Raphaël
Like Klein Piscadera, Plantation Raphael was also part of the original plantation Groot Piscadera. Although it was officially also called Klein Piscadera, in popular speech and in later documents it was invariably called Raphaël or (San) Rafé, after Raphaël Alvares Correa, who was the owner of Groot Piscadera at the end of the 18th century. Raphaël was known above all for its stately and imposing landhuis, built in a unique colonial style on a ridge. Formerly there also stood a small mangasina and a corral beside it, but these were destroyed by the bulldozer. There was also a little village square and, just in front of the landhuis, a Pos di pia, a natural walk-in well. In the past Raphaël was very well known for its production of mango fruits, which were even exported.
Slave village
On the ridge to the south-west, that is behind the landhuis, a slave village once lay. Brenneker already indicated that the village was still inhabited long after emancipation. This was also confirmed by the many shards, pottery and objects that the Archaeological Working Group found at this location. The house fell into decay and received the final blow during a whirlwind that raged through the area in 1978, as a result of which it fell irreparably into ruin and does not qualify for the status of protected monument.
Moonchi
According to Brenneker the first landhuis of Raphaël stood on the little hill north-west of the later-built landhuis Raphaël. A barn was later built on it, but the foundations remained visible for years. From the present landhuis ruin one has a wonderful view over both Klein and Groot Piscadera. From the deeds of conveyance of Raphaël it can be inferred that it consists of many added plantations and plots. Thus close to Raphaël lies the small plantation Moonchi, so called after the first owner. He had once transferred his whole plantation to the owner of Raphaël in exchange for a black frock coat that he wanted to wear at all costs on his wedding day….
Park area
Raphaël extends to the Piscaderabaai and formerly had a considerable herd of livestock. When production went less well, permission was requested in 1850 for burning lime in the lime kiln that had been built years before. Lime cement was then used in construction, and burning it often brought in a bit of money, but this proved no success at Raphaël. The plantation was then sold in 1852 to a businessman who lived in the city and used it as a country house. According to the Island Development Plan, the EOP, the former plantation is regarded as park area: a green zone within an urban area that may not be touched without a permit. The surroundings of the former Seru Karpata at Raphaël were known as exceptionally rich in high-quality blue diabase and were, with a government permit, excavated.
With thanks to: Frensel Mercelina and François van der Hoeven and the Werkgroep Archeologie (photos)
Sources
- Werkgroep Archeologie: report on Raphaël
- P. Brenneker: Sambumbu, various editions
