| 1889 |
The German administration issues a
new mining ordinance which vests all mining rights in the State, and to this day all
mining legislation is based on that principle. |
| 15.01. |
The member of the German Reichstag,
Bamberger, proposes giving up the colony. |
| 10.03. |
Hendrik Witbooi erects his
headquarters at Hornkranz near the Gamsberg.
Rhenish missionaries report that Hornkranz is a well organised settlement with regular
church services (under Klein-Hendrik Witbooi). |
| 13.03. |
Missionary Brincker asks Bismarck
to intervene militarily in the colony, otherwise it will be lost to the British Cape
Colony. |
| April |
!Hoëb ||Oasmab (also named Fritz
Lazarus ||Oaseb) again joins Hendrik Witbooi. Manasse !Noreseb from the Kai||khaun of
Hoachanas seeks the protection of the Ovaherero Chief Maharero and settles at Seeis. |
24.06.
|
Bismarck, who has even thought of
abandoning the colony, is finally persuaded to provide military backing for the colony,
and 21 soldiers under Curt von Francois subsequently arrive in Walvis Bay. One of Von
Francois’ first activities is to visit Maharero at Okahandja.
Bismarck’s son, Herbert (then Secretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
in Berlin), goes to England and tries without success to exchange SWA for the island
Heligoland. In a letter to his father he says: "I think the deal would be very
advantageous to us, and enormously popular in Germany. Our SWA Company is stagnant,
bankrupt and helpless. We are in a mess with the Commissioner (Göring) who has had
to flee to the English in Walvis Bay". |
| 10.08. |
The battle of Tsaobis is fought
between Hendrik Witbooi and Orlam Afrikaners under Jan Jonker Afrikaner. Jan Jonker is
killed by his son, Phanuel Afrikaner, because Phanuel opposes peace negotiations with
Witbooi. The Orlam Afrikaners’ polity ceases to exist. |
| 18.08. |
Samuel Maharero writes to Von
Francois: "If you did not come with warlike intentions, then I ask you once again
to pay heed to what I say, do not needlessly spend your money but rather go home. If you
do not want to listen to my words then please declare so openly and tell me directly that
you are at war with us." |
| 07.10. |
The first military fortress,
"Wilhelmsfeste" near Tsaobis, is founded by Von Francois. Maharero objects to
the establishment of this colonial fortress in Hereroland.
A transport with arms and ammunition organised by the trader Robert Lewis for Maharero is
stopped in Tsaobis. In consequence of this Lewis is expelled from the colony. |
| 10.10. |
A sale of land treaty is agreed
between the Kharaskhoma-Syndicate and the Chief of the Bondelswarts (!Gami-Pnun), Wilhelm Christian. This treaty
includes all mining rights. With British capital, Theophilus Hahn from the
Kharaskhoma-Syndicate begins some mining activities in the southeast of the territory. An
official agreement between the Kharaskhoma-Syndicate and the German Imperial Government is
concluded on 31.10.1892. 
The Cemetery in Warmbad: With a Grave reflecting the History of
the Kharaskhoma Syndicate of the South
Copyright of Photo: Dr. Klaus Dierks |
| End 1880s |
The first record of the discovery
of semi-precious stones concerns topaz found at the Kleine Spitzkoppe. Later the beryl
varieties, aquamarine and heliodor, are recovered from the Rössing pegmatites and
pegmatites in the vicinity of Karibib. Heliodor from the Hoffnungsstrahl pegmatite near
Rössing are used in a pendant for Empress Auguste Victoria from Germany. Bright speckled,
deep-blue dumortierite is mined on farm Etemba in the Erongo Mountains. |
