Cape Council of Policy
67
1655-03-15
Minute details
- Entry number
- 67
- Date
- 1655-03-15
- Year
- 1655
English translation
As we notice more and more from time to time, and also from some inhabitants in the Bay of Zaldanha, that because these Herrijs allies always remain close by, the other inhabitants deeper inland are not to be missed, as before, up to 6 or 8 miles from this fortress: as if we believe that Herrijs allies are in such a contract with us that we would protect them from the others, we propose, as if under some other pretext they diverted from here, and consequently we are firmly frustrated, to come to a closer understanding and alliance with these people (being better to deal with them), So, after careful consideration of the matter, it has been agreed that a party of 7 soldiers (their service thereto having presented) to send out with fire-irons and carbines victualled for 3 weeks and decorated with some copper, beads189 , tobacco & such. under the watchful eye of the midshipman Jan Wintervogel, former captain. from the Brazilians to Fernambuco, which is a keen explorer and forest ranger, having traversed the aforementioned land to the South Sea and helping to discover the silver mines of Zheira:190 to have them investigate whether any other inhabitants might be able to do something and be persuaded to bring them here, so that they might see if they would enter into an alliance at their expense, as we do not find anything other than that we do not seek to trade with the aforementioned Herrijs allies, but only to steal, rob and inflict all the mischief and inconvenience they can on our own side; for which, however, no bad gesture or displeasure should be shown to them at that in their Good faith in us may not be maintained at this time, and in the meantime, we may all the better benefit from it for the E. Compe.
And noting that the common Wintervogel also depends on some mineral or stone found nearby, which must contain apparently richer or better minerals in the country, it has also been decided to arrange for a very close search for it, promising to find its worth and to receive appropriate compensation for it, etc.
The following decision has also been made: to begin the journey today in the name of God, who will allow some good to come from this expedition.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] FREDRICK VERBURGH. 1655.
[Signed:] R. DE MAN, Secrets.
And noting that the common Wintervogel also depends on some mineral or stone found nearby, which must contain apparently richer or better minerals in the country, it has also been decided to arrange for a very close search for it, promising to find its worth and to receive appropriate compensation for it, etc.
The following decision has also been made: to begin the journey today in the name of God, who will allow some good to come from this expedition.
Thus done and resolved in the Fort of Good Hope on the date and year as above.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] FREDRICK VERBURGH. 1655.
[Signed:] R. DE MAN, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Alsoo wij van tijt tot tijt meer ende meer bemercken, Item oock uijt sommige inwoonders in de baije van Zaldanha te verstaen gecomen sijn, dat vermits dese Herrijs g’allieerde hier altijt omtrent blijven leggen d’ andere inwoonders dieper te landewaert in niet derven als voor desen tot op 6 a 8 mijlen omtrent dese fortresse comen: als menende dat Herrijs g’allieerde met ons in sodanigh contract sijn dat wij haer voor de andere souden beschermen, Invougen alsoo off ‘t onder eenigh ander pretext deselve van hier gediverteert, ende ons ingevolge vast gefrustreert houden, met dat volcq (beter meede te handelen wesende) in nader verstant ende aliantie te comen, Soo is na rijp overlegh van saecken verstaen eens een partije van 7 soldaten (haer dienst daer toe gepresenteert hebbende) uijt te stuijren met vuijrroers ende carbijns gevictualieert voor 3 weecken ende versien met wat coper, crolen189 , tabacq &a. onder ‘t gesagh van den adelborst Jan Wintervogel, gewesen capn. van de Brasilianen tot Fernambuco welck een gau ondersoecker ende bosloper is, als hebbende ‘t gemelte lant tot aen de Zuijtzee deurlopen ende meede helpen opvinden de silvermijnen van Zheira :190 omme door de selve eens te laten ondersoecken off eenige andere inwoonders sullen cunnen op doen ende te bewegen wesen, hier te brengen, ten eijnde men sien mochte off niet deselve in alliantie coste getreden worden, alsoo wy aen de gemelte Herrijs g’allieerde doch niet anders vinden als dat ons gansch niet soecken te verhandelen, maer aen allen canten sleghts te bestelen, roven ende alle moetwil ende overlast de onse aen te doen die se maer cunnen off mogen: waer voor haer echter als noch geen quaet gebaer off misnoegen dient getoont op dat in haer goet vertrouwen over ons noch gevoet mogen blijven ter tijt ende wijlen ons voordeel daermeede voor d’ E. Compe. des te beter mogen waernemen.
Ende gemerckt den gem. Wintervogel oock sustineert aen eenigh hier omtrent gevonden minerael offte sighsteen dat in ‘t lant apparent rijcker off beter minerael moet leggen, Soo is oock goetgevonden den selven over al te ordonneren met eenen wel naeuw daer na te laten soecken onder beloffte van its waerdighs uijtvindende daervan behoorlijcke recompense te sullen genieten &a.
Welcken volgende dan oock geresolveert is deselve ten dien eijnde vandaegh de reijse te laten in Godes name aenvangen die van der selver uijttocht wat goets wil laten voortcomen.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] FREDRICK VERBURGH. 1655.
[Signed:] R. DE MAN, Secrets.
Ende gemerckt den gem. Wintervogel oock sustineert aen eenigh hier omtrent gevonden minerael offte sighsteen dat in ‘t lant apparent rijcker off beter minerael moet leggen, Soo is oock goetgevonden den selven over al te ordonneren met eenen wel naeuw daer na te laten soecken onder beloffte van its waerdighs uijtvindende daervan behoorlijcke recompense te sullen genieten &a.
Welcken volgende dan oock geresolveert is deselve ten dien eijnde vandaegh de reijse te laten in Godes name aenvangen die van der selver uijttocht wat goets wil laten voortcomen.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als boven.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] FREDRICK VERBURGH. 1655.
[Signed:] R. DE MAN, Secrets.