Cape Council of Policy
532
1676-11-25
Minute details
- Entry number
- 532
- Date
- 1676-11-25
- Year
- 1676
English translation
Presentibus Omnibus.
Noting that the ships Nieuw Middelburg and Vrijheijt arrived safely and soundly from the Netherlands on the 17th of this month, and that the chief merchant and director of the mining company, Jacob de Werelt, arrived with the latter to serve the Dutch East Indies Company, according to his experience and best knowledge, regarding minerals in the Indies, his E. has also made one or two inquiries as time permitted since his arrival here in the country. However, given that his E. previously claimed to require some time for this, and Our Lords Majors, in separate letters dated September 28th, 1675 recommend the speedy construction of the ships (in view of the fact that sometimes, due to too long a delay (the good monsoons having passed), their prepared deliveries (to the great praise of the E. Company) have to remain hidden)24 The E.Hr. Governor convened the Council with the others and suggested that it would be necessary to lengthen these ships and shorten their voyage on purpose, since no order has ever been received from our Lords Masters to that effect and with the Hr. Governor Goske also heard of the previous miners previously sent to the country and the response that they were of little value and could not in any way recoup the expenses incurred. Therefore, it was unanimously resolved with the others, and, largely in the interest of the E.C.O., it was decided that the aforementioned ships (as soon as all necessary supplies have been provided, and the resources brought here have been as much as possible refreshed) should be deported in God's name and allowed to continue their journey to Batavia. And seeing that the E. Captain Smient and Lt. Cruse with the rest of the retinue who came from the country on the 19th and 23rd of this month, the Goenema himself (to our regret) had not been able to nestle as he wished, inserting (according to the court) the same admonition had been obtained from our arrival by disloyal spies, they nevertheless still managed to take a number of 165 stx. cattle and 30 sheep25 from one of his companions, named Captain Cees, who was grazing near Saldanhi Bay for the aforementioned Goenema, together with some (but few) Hottentots, killed in revenge for the blood that had been shed, And seeing that the aforementioned the consumption (after calculation) for the European Company on that expedition was more than ample, and although not found to be large enough to provide for the Hottentots and freemen there to their full satisfaction, we have therefore allowed some Hottentot captains, who have fed them particularly well and in order to keep them always at the service of the European Company, to add a consignment of tobacco, coral, bread and 8 animals, both small and large, as well as the common Hottentots also in the company. Having been given some tobacco, coral, and bread (after that, they came to be earned), as well as to give the freemen (so as not to discourage them) a merry day instead of giving them much.26
Lastly, as it is to be feared that Goenema or his associates, for the reasons mentioned above, will again seek to harm the E. Comp. by all practicable means and to attack it in all sinister and hostile ways, we have deemed it absolutely necessary to issue the necessary orders everywhere and in the Rietvaley, for the preservation of the Comp. To organize grazing cattle there, 8 soldiers and a corporal with good rifles, similarly required in Hottentot Holland to take good precautions to always be on the alert and never embarrassed in the event of an unexpected confrontation.
Thus resolved at Fort de Goede Hoope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] J. BAX, g.v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRC JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. and Sects.
Noting that the ships Nieuw Middelburg and Vrijheijt arrived safely and soundly from the Netherlands on the 17th of this month, and that the chief merchant and director of the mining company, Jacob de Werelt, arrived with the latter to serve the Dutch East Indies Company, according to his experience and best knowledge, regarding minerals in the Indies, his E. has also made one or two inquiries as time permitted since his arrival here in the country. However, given that his E. previously claimed to require some time for this, and Our Lords Majors, in separate letters dated September 28th, 1675 recommend the speedy construction of the ships (in view of the fact that sometimes, due to too long a delay (the good monsoons having passed), their prepared deliveries (to the great praise of the E. Company) have to remain hidden)24 The E.Hr. Governor convened the Council with the others and suggested that it would be necessary to lengthen these ships and shorten their voyage on purpose, since no order has ever been received from our Lords Masters to that effect and with the Hr. Governor Goske also heard of the previous miners previously sent to the country and the response that they were of little value and could not in any way recoup the expenses incurred. Therefore, it was unanimously resolved with the others, and, largely in the interest of the E.C.O., it was decided that the aforementioned ships (as soon as all necessary supplies have been provided, and the resources brought here have been as much as possible refreshed) should be deported in God's name and allowed to continue their journey to Batavia. And seeing that the E. Captain Smient and Lt. Cruse with the rest of the retinue who came from the country on the 19th and 23rd of this month, the Goenema himself (to our regret) had not been able to nestle as he wished, inserting (according to the court) the same admonition had been obtained from our arrival by disloyal spies, they nevertheless still managed to take a number of 165 stx. cattle and 30 sheep25 from one of his companions, named Captain Cees, who was grazing near Saldanhi Bay for the aforementioned Goenema, together with some (but few) Hottentots, killed in revenge for the blood that had been shed, And seeing that the aforementioned the consumption (after calculation) for the European Company on that expedition was more than ample, and although not found to be large enough to provide for the Hottentots and freemen there to their full satisfaction, we have therefore allowed some Hottentot captains, who have fed them particularly well and in order to keep them always at the service of the European Company, to add a consignment of tobacco, coral, bread and 8 animals, both small and large, as well as the common Hottentots also in the company. Having been given some tobacco, coral, and bread (after that, they came to be earned), as well as to give the freemen (so as not to discourage them) a merry day instead of giving them much.26
Lastly, as it is to be feared that Goenema or his associates, for the reasons mentioned above, will again seek to harm the E. Comp. by all practicable means and to attack it in all sinister and hostile ways, we have deemed it absolutely necessary to issue the necessary orders everywhere and in the Rietvaley, for the preservation of the Comp. To organize grazing cattle there, 8 soldiers and a corporal with good rifles, similarly required in Hottentot Holland to take good precautions to always be on the alert and never embarrassed in the event of an unexpected confrontation.
Thus resolved at Fort de Goede Hoope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] J. BAX, g.v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRC JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM, Rt. and Sects.
Original Dutch transcription
Presentibus Omnibus.
Gemerckt de scheepen Nieuw Middelburg ende de Vrijheijt op den 17e deser costij successive uijt ‘t Patria wel en behouden sijn gearriveert en met ‘et laast gem. is overgecomen den oppercoopman en directeur der bergwerckers Jacob de Werelt omme volgens sijn ervarentheijt en beste kennis d’ E. Comp. wegens de mineralen in de Indies te dienen, soo heeft sijn E. sedert sijn aanwesen hier in ‘t landt mede een keer a twee gedaan omme soo veel als de tijt toeliet dien aangaande te inquireren, maar aangesien sijn E. voornt. voorgeeft daar toe al eenigen tijt te benodigen en onse23 Heeren Majores bij distincte missiven in dato 28 September ao. 1675 recommanderen de spoedige vervaardiging der scheepen (ten opsigt de selve somwijl door al te lang ophouden (de goede moussons verloopen zijnde) van haer opgeleyde besendingen (tot groote praejuditie der E. Comp.) moeten versteken blijven)24 Soo is door d’ E. Hr. Gouverneur den Raat bij den anderen geconvoçeert en voorgehouden off het wel nodig soude sijn men daarom expres dese scheepen quamen te verlengen en in hare reijse te verkorten, vermits van onse Heeren Meesters ten dien eynde nooijt geen ordre is becomen en bij de Hr. outgouverneur Goske’s tijden oock al preuven van de voorige bergwerckers bevorens na ‘t vaderlant gesonden en in antwoort becomen dat deselve van weynig valeur waren en geensints de oncosten daar aan gedaan konden goet maken; soo is met den anderen eenpariglijck geresolveert en ten meesten dienste der E.Comp. g’oordeelt opgem. bodems (soo dra van alle noodige vivres geprovideert sijn, als mede de hier aangebragte inpotenten soo veel doenlijck gerefrisseert) in Godes naam af te depecheren en te laten na Batavia verder reysvorderen.
En aangesien den E. capiteyn Smient en lt. Cruse met het verder gevolg op den 19 en 23 desen uijt ‘t lant gecomen, den Goenema selfs (tot ons leetwesen) niet wel na wensch hebben cunnen vernestelen, invoegen (volgens gerigt) den selven bevooren praeadvertentie door trouwloose spions van onse comste had erlangt, so hebbense egter nog een nomber van 165 stx. runderen en 30 schapen25 van een syner compliçen, capiteijn Cees genaamt, die de selve ontrent de Saldanhibaaij voor den meergemelden Goenema was weydende, affgenomen nevens eenige (doch weynige) Hottentots tot weerwraek van dat out vergooten bloet om ‘t leven gebragt, Ende ingesien de opgem. buijt wel ruijm de consumptie (na gedaene calculatie) voor d’ E.Comp. op die expeditie gedaan, is ophalende, en evenwel niet soo groot bevonden om de Hottentots en vrijeluijden daer van alle na wensch te soulagieren, soo hebben goetgevonden aan eenige Hottentots capiteijnen die haer bijsonder wel gequeten hebben en om haer te meer altijt tot den dienst der E.Comp. te animeren, een partije tabacq, coralen, broot en 8 beesten, soo kleijn als groot toe te voegen, insgelijcx oock de gemene Hottentots mede in comp. geweest sijnde van tabacq, coralen en broot (na dat comen te meriteren) wat te versien, mitsgaders aen de vrijluijden (om haer mede niet te discourageren) in plaats van vee een vrolycken dag te geven.26
Ten laatsten alsoo wel te vresen staat dat Goenema off sijne adhaerenten om bovenverhaelde redenen de E. Comp. op alle practicable middelen sal soeken wederom te benadelen en deselve op alle sinisterlijcke, vijandlijcke wijsen in revensie aan te tasten, soo hebben ten hoogsten noodig geagt alomme de vereyste ordres te stellen en in de Rietvaley , tot praeservatie van ‘s Comp. aldaer weydende vee, 8 soldaten en een corporael met goet geweer te ordonneren, insgelijcx oockna vereijsch27 in Hottentots Hollandt goede voorsorge te dragen28 om tegens een onverwagte rescontre altijt op hoede en nooijt verlegen te sijn.
Aldus geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage en jare als boven.
[Signed:] J. BAX g.v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRC JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms VAN BANCHEM, Rt. en Sects.
Gemerckt de scheepen Nieuw Middelburg ende de Vrijheijt op den 17e deser costij successive uijt ‘t Patria wel en behouden sijn gearriveert en met ‘et laast gem. is overgecomen den oppercoopman en directeur der bergwerckers Jacob de Werelt omme volgens sijn ervarentheijt en beste kennis d’ E. Comp. wegens de mineralen in de Indies te dienen, soo heeft sijn E. sedert sijn aanwesen hier in ‘t landt mede een keer a twee gedaan omme soo veel als de tijt toeliet dien aangaande te inquireren, maar aangesien sijn E. voornt. voorgeeft daar toe al eenigen tijt te benodigen en onse23 Heeren Majores bij distincte missiven in dato 28 September ao. 1675 recommanderen de spoedige vervaardiging der scheepen (ten opsigt de selve somwijl door al te lang ophouden (de goede moussons verloopen zijnde) van haer opgeleyde besendingen (tot groote praejuditie der E. Comp.) moeten versteken blijven)24 Soo is door d’ E. Hr. Gouverneur den Raat bij den anderen geconvoçeert en voorgehouden off het wel nodig soude sijn men daarom expres dese scheepen quamen te verlengen en in hare reijse te verkorten, vermits van onse Heeren Meesters ten dien eynde nooijt geen ordre is becomen en bij de Hr. outgouverneur Goske’s tijden oock al preuven van de voorige bergwerckers bevorens na ‘t vaderlant gesonden en in antwoort becomen dat deselve van weynig valeur waren en geensints de oncosten daar aan gedaan konden goet maken; soo is met den anderen eenpariglijck geresolveert en ten meesten dienste der E.Comp. g’oordeelt opgem. bodems (soo dra van alle noodige vivres geprovideert sijn, als mede de hier aangebragte inpotenten soo veel doenlijck gerefrisseert) in Godes naam af te depecheren en te laten na Batavia verder reysvorderen.
En aangesien den E. capiteyn Smient en lt. Cruse met het verder gevolg op den 19 en 23 desen uijt ‘t lant gecomen, den Goenema selfs (tot ons leetwesen) niet wel na wensch hebben cunnen vernestelen, invoegen (volgens gerigt) den selven bevooren praeadvertentie door trouwloose spions van onse comste had erlangt, so hebbense egter nog een nomber van 165 stx. runderen en 30 schapen25 van een syner compliçen, capiteijn Cees genaamt, die de selve ontrent de Saldanhibaaij voor den meergemelden Goenema was weydende, affgenomen nevens eenige (doch weynige) Hottentots tot weerwraek van dat out vergooten bloet om ‘t leven gebragt, Ende ingesien de opgem. buijt wel ruijm de consumptie (na gedaene calculatie) voor d’ E.Comp. op die expeditie gedaan, is ophalende, en evenwel niet soo groot bevonden om de Hottentots en vrijeluijden daer van alle na wensch te soulagieren, soo hebben goetgevonden aan eenige Hottentots capiteijnen die haer bijsonder wel gequeten hebben en om haer te meer altijt tot den dienst der E.Comp. te animeren, een partije tabacq, coralen, broot en 8 beesten, soo kleijn als groot toe te voegen, insgelijcx oock de gemene Hottentots mede in comp. geweest sijnde van tabacq, coralen en broot (na dat comen te meriteren) wat te versien, mitsgaders aen de vrijluijden (om haer mede niet te discourageren) in plaats van vee een vrolycken dag te geven.26
Ten laatsten alsoo wel te vresen staat dat Goenema off sijne adhaerenten om bovenverhaelde redenen de E. Comp. op alle practicable middelen sal soeken wederom te benadelen en deselve op alle sinisterlijcke, vijandlijcke wijsen in revensie aan te tasten, soo hebben ten hoogsten noodig geagt alomme de vereyste ordres te stellen en in de Rietvaley , tot praeservatie van ‘s Comp. aldaer weydende vee, 8 soldaten en een corporael met goet geweer te ordonneren, insgelijcx oockna vereijsch27 in Hottentots Hollandt goede voorsorge te dragen28 om tegens een onverwagte rescontre altijt op hoede en nooijt verlegen te sijn.
Aldus geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage en jare als boven.
[Signed:] J. BAX g.v. HERENTALS.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRC JANSZ SMIENDT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms VAN BANCHEM, Rt. en Sects.