Cape Council of Policy
218
1659-08-13
Minute details
- Entry number
- 218
- Date
- 1659-08-13
- Year
- 1659
English translation
Yesterday, upon closer investigation and careful inspection, it was discovered that the Liesbeecq river, from the crow tree to the bailiff Leendert Cornelisz's Bos (approximately 1,500 rods of distance), is naturally very suitable for controlling the animals caused by the Hottentoes' removal and expulsion. It is fairly densely overgrown everywhere on the east or opposite side, with fairly thick, strong, rough, tacked crickets and trees that are difficult for animals to drive through, as in some open areas, those trees (which are mostly close to and around it in abundance) are judged to be as dense as possible with little difficulty and little expense. make sure that no more beasts can be hunted over or through the aforementioned great distance. After further deliberation, it has been decided that this is preferable for the other work (namely the fence projected there), since, besides the lower costs, it will also progress more quickly: and that all necessary matters can be completed: to start the same with approximately 30 men, including Comp's servants and some freemen (to be hired on a daily basis), under the supervision of the sargeant and a corporal, in the coming new week, with which at least one thousand Ra. of 8s for the E. Compe. It will be saved that the aforementioned fence will also be brought in freely, since the E. Compe. is present there without oxen, nails, etc., which would have cost a fortune, and now the soldiers (who have to keep watch nearby) can mostly handle it without extravagant expense (with their rifles at their side) as envoys, and with them, the necessary guards can be kept there for our plundering enemies.
However, regarding the openness of 500 rods of distance between Jan Reijniersen's building or residence and the seafront, where there are no trees near or around it: but over generally generous loose sandy soil, it has not been found practicable to decide in any other way than with the projected fence declared in the previous resolution of Saturday last, so that place regarding it persists, and Comps. The forest people of Monday past have also begun hacking away at the necessary wooden structures, while the carpenters stationed at the fort have also hastily prepared two guardhouses of trusses and planks, 12 feet in size, squarely, with a wooden cape. They will then be demolished there (if absolutely necessary) and designated as the principal places where the beasts can be most and most conveniently evacuated. This open space must now be guarded daily with four horsemen and many soldiers, approximately as narrow as the aforementioned 1,500 rods, between the crow tree and Leendert's woods, etc.
And in order to also know how the Liesbeecq river is situated between the aforementioned two closures and whether it is also deep and steep enough on the whole, it has also been approved and also immediately arranged that the free party of the same, as far as its land extends along it, will first have to examine a width of 2 feet on the edge of the rough area in order to speculate where it might or should be necessary to be helped on any shallows; and thus make the garrison even more certain or more secure, to save the many soldiers now required, above and beyond ordinary numbers, to be kept for the safekeeping of the troops. After completion, they may well be excused, although (as troops become more numerous) one will sometimes have to search for troops outside the aforementioned decree. But then, with all the force of men and cavalry alone, one will have to be careful, as one now has to occupy all open spaces and too many places, and it is still difficult enough to preserve the troops from these bold, swift Hottentoes.
And since, even more aggrieved, bailiff Leendert Cornelisz refused to accept the offer for the aforementioned fence at 16 stuivers per rod (as he considered it too little), and that the E. Company be equipped with a few woodcutters and carpenters, it was decided to accept four of his best woodcutters or woodcutters in daily rent at 10 stuivers per day, plus the free fare, for the aforementioned essential work, which will be completed in full, so that it can proceed more quickly and, in accordance with the nearest ships, the people of our party can be enlarged from here to Batavia.
Thus done and resolved, also arrested and imprisoned 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, 165
9.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, Secrets.
However, regarding the openness of 500 rods of distance between Jan Reijniersen's building or residence and the seafront, where there are no trees near or around it: but over generally generous loose sandy soil, it has not been found practicable to decide in any other way than with the projected fence declared in the previous resolution of Saturday last, so that place regarding it persists, and Comps. The forest people of Monday past have also begun hacking away at the necessary wooden structures, while the carpenters stationed at the fort have also hastily prepared two guardhouses of trusses and planks, 12 feet in size, squarely, with a wooden cape. They will then be demolished there (if absolutely necessary) and designated as the principal places where the beasts can be most and most conveniently evacuated. This open space must now be guarded daily with four horsemen and many soldiers, approximately as narrow as the aforementioned 1,500 rods, between the crow tree and Leendert's woods, etc.
And in order to also know how the Liesbeecq river is situated between the aforementioned two closures and whether it is also deep and steep enough on the whole, it has also been approved and also immediately arranged that the free party of the same, as far as its land extends along it, will first have to examine a width of 2 feet on the edge of the rough area in order to speculate where it might or should be necessary to be helped on any shallows; and thus make the garrison even more certain or more secure, to save the many soldiers now required, above and beyond ordinary numbers, to be kept for the safekeeping of the troops. After completion, they may well be excused, although (as troops become more numerous) one will sometimes have to search for troops outside the aforementioned decree. But then, with all the force of men and cavalry alone, one will have to be careful, as one now has to occupy all open spaces and too many places, and it is still difficult enough to preserve the troops from these bold, swift Hottentoes.
And since, even more aggrieved, bailiff Leendert Cornelisz refused to accept the offer for the aforementioned fence at 16 stuivers per rod (as he considered it too little), and that the E. Company be equipped with a few woodcutters and carpenters, it was decided to accept four of his best woodcutters or woodcutters in daily rent at 10 stuivers per day, plus the free fare, for the aforementioned essential work, which will be completed in full, so that it can proceed more quickly and, in accordance with the nearest ships, the people of our party can be enlarged from here to Batavia.
Thus done and resolved, also arrested and imprisoned 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, 165
9.
[Signed:] PITER EVRARD.
[Signed:] GYSBT. VAN CAMPEN, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Gister by nader ondersoeck ende wel naeu genomen inspectie ondervonden synde, dat om het bestiael door ‘t wegh ende overdrijven der Hottentoos te keren, de reviere Liesbeecq van den crommenboom af tot aen den vrij-houdtsager Leendert Corneliszs Bos incluijs (ongeveer 1500 roeden distantie) sich uijtte natuijr seer bequaem vertoont vermits deselve daer meest overal aen de oost ofte overcandt redelijck dicht bewassen is, met vrij dicke, stercke, ruijge, getackte krekel-bossen44 ende bomen qualijck moghelijck om beesten door te dryven, als op eenige open plaetsen die van deselve bomen (daer in abondantie over al meest dicht bij ende omtrent staende) met geringe moeijten ende cleijne costen g’oordeelt worden voorts wel soo dicht sullen te maken wesen dat tusschen voorsz groote distantie geenich bestiaelmeer45 sal cunnen over ofte deur gejaecht worden, Soo is bij nader deliberatien goedtgevonden sulcx voor het ander werck (namentlijck de schuttingh aldaer geprojecteert) te prefereren vermits het boven de minder oncosten oock vaerdiger voortgangh sal neemen: ende dies alle nodige saken klaer te maken: omme ‘t selve met ongeveer 30 man soo van Comps. dienaers als eenige vrijel. (op daghgelden daer toe te huijren) onder ‘t gesagh van den sargeandt ende een corporael in de toecomende nieuwe weecke al ten eersten aen te vangen, waermede ten minsten een duysent Ra. van 8en voor d’ E. Compe. sal verspaert worden, dat voorsz schuttingh vermits oock het aenvoeren van ‘t houdt (door vrijel. te doen) om dat d’ E. Compe. jegenwoordigh daer toe onversien van ossen is, ende spijckers &a., wel rijckelijck soude gecost hebben ende nu meest door de soldaten (daer omtrent doch op de wacht moetende leggen) sonder extraordinaire costen (met hun geweer bij haer) als empassandt sal cunnen affgerecht ende met eenen bij deselve de nodige wachten op onse rovende vijanden aldaer cunnen waergenomen worden.
Doch aengaende de openheyt van 500 roeden distantie tusschen Jan Reijniersens bouwerij ofte woninge ende de zeecandt daer geen geboomte altoos bij offte omtrent sij: maer over algansch46 gulle losse sandtgrondt, is niet wel practicabel bevonden op ander maniere te besluijten als met de geproijecteerde schuttingh in voorige resolutie van Saterdagh verleeden gedeclareert, sulcx die plaets aengaende daer bij gepersisteert blijft, ende Comps. bos-volck van Maendagh verleden oock al hebben begonnen de nodige houdtwercken toe te hacken, mitsgaders de timmerluijden bij ‘t fort gestelt aen de geprojecteerde 2 wachthuijsen van gebinten ende plancken groodt 12 voedt in ‘t viercandt met een houtte capien47 in der haest mede vaerdigh te maken: omme aldaer (ten hooghsten nodigh) dan gesloopt te brengen, ende op te slaen als synde de principaelste plaetsen daer ons ‘t bestiael meest ende bequamelijcxt can ontjaecht worden, welcke openheyt men nu daghelycx met 4 ruijters ende veele soldaten moet bewaren emmers soo naeu als de gemelte 1500 roeden, tusschen de crommen boom ende Leenderts bos &a.
Ende omme emmers ter deegen oocq te mogen weten hoe de reviere Liesbeecq tusschen voorsz 2 besluytingen gelegen ende off se over al oock diep ende stijll genoegh sij, Is mede goedtgevonden ende oocq al datelijck in ordre gestelt dat de vrijel. deselve ijder soo ver syn landt daer langs heen streckt, ten aldereersten 2 voeten breedt op de candt van de ruijghte sullen hebben te suijveren omme te speculeeren waar deselve op eenige ondiepten noch noodigh soude mogen ende moeten geholpen worden; ende alsoo de besettinge te seeckerder ofte segourder te maken, tot versparinge van veele soldaten nu boven ordinaires moetende tot bewaringe van ‘t bestiael expres gehouden, ende dan na voltoijinge wel sullende mogen g’ excuseert worden, hoewel men (menichvuldiger van bestiael wordende) echter somtijts wel buyten voorsz besluytinge met Comps. bestiael sal moeten weijde gaan soecken: maer daer sal dan met al de macht van volck ende ruijters alleen op behoeven gepast: daer men nu alle openheeden ende te veele plaetsen te besetten heeft ende noch qualijck genoech ‘t bestiael voor dese brutale rappe Hottentoos bewaren can.
Ende nademael meer aengetogen vrij-houdtsager Leendert Cornelisz ‘t aengebodene wegen de gemelte schuttingh tot 16 stuijvers yder roe niet heeft willen accepteeren (als hem na sijn duncken te weijnich sijnde) ende dat d’ E. Compe. met luttel houdthackers ende timmerluijden versien sijn, Soo is goedtgevonden 4 van sijn beste bosvolck ofte houdthackers in daghhuijr a 10 stuyvers daegs ende de vrije cost aen te nemen tot voorsz hooghnodich werck t’ eenemael sal affgemaeckt wesen ten eijnde het oock te spoediger voortgaen ende ingevolge met de naeste scheepen parthije volck t’ onser ontlastinge van hier na Batavia gelargeert mogen worden.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert mitsgaders oock gearresteert ende vastgestelt 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.
Doch aengaende de openheyt van 500 roeden distantie tusschen Jan Reijniersens bouwerij ofte woninge ende de zeecandt daer geen geboomte altoos bij offte omtrent sij: maer over algansch46 gulle losse sandtgrondt, is niet wel practicabel bevonden op ander maniere te besluijten als met de geproijecteerde schuttingh in voorige resolutie van Saterdagh verleeden gedeclareert, sulcx die plaets aengaende daer bij gepersisteert blijft, ende Comps. bos-volck van Maendagh verleden oock al hebben begonnen de nodige houdtwercken toe te hacken, mitsgaders de timmerluijden bij ‘t fort gestelt aen de geprojecteerde 2 wachthuijsen van gebinten ende plancken groodt 12 voedt in ‘t viercandt met een houtte capien47 in der haest mede vaerdigh te maken: omme aldaer (ten hooghsten nodigh) dan gesloopt te brengen, ende op te slaen als synde de principaelste plaetsen daer ons ‘t bestiael meest ende bequamelijcxt can ontjaecht worden, welcke openheyt men nu daghelycx met 4 ruijters ende veele soldaten moet bewaren emmers soo naeu als de gemelte 1500 roeden, tusschen de crommen boom ende Leenderts bos &a.
Ende omme emmers ter deegen oocq te mogen weten hoe de reviere Liesbeecq tusschen voorsz 2 besluytingen gelegen ende off se over al oock diep ende stijll genoegh sij, Is mede goedtgevonden ende oocq al datelijck in ordre gestelt dat de vrijel. deselve ijder soo ver syn landt daer langs heen streckt, ten aldereersten 2 voeten breedt op de candt van de ruijghte sullen hebben te suijveren omme te speculeeren waar deselve op eenige ondiepten noch noodigh soude mogen ende moeten geholpen worden; ende alsoo de besettinge te seeckerder ofte segourder te maken, tot versparinge van veele soldaten nu boven ordinaires moetende tot bewaringe van ‘t bestiael expres gehouden, ende dan na voltoijinge wel sullende mogen g’ excuseert worden, hoewel men (menichvuldiger van bestiael wordende) echter somtijts wel buyten voorsz besluytinge met Comps. bestiael sal moeten weijde gaan soecken: maer daer sal dan met al de macht van volck ende ruijters alleen op behoeven gepast: daer men nu alle openheeden ende te veele plaetsen te besetten heeft ende noch qualijck genoech ‘t bestiael voor dese brutale rappe Hottentoos bewaren can.
Ende nademael meer aengetogen vrij-houdtsager Leendert Cornelisz ‘t aengebodene wegen de gemelte schuttingh tot 16 stuijvers yder roe niet heeft willen accepteeren (als hem na sijn duncken te weijnich sijnde) ende dat d’ E. Compe. met luttel houdthackers ende timmerluijden versien sijn, Soo is goedtgevonden 4 van sijn beste bosvolck ofte houdthackers in daghhuijr a 10 stuyvers daegs ende de vrije cost aen te nemen tot voorsz hooghnodich werck t’ eenemael sal affgemaeckt wesen ten eijnde het oock te spoediger voortgaen ende ingevolge met de naeste scheepen parthije volck t’ onser ontlastinge van hier na Batavia gelargeert mogen worden.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert mitsgaders oock gearresteert ende vastgestelt 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.