Cape Council of Policy
175
1658-09-18
Minute details
- Entry number
- 175
- Date
- 1658-09-18
- Year
- 1658
English translation
It should be noted that the cattle trade has been fairly encouraged by the Hottento Khamij, alias Jan Kou from Robben Island,584 which has continued considerably and which also seems to be causing greater affection from this nation towards us, etc., and that it is being solicited and persisted in daily by the Cochoquas (actual Saldanhars) themselves for the redemption of the other, also called in their language Boubo and by our Simon, from their lineage as they say it is descended from, in addition to an affirmation, promising to be willing to do our good pleasure by bringing in beasts and to act in complete confidence from now on and to walk with greater peace of mind as having previously considered the little benefit that can be had from a closer investigation into the young murderer and that whenever it is mentioned, it always causes alarm among these people, causing fear that we are always on the lookout for one of their most important people, whereas on the contrary, a greater trust among them in our nation is much more profitable and reassuring for the E. Compe. In order to become better acquainted with them in due time through familiar contact with them with what has so far remained hidden and undisclosed,
And furthermore, considering the current prick caused by the illness of the aforementioned Boubo, who, according to yesterday's letter, came from Robben Island, since he was about to die, this nation might well imagine that he had suffered some harm from ours, or been put to death, which might be a strange thought and indeed cause a special distrust, which must be defended against in all matters. So, after deliberation on the matter, it was finally resolved and decided that the sooner the better, the better, the same should be brought here from the island, and... To hand over his friends again to dispel all mistrust and, above all, to foster greater and greater good faith in us among this nation.
But regarding Herrij, no one from all this country is speaking in his favor, except his cousin, the interpreter Eva, who lives in the Commander's house, like Hester about Mardaghaij, bravely denounces her uncle. But she is made to believe that he himself does not desire to come here, but remains willing to live out his life there in peace, since all his compatriots hate him and want to kill him. Therefore, out of compassion for his haters, we grant him shelter there, food, and housing, and accordingly we are also resolved to leave and keep some.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
And furthermore, considering the current prick caused by the illness of the aforementioned Boubo, who, according to yesterday's letter, came from Robben Island, since he was about to die, this nation might well imagine that he had suffered some harm from ours, or been put to death, which might be a strange thought and indeed cause a special distrust, which must be defended against in all matters. So, after deliberation on the matter, it was finally resolved and decided that the sooner the better, the better, the same should be brought here from the island, and... To hand over his friends again to dispel all mistrust and, above all, to foster greater and greater good faith in us among this nation.
But regarding Herrij, no one from all this country is speaking in his favor, except his cousin, the interpreter Eva, who lives in the Commander's house, like Hester about Mardaghaij, bravely denounces her uncle. But she is made to believe that he himself does not desire to come here, but remains willing to live out his life there in peace, since all his compatriots hate him and want to kill him. Therefore, out of compassion for his haters, we grant him shelter there, food, and housing, and accordingly we are also resolved to leave and keep some.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Original Dutch transcription
Gemerckt den veehandel na ‘t largeren van den Hottento Khamij alias Jan Kou van ‘t Robbeneijlandt redelijcq gewacker[t],584 fray aenhoudende ende soo ‘t schijnt oocq is veroorsaeckende een meerder genegentheijt deser lants natie tot ons &a., Ende dat dagelijcx seer gesolliciteert ende aengehouden wort selffs van de Cochoquas (rechte Saldanhars) om de lossinge oocq van den andren genaemt in haer spraecke Boubo ende bij d’ onse Sijmon, uijt haer geslacht soo sij seggen affcomstich is neffens affirmatie, belovende genegen te wesen met aenbrengen van bestiael ons goet genoegen te doen ende in alle vertrouwtheijt voortaen te handelen ende wandelen met meerder gerustheijt als oijt te voren, mitsgaders overwogen het weijnige nut dat men can hebben met het naeuwer ondersoecq na den jongenmoorder ende dat wanneer daervan gesproocken wort, ‘t selve t’ elckens een schrick onder dese volckeren is barende met vreese dat wij altijt noch op ijemandt van hare principaelste sijn loerende, daer ter contrarie een meerder vertrouwen onder haer over onse natie aengevoet veel proffitabler ende geruster voor d’ E. Compe. sij omme mettertijt door vertrouwden ommegangh met deselve te beter cundich te worden ‘t gene tot dato noch verborgen ende niet openbaer geworden is,
Ende wijders oocq insiende het jegenwoordige prijckel door de sieckte van voorsz Boubo, volgens het schrijven gister van ‘t Robbeneijlandt gecomen, vermits denselven comende te sterven, dese natie haer wel mochte inbeelden hem eenich leet door d’ onse aengedaen, of ter doot gebracht was, ‘t welcke een vreemt nadencken, ende wel een bijsonder mistrouwen mochte veroorsaecke, dat voor alle saecken op ‘t hooghste dient geweert, Soo is na overlegh van saecken eijntlijcq geresolveert ende vastgestelt den selven hoe eer hoe liever van ‘t eijlandt mede hier te laten halen, ende aen sijne vrunden weder over te leveren om emmers alle mistrouwen te weeren ende voornamentlijcq een goet gelooff over ons onder dese natie meer ende meer aen te voeden.
Maer aengaende Herrij is niemandt van alle dese lants natie voorspreeckende, anders alleen sijn nichte de tolckinne Eva die in des Commandeurs huijs woonende, als Hester over Mardaghaij, haren oom dapper aenhoudt; maer wort haer wijsgemaect dat hij selffs niet begeert hier te comen, maer genegen blijfft daer voortaen in gerustheijt sijn leven te verslijten vermits hem doch al sijn landtluijden hatigh sijn ende dootslaen willen, waeromme wij hem uijt medogentheijt voor sijn haters beschermende aldaer plaets, eeten ende huijsvestinge geven, ende volgens dien oocq geresolveert sijn te laten ende noch wat te bewaren.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Ende wijders oocq insiende het jegenwoordige prijckel door de sieckte van voorsz Boubo, volgens het schrijven gister van ‘t Robbeneijlandt gecomen, vermits denselven comende te sterven, dese natie haer wel mochte inbeelden hem eenich leet door d’ onse aengedaen, of ter doot gebracht was, ‘t welcke een vreemt nadencken, ende wel een bijsonder mistrouwen mochte veroorsaecke, dat voor alle saecken op ‘t hooghste dient geweert, Soo is na overlegh van saecken eijntlijcq geresolveert ende vastgestelt den selven hoe eer hoe liever van ‘t eijlandt mede hier te laten halen, ende aen sijne vrunden weder over te leveren om emmers alle mistrouwen te weeren ende voornamentlijcq een goet gelooff over ons onder dese natie meer ende meer aen te voeden.
Maer aengaende Herrij is niemandt van alle dese lants natie voorspreeckende, anders alleen sijn nichte de tolckinne Eva die in des Commandeurs huijs woonende, als Hester over Mardaghaij, haren oom dapper aenhoudt; maer wort haer wijsgemaect dat hij selffs niet begeert hier te comen, maer genegen blijfft daer voortaen in gerustheijt sijn leven te verslijten vermits hem doch al sijn landtluijden hatigh sijn ende dootslaen willen, waeromme wij hem uijt medogentheijt voor sijn haters beschermende aldaer plaets, eeten ende huijsvestinge geven, ende volgens dien oocq geresolveert sijn te laten ende noch wat te bewaren.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.