Cape Council of Policy
5
1652-04-08
Minute details
- Entry number
- 5
- Date
- 1652-04-08
- Year
- 1652
English translation
Today guided by the Lord with the ships Drommedaris, Reijger and the Good Hope God, praise well and be preserved at the Cabo de Bona Esperance in the Taeffel Bay on the 6th and 7th of this successive day, happy to arrive here after the order of our Lord Principals, the Governors of the Generale Nederlandsche patented the East Indian Compe. for her Ed. to understand a general rendevous7 and to that end to erect a defensive fortress offering strength at the most appropriate location: in order to take possession of such lands in favor of cultivation and the provision of all kinds of livestock and refreshments for Comps. respectively navigating back and forth ships may be of service, and further service thereof may be required, to which end the materials in the aforementioned. Ships loaded, and they are ordered to contribute their substantial assistance. So, to begin everything in good order, the Council (appointed by the chief merchant Jan van Riebeecq) unanimously approved and decided after thorough deliberation and consultation:
That the aforementioned Riebeecq, together with the skippers Davit Coningh, Johan Hooghsaet, and Sijmon Turver, along with some armed soldiers, will first proceed to the country to make a closer inspection and measurements, as provisionally done yesterday, of the most suitable location for the fortress to be built. Having found and chosen this, they will immediately set off to begin the work as quickly as possible, without wasting time. Let them go, so that they can finally reach the breakwater as quickly as possible, and the Company's ships can continue their journey to Batavia sooner.
And so that everything could proceed as quickly as possible and in good order, it was also considered advisable to leave the ships Drommedaris and Reijger each equipped and guarded with 36 crew members: to unload materials, take on water, and ballast daily.
A total of 72 crew members.
And the small yacht with 11 crew members.
A total of 83 crew members.
A total of 72 crew members.
And the small yacht with 11 crew members.
A total of 83 crew members.
These will also be used to fish with their own seine when the opportunity and weather permits, so that the people on land can better keep their work going. The opulent will, at their discretion, share the frugal catcher.
And to work on the land: the dromedary 50
The heron 39
And the yacht Goede Hope 5
These together (including the cocx and carpenters) make 100 heads on land, besides the officers, assistants, chief barbers, etc. And to work on the land of the Drommedaris 50
Of the Heron 39
And of the yacht Goede Hope 5
These together (cooks and carpenters included) will make 100 heads of land, besides the officers, assistants, chief barbers, etc.
And to ensure that all work proceeds smoothly and as quickly as possible, it is also agreed that all the carpenters of the aforementioned three ships will also be sent ashore to first begin work at a suitable dwelling and cottage within the park of the fort to be set off, after providing them with the necessary measures.
And regarding the procurement, it has been decreed that each person shall send a cock of their own measure to the country to have food provided for their people from their own victuals twice a day, and to give each man three half-caps of wine as a ration every day, so that all the people may be shorn with a comb, and there will be less murmuring among them.
And since a good watch must also be maintained, it is understood that it will proceed round and round, both day and night, among sailors, soldiers, and carpenters included, without exception, so that no one will have to do any of the more, less, or heavier work, and to complain or expel them. For this purpose, eight muskets and machetes, with their accessories, will be ordered from the Drommedaris and six from the Heri, to arm the sailors on land, to also serve as sentries and to leave the soldiers to their own guns.
To uphold which, one and the other have also resolved, a certain drafted decree, after the adoption of the resumption, to promulgate the people on all ships and on land to everyone's satisfaction and to assemble them in the appropriate place, as can be read below in our decree book.
Thus done and resolved in the ship "De Drommedaris" on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
That the aforementioned Riebeecq, together with the skippers Davit Coningh, Johan Hooghsaet, and Sijmon Turver, along with some armed soldiers, will first proceed to the country to make a closer inspection and measurements, as provisionally done yesterday, of the most suitable location for the fortress to be built. Having found and chosen this, they will immediately set off to begin the work as quickly as possible, without wasting time. Let them go, so that they can finally reach the breakwater as quickly as possible, and the Company's ships can continue their journey to Batavia sooner.
And so that everything could proceed as quickly as possible and in good order, it was also considered advisable to leave the ships Drommedaris and Reijger each equipped and guarded with 36 crew members: to unload materials, take on water, and ballast daily.
A total of 72 crew members.
And the small yacht with 11 crew members.
A total of 83 crew members.
A total of 72 crew members.
And the small yacht with 11 crew members.
A total of 83 crew members.
These will also be used to fish with their own seine when the opportunity and weather permits, so that the people on land can better keep their work going. The opulent will, at their discretion, share the frugal catcher.
And to work on the land: the dromedary 50
The heron 39
And the yacht Goede Hope 5
These together (including the cocx and carpenters) make 100 heads on land, besides the officers, assistants, chief barbers, etc. And to work on the land of the Drommedaris 50
Of the Heron 39
And of the yacht Goede Hope 5
These together (cooks and carpenters included) will make 100 heads of land, besides the officers, assistants, chief barbers, etc.
And to ensure that all work proceeds smoothly and as quickly as possible, it is also agreed that all the carpenters of the aforementioned three ships will also be sent ashore to first begin work at a suitable dwelling and cottage within the park of the fort to be set off, after providing them with the necessary measures.
And regarding the procurement, it has been decreed that each person shall send a cock of their own measure to the country to have food provided for their people from their own victuals twice a day, and to give each man three half-caps of wine as a ration every day, so that all the people may be shorn with a comb, and there will be less murmuring among them.
And since a good watch must also be maintained, it is understood that it will proceed round and round, both day and night, among sailors, soldiers, and carpenters included, without exception, so that no one will have to do any of the more, less, or heavier work, and to complain or expel them. For this purpose, eight muskets and machetes, with their accessories, will be ordered from the Drommedaris and six from the Heri, to arm the sailors on land, to also serve as sentries and to leave the soldiers to their own guns.
To uphold which, one and the other have also resolved, a certain drafted decree, after the adoption of the resumption, to promulgate the people on all ships and on land to everyone's satisfaction and to assemble them in the appropriate place, as can be read below in our decree book.
Thus done and resolved in the ship "De Drommedaris" on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Jegenwoordigh door des Heeren geleijde met de sch[e]pen Drommedaris , Reijger ende Goede Hoope God[e] loff wel ende behouden ter rheede aen de Cabo de Bona Esperance in de Taeffelbaij op den 6en ende 7en deser successivelijck geluckigh g’arriveert wesende, omme alhier na den last van onse Heeren Principalen de Bewinthebberen van de Generale Nederlantsche g’octroijeerde Oost Indische Compe. voor haer Ed. een generael rendevous te begrijpen7 ende tot dien eynde op de bequaemste plaatse een deffensijff fortresse offte sterckte op te werpen: omme onder ‘t faveur van dien sodanige landerijen vorders in possessie te nemen als tot cultivatie ende aenfockinge van allerhande vee ende ververssinge voor Comps. respective heen ende weder navigerende schepen dienstigh wesen, ende derselver verderen dienst vereijsschen mochte, waer toe de materialen in de voorn. schepen geladen, ende deselve g’ordonneert sijn hare vermogende hulpe te contribueren, Soo is om alles met goede ordre te beginnen bij den Raedt (door den oppercoopman Jan van Riebeecq beroepen sijnde) na rijpe deliberatie ende goet overlegh eenparigh goet gevonden ende vast gestelt:
Dat gemelten Riebeecq sich ten eersten met de schippers Davit Coningh, Johan Hooghsaet ende Sijmon Turver, nevens eenige g’armeerde soldaten na lant vervoegen sal omme wat nader inspectie ende affmetinge te nemen, als gister provisioneel gedaen hebben, van de bequaempste plaetse tot de te maecken fortresse nodigh ende die gevonden ende uijtgecosen hebbende datelijck af te steecken om in alderijl aen ‘t werck te comen, ende geen tijt verloren te laten gaen, ten eijnde metter haest in deffentie geraecken, ende Comps. schepen te eerder hare reijse voorts na Batavia mogen vervorderen.
Ende opdat alles met goede ordre op ‘t spoedighste mochte toegaen, is oock goet [ge]vonden de schepen Drommedaris ende Reijger elck versien ende bewaert te laten met 36 coppen: omme dagelix de matrialen te lossen, water ende ballast te halen
&a.-sijnde te samen 72 coppen.
ende 't jachtjen met 11 coppen.
wesende in alles 83 coppen.
&a.-sijnde te samen 72 coppen.
ende 't jachtjen met 11 coppen.
wesende in alles 83 coppen.
die oock gebruijckt sullen worden, om bij goede gelegentheijt ende bequaem weer elck met sijn eijgen zegen te visschen, op dat ‘t volcq te lande te beter aen ‘t werck mogen blijven, ende sal den opulenten den soberen vanger na discretie mede deelen.
Ende om aen lant te arbeijden van den Drommedaris 50
Van den Reijger 39
Ende van 't jacht de Goede Hope 5
Die te samen maken (cocx ende timmerluijden ingereeckent) aenlant 100 coppen, behalven d' officieren, adsistenten, opperbarbiers &a.
Ende om aen lant te arbeijden van den Drommedaris 50
Van den Reijger 39
Ende van 't jacht de Goede Hope 5
Die te samen maken (cocx ende timmerluijden ingereeckent) aenlant 100 coppen, behalven d' officieren, adsistenten, opperbarbiers &a.
Ende om alle ‘t werck gelijck ende op ‘t spoedighste te laten voortgaen, is oock verstaen, dat alle de timmerluijden van de gemelte 3 schepen voorts aen lant sullen gesonden worden om ten eersten aen een bequaem woon ende pachuijs binnen ‘t parck van ‘t aff te steecken fort arbeijt te beginnen, na de mate haer te geven.
Ende aengaende ‘t schaffen, is g’arresteert dat ijder daertoe een cock off sijn maet sal aen lant senden om voor sijn volcq va[n] des selffs victualie 2 mael daeghs te laten schaffen ende alle dagh elck man 3 halff mutsjens wijn tot rantsoen te geven opdat alle ‘t volcq over eene cam mochte geschoren worden, ende te minder murmeratie onder de selve vallen.
Ende dewijle oock goede wacht moet gehouden sijn, wort verstaen dat de selve sal ront ende equael gaen, soo wel bij dage als bij nachte onder matrosen ende soldaten tot timmerluijden incluijs, sonder uijtneminge van jemanden, op dat hem niemant op ‘t een of ‘t ander van minder of meerder ende swaerder arbeijt te doen, ende hebbe te beclagen offte exipieren, ten welcken eijnde tot wapeninge der matrosen aen lant bestelt sal worden van den Drommedaris 8 ende van den Reijger 6 scheepsmusquets ende houwers, met haer toebehoren omde8 schiltwachten mede waer te nemen ende de soldaten op haer eijgen geweer te laten.
Tot onderhoudinge van welck een ende ander oock geresolveert is seecker geconcipieert placcaet na genomen resumptie den volcke op alle de schepen ende aen lant tot ijders narightinge te pronunchieren ende ter behoorlijcke plaetse te affigeren, gelijck onder dato deses in ons placcaetboeck can na gelesen worden.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t schip den Drommedaris ten dage ende jare als voren.
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.
Dat gemelten Riebeecq sich ten eersten met de schippers Davit Coningh, Johan Hooghsaet ende Sijmon Turver, nevens eenige g’armeerde soldaten na lant vervoegen sal omme wat nader inspectie ende affmetinge te nemen, als gister provisioneel gedaen hebben, van de bequaempste plaetse tot de te maecken fortresse nodigh ende die gevonden ende uijtgecosen hebbende datelijck af te steecken om in alderijl aen ‘t werck te comen, ende geen tijt verloren te laten gaen, ten eijnde metter haest in deffentie geraecken, ende Comps. schepen te eerder hare reijse voorts na Batavia mogen vervorderen.
Ende opdat alles met goede ordre op ‘t spoedighste mochte toegaen, is oock goet [ge]vonden de schepen Drommedaris ende Reijger elck versien ende bewaert te laten met 36 coppen: omme dagelix de matrialen te lossen, water ende ballast te halen
&a.-sijnde te samen 72 coppen.
ende 't jachtjen met 11 coppen.
wesende in alles 83 coppen.
&a.-sijnde te samen 72 coppen.
ende 't jachtjen met 11 coppen.
wesende in alles 83 coppen.
die oock gebruijckt sullen worden, om bij goede gelegentheijt ende bequaem weer elck met sijn eijgen zegen te visschen, op dat ‘t volcq te lande te beter aen ‘t werck mogen blijven, ende sal den opulenten den soberen vanger na discretie mede deelen.
Ende om aen lant te arbeijden van den Drommedaris 50
Van den Reijger 39
Ende van 't jacht de Goede Hope 5
Die te samen maken (cocx ende timmerluijden ingereeckent) aenlant 100 coppen, behalven d' officieren, adsistenten, opperbarbiers &a.
Ende om aen lant te arbeijden van den Drommedaris 50
Van den Reijger 39
Ende van 't jacht de Goede Hope 5
Die te samen maken (cocx ende timmerluijden ingereeckent) aenlant 100 coppen, behalven d' officieren, adsistenten, opperbarbiers &a.
Ende om alle ‘t werck gelijck ende op ‘t spoedighste te laten voortgaen, is oock verstaen, dat alle de timmerluijden van de gemelte 3 schepen voorts aen lant sullen gesonden worden om ten eersten aen een bequaem woon ende pachuijs binnen ‘t parck van ‘t aff te steecken fort arbeijt te beginnen, na de mate haer te geven.
Ende aengaende ‘t schaffen, is g’arresteert dat ijder daertoe een cock off sijn maet sal aen lant senden om voor sijn volcq va[n] des selffs victualie 2 mael daeghs te laten schaffen ende alle dagh elck man 3 halff mutsjens wijn tot rantsoen te geven opdat alle ‘t volcq over eene cam mochte geschoren worden, ende te minder murmeratie onder de selve vallen.
Ende dewijle oock goede wacht moet gehouden sijn, wort verstaen dat de selve sal ront ende equael gaen, soo wel bij dage als bij nachte onder matrosen ende soldaten tot timmerluijden incluijs, sonder uijtneminge van jemanden, op dat hem niemant op ‘t een of ‘t ander van minder of meerder ende swaerder arbeijt te doen, ende hebbe te beclagen offte exipieren, ten welcken eijnde tot wapeninge der matrosen aen lant bestelt sal worden van den Drommedaris 8 ende van den Reijger 6 scheepsmusquets ende houwers, met haer toebehoren omde8 schiltwachten mede waer te nemen ende de soldaten op haer eijgen geweer te laten.
Tot onderhoudinge van welck een ende ander oock geresolveert is seecker geconcipieert placcaet na genomen resumptie den volcke op alle de schepen ende aen lant tot ijders narightinge te pronunchieren ende ter behoorlijcke plaetse te affigeren, gelijck onder dato deses in ons placcaetboeck can na gelesen worden.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t schip den Drommedaris ten dage ende jare als voren.
[Signed:] JOHAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1652.
[Signed:] DAVIT CONINCK.
[Signed:] JAN HOOCHSAET.
[Signed:] SYMEN TURVER.
[Signed:] P. v. HELM, Secrets.