Has found no work or employment; asks him to plead with Linde to help him out of his difficulties; fears to lose bis job [editing the newspaper?] and even his smaller jobs selling insurance and writing for the Pretoria News can easily be lost.

Has received letter from Monnoapula about the financial problems and informing Plaatje that Maduo has given away his plot of land to Ephraim Molema, and even wanted to rob his house as it was on his land; Plaatje asks Silas Molema to intervene as Maduo had given him the land before witnesses; was unable to attend Congress'sainterview with Mr Sour [Sauer) and thus their affairs were not represented.

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.