The way we were

the Cape.

His choice fell on sealing (traditionally the prerogative of subsistence communities) which had been commercialised by the Spanish in about 1515. Cape fur seals had been randomly slaughtered for skins, meat and oil by Europeans sailing along the coast of southern Africa for more than 50 years, and the supplies on Robben Island were no longer abundant.

In October 1652, the Commander ordered Sijmon Turver, skipper of the yacht Goede Hoop, to investigate the islands, bays, rivers and trade possibilities along the west coast as far as St Helena Bay, providing him with tobacco, copper, bread-knives and razors for exchange purposes.

When Turver returned 23 days later, he reported trading had been a failure, but the unexpected discovery of an abandoned sealing camp had made the voyage worthwhile.

He and his men had helped themselves to 2 700 “exceptionally fine, well-dried seal skins found on a small island in the bay of Saldanha” which had been neatly stacked and left there the previous year by a small French ship which had run out of cargo space.

The Frenchmen had lived in huts made of whale ribs covered by seal skins. They’d used curriers’ (leather-workers’) implements to clean the inner surfaces of the skins thoroughly to prevent decay and then pegged them out to dry. At least one of the party had died there.

Turver reported that multitudes of seals were present on Dassen Island, outside the entrance to the bay.

He’d found old tents and signs of sealing activity, and suggested a Dutch camp be set up there.

Robust men would be required to club the large full-grown seals, which could sometimes be dangerous. They’d have to manage with knives made of iron hoops until proper ones could be ordered from the fatherland.

The loot was brought ashore in batches and stored in the loft above the main house inside the fort to prevent rot before it was sent to the Netherlands with the return fleet.

Meanwhile, Turver was despatched to Dassen Island to establish a base for a party of nine VOC seal hunters who were ordered to prepare more skins and produce barrels of oil.

More next week.