1694, with forty-nine followers, in the flute Voeiboog from
Ceylon, departed this life. Until the end of August they
and others of their kind have cost the Government in pay
and maintenance f. 24,421 : 12 sk : 12 st :, or, including this
year's outlay, f. 26,221 : 12 sk: 12 st :, a heavy burden indeed
on our revenue. Besides, these Mohammedans are multi-
plying rapidly, and increasing in numbers. However, as
Joseph is now dead, we beg you to find a proper method by
which to release us from his adherents and their heavy
expense, and also that we may in future be exempted from
such people." *

This request was but a reasonable one, considering the
small number of European residents in comparison with
that of their slaves — a danger forcibly pointed out by
Simon van der Stel, as we have already seen. It was
again and again made, and especially by Governor Eyk
Tulbagh ; but although orders were in consequence sent
out to India by the Seventeen no longer to burden the
Cape with political and other prisoners to the extent to
which it had been usual to do so, and, if possible, to send
none at all, it does not apjiear that practically they were
ever carried out; and hence the Colony continued to
receive a large number of undesirable residents from
Batavia and Ceylon until the Cape fell away in the year
1795 from the East India Company. But, evidently
according to the rule that a " fair exchange is no robbery,"
the Cape had likewise the right of sending to India such
of its population as had either been convicted of crimes or
whose removal was considered necessary or expedient by
the authorities.

* The statement that the first Malay arrived in the Colony in the
yacht JJaes, as mentioned in tlie Chronicles of Cape Commanders,
pp. 54-55, is incorrect. The prisoner there referred to, as exiled to the
Colony, was a Chinaman who had been convicted of the crime of
murder, but whoso sentence had been commuted by the High
Government at Batavia into penal servitude and exile at the Cape
for lifei



the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope. 179

But here I pause awhile. I find that I have already
exceeded the space allowed me for this first series, but
should what I have written be kindly received, and con-
sidered of sufficient interest, I shall be prepared with a
second. In the meanwhile I thank the reader for his
company so far.



N 2



( 180 )



APPENDIX.

(Page 4.)



Extract fkom Resolution of the Council of Policy, dated
Tuesday, 12th November, 1782.

" The Governor submits tlie following Memorial from the Land-
drost and Ileemraden of Stellcuboscli and Drakeustein, dated 4ih No-
vember, 1782 : 'That already more than fifty years ago the request
liad been made that the old burial-ground surrounding the old
church might be appropriated for a garden for the minister — that,
liovvever, in consequence of a wrong conception of some of the
residents (who, however, have long since departed this life, but at
the time prayed that whereas their ancestors and blood-relations
were buried there, their bones might be left untouched), the Governor
and Council had been pleased for the reason adduced by them, and
likewise, because at that time there was still sufficient ground in
the village inde| endcnt of the graveyard, for Krven and Gardens;
to order that the said graveyard should be left untouched — that
however present necessities require it that, in order to ])romote the
j^rosperity of the village by increasing the number of its residents
settled here for the purpose of making a living, more Erven should
be given out or sold; that no more suitable ground fur the purpose
could be selected than the old graveyard, which, if left uncovered
with buildings, would remain of little or no use to the district and
the Church — that therefore the Memorialists, after having communi-
cated with the Church Council on the subject, had considend it
advisable (best geaelit) to divide (subject to Your Honour's ap-
proval) the said old graveyard, which is at present no longer used,
into separate Erven for the purposes aforesaid, and to sell them for
the benefit of the 'treasuries of the district and the Church; with
the exception, however, of the site on which the old church stood,
on which there may perhaps still be some private or hereditary rights
(Erf-aven), in order to avoid all disjiuiesthat may result theretrom,
and further to enclose that old site witli a wall to be built on the
fiiundatione of the old church, in order to separate it fiom the Erven



Ajypendix. 181

mentioned ; that Memorialists had likewise decided to notify by
advertisement to all those who might have vested rights in, or lay
claim to any family vaults, that they were to report themselves to
the Landdrost with proper evidence iu support of their claims,
within six weeks alter the publication of the notice; but that no one
had within that time submitted any claim or proofs in support of
any, and that therefore Memorialists humbly requested that it might
please the Governor and Council to authorize them to subdivide the
aforesaid old graveyard into building allotments, and sell it in that
manner to the highest bidder for the benefit of the District's Treasury
and the Church.'

" The Council having considered this Memorial decided to comply
with its contents, expressly stipulating however that the wall, as
mentioned in the Memorial, shall be built up, iu order to keep the
site of the old church intact."

When I was very young indeed, and people delighted in ghost-
stories, and, what is more, sincerely believed in them ; I could not —
as I saw, in my boyish mind, no reason why I likewise should not
believe what the old people tlieu told me — conceive why "in the
witching hour of night " a certain Landdrost (dead, of course) was
said always to ride around the church at night on his white liorse,
surrounded by his pack of hounds, and why lie did not select a more
convenient and less confined spot for himself and his hunting-pack.
It was said that he could not rest in his grave, because of something
or other that he had done, and that he had, one day or night, I am
not quite sure, communicated what it was to the minister, who,
however, had positively refused to reveal the secret. Grown older,
however, and fully ajipreciating the important bearings of a legend
among what was a hundred years ago a simple, and, for the greater
part, unlettered community, but, at the same time, one imbued with
deeply religious principles, and the conviction accordingly, that the
desecration of the graves of the dead, as effected by the sale of the
old graveyard, could not but be looked upon by God, as it was
looked upon by the community, which had no power to prevent the
sacrilege, otherwise than as a sin of the deejiest dye ; I came to the
conclusion that that nightly ride took place because it was supix)sed
that the Landdrost, having disturbed the resting-]ilace of the dead,
was not allowed to rest himself, and that accordingly his nocturnal
ride aroimd and among the tombstones of the churchyard was
certainly not one which he might be considered to have at anytime en-
joyed with any degree of satisfaction to himself. And 1 have purposely
made reference to this subject here, because the graveyards of the
metropolis having been chised, the questional once arisi'S, what will
one day be done with them, and the corjises which they contain —
many of the latter being enclosed in imperishable teak-wood coffins ?



182 Appendix.

An act of gross Vandalism was committed when the old Dutch
Reformed Church was broken down some fifty years ago, and all the
graves within and around it levelled like a threshing-floor — when all
the tombstones were removed and carried ofi" or thrown away — when
all the hatchments and other interesting monuments of the past
similar to those still preserved in the old Wolvendal church at
Colombo, were pitched aside as so much useless lumber, and of which
I succeeded in saving merely a few of the less important ones. It
was likewise an act of Vandalism when the old graveyard of Stellen-
bosch was converted into building sites and sold; and therefore it is
a pertinent question to ask, whether the same fate is awaiting the
graveyards adjoining Somerset Road ? Should no timely steps be
taken, the same results may be confidently expected ; and those who
have a proper reverence for the "Acres of God," will again be
grieved by the deplorable sight of further desecrations in the capital
of South Africa, of the resting-places of the dead.



( 183 )



APPENDIX.

(Pages 45 and 47.)

Admikal du Quesne, Jun.

After I had already placed my manuscript in the hands of the
publishers, I received an important communication from the vener-
able keeper of the Archives at the Hague, for which, and for other
pieces of valuable information so kindly and readily sent me, I am
sincerly grateful. Mr. Van der Berg informs me that there is no
evidence among the Archives to show that a number of fugitives —
eighty families — arrived here under the leadership of young Ad-
miral du Quesne, so that his reply settles the question as I sub-
mitted it to him. At once, however, another arises, namely,
whether, although Du Quesne did not personally conduct the fugi-
tives to the Cape, he might not have been one of the originators of
the scheme, and, although taking a deep interest in it, have pur-
posely kept himself as much as possible in the back-ground, in
consequence of the very delicate position in which he was placed as
an officer in the service of Louis XIV., from whom no friendly
relations with the Netherlands could ever be expected ? It must
be borne in mind that he was well acquainted with the Cape, and
could su])ply the fugitives with most important information, and,
as the Archives mention, he had always been on the most intimate
terms with Commander Simon van der Stel. The fugitives wanted
a home ; the Colony required agriculturists, viticulturists, mechanics,
and other useful kinds of emigrants, and could suit itself famously
with the homeless French. Hence it is not improbable that a
French Protestant, who knew India so well, would suggest the
Cape as a suitable home for liis fellow-religionists who had been ex-
pelled from their own country. Moreover, when we consult the
circular, jiublished by the Marquis, regarding the capabilities of
Mascarenhas for colonization, it becomes very evident that he must
have obtained his information from some person fully acquainted
with the place, and one able to judge of its sujierior advantages.
And why might not that person have been Admiral du Quesne,
the cousin of the Marquis ?



( 181 )



APPENDIX.

(Page 49.)



MOXS. POIRIER.

Last year there were piiLlislicd at St. Helena copious extracts
from the records of that Island, compiled by the late Hudson Ealph
Janisch, Esq., C.M.G., and Governor of St. Helena, a copy of which
has been kindly placed at my disposed by W. Eawbone, Esq., of
this city, and from which I have taken the liberty to extract the
following :

" After divers attempts to make some ]irofitable productions on
the Island, we Lave at length fixed upon the planting of vines and the
n'laking of wine and brandy, which all men, of whatsoever quality,
that ever were upon the Island that we have conversed with, do
unanimously agree to be a feasible attempt. "We have agreed with
Captain Poirycr upon terms contained in his instructions. He is an
honest man, and lived formerly in great plenty upon his own land
in France, where he made 200 or 300 hogsheads of wine and brandy
per annum. But being a Protestant, he was driven from all he had
in France by that violent persecution which hath caused us to malss
the conditions of his entertainment the more reputable as to his
own person. All the Vineroons that go with him are likewise French
Protestants, but we must tell you the French are excellent servants
if you keep them under and hold them sharply to their duty, but
are apt to grow insolent and negligent if they be not held to their
work as they are in France — and if you give them ear, they will
not leave craving and asking, against which troublesome humour
you must arm yourselves irresistibly if you expect to have any
quietness with them.

"Mons. Poirier, as you will see in our instructions, is for his great
rei")utation to have place at our Council, when he is at the Fort,
and to have the appealacon (ajijiellation) of Captain, though under
the i)ay of a sergeant. He speaks little English yet, but we hope
he Uiay learn more in his jmssage, and that by the time he comes



Appendix. 185

to St. Helena, his sons may be perfect in our laiifrunf^e." — Letter
from the Court of the Directors of the English East India Company
to the Governor and Council at St. Helena, 15th Ajyril, 1G89.

" Captain Stephen Poirier, three sons and five daughters, Samuel
de Fountain (?de la Fontaine) and nine other French Vineroons
landed from the shij) Benjamin." — Journal, (Jth January, 1690.

"Matthew Pouncey availing himself of the permission to go to
Bombay (being one of the condemned) offered his land called
Pounces to the Government, which they gladly buy, Ixnng con-
tiguous and abounding on part of the Company's great plantations,
and there being a good quantity of provisions on it, a gfiod supply
towards the maintenance of Captain Poryyr and family." — Journal,
IGth January, 1(190.

" Governor Kelinge died this day, Tuesday. Captain Poirier
(having previously been Deputy-Guvernor by succession, and not
only placed in the Council by the Company, but elected to succeed
to the post of Governor of the place) in a private Council meeting
lield on the 26th June, 1694, at wiiich meeting there were present
Governor Kelinge, Poirier, and three Commanders of shijis — in case
Kelinge should die — and the said meeting having beforehaml con-
ferred with all the ofticers of the garrison, acknowledges that it has
been the pleasure of Providence to order things so as to bring ihe said
Governor Stephen Poirier unto a station which he doth acknow-
ledge is far beyond is desert, and considering that the said ])lace is
of a weight}' and great moment for one person only he hath desired
Mr. Thomas Goodwin to be his assistant." — Journal and Eesolution,
30th November, 1697.

" Governor Poirier records a complaint against Captain Bright for
giving him many ill words in presence of Sergeant Field and
Corporal Maxwell. Notwithstanding the good character the Com-
pany is pleased to give nie by their instructions brought with me,
likewise the commission they have honoured me with, he tuld me
when I came here I was but a Vincroon, and that I have l)een
hanged in France in efTigies, and that it way nut for Religi'in's sake,
but for Treason or Pebellion — of which slanderous wurds I do
appeal to my Pight Honourable ^la^ttTs to do me justice — such
words tending only tocontcmiitand tosliglit me,and to witlidrawthe
pco]ile's hearts of this Island from me, and so consei]uently to come
to dangerous consequences, and to combine with the French, whom
all Europe knows, the}' boldly both in words and writing do what
they can to liide such horrid ])crsecutions (if they could) from all
good men." — Council Minute, 29//* April, 17(X).

" Captain Bright refuses to come into the Fort after the Governor
had set the watch and Centreys within and without tiie Fort, being
nigh 11 at night. At 12 o'clock Captain Bright came to the



186 Appendix.

Fort, but I would not lend the keys to humour him. When I
went the grand rounds he did not fail to stop me, drew his sword,
set ye point to my lireast, swearing and cursing me, said he would
have the word — I did answer him that I did not know him at that
post, and that I ordered one Captain Bright at 11 o'clock to come
to his lodging within the Fort, but refusing to come I could not
know him then : after many fiourishings of his sword, cursing me,
he went away — so submit to my Honourable Masters whether such
proceedings are lawful or no." — Council Minute, 12th May, 1700.

" Mr. Goodwin refuses flatly to obey the Governor's order, to
reckon with three soldiers who had been enlisted by the Governor,
but finally consents on finding the Governor would borrow the
money under protest at 8 per cent." — Council Minute, 1th July,
1700.

" Captain Bright dismissed by the Company and Captain John
Fowlis sent out as Deputy Governor in the hope that he and
Mr. Goodwin will co-operate with our Governor." — Letter from the
Court of Directors, Gih October, 1701.

" Great increase of drunkenness — Governor Poirier's Proclama-
tion — said vices have brought and will bring again on this Island
the judgment of God Almighty. We forbid all assemblies upon
what account soever to be held at any house whatsoever past
10 o'clock in the evening, whether it be shi[)ping time or not.
Every inhabitant to repair to their own House immediately after
Taptoo, which shall be henceforth beaten, but at tenn of ye clock."
— Council Minute, 2Qth Augtcst, 1701.

" Our present Governor's continued care for discountenancing vice,
and promoting virtue we very well approve and earnestly recommend
to all of you to lay your shoulders heartily to so good a work, as you
expect the Divine protection and blessing, and our favour. When those
in authority set a good exam])le the reformation of their inferiors is
therefore rendered much more facile. Your care for keeping the
Lord's Day we approve, but you must at the same time remember
that works of necessity and mercy are allowed at all times, so that
when any ships are in danger of losing their passage, or otherwise
straightened in want of time, they should not be restrained from
fetching water or other refreshments on ye Lord's Day, nor on ye
other hand ought they be allowed to do any service work on that
day which can without prejudice be deffered to the next." — Letter
from the Court of Directors, Wfh Aj)ril, 1701.

" Doctor John Kerr, the chaplain, a most dangerous man, and was
always getting people by the ears worse than ever Mr. Humphrey
was — had boasted that he came here on purpose to ruin the French
Rogue and Refugee — meaning the Governor.

" Mr. John Alexander, Clerk of Council, informs the Council that



Appendix. 187

drinking Punch with Doctor Kerr, in company with the Sergeant
and Corjioral, Dr. Kerr abused the Governor, saying that he stood
up in church, in time of Divine Service, like a French Hogonot
proud fool (and, I think, Rogue too), when he ought to have kneeled
down to make his confession. Moreover said, he had gotten the
copy of a letter that the Governor wrote to the late Deputy-Governor
deceased ; and that he had sent one copy to the Archbishop of
Canterbury and another copy to the Bishop of London, for he had
VTTOte very reflectingly of them, especially of the Bishop of London,
and said further that he had done the Governor's business for him
and was sure he would be turned out when the next ship comes
from England.

" Dr. Kerr accuses the Governor of disloyall words in having said
* that the Royal race of Stuarts were an unfortunate family and
never did any good for England.' 2nd. ' That tlie Parliament of
England did very ill in choosing Queen Ann to be Queen of England,
for she, being a woman, could not head the Army or Confederacy, and
the Parliament had better chose the Prince of Hanover to head the
Army and Confederacy.' 3rd. This deponent also swears that the
said Governor said, ' If I were as Prince George, if they did not make
me King, I would go over to Denmark and never see the Queen
again.'

" Dr. Ken calls John Oswald for proof, Oswald says that in a
conversation about Oliver Cromwell, where the said Cromwell was
called Usurper and Traitor, the Governor said, ' that those things
might be let alone, for when he was alive no man durst say so.' " —
Council Minute, 10th February, 1703.

Dr. Kerr made everything as uncomfortable as possible for the
Governor, who had the further misfortune of not long afterwards
beholding two French vessels under Dutch colours cutting out from
the roadstead about 10 o'clock in the morning two valuable English
East Indiamen, the Queen and the Dover, and afterwards being
severely censured fur the loss by the Directors, wlio write as follows :
" We must say that you are intinitely to blame in your management,
and we wonder you can have the assurance to write to us tliat h;ui
not Mr. Dolben told you that there was no French ship in India,
you had not been so secure. Is that an excuse, think you, to be
given to us? We think rather it deserves the severest censure.
We are also told that our Governor has been unaccountably careless
about the Fortifications ; that the spunges are not fit for the gunns,
that there is scarce rods for the gunns, and when the Governor has
been friendly told (by) us to remedy such things he abuses people
for their kindness. What satisfaction can be given us for his mis-
carriage ; does he think it enough to throw the blame on others which
so probably is his own? " &c. — See Despatch, 2,Qth December, 170G.



188 Ai^pendix.

On the 2V)th August, 1707, the following is minuted : " The
Governor indisposed in the country since the 12th August. On the
following day tlie Journal mentions that he was taken speechless,
and continued so almost to the very hour he dieil, which was on
Monday night, the 8th Septemher, 1707, having lingered a long
time of a dropsical distemper."

" Governor Foirier's will, after the usual preamble, begins thus :
* I give thanks to my God for the miraculous means of which He
made use to withdraw me out of my house in France. Protesting
that there was no human means in it, and that I heard His only
voice, when the Judges sent to take me (in allusion to his troubles in
France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes), saying, Come out
hence, come out hence — which I did to their coufasion, and so I came
out from under the slavery of Babylon. I give Him also my most
humble thanks for having provided me an Azile protection and
entertainment under good and auspicious Masters, the Right Honour-
able English East India Company, although loaded perpetually of
trouble and vexations by traitors and unjust enemies, only because
I never sought but the good and advantage of my illustrious masters.
God grant he lay not their sins to their charge.' "

His successor, Governor Roberts, does not appear to have had a
very high opinion of him — although it strikes the reader of these
records that there were never at the same time more than about two
people on friendl}' terms with one another on the Island — for he
s;iys in his despatch of the 1st December, 1710: "Had Governor
Poirier done anything to prevent the Island going to Rack and
Ruine, we should have the less need of hands, and our labour and
time been employed to much better service. Whatever service that
gentleman had done is a secret to every soul upon the Island."

The Venerable Bishop of St. Helena, whose extracts from the
Records I have embodied in the preceding lines, further mentions
that he has been unable to find any account of Governor Poirier's
family, and thinks that it is probable that they left the Island after
his death, and likewise that the cultivation of the vine was soon
discontinued as unsuccessful.

This Colkction of Records is a most valuable publication, and
throws a broad stream of light on the character and proceedings of
the English East India Company which cannot be read without
great benefit.

Regarding the condition of affairs at the Cape in 1795, it says,
20th May (1795) : "Detail of proceedings relative to an expedition
to the CajDe of Good Hope. Mr. Pringle, the Agent from the Secret
Committee, lately come down from the Cape, gives information that
the garrison of the Cape consisted of about 1000 regular troops ;
that Colonel Qordon, the Commander-in-Chief, was ivell disposed.



Appendix. 189

'J'hat if the Dutch at the Cape had received information uf the French
having overrun Holland, they would turn out Gordon, and put in
Democrats in command. But if Colonel Gordon was supported in
time, the garrison miyht he got to join us, and so save the place, and
get possession of the Dutch East Indiamen at the Cape (li in
number). Arranged that H.M.iS. Sceptre and some of the Indiamen
here, with a reinforcement from the garrison, should proceed at once
to the Cape, viz. : 300 men from the gariison, two field-pieces, and
two chests of Treasure, about £10,000. On the 1st June the
Expedition embarked and [was] ready to sail for the Cape, when the