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archive access 1.04.02, inventory number 3497, page 42

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.