BLAAI AF VIR AFRIKAANS

A duel is a prearranged fight with equivalent deadly weapons between two persons under fixed conditions, generally to settle an affair of honour in the presence of two observers (seconds). Each duellist was assisted by a second, usually a friend, as helper. The seconds of the two challengers usually made all the arrangements, viz. the time, place, distance from where the duellists would shoot, and the loading of the pistols. The seconds were jointly responsible in case the duel caused a participant’s death, as seconds often discovered to their detriment. Duels eventually disappeared as legislation improved.

Generally duels are associated with countries abroad, but many duels had been fought in Cape Town and most possibly also in other parts of South Africa. Duels were often the outcome of disputes at sea during the long voyage from Europe or India to the Cape. Often a challenge to a duel was provoked at sea with the understanding that it would be settled at the next port of call. Other duels arose from quarrels, often trifling, between officers of the garrison. Specific reference to punishment of duels was instituted by Governor De Chavonnes to improve discipline in the garrison, but even severe punishment seems to have had little or no effect.

A duel was fought on Christmas Day, 25 December 1809, near the Barracks (now Caledon Square), Cape Town, between Captain Richard Ryan of the 93rd Highlanders regiment and his second Major William Burke Nicholls of the 72nd Highlanders regiment on one side, and Paymaster Thomas Patullo of the 93rd Highlanders regiment with Captain T Hitchins of the 93rd Highlanders regiment as his second on the other side.

Although those involved promised to keep everything secret, the details of the duel became known as Patullo was wounded in the arm and needed medical attention. Patullo and his second came scot-free and only Ryan and Nicholls were prosecuted. They were court-martialed and both were dismissed, but after the case was investigated in London and this irregularity became known, both officers were reinstated by royal command.

Tweegeveg aan die Kaap: ’n Dwase Modegier

’n Tweegeveg is ’n stryd met gelykwaardige wapens tussen twee persone, veral na ’n uitdaging, gereël en uitgevoer soos vooraf afgespreek en volgens vaste reëls van ’n erekode in teenwoordigheid van twee getuies met die doel om ’n persoonlike onenigheid of grief te besleg. Elke deelnemer aan ’n tweegeveg is bygestaan deur ’n sekondant, gewoonlik ’n vriend, as helper. Die sekondante van die twee uitdagers het al die reëlings getref. Hulle het die tyd, plek, afstand vanwaar di deelnemers moes vuur, en laai van die pistole gekontroleer. Hulle is ook gesamentlik verantwoordelik gehou vir geval die tweegeveg op iemand se dood sou uitloop, soos helpers dikwels tot hul skade agtergekom het. Tweegevegte het uiteindelik met verbetering van wetgewing verdwyn.

Tweegevegte word oor die algemeen net met oorsese lande vereenselwig, maar baie tweegevevgte het in Kaapstad en waarskynlik ook in ander dele van Suid-Afrika plaasgevind. Tweegevegte is dikwels die gevolg van rusies op see tydens die lang vaart van Europa of Indië na die Kaap. By verskillende geleenthede is uitdagings op see gerig met die verstandhouding dat ’n ontmoeting in die volgende hawe sal plaasvind. Ander tweegevegte het ontstaan uit rusies, dikwels onbenullig, tussen offisiere van die garnisoen. Spesifieke verwysing na straf vir tweegevegte is deur Goewerneur De Chavonnes ingestel on dissipline in die garnisoen te verbeter, maar blykbaar het streng straf min of geen uitwerking gehad nie.

’n Tweegeveg op Kersdag, 25 Desember 1809, naby die Kaserne (nou Caledonplein), Kaapstad, tussen kaptein Richard Ryan van die 93ste Highlanders regiment en sy sekondant majoor William Burke Nicholls van die 72ste Highlanders regiment aan die een kant, en betaalmeester Thomas Patullo van die 93ste Highlanders regiment met kaptein T Hitchins van die 93ste Highlanders regiment as sy sekondant aan die ander kant.

Alhoewel die betrokkenes beloof het om alles geheim te hou, het die besonderhede van die geveg bekend geraak omdat Patullo in die arm gewond is en doktersbehandeling moes ontvang. Patullo en sy sekondant het skotvry gekom en net Ryan en Nicholls is vervolg. Hulle is voor die krygsraad gedaag wat Ryan en Nicholls ontslaan het, maar nadat die saak in Londen ondersoek is en hierdie onreëlmatigheid bekend geword het, is albei offisiere deur koninklike bevel in hul poste herstel.

Bronnelys:

• Albertyn, CF: Ensiklopedie van die Wêreld, 3, p.563
• Boëseken, AJ: Die Nuusbode
• Caltex: Suid-Afrikaanse Erfenis
• Chambers Dictionary
• De Kock, WJ: SABW 4, p. 363
• McKinnon, J: Wine, Women and Good Hope; Odendaal, FF: HAT
• Philip, P: British Residents at the Cape; Potgieter, DJ: SESA 4, p. 97
• Reader’s Digest Great Encyclopaedic Dictionary; Schoeman, K: Armosyn van die Kaap
• Schoeman, K: Here en Boere; Terblanche & Odendaal: Afrikaanse Woordeboek