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- In November 1778, a list of needed materials and tools was made in Samarang.
- The list included work tools such as bellows, chisels, drills, planes, saws, shovels, hammers, tongs, and grinding stones.
- Paint supplies were needed: Spanish green, Berlin blue, yellow ocher, oil smalt, white lead, and black paint.
- Materials included 1,500 pounds of linseed oil, 500 barrels, 60 pieces of double tin sheet, 200 sheets of single tin, 201 glass window panes of 15 and 18 decimeters, 150 paint brushes, 6,000 pounds of gunpowder, and 100 lanterns.
- Workers needed included 1 sick visitor, 2 bookbinders, 1 house carpenter, 1 bricklayer, 1 gunsmith, 1 box maker, 1 brass caster, and 1 blacksmith.
- The request stated that 2 workers were very much needed for Samarang and 4 workers for the Oosthoek (eastern corner).
- Medicines were needed according to an attached catalog.
- A record was kept of remaining cloth goods and metals, following an order from the castle of Batavia dated July 18, 1768.
- The records showed when goods arrived on different ships, including arrivals on the ships Borselen on September 2, 1768 and February 25, 1768, Gansenhoff on March 17, 1770 and March 17, 1771, Vrijburg on October 16, 1769, Cattendijk in late June 1769, Rebecca Jacoba on May 21, 1764, Vlietlust on March 15, 1770 and March 15, 1771, the boat Samarang on September 15, 1770, Ruijteveld on September 22, 1771, Thuijs te Boede on August 3, 1771, Nieuwerkerke on June 23, 1767, Veldhoen on July 15, 1770, Sulpenburg in December 1770, and Welgeleegen on December 4.
- The goods included various types of cloth: Guinea cloths, red gingham, Bengal cloth, sailcloth, blankets, red cloth, Chinese Nanking linen, and other fabrics.
- Metal goods included tin, steel, iron bars, sheet iron, lead, silver, and gold thread weighing 1,010 pounds.
- A small cash book from 1749/50 had been forgotten and was now being sent along with the account books from that year.
- A report was included showing what products had been transported from this coast to Batavia, Malacca, and Ceylon from January 1 to November 30, and what had been received from the main location in return.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3362 / 0020
On 24 October 1717, a letter was sent from Macassar reporting that 1600 coarse pierings were available. On 18 October, a Chinese person named Intje Salingper left for Timos in a pankor boat with 7 people. He took with him 1000 bielions, 500 parrings, and 10 copper gongs. Another pankor boat with 3 people took 1 korg of rice, 1 korg of rattan mats, 1 korg of silk cloth, 200 coarse gongs, and some other small items.
The document was signed at Macassar in the Castle Rotterdam on the last day of June 1717 by A. Van den Anker. On 23 June, Nachoda Lamatoedjoe from Sadjoeper was mentioned.
A list of arriving and departing ships from 1 July until the end of the month was provided:
Arriving ships:
- On 1 July, Intje Caman, a Malay person from Samarang, arrived in his gonting boat with a capacity of 4 lasten, manned by 10 people. He had a pass dated 1 April and brought 70 pieces of Javanese tobacco.
- A Macassar person named Care Manalleperde arrived from Carain Sandrabone in a gonting boat with a capacity of 5 lasten, manned by 13 people. He had a pass dated 24 March and brought 40 pieces of Javanese tobacco.
- On 3 July, Intje Tackas, a Moorish person from Danjer, arrived in a pankor boat with 5 people. He had a pass dated 8 April and brought 7 pieces of pepper and 300 fine pierings.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1894 / 0821
The document records ship arrivals at
Macassar in
May 1726.
On
19 May 1726, ship captain
Johoemoe from
Maros arrived from
Passier with his pankor (a type of boat) of 3 lasts capacity, manned with 10 people, according to a pass dated
2 September of the previous year.
Also arrived from
Batavia was ship captain
Sosatie from
Wadjo, with the gonting (another type of boat) of fellow
Wadjo resident
Sofatie, 5 lasts capacity, manned with 25 people, according to a pass from the High and Noble Ones dated
5 January. The cargo included:
- 3 coyangs of brown-black sampoeris
- 4 white ones
- Sour chitsen
- Straw mats
- 2 chests of Japanese gold thread
- Candy sugar
- 2 of rodix china
- 3 of Chinese tobacco
- 3 of old iron
- 200 pieces of iron pans
- 300 large water cups
- 100 bundles of indrottings
On
19 January 1726, ship captain
Tonanti from
Boeges arrived from
Lumbouwa with his pankor of 2 lasts, manned with 5 people, according to a pass dated
26 October of the previous year. He brought 7 pieces of slaves.
On
22 January, ship captain
Care Lesang, a local resident, arrived from
Passier with his pankor of 3 lasts, manned with 8 people, according to a pass dated
27 November of the previous year. He brought 300
Passier indrottings.
On
23 January, ship captain
Intje Boljong arrived from
Samarang with his pankor of 33 lasts, manned with 10 people, according to a pass dated
13 November of the previous year. He brought 50 pieces of Javanese tobacco.
On
27 January, ship captain
Toessa from
Badjo arrived from
Batavia with his 20 gonting.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2050 / 1343
On
21 April 1681 in
Macassar, sappanwood worth nothing was received and credited. After meeting with the envoys of
Radja Sumbauwa, including
Radin Aria, they reached an agreement with the following terms:
- A ship's load of sappanwood would be ready in May
- Another ship's load would be ready 3 months later
- This was the maximum amount they could provide during that monsoon season
- If they shipped the same amount the following year for Codja Derwits, his debt would be almost paid off
Once
Derwits had paid his debt to the East India Company and still had a good quantity of sappanwood from
Radja Sumbauwa, they expected to buy the picol (a unit of weight) for half a rixdollar from him, especially if they could provide him with some goods in advance, as he was very needy and owed debts to various people.
Because it was suggested that the sappanwood was weighed too generously on
Sumbauwa, they agreed that he could ship his sappanwood unweighed, and they would pay him based on what it would weigh upon arrival.
Regarding
Aron Ieke's robberies and other violent acts, they had spoken with
Radja Bonij several months earlier, but he gave little response to this and other matters. When
Arou Seko came to visit them, they confronted him about his improper behavior and stated that such robberies could not be tolerated, and that they would have to complain to
Radja Bonij, which did not seem to please him. Since then, he had not returned to the castle.
Bringing these and other matters before the allies, as seemed to be the intention, was not possible at that time because there was no one who would dare contradict
Radja Bonij's wishes. Although his highness had declared that the allies would be left in their freedoms, and the allies had confirmed this, in reality there was not one among them who would not follow him out of fear of their own destruction, even against the East India Company. This was evident with
Radja Laijo, who had followed
Radja Bonij to
Tamparang with approximately 300 armed men and did not dare enter except with the escort of
Purobasse Patoto.
Getting
Dain Jelolo and
Crain Cabbeloucan with their gang back to
Macassar seemed unlikely. They had joined
Soulon in the known robbery at
Poelo, conquered and burned
Panokan (under the authority of
Banjermassingh), killed some people, and carried others away, causing many inhabitants to flee into the forest. When discussing this with
Radja Bonij, his highness said that if the East India Company did not take timely action, their gang would likely grow larger. However, they doubted whether his highness could be used for this purpose.
Carjanjer Badjo and his companions on
Sokan could not be removed by the people of
Sumbauwa.
Radja Aria had told them that
Sokan did not fall under the authority of
Sumbauwa but rather under
Balij. It appeared that
Carjanjer Badjo would not willingly submit to the Bugis and that he still supported
Crain Bisseij.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 7963 / 0059
On
an unspecified date between 1735 and 1737, the marginal notes in the trade books from the years between
1735 and 1737 were approved. Portuguese Captain
Mattheus Carvalho de Silva requested permission to exchange 100 corgies of white guineas cloth for clove nails. This matter was presented by the Director General and the Extraordinary Council member
Jacob Willem Dubbeldekop. The document from
Batavia Castle was signed by
Mattheus de Haan,
A. Huijsman,
Cornelis Hasselaar,
W. Blom,
Diderik Durven,
Willem Petrus Vuijst,
J. Gabriel,
J.W. Dubbeldekop,
P.E. van der Schuer and others, with
Hendrix P. as secretary.
On
Friday 8 February 1726, an ordinary meeting took place. After review, they decided to approve the marginal notes on the findings of the
Ternate trade books from the years
1718/1719,
1723/1724, and
1724/1725. These had been compiled and submitted by Extraordinary Council member
Joan Everhard van der Schuer.
Portuguese Captain
Mattheus Carvalho da Silva had submitted a written request, referring to earlier resolutions from
4 January and
18 January of that year. He asked that the Company accept 100 corgies of white guineas cloth from his
Coromandel cloth cargo through valuation, so that he could exchange them for clove nails at the fixed price. The council considered that according to the latest letter from
Nagapatnam dated
27 October of the previous year, no cloth contracts had been made at the trading posts
Palicol and
Daatcherom due to continuous riots and hostile actions between the Moors and heathens along the
Coromandel coast. As a result, the northern region had delivered 1,402 bales of various cloth less than its quota for Dutch and Indian orders, not counting the shortage of gold. Therefore, it was decided to accept the mentioned guineas cloth in the proposed manner for the Company.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 2023 / 0632
From
Macassar, dated
14 October 1727, several servants of the king of
Bima departed to
Bima:
- Rasanahee, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called bilo with a crew of 40 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Bato Dadi, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called naga with a crew of 90 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Anro Goedo Badjo, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called patsjallang with a crew of 80 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Boemi Belo, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called patsjallang with a crew of 32 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Anro Goeroe Pasaso, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called praeuw toredjene with a crew of 25 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Iena Loema Badjo, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called bilo with a crew of 40 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
- Patoro Badjo, a servant of the king of Bima, traveled by boat called bilo with a crew of 45 people. He took only food supplies for the journey.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 8193 / 0389
- De Jongste submitted a request in November 1771 for supplies needed for 5 years in Samarang.
- The request included church and school books such as large folio Bibles, psalm books in various sizes (quarto and octavo), communion booklets, a book by Moorman about crimes and their punishments, ABC boards and booklets, letter arts books, youth ladders, letters, small catechisms, and gospels in different formats.
- Warehouse needs included iron scales with wooden cases, clove nails weighing 105 pounds, new wheat, 2,900 pounds of Dutch butter, dry wine, olive oil, and wax candles.
- Ship equipment goods consisted of Dutch sailcloth, gray cloth, heavy anchors, throwing anchors, grappling hooks, old sails, 12-inch cable ropes, and 6-inch rigging.
- Food supplies for distribution and sale included white and nutmeg, French wine (1,500 cans, 360 cans, 1,080 cans), cinnamon (85 pounds), beer (208 to 2,168 cans), sausages, bacon, Dutch butter, olive oil, Cape wine, Dutch vinegar, meat, and dry wine in various quantities (flasks, bottles, barrels, and kegs).
- Extra provisions for the east corner included bacon, Dutch butter, olive oil, Cape wine, Dutch vinegar, meat, and dry wine, with a note requesting permission to return unneeded extra provisions if the situation in the east improved quickly.
- Distilled waters included Dutch brandy, vinegar (90 to 250 units), and gin.
- More ship equipment included 5-inch rigging, lead lines, capstan ropes, horse lines, sail needles, tar, and pitch.
- Ammunition goods consisted of gun flints, saltpeter, and camphor.
- Craft tools included arm files, saw files, scrub saws, copper skimmers, bacon forks, ship lighters, hand lanterns, copper dish kettles, iron fire tongs, copper bacon spoons, blocks with 2 and 3 pulleys (10 pieces), tar brushes, and cook's axes (4 pieces).
- More ammunition goods included gunpowder (Dutch and Bengal) totaling 25,000 to 20,000 pounds, copper powder lanterns, steel cannon drills, and powder horns.
- Weapons goods included round shot of 1 pound (1,000 pieces), 1/2 pound (1,000 pieces), 1/4 pound (1,000 pieces), and 1/8 pound (1,000 pieces), swords with sheaths, gun flints (2,000 pieces), copper trumpets (6 pieces), leather sword carriers, curved sword sheaths (400 pieces), drum hoops (200 pieces), drum straps (400 pieces), wooden drum barrels with hoops (12 to 25 pieces), grenadier bags (206 pieces), drum lines (65 pieces), and Brussels lace.
- Additional craft materials included shark skins (12 pieces), sal ammoniac (12 pounds), antimony (7 to 25 pounds), borax (12 pounds), iron wire (50 pounds), files in various types (386 to 100 pieces), amaril (2 to 20 pieces), sail needles (23 to 20 barrels), pitch (20 barrels), tar (20 barrels), resin (12 barrels), cardoon leather straps (665 to 250 pieces), cardoon needles, cardoon yarn, cardoon paper, copper cook's kettles (3 pieces), half-hour glasses (20 pieces), sail yarn (50 pounds), blocks of various types (160 to 225 pieces), lines of various types (55 to 50 pieces), main lines (90 to 25 pieces), iron crossbars (15 to 10 pieces), capstan ropes (20 pieces), and horse lines (5 pieces).
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3362 / 0018
The document lists various goods and financial matters for the Dutch East India Company's operations. The company needed
131,361 rijksdaalders and 12 stuivers for the year
1772.
Available funds included:
- 5,637 rijksdaalders in silver money from the main treasury
- 20,000 rijksdaalders estimated as outstanding debts at various branch offices
- 33,000 rijksdaalders in whole and half pennies on 6 months credit in the eastern corner
- Various amounts from Samarang and Surabaya
After accounting for available funds, there was still a shortage of
65,724 rijksdaalders and 12 stuivers. The officials requested 65,000 rijksdaalders, broken down as:
- 20,000 rijksdaalders in gold ducats to pay beach fees, as the sultan preferred this type of coin
- 45,000 rijksdaalders in ducatoons and new Spanish reals, or permission to accept this amount gradually on credit assignments, plus additional amounts needed to pay for rice beyond what the regents were required to provide
The document includes extensive lists of trade goods requested, including:
- Various types of cloth (fine red cloth, blue cloth, white cloth, gold-yellow cloth)
- Spices (cardamom, cubeb pepper, earth oil)
- Metals (Japanese copper in bars - 300 picols, yellow brass in bars, iron in various forms including 100,000 pounds of sheet iron in different thicknesses, steel, tin, lead in boats and sheets)
- Nails of various types (75,000 pounds requested)
- Gold thread and silver thread
- Writing supplies (paper in large and small formats, imperial paper, pen shafts, pen knives, sharpening stones, pencil lead and red earth, sealing wax, ivory folders, slate pencils and slates, bookbinder needles, seals - quantities specified include 270 pounds and various smaller amounts)
- Gifts for rulers and native nobles (violet velvet - 1 piece, black velvet - 1 piece, green velvet - 1 piece, fine silk with gold heads - 10 pieces, fine cassas with gold heads - 10 pieces, fine muslins - 10 pieces, rose water - 2 cases, double bengal satin - 10 pieces, crimson red velvet - 1 piece, purple velvet requested as supplies were depleted)
The document noted that regarding white and yellow cloth, previous supplies in blue and mostly red remained in stock. For rose water, 236 bottles remained but were almost without scent, so officials would try to make them usable by distilling them for distribution.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3362 / 0016
This document contains copies of letters written by the Political Council in Samarang to Their High Nobilities. The letters were written between 21 March and 11 August in the year 1783. This is document number 15.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0219
No text was provided to summarize. Please provide the historical Dutch text you would like me to summarize.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0217
On
22 February 1783, the council discussed the shortage of tar, pitch, and turpentine normally used for maintaining ships. Because of this shortage, lime and castor oil were being used instead in
Rembang for preserving and coating vessels. The council decided to order the resident of
Tuana to do the same as in
Rembang and use lime and castor oil for the ships as long as the Company faced this shortage. He was instructed to purchase these supplies at set prices:
- Lime at 5 rijksdaalders per koyang
- Castor oil at 15 stuivers per kan
The calculation was that 140 kans of castor oil and half a koyang of lime equaled one barrel of pitch and one measure of turpentine.
Finally, the council agreed to confirm a letter sent that day to Their High Excellencies about an overland route, and also to confirm the extracted minutes to be used for the monthly report to the subordinate outer offices.
This resolution was made at the government office in
Samarang on the date mentioned above and was signed by
I. Siberg,
I. van Santen,
L. H. Vermehr,
N. A. Lelivelt,
I. O. van Ingen,
M. L. Gaaswijck,
E. A. De Wilde, and
A. Barkeij as secretary.
Markeij certified the document as secretary.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0215
On
23 February 1783, a list was made of materials needed for shipbuilding at
Joana. The required items included:
- 3 rolls of sailcloth
- 8 pounds of sail yarn
- 3 pounds of sewing yarn
- 9 pieces of flag cloth
- 150 pounds of paint in various types
- 12 barrels of tar
- 6 barrels of pitch
- 5 barrels of oakum
Since none of these items were available in stock, and it was not advisable to leave the ships that were under construction at
Joana unfinished, action needed to be taken. The Governor noted that even if supplies arrived from
the Netherlands, the delivery of iron bars and nails would not be large enough to meet the general shortage. Even if adequate supplies did arrive, it was certain that demand from the warehouses would be high.
Therefore, it was decided to purchase the needed materials immediately rather than wait. A price comparison showed the difference would only be 90 guilders and 42 cents. The calculations were as follows:
- 120 picols of iron bars purchased at 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 pennies cost 1,723 guilders and 36 cents total
- According to the account books, these normally cost 762 guilders and 6 cents, with 34 percent markup totaling 814 guilders and 17 cents, making the purchase 550 guilders and 4 cents more expensive
- 124 pieces of nails purchased at 16 guilders cost 1,984 guilders total
- According to the account books, these normally cost 1,002 guilders and 4 cents, with 54 percent markup totaling 541 guilders and 4 cents, making the purchase 440 guilders and 43 cents more expensive
The total extra cost for both items was only 90 guilders and 47 cents. This was preferable to letting the ships under construction deteriorate, and it would prevent
Batavia from being deprived of these necessary vessels.
Therefore, it was decided to authorize the Resident to purchase the following items for the Company:
- 120 picols of iron bars at 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 pennies per picol
- 134 pounds of nails at 16 guilders
- 550 pounds of sheet iron
- 150 pounds of sheet copper
- 3 rolls of sailcloth
- 8 pounds of sail yarn
- 3 pounds of sewing yarn
- 9 pieces of flag cloth
- 150 pounds of paint in various types
All these items were to be purchased at the regular Company purchase prices on
22 February 1783.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0213
On
22 February 1783, a resident reported that due to a longer delay in receiving the mentioned materials, the ship was in danger because wind and rain entering through the seams and other openings would cause it to rot. He requested to be provided with the necessary iron and nails, or otherwise to be freed from responsibility for completing that ship. The resident stated that to finish that small vessel, the following was still needed:
- 200 picols of bar iron
- 176 picols of nails
He urgently requested to be supplied with these materials or, if these items were not available, to receive permission to purchase them privately. The iron would cost 17 guilders and 24 stuivers, and the nails 16 guilders per picol, as he had found an opportunity to obtain a batch in
Samarang. However, if the iron was too expensive, he offered to supply it at the last charged price of 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 penningen, because he preferred to bear the loss on the iron rather than suffer the unpleasant consequences that could arise from a longer delay in completing that ship.
To prevent the damage that the Company could suffer if that small vessel remained exposed to wind and rain any longer, it was decided to grant the resident permission to purchase the aforementioned items privately, since they could not assist him due to the existing shortage. The iron was to be purchased at 14 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 8 penningen, and the nails at 16 guilders per picol. He was instructed to hurry with completing that ship so that it could be sent to
Batavia soon, together with the 2 shallops requested for
Ceylon. Their High Mightinesses were to be informed of everything.
Resident
Rutgert Reijnier Keijser from
Joana, who was also present, reported that due to a lack of iron, nails, and other materials, he was unable to complete the vessels under construction at his trading post. He therefore requested to be supplied for this purpose, or otherwise to be permitted to purchase the following items privately:
- 120 picols of bar iron
- 124 picols of nails
- 550 pounds of sheet iron
- 150 pounds of sheet copper
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0211
On
22 February 1783, a report was received about a vessel from
Riau that had arrived in
Gresik via
Surabaya. The authorities in
Surabaya informed that the owner had not been able to provide the required guarantee for his vessel and the loaded goods as ordered by the High Authorities. Therefore, it was decided to seize the vessel and goods until further instructions were received.
The officials at the outposts
Menare and
Sambilangang had reported problems with the monthly rotation of European and native soldiers. They requested that the rotation be changed from monthly to every 3 or 4 months. The council agreed to this change, provided it would not lead to harmful consequences.
The Resident at
Surakarta requested permission to appoint Corporal
Coenraad Ludolph Lugman as coachman and soldier
Jan Cazar Wingeman as trumpeter with the emperor. This was approved, with
Lugman receiving a salary of 20 guilders per month and
Wingeman receiving 18 guilders per month.
The Resident at
Yogyakarta requested to hire native citizen
Jan Hendrik van der Sluijs as a soldier. This was approved with a salary of 9 guilders per month under a contract of 5 years.
The Resident at
Rembang,
Palm, forwarded a report dated
28 January from shipyard foreman
Horning.
Horning reported that a small ship, which the High Authorities had ordered to be built according to the model of the Orangeboom in their letter of
12 December 1780, had been on the slipway since
March 1781. The ship had been constructed up to the double hull for a year already, but approximately two-thirds of the required iron and nails were still missing, which prevented completion of the work.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0209
On 22 February 1783, the authorities decided to keep a record of the established order concerning two civilian vessels that were permitted to sail from Ambon and Banda to collect rice.
The High Authorities had approved that the Atchinese vessel that had been held under arrest was released again. In a letter dated 14 January 1783, they informed that they had granted permission for 2 civilian vessels from Ambon and Banda per year to sail directly from those governments to Samarang and Sourabaya to purchase rice and Javanese products. The High Authorities ordered that these vessels be carefully inspected to prevent any abuse of this permission.
It was decided to:
- Order the Council of Justice of this government and its officer to comply with this
- Send circular notices about this permission to the subordinate outer posts
- Instruct that if the captains of the vessels from Ambon and Banda deviated from this freedom and tried to call at other posts on Java instead of Samarang or Sourabaya, they should not be admitted there but be directly referred to one of the permitted places to undergo proper inspection
The officials at Sourabaya were ordered to inspect the mentioned vessels very carefully upon their arrival. The inspection had to be carried out by 2 qualified Company servants in the presence of the clerk at Sourabaya. They had to provide a written report to the Commander and Council so that proper records could be kept in their resolutions. If spices or any other forbidden goods were discovered, these had to be dealt with according to orders and notice had to be sent.
The High Authorities also reported that they had reopened the permitted free sailing and trade to and among the 4 eastern governments. The civilian traders from Ambon and Banda who had appeared at Batavia in 1782 were also permitted to return via Macassar if they wished. It was decided to send circular notices about this as well.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0207
- On 22 February 1783, the council decided to respond respectfully to Their High Nobility, stating they would try to find a merchant on Java to help the Company with cash money, following the permission they had received, although they were not confident about successfully obtaining even a small part of what was needed for that year, and therefore they renewed their request to also be provided with cash money from the main location.
- Since Their High Nobility had given permission under Domestic Appointments to establish an outside cemetery here under the conditions prescribed in the letter of 6 August 1782, and that building tombs would be excused, it was decided to assign the establishment of that outside cemetery to Captain and Engineer Jan Baptist Pilon, under such conditions as were made regarding this matter, and for the calculated amount in guilders, with the relevant documents to be given to him at the same time, and to request further payment from Their Nobility on 22 February 1783.
- Regarding the annual letters, Their High Nobility stated that the cannons requested from here for the fortifications, including those of 18 and 24 pound caliber with their round and long shot, were not available at the main location and could not be expected from the Netherlands for now, and therefore Their Nobility could not make a favorable promise to fulfill this request, but repeated their repeated promise to fulfill the outstanding requests as much as possible as soon as relief came from the Netherlands. Therefore it was decided to request Their High Nobility to be provided with the mentioned cannons if they might be brought with the first ships arriving from the Netherlands, as well as with all other still unfulfilled items, especially iron nails, copper, equipment goods, and writing materials.
- Regarding the note about designing war matters, Their High Nobility considered it well done that the Lord Governor had designed the secret seals that should serve for Java that year and had sent them to the main location, and ordered that Their High Nobility should always have this done in the future so that they could be given to the ship authorities in Batavia.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0205
On
22 February 1783, various matters were discussed and decided upon:
- A note was to be sent to Surabaya about ammunition goods that had been provided in Batavia to 4 native vessels called Pantjallangs.
- Letters from Their High Excellencies dated 9, 6, 10, and 14 January 1783 were received and discussed.
- Regarding ships, vessels, and their cargoes, it appeared that Their High Excellencies were satisfied with a shipment of 9,122 cans of coconut oil that had been sent from Grissee to Batavia using a hired native Pantjallang. It was decided to inform the officials in Surabaya to continue using such opportunities as much as possible.
- Their High Excellencies had sent back 4 native Pantjallangs because they were unable to continue their journey. These vessels could not withstand the strong currents and high seas in the Sunda Strait while traveling with a patrol fleet destined for the south side of Java. The commanders of these 4 Pantjallangs were ordered to account for the ammunition and other goods that had been given to them in Batavia for the patrol mission. It was decided to note that all these goods had been recorded here by inventory, and would then be accounted for in Surabaya, where the vessels belonged, until they would be registered by the main office.
- Two Madurese lieutenants named Sara Tota and Salam, along with one sergeant, one corporal, and 9 instead of 11 common soldiers, had been sent back with the 4 Pantjallangs. These men had recently returned to Batavia from Ceylon on the ship Overduin. It was decided to send these people to Surabaya with orders to the officials there to send them back to Madura, as they had been discharged from the Company's service.
- Regarding financial matters, Their High Excellencies had approved the collection of 36,000 rixdollars of orphans' money that had previously been held by the heads and residents on Java. This sum was accepted for the Company on a bond with 6 percent annual interest.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0203
On
22 February 1783, officials discussed rice transport to
Batavia and a proposal for constructing buildings urgently needed for the Artillery. They decided to send the report and plans to the High and Mighty Lords (the governing authorities) to request permission to build the necessary Artillery buildings. These buildings would include:
- housing for officers
- housing for 100, and if necessary 180, Artillery personnel
The calculated costs were 15,389 guilders and 23 cents. The costs for both the buildings and the required embankment around the moat were considered moderate, not too high.
The Governor then presented documents including 2 extracts from a separate letter from the High and Mighty Lords dated
14 January of that year. This letter expressed their satisfaction with the previous year's diligent and successful rice deliveries to the main settlement. The authorities trusted that the same care would continue, especially during this time when
Ceylon and allies needed extraordinary provisions and assistance. Significant quantities of rice had already been sent to
Batavia this year for storage.
The High and Mighty Lords confirmed their earlier orders, specifically those from
19 February and
6 August 1782. They would soon provide specific information about the quantity needed, though they indicated it would not be as large as the previous year because substantial stocks remained in
Batavia. Therefore, until further notice, all further rice purchases should stop. Officials noted that orders to halt further rice purchases for the Company had already been sent by circular letter to subordinate offices.
Regarding timber rafts, since the trial shipment of a timber raft from the residency of Chief Resident
Fockens to
Batavia had been fairly successful, the High and Mighty Lords expected this to be resumed when the monsoon season permitted, provided it did not burden the native population too much. The documents about the timber transported should be sent in duplicate. Officials decided to inform the
Surabaya staff of these instructions.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0201
On 22 February 1783, it was reported that the air vents of both gunpowder houses had no movement at all. The one at the point of Amsterdam was well positioned, but the one at the Artillery was very unfavorably located, being in the middle of the city. Furthermore, each of these buildings could store no more than 20,000 pounds at most if the barrels were stacked 9 to 10 high, which made the work very difficult.
Since their High Honors intended to set up a gunpowder mill and to have a considerable quantity of gunpowder on hand, and the 2 mentioned storehouses were not sufficient for storage, it was decided to ask their High Honors for permission to demolish the 2 old and defective gunpowder houses. In their place, 2 new ones would be built: one at the point of Amsterdam and one at the sea point, according to the plan designed by Captain Engineer Jan Baptist Tilon, at a calculated cost of 3,826 rijksdaalders, 5 stuivers, and 8 penningen for each one.
The buildings needed for the Artillery were also to be constructed according to the plans and calculations made on 22 February 1783.
The situation with the Artillery buildings in Semarang was very cramped and inadequate. Due to the current increase in Artillery personnel, it had been necessary to rent housing for them outside the city. Captain Engineer Jan Baptist Tilon, at the request of the Governor, submitted a report and plan about the condition of the current Artillery buildings. The report stated and showed that:
- There was no living accommodation for the artillerymen
- There was not even a proper guardhouse
- This was necessary so the entire Corps could be kept under the officers' supervision at all times, to be better trained in their craft, accustomed to regular exercises, and kept under good military discipline
- This could not currently be observed
- For the Artillery service there was nothing but an already dilapidated building measuring 60 feet long and 24 feet wide, without an upper floor
- This building had to store all the Artillery goods and also serve as both a guardhouse and laboratory at the same time
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0199
22 February 1783: A petitioner who had previously held rights to collect bird nests from certain cliffs requested to give up this contract. He explained that the cliffs, which belonged under the territory of the regents of Oosten and Westbalemboangang, were better positioned for those regents to guard. The petitioner asked that he be compensated for his losses and damages by receiving the annual fee of 500 reichsdaler that the regents normally received from the lease payment. In return, the petitioner agreed to pay the Company 1,900 reichsdaler for the remaining 2 years of the lease until the end of December 1784. He noted this would still result in a loss for him, but a smaller one than continuing the lease would cause, especially since the Governor had waived the 8 percent due to him from the lease payment. By paying the 1,900 reichsdaler plus the 500 reichsdaler fee to the regents, the petitioner calculated he would save approximately 1,000 realen per year compared to the 2,892 Spanish realen the lease had previously cost him. Since this request did not harm the Company's interests and the regents of Oosten and Westbalemboangang wished to have control over the bird nest collection again, the request was forwarded to Their High Mightinesses for approval.
22 February 1783: Captains de Chasteauvieur and Hoffman reported on the condition of 2 gunpowder houses located within the city, as commissioned by the Governor. They found that the one at Amsterdam Point was badly damaged, with several of the attic beams more than half eaten through by white ants, and the door frames also damaged. The building was too small to properly work with the gunpowder barrels inside. The gunpowder house at the artillery post was also too small and suffered from being so damp that keeping the gunpowder dry required great effort.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0197
Jan Lecko, a Chinese man, asked to be released from his lease of the bird's nest cliffs in eastern and western Balemboangang. The authorities decided to present this matter to higher officials.
Since certain wooden planks and barrels from Batavia had been charged back according to an invoice from 25 October 1782, it was decided to put these costs on the salary accounts of quartermaster Anthonij Olivier (charged ƒ236:2:—) and sailor Lucas Sijbrands (charged ƒ374:5:—), who had transported these rafts as commanders with 2 captains in advance.
Because the loss was not caused by neglect of duty or dishonest behavior, but only by sea disasters, and because this was hard on these men to be held responsible for, it was decided to ask the high authorities to release the mentioned commanders Olivier and Sijbrands from this charge. Sijbrands had returned from Batavia seriously ill and had since died.
On 22 February 1783, a request was read that had been submitted by the Chinese captain on behalf of Jan Lecka. In this request, Lecka explained the annual losses he suffered from his leased bird's nest cliffs in eastern and western Balemboangang. These losses were caused by frequent robberies by thieves who regularly went to the cliffs and took possession of the bird's nests. It appeared that some inhabitants of Balemboangang secretly helped with this, and it was impossible to prevent this despite all the efforts the petitioner had made.
The annual costs for Lecka were:
- Annual lease payment: 400 rixdollars
- 8 percent that the governor was entitled to: 192 rixdollars
- Maintenance of necessary vessels and crews required for the cliffs: 308 rixdollars
- Total annual costs: 2,892 rixdollars
In the past year of 1782, only 30 chests of bird's nests had been collected, worth 10 rixdollars per chest, totaling 300 rixdollars. This meant an annual loss of 2,592 rixdollars.
The petitioner therefore requested to be released from the lease of these cliffs, since there was no prospect of reducing the robberies and the bird's nest business would completely fail under his management. He asked that the cliffs be returned to the regents of eastern and western Balemboangang.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0195
On
22 February 1783, the council noted that following their decision of
21 January, the secret letter books that had previously been in use from December 1721 until the end of November (inclusive) had been destroyed and burned. These books had been kept at the political secretary's office in the custody of secretary
Anthonij Barkeij. The letters had served both the main office in
Samarang and the subordinate offices and posts along
Java, as well as correspondence with Company ships. The original letter that had served as a draft was stored in the secret cabinet.
Chief Administrator
Jacobus van Santen reported about a Company gun that needed to be written off. When the house of the local citizen
Louis Alexander was destroyed by fire in October, a Company gun that had been there for daily exercise was also burned. The gun's barrel was found to be unusable.
Van Santen requested that the damaged barrel be exchanged for a good gun and that the one destroyed by fire be written off. The council agreed to this request.
On
22 February 1783, the administrators of the deacons' charity funds,
Nicolaas Alexander Lelivelt and
Hendrik Razoux, reported that they had inspected the mortgages linked to the deacons' charity funds through bonds. They found all mortgages to be sufficient and properly secured with guarantors. The council noted this and recorded that the capital outstanding on mortgages with the Company amounted to 27,000 rijksdaalders.
Two declarations were received and read that had been given to the political authorities at the secretary's office. These were from sailors
Francisco Astanjol,
Laurens Zonstrom,
Jacobus de Meij, and
Matthijs Kleijn. They explained the loss of 39 mill planks and 630 barrel planks. These planks were lost from the
Samarang and
Japara timber rafts numbers 1 and 4 that had arrived in
Batavia in September of the previous year. During their journey, they encountered severe wind and high seas. This caused the rafts to partially break apart, and some timber drifted away and was lost.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0193
On
Saturday the 22nd of February 1783, a meeting took place. The merchant and second warehouse master
Jan Boers was absent due to illness.
After reading an extract from the proceedings of the church council dated
10 February, the following appointments were approved:
The church council was to be notified of these appointments by extract.
Military appointments were made:
- Johan Jurgen Steinmets was promoted to extraordinary fireworker by the high authorities
- Cannoneer Laurens Keller was appointed as bombardier to replace him, with a salary of 20 guilders per month under a new 5-year contract
- Rifleman Johannes Pickart from Strasbourg was promoted to cannoneer with a salary of 14 guilders per month, also under a new 5-year contract
Following a request by military captain
Christoffel Hofman, 6 sepoy soldiers were hired: the Moors
Miralie from
Hindustan,
Gassiedian from
Surat,
Harria from
Surat,
Sekraffiek from
Bengal,
Sekraneijan and
Kalloedian from
Surat. They received the ordinary salary of 4¾ rix-dollars and 40 pounds of rice and 3 cans of arrack as rations each month, under a 3-year contract following the conditions of the agreement made with Company sepoys in
Batavia on
26 August 1780.
A report was received from specially appointed commissioners, merchant
Martinus Leonardus Gaaswijk and merchant and paymaster
Egbert Arend de Wilde, dated
22 February 1783.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0191
On
21 January 1783, several reports were read and decisions were made about lost cargo and equipment.
First, a statement was read that had been given before the office clerk
Gerhardus Aoghe by witnesses. The quartermaster
Jacob Grijsen and sailors
Frans van Emmerik,
Benjamin Huijsman,
Matthijs Klein, and
Adriaan Sweeris declared the following:
- They had recently been in charge of loading the ship 't Buijtenleeven, which was departing for Amboina
- They used 3 Prauwmaijangs (local boats), each loaded with 40 sacks of rice from the Company's warehouse
- They were transporting the rice to the ship 't Buijtenleeven, which was anchored in the harbor
- 2 of the boats capsized on the sandbank in front of the river due to heavy surf
- The third boat was also hit so hard by the waves that all the rice got wet
- The declarants were forced to throw the rice from the third boat overboard
Since it was clear the accident could not have been prevented, it was decided to write off 120 sacks of rice, which weighed 4 Cooijangs and 1,720 pounds, from the main account. The small boat or sail was also removed from the records of coconut oil delivered on
21 January 1783 and declared lost.
Another statement was read that had been made before the same office clerk. Sailors
Andries Jurgen Blom and
Claas Zoeten, who were stationed on the Pantjallang de Uitkijk (a lookout vessel), declared:
- They had recently been on the return journey from Surabaya
- Due to heavy seas, they lost their small boat or sail when a tow rope of 5 fathoms broke
- They were unable to recover it except by cutting the rope
- At that time, they were anchored with the Pantjallang de Uitkijk at a depth of 22 fathoms
- The declarants and their commander considered themselves not responsible for the loss of the sail
It was decided to also write off this small boat or sail.
Finally, a report was reviewed from ordinary commissioners, together with an attached finding by the Chief Administrator
Jacobus van Santen. This concerned 4,000 cans of coconut oil that had been brought to
Amboina from
Prissee for the Government by cruiser vessels under the supervision of quartermaster
Pieter de Haan.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0175
Borhuijsen, a sailor, was appointed as quartermaster on 21 January 1783.
Following a request from the Commander, several young men were hired as soldiers for 5 years at 8 guilders per month, according to regulations:
After Michiel Moralje died, sailor Leendert Boshuijsen from 's Hagen was appointed as quartermaster at 16 guilders per month under a new 5-year contract. He was to serve as commander on the ship Anna Maria belonging to Oosthoek at Pantjallang.
Blacksmith Francois Andre from Wesoul had worked as supervisor in the blacksmith workshop for a long time and gave satisfaction. He was therefore appointed as master of that workshop at 30 guilders per month under a new 5-year contract starting that day.
Notice was given to fireworks maker Strik about the transport of artillery goods, for which he had to provide the necessary security bond on 21 January 1783.
A report arrived from special commissioners Captain of Dragoons De Chasteavieur and Military Lieutenant De Haase about their inventory of all artillery goods made in late November in the presence of guardian Egbert Arend de Wil. These goods had been under the supervision and responsibility of the late Lieutenant of Artillery Samuel Forsman. It was decided that all these goods were placed under the administration and responsibility of the current ordinary fireworks maker Thomas Magnus Strik. The list of shortages reported by the commissioners was to be given to the trading officials to check against the books to see if everything matched or not, and if shortages were found, a proper report should be made. It was also decided that Strik would provide the necessary security bond for the administration of the artillery.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0173
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