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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.

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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 On 15 December 1774, a previous prohibition was withdrawn through a letter from Batavia dated 20 January 1775.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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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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.
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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: 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...
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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.

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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 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.
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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:

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.

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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: 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.
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On 14 April 1777, it was reported that merchant and second resident Jan Otto van Ingen had departed for Djokjokarta to serve at the sultan's court. The employees at Soerabaja were instructed to resume paying wages to the sailors who were still there from the ship A Schat, which had been wrecked on the voyage from Bima in the previous year. The wages were to be paid from 16 August 1776 onwards. The resignation of merchant and resident Alexander Cornabé from Tagal was noted, with his transfer to take place by the end of August. Merchant Isaak Cornelis Domis was appointed in his place. Domis was to be replaced as resident at Grissee by Barend Willem Fockens, who was the head at Timor. Since Cornabé would be leaving for the Netherlands, he would need to hand over his position by the end of August at the latest. A request was made for Domis to hand over the residency at Grissee by the end of July instead of mid-August to his replacement Fockens. If Fockens had not yet arrived, two appointed officials would take care of business until he came. Meanwhile, Lieutenant George Otto Dijkman was given command in Balemboan. Several requests for promotion were submitted: These individuals were praised for giving satisfaction through their enthusiasm, diligence, and capability, provided their required service time had been completed.
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On 14 April 1777, a request was made that the tax on rice transported to the other coast should not be increased.

A market was to be temporarily rented out to the current regional leader of Samarang for 500 Dutch dollars per year. This was the same amount that had been offered to the deceased head regent in the previous year. The reason for not charging more was that the current leader should not pay more than his predecessor. Additionally, if the retirement home continued to receive fines assigned to it by letter dated 29 February 1776, and also received a fixed income of 500 dollars per year from this bazaar, it would be able to manage and survive.

According to the financial statement closed at the end of February, in the previous year 1776, if major repairs to the retirement home made in 1775 had not been paid off, the capital would have increased by 845 dollars and 16 cents through generous allocations of political and district council fines and other contributions.

A request was made that the authorities approve this arrangement concerning the bazaar in the city, at least until it was clear what results it would produce. Meanwhile, the proposed tax for the benefit of the retirement home should not be implemented. This tax would be half a dollar on every koyang of rice transported from this coast to the other coast. The arguments against this tax were:

According to the general military strength report of 14 April, the military strength on and along all of Java showed that there was actually a shortage of 52 common soldiers compared to the fixed requirement, and with that indeed 58 men at Samarang.

Five drummers and pipers would be sent to the main settlement as requested by the authorities. The surplus drummers and pipers were mentioned.

Thanks were expressed on behalf of the employees who had been granted benefits and otherwise favored by the authorities, including someone named Dijkman, for whom a command was given at Balemborang.

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On 14 April 1777, a system was established requiring the governor of Samarang and the heads of subordinate offices and residencies to accept deposits from charitable institutions and boards when they had no better investment opportunities. The deposits had to be secured with 2 sufficient guarantors or good mortgage property to satisfy the institution. The following deposit amounts were assigned: This created permanent employment for 40 to 44000 rijksdaalders. Approval was requested for this arrangement. The proposal involved arrangements to maintain steady employment of funds, either by lending them to the community in those locations for the account and risk of the local heads, or by employing the money themselves. In return, they would provide interest of half or five-eighths percent per month, or whatever amount the High Noble authorities decided. The poor success of the bazaar established in the city for the benefit of the retirement home was attributed to the recently deceased head regent of Samarang. It was recognized that natives, especially Javanese people, once intimidated or made averse due to their prejudice, were slow to change. The marketplace was not yet in proper condition for the retirement home to derive the intended benefit, though it was currently growing and likely to succeed in time. Since a Company bazaar had been established in the city, it was believed it should remain and be brought into proper condition. The writer agreed with the first signatory's proposal regarding the market.
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On 14 April 1777, some benefits were added. The intention was to provide Tanjong and the markets, along with the village Loembang, with something to provide a living. In a later letter from 27 February, it was decided to let the first mentioned person decide whether to lease the village Pinger Pappas to either Iang Boeijko or Tjong Hangsaaij for a period of 5 years, for 2000 Dutch dollars per year. The officials reported that the Sumanap salt village Pinger Pappas was leased to Hang Boeijko for 5 years, starting from 1 May until end of April 1782, for 2000 Dutch dollars, according to their earlier proposal from 24 December 1776. Tjong Hengsaaij received the following leases for his lifetime: The officials hoped this would meet the high intentions, while the Governor expressed his gratitude for the consideration given to him. On 14 April 1777, a proposal was made to create a fund to lend idle capital with interest. The proposal from the orphan masters to secure their money in the Company's treasury was rejected. It was suggested that other secure methods should be found to relieve the chamber of idle funds, without burdening the Company. Not only the orphan masters needed help, but also estate administrators and the deaconry needed assistance, as it became increasingly difficult to invest their money securely according to their instructions. The community was small, and many preferred to go to private individuals who accepted only a single mortgage or guarantors. This caused the interest-free capital of orphans and the poor to grow while income decreased. By end of February, the orphan masters had fallen so far behind that the earned interest amounted to only 19 dollars, 32, 15. After long consideration, the officials could find no better or more secure solution than the one they proposed.
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On 14 April 1777, approval was requested for the assignment of a task to the Rembang Resident. Additionally, 3 rampaarden (battering rams) were ordered to be made locally. The residents of Balemboangang were asked to provide the following contributions: The Surabaya officials requested a different type of boat instead of the original one. The Rembang Resident van Hogendorp was assigned to arrange this. Approval was also requested for the order and shipment to the eastern corner of 3 rampaarden to replace the same number that were found unfit during inspection at the end of February. Officials claimed they could not make or provide these at the set price. Regarding domains and revenues, on 14 April 1777, the village Panaroekan was leased to Hang Boeijko for a certain amount, and the salt village Pinger Bapas was also transferred. Following a proposal, the residents of eastern Balemboangang were exempted from all contributions for 2 more years, covering 1777 and 1778. The Regent of that district and his subordinates were informed through the Surabaya officials. This measure was expected to help these poor people and increase the population of the area. According to official authorization, the district Panaroekan was leased to Hang Boeijko, Captain of the Chinese community in Surabaya, for 5 years starting 1 January and ending 31 December 1781, for 500 Spanish Realen per year. He was required to provide the permanent garrison in the fort with regular rations of rice, oil, and salt, as well as necessary firewood and water, without payment. A letter from 27 December 1776 requested information about the Captain of the Chinese in Sumanap, Tjong Hensaaij, who asked to lease the villages Pinger Pappas and Tanjong from the local regent.
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On 14 April 1777, several expenses were reported from Gresik. First, costs were listed for the pilot boat of Gresik. Second, expenses of 560 guilders and 2 stuivers were reported by resident Isaac Cornelis Domis for repairs to the pilot boat to fix its problems and supply it properly. Third, 3,638 rijksdaalders and 7 stuivers were spent between 24 August and 23 December of the previous year on the hospital in Gresik, according to a specification by Lieutenant Engineer Fredrik Sustmann. The hospital had been renovated and expanded. A report by Head Administrator van Panhuis and Captain Commander van Ardenne Poltooijde was mentioned. According to bookkeeper van Santen, the total cost of the hospital was 4,717 rijksdaalders and 36 stuivers, which was 74 rijksdaalders and 46 stuivers more than originally calculated. The extra costs were due to: These items had not been included in the original calculation. Permission was requested to approve this extra spending. Fifth, losses were reported from the patrol boat Petronella, which sailed in the eastern corner between Banyuwangi and Surabaya in January and February. During bad weather, the boat lost an iron anchor, 40 bundles of local rope, and a topsail. A foresail was also used to repair other sails. Declarations were included as proof. Finally, a cross-shaped boat was lost on the journey from Ketapang to Banyuwangi. The boat capsized and all people on board died except one native person who survived by swimming. The lost goods included:
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On 14 April 1777, a report was made about financial matters involving rice shipments and various expenses: Regarding the rice shipment, there was a shortage of 12,000 pounds of rice received on the 40 coijangs (large baskets) of rice brought to Batavia by Duijfen Burg. This happened because of a writing error on the invoice where "Lasten" was written instead of "coijangs". However, the authorities had actually weighed out coijangs of 28 picols or 3,500 pounds as they should have. Measures would be taken to prevent such mistakes in the future. A request was made to write off the following expense accounts for ships and smaller vessels that had been on the coast from the beginning of September until the end of February: Additionally, a write-off was requested for 2,398 guilders and 5 stuivers from the account for patrol vessels. This amount covered ammunition, equipment, and other goods that, according to a note from trade representative Herman Ludewig and attached declarations, had been used, lost, or consumed by patrol vessels fighting against pirates along the coast and in the eastern corner during the year 1776.
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Between 14 April 1777 and earlier dates, officials examined goods stored at Banjoewangie and Djember in 1776. After comparing reports from Surabaya employees with the account books, and following the order from 19 November of the previous year, they discovered that the reported surplus of goods was not real. The committee had compared the Bancallang inventory report twice - once separately and once as part of the general Surabaya report, which already included Bancallang goods since that post fell under Surabaya. Because of this double counting, the authorities withdrew their order to confiscate the supposed surplus goods for the benefit of the Company. However, they instructed employees in the eastern region to keep separate accounts for Bancallang in the Surabaya books to prevent similar mistakes. Further examination of ammunition and weapons at Banjoewangie and Djember on late August 1776 showed that differences between inventory reports and the books were only due to incorrect descriptions of caliber for some items and wrong names for other goods. The only actual shortage was 40 pieces of round ammunition of ½ pound, which had been fired at the Contongers in 1771 and 1772. The authorities approved corrections to record goods under their proper names in future inventories and ordered the missing 40 pieces of ½ pound round ammunition to be written off against the Balemboang Expedition account. Orders were given to send empty gunpowder barrels back to Batavia at every opportunity, following the resolution of 27 August 1776. Regarding financial matters, officials still awaited the accounting for reduced income and capital advance related to 100 defective 2½ inch swivel guns brought from Paccalongang to the main location on the ship Vlissingen in the previous year, to be charged to resident Bruistens. Meanwhile, the Surabaya employees paid compensation of 408 guilders and 2 stuivers for 31,733⅓ pounds of rice, calculated as 1 7/15 percent of the 6 1/1 percent dust found in 500 koyangs of rice loaded onto the ship Kroonenburg for Batavia in 1776, which resident van Hogendorp from Rembang also handled.
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On 14 April 1777, various orders that had been requested earlier were renewed along the coast. To promote trade, they made recommendations to the subordinate trading posts. Now that they were able to supply various goods, they would ensure that everything for Mataie would be prepared quickly, and also the last requested 4 small boats for Malacca would be made ready. The orders to keep foreign Europeans away from this coast were renewed, as well as the orders against: As was the yearly custom, they were busy preparing the ordinary 8 cruiser ships against pirates and to protect private shipping and trade along this coast. To encourage and promote this, they sent strong recommendations to the subordinate coastal trading posts to encourage private individuals to transport products, especially rice, to Batavia. However, there was concern that private shipping would decline because in recent years several private individuals had lost their vessels, some had sold theirs or stopped using them, and few new ones were being built. The number had decreased so much that there was now a shortage of vessels in Semarang and nearly all trading posts, and thus also a lack of opportunity for large-scale transport of products. They feared that the private shipping and trade from Java, which was especially useful for Batavia, would decline year after year unless private individuals were encouraged to build new vessels. Regarding the trade books of this government from the year 1772/73, which had not been received, they requested that these be sent, as well as those from the following years. Concerning ammunition and weapons storage goods, they mentioned goods found at the post Bancallang according to statements from commissioners, which they had to withdraw on 14 April 1777, and compared the trade books of 1776/77 against the reports from the general inventory at the end of August 1776.
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On 14 April 1777, the authorities reported they were making every effort to improve and increase indigo cultivation. They thanked the recipients for the cotton yarn samples and for extending the delivery contract for teak wood. They mentioned that commissioners had surveyed the teak forests under the Company's control along the coast and had made decisions on 14th of that month. They respectfully requested approval for these decisions. Regarding indigo cultivation, they stated no effort would be spared to improve its quality and increase production. They reported that 100 picols of indigo had been purchased at 5 guilders per picol as requested the previous year and was ready for shipment. They expressed gratitude for the cotton yarn samples received for the Netherlands and offered these samples. They also thanked the authorities for their favorable response to the request from the resident and regents of Japara for an extension to deliver 32 picols of yarn they still owed at the end of December. They were confident this would be delivered within the agreed 18-month period, above their regular quota. According to reports from officials in Sourabaja, Passourouang, Banjoewangie, and Banaroekan (included as extracts), sappanwood had been so extensively cut in Passourouang district in 1768 and 1769 that nothing remained there or in Balemboang. In Panaroekan at most only about 30 picols could be obtained, and the samples sent were very thin. In hope of approval, they would order that since no better quality or larger quantity of this dyewood could be obtained, collection should stop for now and the trees should be left to reach full maturity. For the rapid and proper construction of the 7 pantjallangs (boats) previously ordered for Amboina, Ternate, and Makassar, and the vessels now required for the main settlement, they had passed on the recommendation to the Rembang resident Mister Willem van Hogendorp and further instructed him to stop all private work in the meantime. However, they had to report that a shortage of iron, nails, and other necessary materials had somewhat delayed this construction.
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14 April 1777: Officials reported that they had petitioned for 100,000 lb of tamarind on 7 March and promised to fulfill all further demands as quickly and promptly as possible. They wanted to give satisfaction to the High and Mighty Lords, just as they had done in the previous year.

They explained they would have given new proof of this if they had received ships earlier to load the products that were already collected and stored in warehouses. The success of future deliveries depended mainly on the crops and the timely arrival of contingents. Everything looked favorable so far, especially the rice crop which was growing well.

However, they warned that no certain calculations could be made before the harvest, because even when the grain was ripening, strong drought could make it wither, heavy rains and strong winds could knock it down, or mice and other vermin could destroy it.

This had led them to ask in their submission of 24 December whether the High and Mighty Lords, given the rich harvest of the previous year and the current abundance of rice, wanted the company to purchase rice above the contingents for the ships, as had been done in recent years. Since the supply in Batavia was also quite large and this was not considered necessary by the High and Mighty Lords, no purchase would be made and no other rice would be shipped except what was actually stored in warehouses and what would come in from future contingents.

At the first opportunity by ship, 30 koyangs of table rice that were stored in Tagal for widowed ladies (the late His Highness van der Parra, the honorable and strict Lord Councilor extraordinary Radermacher, and the second secretary Goedbloet) would also be included.

The provision of heavy timber as required would be most difficult, but everything possible was being done that could be demanded from the native population. They hoped to satisfy this requirement to some extent. Orders had been renewed and care would be taken that the timber shipped would fully correspond with the length and thickness specified in the invoice.

Regarding the large quantity of timber brought to Batavia by private individuals in the previous year according to the notes sent, they had already answered in their submission of 14 February and referred to that answer. They asked permission to now offer a report on the inspection of salt to the High and Mighty Lords.

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