Cape Council of Policy
620
1679-04-30
Minute details
- Entry number
- 620
- Date
- 1679-04-30
- Year
- 1679
English translation
The hoeckersche[e]pje d’ Quartel in compa. of this year's return fleet, which departed from Batavian harbour on 15 February last, primarily to serve as a fore-sailor for the said fleet, as well as to serve it in approaching and entering this bay until it was discovered, or to ensure everything was in good order and the planned signals were made. However, the said small base having reached this harbour yesterday in advance of this voyage, as well as the bulk of the fleet having strayed around the Cocus Islands in heavy weather, which could well cause some concern to the said fleet in approaching or discovering the Cape, and consequently create difficulties around this Table Bay. to enter the more so because the friends of the sanctuary are still entirely ignorant; in which regard, for the avoidance of which, it is deemed good and understood to depart the said hooker vessel at once and have it cruise on the said return fleet at Cape Aguilles and thereabouts, and upon meeting to give them a broad advertisement of the continuing prosperity here and to convey the pleasant tidings of peace; in order to come down hither with all the more reassurance, with orders to bring the search to the chiefs of the said vessel to be cruised on for no longer than eight days, and then to return and report on their findings; Likewise, it has been taken into consideration that the reasons and motives why the said small ship was added to the fleet by order of the High Indian Government, to serve as a forward sailor to the fatherland, primarily looked at the continuing times of war and no further: since at least by God’s grace we are now experiencing peaceful times again, as well as further noting that such a ship would necessarily be required locally if such a vessel were completely unprovided for, then this is largely in favor of the E. Company. it was decided to detain the said ship in loco and to transship its cargo, consisting of 60,000 lb. 61 spiauters, to a ship that is being repatriated by the Chamber of Amsterdam and that has room available: as well as to send the said ship to Madagascar by the following June to seize slaves there in the bay of St. Augustine.
Original Dutch transcription
Het hoeckersche[e]pje d’ Quartel in compa. van de desen jaarse retourvloot in dato 15e Februarij jongstleeden van Bataviase rheede na herwaarts vertrocken, ten principalen om d’ gemelte vloot tot een voorseijlder te dienen, mitsgaders haar daar van in ‘t aandoen en inloopen van dese baaij tot ontdecking, off om hier alles in goede welstandt is en de beraamde seijnen werden gedaan, te bedienen: doch ‘t gemelte bodemtje op gisteren voor af dese rheede bereijckt hebbende, mitsgaders van ‘t gros van d’ vloot omtrent d’ Cocuseijlanden bij hard weder afgedwae[lt] sijnde, ‘t welc aan d’ gemelte vloot in ‘t aandoen, off ontdecken van d’ Caap wel enige becommeringe soude connen veroorsaecken en gevolglijck swaericheijt werden gemaeckt om dese Tafelbaaij in te loopen te meer om dat die vrunden van de heijlsame vreede noch gansch ignorant sijn; ten welcken opsichte, tot voorcominge van dien, is goet gevonden en verstaan ‘t gemelte hoeckerscheepje aanstondts weder te demitteren en op d’ gemelte retourvloot bij Caap Aguilles en daar omtrent te laten cruijsen en bij ontmoetinge haar van den continuerende welstandt alhier in ‘t breede advertentie te geven en d’ aangename tijdinge van vreede mede te deelen: om met te meerder gerustheijt na herwaarts te comen afsacken, met ordre aan d’ opperhoofden van gemelte bodemtje met daar op te cruijsen niet langer als acht dagen ‘t soeck te brengen en dan te retourneren en van haar bevindinge rapport te doen; Soo is insgelijcx in consideratie genomen dat d’ redenen en motiven waarom ‘t gemelte hoeckertje ter ordre van d’ Hooge Indise regering d’ vloot is bijgevoegt, om tot een voorseijlder tot in ‘t vaderlant te dienen, ten principalen heeft gesien op de continuerende oorlogstijden en niet verder: daar wij althans door Godes genade nu wederom vreedige tijden beleeven, mitsgaders oock verder aangemerckt dat soodanigen bodemtje in loco nootsaeckelijck comt te requireren als van soodanigen vaartuijg gantsch onvoorsien sijnde, soo is ten meesten voordeele van d’ E. Compa. goet gevonden ‘t gemelte bodemtje in loco aan te houden en sijn inhebbende lading, bestaande in 60,000 lb.61 spiauters in een schip dat voor d’ Camer Amsterdam repatrieert, en plaats heeft, over te scheepen: mitsgaders ‘t gemelte bodemtje tegens d’ aanstaande maant Junij te senden na Madagascar om aldaar in d’ baaij St. Augustijn slaven te trocqueren.