Covenant;
the Saltwoods, the English family (originally called "Stanworth";)
and the Nxumalos, the African family of predominantly Zulu origin. Alongside
these major groups and often inter-related were scores of lesser fictional
and historical figures with a role to play in the novel.
While
I quickly ditched my "diamond adventure," an accompanying backgrounder
for The Star of Man written that January comprised a) Chronology
b) Major historical events involved in the story and c) Suggestions
on fictional characters interwoven into a) and b).
"Diamond
Adventure" schema
Click
to enlarge
This
early research with notes and articles from my library provided pointers
to core themes that could be exploited in the proposed novel. For example,
these are my notes culled from various sources about Australopithecus
and other early denizens of the South African veld:
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2,000,000
BC (could revise to 3.5M BC).Australopithecus. About five foot
tall, walked upright and in his hand carried a crude weapon.
Lived along Vaal River valley and probably roamed vast tracts
of the Transvaal veld. He was crafty. As a scavenger he learnt
to stalk animals and butcher them with his weapons. He was ugly;
virtually no nose, massive jaws and a coarse and heavy face.
About ninety pounds when full grown, their brain cavities suggest
limited intelligence. It's been said of them - they knew enough
to get into trouble but not enough to get out of it.
1,000,000
BC.Yet Australopithecus knew something of co-operating with
the environment. They survived for over one million years and
were supplanted only by a superior species, Pithecanthropus
or man ape. Pithecanthropus, in turn, displaced by Neanderthal
types and they by earlier and middle stone age men. Thus, dawn
man lived at one time or another in almost every square mile
of South Africa..Paleontologists are agreed on 1) in this part
of the world, art of stone-working followed an evolution parallel
to but not similar with that of Europe. 2) Southern Africa served
as a refuge where peoples who have disappeared from all other
part of the world have often survived, even to the present day.
There was no Neolithic age in South Africa; there the Paleolithic
age was prolonged by Bushman (San) civilization.
500,000
BC. Earlier stone age spanned some 500,000 years and saw little
development in stone tool manufacture. Tools consisted of relatively
large and heavy cleavers and almond-shaped hand-axes. Probably
used for splitting open the long bones and skulls of animals,
for cutting up meat and for digging pits in which to trap game.
12,000
BC.Later stone age, still represented in culture of living Bushman
(San). Last of stone ages in South Africa was period during
which man began to show skill as an artist. From rock paintings
and engravings we have learned a great deal about his customs
and ceremonies, the animals he hunted and feared, clothing he
wore and his various hunting methods. |
In
my notes on the "discovery" period, I included the story of the wreck
of the Dutch East Indiaman, Haerlem, and Fort Zandeburgh, a
refuge built by the survivors who landed on the shores of Table Bay
in 1647, five years before the Dutch settlement led by Jan van Riebeeck.
In the Outline
prepared from the initial brainstorming sessions held at St. Michaels,
I wrote under Chapter Five:
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The
chapter introduces the first line of our major Dutch/Afrikaner
family: The Van Doorns. Opens with the wreck of the Haerlem,
a Dutch East Indiaman bound from Batavia for Holland which ran
aground in Table Bay. Departing Batavia, Dec 22, 1646, in company
of Olifant and Schiedam, Haerlem
was wrecked on March 25, 1647. On April 12, the Schiedam
sailed for Holland. On April 1, 1648, the Coninck
van Poolen arrived from Batavia to pick up those survivors
left behind to guard the cargo salvaged from Haerlem:
Aboard this ship was Jan van Riebeeck returning to Holland somewhat
in the company's disgrace for having traded privately at Batavia.
Exonerated, in 1652, van Riebeeck, a doctor, would head the
first Dutch settlement at the Cape. The two Van Doorns we're
interested in are:
Paulus
van Doorn, born
Holland, 1615. In 1637, Paulus joined the Dutch East India
Company, working for them in Amsterdam before being sent to
Batavia.which he leaves aboard the Haerlem.
Karel
van Doorn, born
Holland, 1625. Unable to obtain a post with the company, Karel
goes to sea, getting a berth aboard the Haerlem.
After
the wreck, Paulus van Doorn returns to Holland aboard the Schiedam.
Karel stays behind with sixty or so men left with the
salvage. Not only does he develop a keen attachment to the Cape,
but will be recommended to the company for his loyal service
during that year ashore. Records show that the senior officers
left at the Cape had considerable difficulty in controlling
the men under them. Sailing back aboard the Coninck van
Poolen. Karel van Doorn meets Van Riebeeck who will assist
him in joining the Company. |
A
second example of core plotting that can be traced back to my Star
of Man notes concerns the French Huguenot refugees who arrived
at the Cape in 1688: "Six of seven ships took the usual 3 to 4 months,"
I wrote, "the seventh,China, took 137 days. About 150 French
arrived, then about one-fifth of the population. It has been said that
they arrived 'with a vine in one hand, and a Bible in the other.' They
contributed in large measure to the development of that spiritual toughness
which was to ensure the survival of the Boers. They can also be seen
as the ancestors of Afrikaner nationalism. They had cut themselves off
from all links with their native land and, to an even greater degree
than the Dutch, they came to regard South Africa as their country, their
only country."
In
the Outline, I summarized our thinking for the Huguenots:
Chapter
Six
The
arrival of the Huguenots and Mal(Eccentric/Unconventional) Adriaan's
story.
1688:
The chapter opens with description of voyage bringing a group
of French Refugees to the Cape. Among them is the family of
Paul du Pré (later du Preez) from Lille originally
but later in Holland.(Again, if necessary, offers early connection
to Van Doors through Paulus.) The voyage description will be
detailed offering graphic account of the rigors, terrors etc.
that had to be endured. It will suffice for all later-comers
such as the 1820 settlers. In the group with the du Pré
family is Jordain, a "visitor to the sick/lay preacher/teacher."
An interesting aspect of the French Huguenot arrival - at the
onset they comprised 25 per cent of the white population - is
that within 35 years the French language had all but died out.
Jordain will be used to reflect on this development.
The
du Pré's settle in the Drakenstein valley as neighbors
to Karel van Doorn and his family.
Note:
Although there were but 187 Huguenots, it's accepted that they
had an important influence in building the character of the
Boer/Afrikaner, This will be examined, as also the background
of the whole Huguenot persecution, probably in flashback style
during the 1688 voyage.
1690:
Villages of Paarl and Franschoek founded.
1693:
Karel van Doorn dies.
1709:
First land grant beyond the Hottentot-Hollands mountains.the
first stirrings of the trek lust.
1711:
Hendrik van Doorn marries Marie du Pré
1712:
Adriaan van Doorn, born. (Hendrik/Marie)
1713:
Smallpox epidemic
1723:
Last church service held in French
1728:
At 16, Adriaan van Doorn accompanies a Swedish naturalist on
a trip to the interior. At this early developmental stage, Adriaan
establishes himself as a strong character with a "vision," especially
of the North. With the Swede, he will go as far inland as Vrymeer
. he finds Bush paintings etc. and so graphic are his descriptions
of the valley that they will be buried in the mind - and "legend"
- of the Van Doorn descendants." |
A
final example of the outgrowth of ideas from my original "diamond"
notes concerns the crucial sections on the Great Trek of the Voortrekker-Boers
and the story of the Zulus. (As noted above, these research notes were
culled from various sources.)
| "If
one-fifth of the population of a country were to leave its national
territory, sociologists would not be able to find enough words
to describe the exodus's motivations. Around 1835, the colony
numbered some 60,000 whites of whom 14,000 emigrated within
ten years.The Great Trek.
"Religion
of Boers: They expressed themselves in Biblical terms, calling
the natives 'Children of Ham and Canaanites. The King of England
was Pharaoh: because of his oppression they had been forced
to leave Cape Colony. They were on their way to the Promised
Land. The Afrikaners had been called by Divine Providence to
go from place to place as pioneers of civilization. To them
had fallen the awesome task of conquering Africa for King Jesus.
"First
leader, Piet Retief, 54, Huguenot stock, the Thomas Jefferson
of the Great Trek. Declaration published before setting off:
"As we desire to stand high in the estimation of our Brethren,
the Boers would wherever they found themselves 'uphold the principles
of Liberty.' There was one reservation: 'Whilst we will take
care that no one shall be held in a state of slavery, it is
our determination to maintain such regulations as may suppress
crime and preserve proper relations between master and servant.'
"In
1838 Retief was slaughtered by Zulu king, Dingane. On 16 December,
Battle of Blood River.Boers/Zulus.10-15,000 Zulus defeated by
500..
"Not
many years passed before it became apparent that the Great Trek
had resulted in the juxtaposition of two white South Africas:
one still permeated with colonialism but priding itself in its
humanitarian pre-occupations; the other, obsessed with republicanism
and unconcerned with equality." |
Alongside
my notes on the Voortrekkers were references to the Zulus: "At beginning
of the 19th century, Zulu nation wielded little power. In 1818, Shaka
proclaimed chief. At this time he had 500 warriors at his command. On
his death in 1828, his regiments numbered 50,000 and his sway extended
over whole of present day Natal. From Kei River to Zambezi and from
Indian Ocean to Botswana. The training of the young Zulu has been compared
to that of the Spartans and Shaka's impis to the Roman legions. The
tribes spent some fifteen years killing each other with such passion
that experts put casualties at two million.
Eyewitness
account of one battle: "At four spears throw, the deep, majestic
Zulu war chant rolled like thunder across the valley.With the beginning
of the chant, the speed of the warriors slowed down to the rhythmic,
measured jog trot of a death dance and at every tenth step there was
a shaking step of the right foot carried out in perfect unison. At one
spear's throw, the chant ceased abruptly. There was a deadly silence
for the time required to take a deep breath. Then the fearful Zulu war
cry crashed out.SI-JI-DI and the Zulu charged."
Chapter
Eight of the Outline deals with The Rise of the Zulu Nation.
| Chapter
Eight
Seen
through the story of a young man who is friend, fellow-warrior
and later bodyguard to Shaka. (Dingane, the Zulu despot defeated
by the Voortrekkers at Blood river is handled in Chapter Nine.)
1787:
Shake born
1788:
Nxumalo, young Amazulu friend of Shaka, meets with him in 1806.
Nxumalo is forefather of main black characters in book.
1797:
Nxumalo's father executed in savage way.e.g. for whistling in
presence of tribal chief. Nxumalo witnesses this incident which
opens the chapter.
1809:
Shaka and Nxumalo join Dingiswayo's iziCwe regiment.Shaka increasingly
active remains in Dingiswayo's regiments for six years. So does
Nxumalo.
1818:
Dingiswayo executed after capture by enemy tribe.
1820:
Shaka has risen to power until, by now, he is in control of
most of Zululand.
During
the consolidation period, thousands of enemy warriors are put
to death. Known as the Mfecane, estimates have gone as high
as two million, a figure added to by a final period of tyranny
surpassing all:
1827,
Oct 10: Death of Nandi, "female elephant" (title of honor).Shaka's
mother. Shaka orders a year of mourning and murders thousand
who fail to comply.
(In
Chapter Nine, The Great Trek, the Van Doorns forsake the Cape
Colony for the north and the inevitable clash with the Zulus:)
1836:
December. Tjaart van Doorn and family trek to present-day Orange
Free State. Tjaart has established a reputation as frontier
"scout." Richard (Saltwood) buys Tjaart's farm.
1837:
Voortrekker punitive raids against the Matabele. (In October
previous year, the Trekkers had defeated the Matabele at Vegkop
in the OFS)
1837:
Trekker leader Piet Retief, one of moist outstanding, arrives
at Winburg where 1,000 wagons are assembled.
1837:
Retief, who sees Natal as the Promised Land, arrives at Port
Natal (Durban)
1837:
Nov: Punitive raids against the Matabele.driven to the Matopo
hills near present-day Bulawayo.
1837:
Tjaart van Doorn decides to go to Natal and moves his family
over the Drakensberg; Jenny and the children, Boy/Two girls,
aged 14, 8, 4.
1838:
Tjaart leaves them in encampment to go to Drakensberg to assist
a new party of Trekkers over the mountains. (Drakensberg = Mountains
of the Dragon)
1838
Feb 6: Retief party murdered by Dingaan at his Royal Kraal
1838
Zulus attack Trekker settlements: Jenny van Doorn and the three
children butchered at Blaauwkrantz.
1838
Nov: Commandos raised by Andries Pretorius.
1838
Dec 16: Battle of Blood River. Tjaart is present in the laager.
1839:
To dull his grief and anger, Tjaart takes off alone on a trip
north. In many ways, he is the reincarnation of Adriaan, the
rebel/adventurer. Tjaart reaches Zimbabwe.offering connections
to the past.to the meaning of the fall of the Rozwi empire etc.
1840:
Tjaart van Doorn remarries.Aletta Naude, 18 year old survivor
of Blaauwkrantz.
1841:
On his trip to Zimbabwe, Tjaart had "found" Vrymeer: With Aletta,
he now settles there, making friends with the Nxumalo group
who live in a section of the valley. Tjaart, of course, does
not know that this is Adriaan's Eden. (Perhaps .discourse on
symbolic attraction of the Diamond.) |
In
his reflection on our plotting
sessions, Jim gives a good account of the lively banter between us as
we searched for the myriad leads and connections between our characters
and the traits of the leading players themselves:
Uys
showed such a mastery and predilection for plotting that again and
again he came up with dazzling ideas that again and againattracted
my attention. I am no good at plotting, hold it to be almost an
excrescence, and pay far too little attention to it, so that Uys's
bold suggestions were often appreciated. It was he who suggested
most of the coincidences, most of the confrontations, most of the
wild occurrences and it was I who rejected a vast majority of them
but I was deeply indebted to him for certain plot lines.
As one can see, I accepted almost none from his own outline, but
when we talked he was so quick to catch ideas that we bounced large
concepts about with ease. He really was a remarkable man in his
ability to visualize instantly and I rarely had to waste a moment
explaining anything. Also, he had the capacity and willingness to
catch an idea and run with it in his own direction, often proposing
something so far from my intention that I was bedazzled. I judge
he could plot six novels a year with intricate beauties; he should
have been in G-2 in some complicated war situation."
MICHENER BOOKSHELF
©2007-2008
Errol Lincoln Uys All materials are from my personal
archives, unless indicated otherwise. No items may be reproduced
without permission. Web site illustrations added to material
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