DATES OF SOME IMPORTANT EVENTS IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

A.D.

Bartholomew Diaz discovers the Cape of Good Hope 1486

Vasco da Gama explores the East Coast of Africa 1497-8

The Dutch appear in the South African Seas 1595

First Dutch settlement in Table Bay 1652

Arrival of French Huguenot settlers 1689

Beginning of the Exploration of the Interior 1700

First Kafir War 1779

First British occupation of the Cape 1795-1803

Second British occupation of the Cape 1806

Cession of Cape Colony to Britain 1814

Conquests of Tshaka, the Zulu King 1812-1828

Arrival of a body of British settlers 1820

First British settlement in Natal 1824

English made the official language in Cape Colony 1825-1828

Equal Rights ordinance in favour of the Natives 1828

Emancipation of the Slaves 1834

Sixth Kafir War 1834

Emigration of the discontented Boers (the Great Trek) 1836-7

Conquest of Matabililand by Mosilikatze 1837

The emigrant Boers occupy Natal 1838

British occupation and annexation of Natal 1843

Two native "buffer States" created in the interior 1843

Seventh Kafir War; province of British Kaffraria created 1847

Orange River Sovereignty created 1848

Recognition of the Independence of the Transvaal Boers (Sand River Convention) 1852

Recognition of the Independence of the Orange River Boers (Bloemfontein Convention) 1854

Representative Government established in Cape Colony 1854

Establishment of a Constitution for the South African Republic 1855-1858

Proclamation of a Protectorate over Basutoland 1868

Discovery of diamonds on the Lower Vaal River 1869

British occupation and annexation of Griqualand West 1871

Responsible Government granted to Cape Colony 1872

Delagoa Bay arbitration 1872-1875

British annexation of the Transvaal 1877

War with Cetewayo and conquest of Zululand 1879

Retrocession of the Transvaal 1881

Annexation of Southern and Protectorate over Northern Bechuanaland 1884-1885

German occupation of Damaraland 1884

Convention of London with the Transvaal Republic 1884

Discovery of the Witwatersrand gold field 1885

Foundation of the British South Africa Company 1889

Conquest of Matabililand by the Company 1893

Responsible Government granted to Natal 1893

Protectorate declared over the Tonga Chiefs 1894

Rising at Johannesburg and expedition of Dr. Jameson from Pitsani 1895

Outbreak of war between Britain and the two Dutch Republics Oct. 1899