Cape Council of Policy
152
1658-05-08
Minute details
- Entry number
- 152
- Date
- 1658-05-08
- Year
- 1658
English translation
To the Commander in Council, and to strengthen him, having been called, the chief captains of the Hasselt yacht, which returned here the day before yesterday from the Guinean coast with a number of 228 slaves, male and female, traded to Popo, in addition to which 43 died en route; and to the same, as also to the preceding members of this fort council, communicated the letters of our Lords Masters successively from the Amsterdam Chamber in particular and primarily the general letter from the meeting of the Lords Seventeen dated 9th October passing on the employment of the said yacht and trade &a., by which the same their Ed. among other things, we order the following in substance:
If, according to the order issued by Hasselt, it should have completed its trade to Arder (now to Popo) and returned to the Cape with a reasonable number of slaves, but had retained so much of its accompanying cargo that there would still be a shipload of slaves to be received, we would have to deliberate and carefully consider whether it would be expedient and advisable to send the ship back there a second time or rather to cease that trade, etc., and that the aforementioned Ed. This has been entrusted to our consultation with full authorization: to do so, as we understand it, primarily for the benefit of the E. Compe., etc.
The aforementioned Commander, the Council (supported by the aforementioned chiefs), further states that per the aforementioned hunt, they also brought back to Hasselt an additional 228 slaves, above the nominated number, to untraded merchants consisting of various kinds, in addition to some other slave needs, amounting to ƒ5,975.
And here, at the Compe.'s warehouse, a made-up cargo of their E. Compe. to Batavia, also consisting of various parts, and amounting to the sum of: ƒ20,792.15.
Making up a sufficient and rich cargo of three to four times the amount of the lesser purchase of goods from India than from the homeland, and assembling a sum of money of: ƒ26,767.15.
For which amount, after the purchase from India, it was calculated that 1,000 to 1,200 slaves, sufficient for four voyages, could be purchased.
Therefore, the Council brought all this under deliberation, along with a serious recommendation: that, according to the order of our Lords and Masters, they should carefully consider the Most of the service of the E. Compe. & others,
On which the chiefs of Hasselt also communicated the sorting of the cargo received from India, and declared that it was indeed sufficient and large enough, but not sorted in the way with which one could, if required, practice the slave trade. However, all that had to be assumed was that the inhabitants there would want to be free, namely young, old, crippled, lame, etc., whereas, in contrast, the cargo was well sorted, mainly with bowies,497 in addition to other chars and rarities, etc. could conduct trade as desired, and preferred above all traders of whatever nation it might be, because with the bow one can conduct and operate trade as one pleases, and without it almost never does so, as the aforementioned chiefs declare, which has been completely proven during this voyage, so that with these aforementioned merchants (although more than sufficient) it would result in a very lame and sluggish trade, and without the bow it might well be a pity to have to return light with an empty ship, to very little profit but great detriment to the E. Company, also taking into consideration the costliness of the monthly fees and the costs of so many people and the wear and tear of the common hunt, and that only for slaves, without being allowed to trade otherwise, for which a journey of at least 7 or 8 months is required each time, and according to which, otherwise not being able to be seen in a further undertaking of this nature without bows (the most fundamental of all desires) as a great loss rather than a profit, although in India the slaves (since they are such good, cheerful people) would be suitable.
So, finally, after various deliberations and many conferences, it has been unanimously agreed to cease the trade for the time being, since we do not only want to benefit the E. Compe. here at the Cape, but also for the freemen and private individuals enough and an abundance of slaves have been provided and that also in addition to the 40 Angolan stx. sent to Batavia by the arms of Amsterdam, Amersfoort and Spreeuw, about 200 5tx. will also be able to set off for India. It cannot be seen what would necessitate us to resume trade, otherwise as a profit for the E. Compe. that as mentioned above and the current cargo could not have been foreseen: but on the contrary, the appearance of great damage, which remains the case with the resolution of the cessation of Guinean trade, and which is fully established, for which reason it was also approved to have the aforementioned yacht Hasselt prepared as soon as possible to sail to Batavia, in accordance with the order of Our Lords and Masters, and to send with it a number of 140 to 150 slaves, after they have been properly refreshed in the meantime; as well as 30 slaves from the Angolan prize (now fully refreshed and fresh) sent to the ship Dordrecht, moored here, in advance of the Angolan prize.
And since the yacht Maria is also expected soon from the Angolan customs, it has also been agreed to allow all other merchants from Hasselt to come ashore in order to learn and experience, through the report of Maria's chiefs, what kind of goods might still be brought there to the advantage of the King's Company, and then also to further deliberate on the continuation or halting of this Angolan trade by the aforementioned yacht Maria, for the first time, as might be deemed sufficient and more in the service of the King's Company.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] JACOB HENDRICKSZ MOOKER.
[Signed:] ARIAEN VAN DE VENNE.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
If, according to the order issued by Hasselt, it should have completed its trade to Arder (now to Popo) and returned to the Cape with a reasonable number of slaves, but had retained so much of its accompanying cargo that there would still be a shipload of slaves to be received, we would have to deliberate and carefully consider whether it would be expedient and advisable to send the ship back there a second time or rather to cease that trade, etc., and that the aforementioned Ed. This has been entrusted to our consultation with full authorization: to do so, as we understand it, primarily for the benefit of the E. Compe., etc.
The aforementioned Commander, the Council (supported by the aforementioned chiefs), further states that per the aforementioned hunt, they also brought back to Hasselt an additional 228 slaves, above the nominated number, to untraded merchants consisting of various kinds, in addition to some other slave needs, amounting to ƒ5,975.
And here, at the Compe.'s warehouse, a made-up cargo of their E. Compe. to Batavia, also consisting of various parts, and amounting to the sum of: ƒ20,792.15.
Making up a sufficient and rich cargo of three to four times the amount of the lesser purchase of goods from India than from the homeland, and assembling a sum of money of: ƒ26,767.15.
For which amount, after the purchase from India, it was calculated that 1,000 to 1,200 slaves, sufficient for four voyages, could be purchased.
Therefore, the Council brought all this under deliberation, along with a serious recommendation: that, according to the order of our Lords and Masters, they should carefully consider the Most of the service of the E. Compe. & others,
On which the chiefs of Hasselt also communicated the sorting of the cargo received from India, and declared that it was indeed sufficient and large enough, but not sorted in the way with which one could, if required, practice the slave trade. However, all that had to be assumed was that the inhabitants there would want to be free, namely young, old, crippled, lame, etc., whereas, in contrast, the cargo was well sorted, mainly with bowies,497 in addition to other chars and rarities, etc. could conduct trade as desired, and preferred above all traders of whatever nation it might be, because with the bow one can conduct and operate trade as one pleases, and without it almost never does so, as the aforementioned chiefs declare, which has been completely proven during this voyage, so that with these aforementioned merchants (although more than sufficient) it would result in a very lame and sluggish trade, and without the bow it might well be a pity to have to return light with an empty ship, to very little profit but great detriment to the E. Company, also taking into consideration the costliness of the monthly fees and the costs of so many people and the wear and tear of the common hunt, and that only for slaves, without being allowed to trade otherwise, for which a journey of at least 7 or 8 months is required each time, and according to which, otherwise not being able to be seen in a further undertaking of this nature without bows (the most fundamental of all desires) as a great loss rather than a profit, although in India the slaves (since they are such good, cheerful people) would be suitable.
So, finally, after various deliberations and many conferences, it has been unanimously agreed to cease the trade for the time being, since we do not only want to benefit the E. Compe. here at the Cape, but also for the freemen and private individuals enough and an abundance of slaves have been provided and that also in addition to the 40 Angolan stx. sent to Batavia by the arms of Amsterdam, Amersfoort and Spreeuw, about 200 5tx. will also be able to set off for India. It cannot be seen what would necessitate us to resume trade, otherwise as a profit for the E. Compe. that as mentioned above and the current cargo could not have been foreseen: but on the contrary, the appearance of great damage, which remains the case with the resolution of the cessation of Guinean trade, and which is fully established, for which reason it was also approved to have the aforementioned yacht Hasselt prepared as soon as possible to sail to Batavia, in accordance with the order of Our Lords and Masters, and to send with it a number of 140 to 150 slaves, after they have been properly refreshed in the meantime; as well as 30 slaves from the Angolan prize (now fully refreshed and fresh) sent to the ship Dordrecht, moored here, in advance of the Angolan prize.
And since the yacht Maria is also expected soon from the Angolan customs, it has also been agreed to allow all other merchants from Hasselt to come ashore in order to learn and experience, through the report of Maria's chiefs, what kind of goods might still be brought there to the advantage of the King's Company, and then also to further deliberate on the continuation or halting of this Angolan trade by the aforementioned yacht Maria, for the first time, as might be deemed sufficient and more in the service of the King's Company.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] JACOB HENDRICKSZ MOOKER.
[Signed:] ARIAEN VAN DE VENNE.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Original Dutch transcription
Bij den Commandeur in Rade, ende tot versterckinge van dien, beroepen sijnde, d’ opperhooffden van ‘t jacht Hasselt , eergister hier van de Guinese cust geretourneert met een getal van 228 slaven ende slavinnen gehandelt aen Popo , boven noch 43 stucx onderwegen gestorven; ende de selve als oocq de vordere leden deses forts Raadts gecommuniceert de missiven onser Heeren Meesters successive soo uijt de Camer Amsterdam particulier als voornamentlijck het generale schrijven uijt de vergaderinge van de Heeren Zeventhiene dato 9en October passado op ‘t emploij des gemelten jachts ende handel &a., bij welcke deselve haer Ed. onder anderen ons ordonneren, ‘t navolgende in substantie namentlijcq:
Off ‘t gebeurde dat Hasselt volgens derselver gegeven ordre, sijn handel aen Arder (nu aen Popo geschiet) souden mogen hebben volbracht ende met een redelijck getal slaven aen de Caep geretourneert doch van syn mede gegeven cargasoen soo veel overgehouden had,496 datter noch een scheeps-ladinge slaven voor soude te becomen wesen, wij in dien gevalle souden hebben te delibereren, ende rijpelijcq te overleggen off oocq dienstigh ende geraden mochte sijn, do. schip voor de tweedemael weder derwaerts aff te senden off liever dien handel te staecken &a., ende dat haer opgemelte Ed. sulcx aen ons overlegh bevolen laten met volcomen authorisatie: omme daer in te doen, als wij sullen verstaen ten meesten dienste van d’ E. Compe. te behooren &a.,
Welcken volgende dan den Commandeur voorsz den Raadt (versterckt met d’ opperhooffden meergemelt) is verthogende dat deselve per voorsz jacht Hasselt boven genomineerde getal van 228 slaven oocq hebben wederom gebracht aen onverhandelde coopmanschappen bestaende in diverse sorteringe boven noch sommige overige behoefften van de slaven ter somme van: ƒ5975,
Ende hier bij Comps. packhuijsen oock noch is leggende een uytgemaeckt cargasoen van haer Ed. tot Batavia, mede in diverse cleden bestaende, ende bedragende ter somma van: ƒ20792:15,
Maeckende samen rijckelijck ende genoechsaem een volcomen drie a 4 dubbelt cargasoen ten aensien van de minder incoop van ‘t goet uyt India als ‘t vaderlandt gecomen ende monterende te gader een somme gelts van: ƒ26767:15,
Voor welcker monture na den Indischen incoop gecalculeert wel 1000 a 1200 slaven, sijnde genoechsaem tot 4 vojagie behoorde ingecocht te cunnen worden,
Soo is ‘t dat den Raedt dit alles in deliberatie gebracht sijnde neffens oocq ernstige recommandatie: omme na d’ ordre onser Heeren Meesters met goet overlegh te letten op den meesten dienst van d’ E. Compe. &a.,
Op’t welcke de gem. opperhooffden van Hasselt oock gecommuniceert de sorteringe van ‘t cargasoen becomen uijt India, ende door deselve verclaert, dat het wel suffichandt ende groot genoech sij, maer echter met sulcx gesorteert als waermede men na vereysch den handel van slaven souden cunnen exerceren: maer alles voor moeten aennemen dat de inwoonders ginder souden willen quit wesen, namentlijck jongh, out, creupel, lam &a., daer ter contrarie ‘t cargasoen wel gesorteert synde principalijcq met bougijs497 beneffens de noch overige cralen ende rariteijten &a. den handel soude cunnen drijven na wensch, ende geprefereert boven alle handelaers van wat natie het oocq mochte wesen, alsoo men met de bougijs den handel can drijven ende wenden soo men genoechsaem wil ende sonder deselve schier niet te doen sij, als voorsz opperhooffden verclaeren haer bij dese vojagie volcomen is gebleecken, sulcx dat het met dese gemelte coopmanschappen (hoewel meer als genoech) een seer lammen ende tragen handel soude geven, ende sonder de bougijs wel prijckel mochte lopen om licht met een ledigh schip te moeten retourneren tot seer cleijn proffijt maer groote schade van d’ E. Compe., daerbij oock in consideratie comende de costelijckheijt der maentgelden ende montcosten van soo veel volcx ende slijtagie des gem. jachts ende dat alleen op slaven sonder ijts anders te mogen negotieren, waertoe een reijs ten minsten van 7 a 8 maenden t’ elckens is vereysschende, ende volgens dien anders niet cunnende werden ingesien bij een nader onderneminge van dien verstande sonder bougijs (‘t principaelste van allen begeert) als groote schade in plaetse van voordeel schoon in India de slaven (vermits het soo goede lustige menschen sijn) wel souden te passe comen,
Soo is eijntlijck na verscheijden deliberatien ende veele conferentien van ‘t een ende ‘t ander eenparich verstaen den handel voor dese mael te staecken, dewyle wij doch nu niet alleen voor d’ E. Compe. hier aen de Caep, maer oocq voor de vryeluyden ende particulieren genoech ende ten overvloede van slaven sijn versien ende dat oock beneffens dien boven die 40 stx. Angoolse per ‘t Wapen van Amsterdam , Amersfoort ende Spreeuw na Batavia versonden, noch wel omtrendt 200 5tx. voor India sullen cunnen affsteecken, Invougen niet can gesien worden wat ons souden nootsaecken den handel te hervatten, anders als voordeel voor d’ E. Compe. dat gelijck voorseijt met het jegenwoordich cargasoen niet cunnen voorsien: maer ter contrarie apparentie van groote schade, des by de resolutie van staeckinge des Guineesen handels, syn blijvende, ende ‘t selve t’ eenemael vaststellende, ter welcker oorsake dan oocq goetgevonden is het voorsz jacht Hasselt metten aldereersten te laten vaerdigh maken om conform d’ ordre onser Heeren Meesters na Batavia te laten varen, ende daermede aff te senden een getal van 140 a 150 stucx slaven, nadat die tusschen wijlen wel sullen wesen verversscht: mitsgaders per ‘t hier ter rheede leggende schip Dordrecht vooraff van d’ Angoolse prijs slaven (nu al volcomen verversscht ende fris synde) 30 stucx dittos.
Ende nademael ‘t jachtjen Maria haest mede van d’ Angoolse cust wort verwacht, soo is oocq goetgevonden al de overige coopmanschappen uyt Hasselt te laten aen landt comen om door ‘t rapport van Marias opperhooffden te mogen vernemen ende ondervinden, welcke soorte van dien aldaer met voordeel van d’ E. Compe. noch mochten getrocken wesen, ende als dan oocq vorders te delibereren op ‘t vervolch off staecken van dien Angoolsen handel per voorsz jacht Maria daertoe voor eerst bequaem genoech ende wes meer ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. soude cunnen offte mogen verstaen worden te behooren.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten daege ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] JACOB HENDRICKSZ MOOKER.
[Signed:] ARIAEN VAN DE VENNE.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Off ‘t gebeurde dat Hasselt volgens derselver gegeven ordre, sijn handel aen Arder (nu aen Popo geschiet) souden mogen hebben volbracht ende met een redelijck getal slaven aen de Caep geretourneert doch van syn mede gegeven cargasoen soo veel overgehouden had,496 datter noch een scheeps-ladinge slaven voor soude te becomen wesen, wij in dien gevalle souden hebben te delibereren, ende rijpelijcq te overleggen off oocq dienstigh ende geraden mochte sijn, do. schip voor de tweedemael weder derwaerts aff te senden off liever dien handel te staecken &a., ende dat haer opgemelte Ed. sulcx aen ons overlegh bevolen laten met volcomen authorisatie: omme daer in te doen, als wij sullen verstaen ten meesten dienste van d’ E. Compe. te behooren &a.,
Welcken volgende dan den Commandeur voorsz den Raadt (versterckt met d’ opperhooffden meergemelt) is verthogende dat deselve per voorsz jacht Hasselt boven genomineerde getal van 228 slaven oocq hebben wederom gebracht aen onverhandelde coopmanschappen bestaende in diverse sorteringe boven noch sommige overige behoefften van de slaven ter somme van: ƒ5975,
Ende hier bij Comps. packhuijsen oock noch is leggende een uytgemaeckt cargasoen van haer Ed. tot Batavia, mede in diverse cleden bestaende, ende bedragende ter somma van: ƒ20792:15,
Maeckende samen rijckelijck ende genoechsaem een volcomen drie a 4 dubbelt cargasoen ten aensien van de minder incoop van ‘t goet uyt India als ‘t vaderlandt gecomen ende monterende te gader een somme gelts van: ƒ26767:15,
Voor welcker monture na den Indischen incoop gecalculeert wel 1000 a 1200 slaven, sijnde genoechsaem tot 4 vojagie behoorde ingecocht te cunnen worden,
Soo is ‘t dat den Raedt dit alles in deliberatie gebracht sijnde neffens oocq ernstige recommandatie: omme na d’ ordre onser Heeren Meesters met goet overlegh te letten op den meesten dienst van d’ E. Compe. &a.,
Op’t welcke de gem. opperhooffden van Hasselt oock gecommuniceert de sorteringe van ‘t cargasoen becomen uijt India, ende door deselve verclaert, dat het wel suffichandt ende groot genoech sij, maer echter met sulcx gesorteert als waermede men na vereysch den handel van slaven souden cunnen exerceren: maer alles voor moeten aennemen dat de inwoonders ginder souden willen quit wesen, namentlijck jongh, out, creupel, lam &a., daer ter contrarie ‘t cargasoen wel gesorteert synde principalijcq met bougijs497 beneffens de noch overige cralen ende rariteijten &a. den handel soude cunnen drijven na wensch, ende geprefereert boven alle handelaers van wat natie het oocq mochte wesen, alsoo men met de bougijs den handel can drijven ende wenden soo men genoechsaem wil ende sonder deselve schier niet te doen sij, als voorsz opperhooffden verclaeren haer bij dese vojagie volcomen is gebleecken, sulcx dat het met dese gemelte coopmanschappen (hoewel meer als genoech) een seer lammen ende tragen handel soude geven, ende sonder de bougijs wel prijckel mochte lopen om licht met een ledigh schip te moeten retourneren tot seer cleijn proffijt maer groote schade van d’ E. Compe., daerbij oock in consideratie comende de costelijckheijt der maentgelden ende montcosten van soo veel volcx ende slijtagie des gem. jachts ende dat alleen op slaven sonder ijts anders te mogen negotieren, waertoe een reijs ten minsten van 7 a 8 maenden t’ elckens is vereysschende, ende volgens dien anders niet cunnende werden ingesien bij een nader onderneminge van dien verstande sonder bougijs (‘t principaelste van allen begeert) als groote schade in plaetse van voordeel schoon in India de slaven (vermits het soo goede lustige menschen sijn) wel souden te passe comen,
Soo is eijntlijck na verscheijden deliberatien ende veele conferentien van ‘t een ende ‘t ander eenparich verstaen den handel voor dese mael te staecken, dewyle wij doch nu niet alleen voor d’ E. Compe. hier aen de Caep, maer oocq voor de vryeluyden ende particulieren genoech ende ten overvloede van slaven sijn versien ende dat oock beneffens dien boven die 40 stx. Angoolse per ‘t Wapen van Amsterdam , Amersfoort ende Spreeuw na Batavia versonden, noch wel omtrendt 200 5tx. voor India sullen cunnen affsteecken, Invougen niet can gesien worden wat ons souden nootsaecken den handel te hervatten, anders als voordeel voor d’ E. Compe. dat gelijck voorseijt met het jegenwoordich cargasoen niet cunnen voorsien: maer ter contrarie apparentie van groote schade, des by de resolutie van staeckinge des Guineesen handels, syn blijvende, ende ‘t selve t’ eenemael vaststellende, ter welcker oorsake dan oocq goetgevonden is het voorsz jacht Hasselt metten aldereersten te laten vaerdigh maken om conform d’ ordre onser Heeren Meesters na Batavia te laten varen, ende daermede aff te senden een getal van 140 a 150 stucx slaven, nadat die tusschen wijlen wel sullen wesen verversscht: mitsgaders per ‘t hier ter rheede leggende schip Dordrecht vooraff van d’ Angoolse prijs slaven (nu al volcomen verversscht ende fris synde) 30 stucx dittos.
Ende nademael ‘t jachtjen Maria haest mede van d’ Angoolse cust wort verwacht, soo is oocq goetgevonden al de overige coopmanschappen uyt Hasselt te laten aen landt comen om door ‘t rapport van Marias opperhooffden te mogen vernemen ende ondervinden, welcke soorte van dien aldaer met voordeel van d’ E. Compe. noch mochten getrocken wesen, ende als dan oocq vorders te delibereren op ‘t vervolch off staecken van dien Angoolsen handel per voorsz jacht Maria daertoe voor eerst bequaem genoech ende wes meer ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. soude cunnen offte mogen verstaen worden te behooren.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten daege ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] JACOB HENDRICKSZ MOOKER.
[Signed:] ARIAEN VAN DE VENNE.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.