Nine European men are released from the…

1657 CE

Nine European men are released from the VOC's service in 1657 , given the status of "free burghers," and granted blocks of land.

They were exempted from taxation for twelve years, but the VOC holds a mortgage on their lands.

They are free to trade with Khoikhoi for sheep and cattle, but they are prohibited from paying higher prices for the stock than does the VOC, and they are told not to enslave the local pastoralists.

They are encouraged to grow crops, especially grains, for sale to the VOC, but they are not allowed to produce anything already grown in the company's own gardens.

By such measures, the VOC hopes not only to increase local production and thereby to pay the costs of the settlement, but also to prevent any private producers from undercutting the VOC's control over prices.

People
Jan van Riebeeck View →

Groups
Khoikhoi View → San (Bushmen) View → Dutch people View → Tswana people View → Xhosa people View → Zulu people View → Nguni people View → Netherlands, United Provinces of the (Dutch Republic) View → Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie or VOC in Dutch, literally "United East Indies Company") View → Cape Colony, Dutch East India Company's View →

Topics
Interaction with Subsaharan Africa, Early European View →

Commodities
Domestic animals View → Grains and produce View → Land View →

Subjects
Origins View → Commerce View → Products View →

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Location: Aksu Xinjiang Uygur Zizhiqu (Sinkiang) China
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