Vilander, Hendrik * ?, ? † . Lived amongst the people of Hendrik Witbooi in Rietmond and worked there as a teacher ("Schulmeister") for a longer period ("längere Zeit") until the Nama-war in 1904. Lind classifies him as a "Bastard". Was to appointed to the branch station Aroab by Lind in the middle of 1919, when Lind himself was stationed at Rietfontein. Lind had searched for a suitable person for this job and was wrote in a letter to the Mission Board ("Deputation") on the 25.08.1919 that he was now certain that he had found the right person for the work as a teacher, catechist and translator. Lind emphasises in his letter that a permanent preacher at the branch station is as important as "[...] the daily bread" for the people. Lind had requested the amount of £ 30,- per year for the subsistence payments for Vilander. Lind expresses his certainty, that the congregations in Rietfontein and Aroab will be able to collect the money for his and Vilander's salary, so that the Mission Society would not need to contribute nothing.1 Background on the Vilander group in Mier/Rietfontein: Dirk Vilander and his group arrived in the "Mierland" by the end of the 19th century. There are different accounts of their background and their movement. Dirk Vilander was born in Stellenbosch in 1807. One account has it, that the group lived in the Bokkeveld in the 1850's before they moved to the Afrikaner-Orlams of David Afrikaner (the Afrikaners that remained at Blydeverwacht after Jonker Afrikaner moved to Windhoek in 1835) at Blydeverwacht. Here they stayed for three years. During this time, nine of the Vilanders were taught by WMMS missionary R. Ridgell, who was stationed in Warmbad 1856-1857. From Blydeverwacht they moved on to Has (the area of Mier and Rietfontein), together with Jacobus (Kootjie) Afrikaner the son of David Afrikaner. Another version insists, that the Vilanders (probably in different treks) came to the Afrikaners in 1865 from Schietfontein (Carnarvon) and Amandelboom (Williston). Kootjie appointed Dirk Vilander as one of his under-capteins and the groups lived together peacefully until, in 1869, fighting broke out between the two groups. Kootjie was defeated by the Vilanders, with the support of the Veldskoendragers at the Skanzen. A peace treaty was signed later. Years later, Kootjie moved back to Mier, In 1879 he was arrested by the Cape Government as a rebel and send to Robben-Island. He returned to Mier and was buried in Haruchas. Dirk Vilander died on 25.08.1888 and was buried at Mier. His son, Dawid Vilander took over as the kaptein.2 3 The American W.L. Hunt (alias G.A. Farini), visited the Vilanders in Mier and wrote the following cynic account of a church service in the village: "Just as Verlander [sic] finished, a bell hanging on a pole outside was rung. The chief at once, all his grootmen following suit, and taking their chairs to the end of the room, motioning me to do the same. This I did, wondering what was to follow next; and we had hardly seated ourselves when a troop of women and children, of all sizes and colours, slovenly-looking creatures, with dirty faces, came and squatted on the floor opposite to us, those most nearly in a state of nature taking a back seat. Then came in an old man, with sore, red eyes, dressed in rags of many colours, his coat reminding me of the one that Joseph's brothers dipped in blood. Under his arm he carried a book, which I recognized as the Bible; and then it dawned upon me that we were going to have a "meetin'," [sic] as they call it in America. Service was opened by the sore-eyed old mulatto uttering a long prayer, in which he asked his Maker for all the good things He possessed, and promised to be good in return, and to keep Him as his only God. This was on a par with all the dealings of these people - trying to get the best of it in everything. Then a psalm was sung, the key being pitched by a bid, fat daughter of Verlander's. As the others took up the singing, one very beautiful voice sounded clear above them all. To my surprise, it came from one of the naked Bushwomen, who kept them all from getting off into another tune with another metre and in a different key. Then the old sinner with the sore optics preached a sermon, spitting it out in the most guttural Dutch he could cough up. But his congregation did not seem to pay much attention, most of them amusing themselves by watching half a dozen goats that were playing about near the door. The sermon being over, another hymn was sung, and the meeting concluded with prayer, in which the blear-eyed old hypocrite again reminded the Lord of his willingness to accept any loose blessings that might be on hand at that moment. Without losing any time Verlander rose and motioned us to follow him. As we walked out, "I'll-vatch-it" whispered in my ear, "You vatch it; dat von old hypocrite, he don't make me humbug mit dem churches. He make drunk mit my prandy plenty Sundays before, after his church is finish, you'll vatch it.[sic]""4 The description given here is most probably that of Jakob Titus who worked amongst the Vilanders as teacher and Evangelist. Unfortunately this is all that Farini writes about this preacher. Titus must have been over 60 years old, when Farini visited Mier. Ignoring the cynic undertone in Farini's description, one can imagine the group of settlers, practising their daily devotion - not necessarily Sunday service as such. 5 From Mier, Farini travelled in the direction of Rietfonein. On his way they visited the family of "Jan" - which was most probably Jan Vilander, one of the sons of Dirk Vilander. From the text it becomes clear that the following photo shows Jan's family. 6 Vedder schreibt in einem 9-seitigem Bericht nach dem WWII über die Entwicklung in Rietfontein-Bockspütz, die Station, die während des Krieges nicht weiter von Keetmanshoop versorgt werden konnte. Ein NGK dominee Joubert betreute die Gemeinde mit "Wortverkündigung und Verwaltung". In Rietfontein gab sich kurz darauf ein Ältester Vries das Recht die Sakramente zu verwalten und gründete eine "Personalgemeinde", wie Vedder sie nennt. Vier Gemeindeälteste und ein Diaken schrieben, dass sie bereit seien, Joubert aufzunehmen, aber sie bildeten eine Minderheit in der Gemeinde und konnten sich nicht durchsetzen. "[...] zumal der Nachkommen des früheren Häuptlings Vilander, ein von mir im Augustineum ausgebildeter Lehrer, der aber wegen groben Ehebruchs entlassen werden musste, sich ganz auf die Seite der Unwilligen stellte."7 (AVEM RMG 2.694b:90r). Married: Children: Education: Other family members connected to RMG: Siehe Barend Philander 180.doc. Mission Stations: History with the RMG: 1 AVEM RMG 1.656b:58+59. 2 Stals 2009:91-107. 3 Farini 1886:276. 4 Farini 1886:282-284. 5 Farini 1886:369. 6 Farini 1886:378. 7 AVEM RMG 1.656b:59. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------