Cape Council of Policy
413
1670-03-05
Minute details
- Entry number
- 413
- Date
- 1670-03-05
- Year
- 1670
English translation
Copia.1
Questions presented by E. Mattheus van den Broeck,128 Raat Ordinaris van India, Admirael of the return fleet and Commissioner of Cabo de Boa Esperance, to be answered by E. Commander Jacob Borghorst and Fiscal Cornelis de Cretser as the second in line. Cab occupying.
Ien.
Dewyl de Heeren our Principals by Haer Edle. The latest letters of August 24th in response to your letter state that 187 engaged men could very well exist at and around this Cape residency (the island of Mauritius being included), especially in these peaceful times, and that currently (besides the aforementioned Mauritius) there are distributed here at various posts, totaling 236 engaged persons according to the list provided to me. The question is whether this could be reduced (without depriving the necessary service) to a certain extent, as (in addition to the aforementioned garrison) the citizens or freemen (according to the contents of the separate roll) total 89 able-bodied men.
Responses to the adjacent questions by the aforementioned Commander Borghorst and Fiscal Cretser, as follows.
Response to the aforementioned Commander:
1.
It is true that last year this garrison and its entire contingent were reduced to 187 engaged men, a figure also confirmed by Her Honor. Our Lords Principals approved by the same presented letter, but considering that in the meantime the Bay of Saldanhia has been taken into possession, where the garrison was observed with 10 people, together with the fortifiers sent here and who were used for that work, making up a total of 12 people, as well as 8 cattle herders who are present along with a larger number of animals necessarily required and are counted among them, there will then be no more than approximately 25 or 26 heads, which were successively lifted from the ships to meet the rescue and, since the rescue of all of none whose time has expired would be granted by Your Honor were approved, so the authorized number of the aforementioned 187 heads may remain reduced rather than increased. 130 Firstly, it will be possible to arrange for no fewer men (but with Your Honor's prior consultation) to ensure that the required service of the E. Company is not jeopardized, as Your Honor will also have noted from the rolls how scattered it is here and there.
Reply to Cretser:
When, from the authorized 187 heads, everywhere, such as Saldanhiabaey, Robben and Dasseneylant, as well as the Company's corn shed, sawmill, outhouse, winery and vessels, in addition to horsemen and other guards, etc. as before will remain occupied and in addition the land expeditions are continued daily for the purpose of procuring beastiality, which drags away a number of 10 to 12 people each time, in addition to that with the slaughterers requiring another 17 people who also have to go out into the field daily to keep the cattle, it is (in Your Honor's wise judgment) to be considered bad here with this, as it appears from the muster roll (which Your Honor provided) it appears that for the occupation of the above posts (not even taking into account Mauritius or the land) 104 heads are required, which then come from the aforementioned. 187 were withdrawn, leaving 83, under the Lord Commander, Preacher, Councillors, admirals, 131 surgeons, examiners for the sick, assayers, pilgrims, ambulance men, magistrates, etc., who amounted to 31 persons; therefore, there remain 52 heads, of which 52 heads: 13 for carpenters, wagers and coopers, 4 for smiths, 4 for masons, 7 in Comps. large vegetable garden, 3 for leather work, 3 for stone and tile backers, 5 for stable hands, and the rough terrain may be used daily, which is then falsified. It should be noted that, together with the sergeants, corps, drummers, trumpeters, caretakers, miller, and housekeepers, 11,132 people are left over.
[Question 2]
Since the Capetian residence must be supplied annually with a special quantity of rice from India, there would be no way to devise or devise a way to avoid such heavy charges and acquire enough grain here that not only would no assistance be needed from outside, but also that outgoing and incoming ships would be supplied with it, or that any remaining grain that might be missing here could be sent to Batavia, where the East India Company would sell all the incoming wheat from Japan, Bengal, Wingurla, and Suratta at a price of 60 rupees, or 180 guilders, the burden of 3,000 lbs. it has now been found to the common contractors here (by express inspection) that the mud of new wheat having brought out 176 lbs. and the old one 160 lbs., the same was paid to the farmers or cultivators no higher than 7 guilders. the said mud so that the aforementioned burden of 3,000 lb. would cost Rds. 39: 46 stuivers and Rd. 43: 45 stuivers, or Rd. 41: 45 1/2 stuivers, which is quite different, especially since the aforementioned contractors would peddle and sell the same wheat for Rd. 72. The last point is that you will also have to note here what quantity of wheat has been acquired here in the last 2 or 3 years, both by the European Company and by private individuals. 2.
[Answer from the Commander]
During my time in this place, I have speculated and considered extensively the costs of sourcing provisions from abroad, provided the Cape could not exist on its own. However, I noticed that the lands located here are far from fertile enough to produce the amount of grain required for the sustenance of this place and its inhabitants, and that the farmers, by their nature, still lack the will and zeal for it. It has become clear to me that there is no point in doing so, but if so many capable farmers of a good and edifying nature... to obtain life were they to have such well-protected, and to them Hottentot Holland, a fertile moorland about 12 to 14 miles from here, were to be given possession of, then one could still hope that in time, through manual labour and the most generous blessing of this turnover of home-grown grains, it could sustain itself and also by more opulent increase furnish other places and ships, but how much worry, expense, and time it would first require, as well as how great damage would also arise from this if the E. Compe. had a bad outcome, has all been freely considered and can be with Your Honor. were considered.
Continuing the wheat in the 2 previous years by d'E. Compe. crops amount in all to 144 1/2 mudde and that of the freedmen 200 7/8 t' [together]. 345 3/8 mudde off 12 7/9 charges, which is indeed very small and we can only shoot at it, but
2.
[Response from the Tax Authorities]
The land here is close to the hand and to the agricultural synde and does not exist in such a large quantity that from 't Coorn (built by the E. Compe. as freemen over the years) our guarantee would have been established, but it also expanded a little further and looked at Hottentots Hollands (which is a flat and approximately is located 12 hours from the fort) would doubt that something could be invented in the future, given that E. Compe. The aforementioned Hottentot Holland (which is an exceptionally beautiful piece of land) was considered desirable by about 20 men, along with the necessary tractors and other building equipment, and to have it plowed. Because it encompasses a distance of 2,000 or more morgen of good land, experienced farmers believe that every year, at least, half a thousand bushels of wheat and rye could be harvested. This year, when work began on this month of March, without the addition of any fertilizer, approximately 700 to 800 bushels of wheat or rye would reach quite a distance.
What does the price of grains so far, according to the E. Compe. of the freemen purchased and paid, namely:
The mud wheat ƒ7-:-: is certainly subject to correction.
The rye ƒ5-10-: a little too little, because, in general,
farmers can hardly pay their German servants (whom they need for this) from their annual meager crop (because the land here is quite meager). I therefore refuse that they would not be able to keep their house on top of that, and from which it arises that everyone, out of poverty, abandoning their farms, tries to come and live here at the fort on a penny and a penny.
The crop seems to decrease from year to year among the freemen not only for the reasons mentioned above, but also by the E. Compe. itself, according to the business books of 1667, found that in that year 185 1/2 bushels of wheat and 51 1/4 bushels of rye were built and acquired, as well as no wheat or rye from the freemen, and in the year 1668 by E. Compe. decreasing only 104 3/4 bushels of wheat and 9 bushels of rye, and by the freemen 109 7/8 bushels of wheat and rye from the other, and now in the year 1669 almost nothing was built or acquired, except for the seed grain that was previously pulled off and sold, 39 3/4 bushels of wheat and 3 bushels of rye, and from the Farmers: 106 bushels of wheat, 135 bushels of rye, which is constantly diminishing from year to year without remedy; the cause of the free people has been touched upon here; the other would be the livestock, as they are unnecessary.
[Question] 3.
To expand agriculture here, no quantity of slaves was required, and how many, and which kind would be best, whether Angolan, Guinean, or from the coast of Arder, and that in order to prevent them from running away, as with This being one and the same solid land, whether there is any reason to fear it and what reasons do you know to allocate and inform your E. regarding this?
3.
[Answer from the Commander]
In order to increasingly prioritize agriculture, the E. Compe. And to relieve the servants who were required for this purpose, and to make the corn-building more cost-effective and tasteful, freemen, of their large monthly allowances. It would be extremely helpful if we could first have about 150 to 200 good Angolan servants, whom I believe are the most laborious and willing to help. But although that nation is closest to this, there is as little fear of such a person running away as there are of other slaves.
3.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
Regarding the second article, it was answered that free people, in return for the wages of German servants, are often forced by poverty to abandon agriculture. Consequently, it would be desirable to accommodate a quantity of slaves of 100 to 150 pieces to allow these free farmers to have a better livelihood. The Angolan or Guinean slaves would be the best and most suitable, as they are more prosperous than others.
[Question] 4.
What calculation is made here in accordance with the E. Compe's own agriculture and grain harvesting, and what the final cost is. All charges and fees, to be calculated at cost, should be considered, provided that it would not be better to transfer the entire amount to farmers or citizens by lease or otherwise, so that they, in driving to the plow, could reduce the numerous taphouses here near the fort somewhat, and to what number you think these should be reduced.
4.
[Answer from the Commander].
Calculations have shown that the E. Compe.'s own agriculture... more expenses caused than the incompetence of the harvested grains have not been able to be reimbursed annually, but in view of the frequent driving of fuel, timber and whatever else required for the work (which has been and is currently done by one of the same Company's farmers and wagons) the costs were largely supplemented; however, by all means136 it could be leased to some freemen under sufficient sureties, and if we were then certain of the same labor, it would be more costless to hand over the grain scourer to free citizens than to keep it to ourselves, provided that the grain remains bound to the Company at such a price. to be sold if additional information could be drawn up by contract.
The last wheat that was washed here in the last year, accounts for all objections and complaints regarding ƒ…137 d' E. Compe. to the cost that, contrary to what is supplied by the freedmen, ƒ7 the mud is quite different and possible. impossible to exist.
Previously, Mr. Rycklooff van Goens had granted three people permission to set up the taphouse, but subsequently, so many of this kind have crept in that they are mostly unprivileged tappers and innkeepers living here below the fort and in the countryside. This freedom could be reduced to a smaller number, and it would be possible to manage with three or four freemen to tap, provided they pay for these privileges monthly and impose such an imposition as might be devised and deemed appropriate.
4.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
However, according to the accompanying memorandum, it is indicated that the corn harvested and collected by the E. Compe. in 1667 could not even come close to covering the costs; in fact, these costs sometimes amounted to as much as the aforementioned corn sold here. From this, it follows that it was more profitable for the E. Compe. to lease the corn barn than to keep it longer. In order to reduce the numerous taps here at the fort and elsewhere, my judgment (with correction from Your Honor) is a significant effort, because everyone after that tap and uytsuyperye (as if they were lazy to handle it) does not incline anywhere else after all, and moves the cultivators, leaving the construction: their to the said settlement as well as to transport the fort with the people living there, the next two to three brandy pubs here at the fort and one in the lant can be observed, as there and here Wouwter Mostaert is privileged, mom, to sell France and Rhenish wine and to get out with the cleyne mate wear out.
[Question 5].
And after all, the heavy garrison and permanent residency, with such great expense and without regard for business or profit, is very difficult for the E. Compe. here, or one could not practice some kind of benefit to the citizens and freemen, not only to make them exist all the better, but also so that in time their numbers may increase to reduce of the garrison; regarding the increase of the aforementioned freemen and our security, they attach great importance to natives of the United Provinces, as the Lord Council Ordinary Rycklooff van Goens, by His E. instructions as Commissioner of April 16, 1657, rightly notes and specifically recommends that no other than Dutch citizens be admitted to this Colony, and that You E. would also like to consider how far this order has been pursued.
5.
[Response of the Commander].
The privileges with which our citizens and farmers could well be granted, I think (with correction) consist of fishing, hunting and shooting game, and hauling fuel and timber. as well as to instruct and assist in agriculture and livestock farming, as the times and conditions of the Compe. leaders might require, but this garrison could be reduced little or less by it, and the Compe. nevertheless had to purchase from the freemen what they presently could serve and support themselves, wherefore our predecessors have committed all kinds of nations and not especially natives from the United Provinces here in freedom, as the allied instruction of the aforementioned Mr. van Goens expressly dictates; I therefore maintain that at that time no other option could have been found. Indeed, few or no foreigners are permitted to do so here, but they have been kept out as much as possible and the aforementioned order has been followed.
5.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
The free farmers should first receive a little more for their grain, and then a civil sum, which is offered in cash or on credit, along with some milk and draught animals; However, with the condition that they may not reduce, sell, exchange, or otherwise seek to sell them, but that they may only take the fruits thereof and sell them at a stalked price to their satisfaction, while the animals remain mortgaged and bound to the Holy See for the transferred sum.
[Question 6].
Then the aforementioned colonists with the Holy See. to meet some advantage and profit, if one does not think that fuel wood is so scarce and precious here everywhere, and of which such a large quantity is needed every year (particularly to provide for the number of passing ships), and should not be found elsewhere near the sea side, they should go east of or slightly north of this Cape in search of suitable woods to enter into a contract with the freemen or otherwise be cut, in order to remain there for as long as one can at the Comps. A vessel (or perhaps a poorly mounted flute, which had just emerged) was dismantled and thus positioned and assembled near the fort, to accommodate the return ships, which were severely hampered and hindered by fuel, reaching their homeland at the heaviest part of the voyage, and which fuel also cost a good amount of money in Batavia.
6.
[Answer from the Commander].
Just as our experienced voyagers, Sergeants Cruythoff and Croese,140 have managed to arrange that east of this Cape, as far as Mossel Bay and northwards as far as the Bay of St. Helena, on the seaward side, there is absolutely no wood to be obtained, which, due to their inconvenient circumstances, could be brought there either by water or by land. Your Honor's proposal, concerning the contracts you entered into with the freemen, appears to be unrealistic and, according to the aforementioned voyager, is at least not practicable.
6.
[Response from the Fiskaal].
It is certainly a good thing to allocate the cutting of the fuel wood in such large quantities to the freemen, which is requisitioned from the skippers of passing ships, but we find no opportunity here to fetch it from there by one or another vessel or flute. It is also not located anywhere near the seaward edge, as it would then also have to be cut in high, rising forests, except that one would be unable to walk or miss it with a flute in Falce Bay or Houdt Bay (where it would have to come from) because of the dip and the clippings.
[Question 7].
Whether it would not be useful and practical if the E. Compe. Now that everything is arranged, the freemen are to supply, at certain prices or by contract, all kinds of baked stone, tiles, woodwork, and other items more than the E. Compe. might need, even to spend on the tannery, corn mill, and other such items, according to the maxim imported a few years ago from Batavia, where the aforementioned Compe. is very well-off.
7.
[Answer from the Commander].
Concerning the stone or tilework, as well as the supply of some woodwork, they can well supply to some freemen (under contract) as previously happened,142 were left, provided that they then remain obligated to return all necessary items to the E. Company at the prices set therein. However, the corn mill and the tannery, which are also of minor concern and now in decent condition, the E. Company will do its best, but under Your Honor's earlier and more sensible consultation, to retain these for themselves for the time being, as this requires little staff and expense.
7.
[Answer from the Fiscal]
The contracting out of baked stone, pots, pans, etc. could be done appropriately; I also cannot see that the E. Company. standing for the time of 3 or 4 years that you were born. The craftsmen themselves have brought in much profit from it, including heavy timber work, but in view of daily repairs, the corn mill would not succeed at first, because as for the corn, close supervision must be maintained. Otherwise, the freemen, having ground a great deal of corn, each one would have a loaf of bread, and our harvested grain would be sold off to passing ships at great expense, and we would thus be frustrated by them, which is against the agreed order and privilege of our freeman, as we are wealthy and have not previously accommodated our garrison, to sell it to passing friends, and also not within its weight and above the set price. certain pennies.
The leatherwork also seems a bit premature to lease.
[Question 8]
Item: from the prepared leather that seems to be in short supply here, it would not be possible to make sturdy party shoes to be sent to India, and on what wisdom would you trust the pair to be negotiated? Paying the E. Company to Batavia by contract for the pair of common soldier's shoes...143 stuivers.
8.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since making shoes from the rawhide of slaughtered animals gives good hope, we are confident that not only will we be satisfied with it here, but that India will also be able to provide some relief with it, as the pair of common shoes will cost approximately ƒ …144 per 100,000, and which could also (to excuse the large garnishment according to Your Honor's proposal) be granted to any of them who wish to be released there under special terms and conditions.
8.
[Response from the Fiskaal].
The prepared leather from cattle is quite beautiful here, and very good for making shoes. We could certainly have shoes made from them, and that for a reasonable price, although we didn't find any shoemakers lacking.
[Question 9].
And to further benefit from the prepared leather, if it were not possible to have 2 or 3 st. brandemmers made for Batavia and other parts of India, like the ones I have seen and used here, were undoubtedly better and of more suitable material than those successively demanded from the Chormandel customer.
9.
[Answer of the Commander]
And since the granaries made here by Your Honor are estimated to be better than those of Custodian Chormandel, it could also be estimated that, with the opportunity and success of the times, a good number of granaries could be slaughtered for Batavia or other parts of India, and the quarters could be furnished with them.
9.
[Answer of the Fiskaal].
Ad idem of the granaries.
(Question 10).
Since some beautiful furs of wild cat, jackal, and tiger skins have been displayed here, the question is whether there would be a way to accumulate these and other furs in sufficient quantities over time to establish some kind of trade here. Indeed, knowledgeable people would also be sought from the country and a fixed price would be set for the aforementioned furs (so as not to disqualify the Hottentots), thus providing our citizens and farmers with more opportunity to prosper a stuivertien.
10.
[Answer from the Commander].
But acquiring furs of jackals, wildcats, tigers, and similar skins in quantity is, in my humble opinion, always impossible, because not as many could be caught as the cost might be. Since the Hottentots are also not suited to this trade, much less can our farmers expect to derive any profit from it, since animals are very few, and not entirely by chance, to be shot or caught. 10.
[Answer from the Tax Collector]
The furs of wildcats, jackals, and tiger skins are brought in very cheaply, but if a quantity is obtained, it would be reasonable to sell or ship them to passing ships for the Eastern Company, paying each person a small fee for their effort for each sort.
Catching and shooting.
[Question 11].
Given that the pigs here seem to be quite willing to feed, it would be impossible to increase the supply of pigs in greater quantities, as a very adequate supply and durable food for our ships. Furthermore, it would be inappropriate to set a fixed price per lb. or one hundred pounds of the aforementioned live pigs (as is practiced in Batavia), which would also bring occupation and profit to the citizens and farmers.
11.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since the planting of potatoes here is very successful, the feeding of pigs has also been diligently pursued by the Holy Roman Company. This, with an abundance of pigs, could then be a means of gradually increasing the number of pigs, multiplying them, by having them raised by the freemen and farmers, and then fattening them with other vegetables, as well as selling them again at the agreed-upon prices and, if necessary, accommodating passing ships with them for the benefit of the Holy Roman Company.
11.
[Answer from the Fiscal].
It is true that the potatoes here do well to feed, but to feed a number of pigs on fat and provide them to the successive incoming ships: I doubt whether that will succeed; a small portion would well go for the returning ships, but to keep a large multiplication to similarly supply the ships coming from Belgium is not a good idea, because that voracious beast, breaking through everywhere, as Comps. If the gardens of the freemen are completely ruined, and any resulting fruit is completely destroyed, besides, when the young lambs appear nearby (despite being beaten and thrown), they eat them from the side and devour them, being the view of Commander Riebeeck, Wagenaer, and Quaelbergen, who initiated the same, why it has not been maintained.
Regarding the price of its sale, it has already been established in advance, namely that the freemen will be able to fetch no more than 3 stuivers light money for 1 lb. live and groomed, 4 stuivers heavy.
[Question 12].
How is it handled here with the quantity of fish that is understood to be caught in abundance in and around this bay, whether or not they are salted, dried, and spotted for the needs of the ships and the garrison. Also, in what form is it delivered to the Eastern Company by us and at what price?
12.
[Reply from the Commander].
The fish caught by the freemen, not only in this bay but also in the bays of Saldanhia and St. Helena, were salted and dried as well as salted by some permitted citizens for ƒ3.12, the equivalent of one hundred pounds, to the Eastern Company. delivered, which, in addition to what we occasionally catch, is used for the maintenance of the Company's slaves; that the purchase of speck and meat is indeed very costly, and it could be purchased even more, since the sea-cow meat and speck, shot by the farmers in the fields, was brought to the basaer and sold for 1 stuiver per lb., but since these poor people are mostly spending this for their own sustenance and as tasty and good food, they would have a hard time getting it if the price were also increased.
12.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
The fish that the Company. What is caught here is immediately, either salted or dried, and then dyed, and supplied to the Company's staff as their food, as well as, if necessary, to the return ships, as the expense of both past and previous years is clearly shown. Ultimately, the fish from the free fisherman was also purchased by the E. Company, namely 100 lb. salted at ƒ3.12 and dried at ƒ6.00 per hundred pounds.
[Question 13].
After the fact that, at the time when the Quaelbergen surrendered this conquest to Commander Borghorst, the E. Company I had no more in stock than 174 cattle and 315 sheep, and now, with my appearance on the 9th of this month, I found here in all 508 cattle with 2,299 sheep, among which only 711 Hottentots. Please explain this large difference, and if it was caused by numerous incidents inland, whether this happens without increasing the usual price and with bad consequences, and whether, in such a case, it wouldn't be better for the locals themselves to bring their cattle to the fort here, since such a practice could already be implemented.
13.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since at the departure of Edle Quaelbergen we had very little merchandise on hand, it was necessary to undertake some exchanges and expeditions along the roads that then also (thank God) have been fortunate and have each time brought us good troops of both small and coarse beasts, and afterwards Their Noble Lords Directors were not pleased with the Commander and Council in their letter of April 26, 68 concerning the keeping of gardens, beasts, etc., this has been abolished beforehand, as well as in accordance with the resolution and approval of Mr. Joan Thijssen to the Company. Sold and delivered, which, through the breeding and exchanges made since the last return fleet arrived in the country, has so increased our force that, thank God, the passing ships have been able to replenish their supplies and still remain well-fed.
The land settlements thus made are not entirely useful without raising ordinary prices or some significant bad consequence, although they are far from being for the benefit of the Company. It would be more cost-effective and safer to dispatch these landspeople or Hottentots there to come down and bring their cattle to the market. However, they cannot be persuaded to do so, and although the local crooks were willing to do so, their power is not nearly so great that they could satisfy us with bestiality. Therefore, the best exchanges must be made by the most powerful nations located deep inland, and because of their remoteness, they will not risk bringing their cattle down with them.
13.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
That by the presence of Lord Commander Borghorst the livestock has increased to such a considerable number of cattle and sheep, is the result of the continuous land management that the E. side has sometimes successively undertaken by one, even two troops at the same time, with merchants; but if the E. side. What has already benefited from it can be seen differently from the specification of Sargeant Cruythoff's last exchange, because it is clear that due to the daily land management the Hottentots (as a naughty people) seeing that they are never allowed rest or time to start feeding again, will not want to give up more cattle, or at least three times as much as usual must be provided and given to them, then it will still be so meager that they can hardly get here. Yes, the exchangers will have to admit that for this reason they have had to leave almost half of it on the way, because they cannot march any further due to old age and emaciation, and would by buying The cattle of the freemen (which the Hottentots possess in large numbers) could be excused for the first time. If the Hottentots wanted to exchange them for something at the Fort, as before, they could do so. The old and thin ones could be rejected, and the fair ones exchanged for the old ones, according to the old method. This would free the Holy Roman Company from many of the expenses spent on their expulsion, because the Hottentots could not exist without exchange, nor could the cattle be entertained by anyone but us, or could obtain copper for that.
[Question 14].
And since Sergeant Pieter Cruythoff and six soldiers had already been out of the country for six and a half weeks to arrange an alliance and negotiations with the Namaquas, and we have heard nothing from them, which may inform you of this delay, as well as the hopes and apparent intentions of our plan.
14.
[Reply from the Commander].
Sergeant Cruythoff having now returned from the country again, gives hope that the upcoming cattle trade with the Namaquas will be successful, having only encountered one man who had exchanged 67 cattle and 150 sheep for the usual trade in all amicableness and friendship. in the future and after they come closer to us, the alliance that has started can be further developed.
14.
[Response from the Tax Authorities].
Said sargiant Cruijthoff returns home, it is not necessary to answer this.
[Question 15 ].
In the memorandum relating to the assets and means of the guarantors and liberated people, it was found that they owned, among other things, 4697 sheep, so the question is how this came to be in such large quantities and where they could entertain or sell the late but passing ships of 's Comps. cattle were taken care of
15.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
The proliferation of free sheep arises entirely from the breeding and low consumption in this place, since the presence of this small garrison has allowed us to sustain little, and we have so far been able to provide the outgoing and incoming ships with the Company's own livestock, but the E. Company would always like to relieve them of a party (as requested), so both sides would be served by this and they should be graciously accommodated in this regard.
15.
[Reply from [the Tax].
The number of 4,697 half-killed sheep that the freemen in this residence own is multiplied by number, and the freemen are unable to sell any of them other than to the European Company, except that upon the requested license, they may sell and sell them to the necessary for three stivers heavy money per lb.
[Question 16].
What quantity of wine has been harvested here in the last two or three years, both by the European Company and by private individuals, and since the Cape wine is a provision for the Lord Governor, and Council of India sent to Batavia, in its entirety, have written down what You and Yours now believe should be done with the grape (growing so abundantly and prolifically here), since it seems to cost too much labor to distribute it to the common crew for refreshment on the ships. It would therefore also be worthwhile to consider accepting all wines made by the freemen at a reasonable price and sending them to Batavia for sale on the Indian Company, or whether You and Yours could think of something else to not support cultivation but, conversely, to encourage farmers to do so more and more.
16.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
The quantity of the Ca[e]pse wines extracted in my existence exists by d'Compe. in 10 amen, that of the freemen about 10 amen, but since the shipping of the selver after Batavia has been written off in its entirety and You Edle. I would like to know what should be done with the druyff in the future, as it also requires too much air to provide the lock to the ships, so I would not consider it safe to say that in the future weather it would be released and sold to the innkeepers on a seecker tap to sell it, as well as those themselves. know how to have fun or make quyt, for which the costs and the burden of doing so could be compensated, and the production of such a quantity of patriotic wines could be excused.
16.
[Response from the Tax Authorities].
By d'E. Compe. is that for 3 years no grape has been pressed at once as a sample, but in the 2 years that have passed 22 half-a-year and by the freemen approximately in the aforementioned 3 years 59 ditto, that from year to year the youth is to progress, starting above them to plant a vineyard each, that in one or two years will bring in a large quantity of wine; and noting that Her Honor in Batavia kindly requested that we be sent this wine in situ. I presume that sending it there would not be satisfactory, nevertheless it must be so, for it is impossible for all of it to be lost here,150 although, assuming all the abundance was provided to the passing ships, a price should also be set for it upon sale, as it has so far been (without paying excise duty or impost) as expensive as French or Spanish wine sold here, which in my opinion is somewhat excessive.
[Question] 17.
And as the Councillor Extraordinary and Commissioner, Mr. Joan van Dam, by his own resigned order of May 28, 1667, among other things, recommended that all provisions be assessed with the books; why was this commendable order not followed, as was also the case with the merchant or manager of the warehouses, who, along with the books, would not be allowed to keep the money collection? This not only does not seem to have been followed, but has even become less so, as the same money collection was at least entrusted to and kept by the dispenser Granaat, who delivers the sold goods himself and receives the money with them, though not always by order of the E. Commander, as the aforementioned. The order expressly dictates that this should be done.
17.
[Answer from the Commander].
Although the general order of Mr. van Dam recommends, among other things, that all provisions be assessed in the books as they are kept, and that the warehouse administrator may not simultaneously keep the money box, it is not precisely what has been followed, so the proceeds of sold goods have been duly entered in the books by my time and accounted for under his heading; And because the order of our Lords Superiors, in view of the cuts and reductions in the garrison and the large salaries received by ministers, wanted to come after them, it was once deemed best to entrust the dead money, in addition to the money treasury, instead of the authorized dispenser and the shopkeepers, to a person and Sr. Granaat who also properly administered the same and, to our knowledge, has administered it only faithfully. However, if it is true, these offices may well be separated to remove and prevent all suspicion of fraud.
17.
[Reply from the Fisherman]
eel].
Refer this article to the answers of the Lord Commander, as he was neither authorized nor aware of that change, nor had any knowledge of that order, much less in Sr.'s employment. Grenade.
[Question 18 ].
Off the demise of d'E. Compe. could have been properly observed here with the attending ministers and whether some reduction or change in the matter itself will have to be made in order to leave everything here to the least burden of the E. Compe. in the required order and posture.
18.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
Up to now, this turnaround (with correction) has been observed by the present ministers without the slightest neglect of the required services of the E. Compe., but according to some, their conditions seem to be somewhat burdensome, changes could be made in this regard, as well as efforts to do so, and which, in my opinion, can well be done in these respects, namely, the administration and the keeping of the business books at the same time as exercising the tax office, in addition to the keeping of the cash register and the inspection of all the Comps. bestial, both here and on the islands, so that by exchanging them or otherwise, no disloyalty could be committed. Likewise, the dispensers and shopkeepers were assigned to two separate guards, who were also required to allow them to be used for other purposes.
Two capable persons were also required for the office of secretary, as well as for keeping the soldiers' and hospital books. Thus, there would be three vacant positions, which could be filled with other servants to relieve the officers of this and to provide assistance.
18.
[Answer from the Fiscal].
By the appointment of Mr. Commander Borghorst sent two of the pens, namely a shopkeeper and a dispenser, and the aforementioned services such as the shop were deputed to me with the business books, under the pretext that by purchasing suitable material the burden would be relieved; which by raising the merchant Sr. Abraham Zeeuw seemed to be going to take effect, but although I dealt more sensibly with my books and was inclined to surrender them, I was again held back because of their incompetence (as the Commander shortly described him), and have thus had to bear with all my might the heavy burden up to now, which (I take it from you, Ede) necessarily needs to be corrected in some way, because the business books with the administration of the warehouses, to which the shop remains delegated to me, would gladly be relieved of the burden of fiscal service, because in performing the required duties to you. Packhouses and books, not much time to pay attention to everything and can spare, also and it should not be as well (with correction) as a second being, according to the conclusion reached, to stand up and not to vote; in this case, Sr. Granaat continues, a suitable officer is required, be it a junior merchant or bookkeeper, to help perform the duties, and a couple of assistants could be missed in their place. [Question] 19.
And we were finally asked whether U.E. (in addition to the previous proposal sy152) could also consider opening up some information about the interest and service of the E. Compe. might be more distant.
In 't Fort de Goede Hoope aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, on February 25, 1670. It was signed by Mattheus van den Brouck.
19.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
Finally, I revert to the answer that for the present I am unable to reveal any further information about the interest and service of E. Compe. further away if that were the case, the orders for the north and east of this corner would be A suitable flute or yacht of somewhat greater weight than those currently moored in the harbour was necessary to transport the returns from Mauritius, which consisted of a good quantity of ebony wood – approximately 1,490 of which must have remained there last year, in addition to what remained to be caught this year – and to send the same wood back to the homeland with the return fleet. And since I cannot think of Your Honor's questions in detail at this time, Your Honor will kindly accept this as a recommendation, and I recommend that my humble person remain in Your Honor's highest favor.
Ady, March 5, 1670. Geeeckent Jacob Borghorst.
19.
[Response from the Fiscal.]
Referere [sic] me to the preceding. Ady 4 Maert 1670. Was teeckent Corn. de Cretser.
Questions presented by E. Mattheus van den Broeck,128 Raat Ordinaris van India, Admirael of the return fleet and Commissioner of Cabo de Boa Esperance, to be answered by E. Commander Jacob Borghorst and Fiscal Cornelis de Cretser as the second in line. Cab occupying.
Ien.
Dewyl de Heeren our Principals by Haer Edle. The latest letters of August 24th in response to your letter state that 187 engaged men could very well exist at and around this Cape residency (the island of Mauritius being included), especially in these peaceful times, and that currently (besides the aforementioned Mauritius) there are distributed here at various posts, totaling 236 engaged persons according to the list provided to me. The question is whether this could be reduced (without depriving the necessary service) to a certain extent, as (in addition to the aforementioned garrison) the citizens or freemen (according to the contents of the separate roll) total 89 able-bodied men.
Responses to the adjacent questions by the aforementioned Commander Borghorst and Fiscal Cretser, as follows.
Response to the aforementioned Commander:
1.
It is true that last year this garrison and its entire contingent were reduced to 187 engaged men, a figure also confirmed by Her Honor. Our Lords Principals approved by the same presented letter, but considering that in the meantime the Bay of Saldanhia has been taken into possession, where the garrison was observed with 10 people, together with the fortifiers sent here and who were used for that work, making up a total of 12 people, as well as 8 cattle herders who are present along with a larger number of animals necessarily required and are counted among them, there will then be no more than approximately 25 or 26 heads, which were successively lifted from the ships to meet the rescue and, since the rescue of all of none whose time has expired would be granted by Your Honor were approved, so the authorized number of the aforementioned 187 heads may remain reduced rather than increased. 130 Firstly, it will be possible to arrange for no fewer men (but with Your Honor's prior consultation) to ensure that the required service of the E. Company is not jeopardized, as Your Honor will also have noted from the rolls how scattered it is here and there.
Reply to Cretser:
When, from the authorized 187 heads, everywhere, such as Saldanhiabaey, Robben and Dasseneylant, as well as the Company's corn shed, sawmill, outhouse, winery and vessels, in addition to horsemen and other guards, etc. as before will remain occupied and in addition the land expeditions are continued daily for the purpose of procuring beastiality, which drags away a number of 10 to 12 people each time, in addition to that with the slaughterers requiring another 17 people who also have to go out into the field daily to keep the cattle, it is (in Your Honor's wise judgment) to be considered bad here with this, as it appears from the muster roll (which Your Honor provided) it appears that for the occupation of the above posts (not even taking into account Mauritius or the land) 104 heads are required, which then come from the aforementioned. 187 were withdrawn, leaving 83, under the Lord Commander, Preacher, Councillors, admirals, 131 surgeons, examiners for the sick, assayers, pilgrims, ambulance men, magistrates, etc., who amounted to 31 persons; therefore, there remain 52 heads, of which 52 heads: 13 for carpenters, wagers and coopers, 4 for smiths, 4 for masons, 7 in Comps. large vegetable garden, 3 for leather work, 3 for stone and tile backers, 5 for stable hands, and the rough terrain may be used daily, which is then falsified. It should be noted that, together with the sergeants, corps, drummers, trumpeters, caretakers, miller, and housekeepers, 11,132 people are left over.
[Question 2]
Since the Capetian residence must be supplied annually with a special quantity of rice from India, there would be no way to devise or devise a way to avoid such heavy charges and acquire enough grain here that not only would no assistance be needed from outside, but also that outgoing and incoming ships would be supplied with it, or that any remaining grain that might be missing here could be sent to Batavia, where the East India Company would sell all the incoming wheat from Japan, Bengal, Wingurla, and Suratta at a price of 60 rupees, or 180 guilders, the burden of 3,000 lbs. it has now been found to the common contractors here (by express inspection) that the mud of new wheat having brought out 176 lbs. and the old one 160 lbs., the same was paid to the farmers or cultivators no higher than 7 guilders. the said mud so that the aforementioned burden of 3,000 lb. would cost Rds. 39: 46 stuivers and Rd. 43: 45 stuivers, or Rd. 41: 45 1/2 stuivers, which is quite different, especially since the aforementioned contractors would peddle and sell the same wheat for Rd. 72. The last point is that you will also have to note here what quantity of wheat has been acquired here in the last 2 or 3 years, both by the European Company and by private individuals. 2.
[Answer from the Commander]
During my time in this place, I have speculated and considered extensively the costs of sourcing provisions from abroad, provided the Cape could not exist on its own. However, I noticed that the lands located here are far from fertile enough to produce the amount of grain required for the sustenance of this place and its inhabitants, and that the farmers, by their nature, still lack the will and zeal for it. It has become clear to me that there is no point in doing so, but if so many capable farmers of a good and edifying nature... to obtain life were they to have such well-protected, and to them Hottentot Holland, a fertile moorland about 12 to 14 miles from here, were to be given possession of, then one could still hope that in time, through manual labour and the most generous blessing of this turnover of home-grown grains, it could sustain itself and also by more opulent increase furnish other places and ships, but how much worry, expense, and time it would first require, as well as how great damage would also arise from this if the E. Compe. had a bad outcome, has all been freely considered and can be with Your Honor. were considered.
Continuing the wheat in the 2 previous years by d'E. Compe. crops amount in all to 144 1/2 mudde and that of the freedmen 200 7/8 t' [together]. 345 3/8 mudde off 12 7/9 charges, which is indeed very small and we can only shoot at it, but
2.
[Response from the Tax Authorities]
The land here is close to the hand and to the agricultural synde and does not exist in such a large quantity that from 't Coorn (built by the E. Compe. as freemen over the years) our guarantee would have been established, but it also expanded a little further and looked at Hottentots Hollands (which is a flat and approximately is located 12 hours from the fort) would doubt that something could be invented in the future, given that E. Compe. The aforementioned Hottentot Holland (which is an exceptionally beautiful piece of land) was considered desirable by about 20 men, along with the necessary tractors and other building equipment, and to have it plowed. Because it encompasses a distance of 2,000 or more morgen of good land, experienced farmers believe that every year, at least, half a thousand bushels of wheat and rye could be harvested. This year, when work began on this month of March, without the addition of any fertilizer, approximately 700 to 800 bushels of wheat or rye would reach quite a distance.
What does the price of grains so far, according to the E. Compe. of the freemen purchased and paid, namely:
The mud wheat ƒ7-:-: is certainly subject to correction.
The rye ƒ5-10-: a little too little, because, in general,
farmers can hardly pay their German servants (whom they need for this) from their annual meager crop (because the land here is quite meager). I therefore refuse that they would not be able to keep their house on top of that, and from which it arises that everyone, out of poverty, abandoning their farms, tries to come and live here at the fort on a penny and a penny.
The crop seems to decrease from year to year among the freemen not only for the reasons mentioned above, but also by the E. Compe. itself, according to the business books of 1667, found that in that year 185 1/2 bushels of wheat and 51 1/4 bushels of rye were built and acquired, as well as no wheat or rye from the freemen, and in the year 1668 by E. Compe. decreasing only 104 3/4 bushels of wheat and 9 bushels of rye, and by the freemen 109 7/8 bushels of wheat and rye from the other, and now in the year 1669 almost nothing was built or acquired, except for the seed grain that was previously pulled off and sold, 39 3/4 bushels of wheat and 3 bushels of rye, and from the Farmers: 106 bushels of wheat, 135 bushels of rye, which is constantly diminishing from year to year without remedy; the cause of the free people has been touched upon here; the other would be the livestock, as they are unnecessary.
[Question] 3.
To expand agriculture here, no quantity of slaves was required, and how many, and which kind would be best, whether Angolan, Guinean, or from the coast of Arder, and that in order to prevent them from running away, as with This being one and the same solid land, whether there is any reason to fear it and what reasons do you know to allocate and inform your E. regarding this?
3.
[Answer from the Commander]
In order to increasingly prioritize agriculture, the E. Compe. And to relieve the servants who were required for this purpose, and to make the corn-building more cost-effective and tasteful, freemen, of their large monthly allowances. It would be extremely helpful if we could first have about 150 to 200 good Angolan servants, whom I believe are the most laborious and willing to help. But although that nation is closest to this, there is as little fear of such a person running away as there are of other slaves.
3.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
Regarding the second article, it was answered that free people, in return for the wages of German servants, are often forced by poverty to abandon agriculture. Consequently, it would be desirable to accommodate a quantity of slaves of 100 to 150 pieces to allow these free farmers to have a better livelihood. The Angolan or Guinean slaves would be the best and most suitable, as they are more prosperous than others.
[Question] 4.
What calculation is made here in accordance with the E. Compe's own agriculture and grain harvesting, and what the final cost is. All charges and fees, to be calculated at cost, should be considered, provided that it would not be better to transfer the entire amount to farmers or citizens by lease or otherwise, so that they, in driving to the plow, could reduce the numerous taphouses here near the fort somewhat, and to what number you think these should be reduced.
4.
[Answer from the Commander].
Calculations have shown that the E. Compe.'s own agriculture... more expenses caused than the incompetence of the harvested grains have not been able to be reimbursed annually, but in view of the frequent driving of fuel, timber and whatever else required for the work (which has been and is currently done by one of the same Company's farmers and wagons) the costs were largely supplemented; however, by all means136 it could be leased to some freemen under sufficient sureties, and if we were then certain of the same labor, it would be more costless to hand over the grain scourer to free citizens than to keep it to ourselves, provided that the grain remains bound to the Company at such a price. to be sold if additional information could be drawn up by contract.
The last wheat that was washed here in the last year, accounts for all objections and complaints regarding ƒ…137 d' E. Compe. to the cost that, contrary to what is supplied by the freedmen, ƒ7 the mud is quite different and possible. impossible to exist.
Previously, Mr. Rycklooff van Goens had granted three people permission to set up the taphouse, but subsequently, so many of this kind have crept in that they are mostly unprivileged tappers and innkeepers living here below the fort and in the countryside. This freedom could be reduced to a smaller number, and it would be possible to manage with three or four freemen to tap, provided they pay for these privileges monthly and impose such an imposition as might be devised and deemed appropriate.
4.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
However, according to the accompanying memorandum, it is indicated that the corn harvested and collected by the E. Compe. in 1667 could not even come close to covering the costs; in fact, these costs sometimes amounted to as much as the aforementioned corn sold here. From this, it follows that it was more profitable for the E. Compe. to lease the corn barn than to keep it longer. In order to reduce the numerous taps here at the fort and elsewhere, my judgment (with correction from Your Honor) is a significant effort, because everyone after that tap and uytsuyperye (as if they were lazy to handle it) does not incline anywhere else after all, and moves the cultivators, leaving the construction: their to the said settlement as well as to transport the fort with the people living there, the next two to three brandy pubs here at the fort and one in the lant can be observed, as there and here Wouwter Mostaert is privileged, mom, to sell France and Rhenish wine and to get out with the cleyne mate wear out.
[Question 5].
And after all, the heavy garrison and permanent residency, with such great expense and without regard for business or profit, is very difficult for the E. Compe. here, or one could not practice some kind of benefit to the citizens and freemen, not only to make them exist all the better, but also so that in time their numbers may increase to reduce of the garrison; regarding the increase of the aforementioned freemen and our security, they attach great importance to natives of the United Provinces, as the Lord Council Ordinary Rycklooff van Goens, by His E. instructions as Commissioner of April 16, 1657, rightly notes and specifically recommends that no other than Dutch citizens be admitted to this Colony, and that You E. would also like to consider how far this order has been pursued.
5.
[Response of the Commander].
The privileges with which our citizens and farmers could well be granted, I think (with correction) consist of fishing, hunting and shooting game, and hauling fuel and timber. as well as to instruct and assist in agriculture and livestock farming, as the times and conditions of the Compe. leaders might require, but this garrison could be reduced little or less by it, and the Compe. nevertheless had to purchase from the freemen what they presently could serve and support themselves, wherefore our predecessors have committed all kinds of nations and not especially natives from the United Provinces here in freedom, as the allied instruction of the aforementioned Mr. van Goens expressly dictates; I therefore maintain that at that time no other option could have been found. Indeed, few or no foreigners are permitted to do so here, but they have been kept out as much as possible and the aforementioned order has been followed.
5.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
The free farmers should first receive a little more for their grain, and then a civil sum, which is offered in cash or on credit, along with some milk and draught animals; However, with the condition that they may not reduce, sell, exchange, or otherwise seek to sell them, but that they may only take the fruits thereof and sell them at a stalked price to their satisfaction, while the animals remain mortgaged and bound to the Holy See for the transferred sum.
[Question 6].
Then the aforementioned colonists with the Holy See. to meet some advantage and profit, if one does not think that fuel wood is so scarce and precious here everywhere, and of which such a large quantity is needed every year (particularly to provide for the number of passing ships), and should not be found elsewhere near the sea side, they should go east of or slightly north of this Cape in search of suitable woods to enter into a contract with the freemen or otherwise be cut, in order to remain there for as long as one can at the Comps. A vessel (or perhaps a poorly mounted flute, which had just emerged) was dismantled and thus positioned and assembled near the fort, to accommodate the return ships, which were severely hampered and hindered by fuel, reaching their homeland at the heaviest part of the voyage, and which fuel also cost a good amount of money in Batavia.
6.
[Answer from the Commander].
Just as our experienced voyagers, Sergeants Cruythoff and Croese,140 have managed to arrange that east of this Cape, as far as Mossel Bay and northwards as far as the Bay of St. Helena, on the seaward side, there is absolutely no wood to be obtained, which, due to their inconvenient circumstances, could be brought there either by water or by land. Your Honor's proposal, concerning the contracts you entered into with the freemen, appears to be unrealistic and, according to the aforementioned voyager, is at least not practicable.
6.
[Response from the Fiskaal].
It is certainly a good thing to allocate the cutting of the fuel wood in such large quantities to the freemen, which is requisitioned from the skippers of passing ships, but we find no opportunity here to fetch it from there by one or another vessel or flute. It is also not located anywhere near the seaward edge, as it would then also have to be cut in high, rising forests, except that one would be unable to walk or miss it with a flute in Falce Bay or Houdt Bay (where it would have to come from) because of the dip and the clippings.
[Question 7].
Whether it would not be useful and practical if the E. Compe. Now that everything is arranged, the freemen are to supply, at certain prices or by contract, all kinds of baked stone, tiles, woodwork, and other items more than the E. Compe. might need, even to spend on the tannery, corn mill, and other such items, according to the maxim imported a few years ago from Batavia, where the aforementioned Compe. is very well-off.
7.
[Answer from the Commander].
Concerning the stone or tilework, as well as the supply of some woodwork, they can well supply to some freemen (under contract) as previously happened,142 were left, provided that they then remain obligated to return all necessary items to the E. Company at the prices set therein. However, the corn mill and the tannery, which are also of minor concern and now in decent condition, the E. Company will do its best, but under Your Honor's earlier and more sensible consultation, to retain these for themselves for the time being, as this requires little staff and expense.
7.
[Answer from the Fiscal]
The contracting out of baked stone, pots, pans, etc. could be done appropriately; I also cannot see that the E. Company. standing for the time of 3 or 4 years that you were born. The craftsmen themselves have brought in much profit from it, including heavy timber work, but in view of daily repairs, the corn mill would not succeed at first, because as for the corn, close supervision must be maintained. Otherwise, the freemen, having ground a great deal of corn, each one would have a loaf of bread, and our harvested grain would be sold off to passing ships at great expense, and we would thus be frustrated by them, which is against the agreed order and privilege of our freeman, as we are wealthy and have not previously accommodated our garrison, to sell it to passing friends, and also not within its weight and above the set price. certain pennies.
The leatherwork also seems a bit premature to lease.
[Question 8]
Item: from the prepared leather that seems to be in short supply here, it would not be possible to make sturdy party shoes to be sent to India, and on what wisdom would you trust the pair to be negotiated? Paying the E. Company to Batavia by contract for the pair of common soldier's shoes...143 stuivers.
8.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since making shoes from the rawhide of slaughtered animals gives good hope, we are confident that not only will we be satisfied with it here, but that India will also be able to provide some relief with it, as the pair of common shoes will cost approximately ƒ …144 per 100,000, and which could also (to excuse the large garnishment according to Your Honor's proposal) be granted to any of them who wish to be released there under special terms and conditions.
8.
[Response from the Fiskaal].
The prepared leather from cattle is quite beautiful here, and very good for making shoes. We could certainly have shoes made from them, and that for a reasonable price, although we didn't find any shoemakers lacking.
[Question 9].
And to further benefit from the prepared leather, if it were not possible to have 2 or 3 st. brandemmers made for Batavia and other parts of India, like the ones I have seen and used here, were undoubtedly better and of more suitable material than those successively demanded from the Chormandel customer.
9.
[Answer of the Commander]
And since the granaries made here by Your Honor are estimated to be better than those of Custodian Chormandel, it could also be estimated that, with the opportunity and success of the times, a good number of granaries could be slaughtered for Batavia or other parts of India, and the quarters could be furnished with them.
9.
[Answer of the Fiskaal].
Ad idem of the granaries.
(Question 10).
Since some beautiful furs of wild cat, jackal, and tiger skins have been displayed here, the question is whether there would be a way to accumulate these and other furs in sufficient quantities over time to establish some kind of trade here. Indeed, knowledgeable people would also be sought from the country and a fixed price would be set for the aforementioned furs (so as not to disqualify the Hottentots), thus providing our citizens and farmers with more opportunity to prosper a stuivertien.
10.
[Answer from the Commander].
But acquiring furs of jackals, wildcats, tigers, and similar skins in quantity is, in my humble opinion, always impossible, because not as many could be caught as the cost might be. Since the Hottentots are also not suited to this trade, much less can our farmers expect to derive any profit from it, since animals are very few, and not entirely by chance, to be shot or caught. 10.
[Answer from the Tax Collector]
The furs of wildcats, jackals, and tiger skins are brought in very cheaply, but if a quantity is obtained, it would be reasonable to sell or ship them to passing ships for the Eastern Company, paying each person a small fee for their effort for each sort.
Catching and shooting.
[Question 11].
Given that the pigs here seem to be quite willing to feed, it would be impossible to increase the supply of pigs in greater quantities, as a very adequate supply and durable food for our ships. Furthermore, it would be inappropriate to set a fixed price per lb. or one hundred pounds of the aforementioned live pigs (as is practiced in Batavia), which would also bring occupation and profit to the citizens and farmers.
11.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since the planting of potatoes here is very successful, the feeding of pigs has also been diligently pursued by the Holy Roman Company. This, with an abundance of pigs, could then be a means of gradually increasing the number of pigs, multiplying them, by having them raised by the freemen and farmers, and then fattening them with other vegetables, as well as selling them again at the agreed-upon prices and, if necessary, accommodating passing ships with them for the benefit of the Holy Roman Company.
11.
[Answer from the Fiscal].
It is true that the potatoes here do well to feed, but to feed a number of pigs on fat and provide them to the successive incoming ships: I doubt whether that will succeed; a small portion would well go for the returning ships, but to keep a large multiplication to similarly supply the ships coming from Belgium is not a good idea, because that voracious beast, breaking through everywhere, as Comps. If the gardens of the freemen are completely ruined, and any resulting fruit is completely destroyed, besides, when the young lambs appear nearby (despite being beaten and thrown), they eat them from the side and devour them, being the view of Commander Riebeeck, Wagenaer, and Quaelbergen, who initiated the same, why it has not been maintained.
Regarding the price of its sale, it has already been established in advance, namely that the freemen will be able to fetch no more than 3 stuivers light money for 1 lb. live and groomed, 4 stuivers heavy.
[Question 12].
How is it handled here with the quantity of fish that is understood to be caught in abundance in and around this bay, whether or not they are salted, dried, and spotted for the needs of the ships and the garrison. Also, in what form is it delivered to the Eastern Company by us and at what price?
12.
[Reply from the Commander].
The fish caught by the freemen, not only in this bay but also in the bays of Saldanhia and St. Helena, were salted and dried as well as salted by some permitted citizens for ƒ3.12, the equivalent of one hundred pounds, to the Eastern Company. delivered, which, in addition to what we occasionally catch, is used for the maintenance of the Company's slaves; that the purchase of speck and meat is indeed very costly, and it could be purchased even more, since the sea-cow meat and speck, shot by the farmers in the fields, was brought to the basaer and sold for 1 stuiver per lb., but since these poor people are mostly spending this for their own sustenance and as tasty and good food, they would have a hard time getting it if the price were also increased.
12.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
The fish that the Company. What is caught here is immediately, either salted or dried, and then dyed, and supplied to the Company's staff as their food, as well as, if necessary, to the return ships, as the expense of both past and previous years is clearly shown. Ultimately, the fish from the free fisherman was also purchased by the E. Company, namely 100 lb. salted at ƒ3.12 and dried at ƒ6.00 per hundred pounds.
[Question 13].
After the fact that, at the time when the Quaelbergen surrendered this conquest to Commander Borghorst, the E. Company I had no more in stock than 174 cattle and 315 sheep, and now, with my appearance on the 9th of this month, I found here in all 508 cattle with 2,299 sheep, among which only 711 Hottentots. Please explain this large difference, and if it was caused by numerous incidents inland, whether this happens without increasing the usual price and with bad consequences, and whether, in such a case, it wouldn't be better for the locals themselves to bring their cattle to the fort here, since such a practice could already be implemented.
13.
[Answer from the Commander].
Since at the departure of Edle Quaelbergen we had very little merchandise on hand, it was necessary to undertake some exchanges and expeditions along the roads that then also (thank God) have been fortunate and have each time brought us good troops of both small and coarse beasts, and afterwards Their Noble Lords Directors were not pleased with the Commander and Council in their letter of April 26, 68 concerning the keeping of gardens, beasts, etc., this has been abolished beforehand, as well as in accordance with the resolution and approval of Mr. Joan Thijssen to the Company. Sold and delivered, which, through the breeding and exchanges made since the last return fleet arrived in the country, has so increased our force that, thank God, the passing ships have been able to replenish their supplies and still remain well-fed.
The land settlements thus made are not entirely useful without raising ordinary prices or some significant bad consequence, although they are far from being for the benefit of the Company. It would be more cost-effective and safer to dispatch these landspeople or Hottentots there to come down and bring their cattle to the market. However, they cannot be persuaded to do so, and although the local crooks were willing to do so, their power is not nearly so great that they could satisfy us with bestiality. Therefore, the best exchanges must be made by the most powerful nations located deep inland, and because of their remoteness, they will not risk bringing their cattle down with them.
13.
[Answer from the Fiskaal].
That by the presence of Lord Commander Borghorst the livestock has increased to such a considerable number of cattle and sheep, is the result of the continuous land management that the E. side has sometimes successively undertaken by one, even two troops at the same time, with merchants; but if the E. side. What has already benefited from it can be seen differently from the specification of Sargeant Cruythoff's last exchange, because it is clear that due to the daily land management the Hottentots (as a naughty people) seeing that they are never allowed rest or time to start feeding again, will not want to give up more cattle, or at least three times as much as usual must be provided and given to them, then it will still be so meager that they can hardly get here. Yes, the exchangers will have to admit that for this reason they have had to leave almost half of it on the way, because they cannot march any further due to old age and emaciation, and would by buying The cattle of the freemen (which the Hottentots possess in large numbers) could be excused for the first time. If the Hottentots wanted to exchange them for something at the Fort, as before, they could do so. The old and thin ones could be rejected, and the fair ones exchanged for the old ones, according to the old method. This would free the Holy Roman Company from many of the expenses spent on their expulsion, because the Hottentots could not exist without exchange, nor could the cattle be entertained by anyone but us, or could obtain copper for that.
[Question 14].
And since Sergeant Pieter Cruythoff and six soldiers had already been out of the country for six and a half weeks to arrange an alliance and negotiations with the Namaquas, and we have heard nothing from them, which may inform you of this delay, as well as the hopes and apparent intentions of our plan.
14.
[Reply from the Commander].
Sergeant Cruythoff having now returned from the country again, gives hope that the upcoming cattle trade with the Namaquas will be successful, having only encountered one man who had exchanged 67 cattle and 150 sheep for the usual trade in all amicableness and friendship. in the future and after they come closer to us, the alliance that has started can be further developed.
14.
[Response from the Tax Authorities].
Said sargiant Cruijthoff returns home, it is not necessary to answer this.
[Question 15 ].
In the memorandum relating to the assets and means of the guarantors and liberated people, it was found that they owned, among other things, 4697 sheep, so the question is how this came to be in such large quantities and where they could entertain or sell the late but passing ships of 's Comps. cattle were taken care of
15.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
The proliferation of free sheep arises entirely from the breeding and low consumption in this place, since the presence of this small garrison has allowed us to sustain little, and we have so far been able to provide the outgoing and incoming ships with the Company's own livestock, but the E. Company would always like to relieve them of a party (as requested), so both sides would be served by this and they should be graciously accommodated in this regard.
15.
[Reply from [the Tax].
The number of 4,697 half-killed sheep that the freemen in this residence own is multiplied by number, and the freemen are unable to sell any of them other than to the European Company, except that upon the requested license, they may sell and sell them to the necessary for three stivers heavy money per lb.
[Question 16].
What quantity of wine has been harvested here in the last two or three years, both by the European Company and by private individuals, and since the Cape wine is a provision for the Lord Governor, and Council of India sent to Batavia, in its entirety, have written down what You and Yours now believe should be done with the grape (growing so abundantly and prolifically here), since it seems to cost too much labor to distribute it to the common crew for refreshment on the ships. It would therefore also be worthwhile to consider accepting all wines made by the freemen at a reasonable price and sending them to Batavia for sale on the Indian Company, or whether You and Yours could think of something else to not support cultivation but, conversely, to encourage farmers to do so more and more.
16.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
The quantity of the Ca[e]pse wines extracted in my existence exists by d'Compe. in 10 amen, that of the freemen about 10 amen, but since the shipping of the selver after Batavia has been written off in its entirety and You Edle. I would like to know what should be done with the druyff in the future, as it also requires too much air to provide the lock to the ships, so I would not consider it safe to say that in the future weather it would be released and sold to the innkeepers on a seecker tap to sell it, as well as those themselves. know how to have fun or make quyt, for which the costs and the burden of doing so could be compensated, and the production of such a quantity of patriotic wines could be excused.
16.
[Response from the Tax Authorities].
By d'E. Compe. is that for 3 years no grape has been pressed at once as a sample, but in the 2 years that have passed 22 half-a-year and by the freemen approximately in the aforementioned 3 years 59 ditto, that from year to year the youth is to progress, starting above them to plant a vineyard each, that in one or two years will bring in a large quantity of wine; and noting that Her Honor in Batavia kindly requested that we be sent this wine in situ. I presume that sending it there would not be satisfactory, nevertheless it must be so, for it is impossible for all of it to be lost here,150 although, assuming all the abundance was provided to the passing ships, a price should also be set for it upon sale, as it has so far been (without paying excise duty or impost) as expensive as French or Spanish wine sold here, which in my opinion is somewhat excessive.
[Question] 17.
And as the Councillor Extraordinary and Commissioner, Mr. Joan van Dam, by his own resigned order of May 28, 1667, among other things, recommended that all provisions be assessed with the books; why was this commendable order not followed, as was also the case with the merchant or manager of the warehouses, who, along with the books, would not be allowed to keep the money collection? This not only does not seem to have been followed, but has even become less so, as the same money collection was at least entrusted to and kept by the dispenser Granaat, who delivers the sold goods himself and receives the money with them, though not always by order of the E. Commander, as the aforementioned. The order expressly dictates that this should be done.
17.
[Answer from the Commander].
Although the general order of Mr. van Dam recommends, among other things, that all provisions be assessed in the books as they are kept, and that the warehouse administrator may not simultaneously keep the money box, it is not precisely what has been followed, so the proceeds of sold goods have been duly entered in the books by my time and accounted for under his heading; And because the order of our Lords Superiors, in view of the cuts and reductions in the garrison and the large salaries received by ministers, wanted to come after them, it was once deemed best to entrust the dead money, in addition to the money treasury, instead of the authorized dispenser and the shopkeepers, to a person and Sr. Granaat who also properly administered the same and, to our knowledge, has administered it only faithfully. However, if it is true, these offices may well be separated to remove and prevent all suspicion of fraud.
17.
[Reply from the Fisherman]
eel].
Refer this article to the answers of the Lord Commander, as he was neither authorized nor aware of that change, nor had any knowledge of that order, much less in Sr.'s employment. Grenade.
[Question 18 ].
Off the demise of d'E. Compe. could have been properly observed here with the attending ministers and whether some reduction or change in the matter itself will have to be made in order to leave everything here to the least burden of the E. Compe. in the required order and posture.
18.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
Up to now, this turnaround (with correction) has been observed by the present ministers without the slightest neglect of the required services of the E. Compe., but according to some, their conditions seem to be somewhat burdensome, changes could be made in this regard, as well as efforts to do so, and which, in my opinion, can well be done in these respects, namely, the administration and the keeping of the business books at the same time as exercising the tax office, in addition to the keeping of the cash register and the inspection of all the Comps. bestial, both here and on the islands, so that by exchanging them or otherwise, no disloyalty could be committed. Likewise, the dispensers and shopkeepers were assigned to two separate guards, who were also required to allow them to be used for other purposes.
Two capable persons were also required for the office of secretary, as well as for keeping the soldiers' and hospital books. Thus, there would be three vacant positions, which could be filled with other servants to relieve the officers of this and to provide assistance.
18.
[Answer from the Fiscal].
By the appointment of Mr. Commander Borghorst sent two of the pens, namely a shopkeeper and a dispenser, and the aforementioned services such as the shop were deputed to me with the business books, under the pretext that by purchasing suitable material the burden would be relieved; which by raising the merchant Sr. Abraham Zeeuw seemed to be going to take effect, but although I dealt more sensibly with my books and was inclined to surrender them, I was again held back because of their incompetence (as the Commander shortly described him), and have thus had to bear with all my might the heavy burden up to now, which (I take it from you, Ede) necessarily needs to be corrected in some way, because the business books with the administration of the warehouses, to which the shop remains delegated to me, would gladly be relieved of the burden of fiscal service, because in performing the required duties to you. Packhouses and books, not much time to pay attention to everything and can spare, also and it should not be as well (with correction) as a second being, according to the conclusion reached, to stand up and not to vote; in this case, Sr. Granaat continues, a suitable officer is required, be it a junior merchant or bookkeeper, to help perform the duties, and a couple of assistants could be missed in their place. [Question] 19.
And we were finally asked whether U.E. (in addition to the previous proposal sy152) could also consider opening up some information about the interest and service of the E. Compe. might be more distant.
In 't Fort de Goede Hoope aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, on February 25, 1670. It was signed by Mattheus van den Brouck.
19.
[Reply from that Kommandeur].
Finally, I revert to the answer that for the present I am unable to reveal any further information about the interest and service of E. Compe. further away if that were the case, the orders for the north and east of this corner would be A suitable flute or yacht of somewhat greater weight than those currently moored in the harbour was necessary to transport the returns from Mauritius, which consisted of a good quantity of ebony wood – approximately 1,490 of which must have remained there last year, in addition to what remained to be caught this year – and to send the same wood back to the homeland with the return fleet. And since I cannot think of Your Honor's questions in detail at this time, Your Honor will kindly accept this as a recommendation, and I recommend that my humble person remain in Your Honor's highest favor.
Ady, March 5, 1670. Geeeckent Jacob Borghorst.
19.
[Response from the Fiscal.]
Referere [sic] me to the preceding. Ady 4 Maert 1670. Was teeckent Corn. de Cretser.
Original Dutch transcription
Copia.1
Vraeghpoincten voor gestelt door d’ E. Mattheus van den Broeck,128 Raat Ordinaris van India, Admirael der retourvlooth en Commissaris aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, om beantwoort te werden door d’ E. Commandeur Jacob Borghorst en den fiscael Cornelis de Cretser als de tweede plaets aen voorn. Cab occuperende.
Ien.
Dewyl de Heeren onse Principalen by Haer Edle. jongste schryven van 24 Augusty tot antwoort op U E. missive gelieven te segghen dat 187 gegagieerde coppen aen en omtrent dese Caepse residentie (‘t eylant Mauritius daer onder gereeckent) seer wel connen bestaen besonderlyck in deese vreedige tyden en dat thans (behalven voors. Mauritius ) alhier op verscheyde posten syn verdeelt in alles 236 gegagie[e]rde persoonen volgens de lyste my daer van overgegeven, soo is de vrage of deselve (sonder verachteringhe van de noodige dienst) niet wat en soude connen werden besn[oeijt] als synde (boven ‘t voors. guarnisoen) de borgers ofte vryluyden (naer inhout van de apparte rolle) te samen sterck 89 weerbare mannen.
Beantwoordinge van nevenstaende vraeghpoincten door voorn. Commandeur Borghorst en fiscael Cretser, gelijck volght.
Beantwoordinge bij den Commandeur voornt:
1.
Wel waer te syn dat men ‘t verleden jaer dit garnisoen en den geheelen ommeslagh tot op 187 gegagieerde coppen heeft gereduceert gehat en welck getall oock by Haer Edle. onse Heeren Principalen by der selver aengetoogene missive geapprobeert is, maer daer tegen geconsidereert dat ondertussen de Baey Saldanhia hebben doen in possessie nemen, alwaer de besettinghe met 10 persoonen wert waergenomen, mitsgaders d’ herwaerts aengesondene berchwerckers en die tot dat werck gebruyckt werden t’ samen een getall van 12 persoonen uytmakende als oock 8 veehoeders die tegenwoordigh by grooter aental van bestiael nootsaeckelyck vereyschen en daer onder gereeckent syn, sal dan niet meer overschieten als omtrent 25 a 26 coppen d’welcke van de scheepen successive syn gelicht omme daer mede de verlossinge te gemoet te comen en, mitsdien de verlossinghe aller geener welckers tyt g’expireert is by U. Edle soude werden g’accordeert, soo mochte het gelicentieerde getall der opgemelte 187 coppen weel129 eer vermindert als vergroot blyven.130 Voor eerst sullen ‘t met niet minder volck (doch onder U Edl. ryper overlegh) cunnen affsien omme den vereysten dienst der E. Compe. niet in verachteringh te brengen gelyck U Edle. oock uyt de rollen sal hebben gelieven aen te mercken hoe verspryt d’selve hier en daer leggen verdeelt.
Beantwoordinge bij Cretser:
Wanneer uyt d’ g’ordonneerde 187 coppen buyten overal, soo Saldanhiabaey , Robben en Dasseneylant , mitsgaders Comps. corenschuer, boszagerye, buytenthuyn wyngaert en vaertuyghen, daer toe ruyter en andere wachten etca. als voor heen sullen blyven beseth en daer by noch dagelycx de lanttochten tot procure van bestiael gecontinueert dat een getall van 10 a 12 persoonen telckens wegh sleept, boven dat met de slachters noch 17 persoonen requireren die mede dagelycx met ‘t vee om te houden te velde gaen moeten, is ‘t (onder U Edle. wyser oordeel) alhier daer mede qualyck te stellen, gelyck uyt de monsterrolle (U.Ede. daer van ter hande gestelt) luident is blyckende dat tot besettinge van boven gaende posten ( Mauritius noch de lant besendinge niet eens gereeckent) 104 coppen vereyschen, die dan van de voors. 187 affgetrocken, comen noch 83 over te schieten daer onder d’ Heer Commandeur, Predicant, Raetspersoonen, adsten.131 chirurgijns, cranckbesoecker, assayeurs, berchwerckers, zieckevaer, geweldiger etca. die in 31 persoonen bestaen syn gereeckent; ergo blijft noch 52 coppen, van welcke 52 coppen 13 tot timmerluyden, wagemaeckers, en cuyper, 4 tot smits, 4 tot metselaers, 7 in Comps. groote moestuijn, 3 die het leerberyden, 3 tot steen- en pannebackers, 5 tot stallknechten en ruijghte te mayen dagelycx gebruyckt worden dat dan gefalqueert wesende, bevinde dat eenlyck tot besettinghe met sargiants, corpls., tamboers, trompetter, oppassers, molenaer en huysdomestiquen, 11132 persoonen comen over te schieten.
[Vraag 2 ]
Alsoo de Caepse residentie jaerlycks uyt India besonderlyck met quantieteyt rys moet werden geprovideert off er geen middelen souden wesen te bedencken off uyt te vinden om soo sware lasten te ontgaan en alhier sooveel granen aen te winnen dat niet alleen van buyten geen ad[s]istentie soude noodich wesen, maer selffs oock dat de gaande ende comende scheepen daer van versorcht off wel ‘t overige dat alhier conde werden gemist naer Batavia versonden mochte werden, vercoopende d’ E. Compe. aldaer allen den aencomende tarruwe van Jappan , Bengalen , Wingurla en Souratta tot eenen prys van 60 Rd. ofte 180 gul. ‘t last van 3000 lb. aen de gemeene contractanten werdende alhier nu bevonden (by expresse naweginge) dat de mudde nieuwen tarruw 176 lb. en den overjaerigen 160 lb. uyt gebracht hebbende denselven aen de boeren ofte lantbouwers niet hooger wert betaelt dan tot 7 gul. de geseyde mudde sulcx dattet voors. last van 3000 lb. kosten soude Rds. 39: 46 stuijvers en Rd. 43: 45 stuijvers, off door een Rd. 41: 45 1/2 stuijvers dat al wel verschelt, te meer de voors. contractenten denselven tarruw weder uyt venten en verkoopen tot 72 Rd. ‘t last, sullende U E. hier by oock hebben te noteren wat quantiteyt tarruwe dat in de laeste 2 a 3 jaeren soo van d’ E. Compe. als door particuliere alhier is aengewonnen.
2.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Geduyrende den tyt mijnes aenwesen ter deser plaetse heb al veel speculatien en overdenckinge gehat off d’ kosten ten aensien ‘t provianderen van buyten, niet vermiddelt en de Caap op syn selve soude connen bestaen, maer aengemerckt de landeryen hier omtrent gelegen op verre nae niet genoegh en vruchtbaer te maecken syn om soo veel coorn aen te winnen als wel noodigh tot voetsel van deser plaets en der selver inhabitanten vereyst, mitsgaders de boeren volgens haer luyden aart als nogh geen grooten sin en uij[v]er daer toe syn hebbende, is my gebleecken dat daer op geen staet te maecken sy, doch indien soo veel bequaeme lantbouwers van een goet en s[t]ichtelyck leven te becomen waeren die sulcx wel behertighden, ende aen de selve ‘t Hottentots Hollandt , een vruchtbaere lantsdouwe omtrent 12 a 14 mylen hier van daen gelegen, daer toe in ‘t besit wierden gegeven, soo soude men noch hoope connen hebben dat metter tyt door handenaerbeyt en des hooghsten milden zeegen desen ommeslagh van eygen gewonnen granen syn selven mochten sustenteren en oock by opulenter aenwas nogh wel andere plaetsen en scheepen mede versien, maer wat groote beslommeringh, oncosten, en tyt ‘t selve eerst sal vereyschen, mitsgaders hoe grooten schaede by quaede uijtslagh d’ E. Compe. oock daer uyt soude ontstaen, heeft al vry syn bedencken en can by U Edle. geconsidereert werden.
Aengaende de tarw in de 2 voorige jaeren by d’ E. Compe. aengewassen bedragen in alles 144 1/2 mudde en die van de vryluyden 200 7/8 t’ [s]amen. 345 3/8 mudde off 12 7/9 lasten dat voorwaer seer geringh is en weynich mach beschieten doch-
2.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
‘t Landt hier dichte by de hant en tot den lantbouw bequaem synde en bestaet in soo een groote quantiteyt niet, dat van ‘t coorn (by d’ E. Compe. als vryelieden jaerlycks gebouwt) ons guarnisoen soude connen werden gevoet maer syn oock wat verder uytbreijdende en op Hottentots Hollants siende (dat een vlacte en ongeveir 12 uiren van ‘t fort gelegen is) soude buyten twijffel wel iets dien aengaende uijtgevonden cunnen worden, verstaende soo d’ E. Compe. ‘t genoemde Hottentots Hollant (dat een uytnemende schoon landt is133 belieffde met omtrent 20 man, daer toe de vereyschende treckbeesten en andere bouwgereetschappen te besetten en ‘t selve onder de ploegh te laten brengen, want gen. vlacte wel een distantie van 2000 of meer mergen goet lant omvattende, is daer ten minsten naer ‘t gevoele van g’exprimenteerde bouwlieden, alle jaeren onder134 half duijsent mudde taruwe en rogh van soude te trecken wesen en van dit jaer, wanneer er van dese maent Maert een begin van wierde gemaeckt, sonder toedoen van eenige mest, ongeveer 7 a 800 mudden tarruw off rogh dat vry verre soude strecken.
Wat belanght de prys der graenen tot noch toe, door d’ E. Compe. van de vryeluyden ingekocht en betaelt, te weten.
‘t mudde tarruw ƒ7-:-: is voorwaer onder correctie
‘t do. rogge a ƒ5-10-: wat te weynich, want gen.
lantbouwers kunnen uyt hun jaerlycks schaers gewas (om dat het landt hier omtrent geheel mager is) haere Duytsche knechts (die sy daer toe van nooden hebben) qualyck betaelen. ‘k Swygh dan dat sy daer en boven noch hun huys daer van soude connen ophouden ende waer uyt ontstaet dat alle door armoede trachten, hare bouwerye abandonerende, hier aen ‘t fort op een tap en schacherye te comen woonen.
‘t Gewas schynt van jaer tot jaer niet alleen door de boven genoemde redenen by de vrye luyden aff te nemen, nee maer oock by d’ E. Compe. selffs als wordende achter-volgens de negotieboecken van ao. 1667 bevonden datter in dat jaer 185 1/2 mudde tarw, 51 1/4 do. rogge eta., mitsgaders geen tarw en rogh van de vryluyden gebouwt en ingecoomen is, en in ‘t jaer 1668 door d’ E. Compe. verminderende maer 104 3/4 mudde tarw en 9 do. rogh, en door de vryeluyden 109 7/8 mudde tarw en rogh door den anderen, en nu in ‘t jaer 1669 isser schier niets gebouwt offte ingecoomen, dan eenlijck buyten ‘t zaetcoorn dat alvoorens affgetrocken en versaeyt is 39 3/4 mudde tarw en 3 do. rogh, en van de lantbouwers 106 mudde tarw Rarw135 en rogh dat van jaer tot jaer sonder redres staet vervolgens te verminderen; d’ oorsaeck van de vryeluyden is hier boven eenichsints aengeroert; t’ ander soude in de beesten bestaen daar sy onbenoodicht bennen.
[Vraag] 3.
Off tot vergrooten van de lantbouw alhier niet en werden vereyscht quantiteyt slaven, en hoe veel, item welck slagh dat best soude wesen, ‘t zy Angoolse , Guineese offte van de cust van Arder , en dat in ‘t reguard van ‘t weghloopen als met desen houck een en ‘t selve vaste landt wesende dan of daer voor geen vreese zy en wat reden U E. desen aengaende weeten te alligeeren en by te brengen.
3.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Omme dan den lantbouw meer en meer voor te setten d’ E. Compe. en vryluyden van hare groote maentgelden winnende dienaers die daer toe werden vereyscht te ontlasten en hun de coornbauw oncostelycker en smaeckelycker te doen maecken, soude het een uyttermaete dienstige saecke wesen indien ons voor eerst van omtrent 150 a 200 goede Angolse lyffeygenen conden dienen, welcke slave myns oordeels laboreuste en willigste syn om te aerbyden, doch hoe wel die natie de naaste hieraan syn gelegen, soo is men aengaende ‘t wegh loopen soo weynich voor de sulcke als andere slaven bevreest.
3.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Op het 2en art, is beantwoort dat de vry luyden ten reguarde van ‘t loon der Duytsche knechts genoechsaem door armoede worde gedwongen den lantbouw te verlaten, ingevolge sou het een gewenschte saecke wesen dat met een quantiteyt slaven van 100 a 150 stucx wierden g’accommodeert om gemelte vry lantbouwers daer door te beter te doen bestaen, en soude de Aangoolse off de Guineese wel de beste en bequaemste wesen om dat cloecker dan andere zyn.
[Vraag] 4.
Wat calculae dat alhier wort gemaeckt in ‘t reguart van de eygen lantbouw en coorenschuer van d’ E. Compe. en wat ‘t last tarruw eta. alle beswarenissen en ongelden te samen gereeckent wel te kosten compt, mitsgds. of dat werck niet beter in ‘t geheel aen boeren ofte borgers by verpachtinge ofte andersints soude dienen overgegeven om hun alsoo naer de plough jagende met eenen de menichvuldighe taphuysen alhier omtrent het fort wat te doen verminderen, en op wat getall dat U E. meenen dat deselve behoorden te werden gereduceert.
4.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
By calculatie wert ondervonden dat den eygen lantbouw d’ E. Compe. meerder oncosten veroorsaeckt als d’ incompste van de gewonnen granen als noch jaerlycks weder hebben connen vergoeden, maer ten opsicht het menichvuldich ryden van brant-, timmerhout en wat meer tot de wercken vereyscht (dat by gelegentheyt ondertussen door eene de selve Comps. lantbouwers en wagens is en wort gedaen) werden de costen vry veel weder gesuppleert; doch by aldyen136 d’selve aen eenige vrye luyden onder suffisante borgen conde werden verpacht en wy van der selver aerbeytsaemheyt dan verseeckert mochten syn, ‘t soude oncostelijcker vallen d’ coornschuer aen vrye borgers over te doen als aen sich selffs te houden, mits verbonden blyven ‘t coorn in soodanighen prys aan de Compe. te vercoopen als men by contract naermaels mochte comen op te stellen.
‘t Last tarw den laesten jaere hier aengewassen, compt alle beswaernissen en ongelden daer op gereeckent omtrent ƒ…137 d’ E. Compe. te costen, dat tegens ‘t gene door de vryeluyden a ƒ7 d’ mudde wort gelevert vry veel is verschillende en waerby syl. onmoegelyck connen bestaen.
By voorige tyden syn by den Heer Rycklooff van Goens 3 persoonen vergunt d’ tapneeringe op te setten, maer naerderhant syn soo veel van dat soort ingesloopen dattet meest allegaer ongeprivilegieerde tappers en herbergiers bennen die hier onder ‘t fort en ten platten lande woonen, sulcx d’selve vry tot minder getall mogen werden gereduceert ende souden ‘t met 3 a 4 vryeborgers om te tappen wel connen affsien, mits betalende voor die privilegien maendelijcx soodaenige impositie als daer op mochte werden beraemt en goet gevonden.
4.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Echter volgens de nevensgaende memorie wort aengewesen dat het geboude en ingecoomen coorn van ‘t jaer 1667 by d’ E. Compe. gewonnen d’ oncosten op verre nae niet cunnen op haelen, ja bedragen de selve wel eens soo veel dan ‘t voors. coorn alhier uyt verkocht wordt, waer uyt volght dattet d’ E. Compe. profitabelder was de coornschuer te verpachten als die langher aen te houden.
Aengaende de menichvuldighe tappers hier aen ‘t fort en elders wat te verminderen, is myns oordeels (onder correctie van U Edle.) een nootsaeckelyc werck, want ider een na die tap en uytsuyperye (als een luye hanteringe wesende) soodanich inclineert dat nergens anders na omsien, en de lantbouwers beweeght, den bouw verlatende: hun tot genoemde neeringe alsmede aen ‘t fort met ‘er woone te transporteren, dien volgende souden ‘t twee a 3 brandewynskroeghjens alhier aen ‘t fort en een in ‘t lant, ‘t selve wel waernemen cunnen, synde daer by dan noch alhier aen Wouwter Mostaert geprivilegieert, mom, France en Rijnsche wyn te vercoopen en met de cleyne maet uyt te slijten.
[Vraag 5 ].
Ende nae dyen dat ‘et sware guarnisoen en gestadige residentie met soo grooten ommeslagh sonder belangh van negotie off proffyt d’ E. Compe. alhier seer lastich valt, off men niet en soude connen practiseren omme de borgers ende vrijluyden ergens mede te beneficieren, niet alleen om de selve alsoo des te beter te doen bestaan, maer oock dat daer door mettertyt in getall mogen vermeerderen tot verminderinghe des guarnisoens; synde omtrent den aenwas van de voors. vryeluyden en onse verseeckeringe, seer veel gelegen aen inboorlingen van de Geunieerde Provintien, gelyck den Heere Raet Ordinaris Rycklooff138 van Goens by Syn E. instructie als Commissaris 16 April 1657 alhier gelaten wel te rechte noteert en specialyck recommandeert om geen andere als Nederlanders in dese Colonie te admitteren en waer van U E. mede gelieven te dencken hoe verre dese ordre is achtervolght.
5.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
De priviligien daer mede onse borgers en boeren wel soude connen worden gebeneficieert, dunckt my (onder correctie) te bestaen in de vischeryen, jacht en wildt schieten, brant en timmerhout te rijden eta. alsmede eenighe tot den lantbouw ende veeteelt te wysen en aan te helpen, soo en als den tijt en staet van de Compe. voirders mochte mede brengen, doch soude daer door dit guarnisoen weynich ofte minder daer door connen werden vermindert en d’ Compe. nochtans van de vryluyden ‘t selve moeten coopen daer van sy tegenwoordigh haer selven can dienen en bedruijpen, waerom onse predecesseurs aller hande natien en niet specialyck inboorlingen uyt de Geunieerde Provintien alhier in vrydom hebben geatmitteert, gelyck de g’alligeerde instructie van de Welgemelte Hr. van Goens expresselyck dicteert, houde ick daer voor dat men ter dijen tyt niet anders heeft geconnen. Immers syn by myn aenwesen alhier weynich ofte geen uytheemse daer toe gepermitteert, maer syn d’selve sulcx soo veel mogelyck geweert geworden en daarin d’ opgemelte ordre gevolght.
5.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
D’ vrye lantbouwers dienen eerst deels wat meerder voor hun coorn te genieten en dan voor een civile somme, ‘t sy voor gelt off op credit met eenige melck en treck beesten de hant gebooden; nochtans met die conditie dat sy de selve niet sullen mogen verminderen, vercoopen, verruijlen off andersints t’ soek te maken, eenlijck dat daer maer de vruchten van sullen trecken en die tot gesteelde139 pryse tot hunder sustentie te vercoopen, blyvende deselve beesten aen d’ E. Compe. voor de overgedaene somme altoos gehypotequeert en verbonden.
[Vraag 6 ].
Om dan de voors. coloniers met ‘s Comps. voordeel en proffyt wat tegemoet te coomen, off men het branthout hier alomme soo schaers en kostelyck vallende en van het welcke jaerlycx soo grooten parthye is van doen (besonderlyck tot besorginge van de veelheyt der passerende scheepen) niet en behoorden elders omtrent de zeekant, ‘t sy beoosten ofte wat benoorden dese Caap te gaan soecken ende uyt te vinden bequame bossen om by contract met de vryluyden aen te gaen ofte wel andersints te werden gecapt, om aldaer te blyven leggen tot tyt en wyle dat men ‘s Comps. vaertuygh (off wel by gelegentheyt van een uytcomende slecht gemonteerde fluyt) affgeha[e]lt en alsoo omtrent het fort opgeleyt en versamelt te connen werden, tot groote accomodatie van de retourscheepen die met branthout tot het vaderlant toe op het swaerste van de reyse hooglyck werden g’incommodeert en belemmert, en welck branthout op Batavia mede goet ghelt te costen compt.
6.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Soo als onse ervarene lantgangers d’ sergianten Cruythoff en Croese140 weten te bedeelen isser beoosten dese Caap tot in de Mosselbaeij en noortwaerts tot in de baey van St. Helena aen d’ zeecant gants geen hout te becoomen dat door derselver ongelegentheyt bequamlyck te water noch te lande herwaerts aen can gebracht werden; des U Edle. voorstel raeckende d’ contracten die dijer wegen met de vryluyden conden werden aengegaen van geen apparentie schynt te wesen en naer ‘t voorgeven van de boven gemelte lantcondige althans niet practicabel is.
6.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Om het cappen van ‘t branthout in soo grooten quantiteyt van de scheepsopperhoofden der passerende scheepen gevordert wordende aen de vryluyden te besteden is wel goet, maer om ‘t selve met d’ een off d’ ander vaertuygh off fluyt daer van daen te haelen bevinden wy hier geen gelegentheyt, oock en staet het selve op geen uir naer aen de zeekandt, zynde ‘t als dan oock noch in hooge opclimmende bossen te cappen, buyten dat men met een fluyt in de Baey Falce off Houdtbaey (daer het van daen soude moeten comen) om de ondipte141 en clippens wille niet soude kunnen off derven loopen.
[Vraag 7 ].
Of het niet dienstich en practicabel soude wesen in plaetse dat d’ E. Compe. nu alles selffs doet besorgen, de vryluyden op seeckere prysen off by contract te doen leveren alle soo danigen gebacken steen, pannen, houtwercken, en andere dingen meer als d’ E. Compe. mocht hebben van doen, selfs om de leertouwerye, coornmolen en wat meer van die natuer sy, aen te besteden naer de maxime naer eenighe weynighe jaaren harwaerts tot Batavia ingevoert en waer by haer de gemelte Compe. seer wel bevindt.
7.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Concernerende d’ steen off pannebackerye, als mede ‘t leveren van eenighe houtwercken, d’ selve cunnen wel aen eenige vrijeborgers (onder contracten als voor desen is geschiet142 werden overgelaten, mits de selve als dan gehouden blyven alle ‘t benoodighde in de daer op gestelde prysen aen d’ E. Compe. wederom over te doen, maer de coornmolen ende de leerberydery die mede van geringe beslommeringh en nu in behoorlijcke stant zyn, sal d’ E. Compe. best doen, doch onder U Edle. ryper en verstandiger overlegh, die noch voor eerst aen haer selffs te houden, omdat hier toe weynich volck en oncosten syn vereyssende.
7.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
‘t Aenbesteeden van gebacken steen, potten, pannen, eta. sou gevoegelyck connen geschieden; ‘k can oock niet sien dat de E. Compe. staende den tyt van 3 a 4 jaren dat sy gen. hantwerck selffs hebben aengevoert veel voordeel daer van heeft getrocken, soo oock van sware houtwercken, maer in ‘t reguard van dagelycksche reparatie als de coornmoolen sou soo wel voor eerst niet willen succederen om dat voor als noch wat nauw toesight op ‘t coorn moet werden genomen, anders de vry luyden veel coorn gemaelen hebbende, backt yder een broot en wort also onse gewonne granen met grooten woecker aen de passerende scheepen verquanselt en wy alsoo van de selve gefrustreert, dat tegens de beraemde ordre en privilegie van onse vrijbacker is, als vermogende ‘t selve sonder ons guarnisoen alvoorens g’accomodeert te hebben, niet aen de passerende vrunden te vercoopen en oock niet binnen syn gewicht en boven den gestelden pryse op seeckere pene.
d’ Leerberyderye schynt oock noch wat te prematuer om te verpachten te wesen.
[Vraag 8 ]
Item off men van het bereyde leer dat voortaen alhier in quantiteyt te cryghen schynt te sullen wesen, niet en soude connen doen maecken kloucke parthye schoenen om naer India te werden versonden, en op wat wys U E. vertrouwen dat het paer soude wesen te bedingen; betalende de E. Compe. tot Batavia by contract voor het paer van gemeene soldatenschoenen …143 stuijvers.
8.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Aengesien het maecken van schoenen uyt de beryde huyden van de geslachte beesten goede hoope is gevende, vertrouwen niet alleen ons daer van alhier genoechsaem te voldoen, maer oock India daer mede eenichsints te cunnen versien, sullende ‘t paer gemeene schoenen by na ƒ …144 d’ E. Compe. comen te costen, en ‘t welck oock (omme volgens U Edle propositie ‘t groote guarnisoen te excuseren) aan eenige hun daer op in vrydom willende begeven onder bysondere conditien en voorwaerden souden connen overgelaten worden.
8.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
‘t Bereyde leer van de runderbeesten valt hier tamelijck145 schoon, en heel goet om schoenen van te maecken, zouden oversulcx wel schoenen cunnen laten maecken, en dat voor een civile prys by aldyen het ons aen geen schoenmaeckers en mancqueerde.
[Vraag 9 ].
Ende om het bereyde leer verder te beneficieren off men voor Batavia en andere deelen van India niet en soude connen doen maecken 2 a 3 stx. brantemmers, als synde de gene die ick alhier hebbe gesien en gebruyckt werden, ongelyck beter en van bequamer stoffe dan de sulcke als successive van de Chormandelse cust werden geeyscht.
9.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Ende dewyl de branteemers hier gemaeckt van U Edle ongelyck beter als die van cust Chormandel comen, werden g’estimeert, can mede by gelegentheyt en succes van tyden oock na dat veel groff vee mochte werden geschlacht voor Batavia off andere deelen van India wel een goede parthye eemers gemaeckt en die quartieren daer mede versien werden.
9.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Ad idem van de branteemers.
(Vraag 10).
Mij alhier verthoont zynde eenighe schoone bontwercken van boskatten, jackhalsen- en tygersvellen, soo is de vrage offer geen middel soude wesen van de selve en andere pelteryen metter tijt quantiteyt te versamelen om op d’ een of d’ ander wyse alhier wat handel te formeren, ja al souden oock luyden van kennisse daer toe wt het vaderlant werden versocht en op de voors. pelteryen beraamt werden een vasten prys (om soo niet de Hottentots) immers onse borgers en boeren te meerder gelegentheyt te verschaffen om een stuijvertien te connen prospereren.
10.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Maer bontwercken van jackhalsen, boskatten, tieger en diergelycke vellen in quantiteyt te becomen, daer toe sien hier, mynes geringe oirdeels altoos, geen middel, want daer van niet soo veelen soude connen werden gevangen, als d’ costen wel mochten bedragen, zynde oock d’ Hottentots hiertoe, off tot sulcken handel niet bequaem, veel minder sullen onse boeren daer uyt proffyt trecken off te verwachten hebben, alsoo dat animael gants weynich en niet als per ongeluck te schieten ofte vangen sy.
10.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
D’ bontwercken van boskatten, jackalsen, en tygersvellen worden seer wynich aengebracht, maer een quantiteyt erlangende, soude het apparent wesen om de selve berydende, aen de passerende scheepen voor d’ E. Compe. te cunnen vercoopen off wel te versenden, betalende aen yder voor elcke sorterijnge een cleyne belooninge voor haer moeyte op vangen ende schieten.
[Vraag 11 ].
Aengesien de pattatusen alhier wonder wel schynen te willen aerden, off door middel van de selve niet en soude connen werden vergroot den aenteel van meerder quantiteyt varckens als een seer bequaeme provisie en durabel voetsel voor onse scheepen wesende, en off men oversulcx niet en behoorden te stellen een vasten prys op ‘t lb. ofte de hondert ponden van de voors. levende varckens (gelyck op Batavia wert gepractiseert) en ‘t welck als mede occupatie en voordeel aen borgers en boeren toe brengen soude.
11.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Overmits het aenplanten van petattusen alhier seer wel succedeert, is den aenqueeck van dijen oock door d’ E. Compe. met vlijdt voortgeseth, ‘t welck dan by abondanten toevloeij een middel soude connen wesen omme metter tijdt in ‘t getall van varckens, vermenichvuldigende d’selve, door d’ vryluyden en boeren te laten opleggen en daermede off wel met andere groente vet maecken, mitsgaders in de daer op beraemt werdende prijsen wederom te vercoopen en d’ passerende scheepen, des noodigh synde, daer mede ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. te accomoderen.
11.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Wel is waer de pattatusen alhier wel wassen willen, maer om daer een getall verckens van veth te voeden en die aen de successive aencomende scheepen te verstrecken: twijffele off dat wel sal lucken; een cleyn gedeelte sou wel gaen voor de retoerscheepen, maer een groote vermenichvuldinge aen te houden om de uyt Patria comende scheepen daer insgelycx van te versien, is niet wel om doen, omdat dat vraetachtige gedierte over al door breeckende, soo Comps. als vruyluyden thuynen geheel comen te bederven, en bycomende vruchten t’ eenemael vernielen, buyten dat de jonge lammeren wanneer daer maer omtrent off by verschynen (niettegenstaen van slaen en smyten) sy de selve van cant aen op eeten en verslinden, wesende dat d’ insichten van d’ Heer Commandeur Riebeeck, Wagenaer en Quaelbergen, die ‘t selve al aengevangen hebben, waerom ‘t selve niet is onderhouden.
Belangende de prys van desselffs vercoop daer van is al voor heen ordre geconcipieert, te weten dat de vryeluyden niet meer als 3 stuijvers licht ghelt voor 1 lb. levendich, en schoon gemaeckt 4 swaere stuijvers sullen mogen voorderen.
[Vraag 12 ].
Hoedanigh dat alhier wert gehandelt met de quantiteyt vis die men verstaet dat in en omtrent dese baaij in overvloet te vangen zy of de selve niet en wort ingesouten, gedroocht en gevleckt tot behoeff der scheepen en het guarnisoen. Item in wat vougen die aen d’ E. Compe. wert gelevert door wijen en tot wat prys.
12.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
D’ visschen niet alleen in dese maer oock in de baey Saldanhia en St. Helena door de vryluyden gevangen, wert ingesouten en soo gedrooght als gesouten van eenighe gepermitteerde borgers tegen ƒ3:12 d’ hondert ponden aen d’ E. Compe. gelevert, ‘t welck nevens ‘t gene soo nu en dan by ons gevangen, tot onderhout van ‘s Comps. slaven wert uytgereyckt; dat ‘t schaffen van speck en vlees voorwaer seer excuceert ende soude ‘t selve noch eenichsints meer connen mesnageren by aldijen ‘t zeekoye vlees en speck, door d’ boeren in ‘t landt geschoten, op d’ basaer wierde gebracht en tot 1 stuijver ‘t lb. verkocht, maer alsoo die arme menschen meerendeels sulcx tot ‘s lichaems onderhoud en als een smaeckellycke ende goede spys wesende, syn besteedende, sullen se swaerlyck daer toe te brengen syn ten ware de prys mede quame verhooght te worden.
12.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
D’ vis die ‘s Comps. wegen alhier wort146 gevangen, wort aenstonts, off ingesouten off gedroogt, mitsgaders gevleckt147 aen ‘s Comps. lyffeygenen tot hunder levensmiddelen verstreckt, soo oock by verlegentheyt aen de retourscheepen, gelyck de oncost reecqe. van verlede als andere jaeren claerlyck is verthoonende, wordende ten dyen eynde do. vis van de vry visser by d’ E. Compe. oock ingekocht namelyck de 100 lb. gesouten tot ƒ3:12:- en gedroogde tot 6:-,:-,148 de hondert ponden.
[Vraag 13 ].
Na dien dat ter tyde als der Quaelbergen desen ommeslagh aen den Commandeur Borghorst heeft overgegeven, d’ E. Compe. niet meer op voorraat hadde als 174 runderbeesten en 315 schapen en nu met myne verschyninge op 9 deser alhier in alles bevonden syn 508 runderbeesten met 2299 schapen en daer onder maer 711 Hottentots, soo gelieven U E. redenen te geven van dit groot verschil en by aldijen het veroorsaeckt mochte wesen door veelvoudige gedaene besendingen te landewaert of het selve al zy geschiet sonder verhooginge van den ordinaren prys en quade consequentie en of het in sulcken cas dan niet beter soude wesen de lantluyden selfs te disponeren om haer vee aen ‘t fort alhier te mart te brengen, immers soo sulcx eenichsints conde werden gepracticeert.
13.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Dewyle by ‘t vertreck van Edle Quaelbergen seer weynigh bestiael by handen hadden, heeft men nootsaeckelyck eenighe ruijlingen en lantochten dyer wegen ter handen moeten nemen die dan oock (Gode sy loff) geluckigh syn uijtgevallen en ons telckens goede troupen soo kleyn als groff bestiael hebben toegebracht en naedemael Haar Edle d’ Heeren Bewinthebberen by derselver missive van 26 April 68 over ‘t houden van thuynen, bestiael, etca. over den Commandeur en Raaden niet vergenoucht en waeren, heeft men sulcx al voorens affgeschafft, mitsgaders conform resolutie ende approbatie van de Heer Joan Thijssen aen d’ Compe. vercocht en gelevert, die dan door den aenteelt en d’ ruylingen t’ sedert d’ jongste retoervlooth in ‘t landt gedaen, onse troup soo heeft vergroot dat Gode sy loff de gepasseerde scheepen haere behoorlycke verversinghe hebben cunnen toevoegen en evenwel met een goet getall vee als noch syn versien gebleven.
D’ duslange gedaene landtbesendingen zyn niet als tot nutte, sonder verhooging van d’ ordinary prysen ofte eenige bedenckelycke quade consequentie geschiet en vericht, hoewel op verre nae voor d’ Compe. oncostelycker en veyliger soude wesen dese lantlieden offte Hottentots daer heen te disponeren omme selver aff te comen en haer vee hier aen de marckt te brengen, maer de selve syn daer toe niet te beweegen en schoon die hier omtrent leggende craelen sulckx noch al wilden doen, soo is nochtans haer macht op verre nae niet soo groot dat ons met bestiael naer genoegen souden connen adsisteren; dier halven d’ beste ruylingen by de veeryckste natien diep lantwaert in leggende moeten geschieden en d’welcke om de wyt affgelegentheyt haer vee niet sullen periculiteren om daer mede selver aff te comen.
13.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Dat by ‘t aenwesen van d’ Heer Commandeur Borghorst ‘t vee soo een merckelyck getall van runderbeesten en schaapen is vermeerdert, ontstaet uyt de continuele lantbesendinghe, die Syn E. successive somwyle, door een, jae twee trouppen tegelyck, met coopmanschappen heeft doen ondernemen; maer off d’ E. Compe. daer al voordeel by gehat heeft, can uyt de specificatie van sargeant Cruythoffs laeste gedaene ruylinge wel anders blijcken, want dat is seecker, dat door de dagelycksche lantbesendinge de Hottentots (als een snoo volck synde) siende dat noyt rust en tyt om weder aen te queecken gelaten wort, sullen geen meerder vee willen affstaen, off moet wel 3 mael als ordinair soo veel daer voor verstreckt en hun gegeven worden, synde ‘t selve dan noch soo mager dat qualyck hier comen cunnen, Ja de inruylders sullen selver moeten bekennen dat om dies wille by nae elcken reys wel de helft hebben onderwegen moeten leggen laten, om dat deselve door de ouderdom en magerheyt niet voorder kunden marcheeren, en soude by ‘t coopen van ‘t vee der vrijluyde (dat in een groot getall bestaet) de Hottentots voor eerst cunnen g’excuseert worden, wouden de selve Hottentots dan yets aen ‘t Fort als voor heen te ruylen brengen, dat conden sy doen, soo soude men de oude en de magere affwijsende, de reedelycke weer naer de oude manier in ruylen cunnen, dat d’ E. Compe. van veel oncosten die tot uytsendingh worden gespendeert (soude bevryden) want de Hottentots sonder ruylingh niet en cunnen bestaen, mitsgaders ‘t vee aen niemant anders als ons vertieren, off daer voor toebacq, coper eta. erlangen cunnen
[Vraag 14 ].
Ende alsoo den sergeant Pieter Cruythoff met 6 soldaten nu al 6 1/2 weecke te lande waert uyt gheweest hebbende om alliantie ende handelinge met de Namacquas te bewercken ende dat by ons aenwesen van den selven niets zy gehoort wat U E. van dese tardantie opineren mitsgaders van de hoope en apparente van ons desseyn.
14.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Den sergiant Cruythoff nu wederom uyt het landt geretourneert synde, geeft hoope dat den veehandel met d’ Namaquas aanstaende wel goet effect mochte sorteren, hebbende maer een crall aen getroffen die hem stx. 67 beesten en stx. 150 schaapen voor de gewoone coopmansschappen in alle minne en vrintschap hadde verruijlt; in ‘t toecomende ende nae dat se ons naerder sullen bycomen can de begonnen alliantie meer voort geseth werden.
14.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Genoemde sargiant Cruijthoff geretourneert wesende, is niet noodich hier op te antwoorden.
[Vraag 15 ].
By de memorie aengaende de haeve en middelen van de borgeren en vryluyden bevonden zynde dat de selve onder andere besitten 4697 schaapen, soo is de vraage hoe dat aen soo grooten voorraet comen en waer de selve vertieren ofte vercoopen, de wijle doch de passerende scheepen van ‘s Comps. vee werden versorght
15.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
‘t Vermenighvuldigen van der vryluyden schaapen ontstaet eenlijck uyt den aenteelt en d’ geringhe consumptie ter deser plaetse, vermits by ‘t aenwesen van dit cleyne guarnisoen weynich weten te vertieren, en wy de gaende en comende scheepen tot noch toe van ‘s Comps. eygen vee hebben connen versorgen, doch by aldijen d’ E. Compe. belieffde haer van een parthy t’ ontlasten (gelyck versoecken) soos soude men beyder seyts daer mede gedient wesen en haer merckelyck daer in te gemoet te comen.
15.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
‘t Getall van 4697 halffslagh schaapen dat de vryluijden te deser residentie in eygendom besitten, is door aenteelinghe vermenighvuldicht, en syn do. vryluyden niet vermogens eenige van die anders dana en149 d’ E. Compe. te vercoopen, behalven dat op de becommene licentie eenighe slachtende, de selve aen de benoodighde voor dry stuyvers swaer ghelt ‘t lb. mogen vercoopen en uyt te slyten.
[Vraag 16 ].
Wat quantiteyt wyn dat in dese 2 a 3 laatste jaren soo by d’ E. Compe. als door particuliere alhier wel is gewonnen, en de wyl de Caapse wyn tot provisie van den Heer Gouverneur gnal. en Raaden van India naer Batavia gesonden in ‘t geheel sy affgeschreven, wat U E. als nu meenen dat voortaen met de druyff (alhier soo weldrich en overvloedigh wassende) sal dienen gedaen, vermits de selve al te veel aerbyts schynt te costen om aen de gemeene maats tot ververssinghe aen de scheepen te werden verdeelt of het darhalven oock considera[ti]e soude meriteren om alle gemaackte wijnen van de vryeluijden tot een redelycken prys aen te nemen en deselve voor reecqe. van d’ E. Compe. naer Batavia te senden, om aldaer te werden verkocht, off dat U E. iets anders connen bedencken om de culture niet te stutten maer ter contrarie de lantbouwers daer toe meer en meer te animeren.
16.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
De quantiteyt der gewonnen Ca[e]pse wynen in myn aenwesen bestaet by d’ Compe. in 10 amen, die van de vryluyden omtrent 10 amen, maer vermits ‘t versenden der selver na Batavia in ‘t geheel is affgeschreven en U Edle. verlangen te weten wat met de druyff voortaen best sal dienen gedaen, de wyl om de sulcke aen de scheepen te verstrecken mede te veel aerbeyt vereyscht, soo soude ick niet qualyck achten dat se in ‘t toecomende weder uytgeparst en aen de herbergiers op seecker gesette tap om te vercoopen werden vercoght, alsoo die d’selve genoechsaem weten te vertieren off quyt te maecken, waer door de costen en den aerbyt daer aen gedaen can vergoet, en ‘t lichten van soodanigen quantiteijt vaderlantse wynen sal cunnen g’excuseert werden.
16.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Door d’ E. Compe. is sonderlingh voor 3 jaren geen druyff als eenlijck tot een proeftje geparst, edoch, in de 2 gepasseerde jaren 22 halff amen en by de vryluyden ongeveer in voors. 3 jaren 59 dittos dat van jaer tot jaer door de jonckheyt staet te progresseren, beginnende boven dyen ider een wyngaerden te poten, dat in een jaer a twee groote quantiteijt wynen sal aenbrengen; en gemerckt Haer Edle op Batavia ‘t senden van die wyn aen ons in loco gelieven aff te schryven, presumere dat in ‘t senden derwaerts geen goet genoegen sal werden gegeven, niet te min sal ‘et evenwel wesen moeten, want ‘t is niet mogelyck dat alle de selve alhier sal cunnen werden verstiert,150 schoon genomen al abondantie aen d’ passerende scheepen boven dyen deden verstrecken en souden in sulcken gevalle by vercoop daer oock een pryse op dienen beraemt, als synde de selve tot noch toe (sonder accyns off impost te betalen) soo duyr als France off Spaensche wyn alhier vercocht, dat myns gevoelens wat te veel is.
[Vraag] 17.
Ende alsoo de Raat Extraordinaris ende Commissaris de Hr. Joan van Dam by desselffs gelatene ordre van den 28 May 1667 onder andere heeft gerecommandeert dat alle provisien by de boucken loopende souden werden getaxeert; waeromme dat dese pryselycke ordre niet en sy gevolght insgelycx oock in ‘t reguart van den coopman ofte administrateur van de negotiepackhuysen die tevens met de boecken niet en soude mogen houden de geltcassa, ‘t welck niet alleen niet en schynt gevolght, maer noch tot slimmer vervallen te wesen, alsoo de selve geltcassa althans wert aenvertrouwt en gehouden by den dispencier Granaat die de verkochte goederen selve levert en met eenen het ghelt ontvanght, juyst niet altyt met ordonnantie van den E. Commandeur, gelyck als de voors. ordre wel expresselyck dicteert dat soude moeten geschieden.
17.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Hoewel d’ g’ alligeerde ordre van d’ Hr. van Dam onder andere recommandeert alle provisien by de boecken loopende te taxeren, als mede dat den administrateur van de packhuysen niet teffens sal mogen houden d’ geltcassa, niet precise sy gevolght, soo is het provenu van vercochte goederen behoorlyck in de boecken by myn tyt goet gedaen en onder syn post verantwoort geworden; en omdat de ordre onser Heeren Superioren in ‘t regard van ‘t besnoeijen en reduceren van ‘t guarnisoen ende groote gagie winnende ministers hebben willen naer coomen, heeft men doenmaels voor best geoordeelt ‘t diespens nevens d’ geltcassa in plaetse van de versondene dispencier en de winckeliers aen een persoon en Sr. Granaat te gelyck op te dragen die oock de selve naer behooren waergenomen en onses wetens niet anders als trouwelyck geadministreert heeft. Even wel gelyck het waerachtigh is, soo mogen die ampten wel gesepareert werden, omme alle suspicie van fraude wegh te nemen ende te verhoeden.
17.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Referere dit articel aen de beantwoordinge van d’ Heer Commandeur, als tot die veranderinge niet g’authoriseert noch gekent wesende, oock geen kennisse van die ordre gehadt hebbe, veel min in ‘t emplooy van Sr. Granaat.
[Vraag 18 ].
Off den ommeslach van d’ E. Compe. met de aenwesende ministers alhier behoorlijck can werden waergenomen en off oock eenighe verminderinghe ofte veranderinghe ontrent de selve sal dienen te geschieden om alles hier te mogen laaten tot de minste lasten van d’ E. Compe. in de vereyschte ordre ende postuijr.
18.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Tot noch toe is met d’ aenwesende ministers desen ommeslagh (onder correctie) sonder die minste verachteringh van de vereyste diensten der E. Compe. waergenomen geweest, maer naer dyen eenighe hare bediningen wat te swaer schynen te vallen, soude men daer in wel veranderinge cunnen maecken, mitsgaders daer toe imploijeren, en ‘t welcke naer myn gevoelen in dier voegen wel can geschieden, te weten, d’ administratie en ‘t houden der negotieboecken aen een t’ exerceren van ‘t fiscaelsampt, benevens ‘t houden van de cassa en de inspectie over all ‘s Comps. bestiael, Soo hier als op d’ eylanden, op dat door het verwisselen van de selve en andersints geen ontrouw soude cunnen werden gepleeght, Insgelycx d’ dispenciers en winckeliers bediningen aen twee apparte supposten die oock gehouden waeren hun tot andere occupatien mede te laten gebruycken.
Tot het officie van een secretaris als oock ‘t houden der soldy en hospitaelboucken werden mede twee bequame persoonen vereyst, Sulcx tegenwoordigh 3 vacante plaetsen souden wesen die met andere dienaers wel mochten gesuppleert werden omme de pnte.151 officianten daer van wat te ontlasten ende behulpsaem te wesen.
18.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
By d’ aencompste van d’ Hr. Commandeur Borghorst syn er twee van de penne, namelyck een winckelier en een dispencier versonden, en voors. diensten als van de winckel op mij met de negotieboecken gedefereert, onder voorwende dat by paresse van bequaem[e] stoffe ontlast soude worden; ‘t welck met ‘et lichten van de coopman Sr. Abraham Zeeuw scheen effect te sullen nemen, maer naerder hant met myne boecken effen en tot overgifte genegen wesende, wierde ick wederom om desselffs onbequaemheyt (soo als d’ Heer Commandeur hem aff deficieerde) daer in te rugh gehouden, en hebbe alsoo met leytsaemheyt die sware last tot nu toe dragen moeten dat onder (u Ede. wel nemen) nootsaeckelyck eenichsints dient geredresseert, want de negotieboecken met d’ administratie over de packhuijsen, daer toe de winckel aen my gedefereert blyvende, soude gaern van dienst als fiscael ontlast wesen, want in ‘t waernemen van d’ vereysschende dienst aen gen. packhuysen en boecken, niet veel tyt om buyten overal op te letten en can overschieten, oock en vought ‘et niet als te wel (onder correctie ges.) een tweede wesende naer gedaene conclusie op te staen en geen stem te voeren; in voege alhier Sr. Granaat continueerende noch wel een bequaem borst ‘t zy dan een ondercoopman off boeckhouder vereyscht die de diensten helpt waer nemen, en souden daer een jegens wel een paer adsistenten in plaetse voor cunnen gemist worden.
[Vraag] 19.
Ende wert eyndelyck gevra[e]ght of U. E. (boven ‘t gene voors. sy152 oock connen bedencken offte openinghe doen van eenighe waer aen het interest en dienst van d’ E. Compe. verder gelegen mochte wesen.
In ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, ady 25 February 1670. Was geteeckent Mattheus van den Brouck.
19.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Ten laesten diene reverentelijck in antwoort dat voor tegenwoordigh geen andere openingh wete te doen van eenighe saecken daer aen den interest ende den dienst van d’ E. Compe. verder gelegen mochte wesen, als dat buyten de besendingen om de noort en d’ Oost van desen hoeck wel noodigh vereijste een bequaeme fluyt off jacht van wat grooter last als die nu ter rheede leggende hoeckertjes syn aengeleyt te werden omme de retouren van Mauritius die in een goede quantiteyt ebbenhout bestaet daer van ‘t verleden jaer reede 1490 stx. mooten aldaer hebben moeten overblyven, behalven ‘t gene noch desen jaere daer toe staet gecapt te werden, van ginder aff te halen en ‘t selve hout van hier met d’ retourvlooth weder naer ‘t vaderlant te zenden. Ende dewyl voor ditmael niet bysonders op U. Edle vraaghpuncten meer weet te bedencken, sal U Edle. dit in rescriptie van dyen geliven aen te nemen ende sal myn geringe persoon in U Edle. hooge gunste gerecommandeert latende verblyven.
Ady 5 Maert 1670. Geteeckent Jacob Borghorst.
19.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal.]
Refeerere [sic] my aen d’ voorgaende. Ady 4 Maert 1670. Was geteeckent Corn. de Cretser.
Vraeghpoincten voor gestelt door d’ E. Mattheus van den Broeck,128 Raat Ordinaris van India, Admirael der retourvlooth en Commissaris aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, om beantwoort te werden door d’ E. Commandeur Jacob Borghorst en den fiscael Cornelis de Cretser als de tweede plaets aen voorn. Cab occuperende.
Ien.
Dewyl de Heeren onse Principalen by Haer Edle. jongste schryven van 24 Augusty tot antwoort op U E. missive gelieven te segghen dat 187 gegagieerde coppen aen en omtrent dese Caepse residentie (‘t eylant Mauritius daer onder gereeckent) seer wel connen bestaen besonderlyck in deese vreedige tyden en dat thans (behalven voors. Mauritius ) alhier op verscheyde posten syn verdeelt in alles 236 gegagie[e]rde persoonen volgens de lyste my daer van overgegeven, soo is de vrage of deselve (sonder verachteringhe van de noodige dienst) niet wat en soude connen werden besn[oeijt] als synde (boven ‘t voors. guarnisoen) de borgers ofte vryluyden (naer inhout van de apparte rolle) te samen sterck 89 weerbare mannen.
Beantwoordinge van nevenstaende vraeghpoincten door voorn. Commandeur Borghorst en fiscael Cretser, gelijck volght.
Beantwoordinge bij den Commandeur voornt:
1.
Wel waer te syn dat men ‘t verleden jaer dit garnisoen en den geheelen ommeslagh tot op 187 gegagieerde coppen heeft gereduceert gehat en welck getall oock by Haer Edle. onse Heeren Principalen by der selver aengetoogene missive geapprobeert is, maer daer tegen geconsidereert dat ondertussen de Baey Saldanhia hebben doen in possessie nemen, alwaer de besettinghe met 10 persoonen wert waergenomen, mitsgaders d’ herwaerts aengesondene berchwerckers en die tot dat werck gebruyckt werden t’ samen een getall van 12 persoonen uytmakende als oock 8 veehoeders die tegenwoordigh by grooter aental van bestiael nootsaeckelyck vereyschen en daer onder gereeckent syn, sal dan niet meer overschieten als omtrent 25 a 26 coppen d’welcke van de scheepen successive syn gelicht omme daer mede de verlossinge te gemoet te comen en, mitsdien de verlossinghe aller geener welckers tyt g’expireert is by U. Edle soude werden g’accordeert, soo mochte het gelicentieerde getall der opgemelte 187 coppen weel129 eer vermindert als vergroot blyven.130 Voor eerst sullen ‘t met niet minder volck (doch onder U Edl. ryper overlegh) cunnen affsien omme den vereysten dienst der E. Compe. niet in verachteringh te brengen gelyck U Edle. oock uyt de rollen sal hebben gelieven aen te mercken hoe verspryt d’selve hier en daer leggen verdeelt.
Beantwoordinge bij Cretser:
Wanneer uyt d’ g’ordonneerde 187 coppen buyten overal, soo Saldanhiabaey , Robben en Dasseneylant , mitsgaders Comps. corenschuer, boszagerye, buytenthuyn wyngaert en vaertuyghen, daer toe ruyter en andere wachten etca. als voor heen sullen blyven beseth en daer by noch dagelycx de lanttochten tot procure van bestiael gecontinueert dat een getall van 10 a 12 persoonen telckens wegh sleept, boven dat met de slachters noch 17 persoonen requireren die mede dagelycx met ‘t vee om te houden te velde gaen moeten, is ‘t (onder U Edle. wyser oordeel) alhier daer mede qualyck te stellen, gelyck uyt de monsterrolle (U.Ede. daer van ter hande gestelt) luident is blyckende dat tot besettinge van boven gaende posten ( Mauritius noch de lant besendinge niet eens gereeckent) 104 coppen vereyschen, die dan van de voors. 187 affgetrocken, comen noch 83 over te schieten daer onder d’ Heer Commandeur, Predicant, Raetspersoonen, adsten.131 chirurgijns, cranckbesoecker, assayeurs, berchwerckers, zieckevaer, geweldiger etca. die in 31 persoonen bestaen syn gereeckent; ergo blijft noch 52 coppen, van welcke 52 coppen 13 tot timmerluyden, wagemaeckers, en cuyper, 4 tot smits, 4 tot metselaers, 7 in Comps. groote moestuijn, 3 die het leerberyden, 3 tot steen- en pannebackers, 5 tot stallknechten en ruijghte te mayen dagelycx gebruyckt worden dat dan gefalqueert wesende, bevinde dat eenlyck tot besettinghe met sargiants, corpls., tamboers, trompetter, oppassers, molenaer en huysdomestiquen, 11132 persoonen comen over te schieten.
[Vraag 2 ]
Alsoo de Caepse residentie jaerlycks uyt India besonderlyck met quantieteyt rys moet werden geprovideert off er geen middelen souden wesen te bedencken off uyt te vinden om soo sware lasten te ontgaan en alhier sooveel granen aen te winnen dat niet alleen van buyten geen ad[s]istentie soude noodich wesen, maer selffs oock dat de gaande ende comende scheepen daer van versorcht off wel ‘t overige dat alhier conde werden gemist naer Batavia versonden mochte werden, vercoopende d’ E. Compe. aldaer allen den aencomende tarruwe van Jappan , Bengalen , Wingurla en Souratta tot eenen prys van 60 Rd. ofte 180 gul. ‘t last van 3000 lb. aen de gemeene contractanten werdende alhier nu bevonden (by expresse naweginge) dat de mudde nieuwen tarruw 176 lb. en den overjaerigen 160 lb. uyt gebracht hebbende denselven aen de boeren ofte lantbouwers niet hooger wert betaelt dan tot 7 gul. de geseyde mudde sulcx dattet voors. last van 3000 lb. kosten soude Rds. 39: 46 stuijvers en Rd. 43: 45 stuijvers, off door een Rd. 41: 45 1/2 stuijvers dat al wel verschelt, te meer de voors. contractenten denselven tarruw weder uyt venten en verkoopen tot 72 Rd. ‘t last, sullende U E. hier by oock hebben te noteren wat quantiteyt tarruwe dat in de laeste 2 a 3 jaeren soo van d’ E. Compe. als door particuliere alhier is aengewonnen.
2.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Geduyrende den tyt mijnes aenwesen ter deser plaetse heb al veel speculatien en overdenckinge gehat off d’ kosten ten aensien ‘t provianderen van buyten, niet vermiddelt en de Caap op syn selve soude connen bestaen, maer aengemerckt de landeryen hier omtrent gelegen op verre nae niet genoegh en vruchtbaer te maecken syn om soo veel coorn aen te winnen als wel noodigh tot voetsel van deser plaets en der selver inhabitanten vereyst, mitsgaders de boeren volgens haer luyden aart als nogh geen grooten sin en uij[v]er daer toe syn hebbende, is my gebleecken dat daer op geen staet te maecken sy, doch indien soo veel bequaeme lantbouwers van een goet en s[t]ichtelyck leven te becomen waeren die sulcx wel behertighden, ende aen de selve ‘t Hottentots Hollandt , een vruchtbaere lantsdouwe omtrent 12 a 14 mylen hier van daen gelegen, daer toe in ‘t besit wierden gegeven, soo soude men noch hoope connen hebben dat metter tyt door handenaerbeyt en des hooghsten milden zeegen desen ommeslagh van eygen gewonnen granen syn selven mochten sustenteren en oock by opulenter aenwas nogh wel andere plaetsen en scheepen mede versien, maer wat groote beslommeringh, oncosten, en tyt ‘t selve eerst sal vereyschen, mitsgaders hoe grooten schaede by quaede uijtslagh d’ E. Compe. oock daer uyt soude ontstaen, heeft al vry syn bedencken en can by U Edle. geconsidereert werden.
Aengaende de tarw in de 2 voorige jaeren by d’ E. Compe. aengewassen bedragen in alles 144 1/2 mudde en die van de vryluyden 200 7/8 t’ [s]amen. 345 3/8 mudde off 12 7/9 lasten dat voorwaer seer geringh is en weynich mach beschieten doch-
2.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
‘t Landt hier dichte by de hant en tot den lantbouw bequaem synde en bestaet in soo een groote quantiteyt niet, dat van ‘t coorn (by d’ E. Compe. als vryelieden jaerlycks gebouwt) ons guarnisoen soude connen werden gevoet maer syn oock wat verder uytbreijdende en op Hottentots Hollants siende (dat een vlacte en ongeveir 12 uiren van ‘t fort gelegen is) soude buyten twijffel wel iets dien aengaende uijtgevonden cunnen worden, verstaende soo d’ E. Compe. ‘t genoemde Hottentots Hollant (dat een uytnemende schoon landt is133 belieffde met omtrent 20 man, daer toe de vereyschende treckbeesten en andere bouwgereetschappen te besetten en ‘t selve onder de ploegh te laten brengen, want gen. vlacte wel een distantie van 2000 of meer mergen goet lant omvattende, is daer ten minsten naer ‘t gevoele van g’exprimenteerde bouwlieden, alle jaeren onder134 half duijsent mudde taruwe en rogh van soude te trecken wesen en van dit jaer, wanneer er van dese maent Maert een begin van wierde gemaeckt, sonder toedoen van eenige mest, ongeveer 7 a 800 mudden tarruw off rogh dat vry verre soude strecken.
Wat belanght de prys der graenen tot noch toe, door d’ E. Compe. van de vryeluyden ingekocht en betaelt, te weten.
‘t mudde tarruw ƒ7-:-: is voorwaer onder correctie
‘t do. rogge a ƒ5-10-: wat te weynich, want gen.
lantbouwers kunnen uyt hun jaerlycks schaers gewas (om dat het landt hier omtrent geheel mager is) haere Duytsche knechts (die sy daer toe van nooden hebben) qualyck betaelen. ‘k Swygh dan dat sy daer en boven noch hun huys daer van soude connen ophouden ende waer uyt ontstaet dat alle door armoede trachten, hare bouwerye abandonerende, hier aen ‘t fort op een tap en schacherye te comen woonen.
‘t Gewas schynt van jaer tot jaer niet alleen door de boven genoemde redenen by de vrye luyden aff te nemen, nee maer oock by d’ E. Compe. selffs als wordende achter-volgens de negotieboecken van ao. 1667 bevonden datter in dat jaer 185 1/2 mudde tarw, 51 1/4 do. rogge eta., mitsgaders geen tarw en rogh van de vryluyden gebouwt en ingecoomen is, en in ‘t jaer 1668 door d’ E. Compe. verminderende maer 104 3/4 mudde tarw en 9 do. rogh, en door de vryeluyden 109 7/8 mudde tarw en rogh door den anderen, en nu in ‘t jaer 1669 isser schier niets gebouwt offte ingecoomen, dan eenlijck buyten ‘t zaetcoorn dat alvoorens affgetrocken en versaeyt is 39 3/4 mudde tarw en 3 do. rogh, en van de lantbouwers 106 mudde tarw Rarw135 en rogh dat van jaer tot jaer sonder redres staet vervolgens te verminderen; d’ oorsaeck van de vryeluyden is hier boven eenichsints aengeroert; t’ ander soude in de beesten bestaen daar sy onbenoodicht bennen.
[Vraag] 3.
Off tot vergrooten van de lantbouw alhier niet en werden vereyscht quantiteyt slaven, en hoe veel, item welck slagh dat best soude wesen, ‘t zy Angoolse , Guineese offte van de cust van Arder , en dat in ‘t reguard van ‘t weghloopen als met desen houck een en ‘t selve vaste landt wesende dan of daer voor geen vreese zy en wat reden U E. desen aengaende weeten te alligeeren en by te brengen.
3.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Omme dan den lantbouw meer en meer voor te setten d’ E. Compe. en vryluyden van hare groote maentgelden winnende dienaers die daer toe werden vereyscht te ontlasten en hun de coornbauw oncostelycker en smaeckelycker te doen maecken, soude het een uyttermaete dienstige saecke wesen indien ons voor eerst van omtrent 150 a 200 goede Angolse lyffeygenen conden dienen, welcke slave myns oordeels laboreuste en willigste syn om te aerbyden, doch hoe wel die natie de naaste hieraan syn gelegen, soo is men aengaende ‘t wegh loopen soo weynich voor de sulcke als andere slaven bevreest.
3.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Op het 2en art, is beantwoort dat de vry luyden ten reguarde van ‘t loon der Duytsche knechts genoechsaem door armoede worde gedwongen den lantbouw te verlaten, ingevolge sou het een gewenschte saecke wesen dat met een quantiteyt slaven van 100 a 150 stucx wierden g’accommodeert om gemelte vry lantbouwers daer door te beter te doen bestaen, en soude de Aangoolse off de Guineese wel de beste en bequaemste wesen om dat cloecker dan andere zyn.
[Vraag] 4.
Wat calculae dat alhier wort gemaeckt in ‘t reguart van de eygen lantbouw en coorenschuer van d’ E. Compe. en wat ‘t last tarruw eta. alle beswarenissen en ongelden te samen gereeckent wel te kosten compt, mitsgds. of dat werck niet beter in ‘t geheel aen boeren ofte borgers by verpachtinge ofte andersints soude dienen overgegeven om hun alsoo naer de plough jagende met eenen de menichvuldighe taphuysen alhier omtrent het fort wat te doen verminderen, en op wat getall dat U E. meenen dat deselve behoorden te werden gereduceert.
4.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
By calculatie wert ondervonden dat den eygen lantbouw d’ E. Compe. meerder oncosten veroorsaeckt als d’ incompste van de gewonnen granen als noch jaerlycks weder hebben connen vergoeden, maer ten opsicht het menichvuldich ryden van brant-, timmerhout en wat meer tot de wercken vereyscht (dat by gelegentheyt ondertussen door eene de selve Comps. lantbouwers en wagens is en wort gedaen) werden de costen vry veel weder gesuppleert; doch by aldyen136 d’selve aen eenige vrye luyden onder suffisante borgen conde werden verpacht en wy van der selver aerbeytsaemheyt dan verseeckert mochten syn, ‘t soude oncostelijcker vallen d’ coornschuer aen vrye borgers over te doen als aen sich selffs te houden, mits verbonden blyven ‘t coorn in soodanighen prys aan de Compe. te vercoopen als men by contract naermaels mochte comen op te stellen.
‘t Last tarw den laesten jaere hier aengewassen, compt alle beswaernissen en ongelden daer op gereeckent omtrent ƒ…137 d’ E. Compe. te costen, dat tegens ‘t gene door de vryeluyden a ƒ7 d’ mudde wort gelevert vry veel is verschillende en waerby syl. onmoegelyck connen bestaen.
By voorige tyden syn by den Heer Rycklooff van Goens 3 persoonen vergunt d’ tapneeringe op te setten, maer naerderhant syn soo veel van dat soort ingesloopen dattet meest allegaer ongeprivilegieerde tappers en herbergiers bennen die hier onder ‘t fort en ten platten lande woonen, sulcx d’selve vry tot minder getall mogen werden gereduceert ende souden ‘t met 3 a 4 vryeborgers om te tappen wel connen affsien, mits betalende voor die privilegien maendelijcx soodaenige impositie als daer op mochte werden beraemt en goet gevonden.
4.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Echter volgens de nevensgaende memorie wort aengewesen dat het geboude en ingecoomen coorn van ‘t jaer 1667 by d’ E. Compe. gewonnen d’ oncosten op verre nae niet cunnen op haelen, ja bedragen de selve wel eens soo veel dan ‘t voors. coorn alhier uyt verkocht wordt, waer uyt volght dattet d’ E. Compe. profitabelder was de coornschuer te verpachten als die langher aen te houden.
Aengaende de menichvuldighe tappers hier aen ‘t fort en elders wat te verminderen, is myns oordeels (onder correctie van U Edle.) een nootsaeckelyc werck, want ider een na die tap en uytsuyperye (als een luye hanteringe wesende) soodanich inclineert dat nergens anders na omsien, en de lantbouwers beweeght, den bouw verlatende: hun tot genoemde neeringe alsmede aen ‘t fort met ‘er woone te transporteren, dien volgende souden ‘t twee a 3 brandewynskroeghjens alhier aen ‘t fort en een in ‘t lant, ‘t selve wel waernemen cunnen, synde daer by dan noch alhier aen Wouwter Mostaert geprivilegieert, mom, France en Rijnsche wyn te vercoopen en met de cleyne maet uyt te slijten.
[Vraag 5 ].
Ende nae dyen dat ‘et sware guarnisoen en gestadige residentie met soo grooten ommeslagh sonder belangh van negotie off proffyt d’ E. Compe. alhier seer lastich valt, off men niet en soude connen practiseren omme de borgers ende vrijluyden ergens mede te beneficieren, niet alleen om de selve alsoo des te beter te doen bestaan, maer oock dat daer door mettertyt in getall mogen vermeerderen tot verminderinghe des guarnisoens; synde omtrent den aenwas van de voors. vryeluyden en onse verseeckeringe, seer veel gelegen aen inboorlingen van de Geunieerde Provintien, gelyck den Heere Raet Ordinaris Rycklooff138 van Goens by Syn E. instructie als Commissaris 16 April 1657 alhier gelaten wel te rechte noteert en specialyck recommandeert om geen andere als Nederlanders in dese Colonie te admitteren en waer van U E. mede gelieven te dencken hoe verre dese ordre is achtervolght.
5.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
De priviligien daer mede onse borgers en boeren wel soude connen worden gebeneficieert, dunckt my (onder correctie) te bestaen in de vischeryen, jacht en wildt schieten, brant en timmerhout te rijden eta. alsmede eenighe tot den lantbouw ende veeteelt te wysen en aan te helpen, soo en als den tijt en staet van de Compe. voirders mochte mede brengen, doch soude daer door dit guarnisoen weynich ofte minder daer door connen werden vermindert en d’ Compe. nochtans van de vryluyden ‘t selve moeten coopen daer van sy tegenwoordigh haer selven can dienen en bedruijpen, waerom onse predecesseurs aller hande natien en niet specialyck inboorlingen uyt de Geunieerde Provintien alhier in vrydom hebben geatmitteert, gelyck de g’alligeerde instructie van de Welgemelte Hr. van Goens expresselyck dicteert, houde ick daer voor dat men ter dijen tyt niet anders heeft geconnen. Immers syn by myn aenwesen alhier weynich ofte geen uytheemse daer toe gepermitteert, maer syn d’selve sulcx soo veel mogelyck geweert geworden en daarin d’ opgemelte ordre gevolght.
5.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
D’ vrye lantbouwers dienen eerst deels wat meerder voor hun coorn te genieten en dan voor een civile somme, ‘t sy voor gelt off op credit met eenige melck en treck beesten de hant gebooden; nochtans met die conditie dat sy de selve niet sullen mogen verminderen, vercoopen, verruijlen off andersints t’ soek te maken, eenlijck dat daer maer de vruchten van sullen trecken en die tot gesteelde139 pryse tot hunder sustentie te vercoopen, blyvende deselve beesten aen d’ E. Compe. voor de overgedaene somme altoos gehypotequeert en verbonden.
[Vraag 6 ].
Om dan de voors. coloniers met ‘s Comps. voordeel en proffyt wat tegemoet te coomen, off men het branthout hier alomme soo schaers en kostelyck vallende en van het welcke jaerlycx soo grooten parthye is van doen (besonderlyck tot besorginge van de veelheyt der passerende scheepen) niet en behoorden elders omtrent de zeekant, ‘t sy beoosten ofte wat benoorden dese Caap te gaan soecken ende uyt te vinden bequame bossen om by contract met de vryluyden aen te gaen ofte wel andersints te werden gecapt, om aldaer te blyven leggen tot tyt en wyle dat men ‘s Comps. vaertuygh (off wel by gelegentheyt van een uytcomende slecht gemonteerde fluyt) affgeha[e]lt en alsoo omtrent het fort opgeleyt en versamelt te connen werden, tot groote accomodatie van de retourscheepen die met branthout tot het vaderlant toe op het swaerste van de reyse hooglyck werden g’incommodeert en belemmert, en welck branthout op Batavia mede goet ghelt te costen compt.
6.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Soo als onse ervarene lantgangers d’ sergianten Cruythoff en Croese140 weten te bedeelen isser beoosten dese Caap tot in de Mosselbaeij en noortwaerts tot in de baey van St. Helena aen d’ zeecant gants geen hout te becoomen dat door derselver ongelegentheyt bequamlyck te water noch te lande herwaerts aen can gebracht werden; des U Edle. voorstel raeckende d’ contracten die dijer wegen met de vryluyden conden werden aengegaen van geen apparentie schynt te wesen en naer ‘t voorgeven van de boven gemelte lantcondige althans niet practicabel is.
6.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Om het cappen van ‘t branthout in soo grooten quantiteyt van de scheepsopperhoofden der passerende scheepen gevordert wordende aen de vryluyden te besteden is wel goet, maer om ‘t selve met d’ een off d’ ander vaertuygh off fluyt daer van daen te haelen bevinden wy hier geen gelegentheyt, oock en staet het selve op geen uir naer aen de zeekandt, zynde ‘t als dan oock noch in hooge opclimmende bossen te cappen, buyten dat men met een fluyt in de Baey Falce off Houdtbaey (daer het van daen soude moeten comen) om de ondipte141 en clippens wille niet soude kunnen off derven loopen.
[Vraag 7 ].
Of het niet dienstich en practicabel soude wesen in plaetse dat d’ E. Compe. nu alles selffs doet besorgen, de vryluyden op seeckere prysen off by contract te doen leveren alle soo danigen gebacken steen, pannen, houtwercken, en andere dingen meer als d’ E. Compe. mocht hebben van doen, selfs om de leertouwerye, coornmolen en wat meer van die natuer sy, aen te besteden naer de maxime naer eenighe weynighe jaaren harwaerts tot Batavia ingevoert en waer by haer de gemelte Compe. seer wel bevindt.
7.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Concernerende d’ steen off pannebackerye, als mede ‘t leveren van eenighe houtwercken, d’ selve cunnen wel aen eenige vrijeborgers (onder contracten als voor desen is geschiet142 werden overgelaten, mits de selve als dan gehouden blyven alle ‘t benoodighde in de daer op gestelde prysen aen d’ E. Compe. wederom over te doen, maer de coornmolen ende de leerberydery die mede van geringe beslommeringh en nu in behoorlijcke stant zyn, sal d’ E. Compe. best doen, doch onder U Edle. ryper en verstandiger overlegh, die noch voor eerst aen haer selffs te houden, omdat hier toe weynich volck en oncosten syn vereyssende.
7.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
‘t Aenbesteeden van gebacken steen, potten, pannen, eta. sou gevoegelyck connen geschieden; ‘k can oock niet sien dat de E. Compe. staende den tyt van 3 a 4 jaren dat sy gen. hantwerck selffs hebben aengevoert veel voordeel daer van heeft getrocken, soo oock van sware houtwercken, maer in ‘t reguard van dagelycksche reparatie als de coornmoolen sou soo wel voor eerst niet willen succederen om dat voor als noch wat nauw toesight op ‘t coorn moet werden genomen, anders de vry luyden veel coorn gemaelen hebbende, backt yder een broot en wort also onse gewonne granen met grooten woecker aen de passerende scheepen verquanselt en wy alsoo van de selve gefrustreert, dat tegens de beraemde ordre en privilegie van onse vrijbacker is, als vermogende ‘t selve sonder ons guarnisoen alvoorens g’accomodeert te hebben, niet aen de passerende vrunden te vercoopen en oock niet binnen syn gewicht en boven den gestelden pryse op seeckere pene.
d’ Leerberyderye schynt oock noch wat te prematuer om te verpachten te wesen.
[Vraag 8 ]
Item off men van het bereyde leer dat voortaen alhier in quantiteyt te cryghen schynt te sullen wesen, niet en soude connen doen maecken kloucke parthye schoenen om naer India te werden versonden, en op wat wys U E. vertrouwen dat het paer soude wesen te bedingen; betalende de E. Compe. tot Batavia by contract voor het paer van gemeene soldatenschoenen …143 stuijvers.
8.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Aengesien het maecken van schoenen uyt de beryde huyden van de geslachte beesten goede hoope is gevende, vertrouwen niet alleen ons daer van alhier genoechsaem te voldoen, maer oock India daer mede eenichsints te cunnen versien, sullende ‘t paer gemeene schoenen by na ƒ …144 d’ E. Compe. comen te costen, en ‘t welck oock (omme volgens U Edle propositie ‘t groote guarnisoen te excuseren) aan eenige hun daer op in vrydom willende begeven onder bysondere conditien en voorwaerden souden connen overgelaten worden.
8.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
‘t Bereyde leer van de runderbeesten valt hier tamelijck145 schoon, en heel goet om schoenen van te maecken, zouden oversulcx wel schoenen cunnen laten maecken, en dat voor een civile prys by aldyen het ons aen geen schoenmaeckers en mancqueerde.
[Vraag 9 ].
Ende om het bereyde leer verder te beneficieren off men voor Batavia en andere deelen van India niet en soude connen doen maecken 2 a 3 stx. brantemmers, als synde de gene die ick alhier hebbe gesien en gebruyckt werden, ongelyck beter en van bequamer stoffe dan de sulcke als successive van de Chormandelse cust werden geeyscht.
9.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur]
Ende dewyl de branteemers hier gemaeckt van U Edle ongelyck beter als die van cust Chormandel comen, werden g’estimeert, can mede by gelegentheyt en succes van tyden oock na dat veel groff vee mochte werden geschlacht voor Batavia off andere deelen van India wel een goede parthye eemers gemaeckt en die quartieren daer mede versien werden.
9.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Ad idem van de branteemers.
(Vraag 10).
Mij alhier verthoont zynde eenighe schoone bontwercken van boskatten, jackhalsen- en tygersvellen, soo is de vrage offer geen middel soude wesen van de selve en andere pelteryen metter tijt quantiteyt te versamelen om op d’ een of d’ ander wyse alhier wat handel te formeren, ja al souden oock luyden van kennisse daer toe wt het vaderlant werden versocht en op de voors. pelteryen beraamt werden een vasten prys (om soo niet de Hottentots) immers onse borgers en boeren te meerder gelegentheyt te verschaffen om een stuijvertien te connen prospereren.
10.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Maer bontwercken van jackhalsen, boskatten, tieger en diergelycke vellen in quantiteyt te becomen, daer toe sien hier, mynes geringe oirdeels altoos, geen middel, want daer van niet soo veelen soude connen werden gevangen, als d’ costen wel mochten bedragen, zynde oock d’ Hottentots hiertoe, off tot sulcken handel niet bequaem, veel minder sullen onse boeren daer uyt proffyt trecken off te verwachten hebben, alsoo dat animael gants weynich en niet als per ongeluck te schieten ofte vangen sy.
10.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal]
D’ bontwercken van boskatten, jackalsen, en tygersvellen worden seer wynich aengebracht, maer een quantiteyt erlangende, soude het apparent wesen om de selve berydende, aen de passerende scheepen voor d’ E. Compe. te cunnen vercoopen off wel te versenden, betalende aen yder voor elcke sorterijnge een cleyne belooninge voor haer moeyte op vangen ende schieten.
[Vraag 11 ].
Aengesien de pattatusen alhier wonder wel schynen te willen aerden, off door middel van de selve niet en soude connen werden vergroot den aenteel van meerder quantiteyt varckens als een seer bequaeme provisie en durabel voetsel voor onse scheepen wesende, en off men oversulcx niet en behoorden te stellen een vasten prys op ‘t lb. ofte de hondert ponden van de voors. levende varckens (gelyck op Batavia wert gepractiseert) en ‘t welck als mede occupatie en voordeel aen borgers en boeren toe brengen soude.
11.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Overmits het aenplanten van petattusen alhier seer wel succedeert, is den aenqueeck van dijen oock door d’ E. Compe. met vlijdt voortgeseth, ‘t welck dan by abondanten toevloeij een middel soude connen wesen omme metter tijdt in ‘t getall van varckens, vermenichvuldigende d’selve, door d’ vryluyden en boeren te laten opleggen en daermede off wel met andere groente vet maecken, mitsgaders in de daer op beraemt werdende prijsen wederom te vercoopen en d’ passerende scheepen, des noodigh synde, daer mede ten dienste van d’ E. Compe. te accomoderen.
11.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Wel is waer de pattatusen alhier wel wassen willen, maer om daer een getall verckens van veth te voeden en die aen de successive aencomende scheepen te verstrecken: twijffele off dat wel sal lucken; een cleyn gedeelte sou wel gaen voor de retoerscheepen, maer een groote vermenichvuldinge aen te houden om de uyt Patria comende scheepen daer insgelycx van te versien, is niet wel om doen, omdat dat vraetachtige gedierte over al door breeckende, soo Comps. als vruyluyden thuynen geheel comen te bederven, en bycomende vruchten t’ eenemael vernielen, buyten dat de jonge lammeren wanneer daer maer omtrent off by verschynen (niettegenstaen van slaen en smyten) sy de selve van cant aen op eeten en verslinden, wesende dat d’ insichten van d’ Heer Commandeur Riebeeck, Wagenaer en Quaelbergen, die ‘t selve al aengevangen hebben, waerom ‘t selve niet is onderhouden.
Belangende de prys van desselffs vercoop daer van is al voor heen ordre geconcipieert, te weten dat de vryeluyden niet meer als 3 stuijvers licht ghelt voor 1 lb. levendich, en schoon gemaeckt 4 swaere stuijvers sullen mogen voorderen.
[Vraag 12 ].
Hoedanigh dat alhier wert gehandelt met de quantiteyt vis die men verstaet dat in en omtrent dese baaij in overvloet te vangen zy of de selve niet en wort ingesouten, gedroocht en gevleckt tot behoeff der scheepen en het guarnisoen. Item in wat vougen die aen d’ E. Compe. wert gelevert door wijen en tot wat prys.
12.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
D’ visschen niet alleen in dese maer oock in de baey Saldanhia en St. Helena door de vryluyden gevangen, wert ingesouten en soo gedrooght als gesouten van eenighe gepermitteerde borgers tegen ƒ3:12 d’ hondert ponden aen d’ E. Compe. gelevert, ‘t welck nevens ‘t gene soo nu en dan by ons gevangen, tot onderhout van ‘s Comps. slaven wert uytgereyckt; dat ‘t schaffen van speck en vlees voorwaer seer excuceert ende soude ‘t selve noch eenichsints meer connen mesnageren by aldijen ‘t zeekoye vlees en speck, door d’ boeren in ‘t landt geschoten, op d’ basaer wierde gebracht en tot 1 stuijver ‘t lb. verkocht, maer alsoo die arme menschen meerendeels sulcx tot ‘s lichaems onderhoud en als een smaeckellycke ende goede spys wesende, syn besteedende, sullen se swaerlyck daer toe te brengen syn ten ware de prys mede quame verhooght te worden.
12.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
D’ vis die ‘s Comps. wegen alhier wort146 gevangen, wort aenstonts, off ingesouten off gedroogt, mitsgaders gevleckt147 aen ‘s Comps. lyffeygenen tot hunder levensmiddelen verstreckt, soo oock by verlegentheyt aen de retourscheepen, gelyck de oncost reecqe. van verlede als andere jaeren claerlyck is verthoonende, wordende ten dyen eynde do. vis van de vry visser by d’ E. Compe. oock ingekocht namelyck de 100 lb. gesouten tot ƒ3:12:- en gedroogde tot 6:-,:-,148 de hondert ponden.
[Vraag 13 ].
Na dien dat ter tyde als der Quaelbergen desen ommeslagh aen den Commandeur Borghorst heeft overgegeven, d’ E. Compe. niet meer op voorraat hadde als 174 runderbeesten en 315 schapen en nu met myne verschyninge op 9 deser alhier in alles bevonden syn 508 runderbeesten met 2299 schapen en daer onder maer 711 Hottentots, soo gelieven U E. redenen te geven van dit groot verschil en by aldijen het veroorsaeckt mochte wesen door veelvoudige gedaene besendingen te landewaert of het selve al zy geschiet sonder verhooginge van den ordinaren prys en quade consequentie en of het in sulcken cas dan niet beter soude wesen de lantluyden selfs te disponeren om haer vee aen ‘t fort alhier te mart te brengen, immers soo sulcx eenichsints conde werden gepracticeert.
13.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Dewyle by ‘t vertreck van Edle Quaelbergen seer weynigh bestiael by handen hadden, heeft men nootsaeckelyck eenighe ruijlingen en lantochten dyer wegen ter handen moeten nemen die dan oock (Gode sy loff) geluckigh syn uijtgevallen en ons telckens goede troupen soo kleyn als groff bestiael hebben toegebracht en naedemael Haar Edle d’ Heeren Bewinthebberen by derselver missive van 26 April 68 over ‘t houden van thuynen, bestiael, etca. over den Commandeur en Raaden niet vergenoucht en waeren, heeft men sulcx al voorens affgeschafft, mitsgaders conform resolutie ende approbatie van de Heer Joan Thijssen aen d’ Compe. vercocht en gelevert, die dan door den aenteelt en d’ ruylingen t’ sedert d’ jongste retoervlooth in ‘t landt gedaen, onse troup soo heeft vergroot dat Gode sy loff de gepasseerde scheepen haere behoorlycke verversinghe hebben cunnen toevoegen en evenwel met een goet getall vee als noch syn versien gebleven.
D’ duslange gedaene landtbesendingen zyn niet als tot nutte, sonder verhooging van d’ ordinary prysen ofte eenige bedenckelycke quade consequentie geschiet en vericht, hoewel op verre nae voor d’ Compe. oncostelycker en veyliger soude wesen dese lantlieden offte Hottentots daer heen te disponeren omme selver aff te comen en haer vee hier aen de marckt te brengen, maer de selve syn daer toe niet te beweegen en schoon die hier omtrent leggende craelen sulckx noch al wilden doen, soo is nochtans haer macht op verre nae niet soo groot dat ons met bestiael naer genoegen souden connen adsisteren; dier halven d’ beste ruylingen by de veeryckste natien diep lantwaert in leggende moeten geschieden en d’welcke om de wyt affgelegentheyt haer vee niet sullen periculiteren om daer mede selver aff te comen.
13.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Dat by ‘t aenwesen van d’ Heer Commandeur Borghorst ‘t vee soo een merckelyck getall van runderbeesten en schaapen is vermeerdert, ontstaet uyt de continuele lantbesendinghe, die Syn E. successive somwyle, door een, jae twee trouppen tegelyck, met coopmanschappen heeft doen ondernemen; maer off d’ E. Compe. daer al voordeel by gehat heeft, can uyt de specificatie van sargeant Cruythoffs laeste gedaene ruylinge wel anders blijcken, want dat is seecker, dat door de dagelycksche lantbesendinge de Hottentots (als een snoo volck synde) siende dat noyt rust en tyt om weder aen te queecken gelaten wort, sullen geen meerder vee willen affstaen, off moet wel 3 mael als ordinair soo veel daer voor verstreckt en hun gegeven worden, synde ‘t selve dan noch soo mager dat qualyck hier comen cunnen, Ja de inruylders sullen selver moeten bekennen dat om dies wille by nae elcken reys wel de helft hebben onderwegen moeten leggen laten, om dat deselve door de ouderdom en magerheyt niet voorder kunden marcheeren, en soude by ‘t coopen van ‘t vee der vrijluyde (dat in een groot getall bestaet) de Hottentots voor eerst cunnen g’excuseert worden, wouden de selve Hottentots dan yets aen ‘t Fort als voor heen te ruylen brengen, dat conden sy doen, soo soude men de oude en de magere affwijsende, de reedelycke weer naer de oude manier in ruylen cunnen, dat d’ E. Compe. van veel oncosten die tot uytsendingh worden gespendeert (soude bevryden) want de Hottentots sonder ruylingh niet en cunnen bestaen, mitsgaders ‘t vee aen niemant anders als ons vertieren, off daer voor toebacq, coper eta. erlangen cunnen
[Vraag 14 ].
Ende alsoo den sergeant Pieter Cruythoff met 6 soldaten nu al 6 1/2 weecke te lande waert uyt gheweest hebbende om alliantie ende handelinge met de Namacquas te bewercken ende dat by ons aenwesen van den selven niets zy gehoort wat U E. van dese tardantie opineren mitsgaders van de hoope en apparente van ons desseyn.
14.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Den sergiant Cruythoff nu wederom uyt het landt geretourneert synde, geeft hoope dat den veehandel met d’ Namaquas aanstaende wel goet effect mochte sorteren, hebbende maer een crall aen getroffen die hem stx. 67 beesten en stx. 150 schaapen voor de gewoone coopmansschappen in alle minne en vrintschap hadde verruijlt; in ‘t toecomende ende nae dat se ons naerder sullen bycomen can de begonnen alliantie meer voort geseth werden.
14.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Genoemde sargiant Cruijthoff geretourneert wesende, is niet noodich hier op te antwoorden.
[Vraag 15 ].
By de memorie aengaende de haeve en middelen van de borgeren en vryluyden bevonden zynde dat de selve onder andere besitten 4697 schaapen, soo is de vraage hoe dat aen soo grooten voorraet comen en waer de selve vertieren ofte vercoopen, de wijle doch de passerende scheepen van ‘s Comps. vee werden versorght
15.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
‘t Vermenighvuldigen van der vryluyden schaapen ontstaet eenlijck uyt den aenteelt en d’ geringhe consumptie ter deser plaetse, vermits by ‘t aenwesen van dit cleyne guarnisoen weynich weten te vertieren, en wy de gaende en comende scheepen tot noch toe van ‘s Comps. eygen vee hebben connen versorgen, doch by aldijen d’ E. Compe. belieffde haer van een parthy t’ ontlasten (gelyck versoecken) soos soude men beyder seyts daer mede gedient wesen en haer merckelyck daer in te gemoet te comen.
15.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
‘t Getall van 4697 halffslagh schaapen dat de vryluijden te deser residentie in eygendom besitten, is door aenteelinghe vermenighvuldicht, en syn do. vryluyden niet vermogens eenige van die anders dana en149 d’ E. Compe. te vercoopen, behalven dat op de becommene licentie eenighe slachtende, de selve aen de benoodighde voor dry stuyvers swaer ghelt ‘t lb. mogen vercoopen en uyt te slyten.
[Vraag 16 ].
Wat quantiteyt wyn dat in dese 2 a 3 laatste jaren soo by d’ E. Compe. als door particuliere alhier wel is gewonnen, en de wyl de Caapse wyn tot provisie van den Heer Gouverneur gnal. en Raaden van India naer Batavia gesonden in ‘t geheel sy affgeschreven, wat U E. als nu meenen dat voortaen met de druyff (alhier soo weldrich en overvloedigh wassende) sal dienen gedaen, vermits de selve al te veel aerbyts schynt te costen om aen de gemeene maats tot ververssinghe aen de scheepen te werden verdeelt of het darhalven oock considera[ti]e soude meriteren om alle gemaackte wijnen van de vryeluijden tot een redelycken prys aen te nemen en deselve voor reecqe. van d’ E. Compe. naer Batavia te senden, om aldaer te werden verkocht, off dat U E. iets anders connen bedencken om de culture niet te stutten maer ter contrarie de lantbouwers daer toe meer en meer te animeren.
16.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
De quantiteyt der gewonnen Ca[e]pse wynen in myn aenwesen bestaet by d’ Compe. in 10 amen, die van de vryluyden omtrent 10 amen, maer vermits ‘t versenden der selver na Batavia in ‘t geheel is affgeschreven en U Edle. verlangen te weten wat met de druyff voortaen best sal dienen gedaen, de wyl om de sulcke aen de scheepen te verstrecken mede te veel aerbeyt vereyscht, soo soude ick niet qualyck achten dat se in ‘t toecomende weder uytgeparst en aen de herbergiers op seecker gesette tap om te vercoopen werden vercoght, alsoo die d’selve genoechsaem weten te vertieren off quyt te maecken, waer door de costen en den aerbyt daer aen gedaen can vergoet, en ‘t lichten van soodanigen quantiteijt vaderlantse wynen sal cunnen g’excuseert werden.
16.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Door d’ E. Compe. is sonderlingh voor 3 jaren geen druyff als eenlijck tot een proeftje geparst, edoch, in de 2 gepasseerde jaren 22 halff amen en by de vryluyden ongeveer in voors. 3 jaren 59 dittos dat van jaer tot jaer door de jonckheyt staet te progresseren, beginnende boven dyen ider een wyngaerden te poten, dat in een jaer a twee groote quantiteijt wynen sal aenbrengen; en gemerckt Haer Edle op Batavia ‘t senden van die wyn aen ons in loco gelieven aff te schryven, presumere dat in ‘t senden derwaerts geen goet genoegen sal werden gegeven, niet te min sal ‘et evenwel wesen moeten, want ‘t is niet mogelyck dat alle de selve alhier sal cunnen werden verstiert,150 schoon genomen al abondantie aen d’ passerende scheepen boven dyen deden verstrecken en souden in sulcken gevalle by vercoop daer oock een pryse op dienen beraemt, als synde de selve tot noch toe (sonder accyns off impost te betalen) soo duyr als France off Spaensche wyn alhier vercocht, dat myns gevoelens wat te veel is.
[Vraag] 17.
Ende alsoo de Raat Extraordinaris ende Commissaris de Hr. Joan van Dam by desselffs gelatene ordre van den 28 May 1667 onder andere heeft gerecommandeert dat alle provisien by de boucken loopende souden werden getaxeert; waeromme dat dese pryselycke ordre niet en sy gevolght insgelycx oock in ‘t reguart van den coopman ofte administrateur van de negotiepackhuysen die tevens met de boecken niet en soude mogen houden de geltcassa, ‘t welck niet alleen niet en schynt gevolght, maer noch tot slimmer vervallen te wesen, alsoo de selve geltcassa althans wert aenvertrouwt en gehouden by den dispencier Granaat die de verkochte goederen selve levert en met eenen het ghelt ontvanght, juyst niet altyt met ordonnantie van den E. Commandeur, gelyck als de voors. ordre wel expresselyck dicteert dat soude moeten geschieden.
17.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Hoewel d’ g’ alligeerde ordre van d’ Hr. van Dam onder andere recommandeert alle provisien by de boecken loopende te taxeren, als mede dat den administrateur van de packhuysen niet teffens sal mogen houden d’ geltcassa, niet precise sy gevolght, soo is het provenu van vercochte goederen behoorlyck in de boecken by myn tyt goet gedaen en onder syn post verantwoort geworden; en omdat de ordre onser Heeren Superioren in ‘t regard van ‘t besnoeijen en reduceren van ‘t guarnisoen ende groote gagie winnende ministers hebben willen naer coomen, heeft men doenmaels voor best geoordeelt ‘t diespens nevens d’ geltcassa in plaetse van de versondene dispencier en de winckeliers aen een persoon en Sr. Granaat te gelyck op te dragen die oock de selve naer behooren waergenomen en onses wetens niet anders als trouwelyck geadministreert heeft. Even wel gelyck het waerachtigh is, soo mogen die ampten wel gesepareert werden, omme alle suspicie van fraude wegh te nemen ende te verhoeden.
17.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
Referere dit articel aen de beantwoordinge van d’ Heer Commandeur, als tot die veranderinge niet g’authoriseert noch gekent wesende, oock geen kennisse van die ordre gehadt hebbe, veel min in ‘t emplooy van Sr. Granaat.
[Vraag 18 ].
Off den ommeslach van d’ E. Compe. met de aenwesende ministers alhier behoorlijck can werden waergenomen en off oock eenighe verminderinghe ofte veranderinghe ontrent de selve sal dienen te geschieden om alles hier te mogen laaten tot de minste lasten van d’ E. Compe. in de vereyschte ordre ende postuijr.
18.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Tot noch toe is met d’ aenwesende ministers desen ommeslagh (onder correctie) sonder die minste verachteringh van de vereyste diensten der E. Compe. waergenomen geweest, maer naer dyen eenighe hare bediningen wat te swaer schynen te vallen, soude men daer in wel veranderinge cunnen maecken, mitsgaders daer toe imploijeren, en ‘t welcke naer myn gevoelen in dier voegen wel can geschieden, te weten, d’ administratie en ‘t houden der negotieboecken aen een t’ exerceren van ‘t fiscaelsampt, benevens ‘t houden van de cassa en de inspectie over all ‘s Comps. bestiael, Soo hier als op d’ eylanden, op dat door het verwisselen van de selve en andersints geen ontrouw soude cunnen werden gepleeght, Insgelycx d’ dispenciers en winckeliers bediningen aen twee apparte supposten die oock gehouden waeren hun tot andere occupatien mede te laten gebruycken.
Tot het officie van een secretaris als oock ‘t houden der soldy en hospitaelboucken werden mede twee bequame persoonen vereyst, Sulcx tegenwoordigh 3 vacante plaetsen souden wesen die met andere dienaers wel mochten gesuppleert werden omme de pnte.151 officianten daer van wat te ontlasten ende behulpsaem te wesen.
18.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal].
By d’ aencompste van d’ Hr. Commandeur Borghorst syn er twee van de penne, namelyck een winckelier en een dispencier versonden, en voors. diensten als van de winckel op mij met de negotieboecken gedefereert, onder voorwende dat by paresse van bequaem[e] stoffe ontlast soude worden; ‘t welck met ‘et lichten van de coopman Sr. Abraham Zeeuw scheen effect te sullen nemen, maer naerder hant met myne boecken effen en tot overgifte genegen wesende, wierde ick wederom om desselffs onbequaemheyt (soo als d’ Heer Commandeur hem aff deficieerde) daer in te rugh gehouden, en hebbe alsoo met leytsaemheyt die sware last tot nu toe dragen moeten dat onder (u Ede. wel nemen) nootsaeckelyck eenichsints dient geredresseert, want de negotieboecken met d’ administratie over de packhuijsen, daer toe de winckel aen my gedefereert blyvende, soude gaern van dienst als fiscael ontlast wesen, want in ‘t waernemen van d’ vereysschende dienst aen gen. packhuysen en boecken, niet veel tyt om buyten overal op te letten en can overschieten, oock en vought ‘et niet als te wel (onder correctie ges.) een tweede wesende naer gedaene conclusie op te staen en geen stem te voeren; in voege alhier Sr. Granaat continueerende noch wel een bequaem borst ‘t zy dan een ondercoopman off boeckhouder vereyscht die de diensten helpt waer nemen, en souden daer een jegens wel een paer adsistenten in plaetse voor cunnen gemist worden.
[Vraag] 19.
Ende wert eyndelyck gevra[e]ght of U. E. (boven ‘t gene voors. sy152 oock connen bedencken offte openinghe doen van eenighe waer aen het interest en dienst van d’ E. Compe. verder gelegen mochte wesen.
In ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope aen Cabo de Boa Esperance, ady 25 February 1670. Was geteeckent Mattheus van den Brouck.
19.
[Antwoord van die Kommandeur].
Ten laesten diene reverentelijck in antwoort dat voor tegenwoordigh geen andere openingh wete te doen van eenighe saecken daer aen den interest ende den dienst van d’ E. Compe. verder gelegen mochte wesen, als dat buyten de besendingen om de noort en d’ Oost van desen hoeck wel noodigh vereijste een bequaeme fluyt off jacht van wat grooter last als die nu ter rheede leggende hoeckertjes syn aengeleyt te werden omme de retouren van Mauritius die in een goede quantiteyt ebbenhout bestaet daer van ‘t verleden jaer reede 1490 stx. mooten aldaer hebben moeten overblyven, behalven ‘t gene noch desen jaere daer toe staet gecapt te werden, van ginder aff te halen en ‘t selve hout van hier met d’ retourvlooth weder naer ‘t vaderlant te zenden. Ende dewyl voor ditmael niet bysonders op U. Edle vraaghpuncten meer weet te bedencken, sal U Edle. dit in rescriptie van dyen geliven aen te nemen ende sal myn geringe persoon in U Edle. hooge gunste gerecommandeert latende verblyven.
Ady 5 Maert 1670. Geteeckent Jacob Borghorst.
19.
[Antwoord van die Fiskaal.]
Refeerere [sic] my aen d’ voorgaende. Ady 4 Maert 1670. Was geteeckent Corn. de Cretser.