Lot 4001
1849 (28 May) folded letter from New Barmen written by Emma Hahn, wife of the missionary Hugo Hahn, to her mother in London (7.12), showing "General Post Office/Capetown" oval Crown and straight-line "Ship Letter" handstamps, rated "4" for postage within the Cape and "8" for British ship letter, Very Fine and early missionary letter.
Estimate 7,500 - 10,000
In 1842, the Nama leader Jonker Afrikaner invited the first missionaries to settle among his people. The Rhenish Missionary Society sent Hugo Hahn and Heinrich Kleinschmidt to Okahandja to further its work. The Latvian born Hahn, who remained in South West Africa for 30 years, was the most influential missionary. He left Klein Windhoek in October, 1843 and eventually settled in New Barmen. Amongst other things, the above letter describes the feud between Jonker Afrikaner and the Ovahereros: "… we heard that two cattle posts of Jonker Afrikaner had been robbed by the Ovambautiru (East Damras), he was on his way to Walvich bay and was called back and although unable to find the guilty parties pursued & attacked others and returned with much booty. Previously, while on the road to the Bay he had wantonly without the slightest cause, fallen upon a large village of Overherero (West Damras) and killed 30 Kaitjine, brother of the Captain Kamu-Kamu Captain of the above-mentioned tribe, rose with a large party of his people and fell upon Jonkers and his people in the night, he was however obliged to retreat after losing 5 or 6 men, the Namaquas long accustomed to guns know their use better than the Ovaherero among whom they have been introduced during the last five years. Kaitjine is one of the most powerful and richest of the Ovaherero Chiefs and had till this last depredation on Jonker's side been on friendly terms with him, but now fearful lest Jonker should attack him he has removed now northward where he still remains about two days ride on oxback from this. Last week my dear husband rode thither and met with a most cordial reception".
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