On April 22, 1670, in The Hague, the Minister of Foreign Affairs sent a notice to the Department of Colonies about Malay emigration from Macassar to Western Australia for pearl fishing. The message included a letter from the Dutch ambassador in London dated February 23 regarding emigrants on the ship Earl of Dalhousie.
According to the Perth Inquirer, representatives of the Western Australian pearl shell fishery met with the Governor to discuss problems getting Malay divers from Dutch East Indies ports. At ports like Macassar and Timor, authorities required a deposit of 200 guilders (£16.13.4) for each native worker before they could board ships to the pearl grounds. The representatives argued this requirement was troublesome and had seriously affected pearl fishing operations that season.
National Archives / Archives South Holland, archive number 2.10.02, Inventaris van het archief van het Ministerie van Koloniën, 1850-1900, inventory number 2878, OPENBAAR ARCHIEF 1850-1900, Verbalen, Verbalen, 1876 apr. 25 - 29
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