Cape Council of Policy
21
1653-06-05
Minute details
- Entry number
- 21
- Date
- 1653-06-05
- Year
- 1653
English translation
D' E. van Riebeecq had the skippers and the bulls of both the galliots moored here come to shore and placed them in the treasury maps and the various written journals, speculating and finding that the passage between Madagascar and this permanent client of Africa was apparently the closest and the best. in order to win the journey from here to Parsia or Suratta as soon as possible with the galjot de Swarte Vos, and subsequently to propose again as the day before yesterday56 or then empasser with both the galliots well armed and as well as the boat's crew also carrying soldiers with some few Dutch victuals of wine, caes, butter &a. and Indian countries would not be able to visit the coasts of Sofala, in addition to the gold-issuing districts in the area, mentioned in our resolution of the day before yesterday, especially in various journals where particularly rich places of gold and elephant teeth etc. are found. Besides the fact that the Portuguese (there being so few of them) themselves could be trusted to trade with us against some Dutch and provisions (having received little from Portugal via Goa and Mossambique), one galley, passing the aforementioned place, could continue its journey to Persia or Surat without much hindrance, and the other would return here in the month of August, with a report that it would be time to resume seal fishing, meaning that double the work could be done with this galley this year.
Noting that the Portuguese (however few there are) cannot rely on this and might therefore overcome some difficulty, furthermore, considering everything and also considering that we have no special order from our superiors for this matter, it has finally been determined, in our previous resolution of [the day before yesterday], to persist in this matter and, at the special order of our Lord Masters from the Fatherland, to postpone the matter and only give the galley "Swarte Vos" its farewell next Monday and let it depart, with the advice to the chiefs in Persia or Surat, according to the same, if God's weather and wind will prevail.
Meanwhile, the provisional skipper and bullman with the galley the Roode Vos had arrived here by straight and salvo from the Patria, unnoticed, considering that their skipper and chief bullman had died long ago on the voyage, and subsequently requesting a proper improvement in wages and confirmation of the service qualities in which they had failed upon death and had served well, it has been understood by the Council, namely Elbert Cornelisz Kes of Westerblocker, with the said galley as chief bullman, and first, by death of the skipper, by succession of the chief bullman in skipper's place, climbed to the position of chief bullman in skipper's office, and later, by the death of the same prior in skipper's office to add half the salary of the chief bullman and half the salary of the skipper, making a total of 50 guilders per month, to the formal capacity of skipper, and to confirm and absolutely establish the aforementioned, as previously succeeded bullman Crijn Jansz Swart van Hoorn, in the capacity of chief bullman, at 14 guilders, who sailed with the galley and, as previously stated, provisionally rose through good performances and service, in the capacity of second bullman at 26 guilders per month, both commencing on December 18th, that one has satisfactorily performed the skipper's duties and the other the helmsman's duties, as stated, according to the deed each has specifically granted.
And since the skippers of both galleys were equally eager to sail to Persia to be rid of the Cape, it was decided, in order not to let it be known who would be the better off, to have lots drawn by drawing letters between them. This was done, as happened, when the voyage to Persia fell to the provisional skipper of the galley "Swarte Vos" (Swarte Vos), Gerrit Abelsen. It was also agreed that the bullman of that galley (these customers were experienced)59 would go over to the one of the "Red Fox," in order to keep experienced persons on each galley to make each voyage.
It was further agreed to convey to each other certain necessities, so that each, to his own advantage, might remain at the service of the E. Compe, as much as possible, without hindrance.
Thus done and resolved in the Ford of Good Hope, on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] GERRIT ABELSEN.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.
Noting that the Portuguese (however few there are) cannot rely on this and might therefore overcome some difficulty, furthermore, considering everything and also considering that we have no special order from our superiors for this matter, it has finally been determined, in our previous resolution of [the day before yesterday], to persist in this matter and, at the special order of our Lord Masters from the Fatherland, to postpone the matter and only give the galley "Swarte Vos" its farewell next Monday and let it depart, with the advice to the chiefs in Persia or Surat, according to the same, if God's weather and wind will prevail.
Meanwhile, the provisional skipper and bullman with the galley the Roode Vos had arrived here by straight and salvo from the Patria, unnoticed, considering that their skipper and chief bullman had died long ago on the voyage, and subsequently requesting a proper improvement in wages and confirmation of the service qualities in which they had failed upon death and had served well, it has been understood by the Council, namely Elbert Cornelisz Kes of Westerblocker, with the said galley as chief bullman, and first, by death of the skipper, by succession of the chief bullman in skipper's place, climbed to the position of chief bullman in skipper's office, and later, by the death of the same prior in skipper's office to add half the salary of the chief bullman and half the salary of the skipper, making a total of 50 guilders per month, to the formal capacity of skipper, and to confirm and absolutely establish the aforementioned, as previously succeeded bullman Crijn Jansz Swart van Hoorn, in the capacity of chief bullman, at 14 guilders, who sailed with the galley and, as previously stated, provisionally rose through good performances and service, in the capacity of second bullman at 26 guilders per month, both commencing on December 18th, that one has satisfactorily performed the skipper's duties and the other the helmsman's duties, as stated, according to the deed each has specifically granted.
And since the skippers of both galleys were equally eager to sail to Persia to be rid of the Cape, it was decided, in order not to let it be known who would be the better off, to have lots drawn by drawing letters between them. This was done, as happened, when the voyage to Persia fell to the provisional skipper of the galley "Swarte Vos" (Swarte Vos), Gerrit Abelsen. It was also agreed that the bullman of that galley (these customers were experienced)59 would go over to the one of the "Red Fox," in order to keep experienced persons on each galley to make each voyage.
It was further agreed to convey to each other certain necessities, so that each, to his own advantage, might remain at the service of the E. Compe, as much as possible, without hindrance.
Thus done and resolved in the Ford of Good Hope, on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] GERRIT ABELSEN.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
D’ E. van Riebeecq de schippers ende de stierluijden van beijde de hier ter rhede leggende galjots aen lant hebbende laten comen ende met deselve in de kaerten schadtkamer ende verscheyden beschreven journalen, speculerende ende daerbij bevindende dat de passagie tusschen Madagascar ende dese vaste custe van Africa deur apparent de naeste en de beste wel moghte wesen om met ‘t galjot de Swarte Vos de reijse van hier nae Parsia of Suratta op ‘t spoedighste te winnen, ende dienvolgende andermael als eergister porponeerende56 off dan empassant met beyde de galjots wel g’armeert ende beneffens ‘t bootsvolcq oock soldaten mitsgaders gecargeert met eenige weijnige Hollantse victualien van wijn, caes, boter &a. ende Indische deden, de custen van Sofala niet soude cunnen aendoen, beneffens de daeromtrendt gout uijtgevende revieren, in onse resolutie van eergister genoempt, te meer in verscheijden journalen bevinden deselve inderdaet bijsonder rijcke plaetsen van gout ende oliphantstanden &a. sijn, behalven dat te vertrouwen is de Portugesen (daer so veel niet wesende) selffs wel gragh57 mochten syn tegen eenige Hollantsen waren ende provisien (weijnigh uijt ‘t Portugael over Goa ende Mossambique becomende) met ons te handelen, cunnende ‘t eene galjot empassant als geseijt de voorhaelde plaetse aendoende sijne reijse echter sonder weijnigh verhindering gevouchelijck na Persia off Suratta vervolgen, ende ‘t ander in de maent van Augusto hier wederom comen met rapport als wanneer oock eerst tijt wort om de robbenvanghst weder bijderhant te nemen, invougen dubbelt werck met dit galjot desen jare soude cunnen gedaen worden.
Op t’ welcke gemerckt de Portugesen (hoe weijnigh daer sijn) niet vertrouwen mogen ende dierhalven wel eenige swarigheijt mochte overcomen, wijders alles overwogen ende oock geconsidereert dat tot sulckx noch geen speciale ordre van onse principalen hebben, is eijntelijck vastgestelt bij onse vorige resolutievan58 eergisteren desen aengaende te persisteren ende tot de speciale ordre van onse Hren. Meesters uijt ‘t Patria, de saecke uijt te stellen mitsgaders ‘t galjot de Swarte Vos alleen Maendagh aenstaende syn affscheijdt te geven ende laten vertrecken, met d’ advijsen aen d’ opperhooffden in Persia off Suratte , na ‘t selve Godes weer ende wint sal comen te geleijden.
Onderstusschen den provisionelen schipper ende stierman met ‘t galjot de Roode Vos nochte rechte ende salvo uijt ‘t Patria hier g’arriveert wesende, onaengesien haeren schipper ende opperstierman overlange op de reijse overleden waren, ende dienvolgende versouckende omme behoorlijk verbeteringe van gagie ende confirmatie in de bedienende qualiteijten daerinne bij versterff versz sijn gesuccedeert ende haer wel hebben gequeten, Is by den Raedt verstaen, namentlijck Elbert Cornelisz Kes van Westerblocker met gemelte galjot voor onderstierman uijt gevaren ende eerst door versterff van de schipper by successie van den opperstierman in schippersplaetse tot opperstiermansbedieninge geclommen ende naderhant door ‘t overlyden van den selven vorders in ‘t schippersampt geraeckt, toe te leggen de halve gagie van den opperstierman ende de halve gagie van den schipper maeckende samen 50 gl. per maent met de formele qualite van schipper ende den in manieren als vooren gesuccedeerden stierman Crijn Jansz Swart van Hoorn voor bossr. a 14 gl. met do. galjot uijtgevaren ende als vooren door goede comportementen ende diensten provisionelijck opgeclommen, te confirmeren ende absolutelijck te stellen in de qualite van onderstierman met 26 gl. ter maent, beijde ingaende den 18en Desember ao passo., dat den eenen ‘t schippers ende d’ ander ‘t stuijrmans ampt als geseyt tot genoegen hebben waergenomen volgens acte elck in ‘t bijsonder daervan verleent.
Ende dewijle de schippers van beijde galjots elck even graegh na Persia wilden om van de Caep verlost te sijn, is verstaen omme niet te laten blijcken wie ‘t beste hert mochte toegedragen worden, onder hun beyden, met trecken van brieffkens daeromme te laten looten, gelijck geschied is, vallende de reijse na Persia te beurte den provisionelen schipper van ‘t galjot de Swarte Vos Gerrit Abelsen. Invougen oock verstaen is den stierman van dien (dese custen ervaren)59 over te laten gaen tegen die van de Roode Vos om op ijder galjot ervaren personen te houden tot elcks te doene reijsen.
Sijnde wijders goet gevonden aen wedersijde eenige nodigheden van doen hebbende over te geven op dat elck tot ‘t sijne mochte sonder verhinderinge ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. soo veel mogelijck g’accommodeert blijven.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fordt de Goede Hoop ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] GERRIT ABELSEN.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.
Op t’ welcke gemerckt de Portugesen (hoe weijnigh daer sijn) niet vertrouwen mogen ende dierhalven wel eenige swarigheijt mochte overcomen, wijders alles overwogen ende oock geconsidereert dat tot sulckx noch geen speciale ordre van onse principalen hebben, is eijntelijck vastgestelt bij onse vorige resolutievan58 eergisteren desen aengaende te persisteren ende tot de speciale ordre van onse Hren. Meesters uijt ‘t Patria, de saecke uijt te stellen mitsgaders ‘t galjot de Swarte Vos alleen Maendagh aenstaende syn affscheijdt te geven ende laten vertrecken, met d’ advijsen aen d’ opperhooffden in Persia off Suratte , na ‘t selve Godes weer ende wint sal comen te geleijden.
Onderstusschen den provisionelen schipper ende stierman met ‘t galjot de Roode Vos nochte rechte ende salvo uijt ‘t Patria hier g’arriveert wesende, onaengesien haeren schipper ende opperstierman overlange op de reijse overleden waren, ende dienvolgende versouckende omme behoorlijk verbeteringe van gagie ende confirmatie in de bedienende qualiteijten daerinne bij versterff versz sijn gesuccedeert ende haer wel hebben gequeten, Is by den Raedt verstaen, namentlijck Elbert Cornelisz Kes van Westerblocker met gemelte galjot voor onderstierman uijt gevaren ende eerst door versterff van de schipper by successie van den opperstierman in schippersplaetse tot opperstiermansbedieninge geclommen ende naderhant door ‘t overlyden van den selven vorders in ‘t schippersampt geraeckt, toe te leggen de halve gagie van den opperstierman ende de halve gagie van den schipper maeckende samen 50 gl. per maent met de formele qualite van schipper ende den in manieren als vooren gesuccedeerden stierman Crijn Jansz Swart van Hoorn voor bossr. a 14 gl. met do. galjot uijtgevaren ende als vooren door goede comportementen ende diensten provisionelijck opgeclommen, te confirmeren ende absolutelijck te stellen in de qualite van onderstierman met 26 gl. ter maent, beijde ingaende den 18en Desember ao passo., dat den eenen ‘t schippers ende d’ ander ‘t stuijrmans ampt als geseyt tot genoegen hebben waergenomen volgens acte elck in ‘t bijsonder daervan verleent.
Ende dewijle de schippers van beijde galjots elck even graegh na Persia wilden om van de Caep verlost te sijn, is verstaen omme niet te laten blijcken wie ‘t beste hert mochte toegedragen worden, onder hun beyden, met trecken van brieffkens daeromme te laten looten, gelijck geschied is, vallende de reijse na Persia te beurte den provisionelen schipper van ‘t galjot de Swarte Vos Gerrit Abelsen. Invougen oock verstaen is den stierman van dien (dese custen ervaren)59 over te laten gaen tegen die van de Roode Vos om op ijder galjot ervaren personen te houden tot elcks te doene reijsen.
Sijnde wijders goet gevonden aen wedersijde eenige nodigheden van doen hebbende over te geven op dat elck tot ‘t sijne mochte sonder verhinderinge ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. soo veel mogelijck g’accommodeert blijven.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fordt de Goede Hoop ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] GERRIT ABELSEN.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.