Contact Artefacts please if you have any comments or more information regarding this record.	Menu Home Upfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon		Albasini Trading Post Hazyview district, Mpumalanga

Date: n.d. Type: Retail Status: Ruin   Click to view map Coordinates: 25°01'22.85" S 31°14'38.70" E Alt: 419m

Joao Albasini was born 1 May 1813, in Lisbon, Portugal. He came to Lourenço Marques in 1831 and became a slave trader and Elephant hunter. The remains of his trading post can be found at the Phabeni Gate, 10 km from Hazyview. Albasini moved to the farm Goedewensch in 1857 near Schoemansdal. During this time, he was also appointed as "Superintendant of the native tribes", which entailed the collection of poll-taxes from the surrounding local population by his impis. In 1867, Schoemansdal was evacuated due to increasing hostilities between its inhabitants and the Vendas. Only Albasini and about 20 others, together with about 200 faithful followers, remained to protect the Soutpansberg district. After suffering a stroke, Albasini died on his farm Goedewensch in 1888. One of the reasons for Albasini's departure for Ohrigstad was his determination to marry the young 18 year old Gertina Janse van Rensberg, who became his wife in 1850. They had nine children, the first of whom was born In 1853. See Kruger National Park website. All truncated references not fully cited below are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon.