Cape Council of Policy
118
1657-07-19
Minute details
- Entry number
- 118
- Date
- 1657-07-19
- Year
- 1657
English translation
By letter (today coming from Robben Island) seen the sober appearance of the stone buildings etc. but on the contrary also the reasonable hope of the production of some agricultural products, especially the ant food,377 of which the E. Compe. much concern is made to serve as refreshments for their ships on voyages to India and Patria respectively. It is understood that as soon as the yacht Maria, moored here, has been unloaded of its iron and tare and ballasted back into place with stone, and the yacht Hasselt (both destined for Guinea) does not appear in the meantime, Commander Riebeecq will then sail there in person and make a closer and pertinent visit and ocular inspection of everything; to also pay attention to the suitability of the soil for the propagation of potatoes, which, like ants, grow well on sandy soil, and it is therefore hoped that there will be reasonable grounds for feeding the people. Island (for the safekeeping of the sheep, but having to be laid up) to provide some work there before going to bed, as potatoes are a very good vegetable, indeed, as good as bread, highly necessary for the people here.
Also, to select, with the skipper and the helmsman, a suitable place for a beacon to fire at for ships approaching the bay in the evening, so that they may sail in, etc.
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as above.378
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1657.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1657.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, Secrets. 1657.
Also, to select, with the skipper and the helmsman, a suitable place for a beacon to fire at for ships approaching the bay in the evening, so that they may sail in, etc.
Thus arrested and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as above.378
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1657.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1657.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, Secrets. 1657.
Original Dutch transcription
Bij missive (heden gecomen van ‘t Robbeneijlandt ) gesien de sobere apparentie van de steenbouwerije &a. doch ter contrarie weder oock de redelijcke hope van de voorteelinge eeniger aertvruchten, voornamentlijck de mier edick,377 daer sich d’ E. Compe. veel aen gelegen laet om te dienen voor derselver schepen tot ververssinge op de reijsen na India ende Patria respective, Soo is verstaen, soo haest ‘t hier ter rheede leggende jachtjen Maria van sijn ijser ende loot ontladen ende weder met steen in de plaets sal geballast wesen, ende ‘t jacht Hasselt (beijde na Guinea gedestineert) tusschen wijle noch niet te voorschijn comt, dat den Commandeur Riebeecq dan eens selfs in persoon derwaerts varen ende van alles nader ende pertinente visite ende oculaire inspectie nemen sal; omme oock met eenen op de bequaemheijt der gronden mede te letten, tot voortplantinge van de pattattissen welcke gelijck de mier edick op sandige gronden wel wassen willen, ende daeromme gehoopt wordt, daer redelijck sullen aerden, om ‘t volcq op do. eijlandt (tot bewaringe van de schapen doch moetende leggen) daer aen noch wat werck te geven voor ‘t ledichgaen, alsoo de pattattissen een seer bequaeme aertvrucht, Ja soo goet als broot is, tot spijsinge van menschen hier ten hoogsten nodich.
Item oock om met den schipper en de stuijrman uijt te kiesen een bequaeme plaetse tot een baken om op te vuijren voor schepen die ‘s avonts voor de baij comen, om daerop in te mogen seijlen &a.
Aldus gearresteert ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jaere als boven.378
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1657.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1657.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, Secrets. 1657.
Item oock om met den schipper en de stuijrman uijt te kiesen een bequaeme plaetse tot een baken om op te vuijren voor schepen die ‘s avonts voor de baij comen, om daerop in te mogen seijlen &a.
Aldus gearresteert ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jaere als boven.378
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1657.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1657.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, Secrets. 1657.