Persoonlikhede uit die verlede
Baie het verander in Stellenbosch sedert die dae van die eerste Hollandse settlaars. Maar dis lekker om te besef hoe hulle persoonlikhede gehad het nes ons.
In sy dagboek skryf Adam Tas in groot detail oor sy dag-tot-dag aktiwiteite. Soos ek in my vorige blog verduidelik het, was Adam Tas (1668 tot 1722) 'n landbouer en een van Stellenbosch se eerste burgers. Die enigste deel van sy joernaal wat bewaar gebly het, is fragmente (van kopieë) van die jare 1705-1706.
Hier is 5 elemente van Tas se alledaagse lewe wat vir my verbasend was!
1) 'n Uitstappie na die Kaap
Wednesday, the 17th. Fine morning. At nine o'clock this morning I left for the Cape with Hans, the smith, in his horse-chaise. We arrived there at three.
In hierdie uittreksel beskryf Adam Tas sy reis Kaapstad toe saammet die smit. Let op hoe lank dit geneem het om daar te kom!
2) Die dae voor Nuus24
Friday the 8th.
While sitting with Mr. van der Heijden in front of the door, we heard the sound of brisk firing at the Cape. We were told that firing had also taken place early in the morning, and that the Governor had left his homestead for the Cape early in the morning. The conjecture is that it must be English.
Langafstandkommunikasie was moeilik, daarom is die kanonne in die Kaap soms gebruik om boodskappe na die nabygeleë dorpe te stuur. Soms moes die inwoners maar self raai wat aangaan.
3) 'n Stappie saammet vroulief
Wednesday the 29th.
This morning I walked with my wife about the corn lands. We found on our ground, close to the lands of Botma, fresh tracks of lion or leopard.
Tas beskryf dikwels hoe hy saammet sy vrou gaan stap het. Op hierdie spesifieke dag het hul wilde diere se spore gekry.
4) 'n Vriend in die tronk
Wednesday the 29th.
The landdrost turned up this morning with his manservant and told me that Hans Henske had been put in prison (or in the cells), and that he was to leave for the Cape to-day to be lodged in confinement there.
Die Vryburgers moes versigtig wees vir die owerhede van hul tyd. Hier vertel Tas hoe een van sy kennisse in die tronk gesit is, min wetende dat hy later dieselfde lot sou hê! Tas maak elders ook 'n verwysing na Robbeneiland, wat destyds gedien het as "oord van ballingskap en harde arbeid, dikwels in kettings".
5) Koffie en wyn
Sunday the 2nd.
In the morning Mr. van der Heijden and I visited the home of Mr. Poulle, where we drank a glass, and from there we went in company to Mr. Pfeijffer's, where we had a drink of gin, and then to the home of Mrs. Munkerus, with whom we drank a cup or two of coffee. Thereupon we went to the home of uncle Husing, where we had some breakfast followed by a drink of wine.
Hier beskryf Tas ‘n tipiese dag, ingesluit koffie, jenewer (gin) en 'n hele paar glase wyn.
Lus om meer te lees?
'n Digitale weergawe van Adam Tas se dagboek is beskikbaar op DBNL (Den Haag) se webtuiste. Dit sluit 'n Engelse vertaling in (deur J Smuts), sowel as heelwat insiggewende voetnotas in Afrikaans.
Leo Fouché, B.A. (Cape), Ph. and Litt. D. (Ghent) and revised by
A.J. Böeseken, B.Ed. Cape Town, M.A. and D. Phil (Stell.)
English Translation by Dr. J. Smuts, M.A., Ph.D. (Cape Town)
#leefstellenbosch
#annabassoneiendomme
‘nDromer is ‘n jong Stellenbosser wat graag skryf oor die alledaagse dinge wat mens miskyk. Sy hou van stowwerige boeke en spinnerakhuise en om te sien hoe die verlede nie altyd is wat jy dink of verwag nie. Sy skryf sedert 2015 elke week iets oor Stellenbosch, sy erfenis en sy mense.
Artikel: Y Coetsee 2016
Bronne: dbnl website
Stellenbosch Drie Eeue
“The best moments in reading are when you come across something – a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things – which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.” ― Alan Bennett, The History Boys