Page 8 - Bulletin 22 2019

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The East India companies were formed in the early part of the 17 century to open up what
was known as the spice route between Europe and the east. The two main companies were
the English East India Company (EEIC), founded in 1600, and the Dutch East India

Company (VOC) Vereinigte Ostindische Compagnie, founded in 1602.

Although the East Indiamen carried some gold and silver to be traded at various points on
their way to the east, the bulk of their cargo would consist of metals such as lead, copper, tin

and iron (usually carried as ballast), textiles, wool and manufactured goods such as hats,

pens, watches and fire-arms. These items would be traded mainly for spices such as pepper,
cinnamon and balsam. Other popular trade was for precious stones, crystals, carpets, silks,

perfumes, Chinese porcelain and tea.

This lengthy round trip of two-and-a-half years, around the tip of Africa, necessitated the

feeding station at the Cape and resulted in the many conflicts for control between the British
and the Dutch. The French also added to the challenge, by taking brief control of the Cape in

1791. During these changes life went on and both Table Bay and False Bay became havens
for replenishments and repairs. (Fig. 1.5.)

We often hear mention of the romance of sail. But beneath the beauty of those sails men
working at sea had to endure hardships beyond our imagination. They were cut off from

normal life on shore for months or years. They lived in cramped conditions, some sleeping in
hammocks above the cannons on deck, and others in hard wooden bunks (several crammed

together just for the warmth of their body heat.) A seaman’s life was hard and he had to be
tough to survive at sea. The ship’s officers had to keep strict discipline on board. In this way

they hoped to keep morale high and prevent mutiny. (Figs. 1.6 & 1.7.)

The smallest offence such as sleeping on duty could earn up to 50 lashes with the cat-of-nine-

tails. The crew were made to watch, so as to discourage them from becoming the next victim

of a punishment. Depending on the severity of their crime, they could be tied to a rope and
swung overboard, to be dragged for a period of time, or keel-hauled (pulled up against the