Near the roadside between Aberdeen and Graaff-Reinet, in the middle of the veld, lies an old cast iron bedstead. According to legend this is the grave of a woman who took ill and died while the family was trekking by ox-wagon through the Karoo. They could have came from the Rietbron area so were too far from home to return for a proper burial in a cemetery. Her husband, therefore, buried her next to the road and touchingly used their marital bed to mark and protect her grave, and proceeded on the journey with the rest of the family. Cast iron beds only became commonplace in the late 19th century so it is unlikely to have been from the time of the Great Trek.

According to the owner of the farm, Trenly Spence, his family have been farming there since 1918. He says:
By process of elimination it is not from the Great Trek. Those beds were only imported late 1890’s. So i assume it was between 1890 and 1918 when we bought the farm.
There are basically 3 versions. 
One it was a little girl. 
Secondly it was a woman. 
Thirdly that is was a mother having a difficult birth.
So basically just speculation. The 3rd option could be why some stories refer to either a girl or woman. 

Although the true facts will probably never be known, the grave site can be easily seen on the left on the N9 to Aberdeen, about 30 km from Graaff-Reinet. The grave is located on private land so if you’re not going to be happy only looking at it from the roadside but rather would like a closer look, please contact the farmer – Trenly Spence – at 082 898 4960.