Cape Council of Policy
23
1653-07-25
Minute details
- Entry number
- 23
- Date
- 1653-07-25
- Year
- 1653
English translation
Whereas we have been prevented for quite a while by the westerly winds: according to our long-standing resolution and order, to send the galley Roode Vos from Robbeneijlant to fetch some more shells to the lime kiln, and in the meantime we have found that there will be a reasonable supply of shells here in the bay along the beach; wherefore since most of the work of the fortification has now been done, the people may make better use of it than before. Therefore E. van Riebeecq brought to the Council's consideration whether one should not have observed the appropriate time (which is certainly going well): to go with the aforementioned galley to investigate Houtbaeijken behind the Taeffelbergh, which was first discovered three separate times overland67 and on the 11th of this pass. by the skipper and bull-man of the galley with the sloop further speculated and dredged, and it was also found to be a good bay and harbour for said galley: in order to take further notice in the meantime whether one could obtain suitable woodwork from the beautiful bushes there more easily and that would be more at the service of the E. Compe. might be discovered and acted upon, Finally, after careful deliberation of everything that was conceivable, it was unanimously approved and fixed that the voyage to Robben Island to lay shells and, with the first good wind God grants, to let the said galley sail to the aforementioned Houtbaijken (about 5 miles68 by sea behind the Taeffelbergh and 7 or 8 miles overland), with orders to let us know as soon as it arrives there, so that E. van Riebeecq, either on horseback or on foot, might join the galley's commanders in this inspection of everything. Considering that the wood, which was brought from the forest about 1 1/2 miles away and could be brought by cart, reduces the amount of wood available there, and therefore requires investigation into how it can be obtained. If the galley is also loaded full of fuel (which is close to being brought to shore), the lime kiln here would be absolutely necessary, and therefore it would be too painful to make the journey before emptying, as otherwise no service can be obtained from the galley (laying at great expense to the East India Company).
Thus done and resolved in the Ford of Good Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.
Thus done and resolved in the Ford of Good Hope on the day and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Dewijle door de westelijcke winden nu vrij een lange wijl sijn belet gebleven: om na onse al overlang genomen resolutie ende gegeven ordre, door ‘t galjot de Roode Vos van ‘t Robbeneijlant noch wat schelpen te laten halen, tot de kalckoven, ende ondertusschen bevonden hebben hier in de baij langhs strant redelijc[k] schelpen genoegh te crygen sullen wesen; waer toe vermits nu meest aen ‘t werck van de fortificatie gedaen hebben ‘t volcq beter als voor desen sullen mogen gebruijcken, Soo heeft d’ E. van Riebeecq den Raet in consideratie gebraght, off men den bequamen tyt (die vast dapper deur loopt) niet behoorden waer te nemen: om noch bevoren de tijt van derobbenvanghst66 aencompt, met gemelte galjot het Houtbaeijken achter den Taeffelbergh te gaen besoucken ‘t welcke eerst tot 3 distincte malen overlant ondeckt67 ende den 11en deser passo. door den schipper ende stierman des galjots met de sloep noch nader afgespeculeert ende gediept, mitsgaders bevonden is, een goede bay ende haven voor gemelte galjot te wesen: om tusschen wijlen noch wat nader ooghmerck te nemen, off men uijt de daer sijnde schoone bosschagien de bequame houtwercken wat facil soude cunnen van daer crijgen ende wes meer tot dienst van d’ E. Compe. mochte uijtgevonden ende op gedaen worden, Is eijntelijck na goet overlegh van alles dat bedenckelijck was eenstemmigh goetgevonden, ende vast gestelt, de reyse na ‘t Robbeneijlant om schelpen te staecken ende met den eersten goeden wint die Godt verleenen sal, gemelte galjot na ‘t voors Houtbaijken (omtrent 5 mijlen68 over zee achter den Taeffelbergh ende 7 a 8 mijlen overlant te gaen wesende), te laten verseijlen, met ordre soo haest daer sal gearriveert wesen, ons ‘t selve overlant te laten weten, op dat sigh d’ E. van Riebeecq oock te paerde off te voete overlant derwaerts moghte vervougen: om met d’ opperhooffden des selven galjots ter degen inspectie van alles te helpen nemen, alsoo ‘t hout hier om trent 1 1/2 mijl vandaen uijt ‘t bos voor dato gehaelt ende met de wagen te crijgen sijnde geweest, soo vermindert dat van daer qualyck meer te becomen is, ende dierhalven nodigh ondersocht dient, hoe ‘t ginder te crijgen wesen sal, cunnende empassant ‘t galjot oock vol branthout (dight op strant te crijgen sijnde) geladen worden, tot de kalckoven hier ten hooghsten nodigh hebbende, ende daeromme alleene wel te pijne waert wesende de reijse te laten doen voor ‘t leegh leggen, alsoo doch anders geen dienst hier van ‘t galjot (op groote costen van d’ E. Compe. leggende) can getrocken worden.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fordt de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fordt de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1653.
[Signed:] ELBERT CORNELESZ KES.
[Signed:] JOOST VAN DER LAECK.
[Signed:] JANN SIJMESEN.
[Signed:] FR. V. BURGH, Secrets.