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Resolution drawn up on the 16th of June 1643 at Fort Amsterdam on Curaçao.

Whereas our food supply dwindles daily and we believe that the pottage and bread cannot last more than 4 to 5 weeks, in which time we can expect relief neither from the fatherland nor the Virginias^[i] and in order not to experience another crisis because of scarcity of the same, we find it extremely necessary, for the Company’s benefit, preservation of this fortress and the maintenance of the people, to send the yacht De Paroquiet up to the island of St. Cruis^[ii], with whose governor we contracted two months ago for about 25 hogsheads of beans, to be ready on the aforesaid island within three months, for which we would deliver six horses and twelve goats, according to the terms of the contract; and in the meantime to recall the Negroes who are still on the island of Bonnairo, maintaining possession of it with the sloop or boat and employ them here in the gardens and in other Company service, because nothing can be done in the pans for now on account of the latest rainfall.

Second, whereas today there arrived here with a commission from the count of Warch, a small Spanish bark named De Eendracht belonging to a certain Cors Christiaensen who served the Company previously as a pilot; and whereas he, the aforesaid, requests 10 lasts of salt to make a voyage with the same first to the Caymanos^[iii] and from there to the English Virginias, for which he offers to deliver two hogsheads of beans, which we urgently need here because we have scarcely nine barrels of pottage in stock. With regard thereto and the scarcity of the same, the aforesaid request is granted him, on the condition that it be done by his own people who are to be brought to and taken away from the gantry. Thus done and concluded at the place, year and day as stated above.

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References

Translation: Gehring, C., trans./ed., Curaçao Papers, 1640-1665 (New Netherland Research Center and the New Netherland Institute: 2011).A complete copy of this publication is available on the New Netherland Institute website.