119:). The Xhosa warriors repeatedly thrust flaming pieces of wood into the thatch roof of the schoolhouse, but it did not catch fire. After hours of shooting, the settlers managed to drive the Xhosa's away. All the other buildings, including the church, were burned down. Only the schoolhouse was unharmed and stands to this day. In another case, a house was on fire and Spoorbek was called in to help. He allegedly rode around the house in a circle with his white horse and dragged a long staff on the ground. After he completed the circle around the house the fire leaped from the roof onto the magic circle. Spoorbek rode away on his horse and the flames followed him - most possessions in the house were saved from the fire. In another account, Spoorbek put out a fire in a sheepkraal between Bedford and AdelaĂŻde which smouldered for eight days despite constant rain. He gave the farmer three pieces of white paper and told him:
90:. Spoorbek lived in a small thatched cottage with only two rooms. He built a watermill along the Krom River and ground wheat for the whole neighborhood. According to his death register entry he was a stonecutter of occupation, was unmarried and had no children. In 1901, Mr. J. R. van der Merwe, a school teacher who moved to Humansdorp, recorded tales of Spoorbek from elderly people who still had personal memories of the wizard who died 56 years earlier in 1845. Also, in 1917 Mrs. L. Rompel-Koopman interviewed the 86-year-old Mrs. Fick-Landman near Alexandria (born 1831) who told her about Spoorbek's life and referred to him as the “Witte Krag” (White Might). Mrs. Fick-Landman recalled:
197:). When they went to his house they would found the thief paralyzed in the act of stealing. One time, they found a man who entered Spoorbek's house and tried to pour himself a glass of brandy. The man remained transfixed with the bottle and glass in his hands until Spoorbek touched him. In another case, a man stole grain, but found himself impelled to carry the stolen goods back to Spoorbek's house to relieve himself of a great pain in his back - which felt like a thousand needles driven into his flesh. The pain only left the man's body on Spoorbek's command. One day, Spoorbek visited Mooimeisiesfontein - the farm of
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while
Spoorbek influenced the flow of water in their irrigation furrows. Transport riders often asked Spoorbek to protect their oxen from theft and wild animals. Eyewitnesses recalled how Spoorbek drew a magic circle on the ground around oxen with a staff. The oxen would remain in safety within the protective circle throughout the night. The next morning the animals would not cross the magic circle until Spoorbek came and led them out.
325:. Mr. Petrus Hendrik du Preé was his heir. He left him a collection of pots, hammers, chisels and augers, a saddle, a table, five shirts and two trousers. At the time of his death, Spoorbek's movable and immovable assets were valued at £52-10. A farmer named Mr. I.J. du Plessis of Misgund tried to claim £80 he loaned to Spoorbek a few years earlier. Shortly before his death, Spoorbek claimed to have hidden a “great treasure”.
98:). According to these recollections, Spoorbek was an untidy, kindhearted, eccentric hermit with wild curly hair, a long beard, dressed in black clothes in rags, had a verminous appearance, and rode a white horse. Besides being a stonecutter and miller, Spoorbek was a great traveller who did various jobs for the settlers, including healing the sick and protecting people and their property with his magical powers.
213:). Soon afterward, Spoorbek returned to collect his tobacco pouch and embarrassed the woman by repeating her words out loud. Another woman who was rude to Spoorbek lost the power of speech. She was only able to speak again after Spoorbek was called back to the farm and lifted the curse. During another incident, a young couple passed Spoorbek in the street, the woman remarked: "
249:). Afterward, the man and his wife argued a lot about the matches. One day when Mrs. Marais was baking bread, she removed the matches and threw them into the fire. The same night she became insane. They called upon Spoorbek to help her. He asked if there were any pieces of the matches left. When they told him that all three matches were burned to ashes, Spoorbek replied:
70:) around 1811 as a sailor and deserted. The Dutch, Flemish, Frisian, French and Norwegian settlers called him Hendrik Spoorbek. He became so tolerant of the local pronunciation of his name that he signed his will as Hendrik Spoorbek. On April 14, 1815, the farm “Spoorbek se Erf” (Spoorbek's Lot) was surveyed and registered in his name in the
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Spoorbek died. A girl age 14 (later Mrs. Strydom) allegedly saw Spoorbek's spirit dressed in white going up into the sky during a great thunderstorm. Though the farm “Spoorbek se Erf” was flooded after the construction of the dam, his grave remained above water level. His signed will may be seen at the Master's Office in
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and Gert
Rainier, who left the Cape Colony with ox wagons in search for a better life in the mainland. When Gert Rainier left the colony in 1837, he carried one of Spoorbek's protective packets round his neck. Spoorbek told him that as long as he did not open it, the charm would protect him against
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Many farmers called upon
Spoorbek to act as a doctor. He was especially clever in treating mental disorders and was not afraid to do minor surgeries. He refused to take payment for his medical services. One night Spoorbek was called out to the farm Langvlakte near Alexandria where a Mrs. Potgieter
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Forest on June 13, 1845. According to his death record he was in his late 80s. He was buried near the track leading to his farm. Spoorbek asked that certain books should be buried with him in his coffin, and his wish was carried out. It was reported that a mysterious star was seen in the sky the
136:"Die mense het altijd angstig gevoel als hij in die huis is, want hulle weet goed, elke woord wat hulle praat, hoor hij, al is hij nie in die kamer nie. Maar die mense het daarom tog die grootste verering vir hom gehad, hij het altijd elkeen gehelp wat in die nood was en wou nooit geld aanneem nie"
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Spoorbek was widely credited with the ability to prevent and put out fires. Thatch roofs under his protection would not burn – even when tested. The homestead
Uitvlucht used to be pointed out as one of the dwellings under his protection. Spoorbek took part in the 1834 defense of Kerkplaats (now
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Spoorbek was not afraid of snakes and he would not allow anyone to kill a snake in his presence. He claimed to have the power to call a gathering of all the snakes between two rivers. Spoorbek had the ability to make water run uphill, and many tales are told of farmers who watched in disbelief
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The people always felt anxious if he was in the house because everyone knew that he had the ability to hear every single word they spoke, even if he was not in the same room. But the people had the greatest praise for him, for he always helped those in need and refused to accept
143:). During a drought he warned a Gamtoos River farmer against flood. Three nights later the river came down with might and swept the farmers stock and vegetables into the sea. Spoorbek allegedly prophesied the invention of trains and airplanes, the South African Anglo
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When people asked
Spoorbek to reveal the source of his magical powers he told them that he had brought a book of magic with him to South Africa, but it was stolen soon after his arrival. To others he attributed his powers to a mysterious flower called the
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In another account, Spoorbek visited the Marais family. Mrs. Marais refused to give
Spoorbek accommodation for the night. As Spoorbek left the house he took three fire matches and put them into the thatch roof above the door entrance. He told Mrs. Marais:
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near
Riebeek. A man stole a bag of flour from a wagon that was parked outside the house. As the man went out the gate he suddenly found that he was unable to move. Spoorbek casually walked up to the man and arrested the flour thief.
178:, went to Spoorbek's cottage one afternoon and asked Spoorbek to accompany him to a funeral. Viljoen offered to go into the field and bring Spoorbek's white horse to the cottage while Spoorbek was dressing. Spoorbek told him:
111:(1834–1836). All the houses in town were destroyed and the settlers made their last stand in the schoolhouse. When the Xhosa horde surrounded the schoolhouse and tried to burn it down, Spoorbek assured the townsfolk:
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each year in an attempt to trace
Spoorbek's legendary history. The location of his grave is only known to a handful of local people. The mountain pass in the Kareedouw Mountain is called
229:). On the day of their planned wedding, just as the minister started with the service, the bride left the church by the one door and the bridegroom by another. They were never married.
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285:, but he escaped unharmed. In old age, Rainier opened the charm at the request of his daughters. The packet only contained four pieces of white paper.
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Spoorbek never locked the door of his cottage. He would be talking to a neighbor, when suddenly he would get a dreamy look in his eyes and say:
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Spoorbek was fond of honey. He often climbed a steep rock besides the river to remove honey from a beehive. He often told his friends:
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was seriously ill and everybody expected the worst. Her sister in law was nursing her. When
Spoorbek walked in the room he remarked:
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http://landboublogs.24.com/ViewComments.aspx?mid=6d831469-a432-4884-9212-7a0701495d9a&blogid=a9c9880a-1ec3-4025-8867-c2c946bf456e
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epidemic of 1918. One of Spoorbek's friends who lived 18 miles away wanted Spoorbek to take charge of his funeral arrangements.
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Many travelers went to Spoorbek and asked him to prepare protection charms for them. Spoorbek was on good terms with the
92:"Al was ik maar klein gewees toe hij leefde, ik het tog goed vir hom geken. Ons kinders was almal `n beetje bang vir hom"
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as part of a water scheme. Most of Spoorbek's farm, including the place he used to gather honey, is today under water.
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One night Spoorbek slept on the Farm Jagersbos with the Meiring Family. After he had gone, one of the women remarked:
269:). The meaning of his words became clear when soon afterward Mrs. Potgieter recovered and her sister in law died.
186:). And surely, when they were ready, Spoorbek's white horse trotted up to the door of the cottage to be saddled.
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Verwey, E.J. (Ed). (1995). New Dictionary of South African Biography. Pretoria: Human Sciences Research Council.
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Webster, R. (2002). At the fireside: true Southern African stories. Cape Town: David Philip Publishers.
294:“No one will take honey from that nest when I am dead – everything will be covered with water one day”
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Although I was small when he lived, I knew him very well. We children were all a little afraid of him
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167:). A mysterious star was seen, and everyone met for the funeral before any message reached them.
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According to various accounts, Spoorbek had the gift of foresight. Mrs. Fick-Landman recalled:
290:"Niemand sal heuning uit die nes haal as ik eendag dood is - alles sal onder water wees eendag"
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227:“You two think you are going to be married, but remember this – you will never be married!”
296:). His prophecy became true when the Port-Elizabeth municipality dammed the river during
35:, South Africa) was a seer, healer and magician who settled in South Africa around 1811.
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241:). When Mr. Marais made apologies for his wife's rude behavior, Spoorbek replied: "
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281:“assegai” (African spears). Rainier's horse was killed underneath him during the
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223:"Jul tweejes dink jul gaan eendag trouw, maar onthou dit - jul sal nooit trouw!"
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legends he is commonly known as Hendrik Spoorbek / Skoorbek the “Towenaar” (
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Van der Walt, C. & Benghial, L. (2005). RĂŞrig? Dekat, Autumn Edition.
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161:"`n Misterieuse ster sal in die hemel gesien word, en dan sal almal weet“
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A mysterious star will be seen in the sky, and then everyone will know”
221:), and they laughed at him openly. Spoorbek looked at them and said:
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Alexandria) in the Olifantshoek area against the Xhosa during the 6th
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It means nothing, just make sure that she never removes the matches
520:"RootsWeb: BUITENPOSTEN-L [BP] Re : Hendrik SPOORBEK"
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Dit beteken niks, pas net goed op dat sij nie die houtjes wegvat"
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which blooms only once a year and during one hour of the night.
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Throw it in the burning kraal, walk away, and do not look back
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The great hunter and explorer Jan Viljoen, who reached the
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Spoorbek died in the house of Mrs. Hilgard Muller in the
184:“No, don’t do that – my horse will know when I need him”
263:"Dit is wonderlik - die dooies kijk agter die lewendes"
121:"Gooi dit in die brandende kraal, loop, en kijk nie om"
180:"Nee, moe nie - mij paard sal weet as ik hom benodig"
211:“Look, the old pig has forgotten his tobacco pouch”
195:“I must go home, someone is trying to rob my house”
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267:“It is marvelous – the dead look after the living”
207:"Kijk, die ou vark het sij tabaksak hier vergeet"
239:You must not remove them, don't even touch them
235:"Jij moe nie vir hulle wegvat, ook nie aanraak"
74:district along the Krom River (15 km from
483:Kareedouw, E.C. (2009). Hendrik Spoorbek:
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117:Be calm, the schoolhouse will not burn
159:), the man asked. Spoorbek replied:
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219:“Oh my, here comes the old magician”
157:“How will you known when I am dead?”
440:Van den Berg & Retief. (2007).
153:"Hoe sal jij weet as ik afsterwe?"
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31:, Germany – Died 13 June 1845 in
561:German emigrants to South Africa
251:"Ik kan dan niks vir haar doen"
215:Jinne, hier kom die ou towenaar
78:). The size of the farm was 58
58:Heinrich Schörbeck was born in
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82:and Spoorbek agreed to pay 5
444:. Radio Sonder Grense (RSG).
417:. Cape Town: Howard Timmins.
472:In het land van Piet Retief
470:Rompel-Koopman, L. (1919).
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102:Seer, Magician and Healer
474:. Pretoria: De Volkstem.
415:These wonders to behold
345:(34° 04' S 24° 27' E).
276:leaders Karel Landman,
413:Green, L. G. (1959).
329:Contemporary interest
283:Battle of Blood River
54:Historical biography
333:Many people visit
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545:Categories
530:2009-06-20
349:References
335:Humansdorp
86:a year in
84:rixdollars
72:Humansdorp
27:; Born in
339:Kareedouw
323:Cape Town
145:Boer Wars
109:Xhosa War
88:quit-rent
76:Kareedouw
40:Afrikaner
306:Faroblom
278:Piet Uys
147:and the
60:Dortmund
44:Magician
29:Dortmund
25:Skoorbek
19:(alias
80:morgen
48:Wizard
312:Death
141:money
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