The Cornish immigrants, amongst whom were many Cornish miners, who came to South Africa in the late 19th and early 20th century are now almost legendary figures. Regrettably, there is very little reference in South African writing to them. The tales they once told to their children of exploits back in the Old Country and also in the new, did in later generations fall on ears that were deaf and this has meant a tendency towards forgetfulness. More recently, this attitude of disinterest has changed. Their newer descendants have begun to show an increasing interest in their origins, to inquire why, how and for what reason their ancestors came to South Africa.

In a land that owes its entire development to the exploitation of the natural mineral wealth bestowed upon the existing and impoverished agrarian community of the middle 19th century, it is sad to reflect that the memory of the early Cornish pioneers has been so neglected.

South Africa’s pre-eminence in world mining and other fields today owes much to the skill and techniques introduced by Cornishmen born and bred into a tradition of mining and commercial enterprise and having a natural acceptance of its pitfalls.

It is therefore to honour the memory of South Africa’s Cousin Jack ancestors that this book has been brought into existence.

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