Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

13 Pieter van Hoorn

Translated from xerographs of his log, kept in Alphen (Hague Archives Van Hoorn-van Riebeeck papers, No. 3). A portion is also transcribed or summarised in Godée-Molsbergen, ‘De Stichter...’, with the note that he was a dealer in gunpowder in Amsterdam, on December 23, 1662 named Extra-Ordinary* Member of the Council of the Indies, apparently with no special qualifications whatever. He sailed on April 16, 1663 (as also in Hague codex 4389) with wife, five children and two nieces.

Today August 25, Saturday ... we saw also many trompas afloat, and some penguins and seals, together with many birds, all of which are signs of the coast ... and at daybreak sighted land to the North of the Caap de buone esperance....

Today August 26, Sunday ... we came to the S.E. of the Robben Eijlandt, and ran to the East of the said island between it and the mainland ... and anchored in the Bay in front of the fort the goed hoope [dr]. God almighty be thanked for his mercy. Towards evening there came to the roads by us the flute* Sparendam and the yacht* Ilpendam [dr]. In the morning the Skipper [etc.] went ashore and remained there until the afternoon:

[p. 76]

meanwhile the Hon. Commandeur Sacharias Wagenaer sent aboard to us the Secunde* Abraham Gabbema with greenstuff, eggs, meat, milk and butter as refreshing. Towards evening the Skipper and his party returned safely on board again.

Today August 27 in the flute Alphen from Amsterdam to Batavia, at the Caap de buone esperanca. On Monday morning the Commandeur Wagenaer came aboard to welcome us, requesting that I and the Admiral* Overwater [in Sparendam] should come ashore, so that the latter could make his entry [as Commissioner] in due form: as was also done, the Admiral first passing our ship before eight, and then we in our shallop*, making our entry to the firing of the cannon of the Fort, and taking our meal there. In the Afternoon we went for a stroll in the Company's vegetable Garden*, myself on horseback because I had a weakness in my leg. The weather was fine and agreeable, and it was very pleasant in the Garden.

Towards evening the yachts* Lantsmeer and Amerongen also arrived here in the roads [dr 27/8 and 28/8 respectively].

Today 28. On Tuesday morning Major Symon Sloodt came ashore from the ship Amerongen, and after we had dined together at noon we went with the Hr. Overwaater and the Hr. Commandeur for a stroll in the Garden, but the weather was unfavourable. That morning the yacht Meerman of Delft also arrived in the roads [dr], so that there were 6 Amsterdam ships and one from Delft [those named above, plus yacht Purmerland, also arrived 28/8 by dr].

Today August 29, Wednesday. In the morning I went by horse with the Heeren Overwaater and Major Sloodt, together with the Secunde Abraham Gabbema and some companions, to inspect the building-work in hand, both that by private persons and especially the Groote Schuur being built [dr 31/8/63], and the Orchard [Rondebosch] with a new, pleasing house belonging to the Company; and from there also to the Boscheuvel where we saw the False Bay from a hill. At noon we were well entertained at the Company's Orchard, and came back on board in the evening.

Today 30, Thursday we inspected, with Hr. Overwaater, the fortifications, and the position of certain dunes to the North of the Fort* from which this could be fired on, as also the new water-reservoir and the old dilapidated Hospital* of which the repair was necessary. This day nothing else special occurred. The Skipper was busy in getting water, and bringing aboard refreshings of greenstuff and sheep.

Today August 31, Friday. In the morning I went out on horseback with Hr. Sloodt, his son and other companions to the Salterns [Riet Vlei], where we found a very fine flat (although sandy and stony ground) with splendid hunting of every sort of wild game, such as deer, hinds, ostriches, steenbok, korhaan, and also hares: it was an amusing affair: we saw also the fresh track of a lion. At midday we ate in the open, and came back to the Fort again towards evening.

Today September the first, Saturday we busied ourselves somewhat with Hr. Overwater in the documents of the Cape, and consulted the Memorials of various former Commissioners. Nothing else special occurred.

[p. 77]

Today September 2, Sunday, the Holy Supper of our Lord was distributed and celebrated, after a previous exhortation, by a Preacher of the ship the Meerman of Delft named Domine Cassier, and various children were baptised, both black and white; and in the afternoon another sermon was preached.

Today September 3, Monday. In the afternoon Commandeur Wagenaer held a Council*-day, at which were present Hr. Overtwater as President, followed by myself and the said Hr. Commandeur, together with a Secretary. At this the despatch of the three yachts* Ilpendam, Lantsmeer, and Purmerlandt was specially discussed, and it was resolved:

(1) that one of the yachts should touch at the island of Mauritius in passing, in order to obtain some information regarding the various surviving men of the ship Aernhem, as also of the other three lost ships [not identified], and take them on to Batavia;

(2) by drawing of lots between the ships Purmerland and Lantsmeer this task fell to Lantsmeer, which therefore is appointed, and ordered to set forward her journey to Mauritius, together with the other two ships for Batavia.

A few minor matters were also dealt with.

Today 4, Tuesday, the three Skippers of the yachts were our guests and took their farewells, the Commandeur giving an Instruction to the Skipper Reynier [Brinkmans] of the yacht Lantsmeer; and thereafter they went aboard to prepare to depart [dr not till 6/9], we resolving to follow on Friday. [Passenger ‘Davidt Balfour’ transferred from Alphen to Purmerland: an unexpected name! And other transfers of passengers.]

Today 5, Wednesday, I passed chiefly in writing to the Lords Proprietors at Amsterdam and to various friends at home.

Today 6, Thursday. At midday I, with my wife, Major Sloodt, and the Skippers of Amerongen and the Meerman, as also our Skipper, were the guests of Hr. Overwaater on board his ship, and in the evening came safely back into the Fort.

Today 7, Friday. In the morning the Broad Land-Council* was again held, at which were present Hr. Overwaater as President, followed by myself and then the Hr. Commandeur Wagenaer, with the Secunde* Hr. Gabbema together with the Ensign of the Fort and three Freemen* of the Cape. At this meeting certain personal quarrels, insults and other matters were dealt with [see Resolutions of this date: the ‘Ensign’ was Serjeant Pieter Evrard by these]. After this by Hr. Overwater, myself and the Commandeur the pay of certain persons was increased; as also there was provisionally fixed an increase of the prices paid to the farmers for their produce, to wit instead of 6 gld. 8 st. for the mudde* of wheat, 7 gld. if approved by the Lords Proprietors. In the afternoon I made ready for all of us to go aboard again, but despatched our letters and remained ashore this evening.

Today, 8, in the morning after having somewhat breakfasted together, and after due farewells each went aboard his ship without much ceremony, and our Lieutenant Bartell Sloodt transferred from our ship to the Meerman of Delft [as also a passenger, and their servants]. By noon we were come aboard, but because of the calm set no sails.

[p. 78]

Towards the evening I was aboard the Admiral's ship.

Today 9, Sunday. In the morning, after the shallops* had been to the shore, the Admiral Overwater fired a gun, and our four ships (to wit Sparendam, Alphen, the yacht* Amerongen, and the Meerman of Delft) weighed anchor and set sail [dr] with a weak land-breeze, from the bay of the Cape, and all that day tacked and drifted to and fro between the Robben Eijlandt and the Lion Hill, in calms and variable winds; but towards evening got out to sea on a W.S.W. course with a fair S.S.E. breeze.... [Batavia November 14, 1663 by Hague Archives codex 1131].