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Both artificial intelligence tasks are not perfect, but often more than sufficient to make the historical document understandable.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.
On 22 December 1788, a request was made for a complete payment of a demand. Specifically, they asked for whole and half ducats to be provided at the first opportunity, as their remaining supply was small and they would soon need to send some to Sourabaija. They also requested permission to accept cash that they would need in the Company's treasury through bills of exchange, to be paid in Batavia or converted into assignments to the 17 Lords in the homeland. The Governor particularly requested favorable approval for this last option.
The collection of products in this year had succeeded well and was so favorable that not only were the quotas of this year completed, along with arrears from previous years (except for a few beams which would be discussed later), but also all requests except those for heavy wood could have been completely fulfilled if they had ships or vessels to transport more than what was actually shipped. This would be shown in the answered demands, which would follow at the next opportunity once the necessary information from all offices had arrived after the departure of the eastern ships to Batavia. It would also be shown in the annual clear statement of everything delivered in the still ongoing year 1777 by the respective Regents and Chiefs in fulfillment of their obligations, what remained, and what still had to come in in 1778. They would provide this to the Lords once the ships for Amboina and Banda were loaded and dispatched.
They submitted a memorandum of the products that in this year were transported from Java to and for Batavia, Ceylon, Malacca, Cape of Good Hope, Sumatra's west coast, and Cheribon, and were currently ready to ship to Amboina and Banda. The products consisted of:
- 6,549 2/51 coyangs of rice
- 14 green cadjang
- 194 1/17 320 loads of salt
- 104,057 pounds of sugared tamarind
- 1,600 round pepper
- 11,000 long pepper
- 8,651 tail pepper
- 1,063 cardamom
- 100
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0256
On
22 December 1777, a request was made for various tools and equipment for
Samarang. The items included scales with their pans, sledgehammers, nail hammers, crosscut saws, hand screws, files, bookbinders' needles, chisels, and instruments and tools for the Engineer.
The requested supplies for the Engineer consisted of:
- 1 set or case with mathematical instruments
- 1 set of elephant paper
- 6 books of fine drawing pencils
- 12 pieces of common drawing pencils
- 12 pieces of fine drawing brushes in assorted sizes
- 36 pieces of fine blending brushes
- 36 pieces
- 1/8 pound of carmine
- 1/8 pound of ultramarine
- 1/2 pound of Florentine red lacquer
- 1/2 pound of blue lacquer
- 1 pound of Berlin blue
- 1/2 pound of prepared indigo
- 2 pounds of vermilion
- Assorted drill bits - 185
- 100 assorted files
- 100 sweet files - 72
- 4 pieces of cutting irons with their pins
- Various quantities of additional items ranging from 1 to 100 pieces
- 6 pieces
- 70 pieces
- 10 pieces
- 3 pounds of remnants
- 2 pounds of red lead
- 2 pounds of burnt umber
- 4 pounds of king's yellow
- 1/8 pound of white gum arabic
- 1/2 pound of gum gutti
Medicines were also requested according to a catalogue, along with personnel for hospital visits.
The request included craftsmen:
- 1 gunsmith
- 5 hospital visitors
- 1 blacksmith
- 1 chest maker
- 1 coppersmith
The document stated that the authorities should send as many as they wished to supplement the garrison posts, but with as few junior officers as possible, since there was already an adequate number. It was noted that the old soldiers became frustrated when they received no advancement, which often caused them to demand their discharge, and this rarely set a good example for the others whose time was also up.
The document was signed at
Samarang on
15 December 1777 by
I. R. van der Burgh.
A final note mentioned that teachers were needed for the trading posts at
Grissee,
Banjoewangie,
Passerouang,
Paccalongang, and
Joana, where the youth were growing up wild due to the lack of someone to provide instruction.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0254
- November 1777: A list of leftover goods and supplies was recorded, including various types of wine (Dutch, French, Sack wine, and Cape wine).
- Military equipment included 60 muskets, rifles, pistols, swords with copper handles, 348 rapiers or side arms, spontoons (spear-like weapons), grenade bags, carbine straps, cartridge pouches, 2 trumpets, and cutlasses.
- Spices and provisions listed: nutmeg (7½ pounds), cloves (88¼ pounds), mace (47½ pounds), cinnamon (50 pounds), wheat (new) (50 pounds), rice (74½ pounds), arrack (23½ pounds), and opium (50 pounds).
- The document mentioned 70 barrels that would be supplied gradually to avoid overwhelming storage space, with a request made for half-barrels for subordinate offices and for shipping in small local vessels.
- 22 December 1777: Additional supplies were requested.
- 22 December 1778: Further continuation of spices and provisions listed, including olives, oil, dead oil, beer in barrels, Dutch butter, wax candles, and brandy gin.
- Writing supplies included: large format paper, small imperial paper, blue lined paper, pen shafts, penknives, penknife sharpening stones, pencil and red chalk, sealing wax, seal thread, cipher stamps, ink materials, and parchment.
- Church and school books requested: 1 Bible in folio, 25 Psalm books in octavo (new version), booklets, arithmetic books, 40 small catechisms, 20 question books by Helmbrock, letter arts primers, ABC booklets, and 40 arithmetic slates.
- Various quantities of reams, bundles, and pieces of paper and other materials were listed with specific measurements in pounds.
- Office or paper scissors: 2 pieces requested.
- Liquids measured in half barrels and casks, including 4 half barrels and 40 casks of one type, and 8 casks of another.
- Two cellars were mentioned in the inventory.
- The document ended noting 14 remaining items still outstanding as of the last day of the period.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0252
This document from
22 December 1787 lists supplies and equipment needed for Dutch colonial operations in the East Indies.
The requests include supplies for a vessel called the Pantjallang, which was based in
Samarang. This ship needed new rigging and sails to replace equipment that had become unusable during an expedition against
Noessa. The supplies included:
- Various types of rope and cable in different thicknesses
- 2 iron anchors
- Lead lines and tarred lines
- Sailcloth including Dutch and Flemish linen
- Old sails
- Blocks and pulleys
- Sail needles and thread
- Old rope
Materials for shipbuilding in
Rembang were also requested, including tar, pitch, and other supplies totaling 25 barrels.
Military supplies were requested for the garrison and dragoons (mounted soldiers), including:
- 3,807 flints for carbines and pistols
- 50 pounds of thin gunpowder
- Carbines
- Grenadier muskets with bayonets
- 300 sword belts
- 100 rebuilt scabbards from the homeland
Other items included:
- Various chemicals: sal ammoniac, amaril, and borax (12 pounds each)
- 40 oars
- Cartridge paper
- Brussels sand
- Chamois leather
- Drum carrying straps and drum lines
- Wire (iron and copper)
- Drum hoops
- 200 copper drums
HTML:
```html
This document from
22 December 1787 lists supplies and equipment needed for Dutch colonial operations in the East Indies.
The requests include supplies for a vessel called the Pantjallang, which was based in Samarang. This ship needed new rigging and sails to replace equipment that had become unusable during an expedition against Noessa. The supplies included:
- Various types of rope and cable in different thicknesses
- 2 iron anchors
- Lead lines and tarred lines
- Sailcloth including Dutch and Flemish linen
- Old sails
- Blocks and pulleys
- Sail needles and thread
- Old rope
Materials for shipbuilding in Rembang were also requested, including tar, pitch, and other supplies totaling 25 barrels.
Military supplies were requested for the garrison and dragoons (mounted soldiers), including:
- 3,807 flints for carbines and pistols
- 50 pounds of thin gunpowder
- Carbines
- Grenadier muskets with bayonets
- 300 sword belts
- 100 rebuilt scabbards from the homeland
Other items included:
- Various chemicals: sal ammoniac, amaril, and borax (12 pounds each)
- 40 oars
- Cartridge paper
- Brussels sand
- Chamois leather
- Drum carrying straps and drum lines
- Wire (iron and copper)
- Drum hoops
- 200 copper drums
```
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0250
December 22, 1777
This document was a list of ship equipment and supplies being requested. The items included:
- Cable ropes of various diameters (8, 9, 10, and 12)
- Anchor ropes of various diameters (6, 7, 8, 9, and 10)
- Anchor cables
- Ropes of 7 diameters
- Rigging of 5, 6, and 7
- Horse lines
- Iron cables
- Dutch wheels
- Marl lines
- Lead lines
- Lines in general
- Housings
- Lordings
- Old ropes (in bundles)
- Copper night house lamps
- Ship lighters
- Blocks with 2 to 3 pulleys
The document noted that the heaviest types of ropes were requested for the use of vessels that were in need of them when they arrived on this coast. An example given was the bark called the Arendt that came that year.
Various quantities were listed with measurements in pieces, bundles, and strings. Some items were marked as excused (not provided). The quantities ranged from 1 piece to 100 pieces for different items, and from 25 to 50 bundles for rope materials.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0249
On 22 December 1777, an inventory was taken of ammunition and equipment supplies showing what was requested, what was actually in stock, and what remained as shortages.
Ammunition Items
- Gunpowder stored in leather bags, small barrels, and cartridge paper, along with needles and copper containers
- Various types of cannonballs including round shot of 24 pounds and long shot of 12 pounds
- Different sizes of grenades (hand grenades and mortar grenades of 8, 4, 3, and 2 pounds)
- Metal hand mortars of 12 pounds
- Metal mortars of 6 and 4 pounds
- Musket bullets totaling 3,955 and 2,627 pieces
- Empty bombs of various sizes (6, 12, 8, 4, 3, and 2 pounds) with quantities ranging from 75 to 4,487 pieces
- Powder horns, slow matches, and powder lanterns
Equipment Items
- Heavy anchors, throw anchors, and iron drags
- Iron cannons of 12, 8, and 4 pounds
- Iron cannon balls of 7/8 pound (340 requested, 2,530 in stock)
- Iron scrap
Ship Equipment
- Various types of canvas including Dutch canvas, Bengal canvas, and Flemish linen
- Old sails of sizes 6 and 7
- Cable ropes of different sizes (5, 2, 4, 3, and 1 pounds)
- Gray cloth measured in rolls
- Steel cannon beams (59 requested, 68 in stock, 25 remaining)
- Iron gun carriages of 7/8 pound
The document noted that some items received recently had not been used yet and were needed for storing rice in the warehouses. Throughout the inventory, several items were marked as excused, meaning they were not counted or their shortage was acceptable.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0247
- This document was a supply request dated 22 December 1777, with inventory records from November 1777.
- The inventory listed various types of nails (spijkers) in different sizes measured in inches (duim), ranging from 10 inches down to 5 inches, including thick (dikke) and thin (dunne) varieties, both double and single types.
- Large quantities of nails were recorded, with amounts ranging from 1,800 to 30,000 pounds, totaling 53,299 pounds in stock and 165,000 pounds requested.
- Other materials included Dutch steel, hoop iron (boep ijzer), plate iron, lead (both flat and tin), Bankas tin, and various paints.
- The supplies were requested for several purposes:
- Construction of lodges in Touracarta and Djokjocarta for the princes
- The Company's own household needs
- The Rembang shipyard for building large barks and sloops
- Sloops for the governments of Ternaten and Ceylon
- Additional supplies listed included paint materials such as blue (Beulijns Blauw), Spanish green, vermilion, glass panes, paint brushes (both double and single), packing thread, packing needles, and paper.
- The document also recorded requests for lanterns (3 to 6 pieces), calibrated measuring sticks (2 pieces), stamped paper, and various types of passes and seals.
- Different types of passes were specified: 700 pieces of printed passes (500 pieces type A, 250 pieces type B), 100 pieces of Batavian printed passes (type D), and 5,150 pieces of printed land seals worth 8 rixdollars.
- The inventory included references to stock remaining from the year ending November 1776 in Samarang.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0245
- 22 December 1777: Various goods were listed and requested for Samarang (Semarang).
- Flag cloths in different types were recorded: 99½ pieces, 9 pieces, 16 pieces, 240 pieces, totaling 242 pieces, including 80 pieces red and 80 pieces blue.
- Multiple packages were listed with various piece counts: 100, 110, 1, 2 pieces in two packages; 77, 49, 12, 2 pieces in two packages; 1,157, 949, 2,192, 1,000 pieces (1,000 pieces total); 408, 457, 500 pieces (500 pieces blue).
- Nanking linen (Chinese linen) was recorded: 21, 56, 78, 100 pieces (100 pieces total).
- White blankets, cotton cloths (sourahs), large and small ones, long Bengali cloths, and Chinese or Nanking linen were listed.
- Various types of cloth (laken) in different colors and qualities:
- Red fine cloth: 1 piece
- Ordinary or coarse: 4, 19⅞, 59, 18, 4 pieces (4 pieces total)
- Gold yellow fine: 40½, 38 pieces (excused)
- White fine: 48, 24½, 63¼ pieces (1 piece)
- Purple or violet: 68, 48½ pieces (1 piece)
- Light green fine: 82, 38¼, 6⅛ pieces (1 piece)
- Blue fine: 132, 122¼, 39¼ pieces (1 piece)
- Blue ordinary type: 9⅘, 48½, 38 pieces (1 piece)
- Red rassen: 27¾, 34 pieces (2 pieces)
- Blue rassen: 65, 82½ pieces (1 piece)
- Soldier hats: 108, 154, 100, 200 pieces (200 pieces total).
- Soft leather: 58, 4, 8, 41½, 8, 6 sheets (6 sheets).
- Goods for gifts included:
- Green velvet: 1 piece
- Crimson red: 34 pieces
- Purple: 32, 30 pieces (excused)
- Black bodices with gold and silver stripes: 2 pieces
- Allagiassen (a type of cloth): 6 pieces (20 pieces)
- Silk cloths (pathoolen) of 12 astas (extra large): 2, 20 pieces
- Silk of 10 astas: 4, 100 pieces (100 pieces)
- Silk of unspecified size: 100 pieces (100 pieces)
- Red, yellow, green, white and blue cloths: 40 pieces (40 pieces)
- Additional silk cloths of 7 astas: 100 pieces (100 pieces).
- Silk cloths of 6 astas: 100 pieces.
- Fine Moorish fabrics (moerissen supra), fine hamans, and extra fine kassas with gold heads: 20 pieces (20 pieces).
- Fine kassas of second type: 20 pieces (20 pieces).
- Rose water was mentioned but not quantified.
- Plain double silks (armosijnen) and merchant goods were listed.
- Japanese copper bars of various sizes (2 inches, 1
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0243
Cunier de Klerk, who was Governor General, and the Council of the Dutch East India Company in Netherlands India received a request on December 22, 1777.
The request concerned goods and supplies needed for Java's northeast coast for the year 1778. Since the yearly general request from Batavia was not yet known, it was difficult to determine exactly how much money would be needed. Therefore, the officials asked to follow the same pattern as in recent years regarding money and financial matters.
In 1777, they had received from the main office:
- 47,333 guilders and 16 stuivers in silver coins
- 2,728 guilders in gold ducats
- 24,982 guilders and 18 stuivers in whole and half copper coins
- 5,492 guilders and 8 stuivers in bills of exchange that were paid in Batavia and converted to assignments on the Gentlemen Seventeen in the Netherlands
The total received and drawn in 1777 was 140,535 guilders and 42 stuivers.
The remaining amounts in Samarang at the end of November were:
- 9,062 guilders and 33 stuivers in silver money
- 112 guilders, 46 stuivers and 8 penningen in whole copper coins
- 3,229 guilders and 8 stuivers in half copper coins
- 29,427 guilders and 14 stuivers in copper coins for all the subordinate offices
The general total for all of Java was 41,832 guilders, 5 stuivers and 8 penningen.
On December 22, 1738 (likely meant to be 1777), they provisionally requested 70,000 guilders in the following types of coins:
- 20,000 guilders in new milled Dutch gold ducats
- 25,000 guilders in new whole and half silver ducatons
- 5,000 guilders in new shillings (provided they were brand new and not already in circulation)
- 20,000 guilders in whole and half copper coins
They also requested permission to accept additional money needed in 1778 in good silver coins into the Company's treasury, and to issue bills of exchange for it to be paid at the main office or converted into assignments on the Gentlemen Seventeen in the fatherland. The governor specifically requested favorable permission for this last option.
The document then listed various types of cloth and textiles that remained in Samarang at the end of November 1777, including different grades of guineas, bimilipatnams, palicols, titucorijns, sadraspatnams, handkerchiefs, moorissen, ginghams, chelassen, baftas, and sailcloth in various colors and qualities.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0241
On 22 December 1899 [Note: The text appears to be from 1747 based on internal dating], officials requested permission to repair the ship the Petronella. They reported that the ship the Weldoener had been sent to Soerabaja and then to the main settlement.
The pantjallang (a type of vessel) the Petronella, stationed in the eastern corner, was found to be completely rotten at the bottom, eaten through by worms in several of its bulkheads, and completely unusable. The officials therefore requested permission to carry out major repairs under their supervision.
The pantjallang the Weldoener, belonging to Samarang, had been used during the year in an expedition against the island of Noessa, and most recently until 22 December 1747 for transporting oil to the main settlement. After returning from Batavia, the vessel was examined by specially appointed commissioners, along with its standing and running rigging, artillery, weapons, and other goods.
According to the accompanying report, goods that had been used, worn out, or damaged since departure to the eastern corner for the expedition against Noessa amounted to ƒ1,416:10:8. This amount had been charged to Soerabaja to be written off against the costs of the Balemboan troubles.
The officials decided to repair some minor defects to the ship's hull during the current west monsoon season and to provide it with new rigging, sails, and other necessary equipment. They requested approval and the necessary resources for these repairs in their general letter.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0239
On
22 December 1777, it was noted that ships heading east would be loaded and sent off quickly. Ships and boats with their cargo were to be dispatched with all possible speed. The ships destined for
Amboina and
Banda along the coast would be loaded as quickly as possible and sent to those governments.
On
22 December 1799, the construction of sloops and small boats was assigned to the Resident of
Rembang. The
Lassum contribution boat (called a Pantjallang) was hoped to be satisfactory. Following orders from letters dated
8 November and
24 November, the construction at the Company's shipyard in
Rembang was assigned to Resident
Willem Adriaan Palm. The construction included:
- One sloop for Ternate, 75 feet long
- One sloop for Ceylon
- Two boats for Macassar, each with 6 oars
Palm was ordered to ensure the two boats for
Macassar were ready within 2 months, or at the latest in February, so they could be collected and sent directly to
Macassar. The Pantjallang that the Regent of
Lassum had delivered for his contribution for the year 1777 had already been sent from
Rembang in September.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0237
On 22 December 1777, officials reported on several financial and political matters. They noted that 335,560 guilders and 15 stuivers were neither included among the ordinary expenses of the government nor listed under profits, and this amount also did not include converted copper coins and local currency.
Regarding the Banjumas Regent, the emperor took action after being informed through proper channels about the unauthorized mission of Banjumas Regent Tumenggung Juda Nagara to the Bantam court. The emperor sent his officials to summon the regent directly to the court. Since his arrival in Surakarta, the regent had been imprisoned in poor conditions with only bread and water and no visitors. The emperor had not yet indicated what punishment or correction he intended to impose.
Financial accounts from 1771 to the end of August 1777 showed that the burden amounted to a certain sum, while profits on this coast during the same period totaled 215,954 guilders and 6 stuivers in Dutch currency.
The letters and gifts to the rulers were delivered directly. Members of the delegation who had traveled overland from Bantam directly home against orders had not yet been discovered or traced.
The letters and gifts from the authorities to the emperor and the Sultan were sent directly to the courts. Regarding the responses, the authorities decided that the two rulers would be temporarily excused from the customary delegation to pay homage to the current Governor General. The Panembahan of Madura and the Company's coastal regents were also excused from traveling to Batavia for this purpose. However, by April, the Panembahan and the mentioned regents were required to pay proper homage in Semarang. They had already been invited to do so in April of the coming year 1778.
The document also mentioned something about ships that had been considered for distribution.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0235
On
22 December 1779, the officials reported on various matters concerning their trading post. They had worked on improving the quality and increasing the quantity of cotton yarn collection that year.
Regarding rice, the harvest results were as follows:
- 9,837 pounds of grade A (first quality)
- 8,067 pounds of grade B (second quality)
- 13,197 pounds of grade C (third quality)
- 13,717 pounds of grade D (fourth quality)
- 12,399 pounds of grade E (mixed quality)
- Total: 57,217 pounds
This was 5,658 pounds less than in 1776, but 21,717 pounds more than the required annual amounts. The rice had been collected partly beyond the required delivery and partly from backlogs, which would be fully settled by the end of the month. The rice crop that year had been very successful thanks to good weather, and all required amounts had been received and fulfilled.
The state of the coast was favorable, as they had described from time to time. They were honored and satisfied that the high authorities in
Batavia also viewed it in a positive light and had expressed their satisfaction many times. They had achieved profitable year-end account closings through increased income and profits and reduced expenses, even though for 3 years the regular
Balemboang trading post expenses (but not expedition costs) had been included in those accounts.
The account books for the year ending
August 1776/1777 closed with a net profit of 105,227 guilders and 3 stuivers, which was more than in the 2 previous years (1772/1773 and 1773/1774) and more than in many earlier years.
The governor and his colleagues expressed concern about appearing to lack serious intent in obtaining the
Balemboang account books, which troubled them. They wanted the high authorities to recognize that since 1774, they had fully settled all greatly overdue trade accounts and salary work at all trading posts along the coast without exception. They trusted this had shown their serious commitment to the company's service. Already in 1775, the overdue
Balemboang work had been brought up to date and maintained, and the books from that trading post and all others on and along
Java had recently been closed and sent to
Batavia earlier than perhaps from any other company government.
The general outstanding debts of this government, which on
31 August 1773 had amounted to 1,050,276 guilders, 4 stuivers, and 8 pennies, were reduced by
31 August to 618,544 guilders, 15 stuivers, and 8 pennies. However, in 1776/1777 they increased again by 119,696 guilders and 17 stuivers, bringing the total on
31 August of the most recent year to 738,241 guilders, 12 stuivers, and 8 pennies. This was due to more outstanding debts and more products on hand, because they had loaned 24,750 guilders to the sultan for 5 years on high security, and due to lack of ships, they could not ship the harvested products.
They noted that the
Balemboang expedition and war debts from
September 1771 onward were expenses beyond their control that had been and still needed to be borne.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0233
22 December 1737: An exception was made to a ban. The authorities wanted to receive satisfactory reasons for this decision. They also wanted information about a ruling concerning 4 large boats (chialoupen), each 75 to 80 feet long. The construction of these boats had been allowed for the captain of the Chinese community in Rembang. These boats were exempted from paying the recently introduced 10 percent tax on all ships that private individuals had built on the coast. The authorities questioned whether a similar exemption also applied to a ship of 100 to 110 feet.
That year, 3,869 pounds of a product were collected and sent to Batavia. This was 664 pounds more than in 1776. Everything was of first quality.
The Semarang officials kept a close watch everywhere along Java against all kinds of smuggling. The export of cardamom had been strictly forbidden by an order of 17 September 1774. However, since local people only cultivated as much cardamom as they needed for medicine, and the rest had to be searched for in forests and wilderness areas, that year they could only obtain and send to Batavia 1,063 pounds. This cost the suppliers more than the company's set price of 30 guilders per 100 pounds. The authorities approved the serious effort to stop smuggling in this product through strict vigilance. Regarding the increase of the purchase price of cardamom to 30 guilders per 100 pounds, they referred to the outgoing demand for return goods.
Regarding the condition of the indigo plant and cotton trees: the authorities referred to what was noted in response to an earlier letter of 29 September 1775. They noted this should have been accepted in Batavia. The plants had suffered greatly from heavy rains. However, it was good news that although by 22 December 1778 complaints about quality had been received.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0231
On
22 December 1797, it was noted that local people on the mainland had many ways to buy gunpowder from the English and others everywhere, and even made it themselves in various places, although the locally made gunpowder was generally of lesser quality.
On
15 December 1774, a previous prohibition was withdrawn through a letter from
Batavia dated
20 January 1775. The trade was permitted and opened again, which caused the country's income to increase rather than decrease as had been feared. The trade had flourished greatly since then.
Gunpowder had been found on vessels and was removed from them to prevent smuggling. It was only returned when the vessels departed. The authorities assumed that the native people had sufficient opportunity to obtain gunpowder outside the Company's territory. Otherwise, it should have been seriously investigated how they had obtained that gunpowder.
The authorities approved of the trade between
Java and places like
Johor,
Riouw,
Trangand,
Camper and other locations east and south of
Malacca. Their High Excellencies had made additional regulations about this trade in a letter to prevent harmful consequences for this coast. They hoped these regulations would have a good effect.
On
2 December 1777, permission was granted to the Resident of
Rembang,
Mister Willem van Hogendors, to build a ship of 100 to 110 feet for his own account to promote the permitted civilian shipping. This was allowed without burden or harm to the Company's shipyard. The authorities would let this pass for now, but questioned whether one could always be certain that the conditions under which such permissions were granted would be strictly followed.
The authorities also questioned on what grounds permission was given to build this ship, since the construction of private vessels longer than 80 feet had been forbidden.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0229
The historical text describes the case of
Pieter Luzac, who was the commander in the eastern corner region. Due to his unqualified conduct, he became involved in a serious incident.
Date unknown: Several crew members were forced to save themselves by swimming after an incident. A sailor stationed in
Surabaya who witnessed the events provided a statement. The Regent of the island of
Baviaan, where the vessels belonged, requested compensation and damages with good reason.
The Council of Justice in
Samarang passed sentences:
However, the Governor suspended this verdict because he found the punishments not proportional to the crimes committed. He sent all the case documents to the High Authorities in
Batavia for their decision.
1775: The defendants, including boatswain
Helmkamp, the European sailors, and the indigenous leaders who were their accomplices, were sent to
Batavia and handed over to the Council of Justice there for further proceedings.
22 December 1777: A case was brought by the prosecutor in
Samarang concerning the unauthorized prize declaration, assessment, and distribution of goods from 2
Baviaan vessels that had been seized in
Surabaya. The Council of Justice condemned this action and ordered the return of the vessels and goods to the Regent of the island of
Baviaan, either in kind or in monetary value. This order was carried out regarding the vessels in
Samarang.
Meanwhile,
Luzac died while the proceedings continued in
Batavia.
The text also mentions 3 vessels from the ruler of
Johore, which were sturdy barks or sloops. During the usual inspection after their arrival, 30 small barrels of gunpowder and 6 items of equipment were found. The 30 barrels of gunpowder were considered part of the vessels' normal armament for 3
Johore vessels.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0227
On 22 December 1737, a group of people were arrested peacefully without resisting, as they were not aware of any wrongdoing and had no bad intentions. After their capture, they were tied up and almost all of them were murdered in cold blood in a terrible way, with only 2 people being spared. The heads of some of the victims were then brought to Sourabaija as if in triumph.
From the Ministers' letter of 25 September 1774, it became clear that the unfortunate victims had been small traders. They had been traveling with 2 ships loaded with goods including salt, betel nut, and coconuts, trying to make a small but fair profit. However, the Company's patrol ships attacked these innocent people, apparently driven by greed for money, and killed them.
The commander in the eastern corner had been misled by false reports from the patrol crews. Based on these lies, he had the ships assessed, sold the goods, and distributed the money among the crew members.
The horrible crime was later exposed by 2 of the original 32 people, who had managed to free themselves from their bonds during the confusion.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0225
On 22 December 1727, the Dutch East India Company officials expressed their strong disapproval of illegal trade activities. They noted that while such violations were sometimes handled by regional offices where the unauthorized trading occurred, these cases had repeatedly caused their particular anger. However, they stated that even though some of these criminal acts were serious, they could not remember any previous example that even slightly resembled the terrible behavior of the smugglers from the eastern region. They found it difficult to repeat the horrifying description that had been given to them about these activities. They could only think about the situation with deep emotion and horror, particularly regarding the fact that 32 people had been pursued.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0224
22 December 1779: It was decided that ships should be properly loaded according to the rules and requirements. If there was not enough rice or other products available at one trading post, the missing amounts had to be supplied from elsewhere. The day registers kept by ship officials during loading days had to be sent in copy to the Governor so that judgments could be made based on the facts.
The authorities approved the rule that ships which only served to collect grain had to load specific amounts: a ship of 150 feet had to load 500 coyangs of rice, and a ship of 140 feet had to load 350 coyangs of rice. If the full amount could not be found at one trading post, it had to be obtained or supplied from the nearest one. 22 December 1777: This arrangement was seen as proof of commitment to the company's interests.
The patrols from this location happened more to protect small unarmed local vessels and to act defensively against pirates rather than offensively, because the regular patrol vessels were not very effective for the latter purpose. Although pirates continued to roam along Java, they caused little damage to local traders in this government territory during this year, despite the offered rewards. This was due to the constant back and forth sailing of the patrol vessels, which the pirates seemed to prefer avoiding rather than attacking. The pirates mostly stayed west of Cheribon, in the waters toward Batavia.
Since the incident that occurred in 1774, which was discussed elsewhere, there had been no evidence that the Javanese patrol vessels had exceeded their duties or committed acts of violence or extortion. However, there was strong displeasure about the serious abuses that were being made of these patrols. The text mentions violence and extortion that occurred during these patrols but the sentence remains incomplete.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0222
On
22 December 1777,
Marto Djoedo was encouraged and provided resources by
Pangerang Aria Mancoenagara (also known as
Maassait) through an official document to undertake something. The sultan was very upset about this and threatened to ruin the villages of that prince as well. The sultan made much more fuss about this matter than it actually deserved, considering what
Maassait had done, particularly in the past year through the detention of his tax collectors, as shown in the governor's separate letter to Their High Nobilities dated
29 September 1776. The sultan wanted to base his further behavior towards this prince who had fled to him on these events. However, when he noticed that he was not achieving anything with this approach, and also learned that no notice had been given about what happened at
Gagatan, and that the wife of the peace disturber was being kept in the villages, he changed his strategy. Without prior knowledge, he had armed men forcibly lift her from one of the emperor's villages at night and bring her to
Djokjocarta. He declared that if the sultan invaded his lands (and those were all the lands of
Pangerang Mancoenagara), he would resist and ally himself with
Mancoenagara against it.
The sultan then turned in a different direction and made a certain request to the Company, which, due to the secrecy it required, was not written down anywhere except in the governor's separate letter to the Noble High Indian Government dated
5 July of that year, along with the enclosed copy of the sultan's letter and His Honor's response to it. Their High Nobilities had so far accepted this situation. The matter was handled entirely by the governor alone according to custom and had been resolved to the point that no unusual disturbances were being heard anymore, and it seemed that through calm thinking, tempers had cooled down again.
On
22 December 1779, regarding the loading and dispatch of ships, they not only maintained the greatest speed there themselves, but they also ensured as much as possible that this happened at the subordinate offices under Your Honor's authority, particularly concerning the ships at the
Samarang offices. Since it had been recommended to continue with the present speed in dispatching ships to the main location, they trusted that those officials would comply. They furthermore approved that Your Honor had imposed a fine of 100 ducatons to prevent unnecessary delays of ships, to be paid by the respective chiefs and residents for each day that a ship could have departed earlier. However, the determination of this latter point did not always seem equally certain, as it could be subject to various exceptions in their opinion.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0220
An expedition was undertaken under the command of Lieutenant
Adriaan van Rijke, although a large portion of the crew was sick or too weak upon arrival. The expedition could not be stopped as it had already progressed too far by
31 July. In
August, they succeeded in conquering an island. Those who were not killed, fled, or captured submitted themselves. This gave hope that matters that had been delayed for 3 to 4 years might finally be resolved, bringing peace to
Java and benefiting the Company.
A total of 2,004 people, both adults and children, who had willingly submitted were transported from
Noessa Barang to
Java and placed in different districts. Prisoners and suspects were banished. The fugitives, including the main rebel leaders, were pursued without success. They likely fled westward to
Bancahoeloe and might attempt to retake
Noessa Barang.
Noessa remained occupied with:
- 50 European soldiers
- 349 native soldiers and Javanese auxiliary troops
- Some European and native sailors on one large and six smaller patrol boats
The island would stay occupied during the west monsoon season or until no more news was heard of the fugitives. On
22 December 1777, 100 European soldiers, 5 artillerymen, 2 junior officers, and 1 sloop were stationed there.
Lieutenant Commander
Adriaan van Rijke and Lieutenant Engineer
Fredrik Sustmann thoroughly surveyed
Noessa to determine whether it should remain occupied or be made uninhabitable to save costs. Further details were discussed in the governor's letters to Their High Nobles dated
11 September,
3 October, and
22 November.
Noessa Cambangang was occupied by a command of Europeans and natives from
Cheribon. In the neighboring region of
Banjoemaas, some Europeans with imperial troops were stationed to watch for the fugitives from
Noessa Barrang who might try to land there upon their return.
The upper and lower lands under the princes, and the lower lands and coasts under the Company, had enjoyed continuous peace for four consecutive years since the boundaries between territories were established and confirmed by the princes. No disputes had arisen except recently over a small rice field in
Bagaleen called
Baijem, which was settled in favor of the Emperor based on the registers.
However, peace in the upper lands was threatened by a man named
Marto Djoedo. The Emperor had removed him as head of a village called
Gagatan, located on the border of
Samarang and
Damak.
Marto Djoedo gathered followers, invaded, plundered, and burned several villages belonging to the Sultan. He was immediately opposed, driven away, and scattered by the
Djokjocarta court and subsequently fled. Nothing had been heard of him since, but some prisoners later claimed that the Sultan...
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0218
Reinier De Klerk, the Governor General, and the Council of Netherlands India received several letters on 22 December 1777. These letters were responses to an official document from the Dutch East India Company's governing board (the Seventeen Directors), dated 30 October 1776 from Middelburg.
Regarding the Balemboangang area on Java's northeast coast, the situation had barely improved over the past 4 years. The local population had become impoverished due to war and disease, which left the land exhausted. In a letter dated 15 January 1777 from Batavia, the Governor General and Council had freed the inhabitants from all taxes and contributions for another 2 years, until the end of 1778.
However, concerning Noessa Barrang (an island), there was better news to report. The authorities had finally proceeded with a long-planned military expedition against that island, as mentioned in a separate letter dated 11 April 1777, in which the Governor received his orders.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0216
On
25 April 1777, officials reported on the poor condition of several buildings in
Surabaya and
Gresik. The following structures needed repair or replacement:
- The trade and pay offices in Surabaya, estimated cost: 1344 guilders and 18 stuivers
- The prisons and jailer's residence in Surabaya, estimated cost: 502 guilders and 16 stuivers (excluding woodwork)
- The flagpole in Gresik, which had deteriorated due to age (cost estimate still pending)
The ship De Jonge Hellingman transported 4 surplus drummers and pipers from the coast. Their names were:
The ship also transported prisoners sentenced by the Council of Justice on
26 November 1776:
Additionally,
Catharina Elizabeth van Lichtenberg, a free Christian woman, was to be placed in the workhouse due to her bad conduct and scandalous behavior, as reported by merchant and prosecutor
Nicolaas Alexander Lelieveld on
22 April 1777.
The Chinese man
Lim Saptouw was sent away as a dangerous person for committing theft.
Several Javanese men from
Djember were mentioned in letters from
24 December 1776 and
15 April 1777:
Wongso,
Dito (a village head and former chief of
Djember),
Bappa Tram,
Karie,
Sarrewo, and
Kanan. They were accused of providing shelter and support to rebels and allowing them to escape.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0075
On 25 April 1777, the writers reported that they had not received thick nails measuring 10, 9, 8, 7, and 6 inches, which were badly needed for strong construction work. They warned that without these nails, the work would have to stop in parts and would progress slowly overall. They also requested a favorable response to their additional demand for iron bars, as the demand from Rembang exceeded both their earlier petition from 15 December 1776 and the quantity sent by the authorities. The requested iron consisted of:
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of 1½ and 1¼ inches
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of 1 inch
- 20,000 pounds of square iron bars of ¾ inch
Most of this iron was needed for the company's shipbuilding.
The ship De Cornelia Adriana, which had spent the winter at Joana, resumed its voyage to Palembang on 17 April. At the request of the officers, the ship received supplies beyond the daily provisions, including 3 months of rations for the crew and 308 7/8 reichsdalers for good months for the sailors assigned to it. The ship also received a new boat to replace one that had been lost before their arrival on the coast due to bad weather and wind. The total cost amounted to 2,122 guilders, 9 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The writers had charged this to Palembang through the Joana resident Rutgert Reinier Keijzer, as shown in the copy of the expense account and invoice.
The company ships 's Compagnies Welvaaren and Oostcapelle arrived at Tagal and Padtalongang respectively on 15 April and were being loaded there with speed as ordered. The ship De Concordia arrived on 21 April and would be sent to Sourabaya with the annual necessities for the east corner that were currently being loaded, and would then transport a full cargo of rice from Grissee to Batavia. However, this ship arrived with 1 dead person and 10 sick people, and according to the officers' statement (just like De Dankbaarheid before), it arrived without a chief medical officer and without medicines. Therefore, the writers felt obliged to provide some medicines and to inform the authorities about this.
The servants at Sourabaya, according to an extract from their letter of 5 April of the current year, were informed through engineer Sustmann, who was currently busy there and at Grissee with the approved renewal and repair of the company's buildings.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0073
A letter was sent to
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council members of the Dutch East Indies on
April 25, 1777.
The writers confirmed their earlier letter from the 14th of that month. They reported that the ship De Jonge Hellingman had been loaded at their location with the following cargo:
- 350 coyangs of rice
- 100 picols of kapok
- 1,060.5 pounds of wax
- 201 pounds of cardamom
- 100 pounds of coriander seeds
- 25 pounds of cubeb pepper
- 27,057 pounds of sugared tamarind
According to the invoice, the total value was 17,011 guilders, 4 stuivers, and 8 penningen. The ship was now making its return journey to the main settlement.
The writers offered a report on the delivered cargo along with a record showing that some goods had been under-reported or over-reported by the authorities by 27 guilders and 18 stuivers in Indian money. They requested that this amount be credited to the salary accounts.
They thanked the recipients for the goods and supplies and asked for the remaining items from their annual request. They particularly needed nails for shipbuilding for the Company in
Rembang. Resident
Willem van Hogendorp had requested these nails for boats under construction and lighters and smaller vessels for the main settlement, totaling 131,227 pounds of various types of nails. From the most recent delivery from
Batavia, they had only been able to supply 30,181 pounds of thin nails and other types, leaving the requested thick nails unfulfilled.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0071
Previous pageNext page