Cape Council of Policy
183
1658-11-08
Minute details
- Entry number
- 183
- Date
- 1658-11-08
- Year
- 1658
English translation
During this last expedition, conducted by the vendor Jan van Herwarden, with good results (having passed over 200 sheep and 25 cattle), it was learned and discovered that the Oedesoas people were full of sheep, and that the Ngonnamoas people were most eager to sell Dutch cloth, but neither of them were eager to sell cattle, but preferably sheep, and because they, because of their abundance of cattle, never stop for half a month in one place; but having passed each time from one place to another, passing on after the other, like flying armies, they are therefore to be caught almost like birds in the air, and now that they are still here, they must be observed in order to get off by action as much and as best as possible. So, after consultation of the matter, it was agreed, according to this great captain603 Ngonnamoa, the sooner the better to send on a journey, principally with the said wire-copper, for about 1000 sheep, as well as some coral, for those who might ask for it, and also for about 80 to 100 cattle on wire-copper: in order to advance after the transaction with the said Ngonnamoa (not forgetting everything with him), to advance towards Chajnouqua's army, which, according to the Hottentoos, was mostly on a route, about 10 to 12 hours' walk from here, towards the Cape Fals, and these two greatest captains of Cochoqua, mostly in the middle of the land of Africa:604 as well as the Charigurinars to the coast of Saldanha, these three (of whom the Cochoquas are the most powerful) will together, or at least cut off, the entire stretch of land between the two seas of India eastward and Euthiopia westward, covering the entire width of the country between the mountains everywhere, moving back and forth in very beautiful valleys, and therefore, since they are so close here, as mentioned, they must be observed. And therefore it has also been decided that everything must be prepared for this third expedition by tomorrow evening, and that the aforementioned expedition will be departed again with 17 or 18 of the bravest and strongest soldiers, and everything on a wagon. with six oxen to be loaded for this, along with a reasonable tribute to the aforementioned commanders of the armies, etc.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1658.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HERWERDEN. 1658.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA, secrets. 1658.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the day 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
Bij dese laeste lanttocht, door den vendrigh Jan van Herwarden, met goede vrucht gedaen (als hebbende over de 200 schapen, ende 25 beesten gereuijlt) vernomen, ende gebleecken sijnde, dat den Oedesoas volcq met cralen al vervult, ende Ngonnamoas luijden tot het Hollants dun draetcooper, ‘t meeste begerich waren, doch geen van beijden schotich om koebeesten: maer liefst schapen te verhandelen, Ende dewijle deselve, vermits haer menichvuldich vee, noijt 1/2 maendt op een stede stil leggen; maer t’ elckens d’ een plaets cael geweijt hebbende, na d’ ander voorttrecken, gelijcq vliegende legers, sulcx deselve daeromme sijn te vangen, schier als vogels in de lucht, ende nu se hier omtrent noch sijn, sullen moeten waergenomen worden, om soo veel, ende sulcq bestiael door handelinge aff te crijgen, als mogelijcq sij. Soo is na overlegh van saecken goetgevonden, na desen grootencapitain603 Ngonnamoa hoe eer hoe liever noch een tocht te laten doen, principael met verhaelde draetcoper, tot omtrent 1000 schapen, beneffens oocq wat coralen, voor die der na vragen mochte, ende oocq tot ongeveer 80 a 100 koebeesten aen plaetcoper: om na gedaene handelinge met den gemelten Ngonnamoa (alles bij hem niet verreuijlende) vorders te trecken na Chajnouquas legers, leggende na bericht der Hottentoos, al meest op eene streecq, omtrent 10 a 12 uijren gaens van hier, na de Caep Fals heen uijt, ende dese twee Cochoquas grootste capiteijns, meest in ‘t midden van ‘t landt van Africa:604 mitsgaders de Charigurinars na de zeecandt van Saldanha sulcx dese drie (waervan de Cochoquas d’ aldermachtichste sijn) de gansche streecq,605 tusschen beijde de zeen van India beoosten, ende Euthiopia bewesten, te samen meest besluijten, ofte genouchsaem met haer legers affsnijden, de gansche breete van ‘t landt tusschen de bergen overal, in seer schone valeijen heen ende weer treckende, ende daeromme nu se hier soo nabij sijn, gelijcq geseijt, moeten waergenomen worden, Ende dierhalven oocq vastgestelt is, alles tegen morgen avondt, tot dese derde tocht vaerdigh te maecken, ende voorsz vendrigh weder met 17 a 18 van de cloeckste ende ficxste soldaten, te laten vertrecken, ende alles op een wagen, met ses ossen daer voor te laden, neffens een tamelijcke vereeringe, aen de gemelte oversten van de legers, &a.
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.
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.