¹ This term, which is usually used to describe extrinsic evidence, is misleading as it suggests that the class of evidence described is oral evidence only, but it includes evidence in documents other than the document under consideration by the court.

² [1897] A.C. 540 at 545.

³ See especially s. 2 of the 1909 Order. See also generally Quansah, E.K., Introduction to the Botswana Legal System, Department of Law, University of Botswana, 1993, 1–8.Google Scholar

⁴ See Hoffman, L.H. and Zeffertt, D.T., The South African Law of Evidence, 4th ed 1989, 293.Google Scholar See also Wigmore, J.H., Evidence, 3rd ed. 1940, s. 2400, where the learned author opined that the rule is in no sense a rule of evidence but a rule of substantive law.Google Scholar

⁵ Unreported Civil App. No 22/1995, HC Misca. No. 10/1995 and HC Misca No. 109/1995 judgment delivered on 28 January, 1997.

⁶ (1816) 105 E.R. 1077.Google Scholar

⁷ Ibid. at 1079. See for example Von Ziegler & Anor v. Superior Furniture Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd 1962 (3) S.A. 399(T)Google Scholar and Chamani v. St Ives Trading Co. (Pty) Ltd 1982 (2) S.A. 638(D).Google Scholar

⁸ At 15 of the transcript.

⁹ On the importance of notice of dishonour, see ss. 47–49 Bills of Exchange Act, 1964 (cap. 04: 02), Cowen, D.V. and Gering, L., The Law of Negotiable Instruments in South Africa, 5th ed.Cape Town, 1985, 130–31;Google Scholar and Malan, F.R. and Beer, C.R. De, Bills of Exchange, Cheques and Promissory Notes in South African Law, Durban, 1983, 221, paras. 264–69.Google Scholar

¹⁰ See Ord.30 of the High Court Rules cap. 04:02.

¹¹ On the court's power to do this, see Ord.31 r. 3 High Court Rules.

¹² See Ord.14 r.5.

¹³ See Barclays National Bank Ltd v. Serfontein 1981 (3) S.A. 244(W)Google Scholar, Aarwater (Edms) Bpk v. Venter 1982 (3) S.A. 974(T)Google Scholar, Coetzee & Solomon Real Estate (Pty) Ltd v. Texeira 1970 (1) S.A. 94(D)Google Scholar and Navidas v. Essop: Metha v. Essop 1994 (4) S.A. 141 (A)Google Scholar

¹⁴ See n. 7 above.

¹⁵ 1949 (4) S.A. 40(T).Google Scholar

¹⁶ At 44.

¹⁷ 1961 (1) S.A. 516(W).Google Scholar

¹⁸ At 518D.

¹⁹ At 521G.

²⁰ At 408A-B.

²¹ See, for example, Akasia Finance v. Da Souza 1993 (2) S.A. 337(W).Google Scholar

²² 1973 (2) S.A. 620Google Scholar

²³ Quoted by Jensen, J.A., in his judgment at 628–29.

²⁴ At 628G-H.

²⁵ At 629C. Another opportunity presented itself in Marshall & Anor v. Bull Quip (Pty) Ltd (1) S.A. 23 but again the court did not avail itself of it. See the judgment of Corbett, J.A., at 28 and 29.

²⁶ At 24–25 of the transcript.

²⁷ 1962 (3) S.A. 399(T) at 410B-D. See n. 6 above.Google Scholar

²⁸ See n. 6 above.

²⁹ At 26 of the transcript.

³⁰ See n. 21 above.

³¹ At 339D-I.

³² At 27 of the transcript.

³³ See for example, Akasia Finance v. Da Souza, above, n. 27.

³⁴ See Banque Beige pour L'Etranger v. Hambrouck [1921] 1 K.B. 321 at 335 per Atkin, L.J.Google Scholar

³⁵ See Eves v. Eves [1975] 3 All E.R. 768 at 771 per Lord, Denning M.R.Google Scholar