Cape Good Hope 1652-1702

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[27] Abraham van Riebeeck as Governor-General, 1704-1713. (From Dubois, Vies des Gouverneurs-Généraux, Amsterdam 1763.)

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37 Abraham van Riebeeck
(Plate 27)

Translated from xerographs of his log, Hague Archives van Hoorn-van Riebeeck papers 15: kept in Vrijheid, sailing from Enkhuisen on July 18, 1676 (Hague codex 4389). He was Jan van Riebeeck's second son, born at the Cape on October 14, 1653, and was sent to Rotterdam for his education. After taking his Doctorate in law at Leiden he took employment with the V.O.C. as Under-Merchant*. Unfortunately the pages of his log before November 17 are missing.

November 1676 in the ship De Vryheyt.

Tuesday 17 [dr] we sighted the land of the Cabo de goede Hoop and its many hills. Now many sorts of birds came from the Cabo de bon Esperance to welcome us, among which many black cormorants which were also seen sitting on the water: here also a great number of tunnies showed themselves, somersaulting through the water so that it foamed in various places therefrom, as also some seals, which often showed their heads above water. We saw also some strombas [trombas*] or sea-bamboos, of which many [usually] float around here, although very few at this time. The sight of the hills was pleasing, not only because of their height, but also because of the driving clouds, which sometimes covered their tops so that it seemed as if they emerged from the hills like steam, and sometimes again drove towards us between hill and hill, and in passing threw their shadows on the slopes. In the afternoon we saw the above-mentioned ship going ahead of us, gaily sailing into the Table Bay with a good wind, which well served her but had forsaken us: may the Almighty grant that we may soon join her! This day everyone was very busy making ready the ropes, cables and anchors for our arrival at the roads of the Cabo de bon Esperance, the sea now being very green because of the lesser depth. We reckoned to have sailed 26 miles E. by N. in these 24 hours, with a W.S.W. wind, at noon being 6 miles* from the Table Bay. In the evening at sunset we ran into the Table Bay (God be praised), and dropped anchor in front of the Fort, where also we made ready to go ashore to salute the Governor. But no sooner had we entered our shallop* than a boat came out to us, advising that the Governor desired that we should come somewhat further into the bay, and should not come ashore until the next day about noon. By the Governor's orders we also handed over our letters, with the list of our sick, now 70 in number, and at the Governor's wishes changed our position that night into barely 6½ fathoms depth.

Wednesday 18. In the morning there came aboard the Fiscaal*, the garrison Bookkeeper, the First Clerk of the Secretariat, and the acting Doctor, each on duty: the Fiscaal G. Mulder to affix a certain placcaat with orders for the crew [see 22/9/54], the Clerk of the Secretariat to publicly proclaim the same, the garrison Book-keeper to inspect the ship's books, and the Doctor to examine the sick, of whom he judged that 45 only needed

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to go into the hospital on shore. At their request I also handed over to the said Clerk of the Secretariat a note of the dates of our sailing and of our arrivals, as also the number of our dead and of those actually sick, but not the names of places where we might have touched on the way, since we had touched nowhere. These said friends were entertained with food and drink as best we were able, and we were invited to the Governor's table towards noon, by his orders, after which they went over to board the ship Nieuw Middelburg.

In accordance we went ashore; and on setting foot on the Jetty* we were first welcomed by Hottentots with a letter from the Governor to us, whereby we were authorised to entertain on board their Captain, Cuyper by name, with the Hottentots subordinate to him, friends of the Company, with brandy, tobacco and bread. After this, coming to the Hr. Governor, we were very amiably received by him, as also later at table, where for the most part the talk was as usual of the latest conditions at home, so that it is very desirable that one should be ready to answer all questions regarding this. Our request for refreshing was very generously granted, namely that we might take as much greenstuff from the garden each day as we wished. Also meat during the first 3 days (which are called the ‘play-days’ because during these the crews are excused from work; and after these the crews must go ashore into the forests, and then the meat-days are only the alternate days at first, and after that every third day only).

After eating we went for a stroll in the Company's Garden*, which now was greatly increased in size, being provided with almost every sort of ground- and tree-fruits which one has in Holland, as also with medicinal herbs. Currants and gooseberries do not thrive well, but on the other hand the orange, lemon and citron trees are seen to grow very fruitfully, having the height and thickness of an average appletree. In it there is also an olive-tree which already had a great quantity of small olives. The coconut-palms planted beside a certain long avenue were not growing well. The banana-plants bear leaves only, with no fruit, these plants consisting only of a stalk with a growth of leaves around it, which shoot out above, some forward, some backward; and this stem is repeatedly cut off when it has borne fruit, and then grows up again out of the ground. The laurel-trees grow very tall here, as much as eighteen feet high, and are seen everywhere planted as hedges (as also are the uncultivated trees) as defence against the squalls, and to shelter the trees. Rosemary is also seen growing very tall here, but is cut away at about 3 feet from the ground, and used as if large box-trees. This stroll being ended, we went again to the residence of the Hon. the Governor, by name Johan Bax of Herental, to return aboard again after thanking him for his friendly reception.

Thursday 19 we went ashore with those of the Cajuyt* to dine with the Governor. In the afternoon while taking a walk we got the wish to climb up the Kloof. Being arrived there, the more enquiring of us wished to climb up the Table Mountain as far as time would permit, reaching to half-way before the steepness ahead discouraged our further progress, since, had our intention been to climb the mountain, we had not chosen the proper route. At first the climb was smooth, then somewhat steeper and mixed with

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stones, which when they lay loosely caused our progress to be very dangerous, especially when it began to be so steep that we must hold fast with hands and feet. Now the clouds were already far below us, so that at times we sat above in the clear air while it was so misty below because of the clouds that the ground was invisible: sometimes again we were in the clouds, as if in a thick mist. Evening began to draw on, and we were hindered from climbing further and higher by the steepness of the mountain (which from here upwards is nothing but overhanging broken rocks, which at every instant threatened to be blown loose to crush someone of us), so that we went to sit in the hollow of the overhanging rocks, somewhat to recover from our fatigue; but we did not delay there for long, lest the wind should cover us with some fragment of that mountain. Of such fragments all the hills at the Cabo de bon Esperance are very full, as also are the valleys, which without doubt must be caused by the blowing of the wind. We then climbed down again, which at first we must again do on hands and feet because of the steepness and the loose-lying stones, in order not to fall down from above or break our legs at every step, since here it is more dangerous to descend than to climb up. On the way we found here and there several little brooks of fresh water flowing down in various places, from this, as from all the other hills, so that everywhere drinking-water is to be found, well-tasting because the water flows for the most part over stones and rocks, or else over stone-hard clay, of which nearly all the hills are composed. This earth looks reddish, and is as hard as half-fired brick, and below on the foot of the hills as also in the valleys is mixed with very large and hard boulders and rocks; but all the hills are almost entirely terrifyingly steep slopes higher up, with broken-away rocks on all sides.

At last we got right down, which however is the case only on reaching the shore, since the Lion Hill on one side and the Devil's Hill on the other unite with the Table Mountain to form as if an arm or semi-circle, within which the old and new forts lie enclosed as if in half of a deep pit, the lowest part of which is first found at the shore, so that when one looks from the old fort to seaward one finds oneself already a good distance above it.

Before we went aboard we however first went to inspect the new Fort*, which stands to the right side of the old fort towards the Salt River [sic]. It consists of 5 bastions, all built up very high of hewn stones, which cost great toil, both in obtaining them and in making use of them. These stones are for the most part got from or near the Lion Hill, about 1 or 1½ feet below the surface, where rocks like churches and castles are found. In order to tear away the stones for use long holes are bored in them, filled with powder and stopped up, and then this is fired so that many rifts are made, after which work must be done with crowbars and other tools to tear them apart. Thus already very many deep and large pits are to be found in the Lion Hill, from which the stones have been extracted. When these stones have thus been obtained, they must then be transported on carts drawn by 6 oxen to the new Fort, which also is very costly, since each cart can transport 3 or 4 stones only because of their weight. These stones, irregular [Hoeks* en Cabeljauws] as they are, are set together as best is possible and practicable and mortared

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with lime, and filled in with smaller fragments between stone and stone. With such stones and masonry are built not only the Fort, but also many of the freemen's houses, which now have been built here in large numbers, with gardens behind them, both around the new Fort and behind the Devil's Hill, as also to the left side of the old fort, where it well resembles a little Town*.

The ramparts of the old fort are now demolished, although for the convenience of a house the Governor still resides there, having had a very long, cool and pleasant dining-room built of wood behind the hall of [read ‘used as’] the old church (and having in addition the whole living-quarters at his disposal), from which the view of the Table Mountain is very fine: this view was previously spoiled by the then-standing walls, which now having been thrown down into the moat leave an open view. Behind this is the kraal of the animals and the slaughter-house, in which we saw also some porcupines, ostriches, and 2 pelicans which had been brought from the Sardinia Bay, and were being reared here as curiosities for His Highness [Prince Willem II]. Except for their grey colour these look like cassowaries, and have below their beak a very large pouch which lies like a goitre under their chin, and looks like an empty cellar when their beak is opened. Their natural food is fish and raw meat [sic], of which these are deprived because it would be too costly on account of their devouring greediness, and instead of this, bread is thrown to them; but it seems that this will not be a success, since one of them has already begun to die.

This day a part of the men returned that went out against the Hottentots at the Sardaigne Bay [dr 1/11-19/11], without having been able to catch any, but bringing with them a little cattle which had been left behind by the fugitives. These Hottentots were under the rule of Cochoqua [actually of Captain Kees of the Cochoqua tribe], a sub-king under a certain Gonnema, and had attacked the Dutch garrison at the said Sardaigne Bay a few years ago [dr 14/7/73] and massacred all the Dutch, for which reason various expeditions* against them had been made by our people here, as now also this one, on the information given by the above-mentioned Captain Cuyper with his Hottentot subjects, who now wish to seem to be the friends of the Company; but it was asserted, that just as this Cuyper gave us news of the Hottentots, so also he had given the Hottentots news of our expedition.

Friday 20. This day we remained on board to take some rest, sending more than 40 soldiers to the forest behind the Table Mountain, to get wood both for the Fort and for the ship.

Further, we had a strong sea-wind from the North, so that it was difficult to go ashore or come aboard.

Saturday 21. Now the ‘playdays’ were finished, and the crew, both on board and on land in the forest, had their hands full of work. Our Upper-Merchant* Hr. Jacob de Werelt, going out with us to the Indies as Director of Mining [dr 18/11] had the task, according to the orders of the Lords Proprietors at home, of looking into matters relating to the minerals here at the Cabo de bon Esperance, in which I promised always to assist

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him (in order the better to be able to examine the conditions of my birthplace by this means, as far as time permitted), as did also our Skipper. We three thus went ashore, and in the afternoon, with the permission and advice of the Hon. Governor, made our way to the Devil's Hill, where certain red pits can be seen from far away; but discovered nothing of importance there.

Sunday 22. We went ashore to church, where our Preacher gave the sermon in the morning. At noon the Governor again entertained us at his table, namely we three, the Upper-Merchant, the Skipper, and myself....

Monday 23. In the morning the Merchant* Crudop, Secunde* of this place came aboard, with the Under-Merchant and Winkelier* van Banchem, the Fiscaal* Gerbrant Mullert [Mulder], and the First Clerk of the Secretariat A. de Man, to take note of the declarations made on the 19th instant at the Ship's Council [no other details given]. This being done, we entertained them on board to the best of our ability. They requested us in the name of the Hon. the Governor to come ashore, and go with the calash [‘Calesse’] and horses made ready for us, to meet the Hon. the Governor behind the Devil's Hill, where he was busy with the remainder of the expedition sent out, now returned with the booty. For this reason we went ashore, and on arriving found the animals already coming to the kraal, being in number about 70 cattle and 40 sheep. We then took horse, the young women of the Upper-Merchant's family and wives and nieces mounting the coach, and rode past the new Fort and the side of the Devil's Hill to a valley, where we found the Hon. the Governor with his lady and two other young girls, together with their slaves and the usual number of escort-soldiers, and the Governor's coach [‘Carosse’] and carts with baggage and provisions, all camped there in a tent set up against the sun. Lieutenant Croese who had commanded that part of the men was still there, but soon left for his house from fatigue after the expedition [dr 1/11, 19/11, 23/11]. After the Hon. the Governor had entertained us there in his tent with food and drink, he also did us the honour of leaving the party and going somewhat further inland, first namely to the [Groote] Schuer of the Company behind the Table Mountain, set up for the reaped corn, as also for the lodging of the woodmen there at the beginning, which now had been somewhat enlarged and built up around with hewn stone.

It is very enjoyable here to see the hills and dales as one rides through them, with on one side the woods growing high up on the Table Mountain, and on the other side the cultivation of the crops. Here we saw a small rhinoceros which they called ‘Jochum’, being as heavy as a large calf, but the legs thicker and shorter. It had as yet no horn on its nose, but looked oblong in shape, its skin black but without scales through very rough and hard. From there we went on to a place called ‘The Ronde Boschje’: formerly there used to stand here only a little round grove or 6 or 7 trees, which place because of the good nature of the soil was first sown with corn [dr 17/8/56]; but now is very beautifully planted with trees and vineyards, so that it now brings in 3000 gld. of rent yearly to the Hon. Company. Below this plantation there runs a river called Liesbeek, in some places dangerous to cross because of its depths, in others because of the presence of tigers

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or leopards. After we had seen everything with great content, we returned again to the Fort after we had first refreshed ourselves with some tea [‘Thee-drank’, an early mention], and went aboard after giving our thanks to the Hon. the Governor. That night we sent out our shallop* with the seine, to fish in the Salt River.

Tuesday 24. In the morning our people brought in a little fish they had caught, such as Harders, Crayfish, Steenbraessen; and also a ‘Death's-Head’. This fish has a little beaklet hanging on its nose, and below this its nose and mouth somewhat resemble a skull: moreover its body, fins and tail are like those of a shark, but it is only as large as a ‘blok’ [?] or whiting. This morning and yesterday were brought ashore the 80 tanks [‘kelders’: ?] loaded for the Caep de Bon Esperance.

In the afternoon we went on horseback to inspect the mines behind the head of the Lion Hill (thus named because this hill closely resembles a lying lion, when seen from this side of the Lion's Head) [the text is obviously corrupt, reading ‘(soo genoemt om dat desen bergh een liggende leeuw seer gelijk zijnde) aen die zijde des leeuwen hooft repraesenteert)’, with a surplus parenthesis. My reading is guess work], the Upper-Merchant finding there some good stones, after doing which we returned again. On our way back we also examined the little Hottento tents or huts, which are round, made of sticks and stakes covered over with old mats and old pieces of tarpaulin. We talked somewhat with them, principally to understand a little concerning their religion (since some among them spoke some broken Dutch), but we found that they knew nothing of God or the Bible, and also nothing of the Devil: no shape of the heavens, noise of thunder and lightning, wind or storm, rain or hail had ever been able to imprint them [the idea] that there was a God, but they said that things happened according to the custom of time immemorial.

Wednesday 25. Going ashore at dawn we took horse for the mine lying near the Hout Bay, being six in number: myself, the Upper-Merchant, the Skipper, two Burgomasters* of the Cape named Elmer Dieme and Jan Mostert who were here from the beginning, with the Governor's groom. Our route was first past the Company's Garden and behind the Devil's Hill and the Table Mountain, and thence past the Ronde Boschje, where we rested for a little so that the two sailors who followed with our food and drink might catch up with us. From thence we went along by the hills to the farm of the aforesaid Mostert lying on the Wynberg behind the Table Mountain, and there in his house left the provisions so as to go onward unhampered, and somewhat to refresh ourselves there on our way back. But before we mounted again, we first looked at his vines, of which he had a good number there, all well provided with grapes which were still growing, since it was not yet the time for them. The said Burgomaster Mostert said that some years he had pressed 9 leggers* of wine from them, and once even 12 leggers.

He let us try also the Cape wine pressed by him, which had the colour of French wine, but tasted somewhat of the fennel with which he cleaned the vats, and the wine was not strong in taste, although if much is taken it can well cause one's head to turn on the next day. From there we went forward to the hill of our destination, riding now over hills, now over stones, now through valleys, then again beside the hills, and for the most

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part also through little brooks which flow down in great numbers from all the hills and are full of large stones, in which the water flows so bright and clean, and which are like avenues grown with wild trees on both sides, these trees having rounded openings at the places where the streamlet is customarily forded; and all these little rivers are nothing but streamlets and brooks of the water that flows down from the hills. At last we reached the desired hill, where at the side a bridle-path runs to the mine. Up this we rode, seeing far away on the left the Table Bay with the rocks lying in it; and close to us was a forest lying below us in a deep valley, which, because it lies in a deep and very gloomy pit, has got the name of ‘Hell’, as also [the forest] which lies on the top of the hill was called ‘Paradise’, so that the mine which lies between the two is ‘the place between Hell and Heaven’. Being arrived there we dismounted, finding there two dug-out openings, one small, the other somewhat larger and at first straight, propped up above and at the sides with planks, and then running downwards for the height of a man. Here the groom fired off a pistol into it before entering, for fear of any wild beasts, after which we went into the shaft; but since it was very dark in this, and we had brought no candles, we were forced first to light a fire, and then make loose bundles of dry heath, set light to these, and enter with them, by which means we could see a little. Having examined everything briefly (since the shaft soon filled with smoke which quickly drove us out) we returned homewards, the fatigue of the horses not permitting us to go onwards to the Hout Bay since it was already past noon, although on the other hand our curiosity indeed pressed us to this. Having arrived at the farm of the aforesaid Mostert we there somewhat strengthened our bodies with food and drink, and also went to see his citron- and lemon-trees which were very full of fruit; but everything was out of season, since the seasons of the year here in the South are the reverse to those in the countries towards the North Pole, so that for our refreshment we could get nothing at this time of the year except vegetables and some carrots and artichokes. From there we rode on towards home, and were joined by the Skipper Basting and the Under-Merchant Dykman of the Zeeland ship, with his wife and other company, to whom the Hon. the Governor had given the use of his calash and some horses for an airing and recreation for them. So we arrived after dark at the Fort, and went back aboard again, after thanking the Governor and taking leave of him, nothing having actually been found in this mine by our aforesaid Upper-Merchant, except for very good indications that by further digging there was hope that something might be found.

Thursday 26. The Doctor came off with a Surgeon from ashore to look through the ship's medicine-chest, taking from it some drugs for the Cabo de Bon Esperance, as authorised by the Hon. Governor.

Friday 27. The Skipper of the hooker Quartel visited us aboard. Having entertained the said Skipper to the best of our ability we went with him aboard his ship, chiefly because of some little chameleons which he had brought from the Robben Island, to collect these in accordance with his offer. These beasties are of the size of a lizard, and almost of the same shape. They change their colours according to the colour of whatever

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they are set upon, and live on air, dwelling in the branches of certain greenery which he had also brought, and so long as the twig remains fresh they remain alive. When they are put on the floor and a fly is thrown in front of them, they follow it, and when they are within range they thrust out their tongue like a little arrow, and shoot it fully an inch out of their mouth, being thus able to carry the fly into their mouth with it. After leaving his ship we went ashore, and back aboard after a short stroll.

Saturday 28. We being on shore with the Hon. the Governor, he gave us the pleasure of hearing his black steward and another slave playing on harp and tiorba*, in which the steward showed a very pleasing skill, principally in the roulades and preludes which he played like a master; but he never played from notes, only by ear. Towards evening the Hon. the Governor sent a letter to Hottantots holland, this being a fortification of the Dutch on the False Bay, with orders to send some Hottentots from there to the Cape d'Aguilhas to bring in some minerals from there [dr], sending out also the Lieutenant Croese with two assistants on horse-back, and some foot-soldiers with some baggagewaggons, to a certain hill called Riebeeks Casteel lying near Gonnoma's lands about 20 miles* from the Table Bay, to bring some stones from there.

Sunday 29 there arrived [dr] the yacht* Voorhout with the Skipper van Asperen, who had been sent more than six months ago [dr 22/5] to Madagascar to buy slaves, now returning very well provided with these.

Monday 30. The Zeeland Skipper Bastingh received his orders to sail, being entertained, together with us and his above-mentioned Upper-Merchant, to his farewell meal by the Hon. the Governor. In the afternoon the slaves purchased at Madagascar were brought ashore, 257 in number, and given clothing. Among the slave-women many plump ones were to be seen, whom the sailors (it was said) had well looked after by day in return for their favours by night: these also were brought ashore, and could not part from the sailors without weeping and wailing.

Tuesday December first. Today we first had the S.E. wind, and that pretty strongly, so that we must remain on board. This is the surest wind to blow at the Cabo de Bon Esperance, coming with great strong blasts down from the Table Mountain. The aforesaid Zeeland ship Nieuw Middelburg ran out with this wind to below the Robben Island, where she found it dead calm because the Lion Hill interposed, so that it was not until the evening that she was out of sight. To avoid this calm and keep the wind Skippers are accustomed to run South of the said Robben Island.

Wednesday 2. This morning we received aboard 27 men, soldiers and sailors. This being done we went ashore, since we were advised that Lieutenant Croese was returned from his expedition to Riebeeks Casteel. In the afternoon the S.E. wind began to rage so strongly, that we could not go aboard, nor the crew, so that for once we tried how it was to sleep ashore, with the hope of being able to go aboard after midnight, if the wind would fall then; since this wind, which rises after midday and towards evening, also decreases after midnight and towards daybreak. But it continued to blow very strongly all night.

Thursday 3. This morning the wind fell about 10 o'clock, and was replaced by a

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gentle sea-wind, just at the time we intended to go aboard. In the afternoon the S.E. wind again began to blow, but dropped around midnight again, so that we sent the shallop* out to fish at the Salt River, where the fish always appear before a S.E. wind. That night our Cajuit* steward, Jan Houthuys of Munster, a cannoneer [‘Bosschieter’], also went with the fishermen, to his misfortune, since wishing to wade ashore from the shallop through the [shallow] water, he came unexpectedly into a hole and because of the darkness could not be helped, being drowned and sunk before anything was known of it.

Friday 4. This morning, not being able to guess why the shallop delayed so long, we were advised of this entirely unexpected misfortune: wherefore the Skipper at once went ashore to notify the Hon. the Governor, who at once ordered the Fiscaal* to have the corpse fished for, the person who had been the nearest being taken from on board to show the Fiscaal the place of the accident.

Saturday 5. Going ashore at midday we found the Hon. the Governor very troubled, because no news came of the 2 Dutch who had set out from Hottentots-Holland with some Hottentots for the Cabo de Aguilhas fully 8 days ago, fearing that the enemy Hottentots might have murdered them.

Sunday 6. We went ashore to take the farewell meal with the Hon. the Governor, having been busy the previous night and this morning in despatching both letters to the Company and private letters to Holland. After the meal I went aboard again to prepare the accounts of certain men ordered ashore (of which for the first time I had the responsibility). Having done this I again went ashore, and there learnt that our departure was postponed for another day. The drum was nevertheless beaten, and the crew ordered to betake themselves aboard, by order of the Hon. the Governor, on pain of being put in irons. When evening came we went aboard, receiving the news, just as we pushed off from the Jetty*, that the men from the Cabo de Aguilhas were returned, but they having gone to a wrong place their journey had been fruitless. Also as we left we were invited by the Hon. the Governor to a farewell meal the next day about noon.

Monday 7. Early this morning our aforesaid Upper-Merchant went ashore to assay the minerals brought from Riebeeks Casteel, together with some stone found in the rockcavities near the Lion Hill, finding all to contain some silver, but not to be compared with the cinnabar [‘Sinnabaraensche’] ores by a long way.

Meanwhile there came aboard us the aforesaid Fiscaal, the garrison Book-Keeper Philip Theodoor Weloken [Welker], and the First Clerk of the Secretariat to muster the crew, after which we exchanged with them the accounts of those sent aboard and those taken ashore here, as also we handed over to them the muster-roll, to remain at the Cabo de bon Esperance, it being the custom throughout all the Indies that a muster-roll of all those alive in the ship, with their names and pay, shall be left at the places she departs from, so that by this means, in case of the loss of any ship, it may be known who are dead, which otherwise would be uncertain and toilsome both for the Company as for their friends. After we had somewhat entertained these aforesaid Cape gentlemen [‘Signoors’] with food and drink we went ashore, the sooner because the Hon. the Governor had sent

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a message aboard that we should somewhat hasten ourselves, and not allow ourselves to be delayed by the Fiscaal. When we came ashore, we were entertained very cordially and magnificently by the Hon. the Governor for the last time at our farewell-feast, as also during the same by the music of harp and tiorba* played by the blacks, and of a violin [‘hantfiole’] which a soldier played, from time to time replacing the others.

After the meal we were regaled with some tea and sweetmeats, and then for those who so desired and were able a little dancery [‘dansereijtje’] was added. By then the night began to fall, and we made ready to go aboard; but the Hon. the Governor did not allow his politeness and kindness towards us to rest there, but did us the further honour of accompanying us, together with his lady wife and his little son, together with their domestic slaves and personal escort, as far as the end of the Jetty*. Being come there, the last glass was drunk in farewell, whereat, after all our demonstrations of respect and thankfulness for His Honour's great friendliness, we boarded our shallop*; and we had barely pushed off with the same before we were honoured by the Hon. the Governor with a salute of 7 guns from the new Fort, after which we went aboard.

Tuesday 8. This morning I was busy with the preparations of a certain opinion for the Hon. the Governor, concerning a certain matter as regards which he had done me the honour of consulting me during the previous evening, and sent it to him in writing with the Equipagie-Meester* who remained on board until after midday. Meanwhile, our anchor having been weighed, and the wind beginning to blow across the bay from the S.E., we bent our sails, trying to fetch the wind by towing the ship out of the calm in which we still were. About 4 in the afternoon, having got into the wind and now first making proper progress [dr], we fired 8 guns in farewell and as thanks for the aforesaid honours done us yesterday, and to honour the Hon. the Governor, then sailing successfully through above the Robben Island, in order that we might not find ourselves in a calm had we gone around the Island towards the Lion Hill, and there plod along all day as the ship N. Middelburgh had done. Before sunset we had reached the end of the said island, and for greater safety during the night pushed out as far from the shore as was possible, having always a good breeze.

Wednesday 9. At noon we were already out of sight of the Cape hills....

Batavia February 16, 1677 by Hague codex 1212, where he remained in the administration, rising to Governor-General in 1709, and until his death in 1713.