Anthony van der Eb

When major general Jan Verveer visited the Gold Coast to avenge the Ahanta and to reform the government of the colony, he wrote the following about Van der Eb:[1] This civil servant is by approximation 25 years old and is of good behaviour, but has few mental capacities and even less education to be regarded as useful for matters of importance in public service.

He was licensed to conduct private trade in 1842 and quickly became the head agent for the Rotterdam firm of H. van Rijckevorsel and ordinary agent for the Amsterdam firm of J. Boelen & Co.[1] Van der Eb was granted leave for six months in 1846, and left the Gold Coast on 9 July.

His leave was eventually extended until 31 March 1847, and he arrived back on the Gold Coast on 10 July of the said year.

"[3] Van der Eb was requested by the Dutch government to compile a compendium of local laws and customs, a task which he delegated to a subordinate.

[4] This work, which was subsequently published in 1931 in the Bijdragen tot de Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde van Nederlandsch-Indië, has been an important source for social scientists on the Gold Coast societies.