© Cor Snabel
This time I have a serious problem translating the
profession of the main character. The “ronselaar” was a man,
who recruited sailors under false pretences. So not knowing
how else to call him, I just let him have his Dutch name.
Ronselaar
The East Indies Company has always had trouble finding
enough volunteers to crew their ships, so they used the
objectionable practices of the ronselaar. More than half of
the crew was foreigners, who could come from different
countries; in one case, on the ship “Neijenburg”, the crew
had sixteen different nationalities. The Dutchmen were the
navigators and officers; the foreigners were the soldiers
and sailors. The ronselaar and his helpers recruited their
victims at the east border of the Republic; most of them
were deserters from one of the many German armies and
fortune hunters, who were all on their way to the rich
Republic. Wondering around penniless they were an easy
target for the ronselaar, who picked them up at inns and
cheap joints.
With the promise, that they could serve in the army of the
Prince, they put their name or cross under a contract, which
they could not read. The ronselaar paid for their journey to
Amsterdam, where they soon found out, that they were
contracted to be a sailor. Escape was hardly possible
because the armed helpers of the ronselaar escorted them to
“special” houses, where they had to wait till they could
embark.
In the meantime the ronselaar was trying to sell his
“merchandise” to the West- or East Indies Company and if he
failed to do business he knew he had a second chance. The
poor souls were transported to the island Texel and the
ships would leave Amsterdam with not enough crew on board.
The captain knew he would get no permission from the
authorities to set sail from Texel, so this time he had no
other choice than go along with the ronselaar's demands.
Most of the hired men, who were between 15 and 25 years of
age, had never seen the sea or a ship before and once on
board the rules and regulation were read out to them. But it
is certain, that no one understood one word; it would be
clear to them soon enough.
>Choose from the following ancient occupations
Baker |
Beachcomber |
Beguine |
Candlemaker |
Dumpman |
Executioner |
Fanmaker |
Fireman |
Gravedigger |
Innkeeper |
Laundrywoman |
Nightwatch |
Peddlar |
Porter |
Seat Caretaker |
Ship Shanghai |
Soapmaker |
Streetpaver |
Tolltaker |
Pharmacist
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