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In
Samarang, on
15 March 1777, officials reported to the Governor-General about financial matters.
R=t van der Burgh,
J=n M=s van Panhuijs,
F van Ardenne,
J=bs van Santen,
N=s N: Lelivelt,
M=r L=s Gaaswijk,
A: P:s Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and
A: Barkeij explained that someone had advanced 47,000 rijksdaalders from the Company's main cash office for expenses and transfers to subordinate offices. They presented a duplicate bill of exchange for this amount. The Governor requested that this bill be converted into assignments on the Gentlemen Seventeen for transfer to
the Netherlands in October, to be paid to the persons named in the bill.
The officials addressed their letter to
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, the Governor-General, and the Council of
Netherlands India. They acknowledged receiving letters dated
27 December of the previous year,
15 and 28 January,
27 February, and
22 and 24 March of that year. They referred to their previous letters of
14 February and
15 March. They reported that the ships De Dankbaarheid arrived on the 6th, and De Jonge Hellingman and Vreedelust arrived on the 9th of that month. No other ships had arrived on this coast that season to collect products.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0043
On
15 March 1777, a report was made about timber shortages. Even without counting various types of wood planks and other wood species bought in
Japara,
Joana, and
Rembang outside the regular supplies, and not including the demands for beams still expected for
Cabo de Goede Hoop (Cape of Good Hope),
Ceylon,
Amboina, and
Banda that year, there would still be shortages. The unfulfilled requests included:
- For the island Onrust: 1,000 pieces of Jasem beams and 800 Ambon beams
- For the equipment shipyard: 1,000 pieces of Ambon beams, 1,000 Tanjong beams, 1,204 Gloudong beams, and 2,000 windboom beams
In total, approximately 7,000 pieces of beams were needed, and the writers asked for further orders and specifications.
The officials reported being in great difficulty regarding the goods requested in their earlier request of
15 December 1776 for this coast. They especially needed iron, nails, and other items for the
Rembang timber shipyard. They urgently requested quick relief and assistance.
They also requested ships to collect products that were ready for shipping:
- For Tagal: 1 ship for rice and 1 to 2 ships for rice and wood
- For Samarang: 1 to 2 ships for wood and 1 ship for rice
- For Japara: 1 to 2 ships for wood, and 2 to 3 ships for wood, remaining rice, and other products
- For the east corner: 2 ships for rice
- For Joana and Rembang: ships (number not specified)
- For Pachalongang: 1 ship for rice
In total, they requested 10, 11, or 12 ships. They expected to load most ships directly and have all loaded and ready by the end of May to return to
Batavia. This count included ships returning empty from the great east that would stop at
Java. They asked to know the number of these ships so they could plan the loading of ships that would be sent directly from
Batavia.
The first signatory had been serving successively since mid-November 1776.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0041
14 February 1777. Officials from Samarang wrote a letter to the Governor General and Council requesting supplies that were already running low or would soon run out.
The letter was signed by I. R. van der Burgh, J. M. van Panhuijs, J. van Ardenne, J. van Santen, N. N. Lelivelt, H. Ludewig, M. L. Gaaswijk, A. P. Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and A. Barkeij.
15 March 1777. The officials addressed Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council members of Netherlands India regarding demands from Batavia for the year 1777. They submitted a distribution plan for the requested products and goods across various trading posts.
The officials stated they would try to supply the demanded products as much as possible. However, they noted that:
- Rice delivery would depend mainly on the harvest and timely payment of quotas
- Timber delivery would be difficult because even if all wood came in and was delivered according to their distribution plan by the local regents and chiefs, the demand still could not be met without buying more than the required amount of about 7,000 beams
They provided figures showing that timber remainders, arrears, and quotas for the year totaled 17,897 beams. Of this amount, 6,560 beams had to be set aside for the sawmill in Japara and the timber yard in Rembang. This left only 11,337 beams available for shipping if everything came in. However, the timber works that needed to be supplied from this amount, including all the requested heavy timber, totaled 11,225 beams, leaving only 112 beams remaining.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0039
On 14 February 1777, a letter was sent from Samarang to Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council of the Dutch East Indies. The letter was signed by R. van der Burgh, J. van Panhuijs, J. van Ardenne, J. van Santen, N. M. Lelivelt, H. Ludewig, M. L. Gaaswijk, A. P. Tulleken van Hogenhouk, and A. Barkeij.
The writers requested that two bills of exchange be paid in Batavia:
- One in favor of Jan Hendrik Wiegerman, vice president of the Council of Aldermen, for 12,244.8 rijksdaalders
- One in favor of Carel Fredrik Leverin, secretary of the Orphan Masters in Batavia, for 1,248 rijksdaalders
The letter reported that heavy rains along the coast had allowed farmers to work their fields and prepare them for rice cultivation. However, the continuing bad and rough weather and excessive water prevented them in many places from sowing grain and in other places from transplanting young crops. Despite this, there was still good hope that when the weather calmed down, these activities could be completed successfully with prospects for a good harvest.
The writers noted they had no bar iron left in stock. They needed this and also nails that had been requested in their letter of 15 December 1776 for the shipbuilding yard at Rembang for a ship under construction.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0037
On
14 February 1777, several requests were presented. A request came from chief merchant and Head Administrator
Mister Johan Michiel van Panhuis, asking for permission to make a short trip to
Batavia. A request came from merchant and resident in
Tagal Alexander Cornabe, asking for a favorable discharge before the end of August from that residency, and to be allowed to depart for
the Netherlands with one of the return ships of the first dispatch in October of that year, while keeping his rank and salary due to his expired term, with the permitted baggage. A request came from surgeon
Herman Carel Snijders, asking to be promoted to head surgeon based on the reasons stated in his request. A request came from bookkeeper
Jacob van Garling, asking to be transferred from
Surabaya to the main location. Another request came from corporal
Johan Hendrik Scheuning, asking to be discharged from company service in order to earn a living as a civilian alongside other citizens. All these requests were supported and it was respectfully requested that they be viewed favorably for the petitioners.
On
14 February 1777, two bills of exchange were enclosed, whose duplicates accompanied this document. One bill was in favor of
Ian Hendrik Wiegerman, vice president in the esteemed College of Aldermen, for the amount of 12,244 rijksdaalders and 8 stuivers. Another bill was in favor of
Carel Fredrik Severin, notary of the Orphan Masters in
Batavia, for the amount of 1,248 rijksdaalders. It was requested that the holders of the original bills in
Batavia be paid.
The many rains that had fallen along this coast for some time had enabled the farmer to work his fields and prepare them for rice cultivation. However, the continuing extremely harsh, rough weather and abundant water still prevented them in many places from sowing the grain and in other places from transplanting the young crops. Nevertheless, the prospects remained good that when the weather calmed down somewhat, both tasks could be completed satisfactorily with the expectation of a good harvest.
Since there was no bar iron left in stock, and also because nails were needed for the
Rembang carpentry yard for the keelboats being built (which had been requested on
15 December 1776)...
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0035
On
14 February 1777, officials reported that stopping the unauthorized cutting of wood could not be done without also blocking the ways to get rid of it and banning export. They explained that banning export would only work if they also stopped wood transport from the prince's lands through these districts. This would take away the only way of making a living for the Company's forest workers in that area.
The officials stated they knew of no middle way to stop this problem that had been creeping in and tolerated for years and had become a habit among the native population. They warned that if they banned:
- Regents from renting out wood villages and forests
- Common people from freely cutting and selling wood
- Others from export and transport
then the private Javanese wood trade would completely collapse and
Batavia itself would suffer greatly.
They also worried they would not be able to follow the special order from
15 March 1776 to encourage small traders to bring large amounts of rice, salt, construction wood, tamarind, and oil. They believed their continuous encouragement of traders had led to more wood products being transported from this coast to the main city in the past year than would otherwise have happened.
The merchant and resident at
Rembang,
Mister Willem van Hogendorp, provided the explanation requested by letter of
11 December of the previous year about extra charges for a large buoyed prahu maiang sent to
Banjermassing and a similar small vessel sent to the east coast in the financial year 1775-1776. The officials sent a copy of his letter and explanation dated
12 January.
The pantjallang ship De Snelheid, destined for
Amboina, arrived on
3 February because its rudder was broken. After being fitted with a new iron rudder, the vessel sailed on to that government on
6 February.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0033
On
14 February 1777, a report was made about wood being brought across the company's territory to the beaches. The wood came partly from forest people who had to cut and deliver timber for the company's woodworks, similar to the process in
Joara. The rest of the wood came from the wood villages. These villages were mostly separate from the forests where cutting was done for the company. In these villages, the local rulers and lesser chiefs rented the forests to the Chinese or let common people use them to make a living.
This practice could harm the company in the future if all forests along the beaches were claimed as company property. The harm would occur especially if no care was taken for forest preservation in general and no young trees were planted to replace cut ones. The problem could only be stopped by:
- Strictly forbidding the rulers from renting out wood villages or forests
- Forbidding the local people from cutting any wood except for the company
- Banning private transport of wood
However, it would be difficult to successfully prevent wood cutting and selling in the vast forests within an area of 18 miles or more than 36 hours of walking. This area covered the districts of
Touban,
Lassum,
Rembang, and
Padjankoengang along the coast. To enforce such a ban, a guard or supervisor would need to be placed in every village.
The report raised important objections to these measures:
- Forbidding the renting of wood villages and forests would cut off the main source of income for the rulers of these districts, which rarely produced enough rice to feed the inhabitants and had few other products. This would discourage them and possibly turn them against the company.
- The common people mainly, if not entirely, made their living from cutting wood and building boats. Forbidding wood cutting would also prevent boat building. This would force people to leave the beaches or company territory and move inland. As a result, these districts would become noticeably depopulated, the small trade that depended on boats would suffer greatly, and the country's income would also decrease.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0031
On
14 February 1777, a report was made about Chinese people living under
Touban and
Lassuw who were allowed to obtain wood partly through purchase and partly through exchange for opium. The Chinese from
Rembang and
Padjangkoengang bought and traded their woodworks in the same way wherever they could get them, even from the forest people of the
Blandong. This practice should be tolerated with a blind eye, as long as it did not go too far, because it provided a means of living for those people and this tolerance was the greatest protection for the
Blandong. The population size and number of villages there should always be considered the main point. Through this wood trade in the mentioned districts under
Rembang, a good quantity of opium was also sold annually. The sale of opium would necessarily have to decrease or stop as soon as the Chinese could no longer obtain woodworks from the forest people along the coasts for transport to
Batavia. Besides this, stopping that trade would greatly depopulate the coasts along
Java from
Toeban to
Padjangkoengang. The forest Javanese would be forced to leave with their buffaloes from the Company's territory, where they were only kept because of the profits from their woodworks, and go to
Blora,
Djipang and other places where more rice was available and it was easier to make a living. The Chinese would also leave for elsewhere, which would cause the small trade as well as the building of vessels for it to either stop or at least decrease. The Company's taxes and income would then suffer. The writer confirmed the statements of residents
Domis van Hogendorp and
Keijzer mentioned above. In answer to the question whether the transport of such a large quantity of woodworks by private individuals was harmful to the Company, the writer respectfully stated that the transport of wood from
Grissee from the sultan's district
Djipang did not harm the Company, and that from
Joana and occasionally from
Japara,
Samarang,
Paccalongang and
Tagal was not harmful either, but rather served to preserve the forests and to allow the forest people a small living. This was the case when the transport did not extend to heavy wood but only to light wood that could be cut from old, unsuitable trees that prevented the growth of others by overshadowing them. The woodworks that were exported in larger quantities and of greater weight at
Touban,
Lassum,
Rembang and
Padjangkoengang were partly bought in
Keijzer's district
Blora.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0029
14 February 1777. The harvest yields were expected to be sufficient to deliver and pay for everything, including 230 loads of rice, 1 1/3 pounds of cotton yarn, 40 loads of salt, 201 pounds of cardamom, 400 pounds of round pepper, 7,705 pieces of Tinkam planks both large and small, 134 mill planks, 14 boats ready for use, and 12 boats still under construction. These boats, which had been purchased and built beyond the regular quotas based on previous year's demands, were still in storage and would all be used to fulfill the demand for the main settlement of Batavia for the current year 1777, dated 4 January, which had only just been ordered.
Reports had been received from the trading posts of Grissee, Joana, and Rembang following a request from 24 December 1776, explaining how private individuals had obtained timber. This timber had been exported from districts under those residencies and delivered to Batavia in the previous year, according to notes sent with respected letters from 19 November and 27 December.
Extracts from letters by residents Domis, Keijzer, and van Hogendorp dated 21 December and 12 December were presented, which noted:
- The timber transported by the Chinese merchant Tan Soenko from Grissee was not obtained from any of the Company's regencies or forests, but rather from the sultan's district of Djipang. It was brought down the Solo river to Grissee and loaded onto his boat there.
- The timber transported by Chinese merchants Lim Tjitjoe and Ian Tinseeng from Joana with 2 boats came from trees that had split when felled or were hollow inside, making them unacceptable for the Company. These trees, if left lying, would hinder the growth of other trees, or when dried out and catching fire, would destroy many young trees. Therefore, trade in this timber was not harmful to the Company but served to support the poor forest people who needed to make a modest living from it.
- The timber transported from Rembang (or more precisely, with passes from that trading post) by 40 boats operated by Chinese merchants.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0027
On
14 February 1777, a report was made about goods owed and delivered. The Panembahang of
Madura delivered 9 and 7/31 coijangs of green cadjang (a type of bean) against 40 rijksdaalders per coijang. The resident and the regents of
Paccalongang,
Batang, and
Wieradessa delivered 11 picols of cotton yarn at 45 rijksdaalders and 10 per picol, which were paid in cash into the company's treasury. Only the regents of
Japara and
Coedus still owed 33 picols of cotton yarn. Additionally, the first regent along with those of
Paccalongang and
Batang, and the forest chiefs at
Rembang, still owed 3,270 pieces of timber. All others owed nothing. The arrears in 1776 had decreased by 31.5 picols of cotton yarn and 2,910 pieces of timber.
The required deliveries for 1777 would be:
- 5,571 coijangs of rice
- 170 coijangs of green cadjang
- 284 picols of cotton yarn
- 58 picols of indigo (though the exact amount was not yet fixed)
- 2 picols of long pepper
- 37,000 kann of coconut oil
- 800 kann of earth oil
- 10.5 picols of wax
- 11,300 pieces of timber
- 1 pantjallang
The remaining goods from previous years' deliveries at the trading posts, around mid-January after the ships for the great east had been loaded, consisted of:
- 2,167.5 coijangs of rice
- 7.5 coijangs of green cadjang
- 10.5 picols of cotton yarn
- 15 picols of indigo
- 73 kann of coconut oil
- 304 kann of earth oil
- 10.5 picols of wax
- 3,327 pieces of timber in various types
The total remaining goods from previous deliveries, combined with the arrears and the required deliveries for 1777, amounted to:
- 738.5 coijangs of rice
- 177.5 coijangs of green cadjang
- 327.5 picols of cotton yarn
- 73 picols of indigo
- 2 picols of long pepper
- 37,073 kann of coconut oil
- 1,104 kann of earth oil
- 21 picols of wax
- 17,897 pieces of timber in various types
- 1 pantjallang
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0025
14 February 1777, the ship had been loaded, except for 146 pieces of mill planks of 3 inches, 335 pieces of 2 inches, 100 pieces of 0.75 inches, and 100 pieces of 40 inches. These planks had not been available in stock in Japara, as they had already mentioned in their submission of 24 December last year, and could not be sawn in time due to lack of water at the sawmill. Together with the 40,000 pounds of rice and 8,000 pounds of cadjang (a type of bean) provided as rations to each of the keels, the cargo of Velzen amounted to 14,354 guilders, 4 stuivers, and 8 penningen, and that of Kroonenburg to 16,200 guilders, 16 stuivers, and 8 penningen. This was shown by the accompanying copies of invoices and other papers concerning the loading. The papers also showed that the officers of Kroonenburg had left behind 16 pieces of whole leggers (beams) at Grissee to make room for other goods, which would be sent to Batavia at the first available ship opportunity.
After the departure of those ships, another detailed memorandum was prepared of the products and goods that had been fulfilled and transported from Java for the Company on the requirements of the past year 1776. They respectfully submitted this to Your High Honors and noted only in this letter that the amount was 552,959 guilders and 11 stuivers, or slightly less than what they had calculated in their submission of 24 December last year.
The now also prepared annual statement of delivered and remaining products from the obligatory deliveries by the regents showed that in the year 1776, the fixed contingents (both free of charge and against payment) had been collected and fully satisfied:
- 5,571 koyangs of rice (besides 1,800 koyangs that were purchased at 20 rixdollars each)
- 170 koyangs of green cadjang
- 313.5 picols of cotton yarn in assortment
- 29.4 picols of indigo
- 2 picols of long pepper
- 37,000 kannen of coconut oil
- 800 kannen of earth oil
- 10.5 picols of wax
- 14,383 pieces of beams
- 1 picol of pantjallang
This was based on Your High Honors' respected qualification in their letter of 14 November 1776 on 14 February 1777.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0023
A letter was written to
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor General, and the Council members of the Dutch East Indies. The letter responded to messages dated
27 December 1776,
15 January 1777, and
28 January 1777.
The letter reported on two ships, the Velzen and the Kroonenburg, which were headed to
Banda. These ships had departed on
28 December and
22 January respectively from the east corner and continued their journey to their destination. They transported goods from
Samarang,
Rambang,
Surabaya, and
Grissee.
The ships carried the following cargo to
Banda:
- 265 coyangs of rice on each ship
- 5 loads of cadjang on each ship
- 3 loads of paddy on each ship
- 1,000 pounds of tamarind on each ship
- 2,000 cans of lamp oil on each ship
- 2,000 cans of petroleum on each ship
- 50 pieces of large curved wood beams on each ship
- 12 pieces of small curved wood beams on the Velzen and 13 on the Kroonenburg
- 250 pieces of jata staves on each ship
- 100 wind-tree beams on the Kroonenburg
- 5 house beams 32 feet long and 11 to 12 inches thick on each ship
- 12 house beams 25 feet long and 8 to 9 inches thick on each ship
- 49 tanjong planks on the Velzen and 50 on the Kroonenburg
- 413 panjang limas planks on the Velzen and 312 on the Kroonenburg
- 25 pandjang tiegas beams on each ship
- 20 assorted joists on each ship
- 150 large tinkam planks on each ship
- 66 mill planks of 3 inches on the Velzen
- 50 mill planks of 1½ inches on the Kroonenburg
- 250 Chinese planks on each ship
- 25 large knee pieces on each ship
- 25 small knee pieces on each ship
- 50 joists of 3 to 3½ inches on each ship
- 100 joists on the Kroonenburg
- 6 Javanese cloth jackets
The letter was dated
14 February 1777.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0021
Jeremias van Riemsdijk was Governor General of the Dutch East Indies. On 27 December 1776, 15 January 1777, and 28 January 1777, he and the Council of the Dutch East Indies sent letters with orders. The letter being written was from officials in Batavia who postponed their response to these orders until after they had carried out the instructions.
The officials reported on two ships, the Velzen and the Kroonenburg, which were destined for Banda. This update followed an earlier report from 24 December of the previous year. The ships had departed from the east corner on 28 December and 22 January respectively and continued their voyage to their destination. They transported cargo from Samarang, Rambang, Soerabaja, and Grissee to Banda.
The cargo transported to Banda included:
- 265 Coyangs of rice on the Velzen
- 265 Coyangs of rice on the Kroonenburg
- 5 lasts of cadjang (bamboo matting) on the Velzen
- 5 lasts of cadjang on the Kroonenburg
The document was reviewed by B. S. van de Poll.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0019
Jeremias van Riemsdijk, the Governor General, and the Council of the Netherlands Indies received a letter from Batavia. The letter responded to earlier messages dated 27 December 1776, 15 January 1777, and 28 January 1777. The writer reported on the ships Velzen and Kroonenburg, which were headed to Banda. The Velzen left on 28 December and the Kroonenburg on 22 January from the east coast to continue their journey to their destination. The ships transported goods from Samarang, Rambang, Surabaya, and Grisee to Banda. Each ship carried 265 coyangs of rice and 5 loads of cadjang. The document was checked by D. van den Belle.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0017
I apologize, but the text provided appears to be severely corrupted, fragmented, or illegible. The only clear elements I can identify are:
- A place name:
Batavia
- What appears to be a partial name:
B. J. van de Poll
- A date fragment:
5 (though the complete date is unclear)
The remaining text ("5n 5 Latten Cediying d den en de d t e e de teae e e e „Nagezien") does not form coherent Dutch words or sentences that can be meaningfully summarized.
To provide an accurate historical summary, I would need a legible version of the source text.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0015
This document records administrative papers sent from
Samarang to
Batavia. The materials included:
- 2 bundles of copied letters written by the Governor and Director along with the Council of this coast to the High Excellencies in Batavia, from 14 February until the end of August of this year
- 2 copies of resolutions made in the Council of Police in Samarang, from March until the end of August of this year, including all related papers with a register
- 2 copies of the same from 4 September 1776 until 8 March
- 2 bundles of general pass lists of private vessels arriving in Samarang from 1 September 1776 until the end of August 1777
- 5 loads of palm leaf roofing material
- 2 bundles of pass lists of private vessels departing from Samarang to Batavia and Bantam during the same period
- 2 bundles of pass lists of private vessels departing from Samarang to the opposite coast and other places during the same period
- 2 pass lists of private vessels that departed from Samarang to subordinate Company offices during the same period
- 2 bundles of pass lists of private vessels that departed from outer Company offices to the main office in Samarang and elsewhere, and also arrived at those offices during the same period
The document was issued in
Batavia in the Castle on
20 October 1777.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3497 / 0013
On 1 February 1776, the officials wrote to congratulate someone on their impressive promotion and to respectfully wish that his Lordship's government would last long and, blessed by God, would bring the most desirable successes for the company. The officials promised to serve faithfully and to always follow the orders to recognize, respect, and obey his Lordship as their lawful Governor General. They had already sent the necessary orders to the lower-ranking offices.
The letters for the ministers in Amboina and Banda were sent forward to Rembang and Soerabaya to be delivered on the ships Blijswijk and Renswoude. They also received a letter from 10 January with letters and gifts for the Susuhunan and the Sultan, which they had already sent to Soerakarta and Djokjakarta to be presented to those rulers according to custom.
Furthermore, they reported that the late Van der Parra had, before his death, sent a pair of pistols inlaid with gold to the Governor, which had previously been promised to the Sultan according to an earlier agreement from the end of December. The Governor had these delivered to the ruler.
Since their last letter of 31 December 1775, the ship Blijswijk had departed on 12 January from Rembang to Amboina, and Renswoude had departed on 13 January from Soerabaya to Banda. They provided the loading documents for these ships and the previously departed ships 't Huijs te Bijwegen, Velzen, and noted that various offices had shipped the following products and goods:
To Amboina (on ships 't Huijs te Bijwegen, Velzen, and Blijswijk):
- 225 koyans of rice
- 2 koyans of white table rice
- 10 casks of lamp oil
- 10 balis of castor oil
- 3 loads of unhusked rice
- 1,000 pounds of tamarind
- 50 pieces of beams 24 to 26 feet long, 12 to 14 inches thick
- 100 pieces of beams 18 to 20 feet long, 10 to 12 inches thick
- 100 wind trees
- 25 pieces of ironwood for boats
- 175 planks of 3 inches
- 150 large Tinkam planks
To Banda (on ships Velzen and Renswoude):
- 175 koyans of rice
- 2,700 casks of lamp oil
- 100 casks of blium terra
- 2 loads of unhusked rice
- 7.5 koyans of peas
- 7.5 koyans of salt
- 100 pieces of beams 24 to 26 feet long, 12 to 14 inches thick
- 30 wind trees
- 40 pieces of ironwood for boats
- 55 planks of 3 inches
- 200 large Tinkam
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0022
The officials of a Dutch East India Company settlement wrote a formal letter to Jeremias van Riemsdijk, Governor-General, and the Council of Netherlands India. They reported that they had received a circular letter dated 29 December of the previous year. Through this letter, they learned with appropriate emotion about the death of Petrus Albertus van der Parra, who had served as Governor-General on behalf of the United Netherlands and the Dutch East India Company (referred to as Geelvinck Company) in India. The same letter confirmed that Jeremias van Riemsdijk had stepped up to take over the important and distinguished position of Governor-General.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0021
On
31 December 1775, officials wrote from
Samarang thanking the authorities for favorable decisions regarding several promotions:
Commander
van der Niepoort was ordered to properly inventory and safeguard the goods and possessions still found in the
East Corner belonging to the deceased chief merchant
Luzac, and to send them to the honorable board of orphan masters in
Batavia during the next east monsoon season when a suitable opportunity arose.
Quartermaster
Alexander van der Laan, who had been in command of the patrol boats from
Samarang along the coast for some time and had since been transferred to the
East Corner, was called back. Upon his return, the local prosecutor would conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of embezzlement he supposedly committed, according to a report from
Frans Albregt Gronardt, a citizen from
Makassar. The outcome would be reported to the authorities.
Three second bills of exchange were submitted:
Payment of these bills was respectfully requested.
The letter was signed by
J. R. van der Burgh,
M. F. Hemsing,
F. van Ardenne,
W. van der Beke,
A. Cornabé,
W. van Hogendorp,
J. M. van Panhuijs,
J. van Santen,
H. Ludeurg,
M. L. Gaeswijck,
A. P. Tulleken van Hoogenhouck, and
A. Barkeij.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0019
On
31 December 1775, officials reported to their superiors about favorable arrangements for the government's income. The Dutch East India Company would now receive bird's nests as payment in kind instead of the previous toll system, after deducting what had to be paid to the tax farmer in
Batavia for the tree and scales tax.
The superiors decided to lease out the import and export of rice separately, except for the region of
Beloedjamie. New lease conditions were printed and further expanded, and a copy was offered to the superiors.
The leasing of domains along the coast took place for 3 years: 1776, 1777, and 1778. The following arrangements were made:
- Harbor masters' offices in Passourouang, Sidaijve, and the sale of earthenware pots there, Sumanap, Pamacassang, and the slaughtering of buffalo and cattle in Samarang were leased to the respective regents on the previous terms
- Other regents and tax farmers did not want to accept the separation of the rice lease from the general toll, so these had to be auctioned publicly to the highest bidders
The total revenue from all harbor masters' offices together was 8,340.5 Spanish reals per month, or 100,006 Spanish reals per year. This was 3,216 Spanish reals (or 4,020 Dutch guilders) more than the previous 3 years had yielded. The officials hoped this revenue would satisfy their superiors and wished for fruitful times so the tax farmers could pay their lease amounts and avoid requests for reductions or discounts.
During the leasing and in the presence of nearly all the Company's regents, leftover fabrics were sold. From a purchase value of 14,666 guilders and 13 cents, a profit of 8,762 guilders and 14 cents was made, representing 59.5 percent profit. This information was shown to the superiors in an accompanying financial statement.
The orders to ship rice in double sacks with no more than 62.5 pounds per sack would be strictly observed and communicated to subordinate offices.
The employees in
Sourabaija had reported the death in
Batavia of senior merchant
Ms.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0017
Librus Albertus van der Parra, the Governor General, and the Council of Netherlands India received a letter from Batavia. The letter was written as a follow-up to an earlier letter dated 15 August and responded to letters received on 7, 13, and 15 of the same month. The writers reported that on 18 of the month, the ship Velsen arrived at the house in Bijwag. The ship carried the following cargo:
- 225 coijangs of rice
- 2 units of white table rice
- 2,700 jars of coconut oil
- Jarrak oil
- 50 beams 25 to 26 feet long and 11 to 12 inches thick
- 10 beams 12 inches thick
- 100 beams 20 to 25 pieces
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0015
On
1 November, a visit inspection of 8 local vessels took place. A fine received by the council of justice was ordered to be brought into the Company's cash office.
The arranged guarantee for the widow
De Blij was accepted, and cash money that was still recorded in the books from
Meijer was to be paid out to her.
The changed order to collect 15 percent on bird's nests in kind was to be written in a circular letter. What the fiscal officer had requested regarding this matter was noted.
The tax collection offices of
Caliwongo,
Candal, and
Batang were to be auctioned off by the end of December.
Instructions were to be written in a circular letter about the purchase of 2,000 koyan of rice for
Batavia.
Cornabe was ordered to demand compensation for 125 pounds of indigo that had been found to be defective.
Residents were instructed to follow orders to prevent mistakes in numbering bales of cotton yarn.
On
11 November, instructions were sent along with Dutch and Batavian extracts.
Information about escaped bandits from
Rosingain was to be reported to the outer offices.
The
Rembang resident was ordered to give ships only 4 vessels in tow and to provide good rope for this purpose, which he could request from headquarters if needed.
Points of instruction were sent to the outer offices.
Strans was promoted to corporal.
The receipt of trade and salary books for 1775 was announced.
Several requests were denied, including that of
Meenen to become corporal.
The receipt of trade and salary books for 1772/5 was noted.
It was expected that the
Toudang regent would fulfill his promise.
The regent of
Lassum had been summoned to headquarters for certain reasons.
Regents who still owed cotton yarn had to pay this before the end of December.
The receipt of trade books was reported.
A list of transported rice was still expected.
The
Caebsen plank request was sent back to be fulfilled in spring when shipping to
Batavia.
The remaining rice was also to be shipped at that time.
The recovery of a lighter by the cruisers was noted with approval.
An order was given to correct a mistake in the protocol.
The examination of trade books from 1779/3 would be dealt with.
Instructions were written about erecting a flagpole.
Rice quotas had been fulfilled, and the same was expected for the cotton yarn.
The examination of trade books would be dealt with.
Approval and confirmation with some papers was granted.
On
16 November 1775, the
Sourabaya officials were ordered regarding the shipping of rice for
Banda.
The decision of their High Excellencies regarding
Kroonenburg was to be written for observation.
A certain omission by
Dreier was to be corrected and brought to
Batavia's benefit.
Qualification for writing off certain two items was noted.
Points of instruction were sent to
Sourabaya.
Certain papers were still expected.
Their High Excellencies would be asked about the write-off on the cargo of the
Johannes Cornelis.
Everything had to be fulfilled by the end of December.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0259
- 1750: Due to the impossibility of salvaging items from a sunken ship, the iron that was recovered was received. The cardamom sent by the authorities was also received and would be credited according to the invoice.
- D' Arkel was promoted to the rank of Cannonier.
- A request was made for a list of rice that was privately transported to Batavia.
- It was expected that the 8 pieces of yarn still outstanding would be paid by the end of December. Instructions were given to report who owed this debt.
- Instructions were given to provide the size of wood needed for a flagpole.
- The rice quotas had to be settled by the end of the month, and the 8 pieces of yarn had to be paid by the next payment date.
- A judicial inspection of 2 native vessels took place.
- Approval was given to deduct the normal percentage for spillage for the warehouse master.
- Some unsuitable goods were to be shipped to Batavia.
- Points of instruction were sent to Surabaya.
- A request for green cadjang was made.
- A recommendation was made that the regents should fulfill their rice quotas, as well as the pangerang of Madura and others with their oil and other items.
- Rhaf was promoted to Corporal.
- The investigation into the behavior of Engelbert was awaited.
- Information was expected about how the cargo of the ship Johannes Cornelis had turned out.
- Orders were given to send the Johannes Cornelis to Rembang to be supplied there.
- Approval was given to pay certain amounts for the 2 forts in Balemboangang, and to accept money on exchange for this purpose.
- A summary of the Balemboangang expedition was to be offered to their High Excellencies, and a copy was to be requested.
- A certain list of native military personnel was to be given to Gerlach for examination.
- A certain account regarding condemnation and confiscation was to be received.
- Confirmation with the instruction from Batavia was noted.
- November 1, 1751: A summary was made of a Tagalog letter and a resolution from the authorities of the ship Herstelder, concerning the capture of a lighter by sea pirates.
- A request from the widow De Blij to receive money that appeared in Van Meijer's books was approved, with the requirement of posting security for repayment.
- The request from Barkeij to add another 100 guilders to the 150 guilders already in the church fund was approved, for the maintenance of Soutlemonde's grave tomb. This was to be recorded annually in the financial statement.
- Orders were given that graves and vaults had to be repaired by their owners within 2 months, with consequences stated for non-compliance.
- Approval was given to pay repair costs for the church and warehouse from the church fund.
- A decision was made regarding the reviewed trade books.
- E. Hemsing was again assigned the management of the main administration, as well as the presidency of the Council of Justice. Van Santen and Barkeij were excused from performing the duties of head administrator.
- A record was made of the inventory and transfer of the large cash box to E. Hemsing, and of the inventory of the other administrations.
- Bonneken was dismissed as associate member from the Council of Justice
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0257
- 1 September 1757: Orders were given to unload cargo there and give it priority.
- Page 25: There was also suspicion that in November 1000 bags of rice were ready for Banda.
- Remarks were made about the piloting into port at Leijerdorp.
- Questions were raised about why the cruisers had been sent home so early.
- Instructions were given about the timely sending of trade books from there and those from Palemboeangang.
- Page 26: Orders were given to send the excess silver money back.
- Gelder was promoted to quartermaster.
- Instructions were given not to purchase tamarind beyond what was required.
- Page 27: The completion of the fortress was approved.
- Raedshooven and Princen were promoted to corporals.
- Authorization was given to write off some native soldiers from the books.
- The planks for Ceylon were to be sent back by the end of the month.
- The unusable boat from Velsen was to be sold.
- Page 26: The proceeds were to be credited to Batavia.
- Information was given about what would be supplied from there upon request.
- Orders were given to provide the ship Vrouwe Geertruijda with the vessels that were ready.
- The quick loading of the Vrouwe Geertruijda was expected.
- Instructions were given to leave necessary space in it for 600 to 700 planks.
- Page 29: The same ship was to tow the vessels from the Rembang timber yard.
- The quick preparation of the woodwork for the Cape was necessary.
- The regents were to be informed of the council's satisfaction with the payment of their rice arrears, and a ship would be sent soon.
- The Vrieskon was to depart with the Vrouwe Geertruijda to Batavia.
- Instructions were given to request his relief there.
- The specification of the repairs there was approved.
- Page 30: Information was also expected about the erection of a flagpole.
- Information was requested about what the renewal of the unusable ramparts would cost.
- Confirmation was given of the monthly letter.
- Page 31: Points of instruction.
- 12 September 1751: Points of instruction to Sourabaija to collect the products. It was hoped that the ship from Ternate had arrived or would appear soon.
- Instructions were maintained to unload there the goods destined for the Netherlands and as much rice as could be transported.
- The shipment of oil for Batavia had to be arranged there themselves, since no transport could be arranged from here.
- Approval was given for the measures taken to save the Johannes Cornelis and salvage its cargo.
- Page 32: Further instructions were given in this regard.
- Some points had to be met before agreement could be reached on the payment of monthly wages to Captain Abdul Raim and others.
- Page 34: Van Schaar was hired as a soldier. The requested wage increase for Siewerts was postponed.
- Approval was given for the letter.
- Page 35: 10
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0255
The Political Council of
Semarang recorded various administrative matters from
2 September to the end of December 1775.
On
2 September, the following actions took place:
- A judicial inspection was conducted of 5 local vessels
- Remmeke was hired as a sailor and placed on the ship 't Huis te Bijweg
- 3 people from the retirement home were ordered to return to their duties
- Authorization was given to pay repair costs for the orphanage and minister's residence from the poor relief and church funds
- Money from a certain vessel and goods were to be divided among the patrol vessels
On
5 September, a report was made about an inspection of the pantjallang (a type of vessel), and missing goods were to be written off.
On
7 September, that small vessel was to be repaired for its defects. A report was made about taxes collected on sugar over 6 months. Authorization was requested for repairs to the hospital and retirement home, using capital from unknown heirs held by estate administrators. Authorization was also requested to write off costs for a hospital built outside the city, for a completed sailors' lodge and boat house, and for lodges and buildings in
Tagal and
Paccalong.
On
15 September, a request from the
Gresik resident
Domis was to be presented to the High Authorities.
On
2 September, business was conducted regarding letters from the High Authorities dated
24 and 30 June,
11 and 21 July, and
18 and 22 August of that year. These concerned the loading and dispatch of the ship
Delfshaven to
Malacca, notes about expected and arrived ships, and matters regarding
Velsen and the arrival of
Leijdorp.
Certain witnesses would soon be presented to the sultan. Thanks were given for permission to export rice and unhusked rice to the opposite coast. The wood request for
Onrust was assigned to the
Rembang resident. Ships to
Banda would be loaded according to instructions. The request for long pepper would be fulfilled, as would the requested 130 bushels of firewood or meat wood. The
Japara resident was asked to return 566 guilders and 6 stuivers. Thanks were given for write-offs of expenses from the
Balembangan expedition and for the construction of 2 new forts there. The latter amount was to be recorded in the books according to orders. The situation of disabled persons was discussed. A request was made for payment of a money demand. Certain people requested by the Court of Justice were discussed. Various documents were confirmed and approved.
Lentzlin was promoted to sergeant and
Smael to corporal. Instructions were given that the ship expected from
Ternate should call at
Rembang but must be dispatched directly via
Semarang to
Batavia. Orders were given regarding trading posts.
View transcript NL-HaNA / 1.04.02 / 3468 / 0253
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