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Cape Council of Policy

43

1654-03-18

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Minute details

Entry number
43
Date
1654-03-18
Year
1654

English translation

Whereas from time to time we notice more and more that the sheep here in the Taeffel Valley, because of the abundance of water, much more so, due to the ease caused by that moisture (from which they cannot very well keep away), are dying, as if to breed, and also very badly, as in great numbers, from tigers and other wild animals (which they often catch out of the flocks at the sight of ours and tear to pieces) and cannot be preserved or protected; furthermore it was noted that those on Robben Island (not water but a living, slurry-like soil full of vegetables and grass) have increased in the period of 5 or 6 months from 6 stx. (those who have set it there) to 11 stx.: as well as there is not the slightest fear of wild animals. It has been understood that with regard to our sheep (currently having 29 young and old in number here at the fort) all the ewes should be set on the said Robben Island, and the rams for slaughter for the ships etc. should be kept here only; To which end it was also agreed to send the Red Fox with the first suitable wind, loaded with a consignment of wood and reeds, to set up a suitable mooring there, where the sheep could shelter from the rain at night, and with an embassy, ​​to collect as many skins as possible from the few seals that came on board, as well as to prepare some suitable soil to be seasoned with carrots and other vegetables, and for this purpose to let 4 to 5,129 men stay there, but expressly and principally to keep watch that no one from the return or other ships with their boats would arrive at night, so that the sheep could be taken off there safely. as some (discretely and without prejudice) would not hesitate to do so, according to the threats that have occurred to us more than once; in which case the aforementioned 4,130 guards were then ordered to make such persons known to us in writing, and to that end also to understand, at least once a week, to send the moored boat thither, in order to then complain about it by letter to those who trouble them, our Lords Principals or the Honorable Governor General and Councilors of India, so that legal proceedings might be instituted against them, if they themselves, their Honorable Men, may deem fit to be in the service of the Honorable Company. And in order to organize the seal catch in principle, the bookkeeper Fredrick Verburgh was verbally instructed to accompany the expedition, and the skipper of the galley was also ordered to contribute all necessary assistance to dig a well (for which he would provide three markers) and other necessary items, and not to return until everything had been completed.131

Thus done and resolved at Fort de Goede Hoope on the date and year as above.

[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.

[Signed:] JAN SIJMESEN

[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.

Original Dutch transcription

Dewijle van tijt tot tijt meer ende meer bemercken, dat de schapen hier in de Taeffelvaleij vermits ‘t overvloedige water, veele meerder, door de gellicheijt uijt die vochticheijt (daer se niet wel van aff te houden sijn) causerende, comen te sterven, als aen te teelen, Item oock seer qualijck als met groote wachten, van de tijgers ende ander wilt gedierte (die se in ‘t aensien van d’ onse uijt de troupen menighmael halen ende verscheuren) en cunnen bewaert noch beschermpt worden; wijders gemerckt dat de selve aen ‘t Robbeneijlant (geen water maer een levendige santachtige gront vol groente ende gras bewassen sijnde) in den tijt van 5 a 6 maendenvan 6 stx.(die der op geset hebben) tot 11 stx. sijn aengeteelt: mitsgaders aldaer de minste noot van wiltgedierte te vreesen sij, Soo is verstaen van onse schapen (jegenwoordigh jongh ende out 29 in ‘t getal hier aen ‘t fort hebbende) alle de oijen op gemelte Robbeneijlant te stellen, ende de rammen om te slaghten voor de scheepen &a. alleen hier te houden; ten welcken eijnde dan mede goetgevonden is, ‘t galijot de Roode Vos met den eersten bequamen wint derwaerts te senden, geladen met partije boshout ende riet: om aldaer een bequaeme loots optestellen, daer de schapen haer ‘s nachts voor den regen in verschuijlen mochten, ende met eenen empassant van de weijnigh robben daerop comende, soo veel vellen te versamelen als doenlijck sij: mitsgaders eenige aerde bequaem te maecken: om met wortelen ende ander groentetebesaijen, ende tendieneijnde aldaer te laeten verblijven 4 a 5129 man, edoch expres ende principael omme wacht te houden datter niemant van de retour of andere scheepen met haere boots bij nacht mochten aencomen: omme de schapen bedectelijck daer aff te halen, gelijck sommige (discrete ongeprejudiceert) haer niet schromen souden, volgens de dreijgementen ons meer als eens voorgecomen; in welcken cas de gemelte 4 a 5130 wachters dan gelast sijn, de sulcke met haer schrijvens ons bekent te maecken, ende ten dien eijnde oock verstaen, ten minsten alle weecke eens, de opgeboeijde boot derwaerts te stuijren, omme dan de geene die haer daerinne pexeeren, onse Heeren Principaelen offte d’ Ed. Hren. Gouverneur Genl. ende Raden van India met ons schrijvens daerover te beclagen, op dat tegen de sulcke dan mochte geprocedeert worden, als de selve haer Ed. ten meesten dienste van d’ E. Compe. mogen goetvinden te behooren. Ende omme alles ende principael de robbenvanghst in ordre te brengen, is den boeckhouder Fredrick Verburgh mondelingh gelast, mede te gaen, ende den schipper van ‘t galijot oock g’ordonneert, soo tot graven van een put (daer 3 leggers toe mede geven) ende andere nodige saecken alle behoorlijcke hulpe te contribueren ende niet eer te retourneren, bevoren alles heefft helpenvolbrengen.131

Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.

[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1654.

[Signed:] JAN SIJMESEN

[Signed:] FR. V.BURGH, Secrets.