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It was way back in 1488 when Bartolomeu Dias anchored his
Ship in Table Bay that Robben Island was discovered.In
the 15th century Portuguese sailors utilised this island. Later British and Dutch colonialists and traders, used the island as an outpost and prison for many years. In 1591 the
Island was used as a refuge for all the disagreeing native people
of the new way. Mostly people of the Khoikhoi tribe, often hostile by
the trickery of losing their cows and land for barely nothing in
return. Khoikhoi herders and San hunters had been living in Southern Africa for thousands of years, when the explorers arrived from Europe. These tribes had travelled southwards towards Cape Town seeking out grazing pastures for their sheep and cattle to feed on. While they survived by hunting wild animals and gathering their food from the bush. It was very fruitful for the new explorers of the sea to trade with these native people. However, some did not bother to trade fairly, they used fire power and took from this gun powder free nation. The island also served as a post office where letters could be dropped off and picked up at various intervals.
In 1654 Riebeeck had his men live and work on the Island under the supervision of the Post holder, they were to find food resource, mine stone for buildings on the mainland, and various other tasks. Since they also had a better look out of the ocean , these men would also light fires and worn the settlers of incoming unfriendly ships. As a causal effect of each and every sailor who hunted there the wildlife became seriously threatened. Penguins, Seals and Tortoises becoming rarely seen. The Dutch were building colonies in the Cape and the East Indies. The Dutch rule caused a lot of resistance among the leaders of the Khoikhoi and Muslim nations of East India, some of these members constituted the Islands first prisoners. The first political prisoner was AUTSHUMATO in 1658, who was exiled to Robben Island, simply because he was taking back cattle the people believed to have been unfairly confiscated by European settlers. Autshumato was also one of the only prisoners to have escaped successfully.
A new group of prisoners arrived in Robben Island in the late 1600's they were the political leaders of Anti-Dutch governing in the East Indies, various captives were rulers in their land before the Dutch came. Many brave and courageous men, kings, princes, and religious leaders were convicted to Robben Island.
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