On the orders of our E.E. Gentlemen Principals in the Patria, the small flute vessel 't 't Waterhoen, having recently been sent from here for the second time to fetch rice and slaves to the island of Madagascar, reappeared here on the 15th of this month with the bookkeeper, Mr. Jochum Blanck, and a meager return of no more than 7 or 8 loads of beautiful white rice from Antongil's harbor, as having been no longer available there before that time, according to his written report. Consequently, he had also not been allowed to transport any slaves from there, claiming that the King of that region, without knowledge or permission of his great wealth, had been able to sell a single slave, much less export one, or all. had threatened to leave him and defect to his enemies, so that the E. Compe. with those two fruitless expeditions from here to Madagascar has caused more harm than benefit to our sorrow. And noting that we are currently lacking nothing more than rice to sustain all our soldiers as laborers, as well as a good supply of slaves for the continuation of these fortifications, it was decided in this meeting that the aforementioned flute should be sent back and forth to St. Augustine Bay (located next to the Cape), for the third time now, because two English ships recently brought over three hundred slaves from there, and each of them had brought one of them across this place in West India. But because, in the opinion of the ship's advisors, this voyage would be very difficult at this time of year, indeed, it could not be made in three months and without great danger, besides that this The much-discussed ship, now so dirty and rough that it was still so sluggish in its sailing that it was difficult to turn or veer about for any longer, we completely abandoned our thoughts about that voyage and, consequently (though not knowing how to justify it further), unanimously agreed and decided to provide everything with the first one on the new date for four months, and with as much collected wool, cowhides, and sheepskins as we could muster for the work, we would depart for Batavia in the hope that we would be supplied with the necessary grain in the meantime, along with the expected return fleet.
Thus done and resolved at the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year aforesaid.
[Signed:] Z. WAGENAER.
[Signed:] ABRAHAM GABBEMA. 1664.
[Signed:] HENDR. LACUS.