Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

5 Volquardt Iversen
(Plate 7)

(See also item 16.) His ‘De Beschryving der Reisen ...’ first appeared in German with notes by Olearius in 1669, and again in 1696. It was translated into Dutch (bound with the 1670 edition of Saar, item 10), with some of the Olearius notes, and with the name given as Volkert Evertsz. No copy either of the German or Dutch editions appears to be available in South Africa: this translation was made from photostats of the Dutch edition, by the courtesy of the British Museum. The Olearius notes are omitted.

[p. 45]

[7] From Iversen, item 5. Assuming that the picture was made from Robben Island the solitary house on the shore is of interest, as probably intended for van Riebeeck's first home. The designation of the Devils Peak as Bellows is unique: its alternative (and more official name) was Wind Hill.

After I, Volkert Evertsz, born at Husum in Holstein, had worked for a time in Amsterdam in my trade of bookbinder, and had several times heard from those who had journeyed to the East Indies and were again come back home, what an excellent land this was, and what wonderful rarities of men, beasts, plants and trees they had seen there, and how also they had brought back a good fistful of money, I also became wishful to see these lands; and knowing no other means thereto than to abandon my trade (which brought me in little), I resolved to take service with the Proprietors of the East-India Company. To this end I had myself signed on at Amsterdam as a Cadet*.

Our journey began in April of 1655 in the ship Princes Roijal [in reality May 31, 1656 from Vlie by Hague codex 4389 folio 46. S. Vicente for water and wild goats; S.Antão ‘taking with us some knives, shirts, hats and shoes to barter with the inhabitants for cattle, oranges, apples, lemons and bananas’. Equator]. We were fortunate

[p. 46]

in that we were not long delayed there, but went forward with a moderate wind. But the most amusing thing was that many fish, as large as herrings, came flying into our ship ... and served us as food. Some birds as large as our ordinary gulls [Boobies] also came and settled around the mast and on the maintop to rest: our seamen climbed up there by night and caught them in their hands. Having crossed the Equator we set our course for the Kabo de bona Esperance, which is the furthest corner of Africa [sic] and arrived there safely [dr September 21, 1656].

The Dutch had then built a Castle or Fort there and set a garrison therein; and had planted a large Garden* close by, which was full of all sorts of plants such as cabbages, turnips, carrots and radishes, which we took for our refreshment. We also took along some oxen and sheep, as also many barrels of fresh water, this being very good here. The worst and most dangerous thing here is that often heavy storms and great tempests arise, with such a terrible roar that one must be astonished thereat, and as suddenly as if the wind were shaken out of a bag so that one can scarcely guard against it. There is a tall hill here which they call the Table Mountain because it is quite flat and even on top, and on both sides goes steeply down, and thus looks like a table. Near this hill is another called the Lion Hill, because from far off it well resembles a lion lying down on its belly, with its head towards the Table Mountain and its tail towards the sea. When it is seen that the clouds approach over the Table Mountain one can be sure that a great storm is coming; and it is therefore a common saying ‘The Tablecloth* is spread, we shall soon be served with ill-cooked food’. While we were there a terrible storm suddenly rose, with such a noise that one could not hear another speak although not far apart. Also thereby we had the ill fortune that our longboat*, which had gone off with some men to fetch water, capsized because the helmsman tried to come about in such a heavy storm, which caused the death by drowning of three of them. The rest were saved, although with much toil [dr 30/9]. But how the Dutch have settled here, and how it is with the natives there, I will tell when I come here again on my return journey.

When we had taken aboard our fresh supplies at the Cape, we continued our journey to Batavia. [dr 7/10. Arrived there early 1657, and there for four months: then Japara, Moluccas, Surat: thence 1667 to Batavia for discharge.]