Die Joernaal van Dirk Gysbert van Reenen, 1803

 

Uitgegee . . . deur wyle prof. dr. W. Blommaert en prof. J.A. Wiid. 

 

With an English translation by J.L.M. Franken and Ian M. Murray

 

This is the account of a journey into the Eastern Cape undertaken by the Governor of the Cape, J.W. Janssens and Capt Paravicini de Capelli, recorded by D.G. van Reenen. [See also Series I, No 46].

 

Van Reenen was a prominent burger, a winemaker (reputed to make the best wine in the Cape) and he held the wine and meat contracts for the VOC on a number of occasions.

 

The purpose of the journey was to inspect the land now ruled by the Batavian Government, and to settle the conflicts occurring between the Dutch burgers and the indigenous residents of the area. This is an official report with much factual information

 

 

176                          VAN REENEN SE JOERNAAL

 

 

wilde hier toe niet resolveeren voor en aleer hy met hun slaags was geweest, waar toe hy zig prepareerde en eerstdaags mede zoude beginnen.

 

De Gouverneur toonde zig hieromtrent niet wel te vreeden, zeggende dat hy meester was dit te doen of te laaten, dog dat hem niets aangenaamer zoude zyn dan een geruste bevrediging tusschen hunlieden te maken en hier wierd de cerste samenkomst geslooten.

 

Gaika met zyn moeder en twee vrouwen en Coenraad Buys wierden by den Generaal te middagmaal genoodigt; aan tafel zittende, liet Gaika al zyn volk rondom de tent zitten, hy, zo wel als zyn moeder en vrouwen, waren onhandig met mes en vurk om te gaan; nogtans was dit een zeer mislyk Dinee.

 

Des anderen daags wierd aan Gaika van wegens den Generaal wederom voorslaagen tot vreede met de uitgeweekene Kaffers gedaan en bekend gemaakt dat den Generaal expres een to1k van de andere party had meede gebragt, die zeer geneegen waaren tot onderhandelingen te komen, en dezen tolk hadden meede gegeven om zyn antwoord te ontfangen, waarop hy dan eindelyk daar toe is geresolveerd en in eene daarop belegde vergadering de volgende poincten door hem zyn beantwoord.

 

Deeze vergadering wierd gehouden in een open tent, waarby, behalven den Generaal en den Cafferchefs, tegenswoordig waaren ik, den Capitein Paravicini de Capelli, de Major Von Gilten, Capt. Alberti en de Luitt. Gilmer; alle de by ons zynde ingezeetenen zaten rondom

 

 

 

              VAN REENEN’S JOURNAL                               177

 

 

did not want to commit himself to this, not until he had joined battle with them, for which he was preparing; he would make a start presently.

 

The Governor signified his displeasure, stating that the choice whether to do so or not was Gaika’s, but that nothing would please him more than to bring about a lasting peace between them. At this point the first meeting was adjourned.

 

Gaika, his mother and two wives and Coenraad Buys were invited to dine with the General. Gaika sat at the table and told his people to sit round the tent. He and his mother and wives were quite dexterous in handling knife and fork; notwithstanding this their presence at the meal made it rather nauseating.

 

The following day the General made further pro­posals to Gaika for peace with the native refugees and announced that he had specially brought with him an interpreter belonging to the seceded section, who were only too anxious to discuss terms and had sent this interpreter to receive Gaika’s answer. Whereupon he finally decided to discuss matters. At a meeting which was then convened he replied to the following points.

 

This meeting was held in an open tent, and in addi­tion to the General and the Kafir chiefs, I, Captain Paravicini de Capelli, Major von Gilten, Captain Alberti and Lieutenant Gilmer were present. All the European inhabitants accompanying us sat round the