SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE 18TH CENTURY - BY C.GRATAM BOTHA

Sep 21, 2026

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A bibliographic microform record preserves an English-language historical work on social customs in South Africa during the 18th century. The text explains how a country’s history is shaped by people’s daily life, manners, and customs, and how these change through many influences. It traces culinary traditions to Dutch settlement at the Cape, connections with the East Indies, and local environmental conditions, highlighting Cape dishes and condiments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Social customs in South Africa during the 18th century

Historical framing of customs and change

Dutch and East Indies influences on manners and food

97-84151-8Botha,Colin Graham Social customs in South Africa during…Johannesburg 1925 # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED-EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Lbraries. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: mmREDUCTION BATIO: 10:1 INITIALS: CB DATE FILMED: 8-4-97 TRACKING\#: 16281 ⑧ FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. | OUTH APRICAN JoURNAL oP ScTzNCE."
.540-551,November,1925.
SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE
18rH CENTURY
BY
C.GRATAM BoTHA.
J0HANNESBURG:
PUBLISIIED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN ASsoCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEYENT oF sCIENCR
1925.
308
K29 | | --- | Cern83·24:26 Reprinled from the"SucTH ArIAs JocBXAI.OF SCIESCE,"Tal.XXII,pp.510-551,Noeember,1925. SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN soUTH AFHICA DURIXG THE18TII CEXTURY. BY C.GnALAN BoTIA,Chiej Archicist,Union of Soulh Ajrieu. Head July 7,1925. The history of a country is the history of the pcople whudwell in it;their life,mamners and eustons form as iuport:anta faetor as any other detail which goes to make p that listory.Customs change from time to tine,but,in one way and another,we ean still find traces of those which hare long disappeared. The social custos of a people alter through the ageney ofmany influences.This we find was no exzeption in South Afrien.When the Dutech arrived at the Cape in the middle of the 17theentury,they brought with them the nanners and custous oftheir Fatherland. Here they found condlitions of life verydifferent.The seasons oeeurred at tins of the year quiteopposite to Europe,the climate was not the same,the stm,soil,animal and pl:ant life were all different.The close contaet withthe Enst Indies brought new manners and eustoms which werenot Duteh. The general enviroent and conditions of thecountry gave birth to new customs,which were peeuliar to SouthAfrien alone.Thus,in tracing Varils phases of the soeial lifeof the people,we must expeet to find some having their originin Holland,the East Indies and South Afriea. If we take one aspeet of the life of the Sonth African pcople—the culinary art—we find the intlnence of Holland,the Eastand the eountry itself.The exoking was necording to the Dutehand Cape method,with n strong fouch of the East.In manyhomes to-day,the old Cape stvle of preparing food prevails.South Afrieans know well such dishes as"bredie,""soesaties,"“kerrie"(curried meats)and"bobotie.”These eame from theEast Indies.The condiments"atjar."made from apricots orfrom clilies,"blatjang,"and"sambal"are well known toold Cape families.Fat was frcely used in the preparntion offood.In 1799 an nglish gntleman recorded in his diary that"the English erockery has in a great measure banished thedelicions ragouts¹*sent up in a sea of sheep's tail fat which wasusually the sauee for every dish.” The Cape people had a reputation for making pastries andsweetmeats,and we find in the reeords a listinetion between"Dutch pastry"and"Cape pastry."To-day we still have INTENTIONAL SECOND EXPOSURE annymon8013:2426 五tAm可r56竹 Reprinted from the"SouTI AFRICAX JoUSAL OF ScIESC,"Tol.XXII,pp.540-551,November,1925. SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE18TH CENTURY. BY C.GRAHAM BoTHA,Chief Archivist,Union of South Africa. Read July 7,1925. The history of a country is the history of the people whodwell in it;their life,manners and customs form as importanta factor as any other detail which goes to make up that history.Customs change from time to time,but,in one way and another,we can still find traces of those which have long disappeared. The social customs of a people alter through the ageney ofmany influences.This we find was no exze

FAQs

What is the core argument about why customs change over time?

The text states that social customs of a people alter through many influences. It also notes that even as customs change, traces of long-disappeared practices can still be found.

How does the work connect Dutch arrival to South African customs?

It explains that when the Dutch arrived at the Cape in the middle of the 17th century, they brought manners and customs from their homeland, which then interacted with local conditions.

Which culinary examples are used to illustrate foreign influence on South African food?

The text highlights dishes and ingredients such as bredie, soesaties, kerrie, bobotie, and condiments like atjar, linking many items to the East Indies and Cape culinary practices.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Anda