346 An Historical Account of the Formation, Sfc. 



mise of amendment, he released Gerrit Dirkse, Jan Blank, 

 and Willem Huytjens from their chains, in which, according 

 to the sentences against them, they should have remained two 

 years for their perfidious desertion' ; and he also, upon a like 

 promise, reinstated the suspended corporal Joost van der Laak. 



His cattle trade with the Saldanhians continued to prosper ; 

 and was carried on with great spirit. Even the chaplain was 

 employed in it, and was sent with a corporal, and six mus- 

 keteers, to some distance from the fort, to treat with them 

 respecting it. 



The land on the eastern side of Table Bay, near the wreck 

 of the Haerlem, and along the coast as far as Saldanha Bay, 

 was covered Avith fires, which Harry informed him betokened 

 the approach of more people with cattle. 



In a further expedition to the Saldanhians, the chaplain, 

 William Barentz AVyland, was very successful, and returned 

 in the early part of the month with 5 cows, 1 ox, 3 heifers, 3 

 calves, and 8 sheep, which he had obtained from this tribe in 

 one day. But he at the same time communicated the alarm- 

 ing intelligence that the Commander must be on his guard 

 against them. 



He now succeeded better in making butter ; but he observed 

 that this species of cow gave very little milk, and from 18 

 cows he scarcely got in a whole month a half anker of milk, 

 from which no more than 3 or 3| pounds of butter could be 

 made. 



Van Riebeck soon afterwards found himself obliged to send 

 again to these people, who had of late visited the Fort less 

 than formerly, which made him consider them as too indolent 

 to bring their cattle to market, though not more than 22 or 

 23 miles, or about 15 or 16 hours' walking. But their keep- 

 ing at this distance, connected with other circumstances, 

 awakened his suspicions, and induced him to place 29 armed 

 men under the direction of that serviceable man, the chaplain, 

 who was sent to barter with copper and tobacco. On this oc- 

 casion the Commander learnt, that a Chief, who had been the 

 first to visit him, had 80 fighting-men, and possessed from 5 

 to 6000 head of cattle, and about 2000 sheep. It was, at the 

 same time, clearly perceived that his people were treated with 

 less respect ; nay, even the insults of the natives were almost 

 insupportable. But, notwithstanding, no one had dared to 

 act against his orders, by doing the Saldanhians harm. They 

 had only, in the most pressing danger, fired a pistol over their 

 heads for the purpose of frightening them, when they all fled, 

 leaving their cattle behind. Obedient and faithful, how- 

 ever, to their directions, Van Riebeck's party took no impro- 

 per advantage of this circumstance, but called them back, 

 and restored the cattle with repeated assurances of friendship. 



