Part Two
This is just the frame work to get the colony started.
all comments welcome
Part two
1613 - After more then a year of badgering Captain Hendrik Brouwer finally succeeds in his attempt to get permission to return to vast fertile land that he discovered.
The colonial administrators in Bantam, Java allows Captain Hendrik Brouwer to return with his ship and two small cutters to set up a “trading” post. Their real reason is to send this troublesome captain far from Java and to go back to the far more profitable spice trade. After all what could that empty land have the Dutch East Indies or Holland itself would want.
Later that year, Captain Hendrik Brouwer back in New Amsterdam gathers together a small group of explorers for a talk.
Once they had all gathered together Captain Brouwer starts to speak, “We all know that the reason the Colonial administrators in Bantam allowed us to come here is to get me out of the way. They see this place as unprofitable and not worth the effort of colonisation. So while I set up this trading and supply post for any ships blown of course by the “roaring forties” I want you to explore the surrounding areas with particular attention to the river valleys. We are looking for something of value like a spice, be it cumin or saffron or anything that you think might have some immediate value. If we can prove that this trading post has something of value then the colonial administrators will have to make this a formal colony. Now prepare your pack animals and take your supplies and find me something, anything, that we can show to the administrators in Bantam that this came be a valuable colony.”
Luuk van Troost sets off the next morning with his horses, thinks to himself I’ll follow this great meandering river that way at least I know I wont run out of water.
After three days of travel investigating the local terrain, Luuk van Troost is starting to wonder if there is anything of value in this fast empty land.
All he has seen are those strange bipedal rat like animals and the strange smelling trees with the oily leaves. He has seen nothing of real value; nothing that could be considered a spice, no animal worthy of domestication nothing.
Luuk dismounts from his horse and lets it wonder over to a near by stream for a drink.
Luuk stands there and scratches his head there’s nothing worth anything hear that you can’t get in Holland, Java or for that matter the cape colony there’s nothing here but empty land. Luuk turns around and notices that his horse is still drinking at the stream, Luuk thinks that it’s not such a stupid animal it knows it’s hot and there is plenty of fresh water and land to graze maybe farmers would be interested in this new land.
With that thought Luuk walks over to the stream where his horse has just finished drinking and is now grazing on some near by grass.
Luuk decides that he might as well have a drink of the clean cool water himself. Luuk has a drink of the water and then decides he might as well clean up a bit so he splashes so water on his face. As he bends over to scoop up more water he notices from the corner of his eye something glistering in the steam a couple of feet from him. Luuk turns suddenly to see what it is and falls head first into the stream. After picking himself up he wades over to where he saw the reflection and peers intently at the streambed. His fall into the water has stirred up the mud but determined to find the source of that reflection again he stands in the stream waiting for the mud to settle.
After what appears to be ages he finally has clear water again and as he stares at the spot, the glittering is just a foot from him sitting on the streambed. Luuk bends over and picks it up and stares at it in disbelief.
Gold! A gold nugget the size of his thumb. Luuk lets out a scream, “Eureka!” and wonders why that strange word suddenly jumped into his head.
Luuk quickly scrambles out of the stream with his find and races over to his packhorse where he proceeds to grab his axe and marks a nearby tree where he made his find.
After having marked his find Luuk gathers up his animals and proceeds back into the main river valley and then back to the site of the new settlement.
Luuk realises that the powers that be will want the gold more than anything in the world, and his reward for finding some of these lands hidden treasure will be enormous.
Back at the forming trading post of New Amsterdam, Luuk van Troost rides in a break neck speed shouting for Captain Hendrik Brouwer.
Captain Brouwer on hearing his name comes over and asks Luuk what is so important that he rode in through he new trading post like a madman.
Luuk says you wanted us to find something important to prove the value of the new land and I’ve found it.
After saying this Luuk reaches into his pocket and hands Captain Brouwer the gold nugget. Grinning like a madman Luuk then asks the Captain somewhat rhetorically if this discovery would be enough to convince the colonial administrators in Bantam and perhaps the Dutch government to formally annex New Holland as a Dutch possession and to start a colonial government here.
Feeling the weight of the gold nugget in his hand Captain Hendrik Brouwer simply says yes. They will acknowledge the worth of this land now.
Three days later Captain Hendrik Brouwer is back on the deck of his ship as it prepares to sail back to Bantam. The last three days have been a mad house, as every man at New Amsterdam wanted to go inland to find gold for himself. It was only after Captain Brouwer threatened to hang anybody caught leaving the new trading post without his permission was calm restored. Captain Hendrik Brouwer had most of the supplies for the new trading post unloaded from his ship and has had the people he brought here to found the trading post summoned for a meeting.
The meeting was brief and to the point he asked that they form into groups of five and proceed further into the interior of the land in the hope of finding more mineral riches. He then reminds everybody that as New Amsterdam is only accessible by sea and as the other ships are off exploring, when he leaves they will be alone. Looking the men in their eyes he says when I return, I will bring more men and equipment to exploit the gold we have found and if you find other deposits you will be richly rewarded in both land and gold by a grateful government.
Later that year, Captain Hendrik Brouwer is back in Bantam, Java. His initial reception was cold until the colonial administrators saw what he had brought to show them.
The gold nugget was undeniable, positive proof that New Holland had concealed riches just waiting to be exploited.
In just a matter of weeks Captain Hendrik Brouwer is dispatched back to New Amsterdam this time with twelve ships packed with coolies, equipment and supplies for the new colony of New Holland. He is also appointed the temporary Governor of the colony until official word comes from Holland on how to proceed.
He is told one other thing at no point is he to allow any of his men to leave the new colony for any reason. The news of the gold discovery must be kept secret so as to ensure that no other colonial power tries to muscle in on the new colony.
His wasn’t the only ship leaving Bantam however another fast clipper ship was also sent back to Holland bearing news of the new land and what it contained.
This is just the frame work to get the colony started.
all comments welcome
Part two
1613 - After more then a year of badgering Captain Hendrik Brouwer finally succeeds in his attempt to get permission to return to vast fertile land that he discovered.
The colonial administrators in Bantam, Java allows Captain Hendrik Brouwer to return with his ship and two small cutters to set up a “trading” post. Their real reason is to send this troublesome captain far from Java and to go back to the far more profitable spice trade. After all what could that empty land have the Dutch East Indies or Holland itself would want.
Later that year, Captain Hendrik Brouwer back in New Amsterdam gathers together a small group of explorers for a talk.
Once they had all gathered together Captain Brouwer starts to speak, “We all know that the reason the Colonial administrators in Bantam allowed us to come here is to get me out of the way. They see this place as unprofitable and not worth the effort of colonisation. So while I set up this trading and supply post for any ships blown of course by the “roaring forties” I want you to explore the surrounding areas with particular attention to the river valleys. We are looking for something of value like a spice, be it cumin or saffron or anything that you think might have some immediate value. If we can prove that this trading post has something of value then the colonial administrators will have to make this a formal colony. Now prepare your pack animals and take your supplies and find me something, anything, that we can show to the administrators in Bantam that this came be a valuable colony.”
Luuk van Troost sets off the next morning with his horses, thinks to himself I’ll follow this great meandering river that way at least I know I wont run out of water.
After three days of travel investigating the local terrain, Luuk van Troost is starting to wonder if there is anything of value in this fast empty land.
All he has seen are those strange bipedal rat like animals and the strange smelling trees with the oily leaves. He has seen nothing of real value; nothing that could be considered a spice, no animal worthy of domestication nothing.
Luuk dismounts from his horse and lets it wonder over to a near by stream for a drink.
Luuk stands there and scratches his head there’s nothing worth anything hear that you can’t get in Holland, Java or for that matter the cape colony there’s nothing here but empty land. Luuk turns around and notices that his horse is still drinking at the stream, Luuk thinks that it’s not such a stupid animal it knows it’s hot and there is plenty of fresh water and land to graze maybe farmers would be interested in this new land.
With that thought Luuk walks over to the stream where his horse has just finished drinking and is now grazing on some near by grass.
Luuk decides that he might as well have a drink of the clean cool water himself. Luuk has a drink of the water and then decides he might as well clean up a bit so he splashes so water on his face. As he bends over to scoop up more water he notices from the corner of his eye something glistering in the steam a couple of feet from him. Luuk turns suddenly to see what it is and falls head first into the stream. After picking himself up he wades over to where he saw the reflection and peers intently at the streambed. His fall into the water has stirred up the mud but determined to find the source of that reflection again he stands in the stream waiting for the mud to settle.
After what appears to be ages he finally has clear water again and as he stares at the spot, the glittering is just a foot from him sitting on the streambed. Luuk bends over and picks it up and stares at it in disbelief.
Gold! A gold nugget the size of his thumb. Luuk lets out a scream, “Eureka!” and wonders why that strange word suddenly jumped into his head.
Luuk quickly scrambles out of the stream with his find and races over to his packhorse where he proceeds to grab his axe and marks a nearby tree where he made his find.
After having marked his find Luuk gathers up his animals and proceeds back into the main river valley and then back to the site of the new settlement.
Luuk realises that the powers that be will want the gold more than anything in the world, and his reward for finding some of these lands hidden treasure will be enormous.
Back at the forming trading post of New Amsterdam, Luuk van Troost rides in a break neck speed shouting for Captain Hendrik Brouwer.
Captain Brouwer on hearing his name comes over and asks Luuk what is so important that he rode in through he new trading post like a madman.
Luuk says you wanted us to find something important to prove the value of the new land and I’ve found it.
After saying this Luuk reaches into his pocket and hands Captain Brouwer the gold nugget. Grinning like a madman Luuk then asks the Captain somewhat rhetorically if this discovery would be enough to convince the colonial administrators in Bantam and perhaps the Dutch government to formally annex New Holland as a Dutch possession and to start a colonial government here.
Feeling the weight of the gold nugget in his hand Captain Hendrik Brouwer simply says yes. They will acknowledge the worth of this land now.
Three days later Captain Hendrik Brouwer is back on the deck of his ship as it prepares to sail back to Bantam. The last three days have been a mad house, as every man at New Amsterdam wanted to go inland to find gold for himself. It was only after Captain Brouwer threatened to hang anybody caught leaving the new trading post without his permission was calm restored. Captain Hendrik Brouwer had most of the supplies for the new trading post unloaded from his ship and has had the people he brought here to found the trading post summoned for a meeting.
The meeting was brief and to the point he asked that they form into groups of five and proceed further into the interior of the land in the hope of finding more mineral riches. He then reminds everybody that as New Amsterdam is only accessible by sea and as the other ships are off exploring, when he leaves they will be alone. Looking the men in their eyes he says when I return, I will bring more men and equipment to exploit the gold we have found and if you find other deposits you will be richly rewarded in both land and gold by a grateful government.
Later that year, Captain Hendrik Brouwer is back in Bantam, Java. His initial reception was cold until the colonial administrators saw what he had brought to show them.
The gold nugget was undeniable, positive proof that New Holland had concealed riches just waiting to be exploited.
In just a matter of weeks Captain Hendrik Brouwer is dispatched back to New Amsterdam this time with twelve ships packed with coolies, equipment and supplies for the new colony of New Holland. He is also appointed the temporary Governor of the colony until official word comes from Holland on how to proceed.
He is told one other thing at no point is he to allow any of his men to leave the new colony for any reason. The news of the gold discovery must be kept secret so as to ensure that no other colonial power tries to muscle in on the new colony.
His wasn’t the only ship leaving Bantam however another fast clipper ship was also sent back to Holland bearing news of the new land and what it contained.
