Anna and Marrij van Madagasker – sold at a profit
The numbers reveal the profits to be made from human lives.
Two female slaves from Madagascar appear on the auction list of goods belonging to Godfried Meijhuijsen sold on 13 April 1697. They are Anna and Marrij van Madagasker:
“1 slaavin gen:t Anna v: Madagasker”
“1 slaavin genaamd Marrij v: Madagasker”.[i]
These two are linked together only because their names appear one below the other on the same list. Were they sisters? Mother and daughter? Or strangers who’d both been captured and sold in Madagascar?
The auction records show they were sold to different owners, for different amounts. Anna was sold to Pieter van der Poel for Rds 88. Marrij was sold to Theunis Verweij for Rds 106.
Prices paid at the auction demonstrate Anna or Marrij’s value to be equivalent to:
- I wagon with tackle and two trek oxen (Rds 90)
- 2 casks of new wine (52 Rds each)
- 4 vats of butter (27 Rds each)
- 5 gold rings with fine stones; or 5 white horses (Rds 20 each)
- 10 saddles (Rds 9 each)
- 15 copper kettles; or 15 women’s silk dresses (Rds 6 each)
- 20 beds; or 20 bibles; or 20 pots of sugar (Rds 5 each)
- 100 sheep (Rds 1 each)
Anna and Marrij were sold for a combined sum of 194 Rds. This is almost three times the price paid for 2 unknown slaves bought in Madagascar about 20 years later[ii]:
“The service of the E Company in Madagascer enlists the understated 2 Slaves, For –
20 p[ieces] single ducatrons
2 casks brandy
So that the two slaves at my estimate come to the cost of
Total .. rixdollars/70.-
- Bellonius”
Anna en Marrij van Madagasker – Verkoop teen ‘n wins
Die getalle openbaar die winste wat uit menslike lewens gemaak word.
Twee vroulike slawe vanuit Madagaskar verskyn op die veilingslys van goedere wat aan Godfried Meijhuijsen behoort, wat op 13 April 1697 verkoop is. Hulle is Anna en Marrij van Madagasker:
“1 slaavin gen:t Anna v: Madagasker”
“1 slaavin genaamd Marrij v: Madagasker”.
Hierdie twee is slegs aan mekaar gekoppel om rede hulle name onder mekaar op dieselfde lys verskyn. Was hulle susters? Ma en dogter? Of vreemdelinge wat albei in Madagaskar gevange geneem en verkoop is?
Die veilingrekords toon dat hulle aan verskillende eienaars verkoop is, vir verskillende bedrae. Anna is aan Pieter van der Poel verkoop vir Rds 88. Marrij is verkoop aan Theunis Verweij vir Rds 106.
Hoeveelhede betaal by die veiling toon Anna of Marrij se “waarde” om gelykstaande te wees aan:
- 1 wa met tou en twee trekbeeste (Rds 90)
- 2 sakke nuwe wyn (52 Rds elk)
- 4 houers botter (27 Rds elk)
- 5 goue ringe met fyn stene; of 5 wit perde ( 20 Rds elk)
- 10 saals (9 Rds elk)
- 15 koperketels; of 15 satyn vrouerokke (6 Rdselk)
- 20 beddens; of 20 Bybels; of 20 potte suiker (5 Rds elk)
- 100 skape (1 Rds elk)
Anna en Marrij is verkoop vir n gesamentlike som van 194 Rds. Dit is byna drie keer die prys wat betaal is vir 2 onbekende slawe wat sowat 20 jaar later in Madagaskar gekoop is:
“Die diens van die E-maatskappy in Madagaskar beklemtoon die onderskatte 2 slawe vir –
20 stukke enkele dukaton
2 vate brandewyn
Sodat die twee slawe na my skatting teen die koste van
Totaal .. riksdaalders/70
W. Bellonius”
uAnna no Marityi wase Madagaska bathengiswa kushishino lokwenza inzuzo ngabantu
La manani ngezantsi abonisa ingeniso yemali ibisenziwa ngokuthengiswa kwabantu ebukhobokeni.
Kuluhlu lwezinto ezithengwa okwempahla, mpahla leyo – uAnna no Marityi, athe umniniyo u Godfied Meijhuijsenare wayithengisa ngomhla we 13 April ngomnyaka we 1697, kubonakala kukho abafazi ababibi abangamakhoboka aphuma eMadagascar
UAnna no Marityi wase Madagasker:
“1 khoboka elaziwa njengo Anna wase Madagasker”
“1 khoboka elaziwa njengo Marityi wase Madagasker”.i
Esi sibini sidityaniswa kukulandelelana kwamagama aso koluluhlu lweepasile ezithengekayo. Kungabe mhlawumbi omnye ngudade womnye? Ngumama nentombi yakhe mhlawumbi? Okanye abahlobenanga konke konke, ntonje baaxhwilwaa, bakhonxwa, bathengiswa eMadagascar leyo?
Iinkcukhaca zolu naniselwano ngalamabhinqa zithi, athengiswa kubaninimakhoboka abohlukileyo, bethengiswa ngamaxabiso angafaniyo. UAnna wathengiselwa u Peter Poel ngexabiso le Rds 88. Waze yena u Marityi wathengiselwa u Theunis ngexabiso le Rds 106.
Ixabiso lalamakhosikazi kolunaniselwano lwabantu ngezinto, lungathekelelwa nje:
- (Rds 90) Inqwelo, nerhola layo, neenkabi ezimbini zendlela
- (52 Rds each) Iifatyi ezimbini zomdiliya omfaxangiweyo omtsha
- (27 Rds each) iimvaba ezine zojikubusu lube yibhotolo
- (Rds 20 each) imisesane yegolide emishanu, neengqakamba zayo zamatye exabiso; okanye amahashe amahlanu amhlophe
- (Rds 9 each) iisali samahashe ezilishumi
- (Rds 6 each) 15 yamagedlela ekopolo, 15 lokhwe zentsilika
- (Rds 5 each) izilili (bed) ezingamashumi amabini; okanye 20 yeebhayibhile ; okanye iimbiza zeswekile ezingamashumi amabini
- (Rds 1 each) iigusha ezilikhulu
Behlanganiselene, uAnna no Marrij, bebexabisa i194 Rds (iigusha eziyi 194). Elixabiso lalamakhoboka angaselweso (uAnna no Marrij) liphinda phindwe kathathu xa kuqhathaniswa nexabiso leminyaka engama 20 eyalandelayoii
“iinkonzo zoqikelelo lwamaxabiso zenkampani (E Company) yase Madagaska zithi lama khoboka angaselweso ayeqikelelwa kwuma qithiqithi
20 ducatrons
2 Fatyi zikamabaso (casks of brandy)
Xa ehlanganiselene
Konke: .. rixdollars/70 – (W. Bellonius)”
i MOOC 10/1.9: Auction list of goods of Godfried Meijhuijsen, 13 April 1697
ii C2432: VOC receipt of purchase for 2 slaves in Madagascar, c.1719-1720
