Foto-albums / Photo Albums

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Foto-albums Twee foto-albums wat in die Damfontein opstal uitgestal is. Die eerste album het aan Cornelia Susanna Henning (gebore Kotze) *1-8-1839, eggenote van a2.b7.c8. Olivier Johannes Gerhardus Cornelis Henning *1-12-1834, behoort. Die tweede album het aan a2.b7.c8.d8. Olivier Johannes Henning *11-9-1869 en sy vrou Magdalena Maria Daisy (gebore Beeton) *5-1-1877 behoort. Beide albums bevat talle foto’s van negentiende eeuse Hennings. Ongelukkig het geen van die foto’s name by nie, met die implikasie dat slegs sommige direkte familielede uitgeken kan word. Omdat beide albums foto’s van sover terug as 1860/70 bevat vermoed ons dat daar selfs een of meer foto(s) van a2.b7. Gert Frans Henning *April 1785 en sy vrou Gerbreg Leviena (gebore Olivier) kan wees, maar ons kan hulle nie uitken nie.

Photo albums. Two photo albums which were displayed in the Damfontein homestead. The first album belonged to Cornelia Susanna Henning (born Kotze) *1-8-1839, spouse of a2.b7.c8. Olivier Johannes Gerhardus Cornelis Henning *1-12-1834. The second album belonged to a2.b7.c8.d8. Olivier Johannes Henning *11-9-1869 and his wife Magdalena Maria Daisy (born Beeton) *5-1-1877. Both albums contain photographs of nineteenth century Hennings. Unfortunately none of the photographs display the names of the people, therefore only some directly linked ancestors could be identified. Both albums contain photographs as old as the 1860s/70s , therefore we suspect that there could even be photographs of a2.b7. Gert Frans Henning *April 1785 and his wife Gerbreg Leviena (born Olivier), but we cannot identify them. Both albums in possesion of the Henning Family League

Die foto wat die meeste aandag in Olivier JGC Henning en sy vrou Cornelia se album trek, is ook die enigste foto waar ‘n aanduiding gegee word van wie se foto dit is — Kreli.

Kreli was die opperhoof van die Xhosas. Hy is ongeveer 1818 gebore en was die seun van Hintsa, een van die heel bekendste Xhosa opperhoofde. Teen die Britse regeerders aan die Kaap het Kreli homself as ‘n vaardige diplomaat onderskei. In 1846 het hy Sir Andries Stockenstrom tydens ‘n vredeskonferensie uitoorlê. Die besluite van hierdie konferensie is in 1848 beeindig en dit het die weggebaan vir ‘n vriendskaplike vergadering met Goewerneur Harry Smith, naby King Williamstown. Van 1850 tot 1852 was hy weer in ‘n oorlog teen die Britte, maar is verslaan. Hy het in 1853 ingestem tot ‘n vredesooreenkoms. Sy heerskappy is finaal verbreek tydens die veevernietigingsdwaling van 1856 toe ‘n jong Xhosameisie met die naam Nongquase voorspel het dat die dag naderkom wanneer alle witmense in hulle land in die see gedryf sal word. Afgestorwe opperhoofde sou uit die dood verrys, hulle veekrale sou skielik met vee gevul word en hulle landerye sou eensklaps ruig met graan gestaan het. Op daardie dag sou die son bloedrooi verrys en al die graan op die lande sou gereed wees om ge-oes te word. Siektes en ouderdom sou verdwyn. Diegene wat opdragte verontagsaam het, sou deur ‘n sterk wind in die see gewaai word. Om al hierdie dinge moontlik te maak, moes alle vee in besit van die hele Xhosa volk doodgemaak word. Alle landerye en groentebeddings moes vernietig word. Ten spyte van alle pogings deur die Kaapse regering en sendelinge om dit te voorkom het hierdie vernietigings voortgegaan. Meer as 200 000 stuks vee is doodgemaak. Daar is spesiale krale gebou waar al die voorspelde veë wat uit die see sou verrys gehou sou word. Die hutte se dakke is ook versterk om die verwagte wind te weerstaan. 18 Februarie 1857 was die voorspelde datum waarop al die wonderwerke sou gebeur. Toe die son soos gewoonlik opkom en daar geen teken was van enige van die voorspellings van Nongquase het die hele Xhosavolk besef dat hulle mislei is. ‘n Nagmerrie van hongersnood en wanhoop het op die gewone mense neergedaal. Amptelike syfers het aangedui dat die bevolking van Brits Kaffraria vanaf 1 Januarie 1857 tot 31 Julie 1857 van 104 721 mense tot 37 229 geval het. Verdere verliese het ook elders plaasgevind. Grootskaalse hulpverlening is deur ander lande gestuur, maar die militêre mag van Kreli se Xhosas was vir eeue lank gebreek. Deur oorlewering is nasate onder die indruk gebring dat Olivier J G C Henning van tyd tot tyd kontak met Kreli gehad het. Hierdie is ook die enigste foto van hom wat bestaan.

The photo that draw the most attention in Olivier JGC Henning and his wife Cornelia’s album is also the only photo that gives an indication of whose photo it is – Kreli.

Kreli was the chief of the Xhosa nation. He was born about 1818 and was the son of Hintsa, one of the most famous Xhosa chiefs. Against the British rulers at the Cape, Kreli distinguished himself as a skilled diplomat. In 1846 he got the better of his negotiations with Sir Andries Stockenstrom at a peace conference. The resolutions of this conference were finalized in 1848 and paved the way for a friendly meeting with Governor Harry Smith, near King Williamstown. From 1850 to 1852 he was again in a war against the British, but was defeated. He agreed in 1853 to a peace agreement. His rule was finally broken during the 1856 livestock destruction miscarriage when a young Xhosa girl named Nongquase predicted that the day would come when all white people in their land would be driven into the sea. Dead chiefs would rise from the dead, their cattle pens would suddenly be filled with livestock, and their fields would suddenly have stood rough with grain. On that day the sun would rise red and all the grain on the fields would be ready to be harvested. Diseases and age would disappear. Those who disobeyed commands would be blown into the sea by a strong wind. To make all this possible, all cattle owned by the entire Xhosa people had to be killed. All fields and vegetable beds had to be destroyed. Despite all efforts by the Cape government and missionaries to prevent it, these destruction continued. More than 200,000 cattle were killed. Special beads were built where all the predicted cattle that would rise from the sea would be kept. The roofs of the huts were also strengthened to withstand the expected wind. February 18, 1857 was the predicted date when all the miracles would happen. When the sun rose as usual and there was no sign of any of Nongquase’s predictions, the entire Xhosa people realized that they were deceived. A nightmare of famine and despair descended on the ordinary people. Official figures indicate that from January 1, 1857 to July 31, 1857, the population of British Kaffraria fell from 104 721 people to 37 229. Further losses also occurred elsewhere. Large-scale aid was sent by other countries, but the military power of Kreli’s Xhosas was broken for centuries. By tradition, descendants were brought under the impression that Olivier J G C Henning had contact with Kreli. This is also the only photo of Kreli that exist.

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