Cape Council of Policy
73
1655-09-06
Minute details
- Entry number
- 73
- Date
- 1655-09-06
- Year
- 1655
English translation
The interpreter Herrij told us yesterday and also today that, because of the approaching dry monsoon, it is now beginning to be time, following the proposals he has made many times before, to make a trip into the country with copper, tobacco and pipes, besides confirming that the inhabitants have a lot of animals and also some elephant teeth, etc., about 4 or 5 days' journey from here. would be too rebellious, as well as to entice them to come here to us freely and without fear in due time: to which end he also suggested that it would not be strange if they gave him a few strong, fit soldiers so that he could become better acquainted with the inhabitants, whereupon it was proposed to him to try whether he was also after the copper, or if he alone, without our people, would not be able to act as adequately for the merchants as to give him and to trust that one of our people would go along, so he had replied that it was necessary that one of ours should come along, as a preliminary sign, to become better acquainted with the other inhabitants: by which he could also be all the more animated: to come here himself & be willing to leave under our care three of his beasts, and besides his other people also a Hottento with us named Claas Das, who has already learned to speak German reasonably well: in order to visit the E. Compe. in his absence. here at the fort to serve as interpreter in his place: which also stipulated that no further action would be taken, nor would any attention be paid to the Capernaum before he rejoined us, lest he and our people with him be overtaken by the fleeing Capernaums on the road or from Honk, unprotected, and their livestock be taken away before they arrived home. Asking him whether he would leave his other cows, wives, and children here, he replied that they would have to go with him and live off the cows' milk, and that he would also leave with no one but his own family, along with the soldiers we would see fit to send along for the safekeeping of our merchandise. All of which has been considered and observed daily and in detail by us, and it has also been determined208 that upon closer inspection209 something more than the cattle trade might be found: Thus, the Commander present, due to the departure of the sub-merchant Fredricq Verburgh (after Madagascar and the absence of the chief captains of the galleys belonging here, being unfurnished by his ordinary councilors), has taken counsel to make do with his Council with such as are present with him, namely the chief pilot Tijmon Egbertsz, who is stationed here as a pilot, along with the sergeant and two corporals of soldiers, as it was a campaign, but in addition to commerce, etc., the military is also primarily concerned.
With which extraordinary councillors, having deliberated on everything primarily for the benefit of the E. Compe.,210 and considering that junior merchant Reijniersz, among his seven, and corporal Willem Muller, among his four, 1653, having traveled back and forth to the Bay of Saldanha several times, the 7 people...211 had previously been in a similar situation as this one, without the slightest inconvenience, but with all the friendship of the inhabitants they had met, no matter how large the troops were concentrated. It was further noted that, if successful, the passages would be discovered everywhere and made sufficiently clear. In order to conduct further investigations deeper inland in due course, etc., it was decided to form a troop of 9 enthusiasts, or brave soldiers, under the supervision of Corporal Willem Muller (who is serving there), and to decorate them with a good supply of copper, tobacco pipes, and coral, in order to... With this, well-provided with victuals and ammunition, we will begin the journey near Herrij, hoping that God will bless the work and reveal something good for the Eastern Company. Two oxen from Herrij and two from the Eastern Company will accompany all the merchants and victuals to carry them.
The aforementioned corporal is further ordered to be on the alert, so that no harm is done to them, nor is any harm done to the inhabitants by us, but to strive for all kindness and friendship with them, as well as to pay close attention to the nature and quality of the inhabitants they encounter, and what kind of merchants they have with them. Furthermore, to endeavor to entice and motivate their principal leaders, or some of them, to come here to the fort, in order to establish a closer and firmer alliance and understanding with them.
Thus done and resolved at the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as before.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] TYMEN EGBERTSZ.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARWARDEN. 1655.
[Signed:] WILLEM MULLER.
[Signed:] SIJMON HUIJBRECHTS.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN, Secrets.
With which extraordinary councillors, having deliberated on everything primarily for the benefit of the E. Compe.,210 and considering that junior merchant Reijniersz, among his seven, and corporal Willem Muller, among his four, 1653, having traveled back and forth to the Bay of Saldanha several times, the 7 people...211 had previously been in a similar situation as this one, without the slightest inconvenience, but with all the friendship of the inhabitants they had met, no matter how large the troops were concentrated. It was further noted that, if successful, the passages would be discovered everywhere and made sufficiently clear. In order to conduct further investigations deeper inland in due course, etc., it was decided to form a troop of 9 enthusiasts, or brave soldiers, under the supervision of Corporal Willem Muller (who is serving there), and to decorate them with a good supply of copper, tobacco pipes, and coral, in order to... With this, well-provided with victuals and ammunition, we will begin the journey near Herrij, hoping that God will bless the work and reveal something good for the Eastern Company. Two oxen from Herrij and two from the Eastern Company will accompany all the merchants and victuals to carry them.
The aforementioned corporal is further ordered to be on the alert, so that no harm is done to them, nor is any harm done to the inhabitants by us, but to strive for all kindness and friendship with them, as well as to pay close attention to the nature and quality of the inhabitants they encounter, and what kind of merchants they have with them. Furthermore, to endeavor to entice and motivate their principal leaders, or some of them, to come here to the fort, in order to establish a closer and firmer alliance and understanding with them.
Thus done and resolved at the Fort of Good Hope on the day and year as before.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] TYMEN EGBERTSZ.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARWARDEN. 1655.
[Signed:] WILLEM MULLER.
[Signed:] SIJMON HUIJBRECHTS.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN, Secrets.
Original Dutch transcription
Den tolcq Herrij gister ende oock heden ons aenseggende dat het vermits ‘t aencomende drooge mouson jegenwoordigh begint tijt te worden omme, na sijne voor desen menighmael gedane207 voorslagen, eens een tochtjen te doen in ‘t lant met coper, taback ende pijpen, nevens affirmatie dat van d’ inwoonders omtrent 4 a 5 dagen reijsens van hier veel bestiael ende oock wel eenige oliphantstanden &a. soude te reuijlen wesen, mitsgaders deselve te locken omme mettertijt vrij ende onbeschroompt selffs bij ons hier te comen: ten welcken eijnde oock voordroegh dat het niet vrempt soude wesen men hem eenige kloecke ficxe soldaten meede gaf om te beter kennisse met d’ inwoonders te mogen maken, waer op hem voorgestelt sijnde om te proberen of ‘t hem oock om ‘t coper te doen was, off hij alleen sonder ons volcq niet soude cunnen alsoo bequaem ‘t bestiael handelen voor de coopmanschappen hem meede te geven ende te vertrouwen als datter imant van ons volcq meede gingh, soo hadde g’antwoort datter nootsaeckelijck imant van d’ onse diende meede te gaen om als voorseijt wat nader kennisse met d’ andere inwoonders te maken: daer door deselve oock te beter g’animeert souden cunnen worden: om selffs hier te comen &a. willende onder onse hoede laten 3 van sijn beesten, ende neffens sijn ander volcq oock eenen Hottento bij ons genaempt Claas Das, die al redelijck Duijts heefft leren spreecken: om bij sijn absentie d’ E. Compe. hier aen ‘t fort als tolcq in sijn plaetse te dienen: welcke oock bedongh dat men niet versenden soude, nochte oock ijtwes op de Caep mans attenteren bevoren hij hier weder bij ons was, op dat niet hij ende ons bij hem sijnde volcq door de ontvluchtende Caepmans op den wegh noch van honck sijnde onversiens en mochten overvallen ende haer gehandelde vee eer se daermeede t’ huijs quamen, affgenomen worden.
Hem vragende off sijn ander coebeesten met vrou ende kinderen niet wilde hier laten, antwoorde dat die met hem gaen ende van de koeijen haer melck leven moesten: ende dat oock met niemant anders als sijn eijgen huijsgesin, op wegh wilde neffens de soldaten die wij souden goetvinden tot bewaringe van onse koopmanschappen meede te geven.
Allen ‘t welcke by ons dagelijcx ende insonderheijt jegenwoordigh overwogen ende ingesien sijnde, mitsgaders geconsidreert208 dat bij nader ondeckinge209 wel ijts meer als den veehandel mochte ondervonden worden: Soo is den Commandeur jegenwoordigh mits ‘t vertreck van den ondercoopman Fredricq Verburgh (na Madagascar en de absentie van de opperhooffden der hier gehorende galjots onversien sijnde van sijn ordinairis raetspersonen) te rade geworden sigh te behelpen tot sijnen Raad met sodanige als jegenwoordigh is bij hem hebbende, als namentlijck den opperstuijrman Tijmon Egbertsz hier leggende als loots, nevens den sergeant ende 2 corporaels van de soldaten, alsoo ‘t een lanttocht sijnde doch neffens de commertie &a. oock den militairen ten principalen meede concerneert.
Bij welcken extraordinaire geformeerden Raadt, op alles ten meesten dienste van d’ E. Compe. dan gedelibreert210 sijnde, ende overwogen dat den ondercoopman Reijniersz onder sijn sevenen, en den corporael Willem Muller met sijn 4en ao. 1653 heen en weer na de baij van Saldanha dieverse malen gereijst nochte oock de 7 personen …211 verleden in gelijcke gelegentheijt als dese uijtgeweest, geen de minste overlast, maer alle vruntschap van de bejegende inwoonders hadden genoten hoe groote troupen oock waren gerescontreert, wijders gemerckt bij goet succes de passagies fraij overal sullen ondeckt ende genoeghsaem open bane gemaeckt worden: om metter tijt noch verder enqueste dieper te landewaert in te doen &a., soo is bij de selve geresolveert een troup van 9 liefhebbers offte cloecke soldaten uijt te maken onder ‘t gesagh van den corporael Willem Muller (welcke daer toe sijnen dienst is presenterende) ende deselve te versien met goede partije coper, tabackpijpen ende coralen, omme daermeede wel geprovideert van victualie ende ammunitie neffens Herrij de tocht aen te vangen op hope Godt de Heere ‘t werck zegenen ende voor d’ E. Compe. wat goets openbaer maken sal om alle welcke coopmanschappen ende victualien te dragen 2 ossen van Herrij ende 2 van d’ E. Compe. sullen meede gaen.
Blijvende den voorn. corporael wijders bevolen wel op hoede te sijn, ten eijnde hun geen overlast en geschiede nochte oock van d’ onse aen d’ inwoonders gedaen worde, maer met deselve getracht alle minne ende vruntschap te plegen, mitsgaders naeuwe acht te slaan wat ende hoedanigh d’ opvindende inwoonders genatureert, ende wat voor coopmanschappen deselve bij haer hebbende sijn &a. wijders oock te beijveren dat hare principale hooffden offte eenige van dien mogen gelockt ende g’animeert worden, hier aen ‘t fort te comen: om met haer in wat nader ende vaster alliantie ende kennisse te geraken.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als voren.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] TYMEN EGBERTSZ.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARWARDEN. 1655.
[Signed:] WILLEM MULLER.
[Signed:] SIJMON HUIJBRECHTS.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN, Secrets.
Hem vragende off sijn ander coebeesten met vrou ende kinderen niet wilde hier laten, antwoorde dat die met hem gaen ende van de koeijen haer melck leven moesten: ende dat oock met niemant anders als sijn eijgen huijsgesin, op wegh wilde neffens de soldaten die wij souden goetvinden tot bewaringe van onse koopmanschappen meede te geven.
Allen ‘t welcke by ons dagelijcx ende insonderheijt jegenwoordigh overwogen ende ingesien sijnde, mitsgaders geconsidreert208 dat bij nader ondeckinge209 wel ijts meer als den veehandel mochte ondervonden worden: Soo is den Commandeur jegenwoordigh mits ‘t vertreck van den ondercoopman Fredricq Verburgh (na Madagascar en de absentie van de opperhooffden der hier gehorende galjots onversien sijnde van sijn ordinairis raetspersonen) te rade geworden sigh te behelpen tot sijnen Raad met sodanige als jegenwoordigh is bij hem hebbende, als namentlijck den opperstuijrman Tijmon Egbertsz hier leggende als loots, nevens den sergeant ende 2 corporaels van de soldaten, alsoo ‘t een lanttocht sijnde doch neffens de commertie &a. oock den militairen ten principalen meede concerneert.
Bij welcken extraordinaire geformeerden Raadt, op alles ten meesten dienste van d’ E. Compe. dan gedelibreert210 sijnde, ende overwogen dat den ondercoopman Reijniersz onder sijn sevenen, en den corporael Willem Muller met sijn 4en ao. 1653 heen en weer na de baij van Saldanha dieverse malen gereijst nochte oock de 7 personen …211 verleden in gelijcke gelegentheijt als dese uijtgeweest, geen de minste overlast, maer alle vruntschap van de bejegende inwoonders hadden genoten hoe groote troupen oock waren gerescontreert, wijders gemerckt bij goet succes de passagies fraij overal sullen ondeckt ende genoeghsaem open bane gemaeckt worden: om metter tijt noch verder enqueste dieper te landewaert in te doen &a., soo is bij de selve geresolveert een troup van 9 liefhebbers offte cloecke soldaten uijt te maken onder ‘t gesagh van den corporael Willem Muller (welcke daer toe sijnen dienst is presenterende) ende deselve te versien met goede partije coper, tabackpijpen ende coralen, omme daermeede wel geprovideert van victualie ende ammunitie neffens Herrij de tocht aen te vangen op hope Godt de Heere ‘t werck zegenen ende voor d’ E. Compe. wat goets openbaer maken sal om alle welcke coopmanschappen ende victualien te dragen 2 ossen van Herrij ende 2 van d’ E. Compe. sullen meede gaen.
Blijvende den voorn. corporael wijders bevolen wel op hoede te sijn, ten eijnde hun geen overlast en geschiede nochte oock van d’ onse aen d’ inwoonders gedaen worde, maer met deselve getracht alle minne ende vruntschap te plegen, mitsgaders naeuwe acht te slaan wat ende hoedanigh d’ opvindende inwoonders genatureert, ende wat voor coopmanschappen deselve bij haer hebbende sijn &a. wijders oock te beijveren dat hare principale hooffden offte eenige van dien mogen gelockt ende g’animeert worden, hier aen ‘t fort te comen: om met haer in wat nader ende vaster alliantie ende kennisse te geraken.
Aldus gedaen ende geresolveert in ‘t Fort de Goede Hoope ten dage ende jare als voren.
[Signed:] JAN VAN RIEBEECK. 1655.
[Signed:] TYMEN EGBERTSZ.
[Signed:] JAN VAN HARWARDEN. 1655.
[Signed:] WILLEM MULLER.
[Signed:] SIJMON HUIJBRECHTS.
[Signed:] ROELOFF DE MAN, Secrets.