van der Stel, Simon: on the 14th of November 1639 is born at Mauritius, [172]; at a very early age is sent to Amsterdam to be educated, [175]; is regarded as their protégé by the directors of the East India Company, ib.; when grown up marries and becomes the father of six children, ib.; in 1679 is offered the situation of commander of the Cape settlement, which he gladly accepts, and in October of that year assumes the duty, [176]; like all the chief officials he is prohibited from carrying on farming operations or speculating in cattle, ib.; he must be regarded as a model ruler, [177]; in 1691 he is promoted to be governor, and in 1692 to be councillor extraordinary of Netherlands India, [179]; in February 1699 retires from office, and is succeeded by his eldest son, [180]; on the 24th of June 1712 dies at Constantia, ib.
van der Stel, Willem Adriaan: in February 1699 succeeds his father as governor of the Cape Colony and councillor extraordinary of Netherlands India, [180]; has previously held various situations in the colony, [187]; in November 1699 sets out on a tour of inspection of the settlement, [188]; makes large profits by dealing in wine, [207]; in February 1700 obtains an illegal grant of four hundred morgen of ground at Hottentots-Holland from the Commissioner Wouter Valckenier, [208]; which farm he names Vergelegen, [210]; and immediately begins to build upon and cultivate it, ib.; using the Company’s materials and servants for the purpose, ib.; until it becomes the most highly tilled ground in the colony, [211]; beyond the mountains he holds an immense tract of country, on which he keeps a great number of horned cattle and sheep, [212]; the utmost care is taken that no information of these matters reaches the directors, ib.; on the 15th of March 1701 the directors instruct him to be on guard, as war with France is imminent, ib.; which order he disobeys by frequent and long absence at Vergelegen, [215]; in 1705 some of the farmers send a complaint against him to the Indian authorities, [219]; which is sent back to him for explanation, [220]; on receiving it he immediately concludes that similar charges will be sent to the directors and that his farming operations will become known to them, [223]; to prevent this, if possible, he resorts to the most arbitrary and violent measures, [224]; at this very time a commission in Amsterdam is making inquiry into his conduct, [234]; and a committee appointed by the directors is devising measures for the security of the Cape settlement in case Vergelegen should not be a myth, [235]; the commission of inquiry investigates the matter very thoroughly, and sends in a report, [237]; in accordance with which the directors issue orders for the immediate recall of the governor and the other unworthy officials, [241]; in April 1708 he leaves the colony, [247]; after his dismissal from the Company’s service he publishes the Korte Deductie, as the best excuse he can make for his conduct, [248]; he purchases an estate in the Netherlands, and in July 1723 dies there, [250]
Historical Sketches.
van der Stel’s Korte Deductie: references to, 210, 211, 212, 214, and [248]
Stellenbosch: is founded under Simon van der Stel’s supervision, [177]; defiant conduct of the residents, [231]
System of the Dutch East India Company of paying its officials: is a very bad one, [176]
Tas, Adam: draws up a memorial to the directors, complaining of the governor, [220]; is illegally arrested and committed to prison, [225]; further particulars of the treatment accorded to him, 229 and [242]; journal of, [183]
Text of the orders of the directors of the 26th of April 1668 prohibiting the high officials in the settlement from farming land or dealing in cattle, [179]
Text of the order of the directors of the 27th of June 1699 again prohibiting the chief officials from trading in cattle, [192]
Text of the resolution of the directors on the 22nd of June 1700 concerning emigrants, [185]