Inscriptions left by Early European Navigators. 35 



bound likewise for Bantam. It will be remembered that these bold 

 commanders took possession of the country in the name of King 

 James. The Dutch are said to have been present when they 

 executed that resolution, and entered no protest against it. 



The relations of the Dutch, and perhaps also of the Danes, with 

 the Hottentot aboriginals were evidently by that time not all that 

 could be desired. 



Beaulieu's statement of the bodies of Europeans found slain by 

 his men in 1620 goes to prove this ; and even five years later, in 

 William Minors's account of the homeward voyage of the Scout, we 

 find that on the arrival of the vessel in Table Bay in November, 

 1625, the Dutch ship Leiden, bound for Batavia, and nine months 

 out from Holland, came into the roadstead. She supplied the Scotit 

 with necessaries, " as also wee imparted unto them beefes and sheepe 

 which wee goat ashoare and they by their evill useadge of the blacks 

 could not obtain." 



It is highly probable that the Dutch followed in the early days the 

 example of the English, and left inscriptions recording the date of 

 arrival and departure of their ships. But of these none have been 

 found recording the names of the vessels already mentioned. 



On the other hand we find in an account of Eevett, who was in 

 the waters of Table Bay with the English ships Ascension and 

 Union, from April 12th to June 22, 1608, the following entry: 

 " There was found upon the island [i.e. Robben Island] the Flemish 

 General's name [Cornells MateliefJ written upon tynn in the month 

 of April last, so that we imagine they had a favourable and quick 

 passing." 



The number of the graved Dutch inscriptions recovered hitherto is 

 five, the first in date being a very fragmentary one. 



Stone XIV. 



HIER 

 ENRICH . . . IENSC. R 



MAN OP 



Rudely carved across these letters is the date 1618, and the letters 



VINCENT 

 STA GEAERT 



Valentyn, the historian of the Dutch Indies, does not give the 

 name of the Commander of the 1618 squadron. His vessels were : 



