Die geskiedenis van die Afrikaner-Oorlams : met spesifieke verwysing na die lewe van Jager (Christiaan) Afrikaner, 1760-1822

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to research the history of the Afrikaner family group and then to document it chronologically. The history of the Afrikaner-Oorlams started -during the disintegration period of the Khoikhoi in the West and Northwestern Cape and ended in South West Africa/Namibia, where the Afrikaner-Oorlams settled as an independent Oorlams-Khoikhoi group.First mention of the Afrikaner family group was made in 1761.At this time the disintegration of the Khoikhoi was alreadyin progress - a process which was conciderably aided by theCompany's policy of trade in livestock and also the smallpoxepidemic of the early eighteenth century.The loss of their livestock presented the Khoikhoi with twoalternatives. They would either have to work on the farms ofwhite farmers or they would have to trek to such regionswhich did not fall under colonial jurisdiction. At thisstage, the Afrikaner-Oorlams grouped consisted of only a fewpeople and they had chosen the first option. They becameherdsmen on the farm of Petrus Pienaar, a white stockfarmerin the Tulbagh district. Later on they moved to the Calviniadistrict.When Jager Afrikaner, leader of the Afrikaner-Oorlams beforethe start of the nineteenth century, was born, this group wasan insignificant though independent Khoikhoi family group.At this stage this group wiliness and their ability to usefire arms and their competence as horsemen set them apartfrom the ordinary Khoikhoi. Their close contact with thewhite settlers was also reflected in the Company staff,presented to Klaas Afrikaner, father of Jager Afrikaner bythe Company.Because of their oorlamsheid they progressed from herdsmen to fellow hunters and 'Comrades of Pienaar in commando raids against Bushmen stock thieves. They were commended for their services by the magistrate and also the governor. They also realised that it was the Khoikhoi and Nama relatively easy to raid the stocks of groups who lived on the banks of the Orange river.As their prowess and independence increased, the AfrikanerOorlams rebelled against the master view held by Pienaar.The Afrikaner-Oorlams subsequently murdered Pienaar and then fled to the Orange River region where they settled. These safe river hide-outs enabled them to conduct a reign ofterror and plunder against the indigenous groups livingtheir. Their skill as raiders and marksmen assured them anunchallenged power base. Jager Afrikaner was outlawed bygovernor Charles Somerset in 1799.Round about 1803 Jager Afrikaner left his Orange River hideout and he and his followers settled a day's journey onhorseback north of the river at Blydeverwacht. At JagerAfrikaner's request the first missionaries, the brothersAlbrecht joined the Afrikaner-Oorlams. Jager Afrikaner wasconverted twelve years after the Albrecht brothers startedtheir missionary work amongst the Afrikaner-Oorlams.Due to the efforts of the missionary, Robert Moffat, JagerAfrikaner persevered in his new faith. Jager Afrikanervisited Cape Town. At this stage Governor Somersetrescinded the declaration of outlawery.At his death the Afrikaner-Oorlams group split in two. Hisbrothers Hendrik and Jacobus and their followers persisted intheir new christian way of ·life. His son Jonker Afrikanerand his followers however returned to a life of plunderingand raiding. This group dominated the history of thesouthern and especially the central areas of South WestAfrica/Namibia.Indirectly the Afrikaner-Oorlams had influenced the historyof the Northwest Cape profoundly. Indigenous groups who had little or no contact with white settlers had to defendthemselves continually against the fickle Afrikaner who werein an excellent position as horsemen and marksmen to terrorise them. To protect themselves against marauders these vulnerable groups formed new associations, like the Griquas.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University