Arrived home from Basutoland on October 4 to find his wife and nearly all the children ill, as well as relatives from Pniel; relates many deaths of family and friends including Elias Plaatje, the Evangelist, his brother [Ramokoto?'s son and Lucas Mashoko; there were also deaths at Thaba Nchu; at home Richard Mojanaga has a lung disease and Robert Setlogelo and his wife, the daughter of Mbelle have died a few daps after their marriage; at Bethany people were sick but did not die and at Lovedale School where his wife Ma Sainty teaches, ssven hundred were ill but only six died; Kimberley has been left desolate.

Informs him of debts for which Chief Joshua is responsible which have to be settled; if a summons is issued he will he in a bad position; in going to attend the Tsala's quarterly meeting in Thaba Nchu.

Informs him of fees and expenses for the course in medicine at Leeds University; he will have to he there by June to be ready to commence.

Requests Molema to persuade Chief Lekoko to keep a promise which he has not fulfilled; mentions offering a temporary job to Modiri [Molema] at the school [Lyndhurst Road].

Is coming with his wife to Mafeking; De Beers have requested that he [Molema] come to Kimberley to treat the invalid wife of one of the chauffeurs; has just returned from the Orthography Conference at Pretoria and thinks that their findings will displease the various tribes.

Regrets that he has not replied about Leeds Hospital and medical training in England or America but he has been troubled by sickness and death in the family and tribe; this also affected their work in the Transvaal as they were not able to get any money from there which made things worse; Chief Tatinyane [Motshegare]'s arrest has caused great sorrow because of his position; deplores uprising of the children of Mosele from Thaba Nchu; hopos that the year will end well, as it started with sorrows.

Regrets that his time has been wasted by coming to Mafeking to see the Chief; reports that Mr Welsh will be going to Mafeking, and that he states that their land does not belong to them but on migrating to the south the Baralong were diverted to the east by the Matabele War; they then killed the Hottentots living in the mountains and as a result they are now being penalised:

Plaatje refutes argument stating that the land from Mafeking to Lohurutse belongs to the Baralong and Bangwaketse; blood was not shed deliberately but caused by provocation of the Matabele; they fought together with the Boers to expel the Matabele, yet now the Boers are troubling them.

Jewish traders want to make a deal with Mr Mbelle who in away so he has referred them to him; they want to buy cattle for slaughtering and want a trustworthy man to work with them and will pay him per head of cattle; they want a large quantity and hope to persuade the Bechuanaland Protectorate chiefs to give them the monopoly; he will be interested to hear that they know Gordon and want to compete with him; he will have to bargain for a price but they are not stingy with money; the runners will be paid monthly and not per head of cattle.

Has given a letter of introduction to the cattle buyer; while in Mafeking visited his home to find out why he had not written; wan told by Molema's wife that Mr Slaughter would not be able to come because of urgent husineas in Johannesburg; was worried about his appointment with him and the collection of the Barolong; there in drought all over; is wondering about their agreement about the type.

Has received telegram informing him of Chief Wessel's death; should ask Chief Lekoko if he should approach Mr Dower and Advocate Buxton about the dispute with the stipulated salary of the chief; also wants permission to mention Chief Lekoko'o efforts to establish a Reserve Fund (according to Proclamation 62 BB of 1889) in order to build schools, dams etc.; fears that Mr Green, the magistrate of Mafeking, will withhold the salary from the chief as he hates the Barolong.