Users of Open Archives can have a summary made of the transcriptions created using handwriting recognition.
Both artificial intelligence tasks are not perfect, but often more than sufficient to make the historical document understandable.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.
- 21 January 1783: The Council of Politics met in Semarang. Two members were absent due to illness: merchant and First Warehouse Master Nicolaas Alexander Lelivelt and junior merchant and Second Warehouse Master Jan Boers.
- The merchant and fiscal Ian Otto van Ingen and legal commissioners inspected 18 local ships that had arrived at the harbor. The ships came from Malacca (1 ship), Palembang (1 ship), Banjermassing (4 ships), Mampawa (1 ship), Pontiana (1 ship), Iohar (5 ships), Riouw (4 ships), Tranganoe (1 ship), and Succadana (1 ship).
- All ships were found to carry only permitted goods, including gambier, wax, benzoin, kapok, medicine roots, rattan, reed mats, and other items.
- Based on a proposal by Major and Commander Leendert Hendrik Vermehr, two corporals who had been serving as sergeants were officially promoted to sergeants: Christiaan Godlieb Schornak from Elstrwerde and Alexander Willem Meijer from Potsdam. They would each receive a salary of 20 guilders per month.
- Soldier Andries Hartog from Heeringen was promoted to corporal with a salary of 14 guilders per month.
- All 3 promotions required a new contract of 5 years.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0171
- 22 February 1783: The opportunity to send Clappur oil to Batavia by hired boats was mentioned, and Sourabaija was written to about this.
- A note was made about ammunition goods supplied in Batavia to 4 local Pantjallangs, and how these should be accounted for.
- A note was made about some discharged Madurese soldiers.
- Money matters and their negotiation were to be recorded.
- The construction of the outer cemetery was assigned to engineer Tilon.
- Further payment for required items was to be requested from Their High Excellencies.
- A note was made about the draft of the yearly letters.
- Orders were established regarding the 2 civilian vessels from Ambon and Banda that were permitted to collect rice.
- A note was made about the opened free sailing and trade on and among the 4 Eastern Governments.
- A note was made about a Riouw vessel seized in Sourabaija.
- The exchange of military personnel at the posts Menare and Sambilan was to take place every 3 to 4 months.
- Corporal Lugman was changed to coachman and soldier Wingeman as trumpeter. Van den Sluijs was enlisted as a soldier.
- The Rembang resident was authorized to purchase the still needed iron and nails for a ship under construction, and was ordered to speed up its completion.
- The Joanase resident was also authorized to make private purchases of iron, nails, and so on, with set prices.
- He was also instructed to use balk and Jarrak oil instead of pitch, tar, and Harpuijs for greasing the vessels.
- Instructions were given on what to pay for this.
- Confirmation was given with some papers.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0169
- 21 January 1783: A legal inspection was carried out on 18 local ships.
- Corporal Schornak and Meijer were promoted to sergeants.
- Soldier Hartog was promoted to corporal.
- 5 young men were hired as soldiers.
- Sailor Boshuijsen was appointed as quartermaster.
- Andree was appointed as head blacksmith.
- A notice was made about the transfer of artillery goods to the regular fireworks maker Strik, who had to provide the necessary security.
- Some lost rice was to be written off.
- A lost boat or toll from the patrol ship De Uitkijk was also to be written off.
- A notice was made about the quality of coconut oil delivered there.
- An order and penalty were established for captains of overseas ships that arrived at places other than the permitted locations.
- Instructions about this were sent to the residents of some trading posts.
- It was decided to provide more candles and lamp oil to the military guards in the future.
- Approval from Their High Honors was requested for this.
- A certain instruction was to be introduced for the captain of the Moors.
- It was determined how and when to organize a collection for the needy widows and orphans of Nagapatnam, which had been taken over by the English.
- The congregation was to be encouraged from the pulpit to contribute.
- A similar collection was to be organized at the outlying trading posts.
- Instructions were given on how to handle a ship from Riau that had been seized near Gresik.
- The same procedures were to be observed there.
- The patrol ship De Dankbaarheid was to be brought from Surabaya for repairs.
- Instructions were written to Surabaya about money matters, including how much money could be accepted there in the cash office on bills of exchange.
- Instructions were also given about certain money offered there, both on assignment and on bonds.
- Approval from Their High Honors was obtained for the calculated costs for repairs to the Company's warehouses in Surabaya.
- Approval was given to write off the costs of daily repairs to buildings there.
- A notice was made about the ship from Riau belonging to the Arab Sech Alie that had been released in Surabaya.
- An order was given to hold another ship from Riau that had arrived in Gresik.
- The considerations of Van der Niepoort about the pearl banks in Balambangan were presented to Their High Honors.
- 3 young men were hired as soldiers in Surakarta.
- Corporal Bernik in Yogyakarta was promoted to sergeant.
- Corporal Meer was transferred to postilion.
- The monthly report was approved.
- 22 February: An elder and 2 deacons were appointed.
- Pickart was appointed as cannoneer.
- 6 native soldiers were hired.
- A notice was made about destroyed letters.
- Some Company weapons that had become unusable were to be written off.
- A notice was made about the state of the mortg
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0167
The document contains copies of resolutions that were made by the Council of Police in the government of Samarang during the period from September 1782 to February 1783. These resolutions were intended for the Netherlands and were marked with reference number 15.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0037
The document appears to contain only the number 2, which provides insufficient content to create a meaningful historical summary.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0033
- On February 22, 1783, someone thanked the High and Noble authorities for the position he had received.
- The letter was signed by Johannes Siberg, Jacobus van Santen, Leendert Hendrik Vermehr, Nicolaas Alexander Lelievelt, I. O. van Ingen, Martinus Leonardus Gaaswijck, Anthon Barkeij, and E. A. de Wilde in Semarang on February 22, 1783.
- In a postscript, they requested 8 pieces of stone thresholds made of bluestone for gunpowder mills being built there. These thresholds needed to be 8 feet long and 12 inches thick and wide. They asked to be supplied with these as quickly as possible.
- The officials in Surabaya had sent them a request from bookkeeper Jacob van Harling, who had been permitted in the previous year to engage in free trade while his salary was stopped.
- Van Harling requested permission to build a ship or frigate in Gresik, 120 to 125 feet long, with 3 masts and a Dutch rudder.
- They forwarded this request to the High and Noble authorities for approval.
- The document was approved and reviewed by H. Bakhuijsen.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0031
- On 22 February 1783, residents and merchants from Ambon and Banda who had come to Batavia were given permission to return via Macassar if they wished, and the officials in Surabaya were informed about this.
- Regarding a ship from Riouw that had arrived in Surabaya in December: The captain or owner, an Arab named Sech Alie, had his ship seized initially. However, he showed a pass from the Resident in Palembang proving he was not from Riouw but from Palembang. He explained that he had sailed from there in the previous year intending to go to Indragiri, but near the Banca Strait he encountered English privateers. To escape them, he sailed with the wind to Riouw, and from there he traveled with a pass from the ruler to Surabaya.
- The Surabaya officials believed they had no right to keep the ship arrested, especially since two Arabs living in Surabaya, Sait Matjaja and Saitoemar, testified that they knew Sech Alie as a resident of Palembang. According to a letter extract from 24 December 1782, the officials returned the ship and goods to the owner and gave him freedom to do with them as he pleased, which was approved.
- However, another native ship from Riouw belonging to captain Moeda had arrived in Grisee. On 22 February 1783, the merchant Palm and resident Tockens seized this ship and its loaded goods. The Surabaya officials were instructed to require the ship's captain to provide security if he was able to do so, following orders from a letter dated 3 January. If security was provided, he would be allowed to sell the loaded goods and buy others. If he could not provide security, the ship and goods would remain seized until further reports from Malacca about the situation with Riouw were received and a decision was made. The officials later reported that the captain could not provide the required security, so the arrest would remain in place pending further instructions.
- Thanks were given for the promotion of sergeant Casper Bastiaans to ensign, and appreciation was expressed for the promised assistance with European military personnel on Java as soon as reinforcements arrived from Europe.
- The merchant Hendrik Lodewijk Palm, who was without employment there, had been appointed as garrison bookkeeper in Batavia. He would be sent at the first available ship opportunity to take up this position.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0029
22 February 1783
The officials reported to their superiors about the poor state of artillery facilities in the city. The existing buildings provided no proper shelter for soldiers and lacked a suitable guardhouse. They explained that it was necessary to keep the entire corps together under the supervision of officers for better military training, exercise, and discipline.
Currently, the artillery service only had:
- One single bombardier's house
- One run-down building measuring 60 feet long and 24 feet wide without an upper floor
This single building had to serve multiple purposes: storage for all artillery goods, a guardhouse, and a laboratory. The officials requested approval for
Captain Pilon's project to construct all necessary artillery buildings. The plan included:
- Housing for officers
- Accommodation for 100 to 180 artillery soldiers
The calculated cost was 15,389 rijksdaalders and 23 stuivers, which they considered moderate given the scope of work including buildings and canal reinforcement.
The officials confirmed they would follow orders regarding the annual formation and transmission of secret signals to headquarters for company ships.
A letter had been sent to the emperor from
Ceylon. They would facilitate the purchase of yarn for the prince of
Bantam. Two vessels from
Ambon and
Banda were mentioned, and free shipping to the great east had been opened.
The first signatory governor had forwarded a letter to the Javanese emperor written by
Ratna Wattij in
Ceylon to the susuhunan concerning the death of the exiled
Pangerang Adipattij Boeminata.
Once the Chinese
Tan Songko appeared before them, they would grant him necessary freedom to purchase the approved quantity of 155,000 strands of cotton yarn on
Java for the king of
Bantam. They would help facilitate this authorized representative.
They expressed gratitude for permission to allow 2 civilian vessels yearly from
Amboina and
Banda to sail directly to
Samarang and
Sourabaija to purchase Javanese products. They had informed the
Sourabaija officials with orders to carefully inspect these vessels to prevent any abuse of this privilege. They would ensure proper observation locally as well.
They also thanked their superiors for notification about the reopening of permitted free shipping and trade among the 4 eastern governments, and regarding matters from 1782.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0027
The governor of
Samarang sent a proposal to the higher authorities on
22 February 1783 regarding gunpowder storage facilities. Because they wanted to have a significant amount of gunpowder available in
Samarang through the gunpowder mills being set up there, proper storage buildings were needed.
The governor had an investigation carried out into the two existing gunpowder houses inside the city. Military captains
De Chasteauvieux and
Hoffman were assigned to examine them. They reported that:
- The gunpowder house at Amsterdam Point was badly damaged by termites, with many floor beams and door frames more than half eaten away. It was also too narrow to process gunpowder properly.
- The gunpowder house near the artillery was too small and very damp, making it difficult to preserve gunpowder.
- Each building could only store 20,000 pounds of gunpowder when barrels were stacked 9 to 10 high.
Captain and engineer
Jan Baptist Tilon proposed to completely rebuild and enlarge the gunpowder house at
Amsterdam Point so it could hold 50,000 to 80,000 pounds of gunpowder. Instead of brick floors, he suggested using vaults to prevent termite damage. He also proposed building a new storage building at the sea point instead of keeping one next to the artillery in the middle of the city, as this was considered unsafe. Both new buildings would be the same size. The estimated cost for each building was 3,826 guilders, 5 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The governor requested permission to construct both gunpowder storage facilities according to this plan.
Additionally,
Tilon was asked to make drawings of the existing artillery buildings and create a plan for improvements, as these buildings were in poor condition. The artillery corps had even been forced to rent housing outside the city.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0025
- 22 February 1783
- Regarding money matters, they expressed their obligation for the approval of setting up negotiations for cash. The supervisors and residents at the coast had to pay back 36,000 rijksdaalders of orphan funds. The Company accepted this amount through bonds at 6% per year.
- They tried to encourage everyone on Java to help the Company with cash, but they could not bring in even a third of what was needed this year. Therefore, they renewed their request to be supplied with cash from the main office.
- The under-merchant, paymaster, bookkeeper and clerk at Surabaya, Wouter Hendrik van IJsseldijk, deposited 2,000 rijksdaalders in the Company's treasury. He requested an assignment to the Netherlands for his representatives: Hendrik Pauw, wine merchant, and Pieter Roos, both living in Amsterdam on the Keizersgracht near the Brouwersgracht. They requested that this assignment be sent to them.
- Following the authorization for household appointments, they had been given permission to build an outer cemetery. This work was assigned to Captain Engineer Jan Baptist Pilon. Building tombs was excused.
- On 27 January, after announcement from the pulpit, a collection was held at the main office in Semarang by church elders, each assisted by a deacon. This collection was for the suffering widows and orphans of Nagapatnam, which had fallen to the English, and for the impoverished residents of Trincomalee, which was raided by the English, and Tuticorin, which was taken after they left. The supervisors and residents of the subsidiary offices were also instructed to hold such a collection at their offices and posts. Once all the money was received, they would report the total amount of all collections on Java and request further instructions.
- Regarding fortifications and buildings, they regretted that they could not be supplied with the requested cannons, including those of 18 and 24 pound caliber, with their round and long sharp shot, as these were not available at the main office and were not expected from the Netherlands soon. They requested to be remembered for these in the future if they arrived with the next ships from the Netherlands. They also made the same request for all goods asked for in their general requisition for this year, especially for iron, nails, copper, and equipment to be sent as soon as possible.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0023
Prince Crain Patengalo encouraged a voyage to transport some Moorish merchants who had arrived on the coast of Macassar 2 years earlier back to their destination with their trade goods. According to merchant Buijs's letter, these goods consisted mainly of 18 to 19 bales of cloves, 122 picol of benzoin, 40 to 50 bales of sandalwood, as well as gold and pieces of eight in coins. To compete with Piera and the Moorish merchants, the Dutch sent a quantity of sandalwood with the black beer to Choromandel around the same time, even though there was still a reasonable amount lying there. They wanted to make the Moorish merchants lose interest in this trade, which was harmful to the Company.
The Dutch were inclined to cut off Francisco Piera completely and forbid him from this place in the future. However, they could not do this because of Prince Crain Patengalo, who traveled with him and was a participant in the business. For various reasons, the Dutch were forced to respect the Prince because:
- He governed the kingdom
- He could do them much good or harm
- The King spent his time with gardens and games
The Dutch especially did not want to make the Prince their enemy given the situation in Amboina, so that he would not be moved to help their enemies. The Prince had promised not to do this or let it happen as far as his subjects were concerned. He could not make rules for foreign traders who visited his harbors.
No representatives of the rebel Amboinese were found there, although there had been persistent rumors for a long time that they had gone there. The King and Prince had also agreed to hand over any who appeared to the Dutch. However, the Dutch did not rely firmly on this, as the Moors were very devoted and loyal to each other.
The terrestrial globe had become somewhat too expensive for his highness, but he had accepted it on the condition that they would not be too hasty with payment and that he could pay with good useful trade goods, which they would allow him. The previous year he had made an offer to deliver a good quantity of rice in Bima, for which they would have sent a special ship, but this could not happen because of the poor harvest in Macassar, where they needed the Bima rice themselves. In the future they would try to come to a further contract with his highness about this, so as to depend less on the Mataram, from whose lands Batavia was principally supplied directly.
Vlamingh had also been to Macassar according to orders, but had not spoken with the King or Prince about the trade in cloves that were brought there from Molucco.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1188 / 0107
Cornelis Willemsz. van Outhoorn, the Governor, had finished his most recent contract and requested better pay and a higher position. He was considered a man of good character who would likely continue to serve the Company well for several more years. A decision about his request would be made known before this letter was completed.
On the 8th, Vlamingh had visited Bouton on his way and delivered a letter and gifts to the King. He also withdrew the men who had stayed there at the King's request. In their place, King Mandarsaha, whose vassal the King of Bouton was, assigned 10 men from his own people to help him fight against his rebels. A large number of rebels had risen against him and had moved to the other side of the island. No messengers from the Amboinese rebels had been noticed in Bouton at that time. The King promised to hand over any who appeared so they could be punished as they deserved. It was hoped that the rebels would not receive support from there. Since similar situations might occur again, it was considered important to maintain the friendship with this King and to prevent any estrangement as much as possible.
On 14 February, the flute ship the Morgensterre was sent to Macassar to continue trade there, carrying a cargo of various types of cloth worth 59,914 guilders, 17 stuivers, and 14 penningen. This ship returned safely on 5 May, thank God. It brought back, along with the flute the Salm from Amboina, the following goods:
- 1,617 picol of sandalwood
- Wax
- 354 picol of brown sugar
- Tortoiseshell
- Benzoin
- Red dye
- Pepper
- 103 loads of white rice
The total value was 68,133 guilders. There were still 81 bales of fine sandalwood left behind because of lack of ship space. If the pieces had been cut shorter and sawed through, it would have caused damage. Orders would be given about that wood soon, and they would try to obtain as much as possible directly from the first source.
The Portuguese Francisco Piera passed through from Goa to Macassar and paid back his debt of 8,000 Spanish reals to the Company's satisfaction. This money had been advanced to him to pay for the ship bought from the Genoese. Later he returned with a good quantity of sandalwood that he wanted to deliver to the Company, but this was refused both for other reasons and because the Company still had a reasonable supply. He then sailed on to Maslupatnam.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1188 / 0105
On
22 February 1783, officials reported that timber and planks were lost during the voyage from their location to
Batavia when heavy storms and high seas caused the rafts to break loose and drift away. They argued this loss was due to bad weather at sea, not to negligence or dishonesty. They requested that the commanders not be held financially responsible on their pay accounts, even though one of them,
Lucas Sijbrands, had died after returning seriously ill from the main settlement. They asked to credit back amounts of ƒ236:2:— and ƒ374:5:— to the main settlement instead.
Under the domain section, they reported complaints from the
Chinese Captain of
Samarang,
Tan Lecko, who leased the bird's nest cliffs in eastern and western
Balemboangang. He complained about extensive and increasing theft and robbery at the cliffs, where thieves gathered during harvest time and stole most of the bird's nests. Some residents of
Balemboangang appeared to secretly help them, and the remote location of the cliffs made prevention impossible. In 1782, only 30 caddies of bird's nests were collected, worth 300 Spanish reals, while the lease cost was 2,400 Spanish reals plus another 492 in other charges, totaling 2,892 Spanish reals. This created an annual loss of 2,592 Spanish reals. The petitioner requested to be released from the lease and suggested transferring it to the regents of eastern and western
Balemboangang, who seemed willing and had better means to guard the cliffs as they were located in their territory. The petitioner committed to paying the full lease amount of 2,400 Spanish reals for the remaining 2 years until the end of December 1784, if he could receive the bonus that the regents normally received from the lease payment to compensate for his loss of 1,900 Spanish reals. The first-signed governor had already relieved him of the 8 percent he would normally owe from the lease payment. Since this proposal would not harm the Company and the regents would likely agree, they requested approval.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0021
On
Saturday, 22 January 1622, the Council discussed several matters. On
16 December of the previous year, His Honor had asked the Council to consider whether it would be wise to enter into peace negotiations with the king of
Makassar, or whether there were important reasons why it would be better to delay such negotiations.
After meeting again, the Council agreed with His Honor that further peace negotiations should be delayed because the people of
Makassar had not yet been brought to a position where advantageous conditions could be made with them. The following reasons were given:
- First, they would not want to stop trading with the Moluccas, Amboina, Banda, and the surrounding islands, or accept only such conditions as the Dutch would allow them. Otherwise, the Company would suffer more harm and damage than the benefit that could be gained from Makassar.
- Second, the people of Makassar would not want to forbid the people of Malacca and others under Dutch flags from trading freely with Dutch lands.
- Third, they could hardly be brought to stop trading with Malacca and other enemy lands and to conduct their trade only at Batavia or other licensed places. With time and good help, they would eventually be forced to do this, especially if the Dutch kept the waters of Malacca blockaded, cut off their trade to the Moluccas, Amboina, and Banda, kept Chinese junks away from Makassar, and drew all trade to Batavia.
It was also decided to speak with the representatives of the English Company about the
Makassar matter and to show them what benefits both companies would gain if the Dutch continued the war with
Makassar and, under this arrangement, secured free trade for the English in the
Moluccas,
Amboina,
Banda, and surrounding islands. They would also show what benefits the English Company would gain regarding the purchase of rice and other necessities in
Makassar, and on the other hand, what damage and harm the Dutch Company alone was bearing, both through continuing the war and through trade in rice and supplies from
Makassar, which was as important to the Dutch as to the English and had also been offered by the king.
According to a resolution of the Council of Defense dated
22 May 1620, which was considered to serve both companies and was therefore approved, the Dutch Company would continue the war with
Makassar and
Mataram, provided that the Dutch Company would receive half of the trade and profits that the English Company obtained from
Makassar and
Mataram to compensate for the costs of the war. However, this had not yet been followed or implemented.
The Council therefore decided that, as compensation for these costs and their own deprivation, and in accordance with all fairness and the strength of the aforementioned resolution, they would claim half of the profits from the rice that the English would buy from
Makassar and sell in the
Moluccas,
Amboina, and
Banda. If the English would not agree to this, the Dutch would offer to contribute an equal quantity of rice from their own supplies to match what the English brought in from
Makassar, so that the profits and losses would be shared equally.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1075 / 0341
On
Thursday the 10th of February 1633, a meeting took place to discuss intercepting ships from
Macassar and
Mataram that would depart from
Malacca at the end of the monsoon season. This information had been obtained from captured letters seized in a prize ship conquered by Governor
Marten Isbrantsen. The council decided to send out ships to the waterway near and around
Rimata under the command of Commander
Claes Jansen Bruijn. The expedition would consist of:
- The ship Jacoter Zeeburgh, manned with 45 sailors and 15 soldiers
- The ship Broeckerhaeven, manned with 45 sailors and 15 soldiers
- Two suitable rowing sloops
- One of the yachts Sonsburgh or Sloterdijck, to be sent a day later, manned with 35 sailors
All vessels would be provisioned for 2 months and given appropriate directions, orders and instructions. The council hoped that opportunities would arise to damage the enemy and capture booty. However, if this mission failed, the ships would also carry a small cargo intended for
Rimata and
Biliton to bring back a good supply of hatchets and parangs (large knives), which were needed and useful for trade with
Timor. The resolution was signed by
Henrick Brouwer,
Pieter Vlack,
Marten Isbrantsz, and
Joan van der Burch.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 1108 / 0068
A letter
dated 22 February 1783 reported on various goods held in storage in the Dutch East Indies. The inventory included:
- 43,916 cans of coconut oil
- 1,200 cans of petroleum
- 11,037½ pieces of beams of various types
- Various types of lumber that had been purchased and were still in storage, including:
- 2,376 pieces of panjang limas beams
- 1,681 pieces of panjang tigas beams
- 225 pieces of glondong beams
- 200 windbooms (a type of beam)
- 150 boat knees
- 75 mill planks of 1 to 1½ decimeter
- 7,400 cut planks
- 350 sawn ribs
- Various types and sizes of planks from Tinkam (2,220 large, 720 medium, 8,849 small)
- 28,900 Chinese planks
- 2,760 house planks
- 9,500 barrel staves
- 300 planks 18 to 20 feet long
- Various other timber pieces including swalpens, riemhouten, vellingen, blocks, pike poles, and small house beams
The writers stated they would use all these materials to fulfill the request that the High Authorities would make that year.
The letter also discussed rice supplies. According to records
dated late January, the remaining stock of rice at various trading posts along
Java amounted to 3,493⅓ coijangs (a unit of measure). The writers believed they could supply the main settlement early with a good quantity if 6 ships were sent to collect it. They requested that first 2 ships be sent as soon as possible to the eastern corner, specifically to
Surabaya and
Gresik, to arrive before the eastern monsoon season and load rice. They also requested that the trading posts of
Tegal and
Pekalongan each be provided with one ship for this purpose.
Regarding a separate matter, an invoice
dated 25 October 1782 from the main settlement had charged them for 39 pieces of mill planks and 630 barrel planks that were found to be missing from the
Japara and
Semarang timber rafts numbers 1 and 4 when they arrived in
Batavia in
September. The commanders of those rafts,
Anthonij Blievier and
Lucas Sijbrands, had been charged with capital advances against their wages of 236 guilders 2 stuivers and 374 guilders 5 stuivers respectively. However, sworn statements from sailors
Franscisco Astanjol,
Lourens Zonstrom,
Jacobus de Meij, and
Matthijs Klein were being submitted, though the text cuts off before explaining the content of these statements.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0019
On
22 February 1783, a report was submitted regarding responses that had been received and were still expected to come in. The explanation for the delay in accountability was excused, as the authorities were asked to review the accompanying report.
Because they did not have enough supplies themselves, they could not provide the still needed 200 picols of bar iron and 176 picols of nails. Therefore, they gave permission to the Resident of
Rembang, based on his proposal and offer sent in an extract of his letter, to purchase these items privately at the recently quoted prices of 14 guilders 17 stuivers 8 penningen for iron and 16 guilders per picol for nails. They also ordered him to ensure that the small ship would be completed quickly to prevent the wood from rotting, so that the keel could be sent to the main station at the same time as the two chaloupes requested for
Ceylon.
The answered demands for products and other items that were requested from
Java's northeast coast in 1782 and were either fulfilled or not fulfilled during that year were presented. This included a report showing which products the respective regents and heads had delivered to the Company, either free of charge or for payment, in fulfillment of their obligations, as well as what was still remaining at this coast and what still needed to come in during the present year 1783.
From this report it was noted that the following items were delivered in fulfillment of the fixed contingents:
- 5,380 coijangs rice
- 170 coijangs green catjang
- 352 picols cotton yarn in various types
- 5,325 picols indigo
- 37,000 kannen coconut oil
- 800 kannen earth oil
- 9,800 beams in various types
- 3,806 beams above the contingent with an increase of 50 percent above the set prices
- 1 pantjallang beam
Still remaining at the respective offices ready for shipment were:
- 3,493 2/3 coijangs rice
- 120 3/8 coijangs catjang
- 138 picols cotton yarn
- 6,916 kannen coconut oil
- 400 kannen earth oil
- 5,237 1/2 beams in various types
The contingents that were to come in during 1783 consisted of:
- 5,380 coijangs rice
- 170 coijangs catjang
- 376 picols cotton yarn
- 78 picols indigo
- 37,000 kannen coconut oil
- 800 kannen earth oil
- 9,800 beams in various types
- 1 pantjallang beam
Therefore, if everything came in and was paid for, the following amounts would be shipped in 1783 after deducting what was needed for household use and for the service of the shipyards and mills on
Java, both in rice and woodwork:
- 8,373 2/3 coijangs rice
- 290 3/8 coijangs catjang
- 514 2/5 picols cotton yarn
- 78 picols indigo
- 43,916 kannen (the text ends here)
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0017
On
22 February 1783, several ships transported goods, but some items were not loaded. The unloaded cargo included:
- 200 pieces of large Tinkam planks
- 200 pieces of Panjanglimas
- 200 pieces of Moolen planks of 1 inch
- 100 pieces of ¾ inch planks
- 100 pieces of Tanjong beams
- 50 pieces of joists of 2 to 3 inches
- 10 pieces of beams, 28 to 30 feet long and 10 inches thick
The authorities could not transport these items. According to statements, the ships only carried Company goods and their permitted cargo. Commissioners in
Grissee reported finding the ships fully loaded with rice in the hold, salt, oil, woodwork, and water casks between decks. Documents were submitted showing the shipped cash and goods totaled 25,310 guilders and 21,244 guilders 12 stuivers 8 penningen respectively. This included rice and bean rations for the ship crews for 8 months.
Four native Pantjallangs returned because they could not continue their voyage to the south coast of
Java due to strong currents and high seas in the
Sunda Strait. Two of these vessels from
Madura arrived in
Rembang on
22 February 1783. The ammunition and other goods were unloaded and sent to
Surabaya for further accounting, as these small vessels belonged in the Eastern Corner region. A request was made that these goods be credited.
Two Madurese Lieutenants named
Sara Tota and
Salam, along with a sergeant, a corporal, and 9 common soldiers (instead of 11) arrived with the Pantjallangs. They had recently returned from
Ceylon to
Batavia on the ship Overduin. Following orders, they were discharged from the Company's service and sent to
Madura.
The
Rembang Resident
Willem Adriaan Palm sent a report dated
28 January from shipyard supervisor
Horning. A ship ordered to be built on
12 December 1780 based on the design of the Orangeboom had been on the stocks since
March 1781. It had been under construction for a year, built up to the double hull, but roughly two-thirds of the needed iron and nails were still missing. The supervisor requested these materials, warning that without them the ship, exposed to wind and rain, risked rotting at the seams and internal timbers due to water damage.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0015
- On 11 January, the officials had sent a letter to the Governor General and Council.
- Between 3 January and 14 January, they received several letters from His Excellency Willem Arnold Alting, Governor General, and the Council of Dutch India.
- The officials were satisfied with the quick loading and dispatching of ships that had collected products from Java in the previous year and returned to the main settlement.
- They were pleased with the placement of enough Javanese sailors on these ships from time to time.
- They promised to continue this practice according to the High Excellency's wishes.
- They planned to encourage some Javanese sailors to sail to Ceylon, as had happened the previous year with the ships Bothland and Overduin.
- They expected similar success with ships that would be sent to collect rice for that government, with a departure date of 22 February 1783.
- The example of good treatment by captain Meijer of the ship Overduin would encourage some sailors to volunteer.
- His Excellency was also pleased with the shipment from Grissee to the main settlement of 9,122 cans of coconut oil on a rented boat.
- Officials in Surabaya would be informed and ordered to make use of such opportunities as much as possible.
- According to reports from the Surabaya officials, the ships Azia and De Vriendschap had undertaken the journey from the eastern corner to Banda on 16 January and 21 January respectively.
- These ships transported from Samarang, Surabaya, and Grissee the following cash, products, and goods: the Azia carried 3,500 ducatons, 400 bags of rice, 3 bags of salt, 400 cans of peanut oil, 2,000 cans of coconut oil, 500 pounds of tamarind, 100 pieces of small planks from Tinkam, 50 pieces of winch beams, 50 pieces of house beams, 2,000 barrel planks, 100 pairs of shoes, 70 pieces of Javanese sole leather, and 150 pieces of mill planks of 2 inches thick; the De Vriendschap carried 3,500 ducatons, 300 bags of rice, 3 bags of salt, 400 cans of peanut oil, 2,000 cans of coconut oil, 500 pounds of tamarind, and 225 pieces of various goods.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3651 / 0013
- On 15 February 1778 in Samarang, Klotz and Dragoon Bout were given two native attendants, and a report would follow soon containing the truth.
- A letter was written by Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, governor and director of Java's North-East coast, to the chief merchant and First Resident at Djocpo Carta Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, dated Samarang 23 January 1778.
- The letter referred to an earlier letter from 19 January and stated that the sending of the sultan's court people and trusted persons to the Regent of Grobogan to get information about Pangerang Rongo would have as little effect as all previous promises.
- This Regent, with or without knowledge of his court, was the very person who hid Pangerang Rongo and supported him with his followers, and would not lack new inventions to delay and mislead the messengers and meanwhile hide Rongo and his people so they would not find him where they were brought to search for him.
- Because it was beyond dispute that Pangerang Rongo with his sons and other followers stayed on the sultan's territory and was hidden and maintained by the Regent of Grobogan, the writer forbade further missions together with messengers from the sultan or the ruler.
- Instead, the enclosed copy of the latest letter to the sultan regarding newly received reports about Rongo and others, being 2 copies of Javanese letters and a report (with Dutch translations included), should be presented to the ruler as further proof that the fugitives found shelter under him and were maintained, and delivery should be demanded further.
- The writer regretted his discussions and considerations about Pangerang Rongo had to be seen. Upon delivering letters from Their High Nobilities, he had fulfilled his task regarding the mentioned fugitive by presenting it to the ruler in terms of emphasis and clearly explained the orders, and required the effect of His Highness's placed orders to apprehend Pangerang Rongo according to the intention, with a letter to the ruler of which a copy was enclosed.
- However uncertain the reports from there were considered, the more the writer tried to make the ruler and ministers honor the incoming ones, but as long as His Highness and his ministers remained convinced.
- An extract of a separate letter was written by chief merchant and first Resident at Djokjo Carta Jan Matthijs van Rhijn to Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, governor and director of Java's North-East coast, dated 27 January 1770 (location Samarang 15 February 1778 regarding Pangerang).
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0353
On 15 February 1778 in Samarang, a report was sent with attached letters containing information about pangerang Rongo and where he had last stayed in the Grobogangsche area. However, because it was certain that people were hiding him and supporting him, and they were moving him from place to place from time to time, the authorities were advised not to focus on one forest or village. They were especially warned not to send pointless missions to such places, as these were seen as excuses to win time and hide him somewhere else. Instead, they should generally insist that since Rongo and his followers were on the Sultan's territory (no matter where exactly), he should be captured and returned to the Company, from which he had secretly deserted.
An extract from a separate letter was included, written by the chief merchant and first resident at Djoejo Carta, Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, to Iohannes Robbert van der Burgh, Governor and Director of Java's northeast coast, dated 18 January 1778.
The administrator Danoeridja received requests that pangerang Rongo, who was being hidden in the Grobogangsche district by the Sultan's regent there, should be searched for, taken into custody, and delivered by His Highness to the Company. The prince decided to send messengers from his palace staff, while also including a trusted person to find out whether pangerang Rongo was indeed staying in Grobogangsche, as had been reported in copies of reports and letters. A Javanese-speaking corporal named Klots was then assigned to this task.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0352
On
15 February 1778, a letter was sent from
Samarang. The letter discussed a report from the regents of
Damak and from demang
Ongo Wridjoijo about a fugitive who might be in the territory of
Grobogang or hiding in the village of
Pagadangang. This information needed confirmation. The fugitive, a pangerang (prince), was known from previous troubles to hide in the wilderness. Both the emperor and the sultan had tried unsuccessfully to persuade him to surrender when the sultan was still fighting against the Company. The fugitive had hiding places in the wilderness that were very difficult to find. Since people were now searching hard for him, he would certainly not stay in any village belonging to the sultan.
There was doubt whether 2 or 3 people would have enough courage to find him in these areas, where there were so many rebels (called Campakkers) that if all of them from both Company and princely lands were counted together, they would be nearly 300 men strong with guns. Time would tell if this fugitive would get help from them. There were rumors that the kraman (official) of
Gagatan,
Merto Iudo, was already with the fugitive.
Raden Depattij Danoeridja wanted to send another mission under the supervision of a trusted person. For this purpose, one of the most trusted officers would be commanded, accompanied by attendants, to find out whether the mentioned
Rongo was staying in the territory of
Grobogang and whether he was being attacked by regent
Sasra Nagarra or not.
On
19 January 1778, a letter was written from
Samarang by
Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, Governor and Director of
Java's northeast coast, to
Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, chief merchant and first resident at
Djokjo Carta. The letter stated that all assurances and promises about pangerang
Rongo and his sons had come to nothing. The reports, especially the last one sent on
5 January, lacked any appearance of truth or certainty and deserved no consideration. In contrast,
van der Burgh knew for certain that these fugitives had been hiding and finding shelter in
Grobogangsche for about 2 months. He was informing the sultan about this matter himself and sending him letters and reports as proof. He repeatedly ordered that letters from Their High Mightinesses and from himself, along with gifts, should be delivered, and that they should strongly and verbally demand the surrender of pangerang
Rongo and his companions. They should make clear that any further excuses would be seen as a complete refusal, and it would be assumed that the
Mattaram court had bad intentions with these fugitives who were guilty of murder and manslaughter and had done more harm. Therefore, they would be forced to take all possible precautions against this.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0350
Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, Governor and Director of Java's Northeast coast, wrote to the merchant and first Resident at Djoedjocarta, Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, on 9 January 1778. He found the statements of the Regent of Grobogan, Radeen Tommongong Sasra Nagarra, and the report of the messengers Bappa Ratti and others about pangerang Rongo and his sons not believable but suspicious. The report only contained what the Regent claimed and what the messengers had heard from his trusted people, without investigating themselves or going to the forest Partappan and the village Dawan to get information from pangerang Rongo in person.
Van der Burgh believed that after receiving the letter from the Demak Regents and the report of the Demang Ongowidjoijo and others, which stated that pangerang Rongo and his people were hiding in the Grobogan village Pagadangang, Van Rhijn should make further requests to capture and hand over this wanderer with his sons to the Company. If the ministers did not listen, he should approach the ruler directly with reliable reports. He should make clear that if there were more excuses or refusals, they would think the Mataram court had bad intentions with pangerang Rongo, and necessary measures would have to be taken. Van der Burgh was certain that pangerang Rongo would not find support from the Surakarta court and that pangerang Aria Amidjoijo would not dare to advise him. The rumors that Radeen Soemo Judo had joined Rongo gave more harmful suspicion towards the Mataram court than towards pangerang Aria Amidjoijo, because this Radeen belonged to Djogocarta and not to Surakarta, according to what was said there.
In a separate letter dated 12 January 1778, the merchant and first Resident at Djogocarta, Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, wrote to Governor and Director Johannes Robbert van der Burgh about the remarks regarding the report about pangerang Rongo.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0348
Wieria Coesoema, who had left the area, went to Surakarta to join the party of a pangerang (prince). He was handed over to the government official Sasradiningrat, who reported this and asked that Wieria Coesoema be collected. On the previous Sunday, when it became known that this Radeen (nobleman) was being held there, the government official immediately sent messengers to fetch him.
In a letter dated 22 December 1777, Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, governor and director of Java's northeast coast, wrote to Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, chief merchant and first resident at Djokjokarta. The regent of Grobogan reported that pangerang Rongo was not in his district. The regent did not mention Rongo's sons or whether these troublemakers had been in his area or where they had fled. The handing over of Radeen Wieria Coesoema was seen as new proof of the usual cooperativeness of the Solo court.
In another letter dated 5 January 1778, Jan Matthijs van Rhijn from Djokjokarta wrote to Johannes Robbert van der Burgh in Samarang. His messengers had returned from Grobogan with a report. Pangerang Rongo could easily remain hidden because of the season and his location. He could retreat into forests and wilderness areas where he had prepared 2 or 3 places. He was said to be staying in the forest of Partappan, near the village of Jawan, which belonged to Surakarta. He was waiting for a chance to launch an attack with some dissatisfied people or their followers, which would equal or surpass the one at Gagatan. There were rumors that a Radeen Submo Judo, who had left the Surakarta court, was meeting regularly with the fugitive prince. It was remarkable that this fugitive, who was said to have about 100 men with him, could stay away so long in forests where it would be difficult to find food for that many people without help from nearby residents.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0346
On
15 February 1778 in
Samarang,
Johannes Robbert van der Burgh, governor and director of Java's northeast coast, reported that messengers had been sent to the regents of
Djiepang and
Grobogang to search for
pangerang Rongo. He stated that
pangerang Rongo would likely not try to hide in the sultan's lands but would flee elsewhere. He confirmed that
Sasra Nagarra in
Grobogang would not dare to act against the issued order and would work to ensure the fleeing prince found no hiding place near his district.
In a separate letter dated
9 December 1777 from
Samarang,
van der Burgh wrote to
Jan Matthijs van Rhijn, chief merchant and first resident at
Djokjocarta. He stated he was relying on
van Rhijn's assurance that the sultan was willing to arrest
pangerang Rongo and his sons, who were staying in the sultan's lands, and hand them over to the Company. He enclosed a copy of a letter and report in Javanese and Dutch stating that
pangerang Rongo and others were staying in the
Grobogangsche area, so that the prince and his ministers could be informed and reminded of their promise.
On
15 February 1778 in
Samarang, an extract was made of a letter from
Jan Matthijs van Rhijn at
Djokjo Carta to
van der Burgh, dated
13 December 1777.
Van Rhijn confirmed he had received
van der Burgh's letter of
9 December with the enclosed copy and translation of the Javanese letter and report. He immediately sent an express messenger with copies to the
Grobegangsche regent to avoid wasting time, and would report to the prince as instructed. The
Grobogang regent replied that
pangerang Rongo was not staying in his district.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3528 / 0344
Previous pageNext page