Title:
Copy of South African diary of Robert Arkwright, 1843-1847
Level: Category
Records in private custody
Level: Fonds
COPY OF SOUTH AFRICAN DIARY OF ROBERT ARKWRIGHT
Scope and Content:
Photocopy [1995] of typescript copy (129 + 3 pp.) of the diary of Robert W. [Wigram] Arkwright [1822-1888, eldest son of Joseph Arkwright vicar of Latton], describing 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847' as an officer of the 7th Dragoon Guards.

The diary seems to have written up after the events that it describes, although a lapse into the present tense at page 46 suggests that it may be based on contemporary notes. The diarist includes almost no personal information, but describes fellow-hunter Cumming as 'an old Eton acquaintance of mine' (p. 39).

Describes departure of 7th Dragoon Guards from Gosport [Hampshire] April 1843; life on board ship Rodney (pp. 1-9) including stops at Madeira (pp. 3-7) and 'Rio' [de Oro?] (p. 8), and transport along South African coast to Algoa Bay (p. 10); life at Fort Beaufort and Grahamstown including notably fox hunting with hounds sent from England (pp. 11-19); expedition to Orange River April - July 1843 in support of the 'Griquas' against the Boers (pp. 19-26); and private hunting expeditions into the interior October - November 1845 (pp. 28-36) and February - November 1846 (pp. 37-128), before return to England December 1846 - February 1847 via Cape Town and ship Malabar (p.129).
Description of the second - and much the more extensive - hunting expedition includes comment on native porters and guides; contacts with missionaries beyond Vaal River (pp. 51, 53, 58-60, 115-116, 121-122), including Dr. 'Levington' otherwise 'Levingstone' [David Livingstone (1813-1873)] at camp of chief 'Sichele' [Setchele] (pp. 59-60, 115-116); elephant hunting (pp. 66-104, 108-113); contacts with tribes of the interior, notably the Silikat tribe near the Supalala or Umpalala River (pp. 91-105); loss of last of expedition's horses (pp. 120-121); aftermath of Kaffir war (pp. 124-126).
Dates of Creation:
1995
Extent:
1 bundle
Admin History:
The typescript copy was made by the owner's mother in the early 1950s.
Copyright:
No substantial extracts may be published without the permission of the owner of the original diary.
Physical Characteristics:
In the course of photocopying the ends of a few words have been lost, but not so as to affect the meaning.
Originals Location:
The original diary is (1995) in the possession of the diarist's great-grandson.
Related Unit of Description:
This is the diary referred to on page 36 of Hazel Lake, The Arkwrights and Harlow (privately published 1995), which is available in the Essex Record Office library.

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Accidents Diarist Robert Arkwright twice breaks collar bone while hunting in South Africa, 1845-1846
Subjects Anthropology Diarist Robert Arkwright describes tribes of the interior of South Africa, 1846
Subjects Barracks Officer describes life at Fort Beaufort, South Africa, 1843
Subjects Colonialism Diarist describes 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847'
Subjects Colonialism Diarist describes ‘Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847’
Subjects Game Diarist describes big game hunting in South Africa, 1845-1846
Subjects Guns Diarist, hunting in South Africa 1845-1846, describes rifles and other weapons used
Subjects Horses Diarist loses horses during expeditions in South Africa, 1845-1846
Subjects Islands Diarist, officer of 7th Dragoon Guards, describes stop at Madeira en route for South Africa, 1843
Subjects Islands Diarist, officer of 7th Dragoon Guards, describes stop at Madeira en route for South Africa, 1843
Subjects Military forces Diary of ‘Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847’ by officer of 7th Dragoon Guards
Subjects Missionaries Diarist mentions contacts with missionaries in South Africa, 1846
Subjects Recreation Diarist describes hunting in South Africa, 1843-1846
Subjects Servants Diarist mentions servants taken on hunting trips in South Africa, 1845-1946
Subjects Shipping Diarist Robert Arkwright describes voyage to South Africa, 1843
Subjects Ships Diarist describes voyage to South Africa on the 'Rodney', 1843
Subjects Soldier Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer of 7th Dragoon Guards, describes 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847'
Subjects Sports Diarist describes fox hunting and big game hunting in South Africa, 1843-1846
Subjects Transport Diarist describes voyage to South Africa and treks in interior, 1843-1846
Subjects Travel Diarist describes voyage to South Africa and expeditions to interior, 1843-1846
Subjects Travellers Diarist describes voyage to South Africa and expeditions to interior, 1843-1846
Subjects War Diarist describes aftermath of Kaffir war in South Africa, 1846
Personal Names -
Cumming 		Old Etonian hunter of big game, 1846
Personal Names Andrew
Arkwright 		owner of original diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847' by Robert Arkwright, 1995
Personal Names Robert Wigram
Arkwright 		Diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa' 1843-1847
Personal Names Chief
Setchele
- 		Object of missionary work of David Livingstone, 1846
Personal Names Chief
Sichele
- 		Object of missionary work of David Livingstone, 1846
Personal Names Chief
Sichele
- 		Object of missionary work of David Livingstone, 1846
Personal Names Dr
David
Livingstone 		Mentioned by diarist as missionary at camp of chief 'Sichele' [Setchele], 1846
Personal Names Dr
David
Livingstone 		Mentioned by diarist as missionary at camp of chief 'Sichele' [Setchele], 1846
Place Names Africa, Rio de Oro Troop ship, en route for South Africa, stops at, 1843
Place Names Africa, South Africa Copy of diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847' by Robert Arkwright
Place Names Africa, South Africa Copy of diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847' by Robert Arkwright
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Algoa Bay Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, disembarks at, 1843
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Cape Town Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, mentions passage through, 1846-1847
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Cape Town Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, mentions passage through, 1846-1847
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Fort Beaufort Diarist Robert Arkwright stationed at Fort Beaufort with 7th Dragoon Guards, 1843-1847
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Grahamstown Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards 1843-1847, mentions life at
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Orange River Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards 1843-1847, mentions expeditions to
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Supalala River Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, describes life near, 1846
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Umpalala River Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, describes life near, 1846
Place Names Africa, South Africa, Vaal River Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer with 7th Dragoon Guards, goes on expedition beyond Vaal, 1846
Place Names Hampshire, Gosport Embarkation of 7th Dragoon Guards for South Africa, 1843
Place Names Madeira Diarist Robert Arkwright, officer en route for South Africa, describes stop at, 1843
Document Types Autobiography Diary of Robert Arkwright describing ‘Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847’
Document Types Diary Copy of Robert Arkwright's diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847'
Document Types Photocopy Transcript of Robert Arkwright's diary of ‘Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847’
Document Types Transcript Diary of Robert Arkwright describing ‘Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847’
Institutions Eton College Copy of diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847' by Robert Arkwright, Old Etonian
Institutions Great Britain and Ireland, Army, 7th Dragoon Guards Copy of Robert Arkwright's diary of 'Four Years Campaigning in South Africa 1843-1847'
Institutions Malabar ship, 1847
Institutions Rodney army transport ship, 1843
Institutions Rodney army transport ship, 1843