Cape Council of Policy
205
1659-06-21
Minute details
- Entry number
- 205
- Date
- 1659-06-21
- Year
- 1659
English translation
During the negotiations, Oeda's delegates could only learn that this lord of the Cochoquas (being the rightful Saldanhars) was sincerely in agreement with the Eastern Company, believing, according to the initial sentiment, and as everyone has ever had one of these. And which now lies just across the bay, behind the freight from Haarlem, on the other side of the tail of the Lupart mountains, most northeastward, about only half a day's journey from here, with many thousands of people stranded.
Furthermore, it is considered that his offer of a closer and firmer alliance must absolutely be accepted, and that there should be no thought of rejecting it, nor of letting go of his adversaries without assurance from us, who are inclined to do so, since it would also be too costly for the E. Compe. to oppose us to his power, as it is reasonable to see that with all the Comps. and to include the free power of these two small bands of the Caepmans and the tobacco thieves, to prevent their robbery and murder, and to bring more enemies upon them, is entirely unadvisable: but to make friends is the most necessary thing, which is also most pleasing to the Lord God,10 especially with those who are always renowned for discreet people and from whom the E. Compe. has usually become most beastly through amicable dealings, which otherwise their emissaries (who in these times of war had sent to us completely confidentially at great risk) did not return with the required courtesy and respect; and that the Gorachouquas and Goringhaiquas alone would be able to torment us in this way, with their countless force of men, and would even more distress us and come and play a completely different game, yes, so much so that no people would be able to live anywhere outside on the land, but also even rest assured about this in Comps. been worked on, or no fire (far from the hand of the synagogue) and could be achieved, and it was still too long to achieve, so all these and other important and important needs in this event have been approved after careful deliberations and will be arrested, provided Oedasoas offers further and to accept a firmer alliance with the goodwill of the common good and to grant his will; that we wished to send his sister, the interpreter Eva (whom the Goringhaiquas had told us was chained up and held captive by us) back with the aforementioned envoys, along with as many of our own people as we desired (and as trustingly as he had sent them to us). However little or much, he was unwilling to discuss them further through a sincere translation of Eva, and to reveal his advanced designs and proposals for the destruction of the aforementioned Gorachouquas and Goringhaiquas (our enemies and theirs) and to make proper consultations.
And having heard, through polite insistence of the aforesaid ambassadors, that they continued to consider 10 Dutch to be sufficient, and having considered that a good sacrifice would be accompanied by a hundred, if this lord had bad intentions; Since a large number of people would help us just as much, and we would stand out much (which also had to be the best), if we were unlucky, it would be too powerful and weakening for us. Perhaps the aforementioned enemies would decide to attack us on the way. So, in order to be a little more differentiated and to be able to withstand a reasonable attack, it was decided, under the observation of the sargant, to take out 13 of the strongest soldiers, along with a wagon for their greater protection and also to pay the respects to Oedasoa with the most due decency, which they seem to consider a great honor, and as they themselves say, is renowned and spread throughout the country for the reputation of their lord. and he himself shall also delight in the highest; provided that we hereby firmly imagine and respect our commitment to an unbreakable mutual alliance: in the opinion of all, we are hereby instructed to express the following in our name to Oedasoa after the best regards and tradition of the worshipper:
That we first made a legation and the offer of further alliance &a. has been most agreeable, and we, in return, wishing to do no less, have also seen fit not only to let his wife, sister Eva, return with him, but also to have our Commissioners secure him from our favor in this direction for the same purpose, and in recognition of which the Commander had this honor paid to him, with the request that he accept him agreeably as one's own brother of a heart and soul: as well as ours, just as we have his, return home as shortly as possible with a brief description, with Commissioners, or rather his himself, to speak to the others further;
And if he liked it, some of his people, either alone or in company with a few of our soldiers, would search for or spy out where our enemies and his enemies might be found, that would be very gratifying to us, and he, having pointed this out, would soon understand how serious we were about doing everything possible to harm them, etc.
But if he spoke of seacking to attack first with these 13 men and some of his, that such a thing should be done with so few people and politic as to have no commission to do so, would be excused, and just ask him how he intended to go about it, etc., and to answer all such things the same to the Commander. to report with whom he would then negotiate further, either himself or through commissioners, allowing his people to come to the fort freely with their livestock to exchange, as the Council, for various reasons, did not consider it advisable or acceptable to enter the country first, even with merchants. Instead, they should see if the matter was brought to such a conclusion that they always came to the fort themselves with their livestock, in order to minimize any feared dangers, for the sake of greater peace of mind, and for other considerable reasons.
Thus resolved and arrested in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1659.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1659.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, secrets.
Furthermore, it is considered that his offer of a closer and firmer alliance must absolutely be accepted, and that there should be no thought of rejecting it, nor of letting go of his adversaries without assurance from us, who are inclined to do so, since it would also be too costly for the E. Compe. to oppose us to his power, as it is reasonable to see that with all the Comps. and to include the free power of these two small bands of the Caepmans and the tobacco thieves, to prevent their robbery and murder, and to bring more enemies upon them, is entirely unadvisable: but to make friends is the most necessary thing, which is also most pleasing to the Lord God,10 especially with those who are always renowned for discreet people and from whom the E. Compe. has usually become most beastly through amicable dealings, which otherwise their emissaries (who in these times of war had sent to us completely confidentially at great risk) did not return with the required courtesy and respect; and that the Gorachouquas and Goringhaiquas alone would be able to torment us in this way, with their countless force of men, and would even more distress us and come and play a completely different game, yes, so much so that no people would be able to live anywhere outside on the land, but also even rest assured about this in Comps. been worked on, or no fire (far from the hand of the synagogue) and could be achieved, and it was still too long to achieve, so all these and other important and important needs in this event have been approved after careful deliberations and will be arrested, provided Oedasoas offers further and to accept a firmer alliance with the goodwill of the common good and to grant his will; that we wished to send his sister, the interpreter Eva (whom the Goringhaiquas had told us was chained up and held captive by us) back with the aforementioned envoys, along with as many of our own people as we desired (and as trustingly as he had sent them to us). However little or much, he was unwilling to discuss them further through a sincere translation of Eva, and to reveal his advanced designs and proposals for the destruction of the aforementioned Gorachouquas and Goringhaiquas (our enemies and theirs) and to make proper consultations.
And having heard, through polite insistence of the aforesaid ambassadors, that they continued to consider 10 Dutch to be sufficient, and having considered that a good sacrifice would be accompanied by a hundred, if this lord had bad intentions; Since a large number of people would help us just as much, and we would stand out much (which also had to be the best), if we were unlucky, it would be too powerful and weakening for us. Perhaps the aforementioned enemies would decide to attack us on the way. So, in order to be a little more differentiated and to be able to withstand a reasonable attack, it was decided, under the observation of the sargant, to take out 13 of the strongest soldiers, along with a wagon for their greater protection and also to pay the respects to Oedasoa with the most due decency, which they seem to consider a great honor, and as they themselves say, is renowned and spread throughout the country for the reputation of their lord. and he himself shall also delight in the highest; provided that we hereby firmly imagine and respect our commitment to an unbreakable mutual alliance: in the opinion of all, we are hereby instructed to express the following in our name to Oedasoa after the best regards and tradition of the worshipper:
That we first made a legation and the offer of further alliance &a. has been most agreeable, and we, in return, wishing to do no less, have also seen fit not only to let his wife, sister Eva, return with him, but also to have our Commissioners secure him from our favor in this direction for the same purpose, and in recognition of which the Commander had this honor paid to him, with the request that he accept him agreeably as one's own brother of a heart and soul: as well as ours, just as we have his, return home as shortly as possible with a brief description, with Commissioners, or rather his himself, to speak to the others further;
And if he liked it, some of his people, either alone or in company with a few of our soldiers, would search for or spy out where our enemies and his enemies might be found, that would be very gratifying to us, and he, having pointed this out, would soon understand how serious we were about doing everything possible to harm them, etc.
But if he spoke of seacking to attack first with these 13 men and some of his, that such a thing should be done with so few people and politic as to have no commission to do so, would be excused, and just ask him how he intended to go about it, etc., and to answer all such things the same to the Commander. to report with whom he would then negotiate further, either himself or through commissioners, allowing his people to come to the fort freely with their livestock to exchange, as the Council, for various reasons, did not consider it advisable or acceptable to enter the country first, even with merchants. Instead, they should see if the matter was brought to such a conclusion that they always came to the fort themselves with their livestock, in order to minimize any feared dangers, for the sake of greater peace of mind, and for other considerable reasons.
Thus resolved and arrested in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1659.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1659.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Bij d’ onderhandelingen van Oedasoas affgesanten niet anders cunnende vernemen als dat het dien overheere der Cochoquas (de rechte Saldanhars sijnde) oprecht met d’ E. Compe. is menende, volgens oocq het gevoelen van den beginne, ende oijt of oyt elcq een daer van gehadt; Ende welcqe jegenwoordich even recht over de baij achter ‘t vracq van Haerlem aen d’ ander sij van de staert van ‘t Luparts geberchte meest noord oostwaerts ongeveer maer 1/2 dagh reijsens van hier met veel duijsende menschen stercq is leggende.
Wijders geconsidereert dat sijne aenbiedinge van nader ende vaster alliantie gansch noodtsaeckelijck dient geaccepteert, ende in ‘t alderminste gedacht om die te verwerpen noch oocq syne affgesanten sonder verseeckeringe van onse daer toe hebbende inclinatie wederom te laten gaen, soo ten aensien van dat ons syne macht tegen te staen te groodt is, oocq voor d’ E. Compe. te costelijck soude vallen, vermits men reede siet dat men met al des Comps. ende vrijeluijden macht dese twee cleijne trouppen van de Caepmans en de tabacqdieven, haer roven ende moorden en can beletten, invoegen om meer vijanden over den hals te halen gansch ongeraden: maer vrunden te maecqen ‘t noodtsaeckelijcksteitem ook Godt de Heere ‘t behaeghelijckste10 sij, voornamentlijck met die altijt voor discrete luijden sijn vermaert ende van wie d’ E. Compe. doorgaens haer meeste beestiael door minnelycke handelinge heefft becomen, welcqe anders siende hun affgesanten (in dese oorlogstijden op groote resico gansch vertroudt aen ons gesonden) niet met het vereyssende bescheijt ende respect wederom quamen; ende dat de Gorachouquas ende Goringhaiquas ons alleen dus cunnen quellen, met sijn ontelbare macht van menschen, ons noch vrij meer benaeuwen ende een heel ander spel mochte comen maecken, ja soodanich wel dat geen menschen niet alleen ergens buijten op ‘t landt souden cunnen woonen, maer oocq selffs hieromtrent gerustigh in Comps. tuijnen gewerckt, of geen brandthoudt (ver van de handt synde) en soude gehaelt cunnen worden, ende wes meer te langh om aen te halen, Soo is omme alle die ende meer andere pregnantien ende hooge noodtsaeckelijckheeden in dese occurentie na wel rype deliberatien goedtgevonden ende g’arresteert, voorsz Oedasoas aenbiedinge van nader ende vaster aliantie met bethooninge van aengenaemheijt te accepteren ende sijn versoecq toe te staen; sijnde, dat wij sijn vrous suster de tolcqinne Eva (die de Goringhaiquas geseyt hadden dat bij ons aen kettings geslooten ende gevangen gehouden wiert) met voorsz affgesanten mede wilden laten keeren, neffens soo veel volcq van d’ onse (ende soo vertrout gelijck hij de syne aen ons gesonden had) als wij begeerden, ‘t sij weynich of veel was hem indifferent om daermede door oprechte vertalinge van Eva dan nader te spreecqen, ende syne vordere dessijnen ende voorslagen tot ruijne der voorsz Gorachouquas ende Goringhaiquas (ons ende syne vyanden) te openbaren ende goedt overlegh te maecken.
Ende door beleefde opdringinge van de voorsz gesanten dan vernomen hebbende, dat deselve blyven persisteren 10 Duytsen genoech te sijn, ende geconsidereert, dat schoon offer hondert medegingen, wanneer desen heere het verkeerdt voor had; het vermits sijn groodt getal volcx eeven veel helpen soude ende wij veele afsteekende (dat oocq de beste moeten wesen) bij ongelucq ons sulcx te machtigh krenken ende verswacqen soude evenwel of misschien de voorsz vijanden mochten toeleggen d’ onse onderwegen te overvallen, Soo is om wat diffenciver te wesen ende een redelycke trop te mogen wederstaen, goedtgevonden onder ‘t gesagh van den sargant 13 van de fixste soldaten uijt te maecken, neffens een wagen tot haer meerder deffentie ende oocq om de vereeringe met het verijste fatsoen aen Oedasoa te brengen dat sij voor een groote eere schijnen te houden ende soo sij selffs seggen door ‘t ganse landt tot reputatie van haren heere gereputeert ende verbreijt is, ende dies hem ‘t selve oocq op ‘t alderhoogste behagen sal; mitsgaders daerbij vastelijck sich inbeelden ende verseecqert houden van onse genegentheijt tot een onverbreeckelijcke vrundtsz ende alliantie: volgens allen ‘t welcke dan d’ onse gelast sijn voorsz Oedasoa na de vereyste groete ende overleveringe van de vereeringe dit navolgende uijt onsen name aen te seggen:
Dat ons syne eerst gedane legatie ende aenbiedinge van nader aliantie &a. op ‘t hoogste aengenaem is bevallen, ende wy dienvolgende in reciproque niet minder willende doen, oocq hebben goedtgevonden niet alleen sijn vrous suster Eva met deselve te laten keren maer oocq onse Gecommitteerdens om hem van onse genegentheijt t’ synwaerts ten selven eijnde oocq te verseeckeren, ende tot teijken van ‘t welcque den Commandr. hem dese vereeringe liet toebrengen, met versoecq deselve te willen aengenaem als van eijgen broeder van een hert ende sin accepteren: mitsgaders d’ onse gelijck wij de sijne soo cort als mogelijck met bescheyt wederom laten thuijs comen, met gecommitteerden ofte wel sijn persoon selffs, om den anderen nader te sprecken;
Ende ingevalle het hem geliefden door eenige van sijn volcq alleen of in compe. van weijnige onser soldaten op te laten soecken ofte te doen verspieden waer men onse ende sijne vijanden coste vinden dat sulcx ons seer aengenaem wesen ende hij ons die daer aengewesen hebbende wel haest bevinden soude hoe ernst het ons was haer alle mogelijcke affbreucq te doen &a.
Doch indien hij spracq van seacken om met dese 13 man ende eenige van de sijne daer op ten eersten aen te vallen dat sulcx dese mael met soo weynich volcq beleeft ende politicq als daer toe geen last hebbende, excuseren soude, ende maar den selven afhoren hoe hij ‘t meende aen te leggen &a., ende op alle sulcx antwoorden ‘t selve den Commandr. te sullen rapporteren met wie hij dan over ende weer ‘t sij selffs of door gecommitteerden nader coste handelen latende sijn volcq met eenen oocq vrij met beesten aen ‘t fort comen om te verruijlen, alsoo bij den Raedt om verscheyden insichten niet coste raedsaam of goedtgevonden worden voor eerst noch met coopmanschappen in ‘t landt te gaen: maer in plaets van dien te sien of men de saecken daer toe coste brengen dat sij altijt selffs met haer vee aen ‘t fort quamen om alle te vreesen onheijlen te min subject te mogen blyven tot oocq te meer gerustheijt ende andere considerable redenen meer.
Aldus geresolveert ende g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1659.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1659.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, secrets.
Wijders geconsidereert dat sijne aenbiedinge van nader ende vaster alliantie gansch noodtsaeckelijck dient geaccepteert, ende in ‘t alderminste gedacht om die te verwerpen noch oocq syne affgesanten sonder verseeckeringe van onse daer toe hebbende inclinatie wederom te laten gaen, soo ten aensien van dat ons syne macht tegen te staen te groodt is, oocq voor d’ E. Compe. te costelijck soude vallen, vermits men reede siet dat men met al des Comps. ende vrijeluijden macht dese twee cleijne trouppen van de Caepmans en de tabacqdieven, haer roven ende moorden en can beletten, invoegen om meer vijanden over den hals te halen gansch ongeraden: maer vrunden te maecqen ‘t noodtsaeckelijcksteitem ook Godt de Heere ‘t behaeghelijckste10 sij, voornamentlijck met die altijt voor discrete luijden sijn vermaert ende van wie d’ E. Compe. doorgaens haer meeste beestiael door minnelycke handelinge heefft becomen, welcqe anders siende hun affgesanten (in dese oorlogstijden op groote resico gansch vertroudt aen ons gesonden) niet met het vereyssende bescheijt ende respect wederom quamen; ende dat de Gorachouquas ende Goringhaiquas ons alleen dus cunnen quellen, met sijn ontelbare macht van menschen, ons noch vrij meer benaeuwen ende een heel ander spel mochte comen maecken, ja soodanich wel dat geen menschen niet alleen ergens buijten op ‘t landt souden cunnen woonen, maer oocq selffs hieromtrent gerustigh in Comps. tuijnen gewerckt, of geen brandthoudt (ver van de handt synde) en soude gehaelt cunnen worden, ende wes meer te langh om aen te halen, Soo is omme alle die ende meer andere pregnantien ende hooge noodtsaeckelijckheeden in dese occurentie na wel rype deliberatien goedtgevonden ende g’arresteert, voorsz Oedasoas aenbiedinge van nader ende vaster aliantie met bethooninge van aengenaemheijt te accepteren ende sijn versoecq toe te staen; sijnde, dat wij sijn vrous suster de tolcqinne Eva (die de Goringhaiquas geseyt hadden dat bij ons aen kettings geslooten ende gevangen gehouden wiert) met voorsz affgesanten mede wilden laten keeren, neffens soo veel volcq van d’ onse (ende soo vertrout gelijck hij de syne aen ons gesonden had) als wij begeerden, ‘t sij weynich of veel was hem indifferent om daermede door oprechte vertalinge van Eva dan nader te spreecqen, ende syne vordere dessijnen ende voorslagen tot ruijne der voorsz Gorachouquas ende Goringhaiquas (ons ende syne vyanden) te openbaren ende goedt overlegh te maecken.
Ende door beleefde opdringinge van de voorsz gesanten dan vernomen hebbende, dat deselve blyven persisteren 10 Duytsen genoech te sijn, ende geconsidereert, dat schoon offer hondert medegingen, wanneer desen heere het verkeerdt voor had; het vermits sijn groodt getal volcx eeven veel helpen soude ende wij veele afsteekende (dat oocq de beste moeten wesen) bij ongelucq ons sulcx te machtigh krenken ende verswacqen soude evenwel of misschien de voorsz vijanden mochten toeleggen d’ onse onderwegen te overvallen, Soo is om wat diffenciver te wesen ende een redelycke trop te mogen wederstaen, goedtgevonden onder ‘t gesagh van den sargant 13 van de fixste soldaten uijt te maecken, neffens een wagen tot haer meerder deffentie ende oocq om de vereeringe met het verijste fatsoen aen Oedasoa te brengen dat sij voor een groote eere schijnen te houden ende soo sij selffs seggen door ‘t ganse landt tot reputatie van haren heere gereputeert ende verbreijt is, ende dies hem ‘t selve oocq op ‘t alderhoogste behagen sal; mitsgaders daerbij vastelijck sich inbeelden ende verseecqert houden van onse genegentheijt tot een onverbreeckelijcke vrundtsz ende alliantie: volgens allen ‘t welcke dan d’ onse gelast sijn voorsz Oedasoa na de vereyste groete ende overleveringe van de vereeringe dit navolgende uijt onsen name aen te seggen:
Dat ons syne eerst gedane legatie ende aenbiedinge van nader aliantie &a. op ‘t hoogste aengenaem is bevallen, ende wy dienvolgende in reciproque niet minder willende doen, oocq hebben goedtgevonden niet alleen sijn vrous suster Eva met deselve te laten keren maer oocq onse Gecommitteerdens om hem van onse genegentheijt t’ synwaerts ten selven eijnde oocq te verseeckeren, ende tot teijken van ‘t welcque den Commandr. hem dese vereeringe liet toebrengen, met versoecq deselve te willen aengenaem als van eijgen broeder van een hert ende sin accepteren: mitsgaders d’ onse gelijck wij de sijne soo cort als mogelijck met bescheyt wederom laten thuijs comen, met gecommitteerden ofte wel sijn persoon selffs, om den anderen nader te sprecken;
Ende ingevalle het hem geliefden door eenige van sijn volcq alleen of in compe. van weijnige onser soldaten op te laten soecken ofte te doen verspieden waer men onse ende sijne vijanden coste vinden dat sulcx ons seer aengenaem wesen ende hij ons die daer aengewesen hebbende wel haest bevinden soude hoe ernst het ons was haer alle mogelijcke affbreucq te doen &a.
Doch indien hij spracq van seacken om met dese 13 man ende eenige van de sijne daer op ten eersten aen te vallen dat sulcx dese mael met soo weynich volcq beleeft ende politicq als daer toe geen last hebbende, excuseren soude, ende maar den selven afhoren hoe hij ‘t meende aen te leggen &a., ende op alle sulcx antwoorden ‘t selve den Commandr. te sullen rapporteren met wie hij dan over ende weer ‘t sij selffs of door gecommitteerden nader coste handelen latende sijn volcq met eenen oocq vrij met beesten aen ‘t fort comen om te verruijlen, alsoo bij den Raedt om verscheyden insichten niet coste raedsaam of goedtgevonden worden voor eerst noch met coopmanschappen in ‘t landt te gaen: maer in plaets van dien te sien of men de saecken daer toe coste brengen dat sij altijt selffs met haer vee aen ‘t fort quamen om alle te vreesen onheijlen te min subject te mogen blyven tot oocq te meer gerustheijt ende andere considerable redenen meer.
Aldus geresolveert ende g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1659.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1659.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, secrets.