CHAPTER XLII - JAN DE LA FONTAINE, SECUNDE, ACTING GOVERNOR, 8TH SEPTEMBER 1724 TO 25TH FEBRUARY 1727: PIETER GYSBERT NOODT, INSTALLED 25TH FEBRUARY 1727, DIED 23RD APRIL 1729: JAN DE LA FONTAINE, SECUNDE, ACTING GOVERNOR, 24TH APRIL 1729, TO 8TH MARCH 1730, GOVERNOR, INSTALLED 8TH MARCH 1730, RETIRED 3IST AUGUST 1737: ADRIAAN VAN KERVEL, GOVERNOR, INSTALLED 31ST AUGUST 1737, DIED 19TH SEPTEMBER 1737

Summary

In consequence of foreign ships being prevented from obtaining supplies at the Cape during the period of scarcity, very few vessels not under the Dutch flag now put into Table Bay. The burghers felt the loss severely, for foreigners had brought ready money into the country; but it was hoped that with better times they would return again. This hope was not, however, realised. The plague among the cattle after a few years decreased in virulence, and beef and mutton were obtainable at three pence to four pence a kilogramme, but the Cape had lost its reputation of affording cheap supplies of fresh provisions, and it was a long time in regaining it.

The isthmus connecting the Cape peninsula with the continent was at this time a barren waste of sand. With difficulty laden waggons traversed it, for there was no road, and nothing but a line of poles indicated the best course across. From reports of skippers, the directors were led to believe that Table Bay would at no very distant date be filled with the sand which violent southeast gales swept into it during the summer months. To prevent this, they issued instructions that attempts should be made to fix the sand by planting it with grass and trees, and in the winter of 1724 the work was commenced. Seventy slaves and a gang of convicts were employed in planting knot-grass and seeds of the wild olive, and, when these failed, in ensuing rainy seasons the experiment was repeated with belts of sods.