On October 26, 1778, in Palembang, seven Mandharese arrived under the guidance of quartermaster Cornelis Krak. The night before, near Salatjaran, their four vessels carrying slaves were stopped by the Company's patrol boat "Edam" commanded by quartermaster Andries Christiaanse Nijgaard.
Following old customs, they were asked to hand over their krisses (traditional daggers) when they came ashore. They refused and started looking for ways to escape, showing signs they would use force. After being informed, the commander went outside with 8 soldiers. In front of many witnesses from both the bark "Freedom" and those serving on shore, he politely asked for their krisses again.
The Mandharese refused rudely, and one of them even tried to forcefully take a weapon from a soldier's hand. After three failed attempts to resolve the situation peacefully, and seeing several sailors wrestling with the Mandharese over their krisses, the commander ordered a soldier to fire at the resisting man. The man was shot dead immediately. This frightened the others so much that they willingly handed over their krisses and begged for forgiveness.
They were brought to the lodge under guard, except for one who, after surrendering his kris, jumped into the water a second time and escaped. The next day, they gave their statements, recorded as numbers 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
National Archives / Archives South Holland, archive number 1.04.02, Inventaris van het archief van de Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (VOC), 1602-1795 (1811), inventory number 8433, Kamer Zeeland, INGEKOMEN STUKKEN VAN GOUVERNEUR-GENERAAL EN RADEN BIJ DE HEREN XVII EN DE KAMER ZEELAND, Kopie-missiven en -rapporten ingekomen bij gouverneur-generaal en raden van de kantoren in Indië, Palembang, Kopie-missiven en -rapporten ingekomen bij gouverneur-generaal en raden uit Palembang, 1769 jan. 28 - 1770 nov. 13
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