Relation Between The Dutch, San And The Khoikhoi
This essay will be focusing on the interrelations between Dutch, Khoikhoi and the san clan also known as the (Bushman), it will also look at how the regime of colonialism came to be. Secondly it will be discussing the infiltration of European settlers into the cape, looking at the factors that led them to coming to cape of storms. I will also look at the position held by the Khoikhoi’s in the cape, and what role was played by the Dutch as the dominant party/clan. Lastly the distribution of the san and Khoikhoi clans in the cape. For example, the relationship between the Sans, Khoikhoi and the Dutch East Indian Company (DEIC). Also going into debts about how the history of South Africa was formed. The following essay will be based on different research and historical facts researched on the best historians.
Dutch East Indian Company
In 1602 the colony Netherlands wanted to expand trade relations with the colonial enterprise found in Asia. In order for the Dutch East Indian Company (DEIC) to do so they had to travel from one point to Asia using ships. This led to the introduction of the refreshment station which was established in 1652 in the Cape of Good Hope also known as the cape of storm, under Jan van Riebeek the reason for this station was to provide a post where traders could restock their ships with fresh supplies. After the VOCs arrival in the cape they met the Khoikhoi which were the original settlers in the cape. In order for a peaceful living they found a way of communicating by using interpreters such as Harry, Doman and Krotoa (Eva). Dutch traders traded with the local people in order for them to give them land looking at the trade this trading involved things like alcohol and tobacco for the Khoisan’s and cattle’s, land for the VOC. This how the VOC Company was introduced in the cape.
The distribution of the san and Khoikhoi
When looking at the geographical statist of the Cape of Good Hope, some of the people who lived there known as the Khoikhoi were excavators, which meant people who moved a lot from one point to another. Mostly this took place in the cape peninsula, the reason for this movement was so they could protect their cattle’s from cold winter nights, we are even told about how they always moved back during the drier summer months. After the arrival of the Dutch we see how the Khoikhoi had spread all over the Cape Province this meant a large number of the Khoikhois had settled in the cape long before the Dutch.
The first group of Khois was the Strandlopers, a small group of Khoikhoi’s (50 by number) that was under the rule of Chief Harry. This group was the only group that was forced to live in the cape coast where they survived by eating fish. There was also the Cochoqho which was largest group within the Khoikhoi’s themselves, this large group was believed to be 18000 in total and was ruled by two tribal leaders or chiefs and was found in the north of Table Bay and Berg River. The third group was the Gorachoqua also known as the tobacco thieves which was one of the clans that lived near the peninsula this tribe was under the leadership of Choro.
The fourth clans were the two tribes that where found of importance which were the Guriqua tribe that lived between the Sal-danha bay and north of the berg river and the little Namaqua this tribe live north of the olifants river. Another tribes were the two tribes found northwards which were Chainouqua this tribe was the largest tribe in the Khoikhois and also the hessequa which was ruled by chief Gaukuo who would play a big role in the formation of South Africa, both these tribes stretched from the Hottentots – Hollad. The two tribes were the first tribed to come into contact with the white traders. They were other several tribes which were found out of the cape or further away from the cape which were the Gouriqua, Altaqua, outeniqua, Inqua and these tribes were found east of the Gouritz River, these tribes also came into contact with the white settlers after the 17th century or let me say it was early 18century.
The Dutch, San and Khoikhoi
Soon, after the Dutch arrived in South Africa and established a refreshment station it maintained good and peaceful relation with the local people, it also gave a positive report back about the gratitude of the Khoikhoi and how well they were treated by them. So the main objectives of the Dutch were to maintain a good provision and avoid conflict against Khoikhois at all cost, as they wholly dependent on them for cattle’s. Which are things they needed the most in order to continue we the refreshment station. For them to be able to continue with the company without conflicts Jan Van Riebeeck was put in charge to maintain the well running of the company and to make sure the whites did not molest the people. By the end of the company period the situation had changed drastically as most of the Khoi people had become subject to Dutch laws even though they were still regarded as free and independent after a period of time Khoikhoi had now found themselves at a position of labourers employed by the company also known as free burghers = which meant the member of the middle class. Several factors had led to this situation, the first factor being white expansion which meant large occupation of land by this the whites now expanded to areas where they were not rightfully allowed in when they arrived.
As the DEIC grew powerful it now didn’t care what the locals thought as they would occupier small geographical areas based on their position of power without negotiating with the local Khoikhois. As soon as the whites plough, sow and built a fort the locals saw that this was a permanent occupation. And also as free burghers gain their freedom they would settle along the Liesbeek river which was the most prominent river used by the locals when grazing this created disputes and the area would end up being the most disputed area. As the company took over land they used trees and plants to demarcate they land and show that this was company territory by this we the feud that would trigger future dispute and ignite conflict.
The position of the Khoikhoi
During the first few decades the Khoikhoi were regarded as free and independent and they were not subject to any laws. They did everything willingly, for example they disposed their land and cattle’s freely and they could decide whether they wanted to barter their cattle or sell their labour to whites. As time went by and they tribal life disintegrated and their freedom and independence diminished as they increasingly incorporated into the colonial society. And some workers would go and work on the company while other lived freely. Those who became permanent labourers they would live on white farms with their families. Labour relation were determined by verbal contracts in which an agreement was reached to determine the condition of services, remuneration and so forth. There was little or no control by authorities when I came to working relations between the employers and the workers. Even when workers complained about the harsh treatment from the employers nothing was usually done about that. In the year 1780 the free movement of the Khoikhoi was now restricted as they had to carry passes whenever they walked about this became the turning point of the free movement and freedom that was once the critique and special thing about the Khoikhoi. Some of the Khoisen did not become average farm labours worker as they took part on other jobs for example, jobs like butlers, honey sellers and many more. And some of the Khoikhoi were used by farmers in the military as soldiers who would fight against their own kind or attack from other clans.
The Dutch as the dominant role players
The Dutch played different kinds of roles first one being the introduction of change in South Africa/ Cape of Good Hope they were the dictators of change. In 1652 they established a refreshment station in the cape which was the first in the country. The cape was the first place to be colonised by the Dutch. The region of the Western Cape which includes the Table Bay area (where the modern city of Cape Town is located) was inhabited by Khoikhoi pastoralists who used it seasonally as pastures for their cattle. When European ships landed on the shores of Table Bay they came into contact with Khoikhoi. In the summer months the Khoikhoi moved around between the areas of Table Bay, Swartland and Saldanha Bay in search of fresh grazing pastures with their cattle herds. It was the gradual dispossession of local Khoikhoi pastoralists by early Dutch settlers that opened up the area for European settlement. Cape Town was founded by the Dutch East India Company or the (VOC) in 1652 as a refreshment outpost. The outpost was intended to supply VOC ships on their way to Asia with fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and to enable sailors wearied by the sea to recuperate. What influenced the location of the town in the Table Bay area was the availability of fresh water which was difficult to find in other areas. The Dutch became the first to fully colonise South Africa and they became prominent and successful as they grew into a big estate to a point where they decide to cut ties of the Dutch company and became a country. The VOC when time went by they became dictators or the local people as they fallen under the Dutch laws and customs. They also became well known as the created the hash laws that favoured them in the year 1780 the also established themselves as they passed the first pass law. This law only allowed locals to move freely by caring passes.
Conclusion
In conclusion this is how the country became ruled by the VOC. In this essay we see the different atmospheres of geographical ruling and how Cape of Good Hope was established, the role that was played by both the Dutch and the locals in forming what South Africa is today we also see the different factors that led to the colonialization. The position that was held by the Dutch as a dominant party. We also see the factors determining the relations between the cultures.
