Editing History of Namibia (section)

=== The Oorlams ===
In the 19th century white farmers, mostly [[Boer]]s, moved further north, pushing the [[indigenous peoples|indigenous]] Khoisan peoples, who put up a fierce resistance, across the Orange River. Known as [[Oorlam]]s, these Khoisan adopted Boer customs and [[Oorlams|spoke a language]] similar to [[Afrikaans]].<ref name="JohnReader">{{cite book
|last=Reader
|first=John
|title=Africa: A Biography of a Continent
|url=https://archive.org/details/africabiographyo0000read
|url-access=registration
|year=1998
}}</ref>
Armed with guns, the Oorlams caused instability as more and more came to settle in Namaqualand and eventually conflict arose between them and the Nama. Under the leadership of [[Jonker Afrikaner]], the Oorlams used their superior weapons to take control of the best grazing land. In the 1830s Jonker Afrikaner concluded an agreement with the Nama chief [[Oaseb]] whereby the Oorlams would protect the central grasslands of Namibia from the Herero who were then pushing south. In return Jonker Afrikaner was recognised as overlord, received tribute from the Nama, and settled at what today is Windhoek, on the borders of Herero territory. The Afrikaners soon came in conflict with the Herero who entered Damaraland from the south at about the same time as the Afrikaner started to expand farther north from Namaqualand. Both the Herero and the Afrikaner wanted to use the grasslands of Damaraland for their herds. This resulted in warfare between the Herero and the Oorlams as well as between the two of them and the Damara, who were the original inhabitants of the area. The Damara were displaced by the fighting and many were killed.

With their horses and guns, the Afrikaners proved to be militarily superior and forced the Herero to give them cattle as tribute.