Company Journal Willem Muller1,2

M, #17311

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Last Edited23/10/2015
NotesOn 7 September 1655 Willem Muller commenced writing a journal about his travels with Autshumao of the Goringhaicona, who the setlers referred to as Herry, to get livestock for the settlement. However to avoid clogging up his page, while still allowing me to link to the individuals named in the journal, I created a page specifically for this purpose, which is Company Journal Willem Muller.3
Company JournalCompany Journal Willem Muller: Left on 7 September 1655 with my 9 men.3
On 8 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Repacked our copper in 11 parcels.3
On 9 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Went as far as the rondebosjen where we encamped; missed a bag of bread and our pork; stolen by the Hottentoos.3
On 10 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Killed a beast never saw anything like it. Natives pulled it down and cut a hole in its side, living as it was, took out the entrails, dished out the blood and then skinned and cut it to pieces.3
On on 11 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): When the natives were packing the animals our chef went to see how they did it, and when we were ready to proceed, Herry approached and without reason threatened to beat our Corporal (Willem Muller) with a large stick. Looked to see how it would end. Herry then came to us and said go! go! right off, meaning “I don't want you here.” We then marched S. by E. and S.S.E; at night found that the Hottentoos had stolen pipes and beads and some copper, the reason no doubt why they would not have us near them when loading.4
On 12 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Told Corporal Symon Huybrechtsz:, who had arrived from the Fort this morning, that we intended to proceed and how we had been treated. Receive additional provisions from the fort, which were welcome, as the Hottentoos had stolen some of ours.5
On 13 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Went S.E., saw something wonderful. The Hottentoo women each took a green twig in the hand and went to lie down together on a big stone alongside of the road speaking words which we could not understand. Being asked what it meant, they said “Hette Hie,” pointing upward as if they intended to say it is a sacrifice. Proceeded as far as the downs of False Bay, encamping at a fresh water river.5
On on 14 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Oxen tired, did not go far. Went S.E. by S. and saw the small Lion mountain to the S.S.W. of us; remained in the downs and found a good deal of the copper gone; told Herry of it; asked us whether we knew who stole it, as he was prepared to get it back. As the parcels often fall from the animals it is difficult to keep an eye on the scattered troop.6
On on 15 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Herry sent some of the men to the Hottentoo Lubbert.6
On between 16 September 1655 and 17 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Lubbert visits us, and on the 17th takes with him 8 head of cattle belonging to Herry, but when leaving, the men and women commenced to quarrel. Herry told us to “goo”; marched on till we got out of the downs, found ourselves in a fine valley more than 4 miles broad, course E.N.E; crossed other downs. Came to another valley with water in it, turned to the right on the other side, encamped at an old kraal.6
On on 18 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Stayed there as Herry would not go on.6
On 19 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Some of the Hottentoos left; we proceeded slowly in consequence of the water in which the pack-oxen sank up to their stomachs.5
On on 20 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Took a S.S.E. direction; at noon two of the Hottentoos went in advance, and we left behind our grey ox which succumbed to the large load it had to carry. When we told Herry, he was unwilling to understand us, but when the ox had somewhat rested Herry said that 3 men should proceed in advance to see what had become of the cattle; they waited for us on a high sand hill where we were ordered to unpack the ox by Herry who went to look himself, saying he would come with another ox; got tired of waiting, reloaded the ox and proceeded to a valley not far away from water, where Herry met us with an ox and divided the load between the two animals. Went with us until we reached Cabo Falso.6
On 21 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Two of our men found a young whale stranded on the beach; Hottentoos had a feast; found further on a large rock with many mussels on it, not of the kind at the fort; when boiled, found them to be full of grains, difficult to eat; supposed the grains to be pearls; saved a good many. Went no further; 22nd. likewise.7
On 23 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Went east till we reached the coast, came to a fresh river beyond which we found an old kraal where we camped.5
On on 24 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Eight strange Hottentoos visit us, Herry at once gave each 6 armbands.5
On 25 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): The natives still busy making arm-rings, they were of the beach-rangers who had some time ago sold us cattle at the fort.5
On between 26 September 1655 and 27 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): They left us in the morning, taking all our Hottentoos excepting 2 to pack the oxen, took also 11 head of cattle of Herry leaving him 11. We went E.S.E. till we arrived under the mountain on stony ground; slept there.5
On 28 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Too bad weather to proceed. 29th ditto.5
On 30 September 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Went half way up the mountain when we were obliged to relieve the ox and carry the copper; on the top was a plain big enough for exercising a regiment of soldiers; reloaded the ox and proceeded east to a fine valley – misty – went S.S.E. till the evening, unhealthy climate; when sitting down we became so stiff that we could hardly rise and keep our legs.5
On 1 October 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Marched through the stones the same course, to a marsh rather deep; passed through it and ascended a high mountain; reached a fine valley on its side; again went up a mountain; below it crossed a fine river; course S.S. West till we camped.5
On on 2 October 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Two of ours went to look for the beach, as Herry had told us what had not been confirmed. Walked three miles, found only poor country. A little beyond they saw 2 Hottentoo & whom they could not reach; perhaps the two friends of Herry. Our two continued onward until they saw the beach; too late to go to it as it was still about 2 miles away; coast appeared to stretch W.N.W. and E.S.E. , as far as they could see; it seemed as if a bay was running into it tending N.N.E. Returned to us to see whether the Hottentoos were ours. Found them to be so. Resolved to return to the fort, having vainly followed Herry so far, and our provisions running out.5
On on 3 October 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Preparing to leave; Herry told us that if we returned, no cattle would any more be obtained at the fort, and he would not dare to show his face there again, or go on board to drink Spanish wine and fetch bread. Was prepared to take the copper with him and bring back lots of cattle. “Commander (Jan van Riebeeck), would then say that's proper. Herry come here, and eat Dutch cheese and butter and drink Spanish wine, and I will have a house, built for you, and to-morrow we go on board for wine and bread, but if you are determined to take the copper, give my knife to the Captain, but leave the white ox, as the Captain has other cattle for us at the Cape.” We rather feared, not knowing what to do when he gave us the knife; decided at last to let him have the copper according to orders when we left. Parted amicably from him and took our grey ox with us, with his permission, as he could not get it to go with him. Returned to the foot of the mountain, which we had crossed the 30th September. The weakness in our joints departed; the cause we do not know.5
On 4 October 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Went straight for the point of the mountain between the great forest and the round bush (het ronde bosken); course W.N.W. Passed through a fine valley about 2 p.m; arrived in the Downs and went on until night.8
On 5 October 1655, Company Journal Willem Muller (as translated): Marched to the flats, then went west until we came to the wagon-road leading to the fortress." Signed by Willem Muller and party.8

Citations

  1. Journal of Corporal Willem Muller 7 September to 5 October 1655 as he accompanied Autshumao, aka Herry, on an expedition to get livestock for the settlement. This journal is incorporated into the Company journal for the period.
  2. [S673] Precis of the archives of the Cape of Good Hope, December 1651 - December 1653[5], Van Riebeeck's Journal, &c. Part I, H.C.V. Leibrandt; (Cape Town, South Africa: W. A. Richards & Sons, Government Printers, Castle Street, 1897), p.239-242. Hereinafter cited as Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5].
  3. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], p.239.
  4. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], p.239-240.
  5. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], p.241.
  6. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], p.240.
  7. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], pp.240-241.
  8. [S673] Precis of the archives, JVR Journal 1651-1653[5], p.242.
 

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