Users of Open Archives can have summaries generated from the recognized texts (transcriptions) produced through text recognition (OCR) and handwriting recognition (HTR). Neither of these artificial intelligence tasks is perfect, but they are often more than sufficient to make the historical document understandable. In the transcripts, names are underlined in green and clickable (to search the personal entries on Open Archives for the name in question), the recognized dates have a light gray background and recognized place names have a light purple background. The results of the application of (European) artificial intelligence have not been verified by a human.
22 December 1779: It was decided that ships should be properly loaded according to the rules and requirements. If there was not enough rice or other products available at one trading post, the missing amounts had to be supplied from elsewhere. The day registers kept by ship officials during loading days had to be sent in copy to the Governor so that judgments could be made based on the facts.
The authorities approved the rule that ships which only served to collect grain had to load specific amounts: a ship of 150 feet had to load 500 coyangs of rice, and a ship of 140 feet had to load 350 coyangs of rice. If the full amount could not be found at one trading post, it had to be obtained or supplied from the nearest one. 22 December 1777: This arrangement was seen as proof of commitment to the company's interests.
The patrols from this location happened more to protect small unarmed local vessels and to act defensively against pirates rather than offensively, because the regular patrol vessels were not very effective for the latter purpose. Although pirates continued to roam along Java, they caused little damage to local traders in this government territory during this year, despite the offered rewards. This was due to the constant back and forth sailing of the patrol vessels, which the pirates seemed to prefer avoiding rather than attacking. The pirates mostly stayed west of Cheribon, in the waters toward Batavia.
Since the incident that occurred in 1774, which was discussed elsewhere, there had been no evidence that the Javanese patrol vessels had exceeded their duties or committed acts of violence or extortion. However, there was strong displeasure about the serious abuses that were being made of these patrols. The text mentions violence and extortion that occurred during these patrols but the sentence remains incomplete.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0222
On
22 December 1777,
Marto Djoedo was encouraged and provided resources by
Pangerang Aria Mancoenagara (also known as
Maassait) through an official document to undertake something. The sultan was very upset about this and threatened to ruin the villages of that prince as well. The sultan made much more fuss about this matter than it actually deserved, considering what
Maassait had done, particularly in the past year through the detention of his tax collectors, as shown in the governor's separate letter to Their High Nobilities dated
29 September 1776. The sultan wanted to base his further behavior towards this prince who had fled to him on these events. However, when he noticed that he was not achieving anything with this approach, and also learned that no notice had been given about what happened at
Gagatan, and that the wife of the peace disturber was being kept in the villages, he changed his strategy. Without prior knowledge, he had armed men forcibly lift her from one of the emperor's villages at night and bring her to
Djokjocarta. He declared that if the sultan invaded his lands (and those were all the lands of
Pangerang Mancoenagara), he would resist and ally himself with
Mancoenagara against it.
The sultan then turned in a different direction and made a certain request to the Company, which, due to the secrecy it required, was not written down anywhere except in the governor's separate letter to the Noble High Indian Government dated
5 July of that year, along with the enclosed copy of the sultan's letter and His Honor's response to it. Their High Nobilities had so far accepted this situation. The matter was handled entirely by the governor alone according to custom and had been resolved to the point that no unusual disturbances were being heard anymore, and it seemed that through calm thinking, tempers had cooled down again.
On
22 December 1779, regarding the loading and dispatch of ships, they not only maintained the greatest speed there themselves, but they also ensured as much as possible that this happened at the subordinate offices under Your Honor's authority, particularly concerning the ships at the
Samarang offices. Since it had been recommended to continue with the present speed in dispatching ships to the main location, they trusted that those officials would comply. They furthermore approved that Your Honor had imposed a fine of 100 ducatons to prevent unnecessary delays of ships, to be paid by the respective chiefs and residents for each day that a ship could have departed earlier. However, the determination of this latter point did not always seem equally certain, as it could be subject to various exceptions in their opinion.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0220
An expedition was undertaken under the command of Lieutenant
Adriaan van Rijke, although a large portion of the crew was sick or too weak upon arrival. The expedition could not be stopped as it had already progressed too far by
31 July. In
August, they succeeded in conquering an island. Those who were not killed, fled, or captured submitted themselves. This gave hope that matters that had been delayed for 3 to 4 years might finally be resolved, bringing peace to
Java and benefiting the Company.
A total of 2,004 people, both adults and children, who had willingly submitted were transported from
Noessa Barang to
Java and placed in different districts. Prisoners and suspects were banished. The fugitives, including the main rebel leaders, were pursued without success. They likely fled westward to
Bancahoeloe and might attempt to retake
Noessa Barang.
Noessa remained occupied with:
- 50 European soldiers
- 349 native soldiers and Javanese auxiliary troops
- Some European and native sailors on one large and six smaller patrol boats
The island would stay occupied during the west monsoon season or until no more news was heard of the fugitives. On
22 December 1777, 100 European soldiers, 5 artillerymen, 2 junior officers, and 1 sloop were stationed there.
Lieutenant Commander
Adriaan van Rijke and Lieutenant Engineer
Fredrik Sustmann thoroughly surveyed
Noessa to determine whether it should remain occupied or be made uninhabitable to save costs. Further details were discussed in the governor's letters to Their High Nobles dated
11 September,
3 October, and
22 November.
Noessa Cambangang was occupied by a command of Europeans and natives from
Cheribon. In the neighboring region of
Banjoemaas, some Europeans with imperial troops were stationed to watch for the fugitives from
Noessa Barrang who might try to land there upon their return.
The upper and lower lands under the princes, and the lower lands and coasts under the Company, had enjoyed continuous peace for four consecutive years since the boundaries between territories were established and confirmed by the princes. No disputes had arisen except recently over a small rice field in
Bagaleen called
Baijem, which was settled in favor of the Emperor based on the registers.
However, peace in the upper lands was threatened by a man named
Marto Djoedo. The Emperor had removed him as head of a village called
Gagatan, located on the border of
Samarang and
Damak.
Marto Djoedo gathered followers, invaded, plundered, and burned several villages belonging to the Sultan. He was immediately opposed, driven away, and scattered by the
Djokjocarta court and subsequently fled. Nothing had been heard of him since, but some prisoners later claimed that the Sultan...
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0218
Reinier De Klerk, the Governor General, and the Council of Netherlands India received several letters on 22 December 1777. These letters were responses to an official document from the Dutch East India Company's governing board (the Seventeen Directors), dated 30 October 1776 from Middelburg.
Regarding the Balemboangang area on Java's northeast coast, the situation had barely improved over the past 4 years. The local population had become impoverished due to war and disease, which left the land exhausted. In a letter dated 15 January 1777 from Batavia, the Governor General and Council had freed the inhabitants from all taxes and contributions for another 2 years, until the end of 1778.
However, concerning Noessa Barrang (an island), there was better news to report. The authorities had finally proceeded with a long-planned military expedition against that island, as mentioned in a separate letter dated 11 April 1777, in which the Governor received his orders.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0216
On
25 April 1777, officials reported on the poor condition of several buildings in
Surabaya and
Gresik. The following structures needed repair or replacement:
- The trade and pay offices in Surabaya, estimated cost: 1344 guilders and 18 stuivers
- The prisons and jailer's residence in Surabaya, estimated cost: 502 guilders and 16 stuivers (excluding woodwork)
- The flagpole in Gresik, which had deteriorated due to age (cost estimate still pending)
The ship De Jonge Hellingman transported 4 surplus drummers and pipers from the coast. Their names were:
The ship also transported prisoners sentenced by the Council of Justice on
26 November 1776:
Additionally,
Catharina Elizabeth van Lichtenberg, a free Christian woman, was to be placed in the workhouse due to her bad conduct and scandalous behavior, as reported by merchant and prosecutor
Nicolaas Alexander Lelieveld on
22 April 1777.
The Chinese man
Lim Saptouw was sent away as a dangerous person for committing theft.
Several Javanese men from
Djember were mentioned in letters from
24 December 1776 and
15 April 1777:
Wongso,
Dito (a village head and former chief of
Djember),
Bappa Tram,
Karie,
Sarrewo, and
Kanan. They were accused of providing shelter and support to rebels and allowing them to escape.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0075
On 25 April 1777, the writers reported that they had not received thick nails measuring 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 inches, which were badly needed for strong construction work. They warned that without these nails, the work would have to stop in parts and would progress slowly overall. They also requested a favorable response to their additional demand for iron bars, as the demand from Rembang exceeded both their earlier petition from 15 December 1776 and the quantity sent by the authorities. The requested iron consisted of:
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of 1½ and 1¼ inches
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of 1 inch
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of ¾ inch
Most of this iron was needed for the company's shipbuilding.
The ship De Cornelia Adriana, which had spent the winter at Joana, resumed its voyage to Palembang on 17 April. At the request of the officers, the ship received supplies beyond the daily provisions, including 3 months of rations for the crew and 308 7/8 reichsdalers for good months for the sailors assigned to it. The ship also received a new boat to replace one that had been lost before their arrival on the coast due to bad weather and wind. The total cost amounted to 2,122 guilders, 9 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The writers had charged this to Palembang through the Joana resident Rutgert Reinier Keijzer, as shown in the copy of the expense account and invoice.
The company ships 's Compagnies Welvaaren and Oostcapelle arrived at Tagal and Padtalongang respectively on 15 April and were being loaded there with speed as ordered. The ship De Concordia arrived on 21 April and would be sent to Sourabaya with the annual necessities for the east corner that were currently being loaded, and would then transport a full cargo of rice from Grissee to Batavia. However, this ship arrived with 1 dead person and 10 sick people, and according to the officers' statement (just like De Dankbaarheid before), it arrived without a chief medical officer and without medicines. Therefore, the writers felt obliged to provide some medicines and to inform the authorities about this.
The servants at Sourabaya, according to an extract from their letter of 5 April of the current year, were informed through engineer Sustmann, who was currently busy there and at Grissee with the approved renewal and repair of the company's buildings.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0073
A letter was sent to
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council members of the Dutch East Indies on
April 25, 1777.
The writers confirmed their earlier letter from the 14th of that month. They reported that the ship De Jonge Hellingman had been loaded at their location with the following cargo:
- 350 coyangs of rice
- 100 picols of kapok
- 1,060.5 pounds of wax
- 201 pounds of cardamom
- 100 pounds of coriander seeds
- 25 pounds of cubeb pepper
- 27,057 pounds of sugared tamarind
According to the invoice, the total value was 17,011 guilders, 4 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The ship was now making its return journey to the main settlement.
The writers offered a report on the delivered cargo along with a record showing that some goods had been under-reported or over-reported by the authorities by 27 guilders and 18 stuivers in Indian money. They requested that this amount be credited to the salary accounts.
They thanked the recipients for the goods and supplies and asked for the remaining items from their annual request. They particularly needed nails for shipbuilding for the Company in
Rembang. Resident
Willem van Hogendorp had requested these nails for boats under construction and lighters and smaller vessels for the main settlement, totaling 131,227 pounds of various types of nails. From the most recent delivery from
Batavia, they had only been able to supply 30,181 pounds of thin nails and other types, leaving the requested thick nails unfulfilled.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0071
- On 14 April 1777, several requests were submitted to be granted civilian freedom.
- The ship De Cornelia Adriana was mentioned in connection with a request, with Rijnike replacing someone in their position.
- Requests were presented from soldier Johannes Joseph de Graaf and soldier Heijneman Beer, who asked to be granted civilian freedom because their military service time had expired.
- There had been some disagreements between the captain of the ship that was in Joana and was destined for Palembang, the ship De Cornelia Adriana, and others on the ship De Dankbaarheid.
- According to an extract from a letter by Joana Resident Rutgert Reijnier Keijzer, dated the last day of February of the previous year, conflicts had arisen between skipper Lourens Buijs and chief surgeon Christiaan Frederik Terbietskie.
- At the request of skipper Buijs, and to prevent further disagreements, chief surgeon Terbietskie was removed from that ship.
- Terbietskie was placed on the ship De Dankbaarheid to provide service there, which had arrived from the main post without a chief surgeon and with a sick junior surgeon.
- He was to return with that ship to the main post pending further orders.
- In his place, junior surgeon Johan Balthazar Rijnike was assigned to the ship De Cornelia Adriana.
- On 14 April 1777, envoys from the sultan were granted passage and letters and gifts were sent to the courts.
- Payment of a bill of exchange was requested.
- The Bantam envoys from the sultan had arrived with the ship De Dankbaarheid and were immediately granted passage to the Djokjokarta court.
- The letters and accompanying gifts for the princes had been received and the first signatory had already sent everything to Keijzer and the sultan.
- A bill of exchange in favor of Jan Hendrik Poock, bailiff of the Batavia countryside, amounting to 5,000 rixdollars, was presented and payment was requested.
- The letter was signed by I. R. van der Burgh, I. M. van Panhuijs, F. van Ardinne, I. van Santen, N. A. van Lelivelt, M. L. Gaaswijk, P. Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and A. Barkeij.
- The letter was dated Samarang, 14 April 1777.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0069
On
14 April 1777, it was reported that merchant and second resident
Jan Otto van Ingen had departed for
Djokjokarta to serve at the sultan's court. The employees at
Soerabaja were instructed to resume paying wages to the sailors who were still there from the ship
A Schat, which had been wrecked on the voyage from
Bima in the previous year. The wages were to be paid from
16 August 1776 onwards.
The resignation of merchant and resident
Alexander Cornabé from
Tagal was noted, with his transfer to take place by the end of August. Merchant
Isaak Cornelis Domis was appointed in his place.
Domis was to be replaced as resident at
Grissee by
Barend Willem Fockens, who was the head at
Timor. Since
Cornabé would be leaving for the
Netherlands, he would need to hand over his position by the end of August at the latest. A request was made for
Domis to hand over the residency at
Grissee by the end of July instead of mid-August to his replacement
Fockens. If
Fockens had not yet arrived, two appointed officials would take care of business until he came.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant
George Otto Dijkman was given command in
Balemboan.
Several requests for promotion were submitted:
These individuals were praised for giving satisfaction through their enthusiasm, diligence, and capability, provided their required service time had been completed.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0067
On
14 April 1777, a request was made that the tax on rice transported to the other coast should not be increased.
A market was to be temporarily rented out to the current regional leader of Samarang for 500 Dutch dollars per year. This was the same amount that had been offered to the deceased head regent in the previous year. The reason for not charging more was that the current leader should not pay more than his predecessor. Additionally, if the retirement home continued to receive fines assigned to it by letter dated 29 February 1776, and also received a fixed income of 500 dollars per year from this bazaar, it would be able to manage and survive.
According to the financial statement closed at the end of February, in the previous year 1776, if major repairs to the retirement home made in 1775 had not been paid off, the capital would have increased by 845 dollars and 16 cents through generous allocations of political and district council fines and other contributions.
A request was made that the authorities approve this arrangement concerning the bazaar in the city, at least until it was clear what results it would produce. Meanwhile, the proposed tax for the benefit of the retirement home should not be implemented. This tax would be half a dollar on every koyang of rice transported from this coast to the other coast. The arguments against this tax were:
- The retirement home would not benefit from it during poor harvests and scarcity when rice transport to the other coast was forbidden
- During good harvests with abundant rice supplies, like at that time, trade with the other coast was too useful, profitable and important for all of Java
- Rice was the main product the traders from the other coast wanted
- Adding another half dollar on top of the already high tax of 10 dollars per koyang would burden rice and scare away traders from this coast by imposing higher taxes than were charged in other places
According to the general military strength report of 14 April, the military strength on and along all of Java showed that there was actually a shortage of 52 common soldiers compared to the fixed requirement, and with that indeed 58 men at Samarang.
Five drummers and pipers would be sent to the main settlement as requested by the authorities. The surplus drummers and pipers were mentioned.
Thanks were expressed on behalf of the employees who had been granted benefits and otherwise favored by the authorities, including someone named Dijkman, for whom a command was given at Balemborang.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0065
On
14 April 1777, a system was established requiring the governor of
Samarang and the heads of subordinate offices and residencies to accept deposits from charitable institutions and boards when they had no better investment opportunities. The deposits had to be secured with 2 sufficient guarantors or good mortgage property to satisfy the institution.
The following deposit amounts were assigned:
- The Governor: 10 to 1200 rijksdaalders (money he already held as deposits from the orphan chamber and the deaconry, plus money from the orphan masters)
- Authority in Sourabaija: 6 to 8000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Paccalongang: 3000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Rembang: 4000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Japara: 4000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Tagal: 4000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Joana: 3000 rijksdaalders
- Authority in Sumanap: 2000 rijksdaalders
- Resident in Grissee: 4000 rijksdaalders
This created permanent employment for 40 to 44000 rijksdaalders. Approval was requested for this arrangement. The proposal involved arrangements to maintain steady employment of funds, either by lending them to the community in those locations for the account and risk of the local heads, or by employing the money themselves. In return, they would provide interest of half or five-eighths percent per month, or whatever amount the High Noble authorities decided.
The poor success of the bazaar established in the city for the benefit of the retirement home was attributed to the recently deceased head regent of
Samarang. It was recognized that natives, especially Javanese people, once intimidated or made averse due to their prejudice, were slow to change. The marketplace was not yet in proper condition for the retirement home to derive the intended benefit, though it was currently growing and likely to succeed in time. Since a Company bazaar had been established in the city, it was believed it should remain and be brought into proper condition. The writer agreed with the first signatory's proposal regarding the market.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0063
On
14 April 1777, some benefits were added. The intention was to provide
Tanjong and the markets, along with the village
Loembang, with something to provide a living. In a later letter from
27 February, it was decided to let the first mentioned person decide whether to lease the village
Pinger Pappas to either
Iang Boeijko or
Tjong Hangsaaij for a period of 5 years, for 2000 Dutch dollars per year. The officials reported that the Sumanap salt village
Pinger Pappas was leased to
Hang Boeijko for 5 years, starting from
1 May until
end of April 1782, for 2000 Dutch dollars, according to their earlier proposal from
24 December 1776.
Tjong Hengsaaij received the following leases for his lifetime:
- the large and small markets under the Sumanap region for 600 dollars
- the village Grissee Poetie for 30 dollars
- the village Loembong for 250 dollars
- total of 880 dollars in favor of the regent
The officials hoped this would meet the high intentions, while the Governor expressed his gratitude for the consideration given to him.
On
14 April 1777, a proposal was made to create a fund to lend idle capital with interest. The proposal from the orphan masters to secure their money in the Company's treasury was rejected. It was suggested that other secure methods should be found to relieve the chamber of idle funds, without burdening the Company. Not only the orphan masters needed help, but also estate administrators and the deaconry needed assistance, as it became increasingly difficult to invest their money securely according to their instructions. The community was small, and many preferred to go to private individuals who accepted only a single mortgage or guarantors. This caused the interest-free capital of orphans and the poor to grow while income decreased. By
end of February, the orphan masters had fallen so far behind that the earned interest amounted to only 19 dollars, 32, 15. After long consideration, the officials could find no better or more secure solution than the one they proposed.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0061
On
14 April 1777, approval was requested for the assignment of a task to the
Rembang Resident. Additionally, 3 rampaarden (battering rams) were ordered to be made locally.
The residents of
Balemboangang were asked to provide the following contributions:
- 50 pieces of grapes filled with lead weighing 1 pound
- 3 bundles of fuse
- ½ ream of cardboard paper
- 2 pieces of grenadier weapons
- 2 curved sabers with copper fittings and sheaths
- 1/15 barrel of sharp snaplock cartridges
- 4 pieces of pikes
- 1 Company flag
- 4 pieces of flints
The
Surabaya officials requested a different type of boat instead of the original one. The
Rembang Resident
van Hogendorp was assigned to arrange this. Approval was also requested for the order and shipment to the eastern corner of 3 rampaarden to replace the same number that were found unfit during inspection at the end of
February. Officials claimed they could not make or provide these at the set price.
Regarding domains and revenues, on
14 April 1777, the village
Panaroekan was leased to
Hang Boeijko for a certain amount, and the salt village
Pinger Bapas was also transferred.
Following a proposal, the residents of eastern
Balemboangang were exempted from all contributions for 2 more years, covering 1777 and 1778. The Regent of that district and his subordinates were informed through the
Surabaya officials. This measure was expected to help these poor people and increase the population of the area.
According to official authorization, the district
Panaroekan was leased to
Hang Boeijko, Captain of the Chinese community in
Surabaya, for 5 years starting
1 January and ending
31 December 1781, for 500 Spanish Realen per year. He was required to provide the permanent garrison in the fort with regular rations of rice, oil, and salt, as well as necessary firewood and water, without payment.
A letter from
27 December 1776 requested information about the Captain of the Chinese in
Sumanap,
Tjong Hensaaij, who asked to lease the villages
Pinger Pappas and
Tanjong from the local regent.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0059
On
14 April 1777, several expenses were reported from
Gresik. First, costs were listed for the pilot boat of
Gresik. Second, expenses of 560 guilders and 2 stuivers were reported by resident
Isaac Cornelis Domis for repairs to the pilot boat to fix its problems and supply it properly. Third, 3,638 rijksdaalders and 7 stuivers were spent between
24 August and
23 December of the previous year on the hospital in
Gresik, according to a specification by Lieutenant Engineer
Fredrik Sustmann. The hospital had been renovated and expanded. A report by Head Administrator
van Panhuis and Captain Commander
van Ardenne Poltooijde was mentioned. According to bookkeeper
van Santen, the total cost of the hospital was 4,717 rijksdaalders and 36 stuivers, which was 74 rijksdaalders and 46 stuivers more than originally calculated. The extra costs were due to:
- Adding more rooms to the hospital and to the doctor's cramped living quarters
- Laying stone fire-proof floors in all upper rooms
- Renovating the city gate in front of the hospital
- Painting and tarring all the buildings
These items had not been included in the original calculation. Permission was requested to approve this extra spending.
Fifth, losses were reported from the patrol boat
Petronella, which sailed in the eastern corner between
Banyuwangi and
Surabaya in
January and
February. During bad weather, the boat lost an iron anchor, 40 bundles of local rope, and a topsail. A foresail was also used to repair other sails. Declarations were included as proof.
Finally, a cross-shaped boat was lost on the journey from
Ketapang to
Banyuwangi. The boat capsized and all people on board died except one native person who survived by swimming. The lost goods included:
- 2 iron cannons of 1 pound with their stands and lead weights
- 1 cannon spoon of 1 pound
- 1 iron pig's tail of 1 pound
- 1 fuse wiper and setter of 1 pound
- 1 copper loading needle
- 1 steel cannon drill
- 2 powder horns
- 50 pounds of gunpowder
- 50 round shot of 1 pound
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0057
On
14 April 1777, a report was made about financial matters involving rice shipments and various expenses:
Regarding the rice shipment, there was a shortage of 12,000 pounds of rice received on the 40 coijangs (large baskets) of rice brought to
Batavia by
Duijfen Burg. This happened because of a writing error on the invoice where "Lasten" was written instead of "coijangs". However, the authorities had actually weighed out coijangs of 28 picols or 3,500 pounds as they should have. Measures would be taken to prevent such mistakes in the future.
A request was made to write off the following expense accounts for ships and smaller vessels that had been on the coast from the beginning of September until the end of February:
- At Samarang: Ship IJsselmonde - 74 guilders, 16 stuivers
- At Samarang: Bark De Ida - 12 guilders, 8 penningen
- At Samarang: Ship t Huis te Bijweg - 18 guilders, 3 stuivers
- At Samarang: Ship t Huis te Bijweg - 9 guilders, 1 stuiver, 8 penningen
- At Samarang: Ship de Vrijheid - 526 guilders, 1 stuiver, 8 penningen
- At Samarang: Ship Roodenreis - 907 guilders, 19 stuivers
- At Sourabaija: Ship Groenendaal - 208 guilders, 14 stuivers, 8 penningen
- At Grissee: Ship Willem Fredrik - 257 guilders, 6 stuivers
- At Joana: Bark De Ida - 423 guilders, 2 stuivers
- At Japara: Ship IJsselmonde - 210 guilders, 5 stuivers
- At Paccalongang: Ship Landskroon - 111 guilders, 18 stuivers
- At Tagal: Ship Westfriesland - 147 guilders, 3 stuivers
- Ship Kroonenburg - 69 guilders, 8 stuivers, 8 penningen
- Ship t Huis te Bijweg - 89 guilders, 7 stuivers, 8 penningen
- Ship IJsselmonde - 344 guilders, 8 penningen
- Ship Velzen - 49 guilders, 18 stuivers, 8 penningen
Additionally, a write-off was requested for 2,398 guilders and 5 stuivers from the account for patrol vessels. This amount covered ammunition, equipment, and other goods that, according to a note from trade representative
Herman Ludewig and attached declarations, had been used, lost, or consumed by patrol vessels fighting against pirates along the coast and in the eastern corner during the year 1776.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0055
Between
14 April 1777 and earlier dates, officials examined goods stored at
Banjoewangie and
Djember in 1776. After comparing reports from
Surabaya employees with the account books, and following the order from
19 November of the previous year, they discovered that the reported surplus of goods was not real. The committee had compared the
Bancallang inventory report twice - once separately and once as part of the general
Surabaya report, which already included
Bancallang goods since that post fell under
Surabaya. Because of this double counting, the authorities withdrew their order to confiscate the supposed surplus goods for the benefit of the Company. However, they instructed employees in the eastern region to keep separate accounts for
Bancallang in the
Surabaya books to prevent similar mistakes.
Further examination of ammunition and weapons at
Banjoewangie and
Djember on
late August 1776 showed that differences between inventory reports and the books were only due to incorrect descriptions of caliber for some items and wrong names for other goods. The only actual shortage was 40 pieces of round ammunition of ½ pound, which had been fired at the Contongers in 1771 and 1772. The authorities approved corrections to record goods under their proper names in future inventories and ordered the missing 40 pieces of ½ pound round ammunition to be written off against the
Balemboang Expedition account.
Orders were given to send empty gunpowder barrels back to
Batavia at every opportunity, following the resolution of
27 August 1776.
Regarding financial matters, officials still awaited the accounting for reduced income and capital advance related to 100 defective 2½ inch swivel guns brought from
Paccalongang to the main location on the ship
Vlissingen in the previous year, to be charged to resident
Bruistens. Meanwhile, the
Surabaya employees paid compensation of 408 guilders and 2 stuivers for 31,733⅓ pounds of rice, calculated as 1 7/15 percent of the 6 1/1 percent dust found in 500 koyangs of rice loaded onto the ship
Kroonenburg for
Batavia in 1776, which resident
van Hogendorp from
Rembang also handled.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0053
On
14 April 1777, various orders that had been requested earlier were renewed along the coast. To promote trade, they made recommendations to the subordinate trading posts. Now that they were able to supply various goods, they would ensure that everything for
Mataie would be prepared quickly, and also the last requested 4 small boats for
Malacca would be made ready.
The orders to keep foreign Europeans away from this coast were renewed, as well as the orders against:
- buying and selling subjects of His Majesty the King of Spain who had been made slaves by the Moors
- transporting more than the permitted number of slaves belonging to private individuals on the Company's ships and vessels
- bringing more Chinese passengers than the allowed number of 6 people per vessel
As was the yearly custom, they were busy preparing the ordinary 8 cruiser ships against pirates and to protect private shipping and trade along this coast. To encourage and promote this, they sent strong recommendations to the subordinate coastal trading posts to encourage private individuals to transport products, especially rice, to
Batavia.
However, there was concern that private shipping would decline because in recent years several private individuals had lost their vessels, some had sold theirs or stopped using them, and few new ones were being built. The number had decreased so much that there was now a shortage of vessels in
Semarang and nearly all trading posts, and thus also a lack of opportunity for large-scale transport of products. They feared that the private shipping and trade from
Java, which was especially useful for
Batavia, would decline year after year unless private individuals were encouraged to build new vessels.
Regarding the trade books of this government from the year 1772/73, which had not been received, they requested that these be sent, as well as those from the following years.
Concerning ammunition and weapons storage goods, they mentioned goods found at the post
Bancallang according to statements from commissioners, which they had to withdraw on
14 April 1777, and compared the trade books of 1776/77 against the reports from the general inventory at the end of August 1776.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0051
On
14 April 1777, the authorities reported they were making every effort to improve and increase indigo cultivation. They thanked the recipients for the cotton yarn samples and for extending the delivery contract for teak wood. They mentioned that commissioners had surveyed the teak forests under the Company's control along the coast and had made decisions on
14th of that month. They respectfully requested approval for these decisions.
Regarding indigo cultivation, they stated no effort would be spared to improve its quality and increase production. They reported that 100 picols of indigo had been purchased at 5 guilders per picol as requested the previous year and was ready for shipment. They expressed gratitude for the cotton yarn samples received for the
Netherlands and offered these samples. They also thanked the authorities for their favorable response to the request from the resident and regents of
Japara for an extension to deliver 32 picols of yarn they still owed at the end of December. They were confident this would be delivered within the agreed 18-month period, above their regular quota.
According to reports from officials in
Sourabaja,
Passourouang,
Banjoewangie, and
Banaroekan (included as extracts), sappanwood had been so extensively cut in
Passourouang district in 1768 and 1769 that nothing remained there or in
Balemboang. In
Panaroekan at most only about 30 picols could be obtained, and the samples sent were very thin. In hope of approval, they would order that since no better quality or larger quantity of this dyewood could be obtained, collection should stop for now and the trees should be left to reach full maturity.
For the rapid and proper construction of the 7 pantjallangs (boats) previously ordered for
Amboina,
Ternate, and
Makassar, and the vessels now required for the main settlement, they had passed on the recommendation to the
Rembang resident
Mister Willem van Hogendorp and further instructed him to stop all private work in the meantime. However, they had to report that a shortage of iron, nails, and other necessary materials had somewhat delayed this construction.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0049
14 April 1777: Officials reported that they had petitioned for 100,000 lb of tamarind on 7 March and promised to fulfill all further demands as quickly and promptly as possible. They wanted to give satisfaction to the High and Mighty Lords, just as they had done in the previous year.
They explained they would have given new proof of this if they had received ships earlier to load the products that were already collected and stored in warehouses. The success of future deliveries depended mainly on the crops and the timely arrival of contingents. Everything looked favorable so far, especially the rice crop which was growing well.
However, they warned that no certain calculations could be made before the harvest, because even when the grain was ripening, strong drought could make it wither, heavy rains and strong winds could knock it down, or mice and other vermin could destroy it.
This had led them to ask in their submission of 24 December whether the High and Mighty Lords, given the rich harvest of the previous year and the current abundance of rice, wanted the company to purchase rice above the contingents for the ships, as had been done in recent years. Since the supply in Batavia was also quite large and this was not considered necessary by the High and Mighty Lords, no purchase would be made and no other rice would be shipped except what was actually stored in warehouses and what would come in from future contingents.
At the first opportunity by ship, 30 koyangs of table rice that were stored in Tagal for widowed ladies (the late His Highness van der Parra, the honorable and strict Lord Councilor extraordinary Radermacher, and the second secretary Goedbloet) would also be included.
The provision of heavy timber as required would be most difficult, but everything possible was being done that could be demanded from the native population. They hoped to satisfy this requirement to some extent. Orders had been renewed and care would be taken that the timber shipped would fully correspond with the length and thickness specified in the invoice.
Regarding the large quantity of timber brought to Batavia by private individuals in the previous year according to the notes sent, they had already answered in their submission of 14 February and referred to that answer. They asked permission to now offer a report on the inspection of salt to the High and Mighty Lords.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0047
- On 14 April 1777, the officials of the ship Cornelia Adriana were ordered to leave for Palembang as soon as possible.
- The ships De Weldoener and De Anna Maria had been paid for and fitted out.
- To take advantage of the western winds still blowing occasionally, the ship De Dankbaarheid was sent with a cargo of rice to the eastern corner, and De Vreede Lust was sent with a load of wood to Joana, where the heaviest wood was also ready for shipping.
- The ship De Jonge Hellingman was currently being unloaded of goods that had been brought in response to their request, and was being reloaded with rice.
- The officials of the ship Cornelia Adriana, which had been stranded and overwintered in Joana and was destined for Palembang, were notified to travel to their destination as soon as possible once the monsoon would allow it. This was expected to happen soon as both the current and wind were already strongly turning.
- The ships De Weldoener and De Anna Maria, which belonged to Samarang and Sourabaija, had been caulked, tarred, and doubled for repair of small vessels. The costs were ƒ662.8 and ƒ642.5 respectively. Based on authorization received, these expenses were written off to the account of the Kruis vessels.
- On 14 April 1777, it was noted that ships would be loaded as quickly as possible and sent back.
- Thanks were expressed for the requests received and other matters.
- To fulfill the requests for this year, all efforts would be made.
- Ships that were still expected and other ships that would be sent would be loaded according to instructions and sent back as quickly as possible.
- Gratitude was expressed for being helped out of difficulties regarding the cash, goods, and necessities requested for this year, and for the authorization to accept as much silver money on exchange as would be needed from time to time. Thanks were also given for the favorable assurance that during this year no Japanese bar copper would be given to private individuals in Batavia for transport to Java.
- Reference was made to their last letter of 15 March and the accompanying distribution among the various offices under their jurisdiction of products, whose procurement during the current year 1777 for the main station they had been assigned by the request dated 4 January last. They asked to be assured that they would make their utmost efforts to fulfill that request and the additional one of 7.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0045
In
Samarang, on
15 March 1777, officials reported to the Governor-General about financial matters.
R=t van der Burgh,
J=n M=s van Panhuijs,
F van Ardenne,
J=bs van Santen,
N=s N: Lelivelt,
M=r L=s Gaaswijk,
A: P:s Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and
A: Barkeij explained that someone had advanced 47,000 rijksdaalders from the Company's main cash office for expenses and transfers to subordinate offices. They presented a duplicate bill of exchange for this amount. The Governor requested that this bill be converted into assignments on the Gentlemen Seventeen for transfer to
the Netherlands in October, to be paid to the persons named in the bill.
The officials addressed their letter to
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, the Governor-General, and the Council of
Netherlands India. They acknowledged receiving letters dated
27 December of the previous year,
15 and 28 January,
27 February, and
22 and 24 March of that year. They referred to their previous letters of
14 February and
15 March. They reported that the ships De Dankbaarheid arrived on the 6th, and De Jonge Hellingman and Vreedelust arrived on the 9th of that month. No other ships had arrived on this coast that season to collect products.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0043
On
15 March 1777, a report was made about timber shortages. Even without counting various types of wood planks and other wood species bought in
Japara,
Joana, and
Rembang outside the regular supplies, and not including the demands for beams still expected for
Cabo de Goede Hoop (Cape of Good Hope),
Ceylon,
Amboina, and
Banda that year, there would still be shortages. The unfulfilled requests included:
- For the island Onrust: 1,000 pieces of Jasem beams and 800 Ambon beams
- For the equipment shipyard: 1,000 pieces of Ambon beams, 1,000 Tanjong beams, 1,204 Gloudong beams, and 2,000 windboom beams
In total, approximately 7,000 pieces of beams were needed, and the writers asked for further orders and specifications.
The officials reported being in great difficulty regarding the goods requested in their earlier request of
15 December 1776 for this coast. They especially needed iron, nails, and other items for the
Rembang timber shipyard. They urgently requested quick relief and assistance.
They also requested ships to collect products that were ready for shipping:
- For Tagal: 1 ship for rice and 1 to 2 ships for rice and wood
- For Samarang: 1 to 2 ships for wood and 1 ship for rice
- For Japara: 1 to 2 ships for wood, and 2 to 3 ships for wood, remaining rice, and other products
- For the east corner: 2 ships for rice
- For Joana and Rembang: ships (number not specified)
- For Pachalongang: 1 ship for rice
In total, they requested 10, 11, or 12 ships. They expected to load most ships directly and have all loaded and ready by the end of May to return to
Batavia. This count included ships returning empty from the great east that would stop at
Java. They asked to know the number of these ships so they could plan the loading of ships that would be sent directly from
Batavia.
The first signatory had been serving successively since mid-November 1776.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0041
14 February 1777. Officials from Samarang wrote a letter to the Governor General and Council requesting supplies that were already running low or would soon run out.
The letter was signed by I. R. van der Burgh, J. M. van Panhuijs, J. van Ardenne, J. van Santen, N. N. Lelivelt, H. Ludewig, M. L. Gaaswijk, A. P. Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and A. Barkeij.
15 March 1777. The officials addressed Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council members of Netherlands India regarding demands from Batavia for the year 1777. They submitted a distribution plan for the requested products and goods across various trading posts.
The officials stated they would try to supply the demanded products as much as possible. However, they noted that:
- Rice delivery would depend mainly on the harvest and timely payment of quotas
- Timber delivery would be difficult because even if all wood came in and was delivered according to their distribution plan by the local regents and chiefs, the demand still could not be met without buying more than the required amount of about 7,000 beams
They provided figures showing that timber remainders, arrears, and quotas for the year totaled 17,897 beams. Of this amount, 6,560 beams had to be set aside for the sawmill in Japara and the timber yard in Rembang. This left only 11,337 beams available for shipping if everything came in. However, the timber works that needed to be supplied from this amount, including all the requested heavy timber, totaled 11,225 beams, leaving only 112 beams remaining.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0039
On 14 February 1777, a letter was sent from Samarang to Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council of the Dutch East Indies. The letter was signed by R. van der Burgh, J. van Panhuijs, J. van Ardenne, J. van Santen, N. M. Lelivelt, H. Ludewig, M. L. Gaaswijk, A. P. Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and A. Barkeij.
The writers requested that two bills of exchange be paid in Batavia:
- One in favor of Jan Hendrik Wiegerman, vice president of the Council of Aldermen, for 12,244.8 rijksdaalders
- One in favor of Carel Fredrik Leverin, secretary of the Orphan Masters in Batavia, for 1,248 rijksdaalders
The letter reported that heavy rains along the coast had allowed farmers to work their fields and prepare them for rice cultivation. However, the continuing bad and rough weather and excessive water prevented them in many places from sowing grain and in other places from transplanting young crops. Despite this, there was still good hope that when the weather calmed down, these activities could be completed successfully with prospects for a good harvest.
The writers noted they had no bar iron left in stock. They needed this and also nails that had been requested in their letter of 15 December 1776 for the shipbuilding yard at Rembang for a ship under construction.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0037
On
14 February 1777, several requests were presented. A request came from chief merchant and Head Administrator
Mister Johan Michiel van Panhuis, asking for permission to make a short trip to
Batavia. A request came from merchant and resident in
Tagal Alexander Cornabe, asking for a favorable discharge before the end of August from that residency, and to be allowed to depart for
the Netherlands with one of the return ships of the first dispatch in October of that year, while keeping his rank and salary due to his expired term, with the permitted baggage. A request came from surgeon
Herman Carel Snijders, asking to be promoted to head surgeon based on the reasons stated in his request. A request came from bookkeeper
Jacob van Garling, asking to be transferred from
Surabaya to the main location. Another request came from corporal
Johan Hendrik Scheuning, asking to be discharged from company service in order to earn a living as a civilian alongside other citizens. All these requests were supported and it was respectfully requested that they be viewed favorably for the petitioners.
On
14 February 1777, two bills of exchange were enclosed, whose duplicates accompanied this document. One bill was in favor of
Ian Hendrik Wiegerman, vice president in the esteemed College of Aldermen, for the amount of 12,244 rijksdaalders and 8 stuivers. Another bill was in favor of
Carel Fredrik Severin, notary of the Orphan Masters in
Batavia, for the amount of 1,248 rijksdaalders. It was requested that the holders of the original bills in
Batavia be paid.
The many rains that had fallen along this coast for some time had enabled the farmer to work his fields and prepare them for rice cultivation. However, the continuing extremely harsh, rough weather and abundant water still prevented them in many places from sowing the grain and in other places from transplanting the young crops. Nevertheless, the prospects remained good that when the weather calmed down somewhat, both tasks could be completed satisfactorily with the expectation of a good harvest.
Since there was no bar iron left in stock, and also because nails were needed for the
Rembang carpentry yard for the keelboats being built (which had been requested on
15 December 1776)...
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0035
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