Thesis (MA) -- Stellenbosch University, 1994. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Since the beginning ot the eighteenth century white cattle farmers passed regularly through the Langkloof. At the time they appeared on the scene native hunters and stock-farmers had already settled in the valley. By taking twenty farms on loan from the Dutch East India Colllpany the entire Langkloof was occupied by whites between the years 1760 to 1765. They were predominantly members d the second and third generation of the settlers who originally ca;ne to the Cape cl Good Hope. The community which evolved during the last four decades ot the eighteenth century in the Langkloof as a result or the influx cl whites, consisted of a small number of families. The majority oC these families were related to one another. Except for a few leading figures and persons notorious for their unconventional conduct, there were no other outstanding characters in the Langkloof. The first white inhabitants were pioneers who, living in isolation, had to struggle for survival. They were mainly stock-farmers, but as the result of the climate and vegetation, the large distances fn:Ma the market place, and the detrimental economic policy or the govern nent oC the Dutch East India Company, they could not prosper. Culturally they were deprived. There is only scanty evidence of formal education in the Langkloof, but the majority of white adults could at least sign their names. The only contact they had with the outside world was with expeditions travelling through the valley, and with the officials of the Company, especially those stationed at the drostdy at Swellendam. The churches closest to them, in Tulbagh and cape Town, were as a result of the distances, almost exclusively visited on occasions of baptism and weddings. During approximately the last two decades of the rule ot the Dutch East India Company, lite In the Langkloot gained an additional dimension as a result of the political turbulence surrounding the rebellion against the authorities at Swellendam, and the threat the Bantu east of the valley posed to the survival of the whites. Up to 1795 there were no significant dramatic happenings in the Langkloof. Without being in the centre of attention the community in the valley was developing an own unique identity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Toe blanke veeboere die Langkloof vanaf die begin van die agtiende eeu op 'n gereelde basis begin betree het, was daar alreeds inheemse jagters en veeboere, naamlik die Khwe en Boesmans, woonagtig. Tussen 1760 en 1765 is die hele Langkloof' deur blankes beset deurdat twintig plase volgens die leningsplaasstelsel deur bJanke kolonfste, wat hoofsaaklik van die tweede en derde geslag van die Suid-Mrikaanse stamvaders was, bekom is. Die gemeenskap wat as gevolg daarvan gedurende die laaste vier dekades van die agtiende eeu in die Langkloof ontstaan bet, het uit 'n paar families bestaan wat, .aet weinige uitsonderings na, aan mekaar verwant was. Behalwe vir enkele leiersfigure en persone wat berugtheid weens hul robuuste optrede verwerf het, was daar nie ander uitstaande persoonlikhede nie. Die eerste blanke Langklowers was pioniers wat in omstandighede van isolasie 'n worstelstryd om oorlewing gevoer het. Die hoofbedryf was veeboerdery. maar faktore soos bodemgesteldheid, afstand van die markte en die wurgende ekonomiese beleid van die Kompanjiesregering bet die Langklowers ekonomles agterlik gehou. Op kulturele gebied was daar weinig beskawingsinvloede. Van formele opvoeding in die Langkloof kon weinig spore gevind word, maar daar is bewyse dat die meeste volwasse blanke inwoners ten minste kon skryf. Die enigste aanraking met die buitewereld was met die reisgeselskappe en die amptenary van die Kompanjie, veral van die drosdy op Swellendam. Met die naaste kerke in die Land van Waveren (Tulbagh) en Kaapstad, is 'n kerk byna uitsluitlik net met doop- en huweliksgeleenthede besoek. Vir ongeveer die laaste twee dekades van die V.O.C.-bewind bet die alledaagse lewe in die Langkloof 'n nuwe dlmensle bygekry as gevoll van die polltlek woellnge, aangestlg deur ontevredenheid met die owerhede, wat op 'n opstand teen die regeringsgesag op Swellendam uitgeloop het, en die bedrelglng wat die Bantu oos van die vallel vir die blankes se voortbestaan ingehou bet. Tot 1795 bet daar in die Langkloof geen groat dramatiese gebeurtenlsse plaasgevind nie. Die gemeenskap daar was besig om sander opspraak 'n eie unieke identiteit te ontwikkel.