Chobona of the Chobona1,2

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Last Edited26/05/2019
(Leader) PeopleGroup In 1657 Chobona was the leader of the Chobona, a group whom Van Riebeeck described as a powerful people, living far inland and tall with long, but not curled hair. Some thought them to be Khoekhoe and the overall rulers of the Khoe, but this was dispurted by Autshumao. In the 21st century they are said to have been Xhosa or an offshoot Xhosa group who had mixed with the KhoeKhoe.3 
Notes31 October 1657 Krotoa of the Goringhaicona interpreted for the commander, Johan Anthoniszoon van Riebeeck, in a meeting with the Saldanhars, actually the Cochoquas, a Khoe people from around Saldanha Bay. In this meeting Van Riebeeck learns for the first time of the Chobona who was said to rule over all the Cape natives, and whose ruler was an emperor or king, who was later revealed to be Chobona. It is unclear whether this was his name or his title acquired as king of the Chobana.4


15 November 1657 Krotoa of the Goringhaicona interpreted during a visit of a high ranking member of the Chainouquas who had received gifts of copper, tobacco, an axe, and chains. A dispute arose about whether this individual was the king or not and gifts of copper and tobacco were also given to two other senior ranking individuals. The dispute drew in the other interpreters Otegno of the Goringhaiqua and Autshumao of the Goringhaicona both of whom then also received gifts. In the ensuing exchanges, Herry (Ausshumao) became even more angry when it was suggested that Chobona of the Chobona was the overall leader of the Khoe in the region, rather than Gogosoa of the Goringhaiqua.5

Citations

  1. [S846] I. Schapera, editor, The early Cape Hottentots: Olfert Dapper, Willem ten Rhyne en Johannes Gulielmus de
    Grevenbroek     (http://www.dbnl.org/index.php: DBNL digitale bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse letteren, 2011), Schapera: p.29: footnote 36: Mentioned in van Riebeeck's list (Letters desp., iii, 242) under the name of Choboquas or Cobonas. In reality they were not Hottentots, but the name by which the Hottentots spoke of the Bantu (AmaXhosa).. Hereinafter cited as The early Cape Hottentots.
  2. [S646] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, JVR Journal II, 1656-1658, H.C.V. Leibrandt; (Cape Town, South Africa: W. A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, Castle Street, 1897), p.80: We gathered that there was an emperor or king, who ruled over all the Cape natives and called by them Chobona. He lived far inland, and isl rich inl gold, which they called "Chory," and which is taken out of the sand. They also know to coin and stamp the coins, which they made as big as, or even bigger than, the palms of the hands.
    p.89: but when we said that the large majority of Saldanhars considered the Chobona as their king, he replied that they were mad, as the great chief was the old stout man named Gogosy who lived among the biggest troop of the Caapmen, and who was acknowledged as such by all who dwelt on this side of the Great Berg River,.... Hereinafter cited as Precis of the archives, JVR Journal II 1656-1658.
  3. [S646] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal II 1656-1658, p.80: We gathered that there was an emperor or king, who rulled over all the Cape natives and called by them Chobona. He lived far inland, and isl rich inl gold, which they called "Chory," and which is taken out of the sand. They also know to coin and stamp the coins, which they made as big as, or even bigger than, the palms of the hands.
    p.89: but when we said that the large majority of Saldanhars considered the Chobona as their king, he replied that they were mad, as the great chief was the old stout man named Gogosy who lived among the biggest troop of the Caapmen, and who was acknowledged as such by all who dwelt on this side of the Great Berg River, ...
    p.90: They had long hanging but no curled hair, as the Hottentoos.
  4. [S405] H.B. Thom, editor, Journal of Jan van Riebeeck Vol II 1656-1658 translated by J. Smuts from the original Dutch, (Cape Town, Amsterdam: A.A. Balkema, 1954), p.80. The Commander spent most of the day communicating with the Saldanhars, by means of a girl named Eva, about 15 or 16 years old.... Hereinafter cited as Journal of Jan van Riebeeck Vol II 1656-1658.
  5. [S405] H.B. Thom editor, Journal of Jan van Riebeeck Vol II 1656-1658, p.88-89.
 

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