contents

Introduction to the Resolutions
of the Council of Policy of Cape of Good Hope


VOC trading post/fort at Rio de la Goa , Mozambique (1720-1729)

The VOC’s occupation of Delagoa Bay was an important enterprise. In 1719 the Lords Seventeen decided to establish a trading post at the site and the Chamber of Amsterdam equipped an expedition to establish the post. This new settlement would be under jurisdiction of the Cape . All important court cases were to be heard at the Cape of Good Hope and for all cases except the most insignificant ones an appeal could be lodged with the Court of Justice at the Cape.

In November 1720 the expedition arrived in Table Bay . However, shortly after their arrival the leader of the expedition, “opperhoofd” Claas Nieuwhof, died. On 3 December 1720 the Council of Policy appointed its clerk, Willem van Taak, as Nieuwhof’s successor. The expedition left the Cape on 14 February 1721 and reached its destination on 29 March. The group pitched camp at the site where Lourenço Marques [now Maputo ] would eventually emerge. The expedition experienced extreme difficulties, since sixteen men died of Delagoa fever between 27 April and 31 May. Both Willem van Taak, who died on 31 May, and his successor Casparus Swertner were victims of the fever. (Early explorers in Africa were unaware of the fact that a particular species of mosquito was the carrier of this deadly disease, more commonly known as malaria, literally meaning ‘unhealthy air’.) On 19 April 1721 the settlement was also attacked and taken over by the crews of two pirate ships. Agricultural activities did not meet expectations and there was a series of crop failures. Due to extreme setbacks its name was changed to “ Fort Lijdzaamheid ” [Fort of Patience/Long-suffering].

Because the settlement experienced countless problems the Governor and the Council of Policy at the Cape regarded the trading post as a grave liability and often stated that it was a far greater burden than a profit to the Company. After many hardships, setbacks and a great loss of lives at the outpost the Council of Policy was eventually ordered and authorised to command the breaking up of camp at Rio de la Goa and the return of the remaining VOC servants to the Cape (15 November 1729, C. 84).

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