Cape Council of Policy
178
1658-10-14
Minute details
- Entry number
- 178
- Date
- 1658-10-14
- Year
- 1658
English translation
Finally all the farmers are present with grazing and dairy cattle, as each house is also equipped with at least 50 sheep, and yet at the E. Compe. now and then sometimes a cow has to calve, on which the Comps. cattle guards, as well as those required for the rearing of the calves, are not required, without, however, the fact that today's farmers are forced to transfer more cows, both because they incur excessive charges, which is far above the tax imposed by Our Lords in their latest general letter of April 16th, and also because a good number should be kept in reserve for the necessary refreshment of incoming ships and for the provision of food for this residence, etc.
However, considering the necessity of breeding and the better education of calves aforesaid, and also having taken into account that to keep pigs, everyone remains equally reluctant, because of the great difficulties and costs involved, etc. and for which reason some have sold theirs again to others, who for the aforementioned reasons they are also very brave, yes even the vendor Jan van Harwerden, who has the most party on his side, and therefore above all Comps. The servant's specialty is privileged with a large garden in loan: to be sown and planted with carrots and all other fruits for the pigs' food.
And which vendor has often proposed, in addition to the aforementioned garden, to also purchase some dairy cattle from the E. Compe., so that he could better feed his young piglets with the buttermilk (as freemen do), as he hesitated to buy milk for that purpose.
But after such increased privileges are granted to a Compe. servant from time to time, so extraordinary in quality, etc. (although for extraordinary services and merits) benefited, not only for other married Comps. ministers but also in principle among the freemen themselves would give rise to great murmurings and offense. Therefore, this was not deemed acceptable by us (having consulted secretly on the matter apart from the aforementioned sale), especially since in our resolution of August 20th, for the reasons stated therein, it was understood not to allow any other freemen to keep cattle or sheep, other than farmers, in order to ensure that most freemen (if it was most necessary) might be roused to do so. But that the other freemen might again object to such a thing, which was therefore found to be sluggish, and596 therefore we have daily thought about means to rouse them to somewhat greater eagerness; as well as all having the same, we let go of our constant principal speculation: in order to derive some advantage from the one and the other for the E. Compe. So it was finally considered and decided, after long, daily conferences and deliberations, to release all the freemen and Comps. married ministers597 who wish to keep pigs in addition to the own animals that each freeholder also has, and to benefit from this, with all such cows as will henceforth come under the trop to calve, and that by form of lease or rent to the highest bidder, understanding that as many cows as from Compe.'s animals will each come to be milked, provided that the cow and the calf will remain the E. Compe.'s own and both will be delivered again when the rented cow has dried out, through which it is hoped that a greater eagerness to keep pigs will be caused, and that the rearing of the calves will also go better: as well as Comp. Bestiality with a fine breeding and from these cows, as much profit will be made as they cost the E. Company when purchased. Consequently, from time to time, by means of which all the bestiality comes to be found to be worthless.
Thus done and hereby decided upon by us in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
However, considering the necessity of breeding and the better education of calves aforesaid, and also having taken into account that to keep pigs, everyone remains equally reluctant, because of the great difficulties and costs involved, etc. and for which reason some have sold theirs again to others, who for the aforementioned reasons they are also very brave, yes even the vendor Jan van Harwerden, who has the most party on his side, and therefore above all Comps. The servant's specialty is privileged with a large garden in loan: to be sown and planted with carrots and all other fruits for the pigs' food.
And which vendor has often proposed, in addition to the aforementioned garden, to also purchase some dairy cattle from the E. Compe., so that he could better feed his young piglets with the buttermilk (as freemen do), as he hesitated to buy milk for that purpose.
But after such increased privileges are granted to a Compe. servant from time to time, so extraordinary in quality, etc. (although for extraordinary services and merits) benefited, not only for other married Comps. ministers but also in principle among the freemen themselves would give rise to great murmurings and offense. Therefore, this was not deemed acceptable by us (having consulted secretly on the matter apart from the aforementioned sale), especially since in our resolution of August 20th, for the reasons stated therein, it was understood not to allow any other freemen to keep cattle or sheep, other than farmers, in order to ensure that most freemen (if it was most necessary) might be roused to do so. But that the other freemen might again object to such a thing, which was therefore found to be sluggish, and596 therefore we have daily thought about means to rouse them to somewhat greater eagerness; as well as all having the same, we let go of our constant principal speculation: in order to derive some advantage from the one and the other for the E. Compe. So it was finally considered and decided, after long, daily conferences and deliberations, to release all the freemen and Comps. married ministers597 who wish to keep pigs in addition to the own animals that each freeholder also has, and to benefit from this, with all such cows as will henceforth come under the trop to calve, and that by form of lease or rent to the highest bidder, understanding that as many cows as from Compe.'s animals will each come to be milked, provided that the cow and the calf will remain the E. Compe.'s own and both will be delivered again when the rented cow has dried out, through which it is hoped that a greater eagerness to keep pigs will be caused, and that the rearing of the calves will also go better: as well as Comp. Bestiality with a fine breeding and from these cows, as much profit will be made as they cost the E. Company when purchased. Consequently, from time to time, by means of which all the bestiality comes to be found to be worthless.
Thus done and hereby decided upon by us in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Original Dutch transcription
Nademael jegenwoordigh alle de lantbouwers genouchsaem met treck ende melck beesten, als oocq elcq huijs ten minsten met 50 schapen sijn versien, Ende echter bij d’ E. Compe. nu ende dan somtyts noch al een koe compt te calven, op welcke door Comps. beestewachters, soo wel niet wort gepast als tot de opvoedingh van de kalffjes wel nodigh is vereijssende, sonder dat men nochtans onder de jegenwoordige lantbouwers meer koeijen derfft over doen, soo om dat derselver schult daerdoor te hoogh compt te loopen, als sijnde rede verre boven den taxt bij onse Heeren Meesters in hare jongste generale missive van den 16en April passado gestelt, als oocq omdat een goet aental dient gehouden op voorraet tot nodige ververssinge van Comps. aencomende schepen, ende spijsinge deser residentie &a.
Evenwel ingesien de nootsaeckelijcheijt van den aenfocq ende de beter opvoedinge der calven voormelt, Ende oocq genomen hebbende oogmercq, dat om verckens aen te houden elcq even ongraegh blijfft, vermits de groote moeijten ende costen daer aen vast &a. ende om welcke oorsaecke eenige de hare al weder aen andre vercocht hebben, die se om voorsz redenen mede al moed’ sijn, Ja selffs oocq den vendrigh Jan van Harwerden, welcke de meeste partije aen sigh heeft, ende daeromme boven alle Comps. dienaers specialijcq gepreviligeert is met een grooten thuijn ter leen: om met wortelen ende alle andre aertvruchten tot spijsinge van de verckens te besaijen ende beplanten
Ende welcken vendrigh meenichmalen heefft voorgeworpen om beneffens voorsz thuijn oocq eenige melckbeesten van d’ E. Compe. te copen, ten eijnde hij met de karnemelcq sijne jonge biggetjes (gelijcq de vrijeluijden doen) te beter soude mogen voeden, als schromende om ‘t geltshalven de melcq daertoe te copen,
Doch nademael sulcke meerder preminentien aen een Comps. dienaer van tijt tot tijt soo extraordinaire in qualiteijt &a. (hoewel voor extraordinaire diensten ende meriten) gebeneficeert, niet alleen voor andre getroude Comps. ministers maer principael oocq selffs onder de vrijeluijden groote murmuratien ende aenstootelijcheijt soude geven, Soo en is sulcx bij ons ondergesz (hierover buyten voorsz vendrigh secretelijcq raedtgepleeght hebbende) niet cunnen werden goetgevonden te consenteren, te meer dewijle bij onse resolutie van den 20 Augustij verleden om redenen daerinne genarreert, verstaen is geene andre vrijeluijden ‘t houden van beesten off schapen toe te staen anders als de landtbouwers, ten eijnde daertoe de meeste vryeluyden (als ‘t nootsaeckelijcxste wesende) mochten opgeweckt worden. Doch dat de andre vrijeluijden tegen sulcx wederom souden mogen verckens houden, welcke daertoedan dus traegh bevonden wordende, ende596 derhalven by ons dagelycx gedacht sijnde op middelen om haer tot wat meerder graegheijt op te wecken: mitsgaders beneffens allen ‘t selve oocq hebbende onse geduijrige principale speculatie laten gaan: om uijt het een ende ‘t ander oocq wat voordeel voor d’ E. Compe. te trecken, Soo is eijntlijcq na lange dagelijcxe gehouden conferentien ende deliberatien raedsaem geacht ende besloten om alle de vrijeluijden, ende Comps. getroude menisters597 die verckens willen houden boven d’ eijgen beesten die elcq vrijborger oocq heeft, noch te beneficeeren, met alle soodanige koeijen alsser voortaen onder den trop sullen comen te calven, Ende dat bij forme van pacht off huijr aen de meestbiedende, verstaende soo meenige koe alsser van Comps. beesten t’ elckens sullen comen melcx te worden, mits de koe ende ‘t kalff d’ E. Compe. sal eijgen blijven ende beijde weder gelevert worden als de gehuijrde koe sal opgedrooght wesen, waerdoor gehoopt wort wat meerder graegheijt tot houden van verckens sal veroorsaeckt worden, ende het oocq te beter gaen met d’ opvoedinge der kalffjes: mitsgaders Comps. bestiael met eenen daerdoor mede fraij aengroeijen ende uijt die koeijen rijckelijcq soo veel geproffiteert sal worden als se d’ E. Compe. bij incoop comen te costen, Ingevolge bij tijt ende wijle door die middel als den aenteelt alle ‘t bestiael wel comen voor niet te staen.
Aldus gedaen ende bij ons ondergesz besloten in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Evenwel ingesien de nootsaeckelijcheijt van den aenfocq ende de beter opvoedinge der calven voormelt, Ende oocq genomen hebbende oogmercq, dat om verckens aen te houden elcq even ongraegh blijfft, vermits de groote moeijten ende costen daer aen vast &a. ende om welcke oorsaecke eenige de hare al weder aen andre vercocht hebben, die se om voorsz redenen mede al moed’ sijn, Ja selffs oocq den vendrigh Jan van Harwerden, welcke de meeste partije aen sigh heeft, ende daeromme boven alle Comps. dienaers specialijcq gepreviligeert is met een grooten thuijn ter leen: om met wortelen ende alle andre aertvruchten tot spijsinge van de verckens te besaijen ende beplanten
Ende welcken vendrigh meenichmalen heefft voorgeworpen om beneffens voorsz thuijn oocq eenige melckbeesten van d’ E. Compe. te copen, ten eijnde hij met de karnemelcq sijne jonge biggetjes (gelijcq de vrijeluijden doen) te beter soude mogen voeden, als schromende om ‘t geltshalven de melcq daertoe te copen,
Doch nademael sulcke meerder preminentien aen een Comps. dienaer van tijt tot tijt soo extraordinaire in qualiteijt &a. (hoewel voor extraordinaire diensten ende meriten) gebeneficeert, niet alleen voor andre getroude Comps. ministers maer principael oocq selffs onder de vrijeluijden groote murmuratien ende aenstootelijcheijt soude geven, Soo en is sulcx bij ons ondergesz (hierover buyten voorsz vendrigh secretelijcq raedtgepleeght hebbende) niet cunnen werden goetgevonden te consenteren, te meer dewijle bij onse resolutie van den 20 Augustij verleden om redenen daerinne genarreert, verstaen is geene andre vrijeluijden ‘t houden van beesten off schapen toe te staen anders als de landtbouwers, ten eijnde daertoe de meeste vryeluyden (als ‘t nootsaeckelijcxste wesende) mochten opgeweckt worden. Doch dat de andre vrijeluijden tegen sulcx wederom souden mogen verckens houden, welcke daertoedan dus traegh bevonden wordende, ende596 derhalven by ons dagelycx gedacht sijnde op middelen om haer tot wat meerder graegheijt op te wecken: mitsgaders beneffens allen ‘t selve oocq hebbende onse geduijrige principale speculatie laten gaan: om uijt het een ende ‘t ander oocq wat voordeel voor d’ E. Compe. te trecken, Soo is eijntlijcq na lange dagelijcxe gehouden conferentien ende deliberatien raedsaem geacht ende besloten om alle de vrijeluijden, ende Comps. getroude menisters597 die verckens willen houden boven d’ eijgen beesten die elcq vrijborger oocq heeft, noch te beneficeeren, met alle soodanige koeijen alsser voortaen onder den trop sullen comen te calven, Ende dat bij forme van pacht off huijr aen de meestbiedende, verstaende soo meenige koe alsser van Comps. beesten t’ elckens sullen comen melcx te worden, mits de koe ende ‘t kalff d’ E. Compe. sal eijgen blijven ende beijde weder gelevert worden als de gehuijrde koe sal opgedrooght wesen, waerdoor gehoopt wort wat meerder graegheijt tot houden van verckens sal veroorsaeckt worden, ende het oocq te beter gaen met d’ opvoedinge der kalffjes: mitsgaders Comps. bestiael met eenen daerdoor mede fraij aengroeijen ende uijt die koeijen rijckelijcq soo veel geproffiteert sal worden als se d’ E. Compe. bij incoop comen te costen, Ingevolge bij tijt ende wijle door die middel als den aenteelt alle ‘t bestiael wel comen voor niet te staen.
Aldus gedaen ende bij ons ondergesz besloten in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jaere als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.