The collection contains the papers of Sister Priscilla Dlamini, the founder and project manager of Holy Cross AIDS Hospice at Emoyeni, Gingindlovu, in the Catholic Diocese of Eshowe.
The documents in the collection cover a feud between Sr Dlamini and priests and some members of the community in her parish. The dispute was referred to the head of the Catholic Church in South Africa and eventually the Vatican in Rome, who both mediated in favour of Sr Dlamini.
Report, signed by Livera, concerning the supposed discovery of the gold mines of Monomotapa. Accompanied by an Ms on the same subject by Joao da Costa (7p.). Bears the book-plates of Annibal Fernandes Thomaz and Frazao de Vasconcellas.
'Dagelijckse aantekening van mij Joannes van Steelant vertreckende van Batavia uijt India ...'
Journal in Dutch kept by J. van Steelant on the voyage from Batavia via the Cape of Good Hope to the Netherlands on the ship 'Sandenburg'. Van Steelant was returning with his family after a stay in Batavia of over 30 years during which he served as Governor and Director and Member of the Extraordinary Council of the Dutch East Indies.
'Dagh register gehouden door Baltus van Santen', 1718-1724.
Log-books written in Dutch into a vellum bound volume by Captain van Santen, in the service of the Dutch East India Co., giving an account of the voyages in the ships under his command. The 'Bevenwijk' sailed from Batavia to Gamron, Persia, Cochin-China, Ceylon and back to Batavia from 1718-1719; the 'Prattenburg' sailed from Batavia via the Cape of Good Hope to Holland during the years 1720-1721; the 'Meijnde' from Texel to Batavia via the Cape 1722-1723; and the ''T Huijs ter boede' from Batavia to Siam 1723-1724. Included is a list of 92 Company ships which were lost by storm or enemy action 1684-1722.
The notebook contains observations made by De la Caille at the Cape and elsewhere; a list of expenses in connection with his observatory at St. Martin (Paris); and details of the mathematical basis for his calculations, including lists of formulae and trigonometrical proofs, used as an aide-memoire during his travels. There are calculations of some star coordinates, apparently made at the Cape, and, most important of all, a calculation of the difference in latitude between the Cape and Klipfontein for his determination of an arc of the meridian.
Hydrographer, traveller and Captain in the Compagnie des Indes
'Efterretninger om seilatsen fra Frankerig til Indien' 1773. 147p. Ms vol. A translation into Danish by Barthole Johan Lodde of the original pilot's guide, Memoire sur la navigation de France aux Indes, Paris 1765. At the back of the leather-bound volume is a log-book (pp45-84) in Danish covering 30 July to 4 Oct.1786 and navigational notes, including a comment on Robben Island.
'Letters to Captains etc. 30th January 1771 to 6th May 1775'. Letter-book containing copies of letters signed by R.H. (Sir Robert Harland) who was Commander-in-Chief of H.M. Ships and Vessels in the East Indies. The letters are written from Fort St. George, Bombay and the Cape of Good Hope, being addressed to the Navy Board, Board of Ordnance, Philip Stephens (Admiralty), Josiah du Pre (President of Fort St. George), W. Hastings (Governor of Bengal), W. Hornby (President of Bombay), P.A. van der Para (President and Governor of the Dutch settlement in the East Indies), A. Wynch (President of Fort St George) and others. Subjects are provisions, appointments, treatment of the sick and deserters and disposition of ships in the squadron.
Includes a diary kept from 13 Oct-14 Nov.1774 at the Cape when his ship, the Northumberland, stopped for refreshment and repairs.
Soldier, explorer and founder of South Africa's merino sheep industry
'Versameling van orders die van tijd tot tijd aan het Battaillon uytgegeeven zijn door ... Col. R.J. Gordon in 't Casteel van Cabo de Goede Hoop 1782'.