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In 1701, officials in Macassar discussed the case of Arou Teko, a controversial figure accused of serious crimes. The Dutch governor and local leaders, including the King of Boni and his advisors, debated how to handle his punishment.

The discussion ended with the advisor urging quick action to finally resolve the case.

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In 1701, a conflict arose in Macassar involving several key figures:
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On July 11, 1701, in Macassar, Radja Loubou shared secret information with the governor, asking him to keep it confidential. He feared that Arou Lonij, known for his quick temper, would severely punish him if he found out. Radja Loubou also doubted whether others would speak honestly about the matter, as they might change their stories out of fear or self-interest. The governor thanked Radja Loubou for his honesty and promised to keep the conversation private. He then asked for advice on how to handle the situation without breaking local laws.

Radja Loubou explained that Arou Teko, who worked for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), had committed a serious crime by killing someone. According to local laws, too much time had passed to punish Arou Teko with death, but he could still be fined heavily. The fine would be accepted by the allies and the royal family, including the descendants of Soping, whose lineage was highly respected.

The governor had earlier ordered Marcus Santbeek, a bookkeeper, to secretly gather opinions from allies about the killing of Arou Teko and the legal proceedings. On July 9, 1701, Santbeek spoke with Radja Loubou and later reported that Carain Agamonjo, the King of Tanette, had briefly shared his thoughts. Carain Agamonjo believed Arou Teko initially had a just cause but had gone too far by killing Dain Manbanij, making himself guilty of a serious crime. He warned that if Arou Teko wasn’t punished soon, he might flee and cause more trouble for the VOC.

The governor was unsatisfied with this response and wanted the VOC to take stronger action to uphold local laws. He then requested a meeting with Carain Agamonjo to discuss the matter further. When asked, Carain Agamonjo agreed to meet but expressed fear that Radja Bonij would find out and punish him. He also mentioned that past experiences showed the VOC didn’t always protect its allies when conflicts arose.

Santbeek reassured Carain Agamonjo that the governor would support him, but the king remained skeptical, citing past failures by the VOC to intervene in similar cases. Eventually, Carain Agamonjo agreed to meet the governor the next day, July 12, 1701, but planned to tell Queen Dain Tahalille that the meeting was about unpaid debts to avoid suspicion.

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On 9 July 1701, at the request of the governor, a local leader named Radja Loubou (also called Datoea Ri Loeboe) visited the governor’s residence in Macassar. He was escorted from the city gate to the governor’s house by Arent van der Mijll, a local official assigned for this task. Upon arrival, Radja Loubou met with the governor in the front room, accompanied by Captain Jan Pietersz Wesselburg and Junior Merchant Ioannes Hackert. He stated that his visit was purely to wish the governor well in his new role. The governor responded politely before offering tea, betel nut, snuff, and dry snacks. At Radja Loubou's request, the governor then took him to his private office (the "ordinary council chamber"). There, Radja Loubou expressed interest in examining the weapons and other curiosities in the room. While he inspected them, the governor closed the door and took the opportunity to privately question Radja Loubou about the opinions of key allies regarding a recent murder case. The case involved Arou Teko, who had killed Dain Mambanij, a prince from Soping, over accusations of adultery with Arou Teko's wife. The governor asked Radja Loubou for his thoughts on the confusing legal proceedings and the verdict agreed upon between the Queen Regent of Soping and Radja Bonij in Chaurana. Radja Loubou responded carefully: The governor pressed further, mentioning rumors that Arou Teko had claimed the murder was done with the knowledge of the late governor Van Thijl and Arou Louij. He asked Radja Loubou if he knew anything about this. The old man replied cautiously:
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On 30 October 1701, a letter was written from Macassar expressing gratitude and hope for support. The writer, Abdul Cadir Radzja Tolok, thanked the recipient for their kindness and described his difficult situation.

The letter was confirmed by Pieter ten Broeck and Halkoen JV Gangel in Batavia on 30 January 1702, stating they had reviewed the letters and found them consistent with their principals' intentions.

The letters were addressed to Abraham van Riebeek, an official of the Dutch East India Company, and were received in two parts: one on 22 November 1701 and the other on 15 December 1701, delivered by a local Macassar resident named Carratoejoe.

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On 20 October 1701, officials in Macassar wrote to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) leadership in Batavia about several matters:

In a separate letter dated 20 October 1701, local rulers from Bima confirmed receiving VOC gifts, including:

The goods were loaded onto VOC ships bound for Batavia. Payment (6 stuivers per picol) was received by Paduka Radja Bima (the local ruler’s son) and another official from Lieutenant Jacob Astenbroek and bookkeeper Isaac Marmer.

The rulers of Bima sent in return:

The letter was signed in Bima on 9 E joemadel alwal 1113 (local calendar) and received in Batavia on 14 November 1701.

The Macassar letter closed with a formal farewell, signed by seven officials, including Cornelis Deernink, Jacob Claesz, and Joannes Hackaert.

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On 21 October 1701, officials in Macassar reported on a long-standing conflict involving the Dutch East India Company (VOC), local allies, and the Mandharese kings over control of the Tomini people.

Additionally, financial matters were addressed:

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On 20 October 1701, a financial report from Macassar detailed the expenses and financial struggles of the Dutch settlement. The report highlighted several key areas:

The report also mentioned administrative adjustments. The second-in-command, Iacob Claesz, corrected past accounting errors as ordered. An investigation into missing weapons (including a mortar) found no major issues, though some minor discrepancies were noted. The report concluded by emphasizing stricter annual inventory checks to prevent future errors.

Finally, a letter from the Governor and Council of Amboina was received but not detailed in this summary.

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On 20 October 1701, a letter was sent from Macassar (modern-day Makassar) to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) in Batavia (modern-day Jakarta). The letter was carried by Captain Laout and addressed to the Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn and the Council of the Dutch Indies.

The rulers of Macassar, speaking on behalf of the Siri Maha Raja (the heir of the ruler), expressed gratitude for the gifts sent by the VOC and the Governor-General. They mentioned that such gifts had not been received before. As a token of friendship, they offered a female slave, though they humbly described it as a modest gift, like a "flower without scent." In return, they requested a flag and a drum for the Siri Maha Raja. They also mentioned their willingness to cooperate with the VOC's representative in Buton, though they noted the distance between Batavia and Buton made communication difficult.

The letter was part of a larger shipment of documents sent via the VOC vessel Goa, under the command of Jan Egtbertsz. The documents included:

The documents were signed by I. Cuijk van Mijer, the secretary, in Fort Rotterdam, Macassar, on 20 October 1701.

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In October 1701, Governor Cornelis Beernink from Macassar sent secret notes to Batavia about meetings with local rulers. These included discussions with Raja Boni on September 1, 1701, regarding a person named Aron Teeko, and correspondence between Raja Gaa and the English in Banjar Massing from August 19 to September 1, 1701.

On October 20, 1701, Governor Beernink sent a secret letter to Batavia, including a message from Paduka Sirij Maha Radja Sepati, the ruler of Boeton (Buton). The ruler expressed loyalty to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and its leader, Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn, calling himself a "servant of Batavia." He promised to protect any shipwrecked Dutch sailors or goods, as he considered Boeton to belong to the VOC. The ruler also mentioned that one of his ships had sunk near Iapara, losing goods but saving all crew members. He sent a replacement ship to Batavia to buy new supplies for Boeton.

The ruler admitted he had not sent gifts earlier due to fear they would not arrive safely. This time, he sent small gifts to key VOC officials:

He called these gifts modest, like a single betel leaf (pinang), but symbolized his sincere friendship.

The ruler thanked the VOC for past gifts received through Captain Lauwt and two mantrijs (local officials). He requested more gifts, especially snaphaunce guns (a type of flintlock), to be sent with the envoy Langlasan. The letter was sent via a Chinese boat led by Nakhoda Oesoangko on November 4, 1701 (or the 17th day of Dzjoemad alwal in the year 1115 of the local calendar).

The ruler repeated his loyalty, saying he would always support the VOC and hoped for continued friendship. He also mentioned sending 3 slaves in total as a sign of goodwill.

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On 11 October 1701, secret notes from Governor Cornelis Deernink in Macassar were received, detailing discussions about a man named Aron Teecko. These included a recorded conversation on 1 September 1701 with the ruler of Boni, Radja Boni, regarding Aron Teecko's case. Another secret note from Governor Deernink, covering 19 August to 1 September 1701, discussed the correspondence between Radja Gaa and the English in Banjar Massing.

In a secret letter dated 20 October 1701, Governor Deernink sent a message to the authorities in Batavia. The letter included a friendly and sincere message from Paduka Sirij Maha Radja Sepati, the ruler of Boeton, addressed to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and its Governor-General, Willem van Outhoorn. The ruler expressed gratitude for the kindness and favors shown by the VOC and declared loyalty to the Company for as long as he lived. He offered to act as a representative for Batavia while staying in Boeton and promised to care for any shipwrecked Dutch sailors, from officers to the lowest sailors, since he considered Boeton to belong to the VOC. He humbly requested that his offer not be refused.

The letter also mentioned that Paduka Sirij Maha Radja Sepati informed the VOC and Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn about the arrival of an envoy, Captain Lauwt, along with two officials and their two ships. This information was part of a translated Malay letter, received on 4 November 1701, from the ruler of Boeton to the Governor-General and the Council of the Indies in Batavia.

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In a letter from 1880, the Governor-General discussed concerns about conflicts in Wadjo (a region in Celebes, modern-day Sulawesi, Indonesia) and the potential involvement of Boni, another local kingdom. The letter referenced an earlier decision from 23 January 1879, where the Governor of Celebes and its dependencies was granted authority to supply hundreds of rifles to Boni if it became entangled in the Wadjo conflicts.

The letter concluded by stating that the Governor of Celebes should be informed that the decision from 15 January 1879 to supply weapons was not approved, aligning with the concerns raised.

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This is a collection of official letters and records exchanged between Dutch officials in Surat (a key trading post in India) and the Dutch East India Company (VOC) leadership in the early 1700s. Below is a breakdown of the documents and their key details:
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On 8 June 1697, a report described a meeting between the Dutch governor and Radja Bonij (the ruler of Boni) in Macassar. The meeting took place after a conference held in Bontuale on 2 June, where a written complaint from Radja Bonij was presented.

The governor responded verbally on 8 June 1697:

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On 8 June 1697, a secret report from Makassar revealed that the Raja of Goa was plotting to restore his brother-in-law, the exiled king To-isa of Soppeng. This plan was suspected earlier in a confidential decision made on 10 April 1696, where officials feared it could disrupt the balance of power between three rival kingdoms.

The report suggested that the Raja of Goa might have been behind the removal of the queen regent of Trowata, which had caused tensions with Soppeng. The people of Boni likely knew more about these events than they had shared, as their growing hostility toward Goa seemed unjustified otherwise. The situation worsened when Goa reinforced its defenses—posting guards, patrolling day and night, and preparing for conflict—especially after Boni gathered a large number of troops near Bontuale.

Another report from 8 June 1697 described a formal exchange of letters and gifts between the Dutch governor and the kings of Boni and Goa. The last letter to Dutch officials, dated 29 May and written in Bontuale, was delivered on 31 May with a gift of 12 enslaved people (10 men and 2 women), considered the finest sent in years. Each was valued at 25 rijksdaalders. The gifts and letters were sent aboard the ship Boswijck with ceremonial cannon fire: 3 volleys from the castle and 9 from the ship, followed by 5 more from the ship upon the kings' arrival. This followed the protocol set in a secret resolution on 18 April 1696.

The kings of Boni and Goa had never before visited the governor together at the castle, avoiding disputes over who held higher rank. Traditionally, Boni was given precedence, and this custom was maintained. Before this meeting, the governor had learned that the court of Boni was holding a major assembly, though the purpose was unclear.

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On 8 June 1697, a letter from Makassar reported a meeting with Raja Boni, the ruler of the Boni kingdom. The Dutch officials, representing the Dutch East India Company (VOC), expressed their displeasure over military actions taken against Sopingh (likely a region or group). They demanded an explanation and assurances that such actions would not happen again.

The Dutch officials noted that Raja Boni seemed more politically astute than before, possibly due to good advice. His calm response aligned with a pardon granted earlier by the Dutch on 3 December 1696, after Raja Boni admitted fault and requested forgiveness. The letter also included a detailed account of the military actions against Sopingh, as requested by the Dutch, which the governor found thorough and clear.

The original letter from Raja Boni, dated 30 May 1697, was read aloud in the presence of the dowager queen Dain Tahalille and Aroe Mero. It contained thanks for Dutch gifts and support for Boni's prosperity.

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On 8 June 1697, a ship from Makassar returned from Chirana with important letters. The governor and the Raja of Bone held further discussions. The ship had left the Bay of Bone on 4 May and arrived at Bontuale on the evening of 8 May around 10 PM. The next day, the governor was notified, and on 10 May, the Raja of Bone visited the governor with his entire court.

On 17 May at 8 AM, the letters and gifts were formally received in an unusually grand ceremony, even more impressive than the one in September 1695. Over 8,000 armed men were present, along with around 90 to 100 high-ranking leaders, kings, and princes in battle attire. They carried a gilded palanquin, accompanied by the kings of Berroe and Laijo as allies. After the reception, the delegation left with the letters and gifts under a salute of 9 cannon shots.

A second meeting with the Raja of Bone took place on 22 May. Around 50 kings and princes from Bone attended, including the regent and the kings of Belo, Pila, and Pisij from Sopingh, all wearing new purple turbans. They arrived at the castle at 3 PM.

During the meeting in the great hall, the letters were read aloud. The Malay translation was read by the royal secretary, while the governor reviewed the original Dutch version. The Raja of Bone requested clarification if anything was unclear, but the letter was read without interruption. After the reading, the Raja of Bone stood, removed his turban, and expressed threefold gratitude:

The governor noted that the letter contained additional matters not yet discussed. Since the Raja of Bone had earlier requested the governor’s interpretation, the governor believed the content might not have been fully understood.

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On 10 June 1697, officials in Makassar (at Fort Rotterdam) sent a letter to the Dutch East India Company (VOC) leaders in Batavia, including Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn. The letter was received in Batavia on 28 June 1697, delivered by the ship Boswijk, captained by Theunis Ros, with accountant Jan de Molièr also on board.

The current letter (8 June 1697) was sent via the yacht Boswijk, which also carried cargo and passengers (details to be mentioned later). The writers noted they would delay a full reply until a better opportunity arose.

Regarding Raja Bonij:

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On 10 June 1697, officials in Makassar sent documents to Batavia (modern-day Jakarta). These included:

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This collection of documents from Makassar, dated 10 June 1697, includes records of legal, financial, and administrative matters involving Dutch officials, local rulers, and merchants. Below is a breakdown of the key points:
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On 10 June 1697, a ship named Boswijk left Makassar carrying official documents addressed to Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn and the Council of the Dutch East Indies in Batavia. The shipment included the following records:

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