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Date: 1835 Type: Memorial Status: Extant   Click to view map Coordinates: 33°05'56.47" S 27°04'32.85" E Alt: 436m

Situated on a gently sloping terrain, the memorial site commemorates the occasion when the Mfengu people (previously Fingo) gathered on 14 May 1835 after their arrival from north of the Kei River. In the presence of the Rev. John Ayliff they declared their loyalty "to God and King." The gathering reputedly took place adjacent to a White Milkwood tree Sideroxylon inerme, believed to be this particular mature specimen. A bronze wording plaque was erected on a pylon by the Historical Monuments Commission, in close proximity to the White Milkwood tree. A modern interpretative display (now vandalised) and a small wood-and-iron building complete the balance of the heritage site. A transcription of the tri-lingual English, Afrikaans and Xhosa wording plaque is provided below: THE FINGO MILKWOOD TREE ON MAY 14TH 1835, THE FINGO PEOPLE , HAVING ENTERED THE COLONY FROM THE COUNTRY BEYOND THE KEI, ASSEMBLED NEAR THIS UMQWASHU TREE AND IN THE PRESENCE OF THE REV. JOHN AYLIFF DECLARED THEIR LOYALTY TO GOD AND AND KING. ERECTED BY HISTORICAL MONUMENTS COMMISSION DIE FINGO - MELKHOUTBOOM NADAT DIE FINGOES VAN OORKANT DIE KEI IN DIE KOLONIE AANGEKOM HET, HET HULLE OP 14 MEI 1835, NABY HIERDIE UMQWASHUBOOM BYMEKAARGEKOM, EN IN DIE TEENWOORDIGHEID VAN EERW. JOHN AYLIFF HULLE TROU AAN GOD EN KONING BETUIG. OPGERIG DEUR DIE HISTORIESE MONUMENTE KOMMISSIE EMQWASHINI NGOMHLA WE - 14 KUCANZIbE 1835 AbAMBO bAKUbA bENGENILE EKOLONIE bEVELA PHESHEYA KWENCIbA bAHLANGANA pHANTSI KWALOMQWAfU bAZA PHAMBI KOMFUNDISI U-JOHN AYLIFF bAVAKALISA INTObEKO YAbO KUTHIXO NOKOMANI KUMISWE LIQUMYU LOKULONDOLOZA IZINTO EZEHLAYO KUDALA