Die VOC-nedersetting aan die Kaap die Goeie Hoop se betrokkenheid by die lande van die westelike Indiese oseaan, 1652-1700

The establishment of the Dutch East India Company's replenishment station at the Cape of Good Hoop was not an immediate success and for the greater part of the 17 th century it was unable to provide in the needs of the settlement and visiting fleets. Therefore, possibilites of establishing trade and other relations with the east coast of Africa and the islands of the western Indian Ocean were explored. The main aim was to eliminate the English, Portuguese and French as trade rivals in the western Indian Ocean, and to win the indigenous population over as trading partners by representing the opposition as unreliable. This strategy partly succeeded and the Cape established fairly extensive relations with Madagascar, Mauritius and Mozambique. The Company maintained no other relations with the countries of the western Indian Ocean during the 17 th century. Other than Mauritius, no trading posts were established anywhere in the region, nor were military actions undertaken against any of the countries in order to subject them. No attempts were made to convert them to Christianity or to promote the Dutch language and culture. The major aim was to become an important trading power in the western Indian Ocean region by eliminating their main European rivals. End Die stigting van die Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie se aanvullingstasie aan die Kaap die Goeie Hoop het nie onmiddellik resultate opgelewer nie en vir die grootste gedeelte van die 17de eeu was die pos nie in staat om in die behoeftes van die nedersetting en besoekende vlote te voorsien nie. Daarom is die moontlikheid van handelsbetrekkinge met die ooskus van Afrika en die eilande van die westelike Indiese Oseaan ondersoek. Die belangrikste oogmerk was om die Engelse, Portugese en Franse as handelskonkurrente in die westelike Indiese Oseaan uit te skakel, en om die inheemse bevolking as handelsvennote te bekom deur die teenstanders as onbetroubaar voor te stel . Hierdie strategie het gedeeltelik geslaag en die Kaap het redelike uitgebreide handelsbetrekkinge met Madagaskar, Mauritius en Mosambiek opgebou. Gedurende die 17de eeu het die Kompanjie geen ander betrekkinge met die westelike Indiese Oseaan onderhou nie. Afgesien van Mauritius, is geen handelsposte elders in die gebied gestig nie, terwyl geen militere veldtogte onderneem is om enige land te onderwerp nie. Geen pogings is aangewend om hulle tot die Christendom te bekeer of die Nederlandse taal en kultuur te bevorder nie. Die hoofoogmerk was om 'n belangrike handelsmoontheid in iv.die westelike Indiese Oseaan te word deur die Europese mededingers uit te skakel. End