WORLD’S OLDEST MAN
'ALLEGED 140 YEARS OLD - In a kraal near Lyndenburg a veterinary surgeon recently fouud a native 140' years old 1 . Stories of native longevity m South Afi'ica are'tisually regarded with suspicion; but this untutored native describes historical personalities ..and events with convincing vividness. The veterinary surgoon found the old man. almost blind, crawling about the kraal on his hands and knees. “How old are your'”- asked the surgeon. “We natives do not count our ages by the years as you white people do,” replied tho native. “When did the. first white man come io this village, then?” queried the veterinary surgeon. “Tho first was Louis Trichard't—l remember him well. Ho was returning form Zoutpunsbevg, and passed through hero on his way to tho lands of the Portuguese near the big water.” Louis Triehardt was lb) erst of the Voortrekkers (Dutch farmers who were dissatisfied with British rule) to leave the Capci Colony. He must have reached the old man’s village about the year 1836. “When I was a youngster,” croaked the old native, “I worked in tho Graaff Rcinet district, and I rail remember tho time when the English and Dutch made war on one another.” 1 his would have been the war proceeding tho second British occupation of the Cape in 1806. The old man has already survived two wives, and is hoping to outlive the third, whoso companionship lie is at piescnt enjoying. His age is probably greater than that of Old' Jan, the deist, pure-bred. Bushman, who klied recently at ihe reputed age of 130. Old .Tan was to have been taken to Wembley, but his health failed.
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Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 8 May 1925, Page 7
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274WORLD’S OLDEST MAN Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 8 May 1925, Page 7
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