Chile Forum

Patagoniax, being half-Kiwi himself, is pleased to pass along a recently uncovered online-accessible historical research paper - "The British world and its role in the relationship between New Zealand and the southern cone countries of South America, 1820-1914" by Nicholas Twohill . It is published by the Instituto de Historia of the Pontifica Universidad de Chile.

http://revistahistoria.uc.cl/estudios/2185/ for the entire article

Abstract

This research article traces the little-known relationship between New Zealand and the Southern Cone countries of South America that existed between 1820 and the First World War. While New Zealanders were found throughout Latin America in many occupations, undoubtedly because of the established British presence in the region, the links with the Southern Cone were particularly extensive. The basis of the relationship, which promised then to be on-going, was the movement of ships, goods, people, animals, plants, know-how, technology and capital across the Pacific, rather than any inter-state relationship.

Intro para:

New Zealand’s engagement with Latin America arguably stemmed from the strong British presence in the region as Britain dominated Latin America’s economic and, to lesser degree, political affairs between the 1820s-1830s and 1914. (For language reasons, this study does not focus on Brazil despite evidence of interaction with New Zealand during the period under review). How New Zealanders, “ignorant of language, of the people, and the strange and intricate business methods” came to successfully assimilate in the alien world of Latin America, and in particular in the Southern Cone countries of Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, may be explained by the already established British presence with its associations and networks, as well as the shared British cultural and institutional values. It was as much an interaction among “Britishers”. The idea of a common and connected Southern British World, with its efficient network of “people, gossip, connections, ideas and identity”, provides an understanding of New Zealand-Southern Cone contact where the transfer into societies with familiar cultural values is of primary interest. Evidence of the Latin American-New Zealand relationship itself can be quite fragmentary and tenuous; however, the British presence remains the common thread in New Zealand’s interaction with the Southern Cone between 1820 and 1914.

Selection:

Assistance given in Valparaíso to the British immigrants (as the immigrants from New Zealand and Australia, where a similar outflow was taking place, were perceived) was generous – they usually arrived possessing no more than a few shillings or what they stood in. The provincial governor, Joaquín Prieto, arranged for the immigrants’ accommodation in two forts, the provision of their food and firewood, and an official commission to find out more about them, while a subscription was organized and a society of Valparaíso ladies clothed women and children immigrants. The Valparaiso English Mercury saw the arrival of the immigrants as a result of false representations, but nonetheless appealed to the English community to help fellow Englishmen and praised the government for taking care of the immigrants “in their hour of need”

Interesting information, i am half way through it,

but typical of new zealand, we are hopeless at keeping track of history,

and we are only taught the industrial revolution in England and the Maori land wars/treaty at school, (or thats all i remember)

Do you know anything of the South African colonies in Argentinean Patagonia? Apparently a bunch of South Africans settled there in the early 1900's and they still speak Afrikaans and much of the town has Afrikaans street names and so on... I can't find much info on it.

zer0nz wrote: ....but typical of new zealand.... we are only taught the industrial revolution in England and the Maori land wars/treaty at school, (or thats all i remember)

Believe me, the Maori land wars are still on. It's not just history anymore.

only another kiwi will understand this...

Tombi wrote:Do you know anything of the South African colonies in Argentinean Patagonia? Apparently a bunch of South Africans settled there in the early 1900's and they still speak Afrikaans and much of the town has Afrikaans street names and so on... I can't find much info on it.

This isn't about Chile. It's about Argentina. But it is about Patagonia...

It was in the same Argentine province at the Welsh immigrants: Chubut. There are still references in Comodoro Rivadavia, on the southern end of that province, to "Los boers" or "los boere."



There were several hundred middle-class Afrikaner families that came to the Comodoro area around the beginning of the 20th century, after the end of the war (Boer War 1899-1902) when many an Afrikaner's life under English rule was a bit grim. In fact the Argentine government, through their consul Ernesto Storni, had been in touch with Boer representatives even before the end of the war, when the outcome was not looking good for the Afrikaners. The first group had 18 people on the Argentine cattle ship called the "Pampa" which sailed from Cape Town in 1902. In 1903 there was an influx of Boer and German-South African war orphans.

The Argentine government made arrangements for a resettlement program but there was not much in the way of infrastructure, nor jobs. But miraculously, as new water wells were being dug for the resettlement camps, oil was discovered. That was not initially a significant benefit to the Afrikaners, however. In early 1903 the "Colonia Escalante" was prepared for the new arrivals, and in the following months some 200 families were settled there. However, more than half of the families here were returned to South Africa during the late 1930s. In addition to the better known Colonia Escalante, there were other Boer colonies, including Lácar.

The Africaners didn't assimilate well at first, but they were legally obligated to become Argentine citizens within two years of their arrival, just as the Welsh had been obligated earlier to become Argentines. Nevertheless, the Afrikaners kept their language, their own schools, would not let their children even mix with local Argentines, which resulted in some friction in the new Oil Patch. They did trade with the Welsh that the Argentine government had allowed into Chubut province about 50 years earlier, and since the Welsh and the Afrikaners shared a hatred of the English, a degree of mutual support was considered proper. The Welsh taught the Afrikaners a thing or two about dry-land sheep farming, and before long the Merino flocks were doing well enough to keep the new settlers afloat. With the economic downturn in the 1930s, some of the families returned to South Africa. Of those that remained, a few cling to the language, but Spanish (or Argie) is the primary language these days. And there isn't much of an extensive "Boer community" in Comodoro anymore. Every once in a while in the press in Chubut province you see something about Los Boers.

There are still some Boer families around Sarmiento, however, which is about two hours inland from Comodoro Rivadavia, and at the western edge of the local oil patch. I've stayed in Sarmiento a couple of times. Before the Boers arrived there were already some Welsh there, and the two populations apparently got on well enough together. There are reportedly still some Afrikans speakers in Sarmiento and they say there are about a dozen Boer families in the town but I don't recall seeing any monuments or street names suggesting Boer influence, but I didn't look, either. In Comodoro on the coast they have a monument to the Boers and a street called "Colonos Sudafricanos."

Short history. Can tell you more if you wish. There was an article on the Argie Boers a few weeks ago in the Mail and Guardian:
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2011-02-04- ... -patagonia

I think Chatwin had a few lines on the Argentine Boer settlement in his book, In Patagonia. In Argentina there is a 2009 book called "Cultura Boer" by Jorge Eduardo Lenard. There is more material in Argentina: "Extraños Injertos en el Árbol Patagónico" by Johanna Kokot de Avila, “En la tierra del viento” is a book on the Argentine Boers, by Liliana Esther Peralta and María Laura Morón. There are also some journal articles: "La colonización boer en la Patagonia" by O. Trespailhié, “Fundación de la colonia bóer de Escalante” and “La inmigración boer en la Patagonia” by Mario Raúl Chingotto.


Historical images of Boere in Argentina in early 20th century, near Comodoro Rivadavia. First image is within the Colonia Escalante which was widely criticised in the Argie press as a "failure."

Thank you so much (yes, sorry, I knew it was in Argentina, but thought since you seem to know much about the history of Patagonia, your knowledge might cross to the other side of the border). That is very interesting (I'm from Afrikaans background), also the part about the Welsh. I have some Welsh friends and they mentioned this the last time they were here. The Welsh and the Afrikaans have for a long time had a mutual respect, especially as a lot of Welsh went to South Africa to help the Boers fight the Poms during the Anglo-Boer war in the 1900's.

I heard once that every few years they have a big event where they all get together in the desert somewhere in February. It would be so weird to attend. I guess it would be like stepping back in time, as they would no doubt have lost touch with modern South Africa and be remembering very old customs that even the staunchest of Afrikaans have dropped these days.

Thank you for taking the time to respond in such detail, much appreciated.

Thanks for the information on kiwis and chile and I am looking for the property adviser over there for purchasing a good house.

Tombi wrote:..
I heard once that every few years they have a big event where they all get together in the desert somewhere in February. It would be so weird to attend. I guess it would be like stepping back in time, as they would no doubt have lost touch with modern South Africa and be remembering very old customs that even the staunchest of Afrikaans have dropped these days.

I think the following article from a South Africa site addresses your question about that Boer festival:

Every February until 2005 about 300 Boer descendants gathered in the veld near Sarmiento, setting up their tents in a big kraal for a weekend of athletics, rugby, braai vleis and sokkie(dancing). In the video an elderly man sits on a stage playing Sarie Marais on his accordion while the youngsters whirl around the dance floor.

Up until a few years ago it was typical for many Boer families to live on a single farm. The festival was a way to bring all the Boers in the region together and because many of them lived in relative proximity it was easier for them to get together. But families gradually began to leave the farms - - their children often got jobs in the city - - and the festival's attendance dwindled. By 2005, with so few families willing to make the trek and attend, it, more than anything else, just petered out.

Also, reverse history. One of Australia´s first Prime Ministers (John Christian Watson) was born in Valparaiso and only later moved to New Zealand, and then to Australia to become Prime Minister of Australia...I´m a nerd for history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Christian_Watson