1761 Johan Spring in t veld
This is a case of violent conflict between a knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’, placed in sole charge of the labourers on one of their owner’s isolated frontier farms, and one of the slaves, leading to the latter’s death.1 It is intriguing for the unusually clear details it gives of the attitudes of the slave and Khoi workers to their situation: their resentment to working on a Sunday, their challenges to a newly appointed knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ who was struggling to assert his authority, and the relationship of the Khoi and slave workers to each other. The cause of the slave Hermanus’s death was not proved, but it appears from this evidence that he committed suicide rather than face punishment.2 The case was not sent to the Council of Justice and there is no record that any further action was taken by the authorities.
Footnotes
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The presence of knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ as overseers of slaves was typical either of farms with a large workforce or, as in this case, on secondary farms or cattle posts where the owner was absent. Disputes between them and slaves were often, as here, over day-to-day working issues. Knechten were in a vulnerable position as supervisors but without the ultimate authority of the owner, Ross 1983: 31-2 and Worden 1985: 108-9. Shell (1994: 10-26) argues that knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ were in a more temporary and insecure labour position than slaves, although this refers to knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ who were supplemenatary labourers, a role that they played especially in the earlier decades of the colony when slaves were in short supply (for examples in this volume, see 1719 Jonas van Manado and 1764 Jan Olivier). For other cases involving knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ overseers, see 1726 Scipio van de Cust; 1745 Cupido van Bengal; 1774 Michiel Radijn; and 1779 Ontong van Boegies. ↩
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It is not clear whether Johan Spring in ’t Veld was taking him to his owner or to the judicial authorities in Stellenbosch for chastisement. Either way, Hermanus realised that he would receive severe punishment for attacking a knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’. ↩
1/STB 3/11 Criminele Verklaringen, 1759-1782, unpaginated.
Statement given, on the requisition of the honourable landdrost, Adriaan van Schoor, by the soldier Johan Christian Spring in ’t Veld, of competent age, being of the following contents, namely:
That by eventide on the 17th of this current month October 1761, on the farm of the burgher Johannes Groenewald, situated over the mountains and named the Steenboks Rivier, the testifier, who has supervision there as knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’, ordered a certain Bastaard-Hottentot1 called Adriaan, resident at that place, to help get the yokes ready so that they could start ploughing the following morning, which was a Sunday, which he did. On the morning of the following day, the testifier started to plough with the said Bastaard Adriaan and a certain slave of the aforementioned Groenewald, named Hermanus, whereupon the testifier ordered another Hottentot named Cobus, who was also there at the plough, to continue ploughing in the meantime in the place of the testifier until he, who wanted to go to the house to drink coffee, had returned. That the testifier then went into the house and had hardly poured a bowl of coffee, when the aforementioned slave Hermanus suddenly came running in, saying to him: “There are bontebokken in the wheat”, whereupon the testifier answered: “I shall go there now and drive them out”. The testifier then also took a rifle, went to the wheat fields and drove the said animals out. That, returning again, the testifier, while the said slave and both the Hottentots were busy outspanning the oxen, told them: “You must not yet span out, but still have to draw a furrow with the plough to lead the water to the ploughed earth, then we can start working tomorrow with making the clay”. Whereupon the Hottentot Cobus answered the testifier that the ploughshare in front of the plough-wheel had gone off, which had to be repaired, which the testifier also, after having put his gun in the house, did at once, when, after they had again started ploughing, the rope broke, which rope, after it too was repaired by the testifier, broke for the second time during the ploughing, whereupon the aforementioned slave Hermanus said: “All the work which is done on a Sunday, is of the devil, and is accursed”.2 Which words he repeated yet again, when the testifier answered: “At Stellenbosch too you have had to plough and sow,3 for three days now you have not been able to work because of the rain and it is the work of your baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans., and not mine; when this furrow has been done, then you can stop, this is the last one for today”. Whereupon the said slave Hermanus replied: “If the baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans. knew of everything that is happening on this farm, then you would have it very bad, and I will tell the baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans. myself”, upon which the testifier said to him: “Then you have to tell me what it is”, while the said jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. told the testifier, again: “Yes, to send meat and butter to sick people at the warm baths,4 if the baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans. knew that, you would have it very bad”, whereupon the testifier again told him: “You are lying like a canalje,5 and for that I shall punish you”, upon which utterance the testifier asked the two aforementioned Hottentots if they could say that of him, which was not answered by them. The testifier then said to aforementioned Hermanus: “You have always been a tell-tale here on this farm, and you are trying to treat me as you did the other knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’, but I will take care of that.6 In the meantime I shall beat you solidly over this, and then you can go and complain to the baasbaasIn seventeenth-century Dutch this was used both in the sense of ‘head’ (e.g. ‘head carpenter’) and ‘master’. In South Africa the second meaning developed further, and thus baas came to be a synonym for meester (‘master’). It was the form that slaves (and Khoikhoi) would use to address male Europeans., if you consider yourself to be in the right”, whereupon the testifier stepped towards the said Hermanus with the intention of dealing him some blows with his hand, yet before the testifier had come close, the slave came towards him, grabbed him by the hair, whereupon the testifier flicked from his head the hand of the said slave Hermanus, then threw him down on the ground and then dealt him some blows with his hand, being of the intention to let him then go free. However, when the said Hermanus had got up again, he once again reached for the testifier, saying: “You motherfucking sailor,7 I will get you!”, upon which the testifier again threw him down and dealt him some more blows with his hand, since he did not have anything with him with which he could defend himself at that time. The aforementioned Bastaard Hottentot Adriaan and the Hottentot Cobus then called to the testifier: “Come on, stop, what do you have to do with this jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour., let go of the jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. at once”, and suddenly, leaving the oxen there, they jumped behind the testifier, who then, thinking that they too wanted to attack him, quickly ran to the house where he fetched two guns, of which the one was loaded with small-shot and the other with a bullet, whereupon the testifier again went to the plough, having both guns with him, and when he arrived there, he again ordered them to continue making the said furrows, whereupon they continued ploughing in silence.
After the ploughing of the furrows had been completed, the testifier ordered them to outspan the oxen at the old house, which they also did. The testifier then commanded the aforesaid Hottentots Adriaan and Cobus to tie up the slave Hermanus so that the testifier could take him to Stellenbosch. Hereupon the Hottentots replied: “We do not want to tie him up, because when this jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. comes loose again, he would then stab us for it”, that the testifier in reply to this told them: “You must tie him up, or else I shall shoot your legs full of small shot”, but they still did not want to do it. However, at this moment, the aforementioned slave Hermanus and the Bastaard Adriaan very suddenly went to the old house, and as the testifier followed them, he called to the Bastaard Adriaan, who had already run into the house: “You better tie him up now”, to which he received as answer: “I cannot find him, he is already gone”, whereupon the testifier replied again: “You must bring this jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour., he could not have disappeared from the house”. After the testifier had watched the said house for about an hour and a half, the said slave Hermanus, together with the Bastaard Adriaan, came from the house towards him, while the slave said to him: “You must forgive me”, adding: “I shall never again do that to a Christian”;8 to which the testifier answered him: “No, jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour., for a long time you have had it in mind to do this to me, and you will do it to another one as well”, while the said Hermanus requested: “Let me go free then”, with the testifier saying: “No, I will tie you up” and, to the Hottentots: “Let him go, take your spades and finish the furrow, so that the water can come down”.
That upon this, the testifier went to the house, while letting the slave Hermanus walk in front of him, and, when they came to the door of the house, the same did not want to go in, but again requested the testifier to forgive him, and to let him go this once, as [he] would never do it again; which the testifier answered by again saying: “No, I have now made up my mind to take you to Stellenbosch”, while moreover pushing the said Hermanus forwards with the barrel of the gun and in this way entered the house, where the testifier found himself alone with the slave, ordering him to sit down in a corner of the voorhuijsvoorhuijsLiterally the ‘front house’, this referred to the first area entered from the main door or stoep (porch). In most houses this was a room, although in the later design of some Cape houses it referred to a narrower passage (like a hall or vestibule) flanked by one or more front rooms., yet he remained standing and then, while the testifier was taking a bowl of coffee, he very suddenly ran from the house at great speed, whereupon the testifier took the gun which was loaded with shot-gun and ran after him, calling out that he should stand or otherwise he would shoot at him, but as the aforementioned slave Hermanus continued his running, the testifier shot him from behind in the legs, at which shot the said slave suddenly fell down to the ground, and when the testifier got to him and saw that he was not moving, he presumed him to be dead, notwithstanding that the testifier did not see even the least bit of blood, calling upon this both the aforementioned Hottentots and ordered them to pick up the slave and to take him into the house, which was done by them. The testifier then commanded them to fetch a horse and to saddle it up, while he meanwhile continually kept his eyes on the aforesaid Hermanus, and, seeing that the same was moving slightly, putting his hand at the side in his pocket and drawing a knife from it, the testifier very quickly leaped onto him and wrested the knife from him. The testifier then also discovered that the same had been wounded at the back with some bits of shot in his rump and legs.
That having got the horse, the testifier commanded the aforementioned Hottentots Adriaan and Cobus to take care that the wounded should not get away, nor that he should obtain a knife, that they must watch him well during his absence. After which the testifier then rode to the farm of the burgher Wessel Wesselsz. and, arriving there, asked the said Wessels if he would not9 [come] with the testifier, or otherwise let somebody else come with him to have a look at what had happened and, if so required, to help carry … The burgher Willem Brouwer, currently working at aforesaid Wessels as knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’, [then] rode with the testifier and that when they got back at the aforesaid farm, at approximately … three o’clock in the afternoon, the aforementioned two Hottentots came to meet them, saying: “[The] jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. is already dead”, whereupon … retorted: “How come this jongenjongenLiterally ‘boy.’ In Dutch it was common to use this word also to refer to male servants, irrespective of age. At the Cape, however, this usage was extended to slaves and then became exclusive, so that jongen (also in the deflected form jong) came to mean ‘male slave’, such that Afrikaans lost the use of the word to mean ‘boy’ and instead uses seun (from Dutch zoon) for both ‘boy’ and ‘son.’ In this primary meaning, the word has become obsolete in modern Afrikaans, except for the archaic terms tuinjong (‘garden boy’) and plaasjong (‘farm boy’), in the sense of male workers of colour. [be dead], because from the shot he could not have died”, to which they again answered: “He had obtained a knife while we went outside for a while, and [had] stabbed himself to death”.
That the testifier, together with the aforementioned Willem Brouwer, went into the house and had the aforementioned slave Hermanus stripped naked, when they found that he was stabbed in his right side, underneath the short …, and that the testifier then had the dead body taken to the aforementioned old house. On the night of the following day, the testifier, together with the said Willem Brouwer, rode away from the aforesaid farm when the testifier, after separating from the aforesaid Brouwer, then continued his journey hither in order to report everything that had happened.
There being nothing more to relate, the testifier asserts to be convinced of the certainty of his statement as in the text, while offering to subsequently confirm this, his statement, at any time, if it may be so required.
Thus recorded at Stellenbosch on 21 October 1761, in the presence of the deputy Coenraad Berkman and the messenger of court Johan Marthinus Smalbergen, requested as witnesses hereto.
[signed] Johan Christian Springensfeld.
As witnesses, [signed] C. Berkman, J.M. Smalbergen.
With my cognisance, [signed] A. Faure, secretary.
Footnotes
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See 1752 April van de Caab, note 1 (summary). ↩
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It appears from this sentence, and the following exchange of words, that Hermanus was unhappy about working on a Sunday. On the practice of giving slaves a day free on Sundays, see 1705 Cinna, n. 2. ↩
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Groenewald’s main farm produced wine and was in the Stellenbosch district (J 201, Stellenbosch opgaafopgaafThe annual census return, for tax purposes, which enumerated burgher families, knechten, slaves, livestock, and crops sown and harvested. Only the names of the household head and spouse were recorded., 1761) and this is where Hermanus had been working before. This may well have been where Groenewald was during this episode. Johan Spring in ’t Veld appears to have been working as the knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ manager of Groenewald’s second farm in the Caledon region, where this episode took place. ↩
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The mineral baths at Caledon. It seems that Johan Spring in ’t Veld was selling the produce of his employer’s farm for his own profit. Since the beginning of the eighteenth century these baths were visited by people for medical purposes (Schoeman 2001: 357-58). ↩
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On the meaning of this, see 1759 Slammat van Boegies, n. 3. ↩
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Johannes Groenewald employed a series of knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ on one-year contracts. There is no record in the knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ hiring contracts of anyone by the name of Johan Spring in ’t Veld, although he did hire a corporal by the name of Adolph Johan Hendrik van Coller in June 1761, CJ 2897, document 24. From this statement it appears that Johan Spring in ’t Veld was a newcomer and that previous knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ had had a difficult time with Hermanus, or at least Johan claimed so. ↩
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At the beginning of this document, Johan Spring in ’t Veld is said to hold the rank of soldier, but it could be that Hermanus associated knechtenknechtenLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ with matrosen, as the previous knechtknechtLiterally ‘male servant,’ but because most European knechten at the Cape were used as slave overseers, this original meaning gradually eroded and the word ended up meaning primarily (as in modern Afrikaans), ‘farm foreman.’ employed by Johannes Groenewald was the matroos Paul Frederick Wolk van Hamburg, CJ 2896, document 41. Nonetheless, Hermanus’s insult was compounded by the fact that sailors lacked social status in comparison to soldiers or other ranks (Worden 2002a: 55-6), and it may well have been used as an insult here. ↩
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On the use of this term to refer to Europeans, see 1792 Mentor van Mosambique. ↩
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From here onwards, for most of this page, a small part of the side has been torn off, with the effect that one or two words are missing at the end of every line. In some cases it is possible to guess confidently which word it was if the first few letters have remained. These will be suggested in square brackets. In cases where it is impossible to hazard a guess with any safety, ellipses indicate the lacunae. ↩
Relaas gegeven, ter requisitie van den heer landdrost, Adriaan van Schoor, door den soldaat Johan Christiaan Spring in ’t Veld, van competenten ouderdom, zijnde van den volgenden inhoud, namentlijk:
Dat op den 17e deser lopende maand October 1761, den relatant op de plaats van den burger Johannes Groenewald, gelegen over de bergen, genaamt De Steenboks Rivier, alwaar denselven als knegt het opsigt is hebbende, tegens den avond aan seekere Bastaard Hottentot, Adriaan genoemt, aldaar woonagtig, belaste om de jukken te helpen gereed maken, ten eijnde ’s anderendaags ’s morgens, zijnde Sondag, te kunnen aan het ploegen gaan, hetgeene verrigt zijnde geworden, den relatant des volgenden daags ’s morgens zig met gemelde Bastaard Adriaan, en seekere slaaf van opgemelde Groenewald, genaamt Hermanus, aan het ploegen hebben begeven, waarop den relatant een andere Hottentot, genaamt Cobus, mede sig bij de ploeg bevindende, belaste, soo lange in des relatants plaats bij ’t ploegen te blijven, totdat den relatant, die na huijs wilde gaan om koffie te drinken, zoude zijn wedergekomen. Dat den relatant vervolgens in ’t huijs gegaan zijnde, en naaulijks [sic] een kom koffie ingeschonken hebbende, den voormelde slaaf Hermanus schielijk quam binnenlopen, aan hem relatant zeggende: Daar bennen bonte bokken in ’t coorn, waarop den relatant antwoorde: Ik zal aanstonds heen gaan, en die wel uijtjagen, gelijk den relatant ook voorts een roer genomen, na ’t coornland gegaan en gemelte dieren verdreven heeft. Dat den relatant, wederom terugkomende, terwijl opgemelde slaaf met bijde de Hottentotten besig waren de ossen uit te spannen, aan haar zijde: Jijluij moet nog niet uitspannen, maar nog eerst met de ploeg een voren trekken om het water naar de omgeploegde aarde te lijden, dan kunnen wij morgen aan ’t werk gaan en kleijtrappen. Waarop den Hottentot Cobus hem relatant antwoorde, dat het ijser voor de ploegwiel was uitgegaan, ’tgene verholpen moeste worden, hetwelk den relatant, nadat zijn geweer in huijs had geborgen, ook ten eerste gedaan heeft, waarop, nadat weder aan ’t ploegen waren gegaan, het trektouw kwam te breken, hetgeen door den relatant mede weder te
regt gemaakt geworden zijnde, gemelde touw onder ’t ploegen voor de tweede maal breekende, zegde daarop vorensgemelde slaaf Hermanus: Al ’t werk dat op een Zondag word gedaan, haald der duijvel en is vervloekt. Welke woorden nog eens herhaald hebbende, door den relatant wierd beantwoord: Jij hebt op Stellenbosch ook wel op een Sondag moeten ploegen en zaaijen, jij hebt nu in drie dagen niet kunnen werken wegens de regen en het is ’t werk van jouw baas, en niet het mijne, als deese voren gehaald is, dan kan jij uijtscheijden, dit is het laatste voor vandaag. Waarop gedagte slaaf Hermanus repliceerde: Als de baas wist al ’tgeen hier op de plaats passeert, dan zou jij er slegt bij varen, en ik zal ’t de baas self vertellen, daarop den relatant hem weder toevoegde: Dan moet jij het mijn zeggen wat het is, voegende [sic] gemelde jonge hem relatant weder te gemoet: Ja, vleijs en boter na het warme bad aan sieke menschen te zenden, als de baas dat wist, sou jij ’er slegt bij varen; voerende den relatant hem daarop wijders tegen: Jij liegt het als een canalje, en daar zal ik jouw over straffen, op welke gesegden den relatant aan de twee opgemelde Hottentots vraagde of zij dat van hem relatant zeggen konden, hetgene door haar niet wierd beandwoord. Zeggende vervolgens den relatant aan meergemelde Hermanus: Jij bent hier een aanbrenger van de plaats altijd geweest, en jij zoekt zoo met mij te leven, als met de andere knegts, maar daar zal ik zorge voor dragen. Ondertusschen zal ik ’er jouw digt over kloppen, en dan kan jij aan de baas klagen, als jij meent gelijk te hebben; waarop den relatant na geseijde Hermanus toetrad, met voornemen om hem eenige slagen met de hand te geven, dog, eer den relatant hem genadert was, quam denselven hem te gemoed, greep den relatant in ’t hair, waarop den relantant den hand van dikwels gemelde slaaf Hermanus van desselfs hoofd afrukkende, hem voorts tegens de grond smeet, gevende hem vervolgens eenige slagen met de hand en, willens zijnde hem verders te laten gaan, maar even gemelde Hermanus weder opgestaan wesende, greep opnieuws na den relatant, zeggende: Jou maijvoedise1 mattroos, ik zal jou wel krijgen, op ’twelke den relatant denselven weder ter aarde werpende, hem voorts nog eenige slagen met de hand heeft gegeven, als hebbende toen niets bij zig waar mede konde verweeren; hebbende voorts opgemelde Bastaard Hottentot Adriaan en den Hottentot Cobus, den relatant toegeroepen: Toe basta, wat heb jij met die jonge te doen, laat de jonge aanstonds lopen; met eenen de ossen daar latende, sprongen zij vervolgens agter den relatant, dewelken, denkende dat zij hem mede op ’t lijf wilden, voorts schielijks na ’t huijs is gelopen, halende aldaar twee roers, waarvan d’ eene met hagel en d’ andere met een kogel was geladen, gaande hij relatant vervolgens weder na de ploeg, bijde de geweeren bij sig hebbende, en daar gekomend [sic] zijnde, had den relatant haar wijders belast dat zij gemelde voren verders zoude optrekken, waarop zij stilswijgende met het ploegen zijn voortgevaren.
Dat nadat het ploegen van geseijde voren reeds gedaan was, en den relatant haarlieden toen hadde belast de ossen bij het oude huijs uit te spannen, hetgene ook verrigt geworden zijnde, door den relatant aan opgemelde Hottentots Adriaan en Cobus verders wierd gelast dat zij vorensgeseijde slaaf Hermanus souden vast binden, dat den relatant hem vervolgens na Stellenbosch wilde brengen, waarop geseijde Hottentots antwoorden: Wij willen hem niet vast binden, want als die jonge weder loskomt, dan zal hij ons daarvoor een steek geven, dat den relatant haar hierop te gemoet voerde: Jij moet hem vast maken, of ik zal jouw de beenen vol hagel schieten, hetgeene zij egter niet hebben willen doen, maar dikwilsgerepte slaaf Hermanus en den Bastaard Adriaan, haar op dit moment seer schielijk hebbende begeven, na voornoemde oude woonhuijs, hij relatant haar volgende, den Bastaard Adriaan, die reeds in ’t huijs was gelopen, heeft toegeroepen: Jij moet hem maar vast maken, krijgende hij relatant daarop tot antwoord: Ik kan hem niet vinden, hij is al weg, waarop den relatant hem weder te gemoed voerde: Jij moet die jonge brengen, hij kan uijt het huijs niet weg geraakt zijn. Dat nadat den relatant omtrend anderhalven uur bij gemelde huijs opgepast hebbende, geseijde slaaf Hermanus, nevens den Bastaard Adriaan, uit gesegde huijs den relatand te gemoet quam, zeggende gementioneerde slaaf tegens hem relatant: Jij moet het mij vergeven, met bijvoeging: Ik zal dat nooijt weer aan een Christen mensch doen, den relatant hem te gemoed voerde: Neen, jonge, jij hebt dat al lange in zin gehad te doen aan mij, en jij zult het nog aan een ander ook eens doen, versoekende geseijde Hermanus: Laat mij dan los gaan, zeggende den relatant: Neen, ik zal jouw wel vast maken, en tot de Hottentots: Laat hem maar lopen, neemt jouw graven en maakt de voren nu op, dat het water na beneden kan komen.
Dat den relatant daarop na ’t huijs gaande, den slaaf Hermanus, voormeld, voor zig uit liet gaan en, komende bij de deur van ’t huijs, denselven daar in niet willende, maar alsnog versogt dat den relatant het hem vergeven wilde en vrij te laten voor dit maal, zullende het nooit weer doen, den relatant sulx met herseggen van: Neen, ik heb mij nu voorgenomen jouw na Stellenbosch te brengen, beantwoordende, geseijde Hermanus voorts met den tromp van ’t geweer voorwaards stotende, dus in huijs zijn gekomen, alwaar den relatant zig met gemelde slaaf alleen bevindende, hem belaste in een hoek van ’t voorhuijs neder te zitten, dog denselven zig staande gehouden hebbende, vervolgens, terwijl den relatant een kom koffij hadde genomen, met een vaart zeer schielijk het huijs is uijtgelopen, waarop den relatant het geweer genomen hebbende, dat met hagel geladen was, hem voorts is nagelopen, toeroepende dat hij soude staan opdat andersints op hem souden schieten, dog meergeseijde slaaf Hermanus zijnen loop vervolgende, heeft den relatant denselven van agteren na de beenen geschoten, op welke schoot genoemde slaaf plotselings ter aarde is nedergevallen, komende den relatant bij hem en, ziende dat denselven zig niet verroerde, zig aanstellende dood te zijn, niettegenstaande den relatant geen ’t minste bloed zag, riep vervolgens de bijde voormelde Hottentots, haar belastende veelgemelde slaaf op te neemen, en in huijs te brengen, ’tgeene door haar verrigt geworden zijnde, den relatant toen vervolgens heeft belast een paard te halen en deselve op te zadelen, terwijl den relatand ondertusschen zijne oogen geduurig op den voorseijde Hermanus houdende, zag dat denselven zig eenigsints op begevende, sijn eene hand ter zijden in de sak stak, en daar een mes uijthaalde, waarop den relatant zeer geswind toesprong en hem het mes ontweldigde, hebbende den relatant ook ontwaard dat denselven met eenige korrels hagel van agteren op ’t kruijs en in de benen gequetst was.
Dat inmiddels het paard gekregen hebbende, den relatant aan voorengemelde Hottentots Adriaan en Cobus belast hadde wel zorge te dragen, dat den gequetsten niet mogte ontkomen, nog een mes bemagtigen, dat zij in zijn afwese denselven wel moeste oppassen. Waarna den relatant vervolgens is gereden na de plaats van den burger Wessel Wesselsz. en, aldaar komende, versogt of gemelde Wesselsz. met hem relatant geliefde te2 … andersints iemand mede te ge[ven om] hetgene, bij hem was voorgevallen, … besien en des vereijscht werdende, … te kunnen dragen; zijnde … met hem relatant gereden den b[urger] Willem Brouwer, thans als kn[egt bij] voormelde Wesselsz. bescheijden, dat … op voorensgenoemde plaats te rug gek[omen] zijnde, des namiddags na gissing ... drie uuren, dikwils gemelde twee Hott[entots] haar te gemoed quamen, zeggende: ... jonge is al dood; waarop den ... antwoorde: Hoe komt die jonge … want van de schoot kan hij n[iet ge]storven zijn; daar zijlieden weder [op ant]woorden: Hij heeft een mes gekreg[en …] wij even buijten waren gegaan, en … hemselven dood gestoken.
Dat den relatant, nevens opgemelde W[illem] Brouwer in huijs komende, veelge[melde] slaaf Hermanus hebbende laten [uijt]kleeden, toen bevonden hebbende dat hij gestoke[n was] in de regter zijde, onder de korte …, dat den relatant voorts het doode lighaam heeft laten brengen in meergemelde oude woonhuijs. Zijnde den relatant met gemelde Willem Brouwer des nagts daaropvolgende van voorseijde plaats weggereden, hebbende den relatant, nadat van voorseijde Brouwer gescheijden was, vervolgens zijn reijs herwaarts genomen ten eijnde van ’t voorgevallen rapport te doen.
Voorts niets meer relateerende, geeft den relatant voor reedenen van wetenschap als in den text, met presentatie, als het mogte vereijscht werden, dit, sijn gerelateerde, ten allen tijden nader te zullen gestand doen.
Dat aldus passeerde aan Stellenbosch op den 21e October 1761, ten overstaan van den substitut Coenraad Berkman en den geregtsbode Johan Marthinus Smalbergen, als getuijgen hiertoe versogt.
[get.] Johan Christian Springensfeld.3
Als getuijgen, [get.] C. Berkman, J.M. Smalbergen .
In kennisse van mij, [get.] A. Faure, secretaris.
Footnotes
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Usually spelled maaijfoedie in Cape sources, this is derived from Creole Portuguese: mai, ‘mother’ and fodér, ‘to have sex’, hence modern ‘motherfucker’. A fairly common term of abuse at the Cape from the seventeenth century onwards (Franken 1953: 44-5 and Scholtz 1972: 141). ↩
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From here onwards, for most of this page, a small part of the side has been torn off, with the effect that one or two words are missing at the end of every line. In some cases it is possible to guess confidently which word it was if the first few letters have remained. These will be suggested in square brackets. In cases where it is impossible to hazard a guess with any safety, ellipses indicate the lacunae. ↩
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Spring in ’t Veld is obviously the ‘Dutchification’ of this, his German surname. ↩