The modern nation of South Africa would not have become what it is if not for the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town. Cape Town would not have become what it is without a certain Dutchman who largely determined the initial years of the European settlement there.
In 1648, Jan van Riebeeck was a disgraced man. The ambitious young burgher from the Netherlands had joined the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) or the Dutch East India Company in the late 1630s. While working in the Far Eastern Asia, he earned popularity and promotions due to his obedience to instructions, reliable reports in clear handwriting and commercial success. However, like many officials of the company, he did his ‘own trading’ and was uncovered in due course. In 1648, he was on his way back to the Netherlands to be dismissed.
The Cape of Good Hope. Mid-point in a Journey
It was on his way back, his ship called at the Cape of Good Hope. At that time, the Cape was a watering hole frequented by mainly Dutch and also other European ships. It lay at the mid-point of the journey between Europe and the East Indies. The journey would take six months and by the time the ships called at the Cape, the sailors would be suffering from scurvy, which resulted in swollen joints and internal bleeding. Many would not even survive the first three months. For those who did, the Cape-endowed with a rivulet originating from the Table Mountain, herbs and a Mediterranean climate-was heaven on Earth.
In the 1490s, the first Europeans who visited the Cape, the Portuguese, had christened it the Cape of Storms. Even when van Riebeeck arrived in 1648, there was a Dutch ship beached at the Cape by a storm. The crew had camped on the shore for more than a year to protect their cargo. Some of this cargo was then transferred to Riebeeck’s ship. During his stay at the Cape, Riebeeck saw the garden the sailors had planted to produce vegetables.
The following year, some of these sailors who returned home from the Cape suggested that the VOC should have a permanent post there. Riebeeck saw a godsend opportunity to reinstate himself by taking up the challenge. After some persuasion, the VOC agreed and gave him the task of establishing a permanent post.
Cape Town Established
Riebeeck landed at the Cape on April 6, 1952 and started work on a fort. However, he faced the shortage of both food and labour.
At this time, the area was inhabited by native peoples, Sans and Khoikhois. The latter had developed trade relations with the Dutch, supplying them with old cattle and sheep in return for tobacco, copper and iron. However, the Khoikhoi were reluctant to sell their cattle as it was a measure of their wealth. To alleviate the food and labour shortages, Riebeeck begged the directors of the VOC to let him enslave the natives and seize their cattle. The company, more interested in trade, refused.
However, this policy did not work for the VOC. The Khoikhoi were demanding higher prices for cattle. The gardens planted by company servants were inadequate to supply food for the colonizer party and ships. Therefore, in 1657, Riebeeck was able to get some concession. Nine company servants were given land to set up farms without encroaching on the land of the Khoikhoi. These can be termed as the first of the people later came to be known as Boers.
This worked better, but the sheep imported from Europe did not fare well in this environment. Local animals fared well when they were freely grazing in the veld. Therefore, larger farms and local animals were needed. When Riebeeck allowed the farmers occupy land the Khoikhoi considered to be their common land, conflict started.
Jan van Riebeeck was rewarded with a post in East Indies once again in 1662 and by the time of his death in 1677 at Batavia, his followers were finishing the job of subjugating the native people of the Cape.
Author Sunil S.
In 1648, Jan van Riebeeck was a disgraced man. The ambitious young burgher from the Netherlands had joined the Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC) or the Dutch East India Company in the late 1630s. While working in the Far Eastern Asia, he earned popularity and promotions due to his obedience to instructions, reliable reports in clear handwriting and commercial success. However, like many officials of the company, he did his ‘own trading’ and was uncovered in due course. In 1648, he was on his way back to the Netherlands to be dismissed.
The Cape of Good Hope. Mid-point in a Journey
It was on his way back, his ship called at the Cape of Good Hope. At that time, the Cape was a watering hole frequented by mainly Dutch and also other European ships. It lay at the mid-point of the journey between Europe and the East Indies. The journey would take six months and by the time the ships called at the Cape, the sailors would be suffering from scurvy, which resulted in swollen joints and internal bleeding. Many would not even survive the first three months. For those who did, the Cape-endowed with a rivulet originating from the Table Mountain, herbs and a Mediterranean climate-was heaven on Earth.
In the 1490s, the first Europeans who visited the Cape, the Portuguese, had christened it the Cape of Storms. Even when van Riebeeck arrived in 1648, there was a Dutch ship beached at the Cape by a storm. The crew had camped on the shore for more than a year to protect their cargo. Some of this cargo was then transferred to Riebeeck’s ship. During his stay at the Cape, Riebeeck saw the garden the sailors had planted to produce vegetables.
The following year, some of these sailors who returned home from the Cape suggested that the VOC should have a permanent post there. Riebeeck saw a godsend opportunity to reinstate himself by taking up the challenge. After some persuasion, the VOC agreed and gave him the task of establishing a permanent post.
Cape Town Established
Riebeeck landed at the Cape on April 6, 1952 and started work on a fort. However, he faced the shortage of both food and labour.
At this time, the area was inhabited by native peoples, Sans and Khoikhois. The latter had developed trade relations with the Dutch, supplying them with old cattle and sheep in return for tobacco, copper and iron. However, the Khoikhoi were reluctant to sell their cattle as it was a measure of their wealth. To alleviate the food and labour shortages, Riebeeck begged the directors of the VOC to let him enslave the natives and seize their cattle. The company, more interested in trade, refused.
However, this policy did not work for the VOC. The Khoikhoi were demanding higher prices for cattle. The gardens planted by company servants were inadequate to supply food for the colonizer party and ships. Therefore, in 1657, Riebeeck was able to get some concession. Nine company servants were given land to set up farms without encroaching on the land of the Khoikhoi. These can be termed as the first of the people later came to be known as Boers.
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This worked better, but the sheep imported from Europe did not fare well in this environment. Local animals fared well when they were freely grazing in the veld. Therefore, larger farms and local animals were needed. When Riebeeck allowed the farmers occupy land the Khoikhoi considered to be their common land, conflict started.
Jan van Riebeeck was rewarded with a post in East Indies once again in 1662 and by the time of his death in 1677 at Batavia, his followers were finishing the job of subjugating the native people of the Cape.
Author Sunil S.
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