Starts with portrait of Turner, taken a few days before he left England. There is an account of the voyage to Natal which took 77 days. On the voyage, a Mr Woodstock told him about the "Kaffirs" (colonial term), Natal and the sugar and coffee farming which went on there. He arrived at Natal Bay on 11th May, after which he went to stay with a fellow-passenger named Aiken at Ifafa, 70 miles south of Durban. There he visited a sugar estate and went on a journey to buy mealies, of which there was a famine. He is determined to try sheep-farming and describes a journey with a Mr Elgie to the Dutch states to buy sheep. There is much about hunting and the difficulties of the journey.

On page 67 there is a picture entitled "Outspanning". It describes the Basutos and makes unflattering comments about the Boers. On page 70 is a picture of Moshesh, followed by a press clipping entitled "The governor of Cape Colony and the opponents of his policy in Basutoland". He says some missionaries do more harm than good and describes a meeting with Moshesh's sons.

There is an amusing account of how he was offered a farm by a Boar farmer on condition that he became his son-in-law. He says "The Dutch here live like pigs". On returning from this expedition, which was made difficult by war between Boers and Moshesh, he decides against sheep-farming and decides to start a store at Imzinkulu, near Ifafa on the Natal south coast. He describes his problems in building a house, looking after cattle and starting a store, particularly as times are bad in Natal. Drought killed his young tobacco plants. He describes a visit by Governor Bissett and Sir T. Shepstone.

The journal covers the period March 6-May 11, 1864, after which he writes letters to his parents and other members of his family.

An extract from "The Natal Mercury" entitled "To Port Grosvenor" by "Rambler" in which he describes a journey and visit to Port Grosvenor. He comments on Captain Turner and his family and compliments him on his farm.

An extract from "The Natal Mercury" entitled "To Port Grosvenor" by "Rambler" in which he describes a journey and visit to Port Grosvenor. He comments on Captain Turner and his family and compliments him on his farm.

He describes how his store and farm are prospering, how exceedingly busy he is and how he is looking for a partner. He has been visited by Dr Rutherford, the government surveyor; he hopes to get the appointment of field-cornet. He is building a new ferry-boat and experimenting with dried fish. Also engaged in building a new farmhouse on the other side of the river.

On page 113 is a sketch of the district and his farm. Describes a journey to Richmond. Copper has been discovered, which may be shipped from his river.

Starts with the address of a Mrs C Burton, "Glen Rosa", 693 Hope Street, Kokstad, East Griqualand. Then gives an extract from letter dated 1878 December 31, in which he says the Zulu War is about to start and he is just off to the front. He is a lieutenant in the Mounted Reserve but is going to join the Durban Mounted Volunteers. In a letter of 1879 January 29 to his wife, he discusses the progress of the war as seen from No.1 column.

Starts with the address of a Mrs C Burton, "Glen Rosa", 693 Hope Street, Kokstad, East Griqualand. Then gives an extract from letter dated 1878 December 31, in which he says the Zulu War is about to start and he is just off to the front. He is a lieutenant in the Mounted Reserve but is going to join the Durban Mounted Volunteers. In a letter of 1879 January 29 to his wife, he discusses the progress of the war as seen from No.1 column.

Goes back in time to 1869, when he is still farming but now married. Describes a hunting trip and a riding accident in which he is severely injured.