Cape Council of Policy
592
1678-08-28
Minute details
- Entry number
- 592
- Date
- 1678-08-28
- Year
- 1678
English translation
Yesterday evening, quite unexpectedly, five of the notorious renegade, marauding Hottentoots54 were delivered into our hands within this fortress by the nearby Hottentoos captains, Cuijper and Tomas. They were studiously captured by them inland, and, except for one of the most vicious villains, were massacred. They were therefore brought in with the instruction that we should now insure those who are more dear to us, and make them feel their deserved punishment, or simply hand them over to be put to death in their own country. And in view of this faithful act, the aforementioned The Hottentoot captains should not be transferred without recognition and remuneration, but they are all the more excited to similarly overpower the remaining five vagrants and to rid these regions of that scum of harmful people. Therefore, the aforementioned Hottentoot captains approved and understood the proposal with which and in what manner this eager nation could best be satisfied and rewarded. to add a donation of safety, the sum of ƒ60, and that in mercenary agreements, also to further animate the same for the reception of the remaining vagabonds, whether they can get hold of them alive or dead, in which latter case they will be satisfied with seeing a sign from her, but the extradition of the present prisoner to be killed by her hands, on the pretext that he had committed crimes against the E.Compa. Having been delineated, they must also expect punishment from there, excusing and noting all the outrages, violence, and robberies committed by the aforementioned captive Hottentoots and their followers here for quite some time, indeed, committed even in the Governor's age, like a plague in the bosom of a Colony and leading to the ruin of lands, deserved to be exemplarily punished and exterminated. They were also arrested and delivered into the hands of the fiscal to be prosecuted against them according to the style of law.55
Thus arrested at Fort de Goede Hoop, date above.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ. SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] JOHANNES RAVENSBERGH.
[Signed:] I present A. DE MAN, Secretary.
Thus arrested at Fort de Goede Hoop, date above.
[Signed:] H. CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ. SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] JOHANNES RAVENSBERGH.
[Signed:] I present A. DE MAN, Secretary.
Original Dutch transcription
Gisteren avondt gants buijten verwachtinge door de naast bij gelegen Hottentoose capiteijnen Cuijper en Tomas binnen dese fortresse in onse handen overgelevert sijnde 5 van de bewuste afvallige stropende Hottentoots54 bij haar te landewaarts studieuselijc opgevangen en excepto een der aldersnoodtste fielen gemassacreert, dus opgebragt met aandieninghe dat wij die nu wat meerder geliefden te versekeren, en hunne verdiende straf te doen gevoelen, of maar aan haar te geven om op hun landtswijse ter doodt gebracht te werden, Ende aangesien dese trouwe daadt den voors. Hottentoots capitainen niet sonder erkentenisse en remuneratie dient te werden overgestapt, maar sijluijden te meer opgeweckt om de noch resterende 5 landtloopers desgelijcx t’ overweldigen en sulcx dese contrijen van dat schuijm van schadelijcke menschen te suijveren, Soo is op de voorstellinge waar mede en hoedanigh dese gretige natie wel best soude connen gecontenteert en beloont werden, goet gevonden en verstaan de gemelte Hottentootse capiteijnen ter saake voors. toe te voegen een schenkagie van ongevaar de somma van ƒ60, en dat in coopmanschappen, oock deselve wijders tot opvanginge der overige vagebonden te annimeeren, ‘t sij levendigh off doodt cunnen in handen crijgen, in welck laaste geval vergenoegt sullen wesen met een teeken van haar te sien, doch d’ overleveringh der presente gevangens om door haar handen omgebracht te werden, op ‘t voorwenden dat deselve tegens de E.Compa. gedelinqueert hebbende, ooc van daar haar straffe moeten verwachten, t’ excuseren ende gemerckt alle de outrages, gewelden en roverijen bij de meer geseijde gevangen Hottentoots en haren aenhanck geruijmen tijt herwaarts, ja al bij leeftijde van de Heer Gouverneur bedreven, als een pest in den boesem van een Colonie en tot ruine van landen streckende, meriteert exemplairlijck gestraft en uijtgeroeijt te werden, Soo is mede g’arresteert deselve in handen van de fiscaal over te leveren om naar stijl van rechten tegens deselve te werden geprocedeert.55
Aldus g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop datum ut supra.
[Signed:] H.CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ. SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] JOHANNES RAVENSBERGH.
[Signed:] Mij present A. DE MAN, Secrts.
Aldus g’arresteert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoop datum ut supra.
[Signed:] H.CRUDOP.
[Signed:] DIRCQ JANSZ. SMIENT.
[Signed:] J. CRUSE.
[Signed:] Ms. VAN BANCHEM.
[Signed:] JOHANNES RAVENSBERGH.
[Signed:] Mij present A. DE MAN, Secrts.