Recital by Wanda in Afrikaans
THE VOW MADE ON THE 16 TH DECEMBER 1838
By Andries Pretorius with 470 Voortrekkers when they were surrounded by estimates of between 10,000 and 15,000 Zulu warriors on the bank of the Ncome River being a tributary of the Buffalo River in Northern Natal.
THE VOW
HERE WE STAND BEFORE THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH TO MAKE A VOW TO HIM, THAT HE SHALL PROTECT US AND PLACE OUR ENEMY IN OUR HAND, THIS DAY AND DATE EVERY YEAR WILL BE KEPT AS A THANKS DAY LIKE A SABBATH; AND WE WILL ERECT A HOUSE TO HIS HONOUR WHERE HE WILL BE MAGNIFIED, AND WE SHALL TELL OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY MUST TAKE PART IN THIS REMEMBRANCE AS WELL AS THE FORTH COMING GENERATION, BECAUSE THE HONOUR OF HIS NAME SHALL BE MAGNIFIED BY THE FAME AND CREDIT THAT SUCH A VICTORY WILL BRING TO HIM.
DIE GELOFTE
HIER STAAN ONS VOOR DIE HEILIGE GOD VAN HEMEL EN AARDE OM ‘N GELOFTE AAN HOM TE DOEN, DAT, AS HY ONS SAL BESKERM EN ONS VYAND IN ONS HAND SAL GEE, ONS DIE DAG EN DATUM ELKE JAAR AS ‘N DANKDAG SOOS ‘N SABBAT SAL DEURBRING; EN DAT ONS ‘N HUIS TOT SY EER SAL OPRIG WAAR DIT HOM BEHAAG, EN DAT ONS OOK AAN ONS KINDERS SAL SE DAT HULLE MET ONS DAARIN MOET DEEL TOT NAGEDAGTENIS OOK VIR DIE OPKOMENDE GESLAG. WANT DIE EER VAN SY NAAM SAL VERHEERLIK WORD DEUR THE ROEM EN DIE EER VAN OORWINNING AAN HOM TE GEE.
At dawn on that Sunday as the morning mist cleared a frightening sight of thousands of Zulu warriors surrounding their laager met them. Faith in the Almighty was their only hope and gave them the strength to face such overwhelming odds. The victory was a result of their sincere Vow, their prayer answered by YHWH due to their belief in Him. Over 3,000 of Dingaan’s soldiers were killed and the river ran red with the blood of the slain hence the name of this battle. “The Battle of Blood River.” Two Zulu princes who were competing with prince Mpande for the Zulu throne were also killed. Only three Voortrekkers and Andries Pretorius were wounded. None were killed.