Guyana's Western Border, no 426 en 534 (online). Datum is bij het eerste exemplaar 1758 november 29.
1757-11-29 1769-11-29 Instructie e0670 Essequibo Amerindians Spaniards Slaves Slave owners Expeditions Maroonage Trade Trade, slave Essequibo Demerara Fort Zeelandia? Instructie voor de posthouder aan de Cuyuni. Instruction for the post-holder on the Cuyuni.
Translation which I, Constable Juan Andres de la Rivera, made, in virtue of the office of interpreter and translator, conferred on me by Señor Commandant ad interim of this place, of a document of instructions for the post or guard in the River Cuyuni, under the jurisdiction of the States-General, written in the Dutch language, and the which was delivered to me by the afore-mentioned notary:
Article 1. That the official in charge of the said post or guard, by our express and positive orders, will treat the neighbouring Indians with the greatest consideration and friendship, without distinction or favour of any kind, and be careful not to injure them in any way; and if, perchance, the said Indians should request his help against any of the savage nations, he is bound to assist them with the guard as far as possible.
2. That the official of the said post will be very careful not to cause any injury to be done to the Spaniards, who are our good neighbours, and in all he will maintain good friendship and correspondence with them. But at the same time he will be most careful not to permit the said Spaniards to pass to the River Cuyuni if by any chance they are desirous of so doing, or in any part of the territory of our Colony; and in case they attempt to molest the official of the said post or guard, he will immediately dispatch a man to the Governor's castle to advise him promptly of the same.
3. That the official of the said post or guard will on no account permit any one to traffic, unless it be in the river or in his district, or unless the party be provided with a proper passport, when he will grant the necessary permit to do so. But should any Indians pass the post who may be going from the River Essequebo down the river, or returning in that direction, bringing with them slaves, goats or other merchandize for the purpose of buying the same, and that the slaves or merchandize be intended for the inhabitants of the river Essequebo, we then command by this our said Order absolutely to the said Indians to permit the above-mentioned tribe to pass freely, and without let or hindrance in any way.
4. That the said official of the post will take the greatest care in apprehending all fugitive slaves from the Colony, whosoever they may be; that, if necessary, he will pursue the same until he apprehends them, and, on so doing, delivers them to their respective owners, in conformity with the orders of the States-General; and that for every slave so captured he will receive a gratification of 10 fl. for the trouble thereby imposed upon him.
5. That, in case any slaves belonging to the residents of the said River Essequebo should attempt to escape, and should be pursued by their owners - who, owing to the necessity of the case, had no time to provide themselves with the necessary passports - he will permit them to pass the said post; and we likewise command him expressly that whenever a case of this nature occurs, and that he be assured of the same by any inhabitant of this Colony, he will lend them every means in his power to apprehend them, always provided they be slaves.
6. That the official of the said post be granted liberty to trade by the Noble Company for his own account, on condition that whatever fruits or produce or other articles he may so acquire, the Company shall have the privilege of purchasing at the same price as others, in good merchandize and for good prices.[1]
7. That the official is obliged to collect all outstanding debts remaining due to his predecessor, the former official of that post, for as 10 fl. will be paid for every fugitive slave, and 1 fl. for every hammock, the Governor must be informed of all the sales and purchases.
8. That in like manner the official of the post is bound to make a Report twice a year of all matters of interest relating to his district, and, as a good and loyal officer, he should always reside at his post. (Signed.) Laurens Storm de Gravesande, River Essequebo, November 29, 1757.
[Note: the notary's name is not shown on the original document. The translation was done in the Province of Guayana by order of the Spanish Governor.]
[1] In 1789 januari 8 wordt de private handel verboden.
Directeur-Generaal van Essequibo en Demerary.