Reports of De Chavonnes and his Council, and of Van Imhoff, on the
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Direct
transcripts of the original documents, made by Margaret Ralling and
introduced by John X. Merriman Reprint ISBN: 0-9584522-4-5 |
Written
in Dutch, with translations in English, according to John X Merriman, one of
the founders of the society, these documents deal 'with matters that Dr Theal
characterized as, probably, of the
greatest importance to the European Settlement in this country'. They are
official reports on conditions at the |
Report
of De Chavonnes.
one reckons what has been paid
for the small quantity of coal already excavated; what the wagons and transport
animals have cost the Company, owing to the great distance over which the coal
must be transported; what materials the Company will need, as well as the
store-houses, stables, houses, etc., which will have to be erected at the mine;
bow many workmen will have to be employed, etc. It cannot but prove a loss, and
it may also make a great difference to the price, because if coal is sold at
the same price as before— as it should be—in order to compensate the Company.
about 2 chaldrons of coal, which
will have to be fetched in three wagonloads because of the heavy roads, will
cost i8 Rixdollars for transport alone. This would cause the smiths’ prices to
rise tremendously. The above ought therefore, for safety’s sake, to be
considered in connection with the intention of our Masters to send coal to the
As
regards the sample of silver, I have nothing to say except that the same
measures should be taken in connection with it, as with coal.
Re the matter of increasing the population
at the Cape, and whether it would be in the interests of the Cape to do this, I
should say that, under the present circumstances, the population ought not to
be increased, except by some workmen (to be mentioned below), because with the
exception of certain trades, agriculture, which is the only means of
subsistence, is already exploited to the full. Even those farthest away can
hardly transport their corn and wine hither owing to the mountains and bad
roads to be traversed. They have to spend 8 days and more on the journey there
and back, during which (including the wear and tear on the wagons and cattle)
they spend almost as much as they can make from their produce. Still, a few
workmen would be useful here, such as wool-weavers, wool-spinners and
hat-makers. In order to set the work going, three or four skilled workmen would
have to be sent out; these would in time prove of great convenience to the
colonists in connection with their slaves, but they would have to be provided
with all the necessary appliances for their trade.
With
regard to the question as to whether European farm-servants and agriculturists
would be cheaper than slaves, I am sure this [viz., the introduction of
European labour] would be a most injurious course to adopt. Suppose each
labourer’s wage was reckoned at the rate of a soldier’s pay— f9 per month—for
he would hardly accept less even for work done by slaves, add to this the cost
of his board and further emoluments, and a great difference will be found, as a
slave costs annually (everything included) about f40. Set against this the fact
that the emoluments of a soldier vary from 8 10 gulden, let alone the wages
which the Company would have to pay. Further, one will not find Europeans of
nearly much use as slaves, especially in the daily menial tasks; besides it is
more fitting that slaves rather than Europeans be used. I therefore think that
as the Company would otherwise suffer much loss, it ought rather to use yes in
order to avoid the additional expense, evils and inconveniences.
The
suggestions re the planting of
coffee, sugar, cotton, ndigo, olives, tobacco and flax, I approve of, provided
experiments are made in order that we may be better able to inform our Masters
of its success. It will be necessary send experienced men to search for
suitable soil and to where these plants will thrive best. Silkworms should
imported from Bengal as well as from
It is
impossible to say whether hops will thrive here, first of the strong South-East
winds, and secondly, because of the small quantity used annually by the
ordinary man and by the brewer.
As
regards the question whether it would be more profitable parcel out the Groene
Kloof at so much per morgen, to colonists, instead of leaving it in the hands
of the lessees hers), I think that the former would raise the price of meat
considerably and no purveyors to the Company be obtained unless they had this
Kloof as grazing-land. The Groene Kloof is, however, so large, that its
boundaries are not as yet certainly known, and the roads and cornfields used by the butchers as their particular domain
are not nor is it known what portion they would yield or would be willing to
yield to others. This was clearly shown in a certain report dated ioth February
of last year, which was submitted to His Excellency Commissioner Abraham
Douglas and the Council. It is therefore highly necessary that a thorough
personal inspection should be made of the Groene Kloof, by surveyors and a few
commissioners appointed by both the Company and the burghers. After these have
Submitted a full report, it would be possible to decide of ;what use this large
outpost would be to the Company.
Owing
to the taxing of meat for foreigners, and because the Directors asked our
opinions, not only on the above-mentioned points, but also with regard to
anything else Which might affect the welfare of the Colony, I can think of
nothing which would be more beneficial to the Colony than that it should please
our Lords and Masters to grant us free trade to Madagascar, Mauritius and
surrounding islands, and the East coast of Africa. I think the resulting