5.— SOME REMARKS ON THE WHITE POPULATION AT 

 THE CAPE BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE 

 HUGUENOTS. 



By E. C. GODEE-MOLSBERGEN. 



Tlie Dutch East India Company did not allow any Netherlander 

 to go to India, except in the service of the Company. What were the 

 several positions open to the servants ? The posts to be filled showed 

 clearly the double character of the Company — both merchant and 

 ruler. 



Originally it was nothing but a mercantile body, not intending 

 to conquer territory or to form an extensive realm in the far east. 

 Gradually, as contracts and treaties granting the right of trade had 

 be^n entered into, the Company found itself compelled to enforce upon 

 the indigenous princes the due observance of these agreements. A 

 military force thus became necessary, not only on board the Indiamen 

 against corsairs and Eui-opean enemies, but also in forts and strong- 

 holds, built in the various countries and on islands, opulent in spices 

 and merchandise. Trade, however, was the principal aim, and the 

 directors in the Netherlands considered the militaiy requirements as 

 a necessary evil. It is obAious that the post of merchant was con- 

 sidered of the highest importance in a trading company — the stepping- 

 stone to greater honour, not seldom to the position of Governor-General 

 of India. 



Many of the merchants got the post by reason of being relatives 

 and friends of the directoi's or of high officials ; but man}' a merchant 

 started his career as a soldier or pilot and rose to the highest rank. A 

 complete staff of bookkeepers, cashiers, storekeepers, clerks, lirc, assisted 

 the merchants. 



The soldiers were in the most miserable state of all. Their wages 

 were excessively low (15s. per month) and were paid in a vevy queer 

 way, viz., one-quarter in coins of depreciated %alue, so as to give a 

 prctfit of 38i per cent, to the Company, one-quarter in wearingappareh 

 making a gain of 75 per cent, to the same. The rest was left on 

 account and settled in Holland after their return, when the five years' 

 service was completed. Still, becoming a soldier might mean putting 

 the foot on the first step of the ladder, leading to honour and riches. 

 The majority, liowever, failed to reach even a position that would 

 ensure them a living wage, and came to ignominy. The best of them 

 tried to get an improvement of position either by applying for a post 

 as carpenter, mason, cooper, >kc., or by being released from service and 

 becoming " vrijburgers " (freeburghers) under the rule and jurisdiction 

 of the Company. The higher officials consitlered their posts in the 

 various settlements as temporar\' ; at any moment they might be 

 summoned to act elsewhere. 



In India many free colonists were to be found ; as, in the early 

 years of the Company, nf) European women were at hand, soldiei's and 



