Jan van Riebeeck Quotes

You shall also keep your fires burning if the ships are blown back by contrary winds, but if the ships are foreign or not Dutch (onduitsch) you shall at once extinguish your fire.

Hollanders are not a nation to rob another of its property, but desire to live in friendship with all people, and trade with them.

[T]hat our prosperity may never forget God's mercies shown to us, but always keep them in grateful memory.

And as we are making our position stronger every day, it is to be hoped that they (Khoisan) will feel less inclined to disturb us, provided, however, that a strict watch be kept on everything and we remain on our guard in every direction, continuing with diligence at the fences and other defensive forts...

Be careful in always having a good beacon fire, as the signals entirely depend upon it, that the ships may enter the bay in safety".