Vol. v. Part I.
Journal
of the
Malayan Branch
of the
Royal Asiatic Society
August, 1927
SINGAPORE
PRINTED iT THE METHODIST PuSLISHING HoUSE
XXXVi KULI:5.
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Society 's house, I Park Street, Calcutta.
Heport of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
1678.
Translated by M. J. Bremner.
WJth an Introduction and Notes by
CO. Blagden, m.a.,'d. ijtt.,
lieadcr in Molay, University oj London.
liitroJiiction.
This Report hys been translated from a Dutch miinuscript
belonging to the library of the India Oflice, London, where i
became acquainted with it while cataloguing a' section of the
jiianuscripts of that library. It formed part of a collection piir-
chased in 1822, by the East India Company from the widow of
■Colonel Colin Mackenzie, having been presented to him in 1813 by
Madame Caulier of Chilinchhig, near Batavia, from her family
library. U has been described by me in some detail under No. 54
•of the " Mackenzie Collection : F-^rivate " in the Catalogue of Manu-
scHpts in European Languages belonging to the Library of the
■India Office (1916), Vol. 1. Pt. 1.
Being struck by the interest and historical value of the
■docLiment, I put on record in the catalogue my opinion that it was
deserving of publication. It was, therefore,' a great satisfaction
to me when, some time latei', the Committee for Malay Studies
of the Federated iVIalay States asked me to undertake the transla-
rion of it. Pressure of work connected with my other duties
.made'it impossible for me to dö this task myself, but I was fortu-
nate in securing for the purpose a qualified translator in the person
■of Aiiss M. J. Brerpner. to whose care and assiduity I wish to pay
here a tribiite which is well deserved. As her translation pro-
^ressed, we revised it jointly, checking it with the original text
and discussing all the many difficulties involved in it. After Miss
Bremner had had her translation typed, a number ofoutstanding
problems still remained, vvhich I have done my best to clear up
by means of such hcip as 1 wa^ able to obtain; and 1 must accept
my full share of responsibility for the outcome, while recording
that by far the greater part of the labour and the creditare to be
■put to Miss Bremncr's account.
The manuscript was an extremel)-' troublesome one to deal
"with, being in archaic language, handwriting and spelling, full of
;abbreviations, by no means free from erfors, and in many places
almost illegible. It is too much to hope that all the difficulties
thereby occasioned have been completely overcome; but if fault?
2 CO. Blagden: Inlroduction
remain, as doubtless some must huve done, it is not due to any
remissness on the part of the translator. The Indian Office
manuscript is not iinique. Other copies of this report exist in
the Government Olikes al Batavia and The Ilague. In view of
that fact Miss Bremner, being determined to make her transiation
as perlect as the circumstances permitted, made a special journey
to The 1 lagLie and coUated her work vvith the copy there preserved,.
tlius clearing up some of the difficulties which she iiad encountered
when dealing with the India OlTice copy.
The report is a good specimen of the kind of documents whiclr
it vvas the regular habit of Goveriiors of Dutch scttlements to pre-
pare for the information of their successors. There are many
such in the library of the India Ofiice, but the others reläte to-
places, such as the Hast Coast of Southern india, which do not
directly concern the Commitlee for Malay Studies. The Malacca
Report is a very fnil one. It contains a comprehensive survey
not only of Malacca itself but of all the manifold Dutch activities
cenlered in that town. if one compares it with the Portuguese
account wrillen by Barretto Resende about förty years earlier, the
English version of which only takes up about eight pages in No. 60'
of the Jounwl oj the Straits Branch of the R.A.S., 1911
or even with the much longer description in Francois Valentyn'5-
great work (translated in Nos. 13, 15, 16, and 22 of the same-
Journal), one realizes what a mäss of fresh material is contained
in Governor Bcrt's report. From it we get a clear view of the'
principles of Dutch policy and the details of Dutch administration'
in this part of the East. The meticulous care with which the-
servants of a great trading Company kept its accounts and en-
deavoured to incrcase its profits reminds one of the work of coral
insects painfully and persistently building up an atoll, and is
deserving of all praise. Whatever may have been the short-
comings of these trading officials, they ceitainly cannot have beem
due to lack of general orders and departmental instructions, for
the report teems with such, and every little matter seems to have-
been well weighed and considered.
As for the general lines of Dutch policy, we have again tO'
bear in mind that we are reading the records of a trading com-
pany. Uniike their Portuguese predécessors, the Dutch had na
religious feud with their Muhammadan neighbours. But they
had a great need of showing a good baiance sheet to their Direc-
tors, and, in their view, which was perhaps a shortsighted one,.
the quickest \vay to that end was by the application of a system
of strict monopoly in the trade of the more important artides of
commerce. The chief of these, among the imports to the Malay
Peninsula, were cotton piece goods, and, among the exports, tin.
It was, therefore, their aim to contine to themselves as much as
possible of the suppl>' of piece goods from continental India to
Jotinial Malayan Branch [Vol. V^
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 3
the eastward, and likewise t]ie control of the export of tin from
the whole of the Peninsula. Besides this they endeavoured to take
toll of al] shipping passing through the Straits, and as far as in
them lay they tried to compel it to call at Malacca. in pursuance
'Of this policy, the Dutch East India Company imposed on the
weak Malay States in their neighbourhood a number of contracts,
■sonie of which will be found in the report, whereby they acquired
3t the expen.se of thcse states specially favourable or éxclusive
trading priviileges. When the Malay state, as sometimes
happencd, tried to evade its contractual obligations, the Dutch
Company proceeded to exercize pressure by blockading its ports,
■or by other more or less drastic means.
For a power which was only in efTective occupation of the
town of Malacca, about half its present territory, and the Island of
Dinding (Pangkor), to have attempted to carry out such a policy
-as this, may be deemed to have been a gross abuSe and a defiance
of all the principles of international law and common justice.
And so no doubt it \va.s. But the Dutch were acting quite in
accordance with ancient precedent. The Portuguese before them
liad endeavoured to control all the trade that went through the
Straits of Malacca, and so long as they kept the command of the
seas in that part of the world they had practically succeeded in
their endeavour. Again, in much earlier days, the same policy
had been carried out by the great Sumatran State of Palembang,
which from the Sth to the 13th century had possessed various out--
stations on both sides of the Straits. Living as it did largely on
1he tolls that it levied on international. shipping, Palembang com-
pelled merchant vessels to call at its ports by simple and drastic
means, as recorded by Chao Ju~Kua (träns. Hirth and RockhiU,
1912, p. 62); " If a merchant ship passes by without eritering,
their boats go forth to make a combined attack, and all are ready
to die (ill the attempt). This is the reason why this country .is
■a great shipping centre." The Dutch did virtually the same thing;
a.nd to that end thev kept a constant patrol of ships up and down
the Straits, did their best to divert all trade to Malacca, even at
the expense of their friends and allies of Johor, blockaded Perak
and Kédah to prevent their tin going elsewhere, and tried to do the
■same thing in somewhat geniler fashion even in the Siamese pro-
vince of Ujong Salang (Junk Ceylon) and its neighbourhood.
As a malter of fact, the other East India Companies, even to
a much later period, pursued a similar policy. They all aimed at
keeping the trade of the East as much as possible in their own
hands and the basis of their charters was monopoly, not merely as
against Orientals and European foreigners but also as against their
own fellow citizens, whom our East India Company styled
" interlopers." In ihe casc of Malacca the actual tolls levied were
not in themselves e^orbitant, either in the Portuguese period or,
J927I Royal Asiatic Society,
'4 ' '' C. O. Blagden: :]ntroduction
as a nile, in tiiu time of the Dutch occupatioii. Some details-
under this head have been conveniently collected in a paper*
entitled Tbe Malay Peninsiäa avd Europé in the Past (being part
of IJ. P. N. MLiiler's Britsch Malakka abstracted by P. C. iloynck
van Papendrccht, in Ko. 67 of iho above-menlioned Journal,
p.63 seq.), which should bo rtferred lo throughout in connexioH'
vvith inany ol" tlie matters contained in Bort's report. But it is
evident that the v/hole system svas wrong in principle, unfair to-
other traders and doubly unfair to the neighbouring iVlalay States,
who resented it but were unabJe effectuali}'' to resist it.
Thus the relations of the Dulch with the Malays of tlie-
■PeninsLiia (other than those of Johor) were never quite cordlal.
An accounl of their difKcuUies with Perak and Kedah wili be
found in the report. With the Sumatran iVlal-iys tiie Dutch were
less ccncerned. Their only depot or " factory " on that side of the
Straits was at Indöragiri. in the rest of l!ie Hast Coast of Sumatra
tiiey bad at this period very little to say. it was necessary for
them to keep on terms, wilh Achin, which apparently still clainied.
some sort of suzerainty över Perak but was no longer the power
it bad been haif a century before. Even with their near neigh-
bours of Naning the Dutch of IVlaiacca could not find a comfort-
able modus vivevdi. The position theré was somevvhat anomalous..
Alone of all the states of the Peninsuia, Naning was definitely a
vassal State under the Dutch, just as it had been under their prede-
cessors the Portuguese. At the back of Naning lay its close con-
nexions, the other little Menangkabau States, which were nomi-
nally under the suzerainty of Johor. But in Naning and these-
other Menangkabau States a new leaven was working: some sort
of nationalist feeling had sprung up and there was a tendency at
this time to establish a IVlenangkabau kingdom, ;such as låter oni
took shape under the t,it]e of Nt-geri Sömbilan. On this point
Bort's report gives us some interesting historical information;
supplernenting what has already been recorded in The Malay
Peninmla, etc, above cited, p-74. A pretender to this newfangled.
throne had made his appearance, with all the usual claims to
invuhierabiiity and other supernataral powers, and he became for
a brief period a thorn in the side of the Government of Malacca.
The Dutch had their "Naning War " just as we had one about
150 years låter, in fact they had several, and they managed theni
just about as badly as we did ours. Incidentally the report gives
us some insight into the political conditions of the rest of the
Peninsuia. Thus (on p.245 of the manuscript) Sungai Ujong and
Kelang are classed as belonging to Johor, Perak is still, at any
råte in theory, subject to Achin, and Kedah is styled a rebellious-
vassal of Siarn.
The territory of Malacca aiong the coast and outside the
boundaries of Naning was definitely under direct Dutch rule and
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. W
Report of Covernor Ballhasar Bort oti Malacca 3'
rseems to liave been effectively occupied. The report gives a good
•deal of inleresling information aboiit it. It appears that it con-
taintid a number of viilages which still exist under the same names
and aiso included many plantations belonging either to the Com-'
pany or lo private owncrs. Il is noticeable that there was at this
datc a cunsiderable Bugis element in some parts of the lerritory, an
element of which no trace probably:)remains at the present time.
Presumably it has hccn quite merged In the Malay race. But
we have here an early indication of.the importance which the Bugis
were soon to assume in the Riau-Lingga archipelago, where they
eventually practically controlled the State of Johor and from
whence they founded Ihe dynasty now reigning in Selangor. -i
Of the town and fort of Malacca, the céntre of all the Dulch
activitics in the Straits, we get a pretty full description. /There
are detailed particulars of the fort, the civil and military establish-
menls, and the popukUioii generail}'. In fact the report enables us
to realize quite vividly what sorl of a place Malacfca must have
been in the year 1678.
I should perhaps mention that some of the olTicial documents
embodied in tlie report ha\e already been published in Dutch, as
mentioned in my Catalcp^ue, but ihe rest has never been printed.
I have prefixcd to the translation a fairly detailed Abstract of
Contents and (avoiding footnotes for the most part) have ap-
pended an alphabetically arrangeti list of Notes on matters re;
quiring explanation. This applics particularly to local proper
names and Oriental words, as well as many technical terms which
it seemed desirable to preserve in the forms given in the original
text. In the translation the paguiation of the India Office manus-
■cript has been entered in parentheses and occasionally when the
sense seemed lo be doubtful or ambiguous, or for some other
reason it appeared to be advisable, the actual words of the original
'have been quoted ni italics and parentheses. A few explanations
have been added in the text in square brackets, and when the
Hague copy differed, the letters H. C. indicate the source of the
reading. Besides this the text of the India Office manuscript has
occasionally been departed from when there was an obvious copy-
ist's error in it or when other versions (such as the Hague copy or
existing printed documents) gave a better sense. The Regulations
made belween Charles II and the States General for the avoidance
■of disputes between the English and Dutch East India Companies
have been checked with the Latin original (Public Record Office,
State Papers Foreign, Treaties, No- 315) and a few trifling points
■of difference have been noted in square brackets. ' The only
material one is the date. which in the Old Style then än use in
England was S March 1674, corresponding to New Style 18 March
1675.
My sincere thanks are due to the Committee for Malay
Studies of the Federated Malay States for commissioning me to
.1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
6 C. O. Blagdeii: Introduction
get Ihe repoit lr:insiati.'cl, to tlie Secrelary of SUilc for Imlia for
sanctioning ils translation and publication, lo Mr. P. C. lloynck.
van PapendreclU and otiier IDiitcU frieiids fur assislance iii resolv-
ing soaie ulxscurities in tJie Dulcli lext, and to Messrs. W. II.
Mortiiand. c.s.i., ci.f., B. O. Cartwriglil, b. a., and M. H. Dodwell,.
M.A. {FrGfessor of Indian Ilislory in Ihe School of Oriental
Studies), for valiiable heJp in llie explanation of many of tlie
words enlereii in the Notes.
Abstract of Contents.
{Jliitrici rcLiiivii to docuwevis embodied in the Report are
in italics. The page immhers rejcr io tbr pagiimtion of the hidia.
Office MS.).
Pagcs
Malacca, its situation, foundaiion, and facilities for
trade ' .. 1, 2'
The Portuguese discovery and conquest; im|?rovemcnt
of the town and buikiing of ihe fort . . . . i, A
The Dutch attack in 1606; l^irst Dutcb treaty witb
Johor (1606); Ihe Dutch attack on Makicca fails 5- 12
Second Dutch irealy wiih Jobor (1006): foundation of
Batavia ^1619); Dutch siege of Malacca in 1640
and fall of tlie town in 1641 12-16'
Former Dtitch administratörs of Alalacca; annual com-
memoration of the Uutch conquest .. .. 17-20'
The fort, defences, and arms . . . . . . . . 20- 42.
Military, civil, and marine cstablishments (inciuding
the outstations) .. .. .. .. .. 42-61
Statistics of the population and houses; Government
servants and their houses; houses in the suburbs
and villages .. .. .. .. .. .. 61- 66'
Petitions and Licenses fo->- brick and tile making (1677) ;
the Company's houses . . . . . . . . 66- 74
The Burgher Guard of Company's servants and Chris-
tian inhabitants; Orders for the savie (1677) . . 75- 78>
Territorial jurisdiction of Malacca; plantations and
rice-fields 78-83-
The aborigines (Orang Btinua); Description of the same
(1642) 83-90'
Territory of Naning; its relation with the Government
of Malacca; Contract made with NanivQ (164' 'l;
troubles with Naning and Rcmbau; conditions of
peace made in 1646; Rescript of Batavia Govern-
ment tbereon (1646) ; Letter to Batavia Government
thereon (1646) ; Resolution of Malacca Government
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,.
Report of Guvernör Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 7
Pages
on ibc same siihjccl (16-16); Prodamation agaimt
(u lo Urms aml Pardon for Ihe Cbiej oj hJaning
(1646); furliier relations wilh ROmbau and Naning,
rise of a Mcn^ingkabnu prelcnder; Letter to Naning
(1677); Menangl;:ihaii attack on Malacca; Order
U> troops. fioing up rtmulry on patrol (1675) . . 90-131
Relations wilh Kédah iinsafisfaclory .. .. .. 131
l-cclesinstical maliers: nosilion of Roman Calholics and
Proleslanis al Malacca; Letter o! Batavia GoViVn-
ment tbereon ( !6-1t) ; anoiher Letter from tbe same
Roman Catbulic ctcrgy (1646); Second Proclama-
l'oii agaiiist Ihe same (1666); Decree against tbe
same (1666) 133-154
Vari(»ns classes of Ihe ix)puhilion .. .. .. 154
The (^onncil of G{n'ernment . . . . . . ,. . 154- 5
GtKirdiaiis of orpluins anti atinilnislrators of eslales of
deceasecl Persons: coinmissioners for matrimonial
maliers; liospitiil inspeclors, etc. .. .. .. 155- 8
'\'\k: e(iiii|)a;^e maslc" and. his lUilies (wilh a list of vessels
slalionetl or crnising); Orders for tbe equipage
master (1665); Insiructions jor tbe same in bis
rapaciiy of snrveyo'- (1666); Jnsirnctions for tbe
same in his capacity as y^aHi^er (1666) . . . . 158-180
The surgeon . . . . . . . . . . 180
The slorekeeper and his diilics; Memorandum for the
storckeeper (1671) 180- 8
Scarcity of provisions: Govermneut minute as to tbe
issne of siipplies (1677) ; new storehouse sanctioned 188-192
Dulies of ihe shahbnndar and license master: Memoran-
dum for the ihnbbandar and his deputies (1668) 192-201
Custom dulies and tolls .. .. .. .. .. 201- 3
.Provisionai agreement ivith the Portuguese tbereon
(1646) 203- 8
Tarmed taxes and If^oir yit^ld 209- 1 1
Tax on the sale of ships and their equipments; Pro-
ciamation redncing the same to 5% (1674) .. 211-4
Bookkeeping and iratle .. .. .. ,. .. 214- 6
Pa3'menl of the garrison . . 216- 7
Administration of the estates of deceased persons;
Charter regarding the same (1672) ,. .. 217-22
'Other financial matters, e.g. assignments of pay; Order
as to paymeni of '.alaries (1670); no credit to be
given for goods sold; Extract from a letter jrom
.1927J Royal Asiatic Society.
8 CO. Blagdun: InLroJucUoii
Pages
lUiUwia lo thot e/Jecl; outstriiKfing bad debts . . 222- 30
Merchandise dealt in b\' thc Company exclusivelyi tin,
pepper. opium, cloves, mace, nulmeg?, and resin 230- I
japancsc copper; Indian clotbs;L?5i of pfices cnrrent
for piecf gvods (1659); rcstriclions on trade in thc
same; opium; gold; Report oit gold found in
Mahcca (1670) 231- 8
Places froin which irading ships camc to Malacca:
nalLU-e of the (rade ■wllb various placcs; Order as
lo irode under the liril-ish flag (1677)
Tin and thc Hn-producing countries
Contracis wiib Kvdah (1642), Ujong Salang (1643).
Baiigarij (1645), Åchin (alio on behalj of Perak)
(1659), Kota Rhiah. Kebon and Gittij (1676) . .
The lin of Sungai Ujong, Krlang, KiMah and Perak . -
1-listory of the Perak tr;ide; Orders for the Dutcb re-
presentatives there (n.d.) and for the sergeant hi
charge at Dindhig islaiid (1670)
Trade wilh Krdah: Orders for the blockadmg forcc
there (1670)
Trade with Ujoug Salang and ijangarlj; Orders for the
vessels proceedivg to U;ong Salang (1670)
Trade and Couiract with hideraghi (1664)
Relations witn Johor, Jambi, Bengkalis, Muar, Batu
Pahat, Oiiii, and North-East Sumaira generaily;
Javanese traders there aud elscwhere .. .. 326- 31
Particulars of ships cruising in the Straits of Malacca
and Singapore; Orders fcr vessels cruising bctween
Cape Rachado and Bhigkalis fl 668), Kesang and
Cape Rachado (I66S), at the iJrqgi nver (1678),
and near the Stj alts of Singapore ( 1 667) . . . . 33 1 - 44
Relations with the French, English, and Portuguese;
Regulations agreed to beizueen Charles II and the
States General as to the Eihglish and Dittch East
India Companies (!675) .. .. .. .. 344- 9
Recent Government orders as to ihe trade and fmancial
matters, including an approved list of officials for
Malacca 349- 57'
Questions and decisions on matters of policy . . . . 357- 61
Statenient of assets in ca.sh and goods . . . . . . 361- 2
Recent events; conclusion .. .. .. .. 363- 7
Journal Adalayan Branch [Vol. V,
238--
45
245-
T
247-
61
262-
3
263-
94
294-
300
300-
20
320-
6-
Report of Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca &
Report of Heer BALTHASAR BORT, Councillor-in-
OrJinary of India, Govenior and Director of tlie towil
and fort of Malacca together with the dependencies
tliereof, left, on liis departure thence to Batavia, to
his successor, Heer Jacob Jorisz Pits, Couiicillor Ex-
traordinary of India, for his iise.
As :in introdLiclion, I note firk that this Malacca is situated 2
degrccs 20 minutcs N. of the Equator on a plain along the sea-
shore on the west of the niainland of Asia about 30 miles from
Sincapura which provides the nearest passage for sailing along
the east coast of that same contincnt to Uurope, if Ihis route
coLild be discovercd {soo der tot aoo verre passagie conde uijU^e-
vonden zverden). By some ancient authors it was, with some
appearance of truth, heki to be "Ophir rich in gold"and by
some also (2) caHed the Aurea Chersonesus. It was founded by
Siamese, Peguans, Bengalis anti fishermen from neighbouring
isiands, who went Ihither in boats on account of the good situation
of the .strait, ntiout i 1 miies from E. to W. between the isiand of
Sumatra (called by the ancients 'i\aprobane) and Malacca, which
are situated opposite each other. They were attracted by the
fertilify as well as by Ihe beaiity of the country and gradually
made it their meeting place and an open town. In course of
time, with Ihe increasc in nnmbers of the surrounding peoples, it
became a great city, the royal capita! of the Moorish and Malay
nations and was visited by ships from the Spice Islands, the
Moluccas, Amboina and Banda situated to the S. and E., and also
by the Moors from the N., who took these same spices from here
to their own land and found means of forwarding them thence to
Emope. Maiacca was at that time known already even to the
Chinese and visited by [hem.
Thus it became very well known and, when the (3) Portuguese
first discovered the East Indies in 1498, was in a very flourishlng
condition. They visited it and found it convenient for their traf-
fic and commerce and for the domination of the southern part of
tiie East, consequently they establ,ished themselves there, at first as
merchants, but later they entrenched themselves secretly outside
the [Qwn. The Mohammedan king of the country however dis-
covercd this, and, recognizing the disadvantage to himself, tried to
rid himself of them b>- an evil, crafty trick (which however failed)
on their arrival with 5 ships under the command of Jacob Löpes
Siquera in 1 509. The Portuguese on their side strove very earnest-
ly for the conquest of the town, untii, after some wariike exploits,
they got possession of it by finesse and force in the year 15U on
the iOth of August under the leadership of Alphonso d'Alburkercke
[Affonso de Albuquerque], Viceroy of Portuguese India, and found
therein great treasure. The king, Mehemeth by name, fled with
most of his subjects to the aforesaid strails of Sincapure and estab-
lished his seat (sedem) there on the mainland by building a town
afterwards called (4) the kingdom of Johore.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
TO . Report of Govenior Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Tiie Portuguese made Malacca a cliief place for tiie souLlicrn
traflic of India anc! a strategic base (sedem belUmn) for the con-
quests Lhey aimed al, so Ihat, bcing frcquentcd by all llit; neigh-
bouring peoples, it became in a few years an cxcellent trading town
and, tlirough thc wickling of wcapons, very formidable. It pro-
vi<!cd the crown of Portugal and the Portngiicse traders with a con-
stant riovv of weaith and repute. In a short lime, with its popula-
lion of Porlugiicse biirghcr.s, A'Ialays and various Indians, it became
vvcll built and cnltivated and cnntinnally improved and grcw. In
early days a caslle with a high tower was built on the foundations
■of Ihe palace of Ihe expelled king al Ihe fool of Ihe hlll lliere is
in Malacca, about -K) rods above sea levol in height. The low
ground along the sea — , river — and land-sitles they at first fenced
about with palisades, aAerwards llicy built a wal) and bastions of
solid, harti, weli mortareti stonc, so that in the end it was a strong,
spacious fortress on geomelrical lincs aflcr Ihe Huropcan fasiiion
with thc aloresaid hiJl in ils midsl.
(5) It was not quite finished when the Dutch Bast India
'Company's admiral, Cornelis Mateiief de Jonge, in the year 1606
appeared before Malacca with 1 1 shijis and blockaded it with a
force of 700 men in order, with the help of thc people of Johor, to
get possession of it. He had made an agrcement with their king for
that purpose, which I here insert on account of its remarkable char-
-dieter.
Agreement made between the Admiral Cornelis Matelief
de Jonge in the name and on behalf of the High and Mighty
States General of the United Netherlands of the one part and
the lliustrious and powerful King of Johor on the other part
this ]7th, day of May, 1606, on the ship Orangie lying in the
Maiacca roads.
(6) Firstly the said Admiral in the name as above at the re-
■quest of the said King promises to help him to conquer the town
■of Malacca and take it out of the hands of the Portuguese, their
common enemy, and each shall use his powers to the utmost to
drive these same out and, this being with God's help accomplished,
the same walled town, as it now is within its walis and ramparts,
shail be and remain for ever, without payment of any charges or
acknowledgement of overlordship, in the free ownership of the
.States aforesaid, which the King aforesaid grants herewith as pay-
ment for the war; furthermore the whole territory shall remain
subject to his Majesty, it being agreed that" the States aforesaid or
their Captain shall be allowed, if they propose to strengthen the
town, to appropriate as much land for the said fortification as they
shall thitik advisable.
2
The aforesaid States shall also have the right to get and cut
■wood in all the lands of the King (7) for the building of ships and
for the needs of the town.
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca. M
3
Morcover ail subjects of Llic aforesaid States may unload their
sliips and wares, from wiialever placc Ihey come, also hired sliips,
junUs and praos (prauwen), iii Ihe aforesaid lown without the
King's inlcrfcrence or Ihe imposilioii of any loll, cither on arrivaL
or departiire.
4
The King also shall nol aliow any Diilchman or [otherj Euro-
peans or their dcscendants to tratle in any of his lantis unless they
have autiiority from Ihe Governor of Malacca, and, if they have
not the same, they shall be held to be enemies and treated as much.
5
On Iho otiier hand his Majesty shall people Ihe subiirb of
Canipo Ciingh, which is now burnt down, and rule it without
intcrfercnce from the States mul, if possible, take up his (8)
residence Ihere and forlily it, wherein the aforesaid States shall
assist him wilh counsel.
6
llis Alajesty shall, after the conquest of the town, have all
the guns found therein, the one half of which he shall have the
right to take away at once and the other half he shall be found
to leave in the town for its defence until it is provided for by the
States.
7
One half of whatever merchandise, money, wares, etc, shall be
found in the town shall fall to the subjects of the States aforesaid
on this fleet and the other half to his Majesty aforesaid.
All merchandise not belonging to the subjects of the States
aforesaid must be iinloaded in the King's territory in the suburb,
whither the subjects of the States shall be at liberty to go and buy
with others and to bring their purchases into the town.
(9) Further they shall, with all their strength and to the
utmost of their power, assist and help each other to inflict all
possible damage on the Portuguese and Spaniards, their common
enemies. and, should either of the parties make war on any others
than the Portuguese or Spaniards, the other party shall not be
bound to help him except on the defensive.
10
Neither of the parties shall have the right to make peace with
the KJng of Spain without the consent of both.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
]2 Roport of Govcinor RalllKisar Bort on Malncca
II
Should any man give offence in matters of religion, he siiall be
Iried and punished by the govcrnnient under whose jurisdiction lie
is; tliis lo apply lo both jiartics.
12
II any piTMHis of Llie ono or ihu olhcr parly liave aiiy com-
l>Iaint to makcj againsl llicoilier as to debt ur any ollier malier, Ihe
defendanl sliali be siimmoned before bis uwn magistrales.
13
ir any of tbe iDutch take refuge with ihe King of Jobor by
reason of (10) crlme or for any otbcr reason, or if any of tbe King's
people flec to the Diitcb, the parlies shal! be bound lo hand över
the rimaway to his goveriiment.
Porm of oalh wherewilh Ihe foregoing arlicles were sworn to
on each side:
\Ve, Jan tle Patuan and Rajah Sabrangb, kings of johor, do
hereby proniise lo mainlain Ihe above agrccmeiit in all ils points
and artides, wilhout acting in an\' vvay conCrary Iberelo, so help
ns God.Ahiiighly.
1, Corneiis jMaielief de Jonge in iho name of their I lonours the
States Genera! of the United Neiherlands do hereby promisc to
perfonn all the above artlcies in al! their parts, wilhout in any way
acting contrary thereto, so help me God Almighty.
The tv.'o kings of Johor, who were brothers, came accordingly
into the admirai'5 camp with their people, but gave (it) little help.
Our forces hoped nevertheless to win the town, since it was already
rediiced to famine and much weakened by sickness and death, al-
though the Captain General, Don Andrea Surtado de Mendonsa
[Furtado de Mendosa], slrove with great courage to hold the town.
To that end and for the better defence of the fortress he had burnt
and abandoned the suburbs both on the N. and S. sides, on the
landing of otu" troopS, who marched in and encamped there, especi-
ally in ilie northern snburb, which was tiie more imporlant. In tiie
month of August of the same year our forces had news of the com-
ing of the Porlugnese fleet from Goa and were obliged to break
camp and raise the siege. This lleet consisted of 16 great galleons,
■9 galleys, 1 caravel and 13 barges. Our force on llie other hand
was only 11 ships strong, manned by about 1200 troops, among
them some sick and wounded- Nevertheless it sailed out to meet
the Porlugnese fleet and (12) encountered it near Cabo Rochado in
a fisrce fight, both sides losing ships and pursuing each other to
Malacca, whence our fleet fled to Johor. There a second agree-
ment was made in the Jobor town of Batasauwer, Sept. 23, 1606,
running as follows:
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Covernor Ballhasar Bort on Mulaccii 13
In thc first place all ihe arlides conlained in the agree-
meiU betweeii ihe parties daled Alay 1 7 of this year in ihe ship
Granlie in lliK roacls of Malacca are confirmed. But, since it
has not picased God Almighty that \ve shoiild as yut have been
abie lo conquer the tuwn uf Malacca, and lheri:fore cerlain
clauscs on bolh sitlcs canmn b'J mainlaind, as Tor instanci; tlic
posscssion of Ihe lown by ihc Slalcs and of thc suburh and
tcrrilury in general by thc king ol" Johor, ihe parlies will posl-
pone siich lo a lurtlicr oppoilunily, wliich God sliall be
graciuiisly pleased tu give for the cunqiiesl of the same
througli Ihe diligencc of the States and of the king of Johor
(13) And, since it Is necessary for the furtherance of the
coinmerce of Iheir stibjecls in the l-ast Indies that ihe States should
liave ;i secure and safe place foi' the collection and -safe keeping of
their gootis, nierchantlise. ammunition, cquipment, etc, also that
tiiey may have the right, when neeil ariscs, lo bring craftsnien and
Iheir familics from their own land, his Alajesly the king of johor
shall ^ive lo the States or their captain such a place as they shall
■desire, eilher here on llie mainland or on some island within the
realni of his Majesly, as greal or as small as the States or their
captain shaii lliink fU, that they may biiild their hoiises and dwell-
ings therc and possess it in place of iVlalacca.
Then also Ihe Slales and their subjects shall be bound to fulfil
the arlicles contained in the agreement made before Malacca; thiis
done in Batasauwer the day and year as above.
(14) Shortly afterwards Adniiral Alatelief deparled with the
fieet from Johor and returned therewith to Malacca and there in
the ro.idstead attacked, defeated and destroj^ed some ships of the
Portuguese armada; be then betook himself to Queda and made
friends with the king of that place.
Among the neighbouring islands lie found the main body of
the aforenamed armada lying at anchor in a place very favourable
for defence; nevertheless he attacked it, but being unable to do it
any damage, he abandoned the attack and, having sent two ships to
Aetchin and one to Cormandel, he departed with the other ships to
Bantham and Jacatra and thence on to Amboina and Banda carry-
ing to these places the glad tidings of the expulsion and destruction
of the great Portuguese armada whlch had been equipped to drive
the Dutch completely out of the East Indies and to punish the
kings, princes and rulers who had traded and made alliance with
t hem.
Meanwhile onr Dutch town of Jacatra, now Batavia, having
been acquired by arms (15) in 1619, the conquest of Malacca was
no longer so ardently desired as before, but, when our power and
resources in this land had increased, we began again to make plans
to weaken the Portuguese and Spanish enemy in every direction
1927] Royal Asiaitc Society.
14 Report of Govenior Balthasar Bort on Malacca
and evcMi to lorcc Ihoni lo abimdon the East iiidics, insomiich that
in 1640, during the nile o!' the Governor-General Anlhonio van
Dicnien of bicsscd, laudablc niemory, Malacca was hcsiegcd by sca
and hind. Afler tiie dcalh of tiiK coniniaiuler Adriaen Anthonisr,
Coper, Malacca was laken by storm in ibe morning of Jan. 19, 1641
under the leadership of Minne Wiliems/. Caertekoe, who had
been appointed to the coinmand, and of Sergeant Major Joiiannes
Lamotius.
The Hortuguese had bcen in possession of this lown and for-
tress 127 [really 129] years and 5 months. Of about 20,000 men
wlio were tliere before the siege scarcely 3,000 survived, tlie others
having perislied from hardship, hunger C 16) and pesLilence or in the
fighting. On our sidc also of nearly 3,000 Dutch employcd in and
for the siege only about half remained alive. Not only was Ihe
fortress half destroyed by breaching and in other ways but the
churches and houses also. Aftcr the victory inany on both sides
perished miserably owing to the stcnch from the unburied dead.
The peoplc of Jolior and the Manicabers of Naning and Rom-
boiiw were to some extcnt of service lo iis in the siege, but princi-
pally with a view to their own advantage, robbing and stealing
especially from the slaves of the Portuguese, but also from the
nalive Christians, who fled by jeason of hunger and were ordered
to leave the town.
AU these facts I have gathered together from oid writings to-
satisfy my own curiosity and to ser\'e as a reminder for myself,
not with the inlent that it should be so for the Honourable Com-
pany or your Honour; however, in the hope that it will not be dis-
agreeable to you. 1 make you a sharer therin and use the (17)
matter as an introduction and beginning of the memoir I have been
commanded by their Honours the lligh Government of India at
Batavia to provide for your Honour and lo leave here on my
departure from Malacca.
This famous town and fort of Malacca, having by God'&
gracious blessing come into the possession of the United Nether-
lands in the way related above, has been governed successively by
various high ofTicials of Ihat State, viz. Heer Jean van Twist,
Heer Jeremias van Vliet, Heer Arnold de Vjamingh van Out-
shoorn, Heer Joan Thijssen, Heer Joan van Riebeeck, whom 1
relieved. 1 am of opinion that if, so long as the time that is com-
ing does not demand change, your Honour continues to enforce
the good orders, edicts and inslructions issued by my predecessor
as to administration, justice, and military matters, commerce and
the prohibition of private trading, also the toUs and licenses and
the cruising here in the Straits, instituted by the Portuguese for the
maintenance of the rights of Malacca and now (18) devolved on
US by right of conquest, also for the preservation of the Andragierij
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
I^eport of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 15
xiud Pera liadc. whicli are still incliklcd under llial of Malacca, if,
I rcpual, }'()ur iloiiour cnforccs ihcse, 1 bclicvc it will redound lo
tlie wcll-ix'ing of lliis phice, to pcaceful govemmenl, thc upliokling
■of justicc, lin; mainlciuiiicc of iautlabie mililary discipliiie, pro-
gress in trade and continuance of the established tolls and rights,
and finaliy lo ihe benefit of the I^-ast India Company of the United
Netherlantis.
Tor lliL' fuiiherunce of tliis last it is our duly lo strive lo the
iilniost of our power, lo use all imaginablc means and the most
<;ager vigilance, and may God Ihc Lord be pluasod to Icud Ilis good
bicssing durjng your I lonour's ridc.
The orders, edicls and instruclions, in ctmfonnity wilh the
successivc comniauds of their llonours the lligh Government of
Inilia at Balavia, are rcgislered in the books kept at the Secretary's
ofilce, whcre are also the letters receivcd from (19) and sent to
various places, togelher wilh extracts touching Malacca from the
general dispalches of tbe llonourable Council of 17, our masters at
home. The reading and recapitulation of these letters, when-
€ver you give time to it, especially of those sent here by their
Monours tlie Iligh Government of India at Batavia and from here
to their llonours aforesaid and also of the extracts mentioned, will
untioubtedly increase -the knowledge and experience already ac-
quired by }'0ur l-lonour's many years' service to the Company,
sonie of it here in Malacca and will be of great assistance to your
Ilonour*s wonted zeal nnd industry.
In conimemoration of the fact that iVlalacca was won and
came into the possession of the United Netherlands by the sword,
an armed man with a sword in his fist, as wel! as the Company's
general mark, was added to the arms of the tovvn viz. a Chinese
junk, bccansc the Portuguese first conquered and made theniselves
masters of Ihe place in the guise of Chinese traders.
(20) And, to keep that day in happy remembrance, it has
been celebrated up to the present every year on the I9th. of Jan.
In the morning at daybreak all the guns of the fort are fired and
the soldiers standing on the walls discharge three volleys. from their
muskels. Then in the forenoon a sermon is preached in the church
of St. Paul and special praise nnd thanks are given to God for the
victory. When the sermon is över, the taxes imposed are publicly
farmed out lo the highest bidder i.e. by auction in the Governor's
house in the prescnce of the Governor himself and of the Council.
In the afternoon, if there is nothing to prevent it, the burghers
parade fully armed, the arms being lent for the occasion from the
Company's armoury, and returned to it. This custom has been ob-
served throughout the thirteen years of my rule and will, I hope, be
followed by your Honour.
J927J Royal Åsiatic Socieiy.
16 Report of Governor Balthasar Borl oii Malacca
T!ie bastions, points and ans!t:s nr breaslwrtrks in Ihe fort of
Malacca (2!) in cxistetico in llio tinie of llii: I^irUif^ucsc and still
in esse werc ro-nanied hy u.s afler thc conqut^st as follows:
St. r>)niingo (for ihe nicisV pari dv^-
Iroycd by gundrc: llic lirsl (o be
slovmal antl ihe onf throntih
wJiich Iho viclor.s gaincd i'nlrancc
to Ihe lown.) re-mwied Victoria
Matire Deos re-navied fimclia
Ongie Mille Virgines or 1 1000 Vir-
gins .. ,. .. .. re-vavied I (enriette Louise
St. lago .. .. .. .. re-iiamed Wilhelmus
llospitacl del Key re-imiiwd Maurilius
Coura.ssa .. .. -. .. re-mimcd Prcilrick I lendrick
Mospitael del Povnc . . . . re-named Crnestus Casimir
St. Domingo . . . . . . re-iiamed Amsterdam.
In addition in 1660 a new point was made by Mcer joan Ihijs-
scn ncxt to Fredrick Meiidrick on the Brnestus side at the mouth of
the river clo.se to Ibe bank, and named Middelburgli. It is only a
half bastion, as is also Ibe oiie re-named lii-nestns; Amsterdam is an
angle ur breaslwork; Victoria may weil serve as a full bastion;
Hmelia is a great, for the most part, ronnd bastion; Menriette
Louise also conslitntes :i fuli (22) point; Wiliielmus is a small
roLind basti(;n; Maurilius is an obluse (plompen) angle. and
Predrick Men(h'ick a spacious, excellent bastion washed by the sea
on thc South east, as are also Mauritius and Wilhelmus. Brnestus,
Amsterdam and Victoria lie along the river on the northvvest.
Proceeding thcnce, on the south of the fort, are land bastions,
viz. Emelia and Henriette Louijse.
Fredrick Hendrick, Crnestus and Emelia have spacious, con-
venient, vaulted ceilars for gunpowder; moreover in time of need
ammunition can be stored and kept dry under Victoria and
Wilhelmus so as to have it ready to hand for use. Emilia and
Henriette Louijse are the oiily bastions provided with casemates.
In my time no change has been made in this scheme of fortifi-
cation; I have only had the small point Victoria enlarged by a
third and furnished with more guns, so that it is now considerably
stronger and more defensible. This was very necessary, as was
also the making of a jxissageway between the bastions Victoria
and Emelia along (23) the breastwork, since there was formerly
only a wooden structure which could not be traversed without risk.
This passage-way was made by reducing tlie thickness of the
breastwork, so that there is now a space of fully three feet from the
breastwork and therefore convenient for passing along the same.
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Govenior Balthasar Bort on Malacca 17
The fort has also a passage-way above on the walls at the side of
the breaslvvork; it is vc:rv broad from the bastion Emelia to
Wilhelmtis, hut ihence It gets narrower.
Scinu' wDodm walchlowcrs wcrc also rcbiiill iii iiiy lime in
stont.', and smne guardhouscs whicli wcru rormcdy roofcd wilh aJap
[alapl 1 had lik-d, The powcl^T-ccliar under llic ba.stion Wil-
behnus 1 had clcannl til" the soil wilh which it was lilled and madtr
fit again lor ils pLM*p(i.sc'.
Scime new works also were made, e.g. Iwo slroiig slone gates,
onu helvvcen Ihe bastions Middelburgh and Ernestus on the river
side i\\k\ Ihe olhcr lieUvecn Ihe bastions Wiliielmiis and I-lenriette
Louijse on Ihc !an<l side, bolh having Ihoir diie (24) curvaturc.
wiillh and lenglh and cach greal. doiible tlaors wilh a wicket. 'yhcy
werc made in l()60, becausc llie gales in exjsleiice liere whcn I came
wei'e oid, bad atn.! inadei)uale lur lids line strong lorl. The gale
on liie land sitk; cl<»:^c lo Ihe bastion Wilhelmus 1 fomid blocked
and llie olher on Ihe rivLT side, whicli consisLed nicrely of a single
duor, had boen niuch reduccd in size and is now opened only in the
nioriiing lo pul otil the refi.ise Uib.s aiul wheii Uie ships iiave lo be
unloaded and loaded. AL the new gates iheve are slone stairs by
which t<t moiinl lo and conie down from the iipper wall and they
have on boili siiles convenienl slone guardhouscs and cookhouses.
MoreovLT I ha\e had two inore guardhouses made, one at the bas-
tion Fredrick i-lendrick and the other at Victoria, which had great
needof iheni.
The greal duor of Ihe gale o( ihis fort on ihc river it was
formerly the rule to open lor none (25) except the Governor and
his wife. after il had been closed. according to the iisuai custom, at
7 p.ni., but tiie Captain Aernouwd Westdrop in 1672 had it openeil
for him, even wiien it was already late al night, without my pre-
vioLis knowledge. In consequence of tliis Sr. Francois Santvoort,
who was at that time chief merchant here and second in rank,
maintained that this oiighl lo be done for him also. Strife having
arisen belween Ihem as a resnll of this, an expedient was devised
by me and the Council for removing it, and to that end we allowed
that door and the bars of the drawbridge över the river to be
opened for them until 9 p.m. and not låter, provided their Honours
the High Government of India at Batavia should not decree other-
wise. But their Monours, on receipt of our letter concerning this
matter, answered, in their dispatch of the 5th. of May, [672, that
this occurrence of the opening of the great gate, etc. appeared very
surprising to them; as lo which iheir blonours said that the Gover-
nor wouiti have done well, in virtue of his authority, to (26)
enforce the oki rule, which ought not to have given reasonable cause
of offence to any, but, since by a resolution of the Council some
change iiad aiready been made, it could stånd, in order to avoid
making alterations anew, howbeit subject to the condition that
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
18 Report of Govcrnör BaUhasar Bort on Malacca
henceforth none slioukl aUetnpt, espcciaily fii matters toucliing
miiitary authority, to inlrocluce any innovafion vvithout the pre-
vious knowicdge aiul conscnt of the Goveriior, on whosc orders
aluiie liic grcat gale of llie fort is lo be openctl after 9 o'clock in
the evening. The galc now remains uncloscii tintii Ihat iioiir, but
the land gate on the sonth side is shiit at sundown and not opened
afler Ihat tinie except by the G(n'ernor's express order, nor ihe
aforcsaid gate on the river afrcr it has been .shiil, whicb itsually
happens at 9 p.m., if no persons of quality are wlthout, who may
wisii lo enler, or witlnn, who ma}' wish lo go out.
A inoat has al.so been dug iiere from tiie river to the seasiiore
and a raveiin placed on the oitter side of the bastion Victoria for
the grealer proteclion of Ihe same and also to give command llience
(27)" towards l^nieh'a. The aforesaid moat i83>4 rods long, 2-4
rods wide and 12 feet deep (Rhenish measure) including the
squarc in front of the face of Victoria. This moat was begun in
1673 and completed in 1674, that is, when the French were in india
with a fleet and, in conjunclion wilh the Hnglish, were making
(ierce war o]) our State. At ihat lime I had a jmisse braie aJso
made and maintained on the inner side of the moat between Ihe
bastions Victoria and linieiia, so as to strengthen the wali which is
weakest there and is not filled with earth inside. Behind this
fausse braie betwecn Ihe bastions lowards the wall, Ihere is a space
■of 24 feet forming a co\''ered vvay from which and from the raveiin
the moat can be defended o\-er the fausse braie, and the passage
•of the enemy can be obstructed with less danger. From the pohit
Henriette LoLiise past the land gare to the bastion Wilhelrnus there
is also an earthen breaslwork on the side of tlie moat.
(28) These works were approved and ordered by their
Honours in Batavia before being Linderlaken, so that they nnist be
maintained.
The moat has two slone sluices with small gates, the one on
the river, the other on the sea-side, by means of which the water can
be let in and ont. |--i-esii and salt water fish come inlo and are
preserved in it, yielding already some profit, although not much,
from the annual farming, but it is evident that in time Ihe profit
will increase with the muitiplicalion of the fish.
At the bastion Victoria there is a jausse porte giving access
through the wall to the raveiin, jmisse braie, covered way and moat;
it is at present always kept shut and need not be opened except in
time of necessity. By reason of this moat the fort lies, as it were,
on an island. Över it there are two drawbridges, one on the river-,
the other on the sea-side, opposite the stona gate between Henriette
Louise and Wilhelrnus aforesaid. By this latter drawbridge the
Southern suburb, and by the one över the river (close to its entrance
near the other gate) (29) the northern suburb a^e joined to the
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor BaUhasar Bort on Malacca 19"
fort and liave access to eacli other. Tliesc bridges, wiiich also were
made during my governovship, must be continuaily kept up, to the
end that they do not fall into ruin and perish.
The forl of Malacca is now very strong, having seven strong
bastions and tv^o angles by tiie walls, all of stone, as ciose and härd
as iron; on the land-side I9>^, 22, 23, 25yi and 26J^, and on.
sea-side 19^, 26^, and 29 feet high. Moreover the fort contains
within the circnmfercnce of the walis 342 rods, and outside them
365y2 rods, as vvas found by measurements made in the presence
of 1-ieer van Riebecck :xnd myself.
To wit:
l'roni Fredrick llendrick to Middcibiirgh
Middeiburgh to lirnestus . .
Erneslus to Amsterdani . .
Amsterdam to Victoria
Victoria to Hmelia . .
Emeiia to 1 lenrietle Louijse
Henriette Louijse to Wilhelmus
Wiihelmiis lo Mauritius ..
Mauritius to Fredrick Hendrlck
aforenamed
Rods 342 395.6
Eacii rod reciioned at 12 feet, Rhenish measure.
(30) Tiie inner angies of the polygons are as follows:
Of the bastion Middetburgh . . . . . . 133 degrees
,. „ „ Mauritius ]02>^ „
„ „ „ Wilhelmus U7^ „
„ „ „ Emelia . . . . . . 126
„ „ „ Victoria 87
Note Ernestus. Amsterdam, Fredrick Mendrick and Henriette
Louise are laid altogether on a straight line, wherefore they contain
no inner polygon angies These bastions and breastworks or angies
are ail provided with guardhouses with the exception of Mauritius,
Middelburgh, Ernestus and Amsterdam, there being no need for
them to be made there, because what is required can be done by the
garrison at the two gates of ihe fort, which are near by.
The bastions, as also the ravelin I have several times mention-
ed, have mounted on them at Ihe present time 49 brass and 33 iron
pieces, their height being as foUows;
Brass Iron Feet high to breastwork
Fredrick Hendrick 12 1 24
Mauritius 3 - 28
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
nnermost
Ou termost
Polygon
Line
16
18
41.3
40.3
16.8
/ 15.9
26.4
' 28.6
56
62.8
46
49.2
39
42.4
40.8
43.11
59.9
64.11
.20 Report of Govcnior I3allii:isnr Hört on Mahicca
Wil/iclmus 6
-
29y2
Menriette L.ouisc 5
1
HVz
Hmelia 6
5
llVz
Victoria 4
8
28^
Ravelin (one oid mörtar)
13
-
Amsterdam 2
_-
22^
Eniestus 3
3
24
Middelburgli 8
~
!9
On Ihe wall belween
Predrick llendrick and
Middelburgli
2
19/2
Pieces 49 33
(31) Being therewith so well pmvided that ihey could not be
Tnoreconveniently placed.
Oiitside the bastion Middelburgli at the moulii of the river,
Avhere it is closed by a boom opposile the custom-house, ihere stånd
also 4 pieces of iron ordnance, belween earthen embrasures, which
firc horizontally seawards for the protection of the sands which
there, between Fredrick llendrick and Middelburgh, are increasing
greatiy in size. These 4 iron pieces, added lo the 33 already
specified, make 37, and so, with the 48 brass and one small mörtar,
there are altogether 86 pieces of ordnance lo Ihe fort. Moruover
in 1677, at the time of the attack made by the Manicabers, who
came suddenly and made open war on us, I was obliged to
strengthen the defences in the northern siiburb, called Banda
Malacca, and at the guardhouse by the stone well (the best drinking
water found) near the hiil Bouquet China, called St. Francisco by
the Portuguese. The following guns remain Ihere still, (32) viz..
On the small square wooden fort Delft on the river (32)
bank fuliy a cannon shot from the fort on the spöt where was
formerly the betel warehouse, 7 brass and 9 iron pieces.
At Bouquet China in the plank palisade round the guard-
house and the well provided with a breastwork, 8 brass
pedreroes;
At the end of the same suburb by the remains of the wall
of Taypa (it is bcaten earth mixed with small härd stones)
where is now an angie and, from the same towards the seashore,
the wall has been repaired and provided with a parapet and, on
the outer side, with palisades, 1 brass and 3 iron pieces;
At the same Taypa wall landwards in front of the Com-
pany's garden a small earthwork provided with palisades, 3
iron pieces;
About 39 rods from that point, there being no more re-
mains of the wall but a large gap to the east of the town, the
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govornoi' Baltliasar Uort on Mahicca 21-
n;irro\v w:\y is closctl lo tlic front hy planks and a door and
provicieti witli 2 iron pieces lo guard (33) the flat ground'
ihere, for withoiit tiiis defcnce it would have heen easy for an
encmy lo break in at tliat point.
Tluis ill llic noilherii suluirh llicre are 8 biass and 17 iron-
guns wilh S hiass pedrcioes, making, wilh llic guns of the fort — ,
altogctiuM' 1 1 I pieces all plaocti (;n sL)i!alilc carriages anti eniplace-
nienls, \i/..
?7 hrass guns, inciiiding I morlar
■j-l iion guns anti
K pedreroes.
Of wiiat sort IhJs ordance is. whaL weiglit of ball and gun-
powdcr cach gLin Hres, and wilh whal (juantity of round and long:
shot (stored under the guardhoLise and the bastion l-redrick llend-
rick, also under Wilhelmus and near Ernestus) this fort is at
present pnivided can be scen from the memoranda made thereon.
Besides the carriages and emplacements where the guns novv
actually stånd, there is nothing in store owing to the lack of — quiate
wood, aithough such store is very necessary to savc us from getting
iiild difiiculties in time of need, May it please your Honour to-
keep this malier in mind and lo have these Ihings made when it is
possible.
(34) List of the cannon both iron and brass of this town.
and fort of Malacca.
On the Bastion Fredrick Hendrick.
Pieces
Iron Brass Stone Shot Iron Shot Powder
1 German demi-cannon liring
1 cnlverin
2 " clocksgevvijs "*
1 " doorgaande"t
, I cnlled " The Dog "
1 wide-mouthed
i " doorgaande "
2 field pieces
2 i O together 12 pieces.
« Probably " bcll-sliaped."
f .Perliiips this iiiejiiia that Jt Iitul great power of penetration.
1927 1 lioyal Asiiitic Society.
24
12
14
10
12
4
12
8
40
. ,
20
36
12
4
3
. .
3
1
. .
12
8
6
7
24
10
5
3/.
9
6
18
9
12
4
4
3
22 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
On THE Small Sea Bastion Mauritius.
Piecps
Iron Brass Slone Shot Iron Shot Powder
I culverin firing
1 culverin
1
3 pieces.
On THE Sea Bastion Wilhelmus.
3 '' doorgaande " firing
2 " ciocksgewijs "
1
6 pieces.
On THE Land Bastion Menriette Louise.
2 wide-moLithedj
in the caseinate, firing 28
1 " clocksgewijs "
1 . . French
demi-cannon
1 " clocksgewijs "
1
1 5 together 6
(35) On The Land Bastion Emilia.
2 wide-mouthed,
in the casemate, firing 28
1 "clocksgewijs"
1 demi-cannon
7
12
4
18
9
14
7
12
8
2 prince pieces,
in the guardhouse.
24
, .
12
4
12
8
6
4
5 6 together 1 1 pieces
On the Land Bastion Victoria.
2 wide-mouthed firing 12 .. 5
1 small mörtar firing a
grenade 1 5 Ibs. " hoog "* . . . . ^
"* Probably tliis iiidieates a liigh trajeetory.
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Maiacca
2?
Picccs
lion Biass
Stone Shot I
ron Shot Powder
I German demi-cannon
24 12
1
6 4
4
12 8
2
8 5H
1
4 3
8 4 together 12 pieces.
On Tnn Land Angle Amsterdam.
2 " (.ioorgniindt " firing
'Iirn I-ANi) Basiion nuNiisrus,
i witlL-nioLilhccl (iring 28
2 '' doorgaande "
7
6
4
6'
4
8
51/2
3 3 logcUier 6 piecfjs,
On THE River Bastion Middelburgh.
1 small piece firing .. 3 XYz:
2 " doorgaande " . . . . 12 8
2 " doorgaande " (jring . . 9 C
2 " clocksgewijs " .. .. 12 4
1 wide-mouthed . . 28 12 4
8 pieces in all.
(36) On THE Wall Bf.tween Middelburch and Fredrick
llFNDRiCK.
2 pieces firing . . 6 4
On THE Ravelin Outside Victoria.
7 ', pieces firing [no figures givenj
5 . . . . [no figures given]
1 . . . . [no figures given]
13 pieces in ail.
AmOUNTING in CaNNON on THE VVaLL of THE FoRTRESS TO ::
49 b rass
33 i ron
Together 82 pieces.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
.24 Repori of Governor Ballhasar lioit oii Mnlacca
MliHIZ i OI.I.OWS IHIi DiSTRIBUIION 01- Tilli PiKCliS, HOIH HraS^ AND
Ikon, Pi.ACi;i) on iiiii Ouikk Works.
On THF. mVUK S1»K IN rilFl Nl-WLY ISUILT, SMAIJ. QUAURANOIH-AR
WooDEN Fort with i-our Bastions, named Deuft:
Iron B rass
piccc
jiieces
Stone Shol
1011 Sliot Powder
iriiii^
8
4
. . 1,
llcgihlc]
3
4
2
2
1
1
4
2
3
1
2
1
4
2
9 7 logethcr 16 picccs.
(37) On Tirn I.and Batt(-rv at r\iv. i-.uo oi- tik-: Nortiikrn
SUBURB.
pieces fiiing . . 6 3
1 widc-mouthcd . . 4
I together 4 pieces.
At THE HILL BOUQL-ET ChINA.
8 pedrerocs .. [no figures given]
On THE Land Battery behind the Company's Garden,
pieces firing . . 8 4
At the end oe Bruggestraet.
piece Ii ring .. 12 6
piece
pieces iogether.
5
At the mouth or the river hy the Middei.burgh Bastion.
1 piece liring . . 6 4
1 .. .... 4 3
2 pieces . . . . 3 1 ^
4 pieces.
fournal Molayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Guvernör Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 25
AfttOUNTING 1 UR Tlir. lUBCtiS OUTSIDU TlllS rORTRESS ON TllE OUTER
WORKS ro:
8 brass
21 i ron
1~o«elher 29 cannon and 8 pethcroes.
(38 Ihe norlhern subiirb, wliere Ihe richcst inhabitants and
foreigners live, woiild be shul: in and bellcr securcd against all
■chancc of invasion if a ruJonhl wure made on [Jie scashore and
anothcr half way hclwccn il anti llit- Dclft fort, also, if betwccn
Ihe same, an tuirlhern wall led fr<im Ihe one to Ihc other, made
■onl of Ihe carlh from thc jnoaL wliicii musl be clng from Ihe sea
lo Ihe river liank onlside Ilie wall.
An Ignographia | iconographia | or groundphm of this fort
xuiil !iie northei'n suburb in ils jjresenl Stale is handed över to
your Monoiir herewith. ^
I havc in Ihe above accoimt represenled Ihe foit of iVIalacca
as vcry slrong; some ticfecls however exist in it. cg. Ihc face of
liie baslion \'icloria can he llankcd or coninianded, on Ihe river
side, neilher from ihi; walls nor from Ihe nearest bastions. This
■onght to be remcdied by advancing a small anglc so far forward
from Ihe lireaslworii Amsterdam ihat 1hc aforesaid face could
be eommaiided Ihence. It was proposed to do tliis in my time,
bnt ihe proposal has not been carried ont up to Ihe present, in
■order to a\"oid incinring still furlher charges. I mention it now
merely tha! il may be kept in mind, for our forces, during the
siege, were abie lo spy oui Ihe fact that Ihese Iwo (39) faces of
Victoria could nowhere be commanded, and it was Iherefore at that
point that Ihey attacked Ihe fortress, stormed and took it, because
the faces or GesichtUmen are the weakest parts of fortifications,
since they lie nearest lo the foe and cannot defend themselves, but
■must get their prolection from ihe nearest flanks.
The face of the baslion Hmilia has also a defect, for it also
■cannot weli be flanked. This it shonld be possible to do by pro-
vichng it with an angle. If ihese defects were remedied the fort
■shqnid be more defensible and indeed almost impregnable, even
if attacked by iDowerfid enemies.
A garrison of five or six hundred soldiers, however, must be
maintained; the defence must be very careful and, above all, there
must be no lack of munitions of war, food and other necessaries.
It is in this respect a great advantage that this place is so con-
venientiy situated for commerce to the southern and northern
parts of these regions and from them hither that it can be reached
by sea almost throughout the year and also for the control of the
Straits of Malacca (by maintaining some yachts and sloops there)
(40) which are consianlly navigated by men of many nations,
and on which there is now no power that we need respect or fear,
1927J Royal Asiatic Society.
26 Report of Governor Ballliasar Bort on Mahicca
since Ihe power of Johor is much reduced, Aatchin is impotent
and has no appearance of once more attaining any considerable
power, and the kings of Pera and Queda are of small account;
wherefore only European foes are to be feared in this place.
Within the fort, between the bastions Victoria and Ernestus
there is a convenient arsenal, built in my timo otit of an old but
strong bit of the Portuguese defences against the wall. It has a
(lat roof, where it shouid be possible to place guns for the defence
of that part of the wall at need and to bombard the northern
siiburb. This arsenal is at Ihe present lime fUtingl^' furnished'
with weapons, as appcars by the memorandum:
Memorandum of the weapons, herelnafttr mentioned,.
found in tiie arsenal or armoury hcre and on loan.
to ccrlain persons, as found to cxist on examination
by Commissioners (41) in the montli of September,.
viz.
66 pieces: Inrelocks, to wit:
62 in the armoury
4 on loan
lU useless.
20 do. Carbines, to wit:
19 in the armoury
i on loan
i useless.
40 do. Pistols, lo wit:
33 in the armoury
7 on loan
2 useless.
479 do. Muskets, to wit:
91 muskets barrels in the armoury
74 on loan
314 in the armoury
140 useless muskets,
32 do. Half-pikes, to wit:
19 in the armoury
13 on loan.
153 do. Broadswords, to wit:
21 in the armoury
132 on loan
25 useless.
236 do. Daggers and 56 useless.
21 do. Jackscrews in the armoury fiE for use.
2 do. Blunderbusses in the armoury.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V^
Report uf Guvernör Biillliusar Bort on Malacca 27
6
pieces
: Zeepvwssen* m the armoury.
21
do.
Boarding axes.
19
do.
Partisans
20
do.
Halberds.
5
do.
Creeses.
410
do.
Bandoliers, to wit:
36S in tiie armoury
42 on loan.
5
do.
Drum bodies.
Ii
do.
Carbine slings.
?56
do.
Pikes ill the armoury.
426
tio.
Slings, to wit:
300 in Ihe armoury
126 on loan
RlrXEIVHIJ 1 OR TIM-: AKMOURV I-KOM BaTAVIA IJY TIIE YACHT
NlEUW NOORTWUK.
In Case L^^ A In Case L" D
200 Bandoliers i O Skins of leather for clings
24 Drum veilums 1000 Charges of gunpowtler
400 Firelocif flints
(42) In Case L'' B In Cask No. 5
100 Broadswords 4 Drums not hitherto [illegible]
25 Ibs. of iron wire 100 Pikes with copper heads in 10
8 double bundles of parcels of 10 each
drum cord 100 Pikes with iron heads in 10 parcels
of 10 each
100 Pike staves in 5 parcels of 20 each
In Case L^ C
6 bundles of siats for scabbards
100 Skins of red coast-Ieather
4 !bs. of gray yarn (gaven) [probably an error for garen]
, , 5 Skins of leather for slings.
Furthermore the soldiers here in garrison and on the yachts
,and sloops in the Straits are suitable fitted out and the powder-
cellars are provided with 53,300 Ibs. of gunpowder, mostiy in
.glazed niartaban jars.
The powder is now manufactured here in the powdermill of
12 stamps, sitiiated outside the fort about a musket shot from the
bastion Victoria. It is turned by bnffaloes and ought to furnish
13,000 Ibs. ayear.
* Litcrally "Soiip Kuives" but i>i'0l)ably t!ic iiame of aome spcL-iul
kind of kuife or cutting'weapoii
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
28 I^epon of Govurnor H;iltli;isar llort on Malacca
The niilitary garrison. including ofiiccrs. coiisisLs at the-
present tiiiK', of 338 men belonging to 3 conipanies of infantry,
each witli a lieulenant,, an ensign (43) and '? sergeants, a captaiir
being in coiiimand subject lo the supreme control of the Governoi".
Some of tht: soldiers of each company are properly exercised in
rank and (ile liy the drill master, one week wilh musköts, the othev
wilh pikes, tm ruesda\'s, VVednesdays and Fridays in public, botli
within (lie lort on the sqdare in front of the (jovenior's house and'
oulside (in the berni (bariii)'^. This is a practice which, as a
niatter of necesslty, yuur Ilonour will ek) well lo conlinue, when
Ihe weather is suitable.
PoLirtecn of I hese soldiers are cavalry under the connnand of
the riding master, Jan Gordon, who takes them abroad daily, both
niorninf.; and aft(;rn<Ktn, inlo ficki and lorest in order lo calch the
Manicaber kidnappers. who are now our open enemies. Their
horses are slableil near Ihe bastion l~mi|ia. This troop must for
the present be kept in use.
Mow the forces above menlictned are tlistributed and posled
on the points and bastions and elsewhere, also the 32 soldiers (44)
on the Island of Dingliding and on the yachls and sloops here iii'
the Straits, can be seen from ihe following list:
List or Mai.acca's g\ru!Son or soldiers as tound on the
31st, Aug. 1678, viz.:
Within the fort in the mainguard al the river gate under-
Captain Govert du Lavay . . . . . . I
Lieutenant I lendrick Temmer . . . . . . 1
Ensign . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Sergeants . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Corporais . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Gatekeeper . . . . . . . . . . I
Drummers . . . . . . . . . . 2
Clerk I
Soldiers 37
In the Lieutenanfs plantations . . . . 2
In attendance on the Governor with a
sre%vard and coachman . . . . 8
58-
*A {ii-iiBt-y plnin ontside tlii? wall of fclie foit.
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,.
Report of Governor Balthiisar Bort on Malacca 29
At TUE I.ANDGATE.
Lieutcnant Jonn Roosdoni
Serfscants . .
Corporals . ,
Drummer . .
Soldiers
.. 2
.. 2
.. 1
.. 33
39
(45) Ar TiiH sn\ iustion Pia-URiCK IIendkick.
luisign
.. I
Sergeant
Corijorais . .
.. I
.. 2
Druinmer . .
.. 1
Soldiers . . . . . . , . . . /
.. 23
Al ihc liouse of tlie burgher Roelof Gerritsz I
29
Tl-U^ SMAt.L 5EA BASTION MaURITIUS WltHOUT GUARDHOUSE
AND GUARD HAVING ONLY A SENTRY.
On THE SEA BASTION WiLHELMUS.
Sergeant I
Corporals 2
Soldiers . . . . . . . . ■ . . . 15
On THE LAND BASTION HenRIETTE 1-OUISE.
Lieiitenant Johannes Oiivei .. .. .. 1
Sergeants . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
IJorporals . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Drummer . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
At the house df Hendrick de Backer . . I
(46) On the land bastion Emilia.
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Corporals . . . . . . , . . . , . 2
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
la
3a
30
Report of Governor Baithasar Bort on Malacca
Drummer . .
Soldiers
At the house of Roelof Gerritsz
On the 1-and bastion Victoria.
Ensign
Sergeants
Corpoials . .
Drummer . .
Soldiers
In the Cnptain's compound
In the nnsigii's compound . .
1
33
I
1
2
3
1
31
1
38
40
The small land bastion Amsterdam, without cuardiiouse
and guard, having only a sentry.
The land bastion Ernestus without guardhouse and
guard, having only a sentry.
The river bastion Nev/ Middelburgh also without guard-
house AND GUARD, HAVING ONLY A SENTRY.
The angle Old Middelburgh without guardhouse and
guard, having only a sentry.
In Slavenburgh.
Sergeant . . . , . . . . . . . . 1
Corporals . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Soldiers 11
In the Captain's compound . . . . . . I
Overseer {Mandadoor) of the slaves . . . . 1
17
Troops within the fort . . . . . . , . 277
(47) Here follow the troops both within and without THE
NORTHERN SUBURB, VIZ.l
On THE RIVERSIDE IN THE SMALL RECENTLY BUILT FORT WITH 4
BASTIONS CALLED DeLFT
An ensign as commander . . . . . . . . 1
Ensign I
Sergeant . . . . . . , , . . I
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Goveraor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 31
Corporals . . . . . . . , . . . . 2
Drummer . . . . . . . . . . . . I
Soldiers 27
Lent lo GuilUam de Slachter . . . . 1
34
At THE HILL BoUQUHT ChiNA BY THE WATER WELL THERE
Sergeant . . . . . . . . . . . , 1
Corporais . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Soldiers 10
At THE CusroM IIouse at the mouth of the river
13
Corporal
Soldiers
SicK IN Hospital
Corporal . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . > . 6
HeRE FOLLOW the MILITARY posted BOTH on the ISLAND DlNGH-
DINGH AND ON THE CoMPANY's SHIPS HERE IN THE StRAITS.
At Dinghdingh
Corporal . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
, , Soldiers t
(48) On the yacht Larkn and the sloop De Cacap in the
BLOCKADE OFF PbRA
Corporal . . . . . . . . . . . . I
Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
la
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
32 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
On THE YACHT MlJVBRBERGH
Soldiers . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
On THE YACHT MaLACCA AND THE SL001> OnRUST IN THB
RIVER PanNAGIE
Corporai 1
Sokiiers . . . . , . . . . . . 7
On THE YACHT De FaAM
Corporai
Soldiers
Total of llie forccs both wilhiii and witiiout
Malacca 370
The drinking waler for the garrison is fetchcd by Ihc Com-
pany's slaves by boat from higher up the river They used also to
carry it up and deliver it to the bastions and guardhouses, but this
is now done by the soldiers and gimners themselves. It wouid be
"well for your Honour to have this continued, so that the honourable
Company may get more service from its slaves.
(49) The number of all other servants of the Company, ad-
ministratörs, preachers, merchants, clerks, handicraftsmcn, gunners
and boatmen amounts to 188, according to the muster-roll. No
higher official posted here may go elsewhere to arrange his own
affairs or for some special object except by forfeiting his pay
until his return to his former or some other office. Moreover no
natives, whether half castes, blacks or others, may be taken by
the heads of ofTices and employed as clerks, unless your I-lonour's
consent is first obtained.
The amount disbursed monthly on food and allowances with
wine and rice rations to every man appointed to this district and
serving here is in accordance with the general orders in force in
all other governments in these parts, and may be seen in the speci-
fication thereof.
(50) IVIemorandum of the amount of victuals and pay
rogether with the wine and rice ratlons distributed
MONTHLY IN IVIalaCCA TO THE CoMPANY's SERVANTS,
EACH ACCORDING TO HIS RANK.
The foUowing is all cash, free from any deductions.
Cash Pots Pounds
Re^ Stivers Wine Rice
Governor .... . . . . 24 . . 20
Chief Merchant 10 24 17
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 33
Cash
Pots
Pounds
Rc^
Stivers
Wine
Rice
Freachers (each)
10
24
7
120
Captain
10
24
7
Shabandar
10
24
6
Mcrchants, Equipage master,
First Lieutenants, I Icad
Siirgcon (each)
8
6
Preaciier's Widow
5
12
4
120
Junior Mercliants, BookUeepers,
Lieulenants, Ensigns,
Svirgeons, Ritliiig iVLastcr,
VisiLors of thc sick, Gunner,
i-oremen (cach)
4
48
4
120
'l'he following draw 4 rt:". 12 slivers minus I re.' {daar van 1 re",
■vp reKeningh).
Assistanls, Sergeants, Junior
Surgeons, Overseers of
public works, Ships' Clerks,
Master Cooper, Master
Builder's Alan, Gunpowder
Maker's JoLirneymen (each) 4 12
Bookbinder, Hxecutioner (each) 4 12 . . 40
The following draw cash without deductions.
Midwife and Gunner's Mate
(each) 4
^(5l) Assistants, Boatswain,
Qu arter-master, Provost
martial, Trumpeter, Sail-
maker, Master Turner,
Carpenter's Joumeyman,
Master Smiths, märket
Overseer {besaanv'\), Gaoler,
Life Guard, Cook,
Chamberlain, Gate-
keeper, Second Mate (each)
Butler
"Schoolmasters
Beadle and Sexton (each)
■Custom House OfTicer . .
.1927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
3
12
3
12
4
, ,
3
12
40
3
12
40
3
12
40
34 Report of Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Cash fots Pounds
Re^ Stivers Winc Rice
The following draw cash without deductions.
Junior Assistants, Hospital
Orderlies 1 36
The Morse soldiers, life-
giiards of His Honoiir the
Governor 1 36 . . 40
The following, each of them, draw 1 re", and 42 stivers
monthly with dcduclion of a J'2rc". or 32 stivers, reckonlng the
re", at 64 stivers.
Corporals, Craftsnicn,
Gunriers and Saiiors (each) 1 42 . . 40
The following, each of them, draw 1 rC. 21 stivers per month,
with deduction of 48 stivers or 3 re\ reckoning the rC. at 64
stivers.
Soldiers Privates .. ..I 21 .. 40 '
Malay Writers, each 1 measure
or 10 gantangs (ganthigs) .... . . - . 60
The Fiscal's servants each .... . . . . 40
Formerly the rice rations were issued to the garrison by the
storekeeper on the roll of the land and sea forces given to him by
the clerks, (52) but this plan did not give an honest residt, so that
orders were given by me that the roll must be given to the garrisotr
bookkeeper for him to see if the number given tallied with the
number of men here on land and must be certified by his signature
whenever the ro/Is were brought to me for endorsement before the
storekeeper might make any issue. This practice yoiir Honour will
do well to continue, as also the checking of the specification of the
monthly consumption of food stuffs and of materials furnished
respectively by the storekeeper and by the ships' writer.
To the Andragerij factory are assigned 1 merchant, 1 book-
keeper, 1 assistant with 1 junior assistant, I interpreter, 2 junior
surgeons and 19 saiiors, 26 in all.
At the present time 59 men are before Pera, engaged fn the
blockade of that place and stationed on the island of Dingdingh,
which the Honourable Company has in its possession, occupying
a square wooden fort there provided with 9 pieces of iron ordnance.
This island is about two miles long and fully half a mile wide; it
has a harbour containing many fish and a convenient roadstead,
also good fresh water in several sandy valieys as weli as timber and
firewood, greatly to the convenience of the before mentioned
blockading force which is stationed (53) at the mouth of the great
river of Pera, and lies about 4j4 miles to the north of it.
Journal Malayan Braiich [Vol. V»
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
35
' ■*: Morcover there are aiso on the yachts and sloops now here
in the Straits 226 men, said yachts and sloops consisting of the
{ollowing: ,' '
Alen Lasts* Guns "
Miiyerhers^h, having on board 52 150 20 iron, among
Laaren „ „ „
't Wape van
Malacca „ „ „
.Paam
Diamant ., „ „
Hoop
Bantam „ „ „
Sloop De
Cacap „ „ „
Sloop De
Schar
Sloop Onrust „ „ „
Boat Dingh-
dhtgb
Ihem 2 b rass
30
100
14
27
50
:6
17
20
8 b rass
17
16
5,1 iron, 4brass
27
50
4 , .
20
30
4 .
U
5
1 brass and 4
pedrerocs
8
8
2 brass and 2
pedreroes
8
5
4 brass
7
3
4 brass
pedreroes onl>
224
69 guns and 10
pedreroes.
Total Troops 224
The yacht Muyerhergh has gone to Siarn, but is due here on its
return thence in November; de Faam is daily expected from And-
ragirij; Låren with the sloop de Cacap and the boat Dinghdingb
lies before Pera, (54) together with 't Wape van Malacca and the
sloop Onrust in the river Pannagie as a blockading force. Hoop
and Bantam are ennployed in the Straits and Diamant with the
sloop de Schar lies in the river here in the shipyard for repair.
Most of the others are in need of the same.
For the repair of ships there is here, on the other side of the
liver by the bridge, a convenient shipyard provided with a shed
(loods) and a house for the master carpenter. At present the
jiecessary number of small craft beJonging to the Company is kept
there.
The number therefore of the Company's servants both in
Malacca and outside amounts to 782 men according to the general
muster-roll of theni:
* A Last = 2 tona.
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
36
Reporl of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Muster-roll of Malacca and its dependencies, its strength^
in servants, administratörs, mercliants, clerks, soldiers, crafts-
men, gunners and seamen, present Lhere on the 3 1 st of AugusS
and on the yachts and sloops in tlie Strails.
8 IHs HonoLir the Governor witli liis Council and
Secretar\'.
2 Preachers
5 junior Merchants
1 Bookkeeper
2 First Assistants
1 Master of the Hospital
(55) 7 Senior and Junior Surgeons, viz.
2 Senior Surgeons
1 Surgeon
4 junior Surgeons
4 Visitors of the sjck
2 Gunner with his Mate
18 Assistants
Bookbinder
Ship's Writer
Overseer of the Public Works
Trumpeter
Town Beadle
Provost Martial
Custom House Ofiicers
Marker Overseer {Besaarwacbtef)
Gaoler
Butler
Schoolmaster and Sexton
Hospital Orderly
Executioner
68 Craftsmen with their masters, viz.
6 Masters
3 journeynien
7 Powdermaker's Journeymen
4 Swordsmiths
10 Mouse Carpenters
9 Ship's Carpenters
7 Smith's Mates
4 Blockmakers, including 1 wheelwrlght
4 Coopers
14 Bricklayers
45 Gunners and Seamen including I boatswain, Z
quartermasttrs on the sampans, I cook in the
hospital.
1 1 Dos. sick in hospital
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V»
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 37
(56) 340 Soldiers viz.
7 Chief Officers to wit:
1 L.ieulenant
2 Socond Lieutcnants
1 l:nsii:;ii :is commamiant of the Delft fort.
3 l-nsigns
18 Untlerollicers
15 Sergeants
1 l?i(ling master (StaUmeester)
1 Garrison writer
i Gatekeepcr
20 Corpora[s
2S8 Privates including
14 Cavairv
295 ^ Il Orderlies
1 Overseer (mandadoor)
7 Privates in Hospital
On the island of l.lingding and in tlie river before Pera on the
yacht Låren, the slocp de Cacap and the boat Divgdingb.
59 Men, to wit;
I junior Merchant acting as Superintendent
(opperhooft)
I Skipper
1 Bookkeeper (beiiig a first assistant)
2 Assist:ints
1 Junior Assistant
3 Second Mates
2 junior Surgeons
8 Soldiers
40 Seamen
(57) At the Dutch factory of Andragirij.
26 Men, to wit:
1 Superintendent {opperhooft)
I Bookkeeper (and second in rank)
I Assistant
1 junior Assistant
1 Interpreter
2 Junior Surgeons
19 Seamen
The yacht Ahtyerhergh on a voyage to Siarn manned as
>folIows:
52 Men, to wit;
1 Skipper
1 Bookkeeper
1 Mate
I Second Mate
i-1 927] Roy al A siatic Society.
38 Reppit;pf,C3oycrnor.l5aithasar,Bo,rt on Maiacca-
I Third Mate (derde waack)..
1 Junior Surgeon '
40 Seamen
ö Soldiers
The'yäbhti'i Wape van Malacca engaged in the blockadc of the
river Pannagie.
27 Men, to wit:
J Mate as skipper
1 Seconcl Mate
1 Junior Surgeon
18 Seamen
6 Soldiers
(58) On the sloop Onrust lying in tlie above named river.
8 Men, to wit:
I Mate
7 Seamen
On llie small yacht De famn on a voyage lo Andragirij,
. 20, ■Men,lowit: ■ , -
1 Skipper
., I Junior Assistant as bookkeeper
i Temporary third Mate
5 Soldiers
12 Seamen
On the small yacht De Diamant in the Straits.
12 iVIen, to wit:
1 Second Mate as skipper
I Junior Surgeon
] O Seamen
On the yacht De lioop in the Straits.
25 Men, to wit:
1 Skipper
^,, 1 Mate
. -!<;, , ', 1 Chief Surgeon ;
22 Seamen
(59) On the small yacht Bantam in the Straits.
17 Men, to wit:
I Skipper
I Mate
' ' ' 1 Junior Surgeon ' '
14 Seamen ' ■ ' ■ ■'
On the sloop De Schar
8 Seamen
782
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol, y.
Report of Govcrnor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 39
In aiidilion Ihc Ilonourablc Company supports 39 of its slayes
and 26 coiivicls cmployecl on Ihc; public works and cach drawing
-10 Ibs. of ricc. Tiie Coinpany's siaves reccive also men ^ and
womcn 1/16 of a re", monthly for salt, pcppcr and arrack. Both
receive once a year, on the ht of January 2 pieces of negro cloth.
Insolvent dcblors are, on ihe dcniand of their creditors, also
confined in Slavenburgh and are given an allowance of I^ Ibs. of
ricc: a day, if ihcy work on the Conipany's works, but not other-
wise. Thcy are allowed to ieave, if their creditors (60) apply for
thcir rclease, whelher they have paid their dcbt or not.
All the siaves of the Ilonourablc Company and the convicts
are lodged within the fort in the strong oid high stone castle
erectcd, as before related, by the Portuguese for their security on
the foLindations of the place the IVIoorish kings had had there, with
a strong squarc tower of 120 feet which had, however, been so
much tiamaged by !he guns during the siege that it'\vas reduced to
50 feet in hcight. It is situatcd opposite the bastion Fredrick
llendrick. In the open spacc between tliem is the place of execu-
tion, where all death sentences are carried out. The castle is now
iisuaily called Slavenburgh and also De Misericordc. The ser-
geant stationed there, who has the oversight of the siaves and con-
victs, must report évery morning to your Honour, as he has done
to me, the number going outside to work and the nuniber remain-
ing within.
In the said SIavenbui'gh there is also a large blacksmith's
shop and a convenient loft for a dormitory for the workmen.
This )oft with the old annoury (61) nearby could be readiäy con-
veited into a prison, with which Malacca is at present unpro-
vided. The lodging of the siaves is also servlceable for that
purpose.
A list was made a short time ago of the number of houses and
their inhabitants both within and outside the town and fort and
under its jurisdiction över the people of all nations wlio with their
families have fixed their domicile there. The number was found
to be 137 brick and 583 adap houses with 4884 persons, viz.
Houses inhabited by the following
Occupants
Brick Adap Persons
23 107 Dutch Burghers 34
Their Womenfolk 53
„ Children 58
„ Siaves (male) 143
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
40 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
(62)
Houses
Occupants
Brick Adap
. I
^ersons.
Their Slaves (female)
130
„ „ (children)
76
6 220
Portuguese half castcs
and blacks
358
Their Womenfolk
562
,. Children
549
„ Slaves (male)
212
., „ (femate)
234
„ „ (children)
105
25H
81 51
Chinese
127
Their Womenlolk
140
„ Children
159
„ Slaves (male)
93
(female)
137
„ „ (children)
60
7^16
27 n
Moors and Gentoos
372*
Their Womenfolk
100
„ Children
75
„ Slaves (male)
35
(female)
51
„ ,. (children)
128
761'
135
1>A3\3,ys
198
Their Womenfolk
188
Children
202
„ Slaves (male)
87
y. „ (female)
71
(children)
21
768
*Tli6 Jla, lias 327 which oljviously sliould be 372, as it is in tlie-
eopy at tlie Hague.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol, V,-
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 4T.
Houses Occupants
Brick Adap
Persons
38 Bugis
38
Their Womenfolk
24
Children
40
Slaves (male)
14
„ „ (female)
9
125-
137 583 4884
In addition to the above named brlck houses there are in the
northern suburb 13 being biiilt or rebuilt. It is very necessary
that there should be more of these instead of adap dwelHngs, (63)
and that the people should be encouraged and helped in the build-
ing of such.
The Conipany's servants, administratörs, mcrcljants, clerks^
soldiers and prcachers, their womenfolk and famiiiesoccupy alto-
gcther 47 boiises, \'iz.
Houses
[4 of the Company's
33 belonging to their servanls
standing within the fort
Dutch Women 24
Their Children 34
„ Slaves (male) 105
(female) 84
(children) 29
276
Half caste and black women 32
Their Children 50
„ Slaves (male) 59
„ „ (female) 52
(children) 26
219
495
All these houses and their occupants are in such piaces and
numbers as hereunder, viz.
Within the northern suburb
Brick Adap
128 182 houses
Outside the northern suburb along the seashore
1 39 houses
Within the southern suburb
2 88 houses
1927] Royal Asiatk Society.
42 Report of Goveinor B;ilUiasar Bort on Malacca
(64) On tlic way to Bouldt China
47 Iiouses
On the riverside
9 ho u ses
At Bongarij iip the river
38 ho u ses
Panckelaran abovc aforcsaicl Bongarij
1 1 jiouses
I louses oi frec persons situalecl within this fort.
6 3 houses
The following houses standing at Tudori, Ringij, Passaal and
Pangoor under the jurisdiction of Malacca and siluated on tJie
soulh side.
17 houses at Tudon
21 „ „ Ringij
34 „ „ Passaal
33 „ „ Pongoor
The following houses standing at Marlimou also siluated on
Ihe South side.
61 houses
137 583 houses standinjg and situated as
specified and houses inside the fort
belonging to the Honourable Com-
pany.
14 houses
I house in the northern suburb by the
Custom house at the mouth of the
river inhabited by the shabandar
33 houses situated within the fort and
belonging to the Company's
servants.
Altogether 185 583
(65) Here follows the number of the inhabitants of the above
Tiaraed dwellings.
Outside the north- Men Wives& ChiidrenSIaves (m.) (f.) (ch.)
ern suburb Widows
Dutch ?7 35 33 91 81 53
Portuguese, half
castes and blacks 154
JVIoors and Gentoos 372
Malays • 19
Chinese 94
Outside the north-
ern suburb on
the seashore
Journal Malayan Braiich [Vol. V,
312
258
76 120 78
100
75
35 51 128
17
17
6 9 22
113
117
48 96 51
Report of Goveriior Balthasar Bort on Malacca 4?
Men Wives&ChildrenSlaves (m.) (f.) (ch.>
Wiclows
Dutch
1
1
2
10
6
■4
Portuguesc. half
casles and blacks
19
19
15
5
10
13
Mal avs
8
10
7
Cliincse
il
6
7
10
7
9^
Within the soiitli-
ern suburb
Dulch
2
3
5
2
3-
Portuguese, half
castes and blacks
74
94
121
83
82
On the way lo
Bouquet China
Dutch
I
1
2 ,
3
. .
. .'
Portuguese, half
/
castes and blacks
36
47
71
'27
16
. .
Cln*ncse
22
21
35
35
34
B t-
On tlie rivcrside,
lowards Bon-
garij and Pan-
ckelaran up the
riverj Portu-
guese, half
castes and
blacks
75
90
84
21
6
H
Maiays
40
45
48
45
39
Inhabitants of
Tudon, Ringij,
Passaal and
Pongoor under
the jurisdiction
oi' Malacca
At Tudon
17
17
36
6
3
A t Ringij
21
20
28
2
4
At Passaal
34
35
38
7
2
At Pongoor
33
21
II
6
7
, ,
Inhabitants of
Mariimou also
situated on the
south side
Maiays
26
23
17
15
7
Bugis
38
24
40
14
9
. ..
(66) Inhabi-
tants of the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
M Report of Goverrior Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Men Wive-s & Chiidren Slaves (m.) (f.) (ch.)
Widovvs
houses of tfie
free biirghers
within the fort
of Malacca
Dutch 3
13
21
34 41
16
Jnhabitants of ihe
dwellings, cx-
cltiding the
men, who bcing
n\\ Companys
servants, are
not placed here.
[15] of these
houses beiong to
the Mon. Com-
pany and 33
to its servants
Brought forward 1127
1067
1083
584 632
391
Dutch
24
34
105 84
29
Natives
32
50
59 52
26
1127
1 123
1167
748 768
446
Ail these people, as regards those in the neighbouring places,
make a iivelihood by trading, and here by fishing, agriculture and
all other trade and trafTic.
The Dutch burghers Roelof Gerritz and Pieter Leendertsz
Drus have each for a period of 10 years the privilege of making,
the former bricks and Portugiiese roofing tiles here, the latter
Dutch and Chinese roofing tiles and flags.or square flooring bricks,
as shewn by our resolutions of the 13th Aug. and the I9th Nov.
1677.
Friday, Aug. 13. 1677, demto Sr. Govert du Lavay.
The Dutch burgher Roelof Gerritsz has shewn this morning
in this Council how he had held hitherto the monopoly of burn-
ing and purveying bricks and Portuguese roofing tiles at a fixed
price (67) and that now so many Moors and others are participat-
ing therein that it is inipossible for him any longer to make a
living, uniess, as the Moors do, he greatly reduces the size of the
moulds and iises materials of an inferior quality to that employed
heretofore. This, however, he has no mind to, but would much
rather beg that he be granted and allowed from now on, for a
period of S to 10 successive years to have the monopoly of making
and burning bricks and Portuguese roofing tiles and to have them
made and bnrnt of such length, breadth and thickness as the oid
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
iU^port of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 45
moiilds cictermine and to fiirnish the Honourable Company and
our inhabitanls with them at ihe following rales, vi;:, the bricks at
5 and the lilcs al niiu' re^ ihe Ihousand, as is seen more fully by
the petition here bclow.
'lo the lionoiirablc ileer Balthasar Bort, Councillor Ex-
IraorcHnary of India, Governor -.ind Director of the town and
fort oi iMaiacca and lo ihe worlhy Council.
Koelof Gerrils/, burj^her in this place, gives notice with all
<hie respecl Ihat hc. tiic petilioner intends to erect a kihi for (68)
the burning of bricks and Por[i,i{^ucsc tiles, for which undertaking
(as involvins miich hibour) he, the petitioner will be unavoidably
■obliged to employ hired workmeii, who often, when the work is
fvilly nnder way and Ihe necessary expeiiditiire has been made,
leave their master for trivial reasons and engage ihemscives to
others, as experience has shewn more than once, fr6m which action
nothing but injury, daniage and loss is to be expected. In order
lo giiard against and prevent this danger, he, the petitioner very
humbly prays your Ilonours to be pleased to grant to him for a
period of 8 to 10 years the privilege of the monopoly of baking
said liles and bricks, as also Portuguese roofing tiles, interdicting
and prohibiting to all Moors and others henceforth the making of
the said tiles and bricks; he, the petitioner undertaking to carry
>on the said kiln with siich diligence that the Honourable Com-
pan}'' shail always be abie to get a sufficient quantity of the former
shape and at the oid price, viz. the 1000 bricks at 5 and the 1000
tiles at 9 re«. Further that he may also supply the needs of the in-
habitanls, if not to the curtailment of the Honourable Company.
Whereto he, the petitioner awaits your Honour's favourable en-
dorsement.
Which matter was deliberated upon and (69) it was found
that the Moors and others, who now meddle with this trade, under-
sell and try to ruin each other, therefore, with best consideration,
the petitioner's prayer is granted and for the period of 10 consecu-
tive years he is permitted to have ihe monopoly of burning bricks
and Portuguese roofing tiles, and of supplying them to the Honour-
able Company and our inhabitanls at the aforesaid price with in-
junction to all and sundry who have heretofore gained a livelihood
thereby to abandon it forthwith, unless they have first obtained
from the said Roelof Gerritsz a specific warrant therelo, as this our
resolution makes known to all whom it may concern in the memo-
randum given below.
Each and all are hereby infgrmed that Roelof Gerritsz, free
burgiier of this town, having sought by a petition in Council the
monopoly in the making and burning of tiles and bricks and also
■of Portuguese roofing tiles required both by the Company (70) and
the inhabitanls on condition thåt they must be made at the price
1927] Royal AsJatic Society.
46 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort oii Malacca
of 5 re\ per !000 bricks and 9 re", per 1000 Portuguese roofing,
tiles, moreover that they are of the clue thicUncss and length in.
conformity witli the existing mouid, tiierefore we in our Council
have for various reasons decided to grant and accord to the afore-
said Roeiof Gerritsz the making and burning of bricks and Portu-
guese roofing tiles for the period of 10 consecutive years, each and
all being hereby warned against meddling henceforth with the
making or burning of these things without the express consent of
the said F^oelof Gerritsz, on pain of forfeiture of all the bricks and
tiles made.
Thus made and resolved in the Council of Malacca, datmn
tit ante, Friday, 19th Nov. 1677.
Lastly, a certain petition was presented in the Council by the-
Dutch free burgher, (71) Pieter Leendertsz Drust and it was
thereby made known that he, the petitioner, is desirous of burning
all sorts of Dutch and Chinese roofing tiles and square fiooriug tiles
for the use of the Honourable Company and the general inhabi-
tants, if so be the privilege be granted for some time to him alone
to the exclusion of all others, for othervvise, if granted for only a
short and small time, it would not repay his expense and trouble,
as lie shews by the petition given below in the terms as foUow:
To the Honourable Heer Balthasar Bort, Councillor Extra-
ordinary of India, Governor and Director, and to the Council, of
the town and fort of Malacca with the dependencies of the same.
Pieter Leendertsz Drust with all due respect (72) gives
notice that he, the petitioner is desirous of burning Dutch and
Chinese tiles and flooring bricks here in Malacca for the use of the
Honourable Company and of other inhabitants, and, since in'due
course, others (and those just the persons he intends to employ for
that work), after gaining their knowledge, might undertake such
work themselves whereby he, the petitioner would in such case be
greatly prejudiced, he therefore prays herewith that your Honours
will grant him, for such time as may please you, the monopoly of
carrying on said manufactnre with an injunction that no one be
permitted to burn any Dutch tiles or flooring bricks and he, the
petitioner, undertakes by his vigilance to supply the Honourable
Company and others fuUy and sulficiently, etc.
(73) The petition having been attentively considered and it
being deemed no more than just and right that anyone introdncing
_some new art or invention (as is this of the manufacture of flooring
bricks in Malacca), should enjoy some privileges as compensation
for his necessary expenses and.trouble, therefore it is unanimously
decided to accede to the request made by the said Pieter Leendertsz
Drust and to grant him for the period of 10 consecutive years the
manufacture of Dutch and Chinese roofing tiles and square flooring
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 47
bricks, witli interdiclion lo all and sundry from henceforth of the
undertaking of Ihe same cxccpt wilh the express constnt of the
aforesaid Pieter Lccnderlsz Drust.
Thus made and resolved in the Council of Malacca, datum
ut stcpra.
TliG above mentioned 14 brick houscs roofed widi tiles belong-
ing to the Monourable Company are occupied by its highcr ofTicials,
viz.
The Governor
The Chief Merchant and second in rank
Two Preachers
The Captain
The Fiscal
The Equipage master
The i iead of the Pay olTice, being also a member of Council
The Secretary /
(74)The Secretariat occupied by the chief clerk and his house-
hold and assistants
The Garrison Bookkeeper with his family and assistants, this
house being at the same time the pay oflice.
The Cashier
The Surgery where the Head Surgeon lives
The License master.
Moreover the Ilonouvable Company has also a brick house
standing at the entrance of the northern subiirb at the mouth of
the river by the custom house; the shabandar lives in it.
The Governor's house, from top to bottom, has been and still
is usually very leaky in rainy and blustering weather, nevertheless
we had the roof över the leads removed, because it made the house
shake and tremble, whenever it was windy. The house therefore
being roofed only with common tiles could not be kept waterproof.
Some improvement in this matter has been made gradually, though
not without trouble and expense, but not to the extent of its be-
coming perfect. With that object we have had 8000 glazed roofing
tiles burned and put in store, costing 40 re^ per 1000, and amount-
ing to 320 re^ in order to renew the tiiing of the roof in the dry
season, viz: the coming months of January and February, which
your Honour can have done or use any such means as your Honout'
may decide upon.
(75) The servants of the Honourable Company and the
Christian inhabitants used formerly to have only one ensign and
one chief officer in this place, but in 1667 they were divided into
two, each with an ensign and oflicers as foUows:
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
48 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Company's Servants Inhabitants
The Hon. Adriuan Lucasz;, Caplnin Jacob Sonman, Captain
Sr. Jacob Snickers, Lieutenant Jan Beeck, Lieutenant
Sr. Adriaaii Wijlant, Ensign Ilendnk Moleinan, Ensign..
The Company's servanls are calletl to arms whcn nccessity de-
mands, but the inhabitants guard boUi the northern and southern
suburbs especiaUy ;it night. To meet any small expenses, eacb
household contnbutes 3 stivers and the Moors allogether 20 re^. a
month; the former is collected and accounted for by the burgher
ofiiccrs nnc[ the latler by the hon. Atlriaan Lucasz: aforesaid. The-
burgher olTicers receiitly received a further order from us for their
instruclion, which is registered in the letter book under the date
I9th Aug. 1677. lo come evcry evening between 5 and 6, like the
comniantiant of Ihe fort Dclft, lo get the passwoid from tlie
Governor.
\Ve, Balthasar Bort, Councillor Exlraordinary of india,
Governor and Director of the town and fort of Malacca with
Ihe dependencies thercof lo all who shall see these presents or
hear them read, gjve grecling and make known that it has
conie to our ears that among the burgher guard of the outer
town proper order is not kept (76) and observed on that same
walch and ward as our good intent had prescribed on this-
point, but is dehed and disregarded by many. To such an ex-
tent in fact, that some, when it is their watch, venture to
abandon it before the time and even finally to absent them-
selves, thus nullifying the ordinances issued for security,.
tranquillity, peace and the protection from all tumult and
disturbance in all that is necessary to prevent the total ruin of
the inhabitants, especially in these present times of war, when
it is impossible to tell at what moment our present open ene-
mies the Manicabers will fall upon us again; provision must
also be made to prevent fire or any other disaster. Since we
have very specially at heart the welfare of our subjects, there-
fore we, with the approval of the Council, have decided, for
the reform of the abuses which in course of time have crept
in, to order and decree that the ofTicers and common soldiers
shall, with due honour and respect, each in his office and rank,
recognize and obey their captain, lieutenant and ensign, also
all such sergeants and corporals as have been already
appointed and recommended by us or may in future be
appointed and not to show themselves refractory, on pain of
punishment by the Army Council, if occasion (77) arise
Iherefor. That all those who, in either the northern or
the southern suburb, are assigned to the burgher guard and
remain liable to the same, must, when it is their watch, at
the proper time, viz. 9 o'clock in the evening, appear and be
present before the house of their chiefs and answer- to their
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governoi- Balthasar Bort on Malacca 49"
names on llit: roll, which shall then be called, on pain of a
fme of a half re". Iho lirst, a re". Ihe second, and any penalty
that may be imposed the tliird lime of coming aflcr the rolf
call or loo late. Any who, without obtaining Icave or ap-
poiiUinf^ another burgher in his stead, abscnts liimself from
iiis walch or abandons or qiiits the same before reveillc is-
sounded in the morning shall, the first time, be fined two, the
second, four pieces of eight, but the third, shall be subjected
to a heavier piinishment. 'I"hey should moreover keep sober
on their watch and, if their names are called for patrol or
sentry dul}', ihcy mu.st obey the order on pain of a fme of
one piecc of eight: Dutch offenders (pexerende) shall in
all cascs pay double fmes. These fines are to be collected
and received by the respective chief officers of the outer
guard antl the delinquenLs must pay the fines promptly and
without gainsaying or dispute. Towards the end of the year
these fines, collected in this way, shall be spent pn a merry
banc|iiet of the burghers. Tiius we consider the same tO'
conduce to the maintenance of good order, the welfare of
this colony and the service of the Honourable Company.
(78) Thus made, confirmed, published and posted this 19th
August 1677. Signed Balthasar Bort,
Should your Honour wish to be able to ascertain each year
the increase or decrease of population, the Christian inhabitants
or their slaves are usualiy employed twice a year, in the dry
season, in cutting down wood round about this town and fort, sO'
as to secure a better outlook.
As to the jurisdiction of Malacca, it extends about 18 miles
on the north side beyond the river Pannagie and Cabo Rochado
to Callang, on the south side as far as Moar about 6 miles and in-
land up to the village of Rombouw. Ail these three places used
to be under Johor and are still to some extent subject to it.
To the northward up to aforesaid river Pannagie and south-
wards as far as a piace called Cassangh, situated near IVloar
above mentioned, and for 6 miles up the river on both sidas there
are gardens and orchards planted with various fruit trees,
especially mangosteen, durian, and cashew. They are now mostly
in the possession of inhabitants, but some, which are out of the
way, still belong to the Honourable Company and at fruit-
harvest time are farmed out to such persons as apply for them,
half of the fruit göing to the profit of the Honourable Company.
The others are subject to a payment of 10%.
A list of these orchards (79) and gardens also has .been
made, as follows;
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
50
Report of Governoi' Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Roelof Gerritsz:
Maria Rodrigos
IJrsela Swaris
Domingos Correa
Gardens on the N. W. bank Tlieir owners
The garden of Anthony Pinto {
and that of Domingos de Monte J
The garden of Louis Cardosa
„ ,, Gaspar de Costa
The garden Gaja Beram
Cananga, liic garden of De Monlel
and that of Joan de Castilje, för. Joan Rosdom
aiso Bale Panjang J
'Ihe gardens of Anna Texera and (
St. llierononio Peqnenino j
The garden St. lUcronomus
Groot Bretang
„ Malij
„ „ Clecn Bretang
„ „ Candam
„ „ Chim
„ „ AgLia de Loiipa
„ „ Tanna Mera
„ „ Viringin
Gardens on the S. E. bank,
The garden Dou Sontagan
„ „ Cleen Pringij
Sr. Jacob Sonnian
BreLis Purera
Isabel de Frclis
Sr. Adriaan van der
Walle
Sr. Jan Bccck
Joan Pais
Philippe de Costa
Pransisca Mcnesis
Nicolaas Basteij
Intje Aron
')"heir owners.
Nicolaas Basteij
The widow of the cap-
tain of the Chinese
Sr. Mendrik Temmer
„ „ Songa Pouta
(80) „ „ Tualan, Poelo, MatchapChristoffel Barbier
BiUmbin Sr. Jan Roosdom
„ Pancalan Avoer Mr. Joan Meeck
Pantjoor Manuel Velho
On the N. side, along the seashore
The garden of Brås Pinto
„ „ Cliban Cleene
., „ Groote,
Battantiga, Condoor
Tanna Meera^ Pantjoor
Aijer I tam
Songoe Baroe
Lourens Noronje
The Hon. Co.
'Sr. Sonmans
Sr. Roosdom
Symon Ferdinandes
Th Hon. Co.
On the S. side along the seashoreTheir owners
Cassangh
The garden Paritchina
Doedjong
Pongoor
Passael
Toedjong
Marhmoen
Ringij
Tijer Touwer
The Captain of the
Chinese Si Sia
Joan Naes
Sr. Mendrik Temmer
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 51
(81) The foUowing gardens still belong to the Honourable
Company and are granted in the fruiting season to the
poor inhabitants, who have one half of the fruit for
tlieir own and hand över the other to the Honourable
Company.
The gartlen Rumbia The Honourable Company.
1ie garden 1"umagan
Sabrangaja
,, „ liatlanlongal
Battabrandam
„ „ Moriaccapinda
Battoeampar
„ ,, Gro()t Cabaca
Cleen Cabaco
"he Honourable
Company.
The lands called Mailimoen, Hingij and Cassan on the south
sido have each a small stream running out into the^sea and level
fields. Black Christians of the Roman Catholic faith live there
but mostly IVlalays and Bugis, earning a livelihood in the main
from rice plantations.
Battantiga on the north side was recently left by the Malays,
who dwelt there, on the coming of the enemy, the Manicabers, and
abandoneti to them, so that the rice cnllivatjon there and elsewhere
also was destroyed and since that time no special planting has been
done. Moreover the inhabitants, especially the native Chris-
tians, Mohammedans and^Gentoos are not much inclined thereto
or industrious, although they are continually exhorted to the
necessary cultiv.Ttion and the custom has been adopted of taking
from them the land which they had got for nothing from the
Honourable Company and giving it to others who were willing to-
sow it. On one occasion 1200 re^ (82) were lent without interest
by the Honourable Company to some men who seemed inclined
to agricultuve and fitted for it, but not to have the means for the
necessary initial outlay. They were enabled by delivering their
paddy or rice free of duty to the Honourable Company to pay
ofF and discharge their debt. This was done in order to encourage
these men and others to devote themselves with diligence to the
cultivation of land (of which there is no lack here both suitable
thereto and fertile), so that some day we may be abie by this
means to subsist on our own products. In 1668 J had a register
made of all the rice plantations with the names of their owners
and the quantity produced by each and found that in a year they
did not provide more than 38010 gantangs, making, at 6 Ibs a
gantang 76 loads of 3000 Ibs each.
Now since the Honourable Company for its own needs, for
its soldiers, sailors and workpeople on land and on the yachts and
sloops stationed here in the Straits, as also for its slaves and the
1927] Royal Asiätic Society.
52 Report of Governor Bulthasar Bort on Malacca
■convicts eniployecl oii Lhe public works, requires yearly 2U0 loacls
-and has been supplied hitlierto froin Bengal or Siarn, tlie fort must
usually keep (JOU loacls in regular slore. If lhe importalion from
Java shoiild fail, siiice the siipply from lhe cotintry round is so
small Uiat the inhabitanls could not by a long way be fed by it
and woidd inimediately ha\'e recourse to the llonoiirable Com-
pany, antl be supplied on payment, may it iherefore please your
IIonoLir to take care Ihat the slorehouses of lhe llonoiirable Com-
p:\ny are always providcd vvilh a supply of good, sounil (85) rice,
so tiiaf, in case of uncxpecfed acciiicnts, ihere shoiild be no danger
•of want. At the present lime there are 470 loads in slore.
In the forests of Malacca jieople called Bonuaes live a savage
lifc, biil are not of a cruel tempcr, making shifl wilh poor ibod
and rainient for llicmselvcs, their wives and childrcn. They uscd
in lhe time of fruit barvcst to come here and even inlo the fort,
but could not be persiiaded to rcmain, although presents of rice
and clothes were given to Ihem. For some years past they have not
been seen; it is saiti that they have retreatctl further into lhe in-
teriör, because the Manicabers were constantly trying to capture
them, carry tliem off and keep them in bondage. They have a
languagc of their own, nol understood by olher pcople.
One Jan jansz JVlenie, who was shabanilar here in 1642,
was sent to them and wrote a descripfion of their life, customs and
appearance given here below.
Wild elephants have also been seen here in the förest. Attempts
were formerly made to capture them, but they were abandoned,
,becaiise, they were not successful.
Short description or resumé of the life, customs and ap-
pearance of the wild men living in the wootls up the river in
the neighbourhood of Malacca, with special reference to the
time of fruit harvest.
Saturda}', September 20, 1642.
(84) The coilector, Jan Jansz Menie together with Capt.
Alexander Mendes and the Malay writer Intje Cadeer has been
'zommissioned by the honourable Governor and the Council to go
with all speed to observe and enquire, if possible, into the appear-
ance and condition of the savages now living in the forest up the
Malacca river. Wherefore, to incline them to better friendship,
10 pieces of Javanese striped cloth and 6 poor assagais, some
money, wine and strong arrack, I blowpipe, 1 creese and 24 gan-
tangs of good rice have been given to him on behalf of the Hon-
■ourable Company and also food for himself, his soldiers and boat-
men.
Thus equipped he started at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
-and arrived [by härd rowing] that evening at the little chapel
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report oi Ciovenior Balthasar Boil on Malacca 53
of A^Lia lic l.uupa, Noliiing luui occurred cluring Ihe voyage ex-
cepl tlial a crocutlile seized a ctiitain person, sitting in a prao fish-
ing, by llic kncc, bul dit! him lilllt: liarm, sinca Uh leg was in the
boat. 1 le larritd at the place named until 4 oclock in the morn-
ing and then at moonrise conlinued his journey and at 9 landcd at
Panitdan Nanningh. Thcre hc IcanU from the Pongoclo ofthe
place and heat! of the estale that the said savages had been there-
the day before, whereforo lie forthwilh sent the said Pongoelo and
a senior hhick foreller lo find ont if they were still in the neigh--
bourhood.
In the nieantime lie had a ineal made ready and, when it was-
caten, al ahoul 1 1 o'clock, since lie saw that no one came back
and Ik' did not wish to prolong his expedition, (8'y) he set out lO'
meet iliein. Al)out HOOO puces fnriher on he came upon a lilthy,
mutkly palh. made .so by the heavy rain which had fallen shortjy
beforc, and mel one of the two persons hc had dispatched, Thls.
man reporleti tliat he hatl spöken to the savages in ,lhe wood and
Ihat Lhey were gathering at a smal! shed a good disfance away.
When. after an hour's march, he came close to the spöt, he
sent Mendes oii and follovved him at a gentle pace, unlil they at
last fnund tiiese wild men there.
Some of them had an assagai with a blovvpipe in their hands
and a quiver with darts at their sides. l^heir chiefs sat in the shed'
naked except that they had a small cloth round about the middle
and a bit of linen in front drav.n between the legs and fastened to
the said cloth at the back to cover their privities; some had only
bark (ibre round their bodies. They carried their children on
their backs in a band of the same material, with which they were-
firmly bound to the body of the father or mother, the children
supported themselves on the hips and held fast with their arms to-
the shoLilders, of the bearer.
Thereafter they went to sit in the aforesaid shed with the
chiefs, 3 in number, Oeleballangh Jampe, Batin Sappe and Posapa
by name. They said that they (86) had a higher chief living with.-
the rest of the savages in the neighbourhood of the river of Cas-
sangh without mixing with any other people. They sometimes-
separated into bands, one here and another there, so that, if they
were all coUected together, men, women and children, they would.
number about 3000, of whom only about 40 were here gathered.
They had started from their place of abode fully 300 strong and
all these and more could be got together within two days from the-
estates where they were scattered. These savages often go to
visit the others on the further coast near Pahangh, even as far
as Patania.
When we had spöken thus far with the savages, they asked
US to be pleased not lo take it amiss that it was their custom for
strangers on coming among them to take on oath in token of not
1927] Royal Asiatic Society. .
54 Report of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca
wishing to do them liarm or injury. This oath is taken jn the
following manner: they take a little water, piit in some salt and
then plunge a creesc into it, speaking these words: 'Mf it is our
intent to do harm, tlien may the creese of itseif hint us." Then
tach drinks a little of the water twice.
This, which is hekl among ihem lo be a very great oath, (87)
thcy did not demand from us, but the collector, Menie, himself
look some arrack, dränk it and said: " If wc havc come to do you
hann, may Ihis nrrack lurn inlo poison and do us harm." 'l"his rite
was performed by Caplain Mendes, the IVlalay writer and each
of the ihree chiefs of ihc savages also twice över.
'I'hcrcupan thcy cntered into conversation wilh (hc savages and
asked tlieni lo scnd someone to Maiacca, otTering to leavc bchind,
as hostages for tho envoys' relurn and good reception, Captain
Alexander Mendes and the Pongoelo and his wife and following,
hut they vvould not agree U> it, for they said thcy had become
alanned since some of the Manicabcrs had deceived thein wilh fair
words, surrounded them and carried ofl" Iheir wives and children.
Whercfore now they trusled. no one.
Meanwhile their womenfolk, clothed just like the men, arrived
with the yoinig children. They are usually well favoured; they.
wear their hair short, so as not to be held fast anywhere when
they are running through the forest; they have high hips, which, I
believe, is brought about in their youth, because the quite smail
.children are not so; they are whitish yellow in colour, have a
swaying (88) gait, almost as if they were dancing, and run at a
tröt, so that, before one can look round, they are out of sight.
Their beiief is in conformity with the nature God has given them,
they know of no religion. Their language is very stränge, but
\'ery agreeable among themselves.
These three chiefs could speak IVlalay, Battin Sappe much
better than the others and he also showed himself much more
'Civili/,ed. They liked drinking strong arrack. They said that,
if the collector Menie wished to visit them again and they were
sojourning at the time in the same neighbourhood, they would go
to the river side or to Panckelan Banir, even as far as Poulou,
which is about 2 miles nearer than f-*anckelan Nanning.
lie distribiited to them some cloth, salt and rice, a creese, 6 as-
■sagais, 1 blowpipe and, to the children, some double stivers, which
they häng round their necks.
Sometimes one finds bezoar stones in their possession; they get
them from onkas and apes.
Their food consists of apes, wild yams, (oebisen) buffaloes,
pigs and other wild animals all of which they first lure to them by
their charms and then dispatch. The elephants they kiU in the
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 55
following manner: one of thcm seizes the beast by the tail, sets his
■ feet on the elephanfs heels {hack scheenen) and gives him various
wounds in the body with an assagai. The elephant, feeling him-
self wounded, runs round and round in the hope of (89) injuring
his antagonist, who, however remains immovable^ so that the
elephant cannot get rid of him. Meanwhile the others come up
and stab and wound the beast with their assagais, until he falls
to the ground. Sometimes these creaLures in their pain uproot
trees lo iise as woapons of Ci|n'ence against their enemics and occa-
sionally succced in doing ihem an injury.
Among thcse pcople one sometimes, with luck, finds eagle
wood and calambac; resin can be had from them in great quantity,
so thal ihe Ilonourable Company coiild reap great profit from
thcm, if Ihey could be disposed and ronsed therelo. '1 he greatest
attenlion must be paid to this matter. With a view to this the
coiJcclor Mfnic ordered the Pongoeio to remain among them 3
days longer and to Iry to jicrsuacle them to come and confer with
US at certain hxed times.
They were very eager for clothes, rice, tobacco and silver
rings. Ihey Hiied drinking strong arrack, so that almost all of
them got intoxicated. They hastened to fetch certain roots given
to pregnant women, who cannot bring to birth, wood for fever
, (bont voor de coortse) and root fibres for inflammation and gave-
them to the collector Menie.
lie took leave of them about 3 in the afternoon and got ,into
the (90) prao. At nightfall he came to the before mentioned
church, Agua de Loupa, and at 9 o'clock to the town gate of
Malacca and forthwith made his report to the Governor.
The Honourable Company has not hitherto been able to
make money by its estates and lands, because, in the early days,
they were apportioned for cultivation and house-building to in-
habitants, wiio from long continued occupation have become
owners. Many of them have alienated the properties by sale or
otherwise. without paying anything to the Honourable Company.
This ciistom still contlnues, for few of the inhabitants have means,
most of them being poor, and they have been reduced to a still
meaner and worse condition by the recent Manicaber war.
The chief village, Nanningh, is subject to IVlalacca together
with the neighbouring villages and hamlets, Melecque, Perlingh,
Inar Commoij, Cherenapoetoe, Bataampa and Sabangh about 6
miles up the river in the valleys there lying between the hills.
They are inhabited by jVIanicabers and Malays, who were under
Portuguese jurisdiction and after the conquest of Malacca made a
covenant as vassals of the Netherlands and the Honourable Com-
pany, as agreed and determined in certain artides in the year 1641
on Aug. 15., asfollows:
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
'56 Report of Governor Balthasiir Bort on Malacca
(91) Artides and Conäitiom agreeti, concluded and deter-
mined betwcen tlie llonourable .]oan^ Van Twist, Councillor ex-
traordinär/ of india and Governor of the town and fort of Malac-
ca, logether with his I lonour's Council for ihc one pari and Toulella
Palavvan Captain and lladja Mera Pcrpatti Sowaltan Maranga
Matran Mara and Bansade Radje, elders of Nanningh and the
surrounding villages for the olher part:
In the (irst place (hc aforesald Captain and elders in the name
and on behalf of the whole community promise and swear to the
illustrious IMgh and Mighty States General of the Free, United
Nelherlands, to his Mighness and his Grace Prederick llcnd-
rick Prince of Orange, etc., to Ihe Directors of ihe United
I-ast India Company in these parts, lo the llonourable Governor
General and Council of Intlia, as also the llonourable Governor
and his Council here in this town and to all commanders appointed
•över Ihem, or in fulure to be appointed, to be faithful and true and
each and all to the utmost of their ability in all due subjcction, to
behave to the Stale of the Nelherlands as is their bounden duty as
faithful vassals without undertaking anything either directly or
indirectly against the said State, abrogating and annuUing all
■contracts and covenants made before this time with the rulers ap-
pointed by the King of Spaln or of Portugal.
2
And in case any of the people of Nanningh, Manicabers and
Malays (92) contrary to the contents of this contract, should run
awa>' or be disobedient to the Governor and his olFicers, the afore-
said Raja and elders are bound on injunction by the 'rommagon
■or fiscal to hand över the same to be punished by the saiil Governor
and Council as he deserves.
in (he event of a Manicaber inhabitant of Nanningh dying
without leaving wife, children or lawful heirs, the Company, as was
the cuslom in the time of the Portuguese, shall have half and the
Captain of said Nanningh similarly the other part of the property
left by the deceased and, if there are heirs (as aforesaid), the
Company is lo have a tenth, whereof the Captain shall have half,
4
If any A'Ianicaber inhabitant of the said Nanningh kills
another and takes to flight, the Honourable Company shall have ali
the goods of the same without exception, unless the delinquent left
a wife and heir who retains half, as stated before in the case of
■death.
■ 5
The aforesaid captains, elders and inhabitants of Nanningh
both Manicabers and Malays remain bound to render to the
.general East India Company a tithe from the rice fields and of all
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 57
■other fiLiits and for the betel and pepper plantations yearly such
rents as liave hilherlo been customary according lo their slze
-on the decision of the valuer (93) of plantations {valiadoor des
hortos) advised by the (>)mmissianers of the llonourable Com-
pany and, in the event of the said inhabitants seiling said planta-
tions among themselves, they shall be bound to pay to the Com-
pany or its comiiiissiuners the tenth of the price in cash as has been
hitherto cuslomary.
6
Provided that at the time of the collection of the aforesaid
tilhe for Ihe benefit of aforesaid Dutch East India Company the
said Company shall be bound to issue of the aforesaid culti-
valors (fiaaräers) 200 gantangs of nelly or unpounded rice for their
mainlenancc and also a piece of linen cloth and ene ditto of cashee
(cassa) as recompense to the Captain of said Nanningh.
7
When llie aforesaid nelly as well as the money for the plan-
tations has been collected the Captain shall have the tithe of the
^iforesaid incomings both goods and money, as was the custom
hitherto, the vv.riter of the said Captain shall have 5 crusadoes and
the valuer of said plantations and said nelly also 5 crusadoes for
their sole fee and no more.
8
Any vesseis coming with betel from Nanningh are bound to
lie before the warehouse (banghsaal) and to pay as dues 100 in
the 1000 of saiti betel leaves, also for each prao one crusado for
the benefit of aforesaid Company, also for the servant of the
Coliector or Shahbandar 100 leaves out of each betel säck (hens,
tobacco and milk in bamboos are excepted, these have been exempt
irom any dues).
9
Also I hat aforesaid Company or the coliector be under obliga-
tion (94) always to keep a servant in the warehouse to supply
the people coming with the aforesaid boats with pots, platters,
"waterpots, parangs {parangb)io chop their wood, candles or lamps,
also two meals, one schoupa (that is 1^ ibs.) of rice for each per-
:son, and also salt or fresh fish and vegetables in proportion;
further provisioning being, in the case of long delay at the ware-
house, at the charge of said persons.
10
And when any praos of the Company are present in Pankelan
and the inhabitants of above mentioned Nanningh come down with
their own boats (which they are otherwise not allowed to do), they
are bound to pay to the Honourable Company or its coliector 2
tangas (tanges) for each prao besides the dues of their goods as
aforesaid.
.1927] Royal AsiatJc Society.
58 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
n
It is also granted to the inhabitants that said coilector or his-
servants shall not have power to exact the betel ducs beforc the
price of said leaves has been fixed in the warehouse and the same
have been sold in order to prevent loss of the same by damage to
said leaves.
12
If an}' praos or baloons (baloijns) arrive at Panckelan Nan-
ning (om leegb,)* the owners of goods are bound to deposit afore-
said goods in the house of the jure Pankelangh or Inspector
{vi^itateur) of the said boats iintil he has procured carriers from
Nanning, the fee of aforesaid jure Panckelang, viz. 5 crusados a
month, to be paid by the Honourable Company.
13
(95) If the inhabitants ofNanningh wish todepart from their
dwelling place and go elsewhere, they must show said coilector a
permit in writing from the Captain and stamped with tlie seal of
the Company, together with a fowl as a present from each person
for the profit of the Honourable Company aforesaid.
14
Simiiarly if any Manicabers comé from other places to dvvell
or travel in aforesaid Nanningh, they shall be obliged as hereto-
fore, lo pay per head one real of eight in specie to the General East
India Company, and if he goes away without the consent of the
coilector or tommagon and without paying the poU tax, as above,
he shall forfeit över and above that sum a fine of 10 reals to the-
aforesaid Company.
15
If any maie or female slaves run away from Nanningh to
IVlalacca to become Christians, the owners of such slaves shall
have as compensation the just half of the price of said slaves ac-
cording to the valuation set by the tommagon, fiscal, bailiff or
coilector, and no morc.
16
But if any slaves of the Honourable Company or of the in-
habitants of Malacca, whether Christians or IVloors, flee to Nan-
ningh or the surrounding places, the aforesaid captains and elders^
together with all the inhabitants, without exception, of these
places, shall be bound to detain the runaways ai:id to bring them
promptly to Malacca, in order to hand them över to their masters,
(96) receiving therefor as a recognition and acknowledgment
from said owners 5 crusados, and no more.
*The original liere lias in JPancJcelan van Nmming om leegli comende,.
which might iiatm-iilly ineaii *'amving at Paagkalan from Naniiig" but
e;m liardly tto ao iii view of tlis juru panghalan beiiig expecteit to procura
cixniers from Nanuig, Thig must have been a case of vessels comiug from^
downstream. The seiise of ovi leegh is not clear.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,.
Report of Governor Baithasar Bort on Malacca 59
17
/\ncl in orticr Ihat the purport of above artide may be observ-
■ed without vioiatioii, said heads promise and vow for themselves,
as well as in llic name of the wliole community, lo deliver vvithin
thc sjtacc of one moiith to the Governor or his depiity all runaway
Christian niale or fcmale slavcs acquired both during the sicge and
.aftcrwartis antl sold lo the Manicabers, without concealing or hold-
ing back any of the same under any pretext or cloal< whatsoever.
18
Provided that they receive as ransom for those whom they ac-
<iuired during aforesaid siege their value according to the approv-
■ed assessment of Ihe Governor and iiis Council; in whose discretion
it shall be lo lake possession of aforesaid slaves for said price or to
allow their owners to retain them.
19
Nevertheless, if any free Malacca Christians wish to sojourn in
said Nanningh and maintain themselves by agricuiture or betel
planting, permission shall be granted to them, on condition that
they pay the taxes along with the other inhabitants, provided that
such sojourn is volunlary and not due to overpersuasion or con-
straint on the part of any man.
20
Aforesaid elders, as above, promise to hand över to the com-
missioners of said Governor in Malacca within the time appolnted
(97) al! the weapons, i.e. pikes, muskets, daggers, hangers, swords,
also gunpowder, matches, ball and other ammunition, nothing
being reserved or excepted, without retention or concealment, much
less buying, seiling or transporting elsewhere, of any of the sanie,
on pain of loss of iife and property.
21
Which penalty shall also be incurred and incontinently paid
by all who, after the making of this present contract, shall sell
any Christians, whether bond or free, to Moors or heathen, or
try lo withdravv or carry off the same from their masters, whether
with their good will or by force, more particularly such as have
such Christians circumcised or try forcibly to induce them thereto.
22
The aforesaid inhabitants of Nanningh shall not be permitted
to trade or trafTic with any foreign nation directly or indirectly,
but are bound lo bring their goods down the Malacca river only,
without holding any other traffic or communication with afore-
said foreign traders along the river Pannagie on any pretext what-
■ever on pain of forfeiting Iife and goods.
1927] Royal Aiiatic Society.
60 Repoil of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Maiaccu
23
And in order that the purport of tlie points and artides statecP
above may be follovveci and observed inevitably and in all parti-
culars thc nforesaid Toiilella Palawan is, by conimon consent, ap-
pointed and Riven power by the Governor and Cnuncil as clileC
and captain över said Nanningh and ils territory, and Radja Mera
Perpatty Souwatan Maranga Matta Mera and Bangsa Radja as-
ciders and counciilors with the same (98) Toulella Palawan; with-
OLit whose advice and approval nothing touchlng the government
and administration of Nanning shall be discussed or decided, on
pain of nuIHlicalion and loss of o/Iice; whcrefore blank notes.
stamped wilh Ihe sign of the I lonourable Company should not be
allowcd lo be dislributed by the clerk, Intje Cadacr (in M. S.
Vadaer), for the wriling of any urders or passes unless Ihe same
appears to be* by said common consent {ten sij den selve blijche-
[v. 1. descUve blijken\. van voors gemeen consent).
'Iluis donc, resolved and agrecU by Iho Cjovernor and his.
Counci! togetiier with the aforesaid "roiilella Palawan and tlie
elders (excepL Radja Mera) and for greater security signeti by
both parties. Concluded in Ihe lown and fort of Mahicca, this
I5th Aug. I64I, and signcd Joan van Twisl, AnlhonJo llurt,.
Gcrard llerbers, J. Lamotius. Jan Verpoorten, Pieter Baack,
Laurens Forsenburgh, Jan Jansz Menie, sabantlar in ihe presence
of me, Adriaan Hooftkamp, Secretary.
!n many particulars they have not observed these artides,
particularly the payment of the Company's revenue from the
paddy crops and from fmes; nevertheless they shewed themselves.
tolerably obedient until 1644, when the Governor Jeremias van
Vliet went thither in person on the 3rd Feb., having with him the
captain, Laurens Forsenburgh, the sabandaar, Jan Jansz Menie,
the fiscal, Gerrit Rijser and the secretary, Joan Truijtman with"
60 Dutch soldiers
60 armed inhabitants of Malacca
40 blacks, among them 20 Gaffers.
His intention was to compose the strife vvhich vvas raging be-
tween some chiefs and the common people, to punish the ill doers,
and to get out of their hands the black Christians, both free and'
bond, and the arms fallen into their possession during (99) the
siege of Alalacca. At first they made good payments, and agreed
to everything the Governor demanded from them, but when their
neighbours, the Rombouwers, had the same demands made of
them, including the restitution of certain stolen goods and of the
village Tampin inhabited by a resident of Malacca, one Alexander
Mendos, to which they laid claim in virtue of a gift from the
king of Johor, though they at first made good promises, they
"Or "uuloss they appear to liitn to be," i£ thc first readiug is adopfed.,'
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,.
Roport of Govoinor Kalthasar Bort on Malacca 61
<iela\'ed perrormance of them. His Honour therefore sent Cap-'
tain Forsenburgh and sabandaar Menie with 6 Dutch soldiers to
them from Naniiing to hästen the malter somewhat.
The nicn of Rombouw ambiislied them on their journey
Ihither, in Ihc wouds aiitl they were all massacred, before thc ar-
rival of the force of 20 men dispatched lo their help. These men
also were inslantiy attacked by the Rombouwers from the woods
and, after thc loss of the sergeant, who commanded them, they
were scallereti. The Governor had gone to their support with all
his remaining knxc, biil was harel put to it to witlistand thc enemy
and maia^ gooti his escapo whcn attacked during his relreat. In-
somuch that il was not wilhoul having come Ihrough groat peril
ihat, coming down the river with his men, he arrived once more in
Mahicca. lic left his chest behind with 13000 lo 14000 reals in
it and il fcil inU» Ihe hantis of the i>ursiiers. Thirty men were
nuM'dcred or fel! in Ihe light witii ihe nicn of Rombouw.'
An atlcmpt was madu lo lake vengcance for this at onco by
making ready, on thc day aftcr thc return of thc Governor to
Maiacca, an expedition of 300 men under ihe command of the
■chief mcrchant, Jan I lerniansz:, but, after they had been summoned
to arms aiui muslcred, therc arose a sudden alarm and outcry in
the subnrb that tiie.Manicabers were coming lo Maiacca in great
force, which, although faise, caused great dejection and the expedi-
tion was put olT to a betler opportunity. It was not taken up
again until Ihe 8th Feb. 1645 under the command of the secretary,
Joan Truijtman and Lieutenant Hans Gruger with
(100) 10 Dutch military officers
16 armed men from the burgher company
80 inhabitanls of Maiacca armed as soldiers
60 Dutch sailors
■ 60 inhabitants of Maiacca as carriers of the bag-
gage and food
14 slaves
350 men
Their läsk was to attack and exlerminate the men not only of
Rombouw but of Nanning also, because they had combined and
uniled with the former since the aforesaid treachery and massacre,
though the men of Nanning pretended that they had been persuad-
'cd and constrained thereto by their neighbours of Rombouw, these
being stronger than themselves.
The result achieved by our troops was of no great importance,
for they only bnrnt the houses of the nearest village, Melecque,
and destroyed the orchards and paddy plantations. They were
unable to follow up their first attempts, Ihrough lack of food and
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
52 Report of Governor Balthasnr Bort on Malacca
by reason of the fatigue of our men. Morcover tlie enemy were
gatheriiig together and their number had already increased ac-
cording to tbe report of our forces) to 2000 armed men.
Llp lo that time the cnemy had sulTered so little annoyance
that they went on robbing and plundcring every day bolh in the
junglc and along the shore (stranl). carrying off our inhabitaiits
and thcir slaves and using them in their own service or selling
them elsewheie. If they were not abie to take alive, but had it in.
their power lo Uill, they did not rcfrain froin doing so.
A slrongcr expedition was Iherefore undertaken on the last
day of Peb. 1646 by tiie Governor Arnold de Vlamingh van Out-
shorn under the Icacicrship of his sccond in command, the Monour-
able Valerio van Gistelen. It consisled of 570 men, viz.
(101) 290 whiles
190 inhabitants of ]\lalacca
90 slaves
570 men in all.
This army, after much fatigue and some skirmishes with the-
enemy, penetrated on the sixth day as far as the chief village,
Nanning, burning the houses and laying waste the paddy planta-
tions. They also felled about 700 to 800 coconut palms and
pinang trees, v/ith which they made a strong paiisade and establish-
ed themseives within it to allow our troops, which were very weary,
to get some rest and to enable them to make a better defence-
against assaulls of the enemy, if any should be attempted, and an
estimate of the iength of time their remjiining supplies of food
and ammunition would last. They found themseives so badly
provided, especially with hullets, gunpowder and matches that
they deemed it inadvisable to break further through the thick
Rombouw jungle. They thought it better to turn back to Malacca.
after staying two days, so that they might not appear to be fleeing,
from the enemy through fear, but to be turning back satisfied,
having arranged matters to their liking.
The damage already suffered by the enemy had, however,
filled him with such dismay that he hoisted a flag of truce lo-
get speech with us. His request was granted the more readily
that we had already decided for the reasons given to turn back
and we came to an agreement to the effect that our troops were
to retire thence and that they (the enemy), after the lapse of
five days, were to send their envoys to Malacca to make peace,
as actually came to pass; the enemy having first restorcd to our
troops in the camp three slaves they had stolen.
Journal Matayan Brancb [Vol. V,.
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 63
' On tlie lOtli Mardi our force arrived in Malacca. Not one
man of ours hatl been killod by Ihe enemy on ihis expedition, a
few were wounded, but not severely, except one who afterwards
'died.
The aforesaid envoys appeared on the appointed day in
Malacca, viz. 7 persons, among tiicm only two (102) of good
standing, Chilly Molucco, brother-in-law of Lella Maradij, chief
.in Ronibouw, and Catip Itam Moeda, son-in-law of the shah-
bantlar thcrc. Thcy brought letters with Ihem and presents from
the said L.ella Maradja and the sbahbandar and the elders in
Rombouw. Tliey had.fuU powers, in writing, to conclude a last-
ing pcacc wilh (hc Governor and Council in Malacca. On their
request five niore persons of quality were added to the original twö,
.and they then put lorward the foUowing demand:
r'irstly, threc persons of standing in Rombouw and the same
in Nanning to be punished with death for the miirder of Captain
Laurens f-orsenbiu-gh and "shahbandar Jan Meni;' fiirther also
three of the coinmon people for each of the others who were with
the two named and were also killed.
Secondly, restitution of the stolen chest of Governor van
Vliet with iLs contents or the value of the same, estimated at 2000
re^
Thirdly, rclurn of all the stolen persons.
Pourthly, payment of all the cost of the expeditions.
Fifthly and lastiy, to make acknowledgment of their misdeeds
iind publicly to ask pardon, with a promise to do such or the like
no more in future, but to deal with us, as also with the inhabitants
•of the villages subject to us, in ail friendship and good faith, to
repair to their abodes and do us due homage, as was customary in
former times.
This demand, as touching the execution of their people, dis-
tressed (aUereerde) them and they begged for pardon; they pro-
mised, if it were granted, to carry out all the rest, as far as (103)
shoLiId be possible. It was decided to refer this matter to their Hon-
ours in Batavia, so they were told that pardon must be asked for
there. An offer was made to allow them to go thither; if they were
disinclined to do this, they must stay here to hwait of their Hon-
■ours; this last they elected to do.
On Jiine 4,1646 their Honours' rescript and order by letter
■of the 22nd May was brought here, the purport being as follows:—
The ensign Anthonij Kerckhoven has handed to us your
Moiiour's esteemed letter and enciosures of March 29. last, from
which we have learnt with great satisfaction the success of the
force equipped against the rebels of Nanning and Rombouw under
J927J Royal Asiatic Society.
64 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
the command of the chief merchant, Valeriiis van Gistelen, and
that, by the damage done to their hoitses and paddy and the des-
truction of them the same were brought to the point of carnestly
begging for pardon for their rebellion and for the murder com-
mitted on Captain de Vries and shahbandar Jan Menie, and have
offered to live henceforth under a valid contract in peace with
US as obedient chlldren and that the matler had advanced so far
that twelve rcputable persons had arrived in Malacca as envoys
lo remain there in safcty till furlher orders from us and then to-
malie a final dccision.
We havc read the dclailed report of the conference alrcady
iieid by your Ilonour with Ihcm ovcr the matter and liis opinion
as lo how il slioultl be liandlcd ani.1, among otlier ihings, have
scen to oLir rcgret, vvhat wc long ago rccognizcd as the truth, that
the Governor van Vlieth was largcly the cause of the aforesaid
murder and of the riiplure with those pcoples by reason of his.
demands, accompanicd by violent Ihreats, for the conipletion on
the next day (104) of what he had agreeti with Iheni shoiild be
done after three days, a deniand Ihey proved lo be impossible of
fulfiUnent; and also that this was ihe sole reason for their takin^
such a desperate resolution and conlinuing ihe war iip to ihe pre-
sent time.
We agree with the demand for heavy punishment iherefor and'
that they deserve to be executed as an example for others, but, on
the other hand, taking into consideration the fact that our oEIicials
have been to a great extent the cause and that they (the rcbels)
'have now come to make submission, we feel that it would engender ■
bitterness rather than reverence, together with tiie continuance of
the war (which our superiors would be glad to see ended), and
that by the shedding of a little blood the dead cannot be brought
back to life; therefore we wish the matter had been settled by
your Honour, whereby you would have acquired great respect and
credit. However, since the case for certain reasons has been re-
ferred to us, we have decided, after deliberation, in order to come-
to a sure peace with these people, whereby the welfare of JMalacca
will be greatly increased, to write orders to your Honour to remit
the death penaity in our name, provided that prompt restitution
is made of the stplen goods and slaves, giving them strictly to
understand that our consent would not have been given to this, if
your Honour and the Council in Malacca had not so urgently
interceded for them; endeavouring moreover to make such a valid
contract with them under advantageous conditions as your Honour
and the Council shall fmd to pertain to the greatest service of the
Company and to the progress of Malacca. Stipulate also that
they must make convenient roads from their villages to Malacca
so as to have at all times fit and safe access from the one to the
other; and see to it that on our side the terms are always rigidly
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V^
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 6y
adhereti to, whereby we trust that, in time, great service and profit
will be dorivcd from the said and other surroundmg peoples, (105)
whereto all good usnge and fricndly treatment must be contributed
by thc government.
On receipt of tbis writing and in accordance with it the envoys-
werc lold that their ilonours aforesaid remitted the punishment
af dcath, which had been richly deserved, if they satisfied the
othcr artides proposed. But Ihey announced that Ihey were not
empuwcred (o enler inlo a final contract witliout first acquainting
tlicir chicfs, Lella Maharadja and Radja Mera with our desires.
Thcy asked us tiiercfore lo write lo Ihem or send some of our
peoplc! lo Ihcm to scttlc cverything. The latter we rejccled, but
the former wc agrecd to.
Thereupon various letters were exchanged between us. We
insisted lliat thcy should eilhcr scnd proxies to make Ihe contract
or empowcr tlieir cnvoys in Malacca to do so. Tliey, on the
othcr hand, insisted that we should scnd for that purpose our
shahbandar and Malay wrilcr lo tlicm, or, if we could not agree
to that, rclease their envoys in accordance with the assurance
given llicni that they should rclurn unharmed, even if no agree-
ment were reached, actually daring to assert that it was not they
but we who had first asked for an armistice and peace. They
persisted so obstinately in this demand that they gave us cleariy
to understand that they would never agree to our wishes even if
we should, in defiance of our given word and written promise,
iUtreat the envoys.
The point was deliberated över again and again, and at long
last it was decided by a majority of votes in the Council to send
to them, in accordance with their persistent demand, the shah-
bandar, Abraham Steen, and the Malay writer, Intje Cadeer, with
the addition of a sergeant and six soldiers and moreover (106) to
release all their envoys. This came to pass and our people having
set out on the 8th Sept. 1646 and returned on the 21., their
Honours in Batavia were acquainted by letter with their success
thus:
The matters between us and the Manicabers, which were still
unsettled at the date of our last writing, have been fully arranged.
Before we could reach this end with that people we were perforce
obliged to send our shahbandar thither with their envoys. This
was such a dangerous undertaking, that some members of the
Council (the President being one of these), could not agree to it,
nevertheless, in order to avoid all reproach, they had the agree-
ment made {latende d'overeenstemmmgb. . . .plaats hehben),
according to oid custom in a critical council, as may your Honours
be pleased to see registered in the minute book, under date Sept.
1st, the actual views expressed by each of the members of the
Council. Now God be praised, all has tvrned out reasonably
1927] Royal Åsiatk Society.
66 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
well without niishap. The Compact, willi oiir good intention,
couid not be brought about in as ordcrly a manner as we desired,
ovving to tiie uncivilized character of these people, in no respect
more evident llian in their aversion lo niucii writing. Nevcrtlieless
tiiey have agreed to all we liave dcmandcd from tlieni, in the
artides dispalciied to your Ilonours per Den llaen, except the
paymcnt of tlie expcnscs botii of the successive expeditions and of
their stay here, and that for the reason (which is in fact- a true
onc) ihat they are not abie; also as regards the goods which were
taken from Governor van Vlieth or the vahie thereof, logether
with the slaves whoni they, from time to time, (107) have stolen
from liere. But tliey are lo pay in three instalmenls wilhin nine
months, because one and anolher thereof is already löst and con-
siinied and ahnost all Ihe slaves have been sold al a small price
hcre or Ihere. They have meanwhilc reslored to us, as an earnest
(biy provisie), 6 stolen slaves, 1 silver candlestick, 2 silver spoons,
8 silver trenchers (telloren; H. C. tailjofen), 1 Spanish cassock,
1 undergarment, 1 red satin doublet with gold buttons and a smal!
silver plated hancUe {hengseltje)* mostiy beiongrng (o Governor
van Vlieth.
Whereupon it ensued that Radja Mera with six of his council-
lors from Nanning appeared in Malacca in obedience to a summons
and the foHowing resolution was taken:
Friday, 25. Oct. 1646.
Whereas, according to our last letter, Radja Mera arrived
here yesterday with six of his principal councillors in order to be
present at the acceptance and confirmation of the provisional
peace lately made with our shahbandar, Abraham Steen, it has
been decided, on*the motion of the President, to give audience
to-morrov/ to said Radja Mera and his councillors or orang kayas,
^but to have them interrogated, before appearing before his Honour
in the Council chamber by two commissioners from the Conncil as
to their purpose in coming here, so as to keep those revolted
peoples, on this opportunily, which has brought them once more
under our government, in all humility and to that end to cause
them, at the next meeting, to stånd with uncovered (108) heads
.and make confession of the rebellion they have been guilty of,
and then to read aloud the pardon before them all in Portuguese
and Malay and to hand it över in the presence of the Chinese
■captain, Notchim, so that it may the sooner and better be spread
abroad among this community. But, when the aforesaid has been
carried out without cavil, it is also decreed, in order to shew our
good intention and to make them grateful, to honour said Radja
Mera with a black velvet cassock (caedjack) edged with gold
*Jt is not i:\eav wltotlicr tliis is somc iiulepeiuleiit objcet or pfirt of the
funiisliiugg of tiie doublot (possible u coiitrivunco to liaiig ifc up by).
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 67
gaiioon {gallon) and each of his orang kayas wilh a garment
and turban. The making ready of all Ihese is laid upon the
shahbandar.
They comported themselves in such a way that thereupon the-
pardon was read and handed över, its purport being as follows: —
Pardon.
Whercas Radfa Mera, chief of Nanning and the department
village-s and hamlets Melecsqe, Perlm, [Perlin], Cammoy,
Baloiiampa, CliertMicpoetc, Sabangh and Inar, being under the
jurisdiction of tliis lown of Malacca, has approached us, not oniy
on several occasions by letters sent to us, bnt also in person with
some of his chief councillors and has humbly begged forgiveness
and pardon for himself and his subjccts for tiieir insolent.rebrHion-
against our State and especially for ihat he, for no valid reasons,
maintaiiied opposition lo this fort and its good inhabitants until
God .Ahnighly was pleased to bless the weapons we justly look up,.
and wherer.s, (109) by our last expedition, we once more, on th&
8th March of this year brought their land under our power and
authority. therefore we, the President and Council of Maiacca,
having regard to their said humbie petition, have been inclined
to mercy, since no good whatever is done to our cause by shed-
ding men's blood, in view of this and many other good reasons, on
our express intcrcession, our Supreme Government in these parts,
their Plonours the Council of India have, in their last letter,,
pardoned the aforesaid penitent with his councillors and ajl the
peopie snbject to him and remitted the welldeserved death penalty..
Herewith then we also, the President and Council aforesaid, on:
'their furtlier faithfui proniise to shew renewed obedience, have-
decided to grant this act of pardon for above named Radja Mera
with all his councillors and the peopie under them and within the
jurisdiction of our State of Maiacca, both those living in above
named villages and in Nanning, in the name and on behalf of the
High Mighty States General, His Highness Frederick Hendrick by
the grace of God Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau, etc, and the
directors of the chartered East India Company of the United
'Netherlands together with the Honourable Council of India, our
superior government of these eastern countries, residing in
Batavia. We insert also hereby that henceforth we wiU think no
more of past happenings and will regard and treat them hence-
forth aitogether as our obedient vassals without doing the smallest
harm or offence to their peopie or permitting such to be done, as
has been in the past.
(110) In confirmation of which we have appended here-
under our customary sign manual together with the seal of said
Company. Dated in the town and fort of Maiacca the 15th Nov,
1646.
I927J Royal Asiatic Society.
■ÖS Report uf Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
The men of Rombouw being once more accepted as friends
and allics by tlie contract made with the shahbandar, Abraham
Steen aforesaid, the af^reement has been adhered lo, hut they faiied'
to carry out their duty and promise in the lurther restitution of
what they had stolen, lor in 1647 they had paid lo Iho junior
merchant, Meydert Clinckert, who iiad been sent to them, only
81 r'^ wcight of silver plale, 79 small gold butlons sel with small
diamonds, 38 gold buUons, 2 o!d bloodslained hals and 2 do.
ragged jiairs of breeches, 270 ganlangs of padtly and IV/^ rcals
in casii (covlant). Moreover they were urged harsliiy by our
people to furthcr resUlulion and sallsfaction, because they always
excused themselves on the ground of inability, since ihcre were no
more slaves or goods in existence and they were incapable throiigh'
poverly of giving money in their slead, being a people Ihat will
always lose their property rather than their Tives. llowever the
tithe of Ihe paddy crop Ihe people of Nanning allowed us to have,
if we senl our people for it to their villages, but still no more
than Ihey chose, and thal so small a quantity Ihat the cxpenses
incurred wt-rc grealer than the proceeds (as was the casc also
with whal said Clinckert dispatched), iherefore our people afler-
wards were satisfied if they came Jn person here to Malacca
■every 3'ear to pay a defiinite amount in money. This amounted
to from 28 to 30 or 35 re« less than the fees and presents which
were made on these occasions to Radja Mera and Ihe orang kayas
(who usually brought a goat and a lillle betel or sirij with them
as an offering), but was nevertheless (lU) continuecl so long as
they did not fail in their chief duty of obedience, and, if they
complained of bad crops and dear rice, they were released also,
on their petition, from the contribution, though scarcely worthy
of the name, in view of its small amount. This happened in the
years 167^, 1676 and 1677, when we contented ourselves with
Their coming down the Maiacca river to the frontier daily bring-
ing their betel ieaf, fowls and sometimes also a little tin; they
were at liberty to take back with them what they needed in rice,
salt and cloth, as they did.
All these particulars I have collected from far and near, as
it were, in order to get a knowledge of what happened between
iis and these people from the time of our conquest of Malacca
onwards. We shall now describe what has occurred lately and
what are the present conditions between us and them.
These Manicabers then, an idie, sluggish, lazy, faithless and
perfidious race, have enjoyed the above mentioned peace with us
since 1646 and lo all appearance have prospered and muItipHed
and, having therefore waxed proud and arrogant, have united with
the people of Songhoedjongh, subject to Johore, their nearest
neighbours and have chosena king for ihemseives from among the
Manicaber princes of Sumatra. He declares himself a cousin of
journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 69-
the king of Johore, but is, in fact, a fugitive Mohammedan priest,
who, accoiding lo rumoiir, was driven out, on accouiit of his tur-
bulence, by his own people in Sumatra and by Atciiin, where he
tried lo secure support and adhcrcnts.
This man came to Nanningli and Rombouw by the river
Pannagie witli a singlc ship and witiiout ceremony accompanied by
only a low foiiowcrs. (112) When raised lo ihe rank of king,
he siiccaxletl in iiidiicing his newly acquired siibjecls to make war
on Malacca, but to keep their intention secret until iheir prepara-
tions were coniplete, in order to attack us enlircly at unav/ares and
uncxpecLcdIy.
To this end he wrole iis a iiypocrilical letter, in which he gave
himself a niimber of bombastic, high titles and honours, contain-
ing faise complaints that his people were interfered with by our
patrols in the Strails, when bringing their vessels to Malacca, in
defiance of the okl contracts; demanding that henceforth these
contracls should be better observed. Notifying aiso tbat he was-
now eslablished in Nanning and Ronibouv/ and inlendcd as a
religions man to journey to Mecca.
We received this letter on the llth March 1677, sent by him
with seven persons, whom we caused to appear before us in the
Council and in whose presence we had the letter read and after-
wards translated. We had at that time no knowledge of his hav-
ing becn chosen king by the Manicabers and judged by the tenour
of the letter that it had been written to the order of a presump-
tuous, insolent madman. Moreover, because the letter had no-
proper seal in the Malay or A'lanicaber manner and the black seal
that was on it was very slovenly and ugly, we sent it back on
the ]6th March unanswered with the bearers, who had nothing
to propose beyond the contents of the letter.
They were scarcely gone before we heard a rumour of the
Manicaber expedition to Malacca with an army of 3770 men under
(113) the coinmand of this king, of whom it was reported that he
was able to do great miracles; such as e.g. that he couid poison
the wind and make it blow wherever he willed in order to do men
to^death, bewitch cannon and firear-ms so that they could not be
fired, härden his warriors to-'such a degree that they could not
be wounded, much less killed by our troops, that he himself
couid change his shape three timcs a day and even make himself
invisible, and other absurdities of the same sort. This, to some
extent, intimidated the superstitious black Roman Catholics and
other silly, credulous people. In consequence of these rumours,
which daily increased, we began to make some defences in the
northern suburb, which lay completely open, and sent a letter
to the people of Nanningh running as follows:
Balthasar Bort, Councillor Extraordinary of india, Governor
and Director of the to\^'n and fort of Malacca together with the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
70 Report of Govcrnor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca
Council thcre to Radja Mera and all the elders in Nanningh and :,
also of tJie villagcs under thcir juristliction givcs frientlty grecling ;:
wilh good wislios for thc prosperity of all. ''
Some days ago Ihere canic lo us from Ronibomv a letter ^
written, as was allirmcd in thc opening words, by a Manicaber ^
kinglet. On Ihe rectilpt of Ihis leUcr \ve showed sonie respect and i
honoLir bolh to it and lo those who brought il, buL, whcn thei^
same letter was brought before us, opened aiitl read, wc dctected ,
at once from the liigli and exalled titie the writcr gave himsclf, -^
as also from the mean, siovenly, (114) conlemptible seal afTixed j
Ihcrcto, tiiat thc sendcr of såld letter must be considered a pre- \
suniptuoLis, insolent madnian, of whom we Iiad ncvur hcard. In ;.
this persuasion we wcre afterwards further strcngthencd, when we ■
leai-nt that he was a fugilivc and runawiiy from the Manicaber i
aniutry in Sumatra, in fact an imposlor. We therefcjre tieemed it ;
unnecessary lo ansvvcr the letter. We made the bcarers ac(|uainted :■,
witli that clucision and alluwcd ihem to depart tlicruwith uninolest- ■
ed. We are sendlng said letter in its original form lo your llon- ■
ours herewith in order that your Mnnours may be ablu yourselves
lo judge of it and sunimon your Monours lo comc speedily hilher ,
in such numbers as your l-lonours may yourselves decide upon, ;
so as to confer wilh us on ceilain matters touching the well being ■
bolh of ourselves and of you. We are willing lo sulTer Radja
Mera, on account of his great age, to be cxcusetl. Let us have ■,
the aforesaid letter back, that we may be able to send it in due .■■
lime lo the rightful Manicaber king. Your Honours may per- :■
■chance have a letter from him some day to warn you to give .
neither heed nor hearing to this impostor, as we also hereby ear- ;'
nestly enjoin upon you. ':
Malacca 24th March 1677. ^
The bearers of this letter were some (M. S. een, probably for
■eenige) of otir Malay inhabitants and three of the men from .
Nanning, who had shortly before come down wilh their betel leaf C
and had stayed behind, through the majority had already taken '.
llight. On their voyage with the letter up the Malacca river,
the}' were driven back by some .Manicabers and were not suffered ;
to carry it to Nanningh. They therefore returned without having \
accomplished their task (115) and without the three men of Nan- !
ning, who had separated Ihemselves betimes from the others. It .
was, however a matter of much concern to us that the letter should .
be delivered, in order that we mjght know, from the receiving or ,
failing to receive an answer thereto, the certainty or otherwise of
war, and whether our vassals, the pcople of Nanning, had .
combined wilh the other Manicabers or not. We there- '
före induced the Moor, Ossenina Maharadja, who had shortly be-
jfore come to us here with a letter and present from the king of
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Goveinor Ballhasar Bort on Mulacca 71
Johore, to go iip tlie river to Nanning with the letter. Me re-
tiirned ailcr only Iwo days' abscnce on the 27th March, and re-
porled Ihat on his v<jy:ige lie iiaii nict enemy troops at various
placcs along the river, hut that Ihey allowcd him to pass out of
respecl to ihe king of Johore, so Lhat he had got to Nanningh to
i^adja Mera. I le, hovvever would not accept oiir letter except in
the presence of the elected king, whoni ihey call Radja Ebrahira.
This nian listened to the reading of Ihe letter and then pub-
licly dcclared his intention of beginning and carrying out the re-
solution taken of making v/ar on Malacca and indeed of conquer-
ing the town and Fort within a fcw days. Me persisted in this,
although this Ossenina Alaradja counselled him against it and told
him of the dcfences vv-e had already made and of the further works
in which we were daily engaged, assuring him that he would not
succccd in winning either the town or the fort even^if he besieged
it for several years, and that al! he would accomplish would be to
make a munber ol" poor people still poorcr by burning and de-
stroying Ihcir iiouses antl gartiens outside the town; (116) more-
ovcr that Ihe Dutch had anticipated him in this by having ,them-
selves alreiidy done it in the case of such as were in tiie way of an
uninterrupted outlook, dcclaring that he had seen this with his
own eyes.
Whcn the Moor returned to us with these unexpected tidings
and bringing in writing no answer at all to our letter, but, by
word of mouth the assurance that the eneiny in great numbers
was advancing under various commanders, we had war proclaimed
against them and forbade the sending of any supplies to them
and all correspondence with them on pain of death. We busied
ourselves very zealously with the completion of the works already
begun and theaddition of others necessaryto the protection of
the northern suburb. To hästen progress, we pressed into the
service all the siaves of the Company's servants and of the inhabi-
tants; so niuch the more since the dwcllers in said suburb seemed
to regard it as already löst and came every day into the fort in,
flight with their wives, children and property and especially, be-
cause the retention of the same was of great importance by reason.
of its being so closely built över with houses, hoth of brick and of
wood, also because of the compounds and gardens planted with
many fruit trees and sown with vegetables, where the enemy would
have found good lodging and food and would have had the oppor-
tunity to distress the fort, being so near to it. We therefore had the
chief approaches strengthened with all speed by the works before
specified and provided them well with cannori for better resistä.ice
to assaults from the enemy. To prevent his breaking in, we closed
the principal 5lreets with barricades and planted guns there.
Moreover, when we saw the enemy approaching, at about two
musket shots (117) outside the northern suburb, we hastily threw
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
72 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
iip a brensLwork from the seashore up to the garden of tlie farmer,
RoeJof Gerritsz., tlie proprietor being away from home and already
deserted by liis wife (die van buijs en bij sijn vrouw al verlaten
xvas), iising tlic fired brick wliicli iay tlicre ready to liand. We also
posted a few soldiers in llic brick iiouse of the same garden to
avvail the first iUlack. 'Hiis look place Ihat same niglit,
the eiicniy being at first stayed and Iield iherc. Tbcy had advanc-
ed along the. seashurc and the river on Ihc northern siJe having
niosliy iiroken throiigh (he jungle. Tlie}' had made Ihemsclvcs
maslers of Batlanliga lying a cannon shot away from the fort on
Ihe seashore and inhahiled by 70 families, mostly A^lalays, who got
a liv ing hy ]il:in'ling vice lieltls. 'l"his liappcned because the
jicople lliere, allhoiigli we had shortly before providcd lliem with
iircarms anti ammunition, did not defend themselves, but ran
away, inimedialely on the approach ol" the enemy; some, ahcmt 40
in nmnher, laking refuge with Ihe enemy, Ihe rest fleeing with
wives anti chlldrcn in Ibeir Ixjals lo (lie fishers' isiand, wlienco they
aflerwarcls came lo ns, bringing with tiiem only half of our lire-
arms.
'i'hc enemy, having met the first resistance from ns, lo his
ndvance at the affiresaid breaslwork, uniled his forces liiere and
made various attacks in the allempt to overpower it, but every
time, as need arose, we sent the requisite help in soldiers from the
garrison and injiabitants of the northern (118) suburb, and the
enemy was always obliged to retreat, abandoning some of his men
killecl by the fire of our troops, wiiose heads were exposed on posts
in the sight of the enemy.
Wherefore, at long last, they came no more to make attempts
■on this oLiter post of ours, much less to approach the northern
suburb by other roads, which they assuredly sent spies to examine,
but found, contrary to expectation, in such a state of defence that
no attack was made there on by them. In consequence, in the
month of June, they retired entirely and retreated to their robbers'
■den by the way they came, after they had first set an ambush in
the jungle to lure us into the same by their vanguard. Our troops,
however, especiaily the 14 well equipped horsenien, easily drove
them away, but carefully avoided the ambush, since tlie enemy
had much experience of the jungle and our troops had not, where-
fore it was inexpedient to go and fight them there.
In consequence the enemy depopulated and laid waste the
jungle and the low lands, gardens and orchards bordering it, and
seized, slaughtered and carried ofF the cows and buffaioes running
loose in the woods. They ran away when they saw that there was
nothing more at their mercy and we had forced them by firing on
them from a Moorish ship to abandon Battantiga, where they had
tried to establish themselves.
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 73
Wc wcrc iinable lo prevciit Ihis clevastalion, either in the be-
sinning or laler, on account of the weakness of our garrison (1 19)
^nd tlie smal! iiumber of men able to bear arms among our inhabi-
tants, for liicy consisted mereiy of:
253 soldiers, incliiding oITiccrs
181 all otlicr Company's scrvants
434
men
24
Dulcli burghcrs
250
Black lloman Calliolics
'10
C.hinese
30
IMoors
70
Malavs
y48 men, bcsidcs in addition, 36 Biigis also living under our
jurisiliction.
Willi Iliis fnrce we could not venlurc to lake much risk, lest
we shouid endangcr the maiii thing, vi/., thc custody of botli the
nortiicrn and southern suburbs and, still more, thc fort.
We got also, very liinely, our forcc blockadiiig Pcra, consist-
ing of a friga(e, '7* Wapen van Malacca, and two sloops, all tbree
togethcr manned by not more than 60 men, whom we had sent for
betimes, because we had not here to our harld even one Company's
ship or sloop.
As soon as we vvere in a good state of defence and became
awarc Ihat the enemy had not the courage to attack the
noithern subiivb (which was the main objective as he did not show
himself much round the southern suburb, although it vi^as weaker),
we sent said ships back at once, making shift with two Moorish
ships and two sloops belonging to burghers, which lay there at our
■service, if need arose.
We had, thank God, no killed during this invasion (120) of
the enemy and in the fighting with him, and only three wounded,
in particular L.ieut. Jan Rosdom who was mounted on a horse
which was pierced in the throat by a pike and fell with its rider,
whereupon one of the Manicaber leaders thought to dispatch him,
but it was, contrariwise, his own fäte to be killed, for Rosdom got
him downand kept him down until help came and the IVlanicaber
leader was killed in all his fme habiliments [seer zvel gehabitiieert) .
His head was stuck iip on a post. The other two wounded men,
were a horse soldier and a burgher, but the Bugis, in one fight. lost
two of their number and the Malays one. The Bugis brought in
their dead, but the body of the iVlaiay was secured by the enemy
and cruelly mishandled. No doubt they treated in the same way
two of our sailors of the grass prao, who, seven in number, had
^one up the river, according to the daily custom, to cut grass for
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
74 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Ihe biilTnlocs vvorking at the powtlerniill, they also being empioyed
Ihcre. Wlien sitting on the river bank having a meal, tlicy were
suddeiily attackcd by the Manicabers; fivc of them escaped from
tlic cnicl hands of the encniy by taking to the river, but the others
rLMnained behind.
The nLimberol" the cncmy tlead and wounded was undoubtedly
not small, but we cannoL recorti witli any ccrtaiiity liow niany there
were, :is it has (121) not yel come to our knowledge.
This thcn is the n-sult of the vvar treacherously made on us by
theso Manicabers, without the Icast cause, at a time vvlien we were
at peace witb them.
At the beginning, in order lo cut ofF all supplies from the
enemy, we closed Iheir river Pnnnagie, which is about Ibur niiles.
northwards from here, with palisades at a point two iniies u|) and
kept a garrison thcrc and took good care that nolhing was taken
to them aiong the Malacca river. These two are tiie only ways
they could nse conveniently to provide Ihcmseives with necessaries.
They should be convenient also some day for an attack by our
people on them in their own villages, and, il' possible, ihcir com-
plete exterminalion. This must assLU^ediy be done some time
(unless we are willing to be plagued in this way from time to time
by the outrages, robberies and brigandage which they have in the
past inflicted on our people and we have had lo endure with no
small loss), so that we may be abie to live here in quiet and to
keep our good inhabitants from harm. Otherwise they will pro-
bably take a dislike to the piace and move away; moreover other
people would not be attracted to come here to live, although this
country must have a larger population, especially of industrioas
(122) Chinese, so that the necessary cultivation of the soil may be^
continued and other trafiic and trade may be carried on, for the
black Christians are all very inert, too idle and lazy to have any
inclination thereto.
Of all this, or most of it, we have advised their l-Ionours in
Batavia on May 30 last by the fly boat Yselsteyii arrived here
trom Bengal, intending to proceed forthwith to Batavia and have
begged I or as speedy a reinforcement as possible of 150 soldiers,.
since the enemy had not then departed and we did not know when
he would desist from his evil designs and abandon this town, and,
in order to preserve it and keep it safe, we must rely mainly on
our military garrison; especially if Johor also came against us,
whereof there was a rumour that the Laxamana with 30 vessels,
each manned by 100 troops, was coming hither. Their Honours
wrote that the expedition to the enemy's own territory must be
postponed until their Honours should be abIe to send us 600
soldiers, so that nothing shotdd be begun the success of which was
doubtful.
Journal Malayan Brand? [Vol. V»
Report of Goveriior Balthasar Bort on Malacca 75
This reinrorcemcnt of 150 sokiiers we received on July 21 by
thc Hy hoal Soesdijk aiid it greatly relieved our aiixiety. The
■dispatch of the fuilhcr miiitary force was at first to some extent
jiromiscd, but in tlieir Monoiirs' latcr letters tliey announced Ihat
wc must not cxpcct i(, since tiiey could not spure so many soldiers
■for dispalch liiLlier, (123) but that Ihcy still hoped that some day,
at a nioro convunient sea.son, it miglit be done; olherwise the enemy
vvill grow jnure entcrpri.sing and bölder in their daily deeds of
rohbcry and piUaE^c, for llie ordinary melliod of liaving the plaia
and jiingle travcrsed by our jiorse and foot does not succecd in
))rt;vt:n(ing Ihcni, nut even if we kept a Iroop for a considerable
lime in Ihc jnnglc.
This was apparent in 1675 when we issued an order to the
■olTiccrs of said tr(K>p lo the following purport;
Order for l.ieiit. Ilcndrik Teinnier logethcr with Sergeant
llcndrik Kenneke and the captain of ihe burghcr force Jacob Son-
ncman advancing with a Iroop up the Malacca river to ihe jungle
to calch ihe kidnappcrs wlio maintain Ihcniselves thcre.
Malacca lias bc-en plagucd coiistantly, even when the Por-
tuguese owned it, hy the kidnappcrs who are certainly Malays,
tliougli ihcy bcar the name of Älanicabers and Salellers. These
men do not scruple to attack imawares and carry oifT both free men
and slaves and then sel! them elsewhere; if they cannot secure
thcm alive, they kill them. Thcse rascals have sometimes beeii
liindered to some extent by the ordinary means used up to the
present of having tlie jungle watclied by our men, viz. two soldiers
■of tlie guard at Boucquet China and six blacks from 'the burgher
guard. (124) and also of keeping eight men of the most trust-
worthy black inhabitants constantly armed with muskels and caus-
ing them to traverse the jungle every weck. This has been so
especially when now and then one or anolher of their people has
been captured by our men and hanged without mercy, his carcase
being exposed as carrion for the birds. Notwithstanding this,
after remaining for a lime in hiding, they appear once more with-
out our soldiers, black inhabitants or even our Malays, who are
över and över again sent out against them, being abie to catch
them, because they have many hiding places in the jungle. Where-
fore it comes to pass that they suddenly fall upon our inhabitants
and their slaves, who have their gardens along the river bank and
■cut wood in the jungle and fish on the seashore, instantly bind and
■carry them off, as has happened again recently.
It also happens that the men of Nanningh and Rombouw,
who are Manicabers inhabiting the jungle and fields among ihe
hills aboui six miles behind Malacca, have warned us in letters
that one Asy AbouI Jabakr has assembled many of these rogues
for the purpose, not only of kidnapping men from round about
this place, but also of doing us ali possible damage, asserting that
1927] Royal Asiatic Sociefy.
7Ö Report of Governor Baithasar Bort on Malacca
tliey have been provoked therelo because one of their friends has
becn fouiid dead not Tar from herc. This was a (125) haji, wlio
ran amock or played thc raving inadman, tryiiig to kill everyonc'
lie could get liold of; wlierefor he was killed in the råge of liiose
whom lie himself nieant to kiil.
Tliese people of Nanningii and Romhouw, the former bcing
Manicabers subject to Malacca and the latter to Johor, have beei>
aiways suspected of being accessory to this kidnapping and shar-
ing Jie guilt Ihereof. There are assuredly grounds fur this belief,
for lliey receive Ihe kidnappi:d men, buy thcm for a small sum
and then scll Ihcm again for highcr prices, or, if we wrile to ihcm
on llic subject, liiey rcfnse to rcslore the men excepL for a large
SLim, disguising this basc profit under the prctext ihat they have
sought out the Ihicves (dat äj de dieven opgeso^ht) and paid them
ihat amount for the men, moreover that they are unable lo with-
stand these villains, Ihe men of Nanningh shifting the blame on
ihose of Rombouw and ihcse on the men of Nanningh. Mowcver
we believe that they are in coUusion and that we must put liltle
trust in either; still before as yet undertaking anything against
tliem, except keeping a close and careful walch on their doings and
actions, we inlend only to drive thesc kidnappers away or to destroy
them.
To this end we have decided to inaintain in the jungie for a
whole month a troop consisting of 12 of the best soldiers
of our garrison, 14 (126) of the black inhabitants, 8
Malays together with one surgeon, a baggage master, a carpenter
and 14 slqves, 53 men, in the hope that, when these kidnappers
learn that we are so much in earnest in our action against them,
they will abandon the jungie of their own accord, or, even if they
remain there sliii, that it wili be possible for this troop under your
careful leadership to find, discover and destroy them. Wherefore
you must have the jungie traversed both by day and night, when-
ever the weather is suitable, in order to spy out the present where-
abouts of these rascals, with this object sending the Malays in
advance, as the ways are best known to them and they have a
better knowledge than our people of how to penetrate the thick
jungie, so as in their turn to surprise these robbers, provided that
the necessary help and support are given them vi'hen it may be
wanted.
Mov/ever, in case these villains should be gathered together
elsewhere in such strength that you v\'ould be obliged to approach
them in full force, it would perhaps be necessary to divide the
troops into four sections so as to be able to march in good order,
that is: the Malays, as stated, as vanguard a short dislance in
advance, then the other three sections following closely on each
other, dividing the soldiers and black inhabitants in such manner
as, from the conditions of way and place, you may deem advisable
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor BaUhasar Bort on Malacca 77
and as you shall decide wilh Ihe olhers, faithfully supporting each
other whcn nced ariscs so as to destroy the aforesaid (127) kid-
nappers. Thcrc is no need for you lo bring back any prisoners,
cut ofT their heads on the spöt wlicre you (ind tht;m and häng the
bodics by the icgs lo the Irees to instil fcar into any of their ac-
complices vvho may happen to behold the sight. All the heads
cut. o!T yuLi nuiy seud to us from time Lo Ume to be exposed. Ten
re^ for each iiead sliall be distributcd as a present for the benefit
of the niembcrs of the troop. 1"his we hope will encourage them to
search out these rascals unvvenricJIy and get Ihcir heads.
Bul, since it will not be possiblc for this troop to be on the
move all the tiine, it will be nccessary for you to choose some
place as headquarters or rende:ivous in which to eslabiish your-
self and at times lo remain togcther and reassenible in after being
separated and scaltered. For this purpose we think the place
called Agua de Loupa situated about four miles/ up the river,
where llicre is a narrow tongue of land slretching into the middle
of Ihc river, would be not inconvcnient; however, if you can find
a better, you may choose it as permanent headquarters where the
provisions, ammunition, utcnsiis, etc, and Ihe resl of the baggage
must be collected and kept. You will, as a rule, leave the 14
slavcs, who accompany you in the light praos in which you travel,
on the boats (128) with a good guard and vvith them the baggage
master Jeronimus Wilhelmus, and the carpenter, so that you can
employ them as opportunity serves. You can see of what the said
provisions, ammunitions of war, tools and other baggage conslst
from the list thereof made and delivered to you. The said bag-
gage master shall have the oversight and render an account of the
same. Take heed to do everything to the end that nothing is
neglected, wasted or löst and that the residue is brought back here
on your return.
The Lieut. Hendrick Temmer shall first, as its chief, conduct
the troop up the river and bring it to the place which you with the
others shall jiidge suitable and convenient as headquarters, and,
when you have established the necessary order in everything there,
you shall forthwith return to us to make a report, so that, should
anything be lacking, we may furnish Ihe same. In the absence of
the lieutenant, the sergeant, Hendricq Kenneke shall be in com-
mand of our soldiers and the captain of the burgher force, Jacob
Sonneman, of the black inhabitants and the Malays together with
the hired slaves; but, if said Sonneman also on occasion has leave
to come away, aforesaid sergeant shall have command över the
whole troop during his absence.
In case you deem it necessary to erect something on the place
chosen for a fixed rendezvous (129) to secure and protect it both
from wild beasts and the wicked Manicabers, so as not to be
surprised by them and taken at unawares, whether it be by an
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
78 Report of Govenior Bulthasar Bort on Malacca
enrtlicn wall or pagnr all round llic camp of the troop or by block-
ing Ihc npproachcs lo it witli felicd trccs antl briishwoocl, yoii niay
■do it in the most convcnicnt way, providcd lliat not inucli lime is
speiit on it, but that the business is spcediiy disposed of.
The cnforccmcnt of ordinary military nsago in cstablishing
and kceping a good watch and in (irst iclting tiie troops, when lired
with mnrching, have rest and rofresiiment before bcing led against
the Manicabers lo attack Iheni, we decni it unnccessary lo recom-..
mcnd lo yuu in detail, since you have siiflicient exi)eriencc of oUier
poinls conncctcd tiiciewilh, and aiso know tlie stratageins and
wik;s of ihese rascals, which ihey iise to eulrap our men, tiigging
pils, iaying and selting caltrups and gins and ihen cnlicing you
lliillier. You nuisl give carcful Iiced and niijst kccp walch lo
tliscover ihese tricks in lime, wlicn Ihcy cmploy one or other of
which you havc no experience.
(\M) Von are also wcl! aware tiiat your bouiulcn diily dc-
niands in the highest degree that you lalic good care and use all
circumspcction, so that our inhabitanls and Iheir slaves who are in
liie gardens and cls-ewhere in the junglc do not siifTcr the least
Troiiblo or harm from Ihis Iroop.
You must also Icave unmolested all vessels bclonging to our
inhabitanls jiassing daily up and down Ihe river and all small
praos of the men of Nanning and of the Manicabers, provided
that, if, on going on board, 3'ou fmd them furnished with more
than the usual arms, from which you might judge that it was not
advisable to allow thcm to pass in safety, you shall send such
vessels and praos, men and all, to us for examination and to be
dealt with according to the resuit Ihereof.
You niay inflict ordinary corporal punishment on our people
when they deservc it, but all illdoers who merit more severe- ■
punishment you shall send hilher.
This troop can be adequately supported for a full month on ;
the provisions given, and is lo remain in the jungle for that ;
length of tinie, unless we give other orders låter on, (131) in the :
hope that during that time the jungle and paths round about may
by your skill and bravery be cieared of Ihese rogues and robbers.
Whereto may the Almighty be pleased to lend Hts aid and succour;
we must pray to Him for this and also for His further blessing for
tjie safe keeping, preservatjon and protection of yourseif and of
the people entrusted to you.
Malacca, the 25. March 1675, subscribed by your good :
friends and signed BaUhasar Bort, Adriäen Lucasz, Jan van Es, ^
Cornelis Verburgh, Pieter Noortman, Jan Bal and Abraham
Burgers.
It should be possible to iead the aforesaid military force,
after it has accomplished its task. to Nanning and Rombouw and
thereafter to Queda to be used there, since the king of that place
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 79
for a lonR time past has riciily dcserved by his murders of our
people and flic williolding ol' a considorable suin of money to be
forced bv arms lo give satisfaction. It has becn impossible up to
the present to movc him thereto by geiitle mcans, as we luive told
their iionoius aforcsaid.
(132) Noother reiigious service tlian of our refomied cliurch
may bt; cclebrateti [>iiblicly willi concoiirse and asscmbling to-
getiier of people witliin thc jurisdiction of Maiacca. Tbe iloniish
■ coinmunily vvas fornierly allowed this libcrty by coniiivaiice, but
ill 1645 and 16-16, when news reached this place of the treachery
committed by Iheni in Brazil, this privilege vvas whoHy taken from
thein by order of tlieir Monours, Ihe Migli Government of India in
Batavia given in two of their letters, dated 6, December 1645 and
22. JVlay 1646 to I-icer de Vlamniingh van Outshoorn, an extract
from which runs as follows:
1'^irst from the letter of Dec. 6.
It is comniendable and a very good thing Ihat the increase
in numbcrs of thc clergy and Roman Catholic priests has been
resolutely checked, and that some have been ordered to retire to
IVIacassar and elsewhere. 'l"hese poiitic maxims must be enforced
niore and more, in order to clear the territory of Malacca of this
mischievous crevv, lo the ejid that the Lusitanian and otber in-
habitants, without prejudice to our State, may remain exempt
from plottings and should hereafter yield loyai obedience in
accordance with the [oath] they have taken. But, since advocates
of the Roman faith persist day after day in their deceitful and
perfidious practices for the (133) rupture thereof, Governor van
Viiet is on this point entirely in the right in apprehending, after a
re-examination of the treaty, made betv/een their king and our
sovereign, we find that the 26lh artide quite clearly enjoins that
the subjects (Nota) are, on land, to have simply freedom of con-
science, in their private houses, and on their ships only the free ex-
ercise of their religion. We hear that their adherents are constant-
ly striving lo secure a wide extension of this to their advantage,
based on the contents of this clause on the strength of the agree-
ment made at Goa.
This is entirely reprehensible and, in fact, intolerable since,
because the clergy in the Ceylon district have, by special contract
only, had reiigious freedom in public granted to them, all deduc-
tions from this in favour of extension, no matter how subtle they
may appear, must be rejected without hesitation and those who
argue to the contrary must be repulsed in such a way that they lose
ali desire for further proposals.
Your regulation as to the desired elucidation shall expressly
order that henceforth, without the least addition {advoy) of ex-
cepting clauses, the tenour of the treaty made shall be precisely
followed, that is, no public preaching in the town is permitted to the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
80 Report of Govcrnor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca
subjects of Malacca on severe peiialties, biit freeclom of conscience
shail be allowed only in private and wilhout ministers and (134)
asscmbling logetiicr. On tlie otlicr hand on board siiip on Ihe ap-
pearancc (paresse) of any priest tlu; pracLice is permittcd, but llic
priesls nnist not be allowed to rcmain in loco longer Ihan lill thc
departure of Lhe trading vessei in wiiich ihey came. Care must be
laken promplly lo take jjrecautions against any senous infractions
and lhe olllcer musl inmisii in exemplary fashion, by banishment
or ulliervvise, as occasion may deniand, with condign penaltics the
dclccled (ofygevorste) liislurbers of the subject populalion, in con-
fonnity with !hc prociamation issiicd or any futurc edict, so as to
prevL-nt lhe rooting of Lrouble in lhe hcarls (if nicn and even thc
sniallesl harm lo the government of lhe slale, which must be avert-
ed in every way.
From lhe leller of lhe 22nd of IVlay.
And, sinco lhe Sevenleen in Iheir last niissivc reconimend us
lo be very much on oiir giiard against thc Portuguese, who,
ihough prelendiiig lo be our fricnds, are really cnemies of lhe
C^ompany's Slale, lo hold no connnimicalion with them, to trust
no oue and no longer (o give passage to rcturning or caasfing ships,
ihereldre we have cletennincd again lo charge your I lonour
promplly lo carry oul our order alrcady given concerning ihis
inalter per lhe Ily boat //. Macslant and furlher by Ihese presents
(135) to order Malacca to be cleared of all the half breeds and
■other PortugLiese adherents, who refuse to reside there without
the right to practise the Romish faith, and to allow each one to
depart whither he pieases, so as to prevent all conceivable and
inconceivable misdoings by that canaille, whereto the priesls will
not neglect constantly to play their peculiar and appointed part.
ThfS 3''0ur Honour must not permit any longer, you must make
them depart by the vessels in which they come, as we have here
roundly declared our intention in this malter to the Jesuit, Pedro
Francisco. We have moreover, at his request, given him a note
(apostile) to that effect and he is now going thither on De Vos to
carry out his commission and then to sail to Goa with their ships.
Your Honour has done very ill and contrary to orders in sending
the three Jesuits hither per De Vos, you ought to have kept them
till the arrival of their ships and made them depart with these,
since they are more mischievous here than in Malacca. Two have
gone to Macassar and'-the Frenchman remains here in order to go
to Goa.
The plague is not so harmful as these wolves in their sheep's
clothing.
(136) On which injunctions, orders per gouverno and com-
mancls, on 12. June 1646, the practice of the Romish faith was in-
terdicted for the first time by the publication and posting of a
Journal Malayan BraiKh TVol. V,
Rcporl of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 81
pioclamalion, and furlhcr such order was established, as is seen in
tlie said proclamalion, which runs as foUows:
Arnold de Vlamingh van OLitshoorn, President of the towii
and fort of Malacca witli its dcpcndencies, etc. Whercas we fnid
tliat \hc Porluguese priests, contrary to artide 26 of tlie deed of
agrecment macle by their High Mightinesses, liie States General
and the grcal and mighly king of Portugal, Don Joan IV, persist
in daiiy prcaching in public, in celebrating mäss and in practising
their supcrstitions as publicly as tlicy wouid be abie or allowed
to do in their own lands. 'I'hereforc divers priests who travel
from place to piace freqiicntly come hcre to cstablish Ihemselves,
anti reniain lo cncoiirage the inhubitants in their bHnd zeal. There
havc even hecn various cascs in which aforesaid Romish .priests
havc come to dwcll lierc as nothing biit pests to our State, often
dissLiading the community from its bounden diity towards its
magislratcs. They hehave as enemies and (137) traitors causing
iKtlliing biit annoyance and scandai to those of the tnie, reformed
religion.
In order lo prevcnt thcsc public or secret celebrations of their
religion, as also the sojoiirn herc of the 1'ortLigLicse clergy, and
wisiiing to jirovide against the niischiefs lliat niight arise there-
from, therefore we with the advice of our Councii have ordered
ami decreed, and we do by these presents order and decree, that
from novv onwards those of the clergy coniing here from other
piaccs may not remain iiere, much less perform any service or ex-
ercise of tlieir religion on shore, but shall beobiiged to depart by
the ships on which they arrived here.
Moreover that the mäss priests, monks, priests and clerks or
all others of whatever order they may be, who are now living
here, are hereby expressly charged lo depart from the territory of
Malacca, and, within one month, come here, unless they will lay
aside their priestly habit, and clothe themselves like all other citi-
zens, and no longer celebrate the very smallest public practice of
■their religion with the assembling of people together, all on pain
of banishment from our government and such further arbitrary
punishment as may be found suited to the exigencies of the case.
(138) Further, the better to prevent future public celebrations
by those of the Romish religion, we charge those who possess build-
ings, where hitherto said religions practices have been celebrated,
forthwith to pull them down or to alter them and make them into
dwelling houses, and henceforth to abstain from all assembling to-
gether for the practice of their religion or that such persons as
allow their houses to be used thereto, as also those who shall be
, found in said houses, shall be liable to above mentioned perialty.
That this our order be duly observed and obeyed, we charge
and command our fiscal to publish and affix this proclamation
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
82 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
cvcrywhere in divers languages and lo have it published and aflix-
eJ; lo procecd against Ihose wlio contravene it wiliiout any deceit
or delay (verdraght), since we find this (ilting for the profit of our
State.
'Tlius published in the town and fort of Malacca, this I2lh
Jimc 1646, signed Arnoldus de Vlamingh van Outshoorn.
(139) llowever ihe content of tiiis proclamation was fre-
quenlly Iransgrcsscd by tlie Romish clergy and iheir adherenls
hcrc in spile of Iheir hcing our inhabitants and subjects, and Ihey
presislcd therein, noLwithstanding the infliclion on them of the
penaJties decreed in the albresaid proclamation. We in fact dis-
covered Ihat the priests conlinued to persuade onr Romish inhabi-
tants to bequeath their property or part of it by testamentary or
other disposition to the churches and monasteries, which they have
in Goa, their chief place in India, and elsewhere, and also to collect
al ms.
In order to provide against and remedy these and other
abuses, detrimental to our good political rule, we, shortly after
the beginning of our governorship, on the 15th January 1666,
issued, published and alfixed a fuUer proclamation, as may be
seen from the copy which follov/s:
Balthasar Bort, President, Commander of the town and fort
of Malacca with its dependencies, on behalf of the Honourable
Joan Maetsuycker, Governor General, and their Honours, the
Council of India of the Dutch possessions in the East, to ail, who
shall see these presents or hear them read, greeting, to wit:
Whereas it is piain to us that our Roman Catholic inhabitants
are not content (140) with freedom of conscience and the practice
of their religion in their dwelling houses, which has np to the
present been permitted them without hindrance, and, by reason of
the evil instructions and influence {impressien) of the Portuguese
priests living here, and especialiy at the instigation of one Don
Fernandus Manuel, who came here in March of last year from
Maccanw and has remained here ever since as an arrogant and
detiant asserter of said Romish religion although now under orders
to depart, have gone so far as, quite recently, to dåre to erect, on
their own authority, attap houses, one within this northern suburb
beside the road to the bank shall and the other at Bongerij tricked
out with pictures and other superstitious ornaments in form of a
popish church, and in these said Portuguese priests have during the
hoiy days just past not only preached but celebrated the idoiatrous
mäss and their Romish worship publicly and without scruple be-
fore a great concourse of people.
Aforesaid Don Fernandus Manuel actually went so far as to
offer active resistance to the officers of justice who, in accordance
with the duty of their office, (141) disturbed the assembly, and
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
■ Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 83
lias uscd and is still constantly using such seditious language as
tends lo no olher objcct tiian Ihe Lraducing of our government
here and Ihe dissuasion of our good inhabitants from the just
•obediencc wlilch Ihey are bound lo show us, in every respect con-
Irary lo Ihe tcnour of all political ordinanccs, and espccially of
Ihe proclamnlion issucd licre on june 12. 1646 against Ihe pnbllc
celebralion ol Ihe Romish worship, and, since the celcbration of
.said.worsliip and all ihat appcrlains thcreto can, as bcing very
superslilioLis, for no conceivable reason be allowecl without dimi-
nntion of Cloirs honoui- and rcproach lo our ChrisHan religion here,
bnt on Ihc conlrary, following Ihe good example of various re-
formed churches in liurope as well as here in tliese counirics both
in Balavia and elsewherc, ihe public and secret propagalion of
this cloctrine must be, not only promptly checked, but suitable
measures must also be adopted to cut off the Portuguese ministers,
who are usually very poor, from the means thereto henceforth,
and lo cure them of the desire to come and makfe their home so
■eageriy' in future within the borders of our republic.
Moreover those who still secretly (142) remain here must, in
accordance \vith the salutary order o! ouv superiors, be removed
with all speed from our midst, so as to prevent all offence and to
hinder them betimes from their crafty wiles, getting our inhabit-
.anls entirely devoled to them, and in this way converting them
from dutiful into rebellious and impoverished subjects, for they
have great iskill in charming the money out of the purses of these
people under the pretext and with a fair but false show of religion.
Thus they enrich themselves to the particular damage and dis-
-advantage of our state, since they thereby render our inhabitants
incapable of contributing anything to the necessities of the common
cause, when occasion demands, for the defence of this town and fort
against all open and secret foes, whereto they are in duty and in-
deed by solemn oath bound lo our state in accordance with all
naturai and civii laws for the protection of their own cause, the
maintenance of wife and children together with possessions and
.goods.
Said Don Pennandus Manuel and the Romish priests seek to
hoodwink them into believing the contrary to this, because for-
■sooth (143) they are not of our religion, using thereto these and
various other baseless arguments. Therefore we, for the preven-
tion of all inconvcnicnces that might result therefrom and for the
maiiUenance of our rule and of the reformed Christian religion and
from special regard for the common weal, with due care, pursuant
to our Christian duty, wishing herein to provide, after ripe deli-
beration, with the concurrence of our Council, have ordained and
-decreed and do hereby ordain and decree:
Firslly, that none of the Portuguese priesthood from Goa,
Maccauw or anywhere passing here, whether Jesuits, priests>
'3927] Royal Asiatic Society.
84 Report of Govcrnor Baltliasar Bort oii Malacca
cur.ifcs, monks, clcrks or other profcssetl clcrical persons, of what-
ever ortlcr or condition tlicy mny be, shall be siiffcrcd lo come
ashort: witiiin oiir jurisdiction exccpt with nur express pennit mui
specinl knowletijre, nnich less, vvhelhcr in ecclesiaslical or civilian
f^arb, sellie liere or s!ny in secret. Tliey must, on llie conlrary.
depart wiUi Ibe same sl)i|)S Ibey arrived in, on pain ul" a fnie of
200 re". Oiir inhahitanls who are found lo liave brouglil asliore or
lodged and enlerlained {dejroyccrt) the aloresaid priestly persons
in llieir houses conlrary lo Ihis (144) our order sliall be liable lo
Ihc same iine.
Also during tlielr slay here in ihc roadstead thcy sball not
be allowed lo preach on sliorc, or cclebrale inass or praclisc any
otiier l^omish supcrsUlion accompanicd by llie assembling of
peoj)lo logelber eiUier in secret or openly, no malier how small the
assembly mny be. They must beiiave themselves quietly and
peaccably in all modesty under Uie pcrmit lo land wlien oblained,
similarly on pain ol" a Iine of 200 re". inOicLed on evcryone of our
iniiabilanis for each occasioii on wliich lie has allentled such a
galhcring, and of conliscation, in addition, of such houses and their
lands wherc said conventicles or assemblies havc been held.
Also thc,v shall not be allowed to practise their said religion
on board their several ships so long as they lie in the roads except
solely for their own people of the ship's crew, and shall not entice
thereto any of our inhabitants or suffer them to come on their
ships with that purpose, on pain of tiie forfeiture of a similar fine
of 200 re^. by the priests and of 25 re^. by our inhabitants.
(145) The members of aforesaid priesthood must above ail
take careful heed that no one either old or young here on shore or
on board their ships comes to be baptized or joined in marriage,
and in especial they must not rebaptize or remarry those who have
aiready received the sacrament of baptism from our reformed
ministers or have been married by them or by marriage com-
missioners, on pain of immerciful corporal punishment in addition
to confiscation of all their goods; This punishment shall be inflicted
without connivance and enforced against all our subjects who
have any part in transgressing this important point in any way.
Moreover all marriages celebrated by the popish priesthood shall
be deemed null and void and, in consequence, all such persons
shall be deprived of the rights accorded to married peopie on the
strength of the holy marriage tie.
Similarly also none of said priestiy persons shall attempt to
make any collection or ingathering here of money or goods or
directly or indirectly to have one (146) made by his servants or
anyone else for masses for the dead, popish churches, monasteries,
colleges, convents or whatever else they may be called so as to rob
our inhabitants by such sinister tricks of their property at the
risk of punishment at discretion.-
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor D:i!thasar Bort on Malacca 85
Also said inhabitants of ours in general and particular are
öy these presenls expressly forbidden to hand ovcr or to have
I-.anded ovcr un thcir bchalf by othcr persons any alms for said
])ers(Mis, 110 nialLer liow small in amoiint, or to dispose of Iheir
possessions b\- vvill or in any other way lo any of tiie said atlegcd
members of Ihc priesthood or for the bencOt of Ihe cluirches,
colleges, convcnts, iiionaslcries, elc. specified abovc or to transfer
them from liere lo any Pt)rlugnese posscssions and so to depri*-^
their lawful asccndanis or descendants thereof in tliat or some
olher improper inanner on päin of confiscation of all possessions so
disposed of or transferred and of a money finc of 100 re", in addi-
tion. This and the fine before appointed to be applied one third
for llie informer, one third for the benefit of the poor of our
Christian (147) refornied ciiurches and the remaining third for
Ihe Conipany's ofTicials.
And lo ihe end that we may be freed once for all from many
vexalions of daily occiirrence by reason of the abbve mentioned
Romish supcrslitions still grossiy in vogue hcre, all such priests
as continue lo iive snrrepliliosly in this republic, of whatever
order or condition they may be, are, withotit cxceplion, cxprcssly
warned, wilhin a week from the publication of these presents, to
discover themselves to us or else to depart from this territory and
out of the JLirisdictiön thereof and never again to show themselves
here or, if they fail to do this, and so are found here still after
the lapse of the aforesaid appointed week, they shall be punished
as dislurbers and troiiblers of the conimon peace.
In order then that none may pretend ignorance hereof and
that all the aforesaid points may the better be observed and main-
tained without infringement in their full force and according to
their strict meaning, we charge and command our fiscal to have
this proclamation published also in Portuguese and to have it
posted Lip in the proper piaces (143) and a!so to proceed against
the transgressors thereof, withont respect of persons or any con-
nivance whatever, in the most severe manner as an example to
others, since we deem such action needful for the honour of God,
the iipholding of the true reformed Christian religion, the expulsion
of the harmfu! Romish doctrine and especially the welfare of our
State.
Thus done antl decreed in the Council of Malacca this
15th Jan. 1666 and published and posted the 29th following
of same.
Some iinpro\'ement followed on this further proclamation, not
however to the extent of our being afale wholiy to purge the
territory of Malacca of Romish priests; they did not show them-
selves here openly, but remained in hiding; some even, in civiiian
garb, serving their religion and their ecclesiastical ceremonial,
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
86 Report of Governor Balthasar Borl on Malacca
especially mäss, in remole places botli in Ihe jungle and elsewliere.
Tliis they still persist in, whenever they can discover a convenicnt
lime and occasion therefor.
More particularly tliese Romish subjects of oiirs contrive
always lo maiiilain hcre in sccrct a pricslling lo minister lo them in.
sickncss and dealh, for tliey imaginc tliat, if they are obliged to
do witiiout a prlcst al such times, they are iost and will nol go to
lieavcn.
(149) Tiiis pricslling iias no dinicLilty in getting his main-
Icnance from Ihe peo()le, and olher priests, vvhu cuinc liither from
olsewjiero, hotii in PorLugue.se and Mohammetlan shJps, |)erccivlng
this, endeavour also to get a share by hiding at llie lime of the
dcparlure of ihe ships and reniuining hero, for ihey like to be where
ihere i.s somelhing to eal. This causes ill feeling amung them,
for it acUially happcned once that some of their faith reporlcd tö-
rne Ihat four of their priests were living herc in secret, and, slnce
it was too heavy a burden to support them all, they themselvcs.
asked that Ihree might be sent away and that only onc might be
retained by them, but, in accordance with the order, all four had
to depart.
However we are never frec from these troubiesome persons,,
who, if caught, must be kept in custody and sent away at the Hrst
opportunity that occurs. Further they and their adherents must be
punished according to the tenour of the proclamations, as 1 trust
your Honour wil! do so long as no other order is received, for their
Romish priests aim at impoverishing the black community adher-
ing lo their religion. These people are for the most part, so poor
that some of them are supported by our church funds; which fact
induced some of them.after the (150) publication of the aforesaid
most recent proclamation, to bequeath money in their wills to our
church.
The prohibition of the exercise of the Romish religion has
notably reduced the population of this town, by reason of
the departure of many Portugnese famllies and their dependents
to other places. They have taken with them a good number of
black fishermen and would have carried off the rest, if they had
not been prevented.
Our ecclesiastical or church affairs here are at present served
by two reverend preachers, by name Domine Hubertus Leijdecker
of Zirick Zee and Bernardus Coopagroen of Amsterdam, both ex-
cellent and learned men of good life and peaceful conversation.
The former has been here evev since the year 1672, the other
arrived only last year.
They have associated with them, as elders, M. Govert du
Lavay, Captain, and Jan Meeck, governor of the hospital; and, as
deacons, Sr. Pieter van Halsdingen, junior merchant, Leendert
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,.
Report of Govemor Ballhnsar Bort on Malacca 87
Kars, SLTgcanl', and Mcndnck Moleman. biirgher, constiUiting a
■(I5t) rcgui.ir Church Coiincil. Ihese oflicers are usually changed
■every ycar or two, on the nominalion of the Church Council from
tho niost estimable of the Company's servanls ol high rank and of
the chief burghcrs aflcr the Govcrnor has bcen commLmicated with
and his approval has bccn obtaincd. The second in command
herc nnist not serve as elder, this having becn forbidden by their
honours many ycars ago, whcn dispulcs arose liere between the
preachcrs.
'I"hc menibers of ihc church are at the present timc 150 in
nuniber. The deacons provide for and maiiitain a!so the orjjhan-
a^e, buiit here in niy (inie, situaled on a convenient spöt vvithin tiie
fort in a cultivaled garden.
'1'here are herc aiso Iwo churcliwardens, wlio are chosen by tlic
Governor and Council. They receive the fees for burials and use
them for the necessary repairs of the churches. .To increase their
income and to meet the charges they have to bear, the graves were
put up for saie in 1669, at a maximum of (de meeste op) 100 re^
and a minimum of (ende minste) 25 re^. This was approved by
their Ilonours in Batavia. and at the same time they agreed that
the transfer papers and deeds should be granted by the Govemor,
but up to the present no graves have been sold.
There are two churches here, namely one, St. PauTs, a church
with a tower on high ground on the top of the hiil, which the town
possessed in the time of the Portuguese and has retained, and
another, down below at the foot of the hill, in the south part of
this fort. it was formerly a dweih'ng house and was turned into a
■church in my time and called the New Church. A sermon is
preached there only once in the week, but in St. PauTs twice every
Sunday and in the small outer fort Delft once in the early morning.
On Sundays in the lower church also service is held by a visiter of
the sick called Steven Ferdinandus van Tavilien in Portuguese
and a sermon is read and the psalms of David, some of which have
been translated into said language, are siing. This service is at-
tended by the natives of our religion, mostly half castes and black
women married to Dutchmen. Formerly it was the custom (153)
for our clergy to preach there also in Portuguese, in order to at-
tract our Romish community the more to our religion, but they saw
that they accomplished little or nothing by this means and the
custom fell into disuse.
For the further service of the church there are here at present,
including aforesaid Ferdinandus, four visitors of the sick and one
beadle, w-ho are ?11 paid by the Honourable Company. Two of
them and the beadle (who besides his wage of /20 receives in addi-
tion 5 re'*, a month from the church) keep public schools for the
■chiidren, where they are taught, instructed and exercised.
192.7] Royal Asiatic Society.
88 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
The duty of a government, as a good defender of our true re-
formed religion and of its servants in what is necessary in Ihis
respecl, is known lo, and wili doubtless be fulfilled by your
I lonoiir wilh wisdom, prudence and discrction. You will also have
paid lo the preacliers thcir appoinled ycnrly allowances, consisting
in:
50 pols of Spanish wine
2U „ of Dnlch vincgar
50 ibs of meat and bacon
50 Ibs of Dutch butter and
10 pols of olive oil.
This is the amount liitherto enjoycd by each from ihe Company's
stores.
(15'l) The dcacons have al Ihe present lime hcre under iheir
control a capital of [ 17378 1 re\ [46 slv.| mostly out at interest
on deposit, they render an account of it cvery year and have it for-
warded lo the Governor. 'Ihe community of the government
which 1 am handing över to your Honour, consists, as before
specified, of various sorts of persons, viz. Dutch burghers, blacl<
Christians, mostly Roman Catholics, Moors, Malays, Javanese
and Bugis who adhere to ihe Mohammedan sect, furlher Chinese
and Genloos who cleave to heathenism. All these together make
up the inhabitants or community here, and in addition the servants
of the Ilonourable Company. consisting of troops, both soldiers
and sailors, merchants, clerks, craftsmen and servants of the
church. What is needed in order so to keep all these to their
duty and obedience, that your Honour is honoured, respected and
also beloved by them, is knovi'n to your Honour and there is there-
fore no need to enlarge upon it. Your Honour is provided with
a Council where 3'our Honour always presides and you are autho-
rised wilh it to settle {defiweeren) and carry into effect all matters
pertaining to political and military affairs both criminal and civil.
This Council consists of the servants of the Company of high
standing who occupy the chief ofTices (115) and who at the present
time are as follows:
The Hon. Adriaan Lucasz: chief merchant, second in com-
mantl and administratör of trade.
Govert du Lavay, Captain of the forces.
Cornelis Verburgh, merchant and shabandar
Abraham Borgers, do. and fiscal
Sleven Klaerbout, equipage master and
Jacob Snickers, merchant and head of the pay office.
The Council has as its secretary Jan van Assendelft who is
also aiictioneer. The merchant Adriaan van der Walle, at present
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 89
chief al Andrajirij is also countecl as a inember of tlie Council and
attends ils meetings whenever he is here, the seat above Sr. Snickers
having becii promised to him on his recent departure thither.
Besides tiiis worthy Council there are here no olhcr boards
exccpt of Ihe gtiardrans of the orfihans and the coiTimissioners for
malrimonial maliers, Ihose in olTicc at present being: —
Guardians of the Orphans.
Abraham Borgers, above menlioned
Jacob Sonneman, Captain of the burghers
Adriaen Wylant, junior merchant
Arnoldus de Carpentier, do.
Pieter van i lelsdingen, do. serving as secretary.
(156) There is at the present time imder their control a
capita! of 4148^ rc^ and Ihey act in accordance wilh the orders
given by their fionuurs in Balavia and embodted in their statiites.
The guardians of the orphans here are also at the same time ad-
ministratörs of the cstates of deceased inhabitants and incoming
strangers and if anyihing of importance has to be done in such
case.s, lliey join wilh them the captain of the Chinese and the
chief of the Moors.
Commissioners for matrimonial matters.
Cornclis Verburgii above menlioned
Peter van Helsdingen
Jan Roosdom, L.ieutenant
liendrick Moleman, biirgher
Jan van Assendelft, Secretary
Governors of the hospital, which is situated in an inconve-
nient place in the före part of the N. suburb opposite the fort, are
at present Cornelis VerbLM'gh a foremen tion ed and Hendrick Tem-
mer, first Lieutenant. The master who is at present Jan iVleke is-
under their orders and applies to them for the suppjy of the
hospitafs weekly and monthly needs both in cash and (157) pro-
visions by means of orders on the cashier and storekeeper {dis-
pencier) which are then endorsed by them and brought to me for
signature. The master renders an account thereof to the overseers
as also of the sum of one stiver v/hich is charged against the
patients for each day of their stay in the hospital and is handed
back to him by the shopkeeper (ivinckelier) on the order received
from the Governor. The receipt of this money is then reported
to the garrison bookkeeper, so that each person may be charged
for his own in the account of his monthly pay and also that he
may be credited wilh only half of his pay from the time of his
entry into the hospital. The custom I found in use here and 1
have left it so, in order to deter those who betake themselves to
hospital feigning illness without being really ill, so as the more
easily to play the sluggard and to withdraw themselves from the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
90 Report of Governor Balthasar BortDn Malacca
Coiiipany's necessary service. Experience shews that, such coiir
■ciuct is fairly frequeiit, since few men are found among tiie soldiers
and sailors wiio are ambitions to avoid disgrace, in view of all
lliis, provision is made by the ovcrsecrs and llie master that be-
forc [)alients are admittcd ihey must be examined by tlio surgcoii
(158) and a!so, when he judges that they have recovcred, they do
not a!low liiem to remain lungei' bnt discharge ihcm. Por this
purpose it is necessary that the overseers should go lo the hospital
occasionally and inspect it both to maintain discipline among
thosc who are reiilly ill and to administer the requisite civil punish-
ment to the guilty.
The other remaining offices of consequcncc are usualiy held
by jun!()r mevchants and they may not be i)romolcd lo :\ny higher
rank so long as they remain in thcm. They are served at present
iis follows:— •
'l'iie otTice of cashier by Anthony Volgei [II. C— Vogel].
„ license master by Pieter van Melsdingen.
The oflice of shopkeeper by Adriaen Wyiant.
„ storckeeper provisionaliy by llendrick Wackcr.
„ „ ,, assistant garrison and pay-ofTicc-bookkeeper by
Alexander van Lamswaerde.
„ master of the trading warehouse by Jcsaias
Schalp.
The duty of these persons is not unknown to your Honours,
nevertheless in what foliows some notes shall be given thereon.
The oflice of equipage master is at (159) present heid, also pro-
visionaliy, by the skipper Steven Claerbout. Moreover, the work-
men of all crafts have their own special master and thd equipage
master is över these. Me also controls at the same time the Gom-
pany's public works and, if materials are needed for them, they
are bought and provided by him. Further every month he ex-
hibits a wnrrant signed by himself which the Governor endorses
for payment from the treasury to whoever has made said delivery
of goods. Wherefore he has authority as head not only över the
equipping of the ships but also över the master craftsmen here on
land, together with the journeymen, in order that he may keep
said carpenter, gunners with their mates, smiths, bricklayers,
coopers, turners and blockmakers, as also the boatswaln with his
sailors to their bounden service and duty, as also the Company's
slaves and the criminals confined in the Slavenburgh together
with the coolies or hirelings whenever they have to be employed,
whereto your Monour will be pleased not to have recourse except
under urgent necessity, (KiO) since the daily wage is, as a rule,
high and there. always occurs much messing and botching (no
matter how careful the supervision) without its being possible to
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 91
discovcr any grcat advancc in the daiiy tale of work. Neverthe-
less, every liircd slave cosls the Ilonourable Company 8 to 10
stivers a day, for llieir owners will not be satisfied with icss, parti-
CLiIarly if they pcrceive tliat thc labour is needcd. A short time
ago, when we were obliged to liire, the coolies werii first asseiiibled
in the Slavenburgli and were kept there unti! they were discharged;
they had free rations during Ihat time from the Company Hke the
Company's slaves and 6 stivers of daily wage in addition, in which
wise more service was got from them, but even so not as much as
was right, wherefore we were glad tliat they were not needed for
longer and that we could speedily send them olf, as we in fact did.
At the hcginning of oiir goverment here the equipage master
was not oiily ovcrsecr of the works but aiso surveyor and assayer,
and was provick'd witii the necessary orders for his instruction and
the regulation of his oflice registered in the letter book of (161)
1665, Oct. 31 and also of March 5, 1666, which I insert here: Order
for Jan Joostcnbal, equipage master and at the same tijne overseer
of the Compuny's public works together with the master craftsmen
and their jourheymen and all other workmen as also the Com-
pany 's slaves, accoixling to which he must regulate his action.
It has heen decitlcd by us with the advice and approval of
the Councii to cntrust and commit to you in addition to your
present duties as equipage master the office of overseer of the
Company's public works and workmen, since formerly in the days-
of the oid governors, Heeren van Vliet and Jan Thijsz;, one and
the same person was employed as chief for this purpose except in
the time of our predecessor 1-ieer Joan van Riebeecq, recently
departed to Batavia, who himself superintended every master work-
man and appointed them their work.
Therefore in order that you be acknowledged, respected and
obeyed as chief, we have furnished you with a special commission
pursuant to which you have to see to it that the master craftsmen,.
i.e., the carpenter, gunner, bricklayer, (162) smith, cooper, turner
and blockmaker together with their journeymen as also the Com-
pany's slaves are kept to their bounden service and devoir, where-
fore you shall obey and observe our following order.
First of all you shall see that the masters with the men under
them (none but sick persons and invalids excepted) morning and
evening at a set time, that is in the morning at beat of drum and
in the evening at the ringing of the bell, come to prayers whicli
shall at those times be said by a visitor of the sick in the Slaven-
burgh, and that you yourself shall be present on every occasion
and shall cause the boatswain also to come with his saiiors. All
who wilfuliy absent themseives shall be punished with 50 strokes
of the cat, but the gunners stationed on the bastions and points
shall be free from the obligation of appearing there, but must be
present always at the prayers held among the soldiers at the points.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
92 Report of Govcnior Ballliasar Bort on Malaccn
On Sundnys Ihe masters wilh their men shall be bound to go
to cinircli assiduously botli morning and afternoon to listen de-
voutly to Ciod's lioly word thcre and to take good heed thereto.
(163) 'I"hosc who wilfully neglect their duty you must similarly
piinish wilh 50 strokcs and you will greatly hcip thcm to attend
diiigently if they see that you and the master craftsmen are good
examples to them thercin, insomuch as they will expcct Ihis from
you and thcm. One of the master smiths shall each in lurn night
by night reniain in the smithy at present in the Slavenburgh and
sliall have his sleeping place in the little room set apart thercfori
so as the better to keep the men in good order and lo prevent all
irregularitics.
You must also sce lo it that each master craftsmen takes his
men carly in the morning, afler prayers are över, to ihcir appointed
place and work as also in Ihe afternoon after dinner and that he
does not leave his place in the morning until 1 1 and in the after-
noon till 5 o'cloi:k when the signal for leaving od work is given by
striking of the bell, meanwhile preventing anyone from idling but
seeing that all are kept steadily at work.
The number of the worknien, masters included, as rendered to
me. consists at present of the following persons: —
7 House carpenters
13 Blacksmiths, nailmakers, locksmiths and sword-smiths
7 Bricklayers
6 Coopers
2 Blockmakers and
1 Turner
In all 36 workpeople wilh their masters.
9 ship's carpenters with )
)
) under you as equipage master
29 sailors besides 1 chief )
Boatswain )
7 Gunners distributed at the fortified points which is too
small a number (164) and is to be increased to 22 so
that a watch there may be kept at night and they may
be employed on all necessary services by day.
In sum 81 men
You shall see to it that every craftsman and workman shews
iiil due respectful obedience to the master under wliom he works
and promptly performs what he orders for the service of the Com-
pany.
Among said workpeople, especially those working in the
sniilh}', we understand that some are unfit and fceble, and have
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Ileport of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 93
<ione no work for a long lime or have worked only occasionally,
but nevertheless draw their monthly wage and allowance. To these
you must give betler heed and report them to us, so that the Com-
pany may he relieved of iinprofitable wage drawers,
You nuist give leave to no onc outside the Company's service
to have any private work done by the workpeople or slaves, not
■even out of work bours. Ilereto >ou nnist givegood heed and, jf
you discover that work is heing done for private persons elsewhere,
you must report to us, so that it may be prevented and the offenders
punished.
The Conipany's shivcs are at present 185 in number, i.e. 167
men, 13 women and 5 cliildren. There are usuatly 25-26 (165) of
them reported sick. They are all in Slavenburgh where there is
älso a guard of 12 soldiers under the sergeant Corneh's Pietersz.
Co [? sdj aan [? Codaan].
The slaves work each day as follows:
Men Women Children
At the Company's bakery 19 1
In Ihe hospital 8 . . . .
In the smithy and armoury 8
With Ihe carpenters 9
In the stabJes 2
In the Company's garden 10
In the trade warehouses 8 . .
in our dwelling house & the guard there 8
On the waler prao (i.e. that fetches
water) 7
With the storekeeper 2
With the head Surgeon I . . , .
In Slavenburgh with the surgeon 1
Cooks in Slavenburgh 2
A bellringer 1 ' ..
In the Company's cowshed 3
To fetch grass for the horses . . 12
Children do not work . - . . 5
Sick 25
In the gäng on the public works 53
In sum as above 167 13 5
This arrangement can be continued for the present but for the
change already made therein by us, i.e. that henceforth only 8 men
and I woman slave shall be allowed to the bakery and not more
than 6 lo ihe hospital, none to the garden other than those now
hired.
i It is and shall be your duty both to see whether these (166)
•services can be carried out by a smaller number of slaves and also
J927J Royal Asiatic Society.
94 Report or Govcrnor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
whether tliose wlio stay in the Siavenburgh under a show of ill-
ness are playing the sluggard. You must report according to what
you find to be the facts, so that in this matter the necessary order
may be made accordingly and that, if possible, we may have more
workers for the gaijg.
All slavas, botli men anU women, who, although coimted gs-
belonging each day to the gäng, havc been allotted herc and there
as sliown above, shall, if occasion arises for sttmething lo be done
quickly, whether the iinloadhig or ioading of siiips or anylhing
else, be united with the cnmmon gäng and employed where they
are nceded, wherein you must at the same time not be negligent and
need have regartt lo no one.
You musl also see lo it Ihat the junior mcrchant in the Com-
pany's uarehouses is aiways provided with sonie workpeoplc, even
if he asks for more than ihe usual number of slaves, and ihat we are-
immediately informed of the same, since we order that you shall
not permit any gäng slaves to work for anyone wilhout our know-
iedge and previous consent, in order that the public works may not
be delayed.
The shahbandar also somcliines needs slaves for going to the
arriving anti departing vessels, in wliicli case, if he happcns to de-
mand Eheni, he (oo is to be accommodated.
Also the liscal, (167) whenever he journeys to the ships or else-
where in the discharge of the duties of his oflice, must be provided'
wilh sailors or slaves.
Criminals confined in the Siavenburgh for their misdeeds and:
persons put tliere by their creditors for debt are at present:
3 Dutchmen in chainsl
4 men > for crime
2 women J
9 Moors 1
■ 5 blacks j- for debt
6 women I
Together 29 who also must all be employed on the Company'S'
public works, except the women banished there for adultery and
prostitution, who shail be kept there shut up in a seperate abode
and no longer allowed out and employed with the Companys
women slaves in fetching grass for the horses, which we understand
was the former custom, but was abrogated by us, as soon as we had
knowledge of it.
Three orang kayas from the Company's dependency, the
viiiage of Nanning are aiso confind in said Siavenburgh in separata
quarters över whom good watch must be kept and a close guard
aiways maintained before their lodging, so that they do not (168)
Journal Malayan Branth [Vol. V^
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 95
escape, for they are dangers and seditious men who cannot agree
with their coiintrymen and must not go back to them, uniess they
have first been rcconciled and have made their peace with the
others,
Every morning you must come to us to get your orders as to
the worits and services on which the s!ave gäng is to be employed,
afler you have given us the numbers oT the same and of the invalids
reniuining in Ihe Siavenburgh and, at the same time, making a re-
port to US of all ihe happenings ol' the previous day in connexion
with your ofTice nnti of the state of the Company's works of all
kinds,
\Ve have given Ihe ctjntrol of tlie arsenal or armoury to the
£aptain of the garrison, iladriaan Schimmelpenning van der Oij,
as also över the Company's slable, so that you need not concern
yourself Iherewith, except that you shall draw orders for weapons
and other necessaries wanted for the ships in the Straits on the
master smith, who is also overseer of the armoury, so that after
endorsement by us, the Ihings required may be fetched thence.
The master sinith shall be bound to hand över such order lo the
said caplain on each occasion.
The materials for use in the public works were formerly, in
the lime of my predecessor, Joan van Riebeeck, bought for the most
part by the sergeant, flendrick Jansz. Wacker, who has been em-
ployed as clerk of the works for the last 15 years. lie supplied
them on his Honour's order (169) whenever they were needed and
came once a month to his Honour to show him what had been issued
during that time and for what purpose. Then an order was drawn
on the Company's cashier for all the same, and the payment was
made to him, Hendrick Jansz. We propose to follow this prac-
tice for the present and to employ you for that purpose in place
of said sergeant. This you must therefore fall in with and regulate
your action in the purchase of said materials by the present prices
stated below as furnished to us by said sergeant himself, with a
recommendation however to ascertain whether they should not be
available at a lower figure:—
Re^.
Stivers
Junglc (bos)*
' beams
each
1
Injate planks
each
24
Long jungie
(bos)*
planks
the 100
12
Barotten
10
24
Rafters
4
Cadjanghs
6
Long lantees
the 1000
10
Short lantees
4
* I take bos to Gtaiid for boscli, "forest, jungie ' ' but tliis is not certain.
..1927] Royal Asiatic Socicty.
96 Report of Governor Btilthasar Bort on Malacca
Re^
Nybooms [nibongs]
cach
/«
Adap
the 100
%
Rooihig tiios
the 1000
16
Fired brick liom the burgher
' Roelof
the 1000
5
Fired brick 1' rom the Chinesee,
which is belter
the 1000
8
Flooring bricks
the 100
K
Lime
ihesiftedcask
/^
Charcoai l'oi- lorging
Ihe basket
Va
Rattans
IhelOObundlca
6
(i70_) Woodwork has hilhcrto bccn supplicd priiicipally by |
Lieut. van Twist as farmer of tlie same, Ihis niay as well continue |
unlil furlher orders from us. Al present O hired carpenlers are- i
empIo)cd, siiice thore is work in hand, which hati lo be donc' |
quickly. These are to be disinissal on ils coinpletion, cither in a I
body or in parC, according as there shail be much or littie to ht- \
done at the lime. As to this you miisl give us informalion in each, |
case, so that no unnecessarj^ liired labonr niay be relained. Their |
daily wage is at present as foUows; — i
4 blacks at 241
3 „ „ 18 j- stivers, liglit money .
24]
\m stivers, liglit
Chinese,, 48j'
You must see to it that they are ktpt steadily at their work and do- |
not waste their time, and when there happens to be nolhing to be i
done to the ships, must miike use of the ship's carpenters also, on: \
,the joinery of the public works, if necessary, and ii" they can be- 'k
useful therein. . "I
I
■Vou shall not have the power to take into service any hire- ^
lings, either carpenters or other craftsmen, nor any coolies dr |
slaves, nor to discharge those a! ready taken on until you have J
proved the necessity therefor to us and have obtainetl our consent I
thereto. 1
Since Sergeant Hendrik Jansz. Wacker aforesaid has served J
here both as clerk and also in part as overseer of the public works. ^
for 15 years past, and has great experience of all matters concern- |
ing them, we have appointed him as your coadjutor and assistant,. i
to continue to perform said office of clerk and to have also some 'i
oversight and command of the works, but all under your orders. "
(171) louching your ofilce as equipage master, I have, for \
the present, no recommendation to make to you, except to apply
yourself {dan de hänt te hoitden) [to \'Our duties] and always to \
have necessary repairs done to the ships and sloops stationed in the-
Straits. 'Chey are al present: —
Journal Malayan Brmvcb [Vol. V,.
Report t)f Governor Balthasar Bort on lyialaccu 97
The yacht Blommendael for Siarn
"l"hc flulu {'t /luijtie) 't Velthoen for Lig<?or
Tlic i^uU: /.nijlen and (
3 sloops (chaloupen) j for the blockade of Pera
The galliot flammevhiel for Oedjangh Salangh
The flute Ter Boede
The small hooker De Kemphaen
The yachl .4/cfe7«fl(Jr \ for Qu ed a
The small yacht D^ ForfMj7i and I
A sioop J
Tho gixWityMalacca and \ cruising on the opposite
A sloop De Goede I loop J coast of Sumatra
The frigate Caumiuoor or / herc in the roadslead goiiig
The lighter l)c I.{istdm>,e^ \ lo and fro for firewood.
Purthcr the sanipan {chlavipmi) and tlie small vessel here at
the wharf.
liverylhing, botli föod and ollicr things, requisitionetl by lliese
on arrival and di^parture, must be comniunicaled by you to ns in a
■note, drawn on wlioever has the duty of making the issue, for our
■ endorsement.
The unioading and loading of the incoming and outgoing
space, so that the cargo may be conipieted with other goods, espe-
December from Ihe north out of Japan, and are destined with their
rich cargoes for India, j-ou must see to having proceeded with at
the utmost speed, since the honourabie Company attachés the great-
est imporlance thereto.
(172) YoLi must give us information of sliips passing here
from other parts on their way to Batavia that have some cargo
space, so that the cargo may be completed with other goods, espe-
cially resin, of which there is at present a great quantity in store
and \ve usually lack ship room to transport it to Batavia.
If there chance to be any craftsmen on said ships, you shall,
with our previous knowledge and consent, land them here, since we
have been often in sore need of such.
In conclusion I reconimend you, in this charge laid upon you,
to show yourself faithful and vigiiant and to have the interests of
the Honourabie Company most at heart, on which we shall confi-
dently rely. We remain your good friends.
(Signed) Balthasar Bort, Michiel Curre, Hadriaen Schim-
melpenninck van der Oij. Joannes Massis and Abraham den Back
(In the margin) Malacca, Oct. 31st 1665,
Instructions for the equipage master, Joan Joosten Bal, where-
by he will have to regulate his action in his capacity of surveyor.
In view of the irregularities committed here in the past by our
inhabitants in the erection and buiiding of their houses and lodges
'1927] Royal Asiatic Soctety.
VS Report of Goveinor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
{padacken) hy wilfully projecting beyond the due limils lo the"
great disfigurement of tlie slrcets wilhin the northern and southern
suburbs respectiveiy, therefore, in order to prevent all such irre-
gularities and any disputes whicli migiit arise betwecn our (173)
inhabitants on account of their buildings, and in the desire also of
securing in future beCter order and aliment than has been hitherto
Ihe case in Uie erection and building of såld houses and lodges
(pedacken) and all else tiepending thereon, we have chosen you as
siirveyor and give the under-mentioned points for your special in-
struction, so that said ofiice niay be discharged in accordance with
■our intention.
Pirstly. No onc shall hencclorth be allowed lo pul in hand
any building abutting on the property of another man unless you
liaye first been called in and have duly alined the foundalions, even
if a house or loclge {pedack) bad forniorly stooti un the same spöt.
Wlien the foiindations have been laid according to the aline-
mfiil m.ide, no one shall be allowed lo proceed further with his
building until you liave been summoned once niore to see whether,
in the laying of the foundalions the alinement has been duly follow-
ed; in both cases under penaity of 10 reals, to be levied on the work-
people, as well as of correcting or relaying all that you find has
been built or laid beyond the alinement.
Also whoever wishes to lay the foundalions of his proposed
building deeper than those of his neighbour shall be bound first to
provide his neighbour's house with props or support it from out-
side in some other way, (174) so that, in your judgment, it is pro-
perly secured, on pain of punishment at discretion and compen-
sation for all his neighbour may happen to sulTer therefrom.
And any men who damages his neighbour's roof, gutters or any
thing else by his building shall be obliged to have the same made
^ood promptly at his own cost.
Any man who wishes tobuild or repair a party wall must do
the same at his own charges, biit, if his neighbour afterwards builds
againsl (aen) or on the same, he shall be bound to pay the haif ,
of the cost of as much in height and width of the wall as he has
built against {aen) or on the top of, as assessed by the surveyor.
No one shall be allowed to pCit In windows or derive Hght
from another man's property nearer to the ground than 8 feet to
be measured inside the house in which they are put.
Builders and joiners who have undertaken a piece of work
shall not be at liberty to pass it on to someone else on penaity of a
fme of 23 reals. Also they shall not be allowed to abandon the
work imdertaken until it is completed, unless the supply of materi-
als fails, in which case they shall be allowed to be idle at the ex-
pense of the owner, on condition that they are bound to give warn-
ing of the approaching failure at least three days beforehand.
journal Malayan Braiich [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Biilthasar IJort on MaUicca 99*
For thc prcvention of numcious dispules and quarrels, joiners
and buikters undertaking any picce of work (175) sluUl be bound,
on pain of a (ine of 6 reals, to have a written contract of the work
-and of the terms agreed on made at the secretary's ofTice.
To prevent as far as possible all danger of fire, builders or
other persons shail not be allowed in futiire to make or sel up any
lime kilns except with your previous knowledge, and then only in
such places as shall be granted lo ihem, under the above named
pen al ty.
Also no one shail liave any woodyards or sawpits on the shore^
nor shail place Ihcir wood, bricks, nypboomen, lanlees f)r any other
fencing wood excepl on the place lo be appointed therefor, similar-
ly on pain of a line of 6 reals for every otfTence. But each person
shail be at liberty lo savv wood and to work it in the place where
he inlends lo use it.
Similarly no one shail haul any vessels on land wilhin thes&
suburbs except at the place appointed thereto, under a line of 6
reals.
Everyone shail henceforward be bound lo make, in front of
his doorstep, convenient g'ulters Ij4 feet wide and {% feet deep,
properly paved with brick in order that the streets may not be
damaged and made impassable by ihe disorderly throwing out of
water.
(176) Likewise no one shail, come nearer to the public streets
with his house or doorstep than shail be decreed on pain of a fine
of 3 reals and, in addition, of the removal of the obstruction.
Tö all which matters you are charged to take good heed and
have close regard, to the end that all may be done and promptly
observed according to the reai meaning of this our ordet.
if you are called in to survey any house or lands, your fee
shail be 3^ of a real for each square rod {quadraet roede) in the
case of a house plot, but in the case of a garden or lands five shil-
lings (yijf scbeUinge) per 100 square rods. If called for the inspec-
tion of foundations and so forth, you shail have one real a time.
Malacca, 5th March 1666. Your friends (signed)
Balthasar Bort, Michiel Curre, Hadriaan Schimmelpenningh
van der Oij, Joannes Massis and Abraham den Back.
Instnictions for the equipage master, Jan Joosten Bal, to-
which in his quality of gauger he will have to conform.
As the eil-wands, measures and weights which are used in
measuring and weighing all the wares and merchandise must of
necessity be made of their due size and shape, (177) and honestly:
gauged, so that the merchants and our good inhabitants, in the
1927] Royal Asiatic Sodety.
100 Report of Governor Balthasar Borföh Malacca^
buying and selling of their gootls, may not be cheated or defraud-
■ed, but may receive what is their due, therefore you shali, as gauger
(lo which ofTice you were recently appointed), take good care that,
all those who have to make usc in their trade of ell-wands, measures
.and weights are provided promptly therewith and, in order that
Ihe people may be served according to their need, you shall be
bound, twice a year in the months of January and July, in the pre-
sencc of th'e fiscal antl of the chief officer of the black citizens of
ihis norlhern subiirb, Jacob Sonnenian, in the house of said Sonne^
man, which is deenied the most convenient for tlie purpose, to hold
a session for public gauging and to have notice thereof given to
all on each occasion at least a week beforehand, by public beat of
gong. Then the shopkeepers, innkeepers, brick and tile makers
logether wilii all those in general who in their business, as stated
above, have lo make use of measures, weights, ell-wands and
moulds, must come to said house and have all their ell-wands,
measures, weights and moulds slamped with such letter of the
alphabet or other mark as (178) shall be necessary and shall pay
'('i stivers for each. If anyone wishes to haVe any measures, ell-
wands, weights or moulds slamped between whiles, he must first
iipply lo US and must pay double fee therefor.
Pewlcrers must always make Iheir pols ;mkI measures half a
finger-breadlh higher than they are guaged on pain of forfeiluro of
:same.
Similarly brick and tile makers shall in future be bound to
provide their moulds with copper band right round the edge for
«nclosing them (which they have hitherto failed to do), so that no
one may be defrauded, under a penalty of 3 reals, and you must'
take heed to this.
Shopkeepers, brick and tiie makers and olhers must all have
their own weights, ell-wands and moulds and are not allowed tO'
lend them to each other under a fine of 2 reals.
Jf you find that someone uses in his business or has in his '
house unstamped measures, weights, ell-v^ands or moulds, he shall
be fined 6 reals. for each the first time it is discovered, 12 the
second and at discretion the third. Moreover, in addition, he shall
not be allowed to do any business for three years.
Also, if it is reported to you that the shopkeepers here use no
{179) ell-wands, but measure the wares they sel! by giiess accord-
ing to their fancy, you are in such case specially charged to pro- '
vide each and every one of said shopkeepers (with a view to the
keeping of better order in this matter than hitherto and to the pre-
vention of all abuses as far as possible) with an ell-wand made
after the Batavian measure with a copper socket at the end for
eiiclosing it and properly stamped, at their expense; which théy
shall be obiiged to use at once in measuring their goods, on a
penalty of 6 re^ if they are found to have acted contrary to this.
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca , 101
And, so that this order may be well observed, you, as well as-
the fiscal and the com missioners, are charged to go the rounds at
■least twice in the year and visit all shops, inns, brick and tile
kilns and others who do business with measurnig and vveighing,.
as occasion reqiiires.
The slamping fees. which are of little importance here, are,
' after the deduclion of the expenses of the stamping, granted to you
as a perquisite, biit the fines which may be imposed in connexion
with Ihis matter shall be divided between you and the fiscal, half
to each.
(180) Done in Malacca, 5th March 1666. Your good
friends (signed) Balthasar Bort, Michiel Curre, llad-
riaan Schimmelpenningh van der Olj, Joannes Massis
and Abraham den Back.
There is here within the fort a convenient surgeon's shop,
served by the chief master surgeon, Willem Cornelisz./Van Alsmeer.
There is also senior surgeon in the hospital and 4 junior surgeons.
The slorekeeper also was provided, on Aug. 1st 1671, with a
written order for his information as to the receipt and issue of pro-
visions, as also the distribution of victuals. This was registered
in ihe letter book under the same date and is given below.
Memorandum for the storekeeper of this town of Malacca,
being at this present time the junior merchant, Abraham Bprgers,
by which he shall regulate his action.
Since it is necessary that you should know your duty, antl on
what lines you have, in the main, to conduct yourself, and since no
order has been made up to the present with reference thereto, this
shall serve as such for you, in order to prevent all irregularities
, and abuses.
(181) Firstly then, when any ships from Batavia, Corman-
del. Bengal or other places come into these roads bringing pro-
. visions among other things, you must ask the chief trading mer-
chant for an extract from the bill of lading and shall receive the
same according thereto.
> . AU grain, also salt, beans, kadjangh and everything else of
that nature, before you have it stored in the magazine, must be
properly measured again by the ordinary measure of 60 Ibs, 50 of
such just making a last (inaet van 60 poitt, de 50 effe een last maec-
kenda), in the presence of yourself or your assistant and, from the
ship's crew, one of the signatories of the bill of lading, either the
skipper, the purser or his assistant, so as to avoid all complaint,
both as to delivery and receipt.
After receipt you shall make a report as to iiow far it corres-
ponds with the biil of lading and what portions have been delivered
short or över weight.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
102 Report of Governor Balthasar Bor^ ori Malaccu
Ail other provisions, e.g. meaf, bacon, butter, sugar, wax, also
wine, rum, arack, oil, vinegar and other such things, as soon as
they are broiigiit ashore, shall first be carefully exaniined, the
liquids being guaged and the dry goods weighed with IDutch
weights and scales in Ihe presence of two commissioners joined
with you for this purpose at your request made to me.
(182) After an exact examination has been made by said
■com missioners of said provisions, they shall issue a cerlUicate de-
claring |)Iain!y and definilely Ihat everything has been found ab-
solulely correct, wilhout diminution or adiHtion. This declaration
must then be handed över to us lo be used as necessary.
No härd (?) {harde^) victuals niay be brought by you or by
your orders from inhabitants or strangers except wilh our special
knowledge and consent. llaving obtained my order therefor, you
must see to it that everything is well weighed and measured and
stored in a convenient place.
All arack, both the strong and common kinds, bought from
the Chinese and usually issued as rations to the ships, when it is
brought into the Company's storehouse, must be accepted only on
approval by the tasters for tiie tinie being and, if found too bad
by them, a report must be made to us, so that we ma}' act as the
■exigency of the case demands.
For all provisions bought and received in good condition,
you shall give a signed receipt expressly stating the quantity and
quality, together with the agreed price, the whole sum and the pur-
vevors thereof, (183) and on the back you shall make an order
on the cashier which must be countersigned by us. By means of
this order the purveyor must get his payment from the Company's
■chest.
On the other hand you must not issue or give out any victuals
■or anything else from the Compaiiy's store to persons or ships,
sloops, praos, the Company's hospital, Slavenburgh or to anyone
else except with our express knowledge and under our signed
order. Members of the Council, however you may accommodate
with some provisions for the use of their households only, but no
more, without our order, at the ordinary prices, viz.:
Meat and bacon at 6 stivers a Ib.
Dutch butter at >^ re^ a Ib.
Bengal butter at ^ . . a Ib.
The picol of white sugar for 6 re^.
The can of Spanish wine for ^ re^.
The picol of black sugar for 3 re^.
The can of olive oil for 1 re^.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Maiacca
10?
The can of Dutch vinegar
The pot of cocoamit oil
The can of brandy
The Olle measure of sal I
for 10 stivers
for 3 stivers
for 1 re\
for M . .
' (184) This may be done provided that a good record is kept
of everything and payment demand monthly and made inte the-
Company's treasury with a signed order from us.
You must not serve those who, besides the niembers of th&
Council, are allowcd to purchase provisions from the Company's
storehoLise (on our signed order), until they have shovvn by tiie
receipt from the cashier that payment has been made to the Com-
pany's chest.
But, as regards wine, candles and lanip oil supplied monthly
to counting houses and other places, you may continuCito issue
them, until you get a fresh order from us, according to the ordinary
usage, foilowing and in conformity with tiie list that has been made
and put at your disposal herewith foryour instruction.
The soldiers and sailors here on shore, as atso the Company's
slaves, must have issued to each of them every month 40 Ibs of
rice, one measure of which must definitely be taken from the least
durabie rice. Their number will be brought to you every month by
the clerk of the garrison and the sergeant of Slavenburgh by signed
order from us.
All ships and sloops, so long as they lie here in the roads,.
(185) enjoy every Saturday with our signed order the usual weekly
supply, according to the number of those on board, viz.:
A ship with 60 to 70 men: 1 pig at 6 re^ and I re^ worth
of green vegetables;
A ship with 50 to 55 men: 1 pig at 5 re«. and [ re^. worth
of green vegetables;
A ship with 40 to 45 men: I pig at 4 re^ and 1 re^. worth
of green vegetables;
A ship with 30 to 35 men: I pig at 3 re^. and 1 re^. worth
of green vegetables,
A ship with 15 to 25 men: 1 pig at 2 re^ and j4 re^. worth
of green vegetables;
and all other ships with larger or smaller crews pro foto [sic].
You must go on this order and not exceed it, but take good heed.
that the pigs are not too small for their price and the vegetables
are not charged at a higher than their purchase price.
If the ships have sick on board or are going orr or reiurnlng
from distant voyages, where they are likely to have or to have had
few provisions, they must be somewhat more liberally provided,
as opportunity occurs, but this must be done on our order or special
command, by which you can regulate your action.
1927] Royal Adatic Society,
104 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Since for the jnirchase of said provisions monéy is necessary,
yoLi have only lo make an order on the cashier for the definite sum
of 100, 150 or 200 re'', which you find by experience to be necded
for 2, 3 or 4 monlhs for this purpose. On this, after it h:is been
endorsetl by us, you receivc the cash from Ihe Com])any's chest,
and make a (186) new order, in the same way as beforc, when the
first is found lo havc bccn exhauslcd.
The fruitor vegetables, which are fetched from the Company's
garden, for provisioning the ships, you must chnrge just as if they
were bouglit for cash, reporting the amount monthly by order
signed by us, to the Company's chest, so that it may be possible lo
see clearly how much cash you have expended yeariy.
livery month you must see to having ready in good time Iwo
detailed accounts, one to hand to me, and tlie ollier lo the chief
merchant, of al! vicluals, both ordinary and extraordinary, issued
from the Company's store in the jirevious month and sold for
cash, bearing in mind ihat, not in the chief merchant's, but only
in the detailed account you give to mc, Ihere must always be, in
addition, a statement al the foot of the provisions issuetl monthly
lo the ships, without any being omitled, as also of all that is left
in the Company's store afler deduction of what has been given
'out in the previoiis month, so that we may make use of this infor-
mation at need.
On the other hand, hovvever, it is not monthly but on cach
■occasion when ships (187) or sloops, not assigned to Malacca, are
■on the pöint of deparlure for Batavia, Cormandel, Bengal or other
places, that you must, in good time before their departure, render
to said chief merchant a detailed account in writing of everything
you have issued to said ships during their stay here, so that it may
be entered in the expenses account and said ship's account may
then be closed in your books.
But as to the yachts and sloops assigned to and under Malac-
ca, as to wit both those employed in cruising in these Straits and
those blockading Pera and Queda, as also in the voyages from
Siam, Ligor, Oedjanghsalangh, Dilly and various other piaces,
everything they have from the Company's store is entered in full
with the day of the month in each ship's account. This is closed
■once a year, viz. on the last day of July, and the account book is
put at the disposal of the chief trading merchant for him to have
an expenses accoimt made from it and the equipage and other
accounts and to give or send its own account to each vessel to be
entered betimes in the ship's books and to credit the trade books
(which are then also closed) to that amount for the goods and
provisions which the ships have had issued to them.
You may as well continue in the old way with the small books
of the store, since they are very easyUo (188) keep, for in making
new books all balances and also provisions and cash received*
* EeadinR onlfangerij though the original looks like ontgangen.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 105
afterwards are debited only lo liie Malacca office and moreover in
■casc of issuc of goods and the closing of the books iit contra, all
•expenditures are again adjiistecl, so that the Malacca ofiice is al-
ways delilor <n' crcditur.
hl conckision, \ve icc{mimcnd you always to have ihe Com-
pany"s store kcpt clean ;uul in good order and to take good care of
all provisions, so as, lo prevent tlieir belng neglected or wasted by
leakage or olherwisc or misused or squandered or carricd olT wilh-
'OUt leave by yoiir subordinalo. Uerein we siiall rely on you and
witli an easy mind Iriisl you lo niaintain these pdnciples and so
■conlinue. We rcmain yoiir friend (signed) Balthasar Bort (in
the margin) Malacca, 1st Aug. 1671.
Hy reason of thd recenl ManicabcM" war, provisions, not only
pigs, fowls aml ducks, biit al! kinds of vegelabics, have become so
scarce and dcar; that llie ships whcn lying licre in the roads have
had to do without the ordinary issiies. Hovvever the breeding of
■catlle and !iic sowing and planting of devastaled orchards having
begun again to impiove, we hope that under your llonour's rule
there will be no lack, so that the nccessary fresh provisions may
■be issued lo iho ships' crcws.
(189) in order to keep a close watch över the supplies and
fresh provisions issued to the ships and sloops, so that no fraud or,
unfaithfuldcalings may be commitLed Iherein, the chief merchant
and second in command, the honourable Adriaan Lucasz: is charg-
.ed to lake good heed thereto, and, in making the expenses accounts,
to compare the same with the ordeis issued on the storekeeper and
■others for supplies, which is to be seen in full in the resolution
passed ihercon and included here.
Friday, I9th Nov. 1677.
The Governor, this morning after tlisposing of public judicial
affairs, caused to be read in the Council the missive of their Hon-
■ours the High Government of india at Batavia, dated 19th Oct.
last together vvith an extract from the general resolution of the lOth
Aug. brought to us with several other enclosures on the 9th inst.
by the fly ships, Beevister, Wimnenum and Mareken, wherein
mention is made that the reasonable standard in the making and
drawing up, in some outstations, of the expenses accounts for the
ships touching there is exceeded, giving rise to a suspicion that
such heavy disbursements must take place without the previous
knowiedge of the governors, directors, commanders or heads of
such places. This surmise is further increased by the complaints
oi some skippers, who assert that they have had to sign for goods
they have never had and, if they (190) refuse, they are threatened
with being deprived {gelight) of their ships. Wherefore their
Honours, for the prevention of all such fraudulent and unfaithful
dealings, had decided and decreed by their resolution afore named,
to give orders everywhere to have issues made as sparingly and
economicaily as is in any wise practicable. Also that the
.1927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
106 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
governor, director, commander or superintendent (opperhooft}
shall every tinie have to give an express written order therefor^
so that, at the tinie of Ihe departure of tlie ships, it may be ex-
amined aiid compared by their honours tiiemselves, or by those toi
whom this task is entrusted on tiieir behalf, witii tlie expenses ac-,
coLint, iteni by item (van post tot); that note is expressly taken
of the valuation of the goods and whether they are entered in thé
account according to the ordinary current price.
Wherefore it was then decided and unanimously agreed by
iis in councii asscnibled, in compliance with their llonours' afore-
said resolution, to rccommend the accurate supervision of th&
aforesaid expenses accounts lo Ihe honourable Adriaan Lucasz:,
chief merchant and second in command in this government, since
ihey had always been drawn up in the trading ofllce and liad been
endorsed hilherto by ihe assignor (overdrat^er) , providcd that his^
llonour aforesaid himseif examines the same in future and en-
dorses them, before they are handed lo the bookkeeper of the ships.
to be entered in the books.
(191) In order wcll and convcnientiy lo keep safc and store
the provisions, especiaily tlie rice, so as always lo havo enough in
reserve and with a view to the likelihood that, with the lapse of
time, there might be a lack of good warehouses, their llonours ini
Datavia last year agreed, at our request, and gave leave for tiie
construction of a new storehouse within the fort belween the-
bastions Victoria and Emelia, the size of which was planned by
me and communicated to their Honours aforesaid. It is to be 12'
rods in length and 3 in width with a Hat roof. Oniy one wall
need be built, since the wall between said bastions can serve as the
second wall. A beginning has not yet been made of this store-
house, altliough there are already in store along the seashore here,
3000 red bricks, 22 inches long, 10 wide and 6 thick, fetched by
the Javanese and paid for at 6 stivers apiece in heavy money. The-
everyday work and the lack of the slaves needed for tiiis job have
not allowed of it; moreover the woodwork for it must first come
from Siam, and men skilled in the making of flat roofs, together
with the best materials needed therefor from Cormandel, wlience
the same have been ordered by iis; I hope they will soon reach
your Honour. It should not, however, be necessary lo wait for
them, a beginning should be made with the building of the wall
as (192) quickly as in any way possible, and thereafler the whole
building should be finished in a strong and durable manner, there
being great reason therefor, since there are now no other provision
stores above ground here, within the fort, except under some dwell-
ing houses, and these were already at the time of the Portuguese
overthrow mostly oid and dilapidated. Wherefore, in order not
to fall on occasion into difficulties, this new store must be made
there, the place being very convenient for the purpose, since it is
near the guardhouse of the bastion Victoria, through the back.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,-
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Mahicca 107
gale of wiiich thc provisions can be carried in and out since the
boats and siiips' boals, even tiie sampaiis, can coiTie up the river as
far as llie said bastion. I-or llie flooring of said storehouse 4000
roLigli, square ashlar-stones liave also been sent for from Corman-
del.
The ofiice of liccnsc master was first instituted here in my
time, for it was aiready lo some extent necessary in order to give
:some relief to the sliahbandar in his work, because tlie imports be-
^an to increase. Before Ihis time only one assistant Iiad been em-
ployed as first deputy for this jiurpose and, in order tliat no delay
shoiilci be siiffered owing to his lack of authority*, I issiied for
them bofh a ful) memoraiKlum, of whicb their Jlonours in Batavia
received a copy. It was (193) somewhat shortened and ciirtailed
by them. anii was reliirned in Ihe yoar 1668 reading as follows:
Mcmorandiini for tiie Shahbandar and depulies of the same
sent to Malacca from Batavia.
1. The shahbandar or one of his subordinatcs linist be in the
custom-house every day except Sunday from sevcn to eleven in the
morning, anti from Iwo to five in the aflernoon.
2. If envoys (gesanfen) arrive from abroad, he or one of his
subortlinates shall proceed forthwith to them, in order to inform
himself of the same and of the cargo and to report to the Governor,
so as to await instruclions as to what ofTicial reception shall be
given them;
3. Witiiout defraying the charges of any at the Company's
expense or remitting the duties except with the Governor's con-
sent;
4. Letters of state arriving or being dispatched, he must see
to having duly translated, and must sevv up those for dispatch
with white or yellow, according to the dignity of those to whom
they are addressed.
5. As soon as any vessel not carrying envoys on board an-
chors at the Red Island ('t roode Eijland) or in the roads, the
shahbandar or one of his subordinates aforesaid shall forthwith
go to it to ascertain the cargo, the nachoda's name, the number of
■the crew and the piace vi'hence it comes, so as to prevent smuggling.
6. Small vessels, however, which come över the shallows,
shall at first lie up inside by the customhouse to be registered as
above.
(194) 7. The same procedure shall be followed in the case
of departing vessels before they have their permits delivered.*
* The original has impotensie, whieh can liardly ineau "phyaical
inability" here.
* Or "before they have hatided över tlieir permits" (eer dai haer
passediil sal hebben overhandigt) t But tlioy would öeed i)crniits in Order
-to leave tlie port.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
108 Kcporl of. Govenior Balthasar Borton Malacca
8 And the deputies aforesaid sliall, when any ship or vessel;
lias .irrived, forthwith inlorm tiie shahbandar of its arrival and hé
shali keep an exact record of the goods coming in and going out,
each in a special momoranduni book, and from this record lie must
make tlie iissessnient of the marliet price, so as lo order and collect
Iho dues, comparing the specihcation and accounls one with the
other, so Ihal he may deposit every niontli in Lhe Company's cliest
Ihe moncys in lhe shaiibandar's l<t:cping with an order signed, in:
the margin, b)' lhe .shahbandar and his depuly and, at lhe loot, by
lhe Governor.
9. ir any (h"n'erence hi assessinent occurs betvvecn iJie sfiah-
bandar and lhe licensc master, lhe advice of Uie chief nierchant
thcreon shall be taken and followed.
10. A note from the memorandum book of all vessels arriving
and tleparting shall be brought to lhe Governor every evening.
11. Also every woek or montj] a sumnuuy of all |arrivals
and departures] shall be furnished lo the Secrelary's oflicti lo be
inserted in the day-book.
12. No slrangers may be in the streets aflersunsel on |}ain of
a fine of 12 r''. and the loss of their vessels.
(195) 13. On the same penalty no one shall cany crises
within the jurisdiclio^i of Malacca except the nachodas, wjio re-
ceive a memorandum to lliis effect and are warned thereof.
14. And according to lhe old custom the Javanese must take
all arms lo tlie shahbandars hoiise until their deparlure and only
the nachoda may keep his cris.
15. In order that no losses may be snffered by the tolls, the
nachodas shali, on their arrival, provide a surely for the same,
or else, from their cargo, put the amount in pledge at lhe custom-
house.
16. In the case of trusted inhabitants of Malacca, it is allov^f-
ed to wait for about 2 or 3 weeks till Iheir departure, but not with:
persons of insufficient means {insuffisante), except under surety.
17. No goods, except the Company's, shall pass the boom
until afler exhibition of the manifest, payment of the tolls and
permission to pass in or out, on pain of forfeiture of the goods
concealed and of the vessel as well, and punishment as the oc-
casion demands.
18. Moreover no settlement or composition shall be made
with reference to the above except in small matters and with the
Governor's consent, and the composition shall then be divided in-
to three parts, J profisc[o], t", to the license master and the informer
(aenbrenger) and the other -^ to the Ilonourable Company.
(196) 19. Small disputes between foreigners may be dealt
with by the shahbandar and license master, so as to prevent greater
difTiculties, but any of importance must be laid before the Governor
and Council.
fournal Malayan Branch [Vol V,.
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 109
20. As harbourmaster also he must keep good order in the-
berthing of liie vcsseis, so liiat it ma^' alvvays be possible lo pass
up and down tiic river.
21. Risses to Jolior and lo llie coast of Java and those to
Pera and bcyond as far as Trangh must be signed by the shali-
faandar in the margin and b)' the Governor at the foot, but tliose
for nearer places by the shahbandar only, both with clauscs for thé
outward and relurn voyages; those who saii direct or by way of
Balavia to Java, also Portuguese or Moors or others going to Ben-
gal and beyond must provide thcmselvcs there [al their destina-
tions] with passes for return.
22. lo prevent robbing and plundering by the inhabitants-
and slaves, those who go out to fetch wood and stone, whetlier by
sea or land, must provide themselves with a memorandum from
the siiahbandar, so that they may be rccognized by the inspeclors
of the jungle and the cruisers at sea.
23. No passes to be granted to Baros or elsewiiere on tlie
west coast [of Sumatra] lo persons from Jambij to Queda inclu-
sive.
(197) The following is duty free, vi/..
24. Peper 1 imported, provided that it is all delivered to the-
Tin and J- Ilonourable Company, on pain of confiscation, but
Resin | the people of Johor may lake the tin, free of duty,,
J from Ihe places subject to that state to Johor.
Similarly
Rico ] provided that they are first offered to the Gom-
Paddy | pany and that no rice is exported and that no
Slaves and f Christian slaves are sold lo iMoors.
Buffaloes J
25. So also goid and silver, whether coined or not, diamonds.
rubies and other stones, pearls, musk, civet, pedro porco fbezoar]
and other vaUiables, provided that all are delivered to the Honour-
able Company; but, since that seldom happens, it is permitted'
freely to trade the same to any one except the Company's servants,
simply paying 10% for iniportation.
The following pays 10% for import and 5% for export^
> whether bought by the Company or by others.
26. All kinds of Surat, Gormande!, Bengal and other cloths-
and piece goods, but four-footed cattle, peas, beans and wheat 5%
on import.
27. Fruit from the Company's gardens north and south of
the town, which are let, is lo be sold by auction in the bazaar and
half of the proceeds given to the Company, but on fruit from
gardens belonging to private owners only 10%. .
(198) 23. Slaves taken away to places' belonging to the
Company 5 riksdollars each, but to other regions, lOre».; children
half price. ,
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
] 10 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
29. Iron and lead not bought by the Company 20% on
■export, otherwise 5%.
30. Reals and other härd coinagc exported 10%, hut copper
and lead coins no duty.
31. Small wares Irom the neighbouring places on tiie coast,
bolh to the north and south, such as fowls, eggs, fish, fruit, etc,
also rattangh, cadjangh, cooking pots, sandnlwood and eaglewood
10%, and, if thereafter exported, S'/c like olher goods, biit, if the
Company is the buyer, duty frce. Rattangh nnd cadjangh must
always be offered to the Company.
32. Moors and Porluguese from Cormandel and Bengal must
have a tenth of their merchandise unloaded by the shalibandar and
commis.sioners in their presence to be then turned into money by
public sale, but Ihe duty for wheat and butter must be paid in cash.
33. But, if any of the Moors remain at Malacca and export
any of their aforesaid goods to Johor, no duty is to be levied at the
time, but on their return 10% pro räta (jia rato) of the goods
ex])orled, because they bring back gold for them in secrel.
34. A|] subjecls of lohor, nobles and common people have
to pay export and import dutics, but the nobles are mostiy, with
the consent of the Governor, excused by courtesy.
(199) 35. The shahbandar gets 10%. of betel coming down
the river from Nanningh for the entertainment of envoys, nacho-
■das, etc. on departure and arrival.
3(i. So also the Nanning crop yielding yearly scarcely 30 re^
for the Company.
37. Över and above tiie aforesaid duty all strangers pay as
pol] tax J^ of a re^, and those who depart to Pera, Queda, Jongh-
salangh, Aatchin, Jambij, Palimbangh, Batavia, Java and places
beyond Johor and Calangh pay one re^. for a pass and, for anchor-
age dues, from one to four re^. according to the tonnage of the
vessel.
38. For a pass to Johor, Bencalis, Seacq, Racan, Callangh-
Andragirij and Campher 14 of a re"^. and, for anchorage dues, 3-'2 a
39. F-or a pass to Rombouw, Songhoedjongh, Moai, Padangh
.and Riaformosa J^ of a re^.
40. Vessels going to aforesaid places without discharging
cargo are duty free and pay only poll tax, pass and anchorage
dues, but, if they discharge cargo, they are bound to pay full duty.
41. Goods having paid duty to the Company once at Batavia
■or elsevk'here are free of import dues but not otherwise, unless they
do not discharge cargo.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca UV
42. All foreigners who are not Christians and not resident
in Malacca pay on!}' export duty and pass money.
(200) 43. But, if they return, they must pay, in addition'
to the duty, ><< of a re\ poll tax and anchorage dues as aforesaid
like the Christians who live here, but do not pay poll tax.
44. r^rtLigiicse jvcsselsj on their passage from Goa or Mac-
cauw and other regions, whetlier king's ships or belonging to pri-
vate persons, pay as folluws: small yachts 300 rc\ medium sized
400 and iarge ships 500 for the outward and the same for the re-
turn passage, but, if they discharge their cargo, they pay 10%
customs and no passage dues; if they trade only part of their cargo-
and take the rest on, they must pay the passage dues as well as the
customs dues for the goods sold, but without paying dues for the
resin they export, because they buy it from the Company. ,
45. All ships belonging to the king of Siarn are^ free from all
dues, wherever they are going or returning to.
46. The farmers of the fish and vegetable märkets must al-
ways keep them clean and must put the benches, blocks etc. under
cover every night.
47. Wine-sellers pay, besides 2 re**, per month to the farmer,.
75 re", for each wine cask, 50 for the community {voor 't gemeen)
and 25 for the lown, on pain of forfeiture of the wine and punish-
ment at discretlon.
48. All others are also subject Lo this penalty who have-
bought wine in their own name and handed it över to the wine-
sellers.
(201) 49. But the to\^n innkeeper shall pay only 40 re^. for
the cask of wine; and of all said duties etc. due accounts and books
shali be kept in forma according to oid custom, as stånds more fully
noted in artide 8.
Batavia in the Castie, 21st September, 1668. On the order of
their Honours, signad Jan van Riebeeck, Secretary.
From this memorandum your Honour can see the services and
duties of the shahbandar and Hcense master together with their*
subordinates, as also what goods and merchandise pay for import
and export; moreover what goods and merchandise are free. In
this matter such alteration has since been made as I have noted in
the margin* of artides 24. 25. 26, 32, 35, 36, 44 and 47, rice and
paddy, if not supplied to the Company now paying 5 riks-dollars-
for the load or 8 re'', for the Malaccan coijangh, that is I re^. for
the 100 gantangs, each of 6 Ibs.; Malacca's own crop is exempt
therefrom, in order to give more encouragement to the people to-
plant.
* Not in the India office Copy.
1927] Royal AsiaticSociety. i
1 12 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Tiiere is iio lack of rice liere, notwithstanding this cliarge, wlien
Java, which is now disUirbed, is at peace and givcs others a share
■of ils crop.
(202) Moncy i.s paid in place of Lhe 10, at present only 5,%
■of whal is iinpotled, in order, by Ihis rediicLion, lo caiise it lo be
less kept secret, it being possible casiiy to conceal lhe same when
the declaralion is made, as formerly was always- wont to happen,
btit not so now.
The duty on Company's cloth is also rediiced from 5 to 2^%,
in order lo bring about larger sales of il and smaller of the Moorish
clolh (which pays so mucJi more).
The Porto Novas vcsseis uscd formerly, on departure, to pay
5% for what they were exporting Isut, since il usiially consislcd en-
tirely of gokl, they paid nothing of il and so few gootis of small
value that the duty was altogether too poor, consequently there was
låter imposed on them on arrival a duty of 13%, instead of 10, of
their cloth of every kind, which afterwards is sold publicly, in the
presence of the Governor and Councii for what it will fetch, so that
now they are free of duty on the goods they export. Tiie proceeds
■of this cloth paid as duty used formerly to run to 48-50000 gls:,
biit this sea traffic is 'not now so great, so that the proceeds are not
so large, in fact they are reduced by half.
The trade of the Porluguese at Goa and Maccaiiw bas sensibly
•declined, their cargoes thither (203) are very poor and tliey con-
stantly importune us to reduce the passage — , or, as they call them,
anchorage-dues. This reqiiest bas frequently been granted, if they
in fact showed us the smallness of their ships and of the cargo, so
that they paid on these occasions oniy 150, 200, 250, 300, 350-450
re^ once for the outward voyage and as much for the return Da&-
sage. May it please your Honour also to act with discretion in this
matter, so as to give these people no cause for compiaint; more-
'Over to see that nothing else than these passage dues is demanded
from anyone and that because it v>?as the custom here under their
'Own rule that their passing ships trading paid all such anchorage
dues and also on the strength of a provisional agreement made
between the Viceroy Don Philippo Mascarenhas in Goa and the
chief merchant Cornelis van Sanen in 1646 to the following effect:
Provisional agreement between his Excellency the Viceroy
Don Philippo Mascarenhas and the very honourable and valiant
Cornelis van Sanen, chief merchant and director of the United East
India Company, at the factory of Wingurla, for the settlement of
the queslions propounded (204) by the Dutch with reference to the
dues they claim in the fort of Malacca.
In the name of God amen, Be it known to all those, who shall
see tliis contract of agreement and composition, that in the year
of oiir Lord Jesus Christ 1646, on the 18th of April, in the court-
yard of the fort of this town of Goa, in the presence of his Ex-
cellency Don Philippo Mascarenhas, Councillor of State of his
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govemor Bailhasar Borton Malacca 113
Majesly, Viceroy and Caplain General oi' India and Ihe very hon-
'ourable and valiaut Cornclis van Sanen, chief merchant, captain
and director of Ihe Uniteti l-asl India Company, in ihe lactory of
Wingiirla, wilh express comniission from tiie Council of Balavia
lo make a provisiouai agreement un Uie questions' propounded
toLiching tlVe dues claimed in the town and fort of Malacca, by
said commission empowered thereto by letters sent to bis Excellency
the Viceroy Iheir conlcnls being as follows, word for word (van
verbo ad verbum). ■ ■
Conversations have been held aboiit the toiis and dues of
Malacca wilh his I ionour and some merchants of Maccauw, but no
agreement bas been reacheti, althoiigb qiiite equitablc (205) propo-
5als were mac!e on our side, wherefore, if yoiir Monour, for the pre-
yention of unpleasanlness, deems It necessary to con^e to some de-
finile decision thereon, you can ireat with our chief merchant in
Wingurla, Cornelis van Sanen, to whom we have given full powers
therefor. Any decision come to with him we shall hold binding.
By virtLicof tlie same commission and order, his Hxcellency the
Viceroy conferred with the said commissioner on the matter, main-
taining that, as a matter of right, the ships from this town passlng
by Malacca without unloading or selling goods there are not liable
to any impost. To this his Honour answered that they were liable
to said due or impost, as appears from the documents on both sides
referring to the same, but, in order to avoid danger to the preser-
;vation of amity and the continuance of the good peace and recip-
rocal relations between the two nations, it is granted and agreed for
the settlement of the same, until submission to the decision of our
sovereigns, as follows:
Firstiy, that this provisional agreement is made in the interests
of peace and aecondly, shall not prejudice at any time the
rights, sovereignty and possessions of his Serene Highness the king
(206) of Portugal and of their High Mightinesses the States. All
that which the Dutch have enjoyed or shall enjoy in the aforesaid
fort [in pursuance of this agreement] is to be restored to the Portu-
guese, if the approval of our sovereigns is not given to the agree-
ment that the ships of his Majesty or of the merchants of this town
pn their way to China ov other places by the southward, or sailing
(iirect to Malacca should only have to pay 6% of the goods which
they actually sell there and the Dutch shall pay the same of the
goods they sel! in the places belonging to his Majesty.
In pursuance of the contract made in Batavia by the Council
with the merchants of Maccauw iw the presence of the Rev. Father
Fre Gonsalvo St. losepho, each vessel, great or small, ori its way
to Maccauw without unloading or selling goods in Malacca, shall
pay for going and returning two schuijten^ of gold into the hands
of the merchant of said fort as a deposit, not as tribute, until an
answer is received from Europé.
* Perhaps jnciiumg "infots" of some reeognized weiglit.
J927] Royal Asiatic Society.
(14 Report of Governor Balthnsar Bort on Malacea
The ships of his Majesty shall be free and exempt from this
coiitribution and shall not pay it nor any (207) portion of th&
goods forming the cargo of the ships of the same; they shall only
be liabie to examination under oath in order to discover whether
they have any merchants' wares on board; in the event of such
being found, the owners must pay 4>4%, for going and coming, on
wliat is in excess of one pinnace load. If they havc only one pin-
nace load on board, they pay no morc than the same two {scbuij^
ten Pscoops) of gold, aiso on deposit.
Small sliips passing Malacca and not proceeding to China shall
pay ^YiVo, even if tiiey do not iinload or sell any goods in said
place and shall be allowed lo carry out their voyage, trade and
commercc without other obligation or impost and without vexa--
tion or opposition, but, on the conlrary, with all help and assis-
tanco from Ihc Dulch, whose ships shall rcceive Ihe same favour
from US.
Tho which establlsiicd anti (irm agreement, as has l^ecn said,
bolli have sworn lo liave proclaimed, to maintain and to proscrve
in ils entirely and lo have so preserved and fulfi[!cd each by his
subjecls, until a decision is received from Europé, viz. his Ex-
cellency the Viceroy for himself and succeeding Viceroys and
Governors and his Honour the Commissioner in the name of the
Council of Batavia and their successors by virtue of the powers
which 1 the Secretary declare to have seen, whereto I have bound
them with public vow and oath overleaf on the holy Gospels, the
Viceroy swearing on a missal and the aforesaid commissioner on
Lhe bible, before the witnesses signing below;
Don Philippo de Mascarenhas; Cornelis van Sanen; Sec-
retary Deuwartj de Figuredo de Mello; Fre Gonsalvo de St.
Josepho; Francisco de Melo de Castero, Providoor Moor dos
Contos; Anthonio de Soisa Coitingo, Capitayn Moor de Noort;
Jan van Teijiingen, chief merchant; Anthonij Oudermeulen,
chant; Jacob Roscam and Leendert Jansz., both junior mer-
chants in the service of the general company present ut supra.
However, much disputing and cavilling arose at once över this
agreement, so that it came to nothing.
From the Moors coming to trade at Queda 10% is also taken,
if we go there to exact it.
(209) In addition to the aforesaid toUs and dues, there are
here certain other imposts which are farmed out annually (as here-
tofore touched upon) on the anniversary of the conquest of IVIalac-
ca, viz. the i4th Jan. Their latest yield was 4735 re**, lo the Com-
pany's profit, to wit:
The sale of cloth and provisions, the farmer taking 2 re^.
a month for the Moorish cloth sold in shops, hut only
1 for the Company's cloths, similarly those who sit or
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 115
move about in the street selling them, pay Ire".; the
same sum of 1 re", is paid monthly by those who sell
provisions. Last farmed out at; .. .. .. 750 re^
The sale of fish, vegetables and other wares in both the
märkets, Ihe farmer taking jj^ oi^ ^ re^ monthly from
the stallholders 520 . .
Rico märket. The scllers pay 5<j, of a re", per monlli 55 ..
The timber brought from tiie jungie paying 10% . . 115..
The dislilling of arrack and innkecpers, the former pay-
ing 24 and Uie latter 2 re", per month, now farmed
for foiir years, yields yeariy . . . . . . . . 800 . .
Salt and freshwafer fish paying 1 in 10 . . . . . . 870 . .
Slaiighlering caltle, 1 re", for each big beast, and for small
beasts a tenth of the value .. .. .. . . 175 . .
Weighing nioiiey |)aying a perccntage of 10% . . . . 600 . .
(210) The Company's garden, farmed for 3 ycars, yicld-
ing in the year . . . . . . . . .... 80 . .
The drawbridge över the river, l4 "' i» rc\ bcing paid for
each mast of a vessel passing Ihroiigh . . . . 70 . .
The poll tax on the Chinese, each p;iying ^ of a re", per
month .. 400 ..
The assaying of measiires and weights . . . . . . 50 . .
The fishing in the moat on the landside of the fort, no
one but the farmer having the power to give leave for
fishing there 50 . .
The betel or sirij crop within Malacca, the farmer draw-
ing ^yi of a re^. Ibr every 100 poles where it grows 200 . .
Amounting yeariy to re''. 4735 . .
The farming of above mentioned sirij has been begun only this
year for 200 re^ as slated. It shoiiid, in course of time be worth
more, for the planting here (de plantage) in Malacca of those much
esteemed green leaves, whkh are chewed with pinank, has already
sensibly increased since the cessation of the import from Nanningh,
from which place, as being now an enemy country, these things may
not be brought here, whereby the Honourable Company stånds to
lose the duty placed thereon, which brought in on the last occasion
730 re^ (211) In time our own crop will produce as much. More-
over it comes to pass that our inhabitants here are so much the
better kept to work and the money derived therefrom remains in
their hands, instead of, as formerly, being drawn by the traders of
Nanningh and carried oft' to their country, which also seemsto have
made them somewhat wanton and luxurious. For which reason
and in order not to cause the decay of our own sirij plantations, it
is a matter for great consideration, should peace be made with these
people, whether we ought to allow the import and sale of their sirij
in this place. The inhabitants and strangers are, moreover, by
now quite accustomed to that of our own growing, and are as eager
for it, as they formerly were for that of Nanning.
1927] Royal Asiatk Sodety.
1 16 ' Repört of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
It was hitherto the custom for 10% of the capital sum to be
paid when ships, jiinks, sloops or boats were sold, whereof, in the-
above memorandum for the shahbandar, no mention has been
made, perhaps becatise it seldom happened, but in 1674 their
Honoiirs in 13atavia reduced the due to the 20th or 5% and sent a
printed proclamation of the change, By this our custom fiere is
now also regulated, it reads as follows;
Joan Maatsuyker, Governor General and the Councii of india
on behalf of the United (212) Dutch Company, to all those who
see these presents or hear them read, greeting. We make it known
that it has been found, after careful consideration, that with regard
lo the ships, junks and other vesseis, of which, in the event of sale,
a icnth has hilhcrlo liad to be paid according to orders, such sum
has not, aftcr the sale, been received, as the custom and practice of
our country enjojn. This resiilts in a sensible reduction of the just
diies of the government, thereforo, lo prevent such things in future,
it is agrccd and decidcd that henceforth every timc lliat any ship^
junk,sloopor other vesscl is sold, alicnated, transfered or cxchanged,
Ihere must be paid lo ihe receiver the due 20th of the pnce or value
without distinction as lo the manner in which the transaction may
be carried out, except only the first sale made by the builder before
the ship or other vessel makes its first voyage.
The due on the ships, junks and other vesseis shall be reckoned
from the whole of the purchase money without any deduction for
the guns, anchors, cordage, sails, masls, yards or any other necessary
equipment or apparatus belonging or pertaining to the ship to
the cooking utensils inclusive, uniess (213) tlie same being sold
apart from the ships, are too okl and unsuitable to be used on other
ships, in which case they shall be exempt from this impost. As
lo the guns, masts, sails, anchors, cordage and further equipment
belonging to the ship, not only shall the aforementioned due be
paid when the same are sold together with the ship, but also if they
are sold or alienated separalely and not with the ships.
The aforesaid due must be paid here, not only when the
vesseis are sold here in Batavia, but also elsewhere without dis-
tinction of place or person, and permission for the sale must first
be obtained, if the persons to whom the sale is to be made belong
to either foreign or interdicted nations. Nevertheless, if the sale
is made in some other place that is under the government of the
Company and said due is paid there and the claim of the Company
satisfied, then it shall be sufTicient for the seller to give notice and
adequate proof of the same. And, in order that herein there may
be no fraud or failure, the skippers, or such other persons as may
have made the sale, shall, within four weeks after their return to
Batavia, (214) be bound to declare to the receiver or license master
where, to whom, and at what price the same have been sold with
dué particulars of all that can serve thereto, which particulars the
seliers shall be bound to confnm by oath, if such is demanded by
the proper person. Al! this on pain of a double impost to be
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 117
paid by any who shall be found to have failed to perform what is
prescribed above. The owners of the ships shall not allow them
to begin any voyage or lo depart from Batavia before it is proved
that the aforesaid diie has been paid. The due aforesaid must be
paid, not oniy if the ship is sold as a whole, but also for every part
that is sold and however many times this may happen.
• The community here must not be burdened with more imposts
than aforesaid for the present, especially so long as the poverty of
Iheir condition does not change for the better.
In Ihe trading ofllce here good order is maintained by the
chief merchant. Adriaan Lucasz; afore mentioned, and the books
are kept by himself; Ihe daybook in such wise that complaints
(215) have never been matje. These same trade books, with those
■of ihe garrison, treasury, store and storekeepers books are all clos-
ed here on the 31st of July and, with the trade books of Andra-
gierij and Pera, as ulso Ihe ships' books with iheir adjuncts and an
invenUjry of all gootis noL assessed, acknowiedged or cnlered in
the trade buoks, are sent to Batavia in Sept. or Oct., according as
they are ready in good lime, and opportunity offers for sending
them.
The general custom in the matter of trade and eveiything
connected therewith is observed here also, consequentiy nothing is
issued by the administratör of trade from the warehouses or by
the storekeeper from Ihe provision stores to anyone, unless he first
proves lo Ihem b}' means of a receipt from the cashier that the
latter has received payment for the Honourable Company, which
receipt said cashier hands to persons who come to him with orders
signed by the Governor slating the sum of money they must pay
for their purchases. The cashier also has no power to make any
pa3'ment to anyone for merchandise and goods deiivered to the
Honourable Company except by express order from the Governor.
But, since it has proved troublesome to the chief trading merchant
and the storekeeper not to issue to this one and that trifles for
their own use, (216) permission for this is given to them for the
convenience of the people, and, so as not to take such small sums
■daily to the treasury, they are ailowed to receive them themselves
and, at the end of the month, to set them all on one memorandum,
which is then signed by the Governor, and the money is paid in
to the treasury.
Nowadays no sale of cloth or anything else is made by the
shop keeper, but only issues to the Company's servants against
tleductions from the their pay to such amount, both in goods ancl
money, as he is charged to by order from the Governor and not
■ otherwise.
The garrison here has twice a year, to wit every six months,
" good months," as they cail them, but they change them into bad
months, since most of the men pass them in debauch. Four, three.
two or even oniy one month's pay is then issued to them, according
.as their current account stånds in their favour or against them,
.1927.] Royal Asiatic Society.
1 18 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
whereof n roll is made by the garnison bookkeeper and note taken of
how much each has assigned to liis relatives at home. On this roll
entries are made of the issues and reduced payments to the end
that our masters at home may be able to pay the sum assigned.
This is the yxpress order of their Honours given över and över
again. I lowever the debts of some of them owing at home to
" soui-sellers " {ziehercoopers*), as they are called iiere, are sa
great, that, in order to pay these debts, no (217) pay or subsidy
oiight to be handed to them, bul, this is imposslble, if they are not
to be driven to want or even insubordination, lialf pay therefore,
or occasionaiiy ralher more. is issucd to them. By this mcans I
have several times cieared the garrison of debt, hovvever it bas.
got into debt again on the arrival of new peopie, especialiy
soldiers, f9837. 4. 3 according to the balance of the last garrisoa
books.
This inlerval of six months between payments appears to be
somewhat too long for the needy soldiers, arti/.ans, gunners and
sailors, wherefore they have greatly importuned me to give them
some assistance during the time I?etween the two payments. This.
request it was sometimes imposslble, by reason of their necessitous
condition, lo refuse. 1 should therefore advise your Mono ur, in
order to be rid, as far as possible, of this vexation, to nialie issues-
of pay to the whole garrison four times, instead oi twice a year.
The married men of infedor rank, v/ho have not assigned any of
their pay to peopie at home. receive their pay monthly, half in
cash and half in goods.
The head of the paymaster's ofRce or else the garrison book-
keeper is also Ihe administratör of tiie estates, of Company's.
servants who die here, in accordance with the charter granted by
their High Mightinesses the States General to the hlonourable Com-
pany in the year 1672, v/hich runs as foliows;
(218) The States General of the United Netherlands to all
who shall see these presents or hear them read greeting. We make^
known that we have seen and read a certain petition presented to
US by or on behalf of the honourable directors of the chartered
East India Company of these lands praying for a grant of the
right of appointment of administratörs of the estates of their
servants dying there without leaving children, widow or heirs in
those parts. Which petition being noted and it being taken into
account that the aforesaid practice has already been exercised [in
India] with success for 50 years and more, therefore we, fmding
ourselves inclined to the petition of the aforesaid directors of the
said East India Company, have granted and do grant to it, by
these presents, power in India without distinction to appoint ad-
ministratörs of the estates of their servants dying there, if they
ieave in India aforesaid no children, widow or heirs, and provided:
* Men wlio lit out seanien oji eredib at exorbitaiit prk-cs.
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,.
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 119
that they themselves have appointed no one living in India afore-
said as executor of their testamentary disposition or administratör
■of their estate and goods. Therefore that said Company shall,
once for all, have to command and charge their servants in India
aforesaid, in such cases, always to choose one of the mest capable,
(219) satisfactory (stifjicaniste in Ms., buL suffisantste in Plakaat-
boek) and trustworthy persons wJio can be found in the piace
where their aforesaid servant happéns to die or this estate has to be
administered. That furlher the aforesaid administratör shall be
qualified and authorized to have the estate of the aforesaid servants
'of the aforesaid Company settled, to arrange bis affairs, to insti-
tute, to watch över and tocarry on, both as plaintilf and defendant,
actions by or against the fiscal or other individuals and moreover
.generally to do everything the heirs, if present, could or would
have power to do. That further the aforesaid administratörs
shall be bound to pay över to the said Company in India aforesaid,
with all possible speed, the residue of said estate placed under
their administration, so that the same may be rémitted hither and,
in coiirse of time, handed över to the rightful heirs or those who
may be cntitled thereto.
That neither the aforesaid heirs nor anyone else, whoeven he
may be, anywhere not in India aforesaid, shall be allowed to dis-
pute or oppose in any way, at law or otherwise, anything done or
lexecLited by the said administratörs in India.
(220) That it shall nevertheless be open to the aforesaid
heirs or other interested persons not living in India, when they
learn of the death of one of the said Company's servants in India,
whose heirs they are or claim to be or in whose estale they are
■otherwise interested, to commission and appoint a person to settle
and administer the estate or inheritance of the aforesaid deceased
in India, in so much and so far as it has not been already settled
in India by the administratörs aforesaid by order of the said
Company.
Antl that, if the aforesaid person to be commissioned by the
aforesaid heirs or other persons interested in the aforesaid estate
presents himself in India to settle and administer the said estate,
and, in fact, proceeds thither for that purpose, the function of the
aforesaid administratör appointed by the said Company shall
xease and determine, but, nevertheless, everything already done
and executed by aforesaid administratör appointed by aforesaid
■Company shall remain in full force and validity.
That it shall further also be open to said heiis or other
persons interested in the aforesaid estate to demand from the
aforesaid administratörs appointed by the said Company in India,
■or to have demanded by any whom they may decide to commission
thereto in India aforesaid, (221) an account, documents and the
residue of his administration and to require conipensation for any
J927] Royal Asiatic Society.
[20 Repprt of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
loss lliey may have su(Tered through his action and neglect. How-
ever,, saici heirs or others interested in the aforesaid esta.te may
not demand, or caiise.tö be demanded in any way, such accourit
dociiments and residue from said administratör on his coniing
liere |to Holland | or elsewhcre out of India.
And tliat the above injunctions may be fully observed and'
maintained. we summon and invite the States of the Provinces, i.e.
'Gelderlant, and the county of Zutphen/ Holiant and Westvries-
lant, Zeeiant, Utreght, Vriesiant, Overijssel and the town of Groen-
ingen antl surrounding districts, and further charge and command
all admirals, colonels, lieutenants. vice-admirals, governors and
commanders of lovvns and places, all masters of the horse and cap-
tains on sea and land, together with all odicers, magistrates and in-
habitanls of Ihe aforesaid United Netherlands lo rt-gidate their
action accordingjy withoul doing, or siiffering to be done, any-
thing contrary thereto, for we have deemed such regulations to be
to the greatest service of the country and to the advancement of
the weil-being of ils good inhabitants. Given under onr paraph
{paraphiire) and signalure at tiie llague on the 26th Nov. 1671
and atttsted (geparapheert) G. Iloolck, below, by order of their'
lligh iVlighlinesses, the States General and signed Gaspar Fågel.
At Ihe foot: Compared and found to agree. Batavia, iu Ihe castle,.
3rd Nov. 1672. Signed ]■". Reuvencamp, E. Clercq.
(222) All testaments, codicils or other last wills of deceased'
are laken by the administratör to ihe Cuuncil, to be approved or
rejected there according to circumstances, before he may have any
payments made to the heirs and legatees. Moreover no closed
credit accounts may be recorded in the current accounts of these-
people in order to make any payments thereon here, as on occasion:
has formeri}- happened in Holland {Pätrid), such having to be-
sent thither and coiisent obtained there for their payment. With
reference to which and other matters relating to the duty and func-
tion of the chief of the pay oiTice and the garrison bookkeeper for
their information and action accordingly, the same are furnished
with a written order from Batavia, as follows:
In order, as far as possible, to prevent improper disbursements
of monthly pay to or for the Company's servants in these coun-
tries and the loss often suffered by said Company in consequence,
it has been decided in the Council of India, after mature considera--
tion on the matter, to make the orders which follow, to be obeyed
and observed both here and throughout India.
Firstiy, there shall not henceforth be entered or paid any closed'.
accounts of persons who have assigned some months' pay to the
homeland, whereon disbursements may have been made there, ex-,
cept only in the case of payment of the necessary funeral expenses.
of deceased persons^ Similarly, no decrees {appoinctementen)
or judgments (223) obtained against servants of the Company
shall henceforth be paid here, in this country, unless authority has-
Jouriml Malayan Branch [Vol. 'V,.
Report of Governor Balthåsar Bort on Malacca 121
b'een oblainetl Irom tlic Directors at home. Also no closed ac-
cöunts shali be eiilered or paiti, if the books containing them have
goiie lo Molland (na 't vaderlant), except of those who have beeni
ifree [of obiigatioiij and have made no assignments of pay to Hol-
land (in 't vaderlant).
Fiirlher, it is decreed that t!ie accounts of those persons whO'
have been lent to burghers or freemen shall/from the time of their
being lent, be written off and stopped, until they once more enter
into I the Company*5| service, in order that it may always be
possible to investigate and knovv where such people go, a separate
memorandum book shall lienceforth be kept of the same, lo which:
Iheir namcs shall be transferred withuiit pay, with, in addition,.
the names o( Ihc persons lo whom they have been lent and, if any
of [hem returns t<t Iho Conipany'5 service, Ihis also shall be entered'
in the same wilh a note where his account will be lomid in fulure.
As lo the olhers, who do not return to llie Company's service vvith-
in tlie year, the persons to whom said memo. book shall have been
enfnisled, must yeaiiy, when tiie books are closed, apply to the^
persons iiilo whose service such people have entered and ask for
de/inite information whelher they are still with tiiem or not aild, if
not. if liiev ha\'e died or where they have gone, and must make
clenr notes in saiti memo, book from year to year for the use of
those concerned.
The same course shall be piirsued in the case of an\' imprison-
ed* for any ofYence together with those who have only a debit ac-
count or happen. in some other way, to lose their account. (224)
.And ;is lo the debit accounts each and every one whom it may
concern is, by these presents, expressly warned to make no dis-
bursemenls on the same, except only such as the persons are in ab-
solule need of, on pain of the loss the Company suffers thereby be- ■
ing put to Iheir charge. And the bookkeepers shall also be bound,
so far as in them Hes, to see to it that such persons may as soon as
possible recover their forfeited accounts, whether by summonmg.
them from the places where they have been or bj' sending the
money thither, if it can be done withoul loss to the Compan}-. In
this case the debt payments may not be handed över to the debtors,
in order that they may not retain the money and so make the con-
fusion still greater; it must be sent to those to whom it is due, sO'
that the balance may be charged therewith against their actual
pay.
And, since some confusion is often apt to arise In ihe accounts
of the crews, if ships are löst, therefore, in order, as far as possible,
to prevent this, it is decided to command that henceforth, when any
Company's ship is lost, a memorandum shall, on receipt of the news,-
be made from the muster-roll of the ship specifying the persons who
* Inde Kctcn. gaan, literally "go into cluiins."
Prisoivjrs were allowetl out in ehain gsiiigs.
J927] R-oyal Åsiatk Society.
322 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
were lost with the wreck or were saved; also to what ship the
siirvivors bave been traiisferred and lent, so tliat they ma.y be
traced.
To which end, in other places also whence ships are dispatched
and miistered the (225) muster-rolls are to be taken ashore to the
proper, o/iice and kept there, as is done here, so lliat, in the case of
such accidenls, they can be used. These books and memoranda
:shall be sent yearly to Holland {na bet vaderlant) with the factory
and pay-books for the use of those concerned.
Moreover in disbursements of pay to Company's servants who
have bespoken or assigned some monlhs' pay to Molland {in 't
vaderlant) care must be taken that they retain at least as many
monlhs' pay as they have assigned elsewhere, so niuch the more be-
cause oiir Directors have frequently been under the necessity of
making the payments themselves belore the books arrived and it
couid be seen whether that amount remained on the credit side of
the account or not.
l"herefore the bookkeepers must also be warned* if there is
specie in what is left by the deceased, which is handed över to the
'Company, to pay it in, on the valuation ruling here, viz. 60 stivers
to the real, but to note at the same time that the heirs at home {in
't vaderlant) can claim no more than reals of 50 stivers apiece, as is
done there. Batavia in the Castle, 23rd iMay 1670, signed Joan
iMaatsuycker, N. Verburgh, L. Pith, P. A. Overwater, Pieter van
Moorn and Joan Riebeeck, Secretary.
Below: Compared and found lo agree, Batavia in the Castle,
12th 1-eb. 1673 signed F. Reuvecamp.
(226) Monthly pay made över in Molland by Company's
servants to their friends there, especially any allowance assigned
to their wives, must not be cancelled here in the books under their
account, for, when this was done here in the books of 1672 and
1673 at the request of one Michie! Bloxburgh, who bad assigned
four months' pay yearly to his wife, the Directors of the Hoorn
-Chamber wrote, with reference thereto, in a missive of Dec. 18th
1674 to their Honours at Batavia that they couid not approve,
since, according to a resolution of the Seventeen, they were bound,
on presentation of their marriage certificates, to give vouchers to
the women whose husbands had gone to India without assigning
monthly pay to them and to make annual payments to them on
these vouchers. Such cancellation was therefore also forbidden
by their aforesaid Honours at Batavia, but 1 should consider it
not unlawful, if these persons prove that their wives or friends are
tiead.
In addition to the care of the garrison books the chief of the
pay Office must also see to the yearly dispatch to Batavia of a list
in due fOrm of all the Company's higher officials stationed here in
Maiacca and dependencies.
* Or "liave iii mijul." The origiustl exijreasion is veniaglit zijii.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca 12?
1"he Honourabie Company carries on its trade liere without
giving credit, since it usually suffers loss thereby and our masters-
at home (in 't patria) have, under this head, some time past, made?
complaint in their letters to their Honours at Batavia in the foliow-
ing terms :
(227) \Ve have lieari.1 vvilh much vexation that some of our
officers so rasiily give credit for the goods of the Company. This
must be forbidden to all on paiii of heavy punishment, the Com-
pany'.s capital being ico valuable to be partet! with except on goodi
security, wherefore the merchandise of the Company must not be
sold and dclivered except for ready mone>-.
Your I lonour will do well to conform to this good order of
their llonours; you vvitl, however, sometimes find that certain
cloths and piece goods. as also other merchandise, if there'is no
demand for them, must be sold to salisfactory persons, either by
public auction or privately, the day after a resolution to that
elTect has been passed in the Council, in order to dispose of them,
since they v\'ouki otherwise remain on our hands. Xhis was done
in my time, though very seldom, and payment was always made.
In the trade books here there is current still an old debt of
/4135.I5.I, of wiiich the Company can expect no payment and, as
to which, by order of their Honours in Batavia in 1673, the names-
and debts are entered in the books, enclosed within iines, merely
as a record. as foUows below:
Nole. 1673 on the I8th of April the following outstand-
ing bad debts are cancelled, by order of their Honours in-
Batavia, since there is not the least appearance of any part of
them coming in and they (228) are brought within the line-
merely as a record, namely:
Jan San, a Chinese deceased here without
any estate .. .. .. .. / 319. 7.12"
LaCotta de A'lusia do. 526.19.6-
Thomas Ferera de Fonsequa do. 146. 6. 2'
Don Pedro de Mendos do. 186. 3.
r^achoda Gantij deceased as above 7.13.
Abdul Waijet, king's weigher (weger) de-
ceased as above . . . . . . 38.17.12'
The king in Raccan — {is 'gfeen bevragen
aj)^ 191. 2.
The Queda office, abandoned years
ago, from which nothing is to be
looked for - . . 180. 8. 6.
* Pcvhapa tids mesnis that ciiquiries regartUug tliia dcbt' have led to-
no practical result.
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
t24 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Maiacca
Okl unknown deceased persons at Oed-
jang Salang .. /1 300. 17. 3
Oiiion Cliieiiw Packdie, regent at Bangarij
(bandarij) 240.11.
Mon Schicmv, lale regcnt at same . . 479. S.
Mct SchieLiw Opra's moLher . . . . 31.9.
Commelat 199.15.
Alompel, alias Lele Moor . . 286.17. 8
The Oedjaiig Salang entered debts amoinit
to 2538.17.1
Sum of bad debts /4135J5. i
riie king and nobles in Pera owe /1 30,606. 12.4, Ihe amount
slill rciiiaining for them to pay of the 5,000 re", [error for 50,000
(iiiorc prccisely 44,000): see p. 257 of iVls.] imposed on Ihem by
contrnct in 1659 to pay on account of the despoiling of the Com-
pany's faclory and niurder of its servanls in Pera, which took place
there in 1651. Whenever they deliver tin to the Honourable Com-
pany for 31^; re", per bhaar, 1^ re*^. are wriUen ofF this debt, but
they seldom do this.
Similarly the king of Queda owes /55784.8.8 on account of
]T)oney extorled for the release of the commissioner Joan Treuijt-
man and attendants whom he held prisoners in 1652.
(229) Also a sum of f4500 was issued last year lo Opra Sin-
■orat, chief of the Moors in Siam, for the use of his ship and people
■departed lo Mocha, whereof a bond has been made for repayment
to the Company by the nachoda of the ship, Mien Backer by
name, on his return here in Maiacca or by Sinorat himself in Siarn.
Similar accommodation has aiready been made several times on
■orders received from their Honours in Batavia in favour of the
king of Siam and payment has always been proniptly made. This
}-oLir Monour will now be pleased to see lo.
There are current still in the books /7814.15.10, the amount of
the new expenditure in the recent Manicaber war, in order to have
il mel by the community by freewiil offerings of moneys asked for
by US from them. Up to the present, however only 578 re^ have
been raised and handed to ihe lieutenant of the biirghers, Sr. Jan
Beeck, to pay for further expenditure which had to be made and
is stil] necessary now and then on behalf of the burgher guard,
especially the building of a spacious new guardhouse in the
northern suburb on the seashore by the earthen wall there provided
with palisades. For which purpose the money is not paid except
with the knowledge and approval of the other burgher officers on
an order signed by the Governor, and Sr. Beecq keeps a good ac-
count of it. It will be necessary to solicit similar freewiil (230)
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 125
offerings annually and any considerable contributions must be
paid into the Company's chest towards settling the aforesaid ac-
count of the cost of the recent war.
Themerchandise and goods dealt in here by Ihe llonourable
Company alone are tin, pepper, opium, cloves, mace, nutmegs and
resin; no one is allowed to buy these thiiigs from any but the Hon-
ourable Company itself, this being prohibited by various procla-
mations which must be maintained to the letter. For tin the Hon-
ourabie Company pays here in Malacca 40 re^. and for pepper 12
the bhaer of 375 Ibs to the purveyors thereof, but in the case of
pepper ^re". is deducted and made good to the Company for dust
and impurities. The Company does not allow the tin to be sold
to any of the foreign merchants. It has to be sent in the Com-
pany's ships at the end of the year to the coast of Intha, viz. Cor-
mandel, Bengale, Ceylon, Coutchin, Wingiirla, Suratta and Persia,
so apportioned as their Manoiirs in Batavia happen to order. Any
surplus is sent witli the lin from Siam and Ligor to Iheir Ilonours
in Batavia for the use in whole or in part of the homeland. Pepper
has so far becn allowed to be sold lo anyone at 18 re^ the bhaer,
if hc exports it to Maccauw, the coast of China and IVIanilha, but
not otherwise. On this condition cloves also may be sold at 150re^
the picol, (231) but Ihey must not be taken to the coast of India
even if the bu3'er is wiiling to pay the ordinary price of 180re^ the
picol. There is no demand here for mace and nutmegs, nor is
there any in opium, since the Javanese come here very little on
account of the troubles in their country. In resin neither, import
nor demand is as great as was hoped for at the beginning; it is
bought up and collected at 2 re", the bhaer of 375 Ibs. b}'' the
Chinese captain Si Sia and he is reimbursed by Ihe Honourable
Company at an advance of ^ a re*^. for his trouble and the stor-
age of the same in his own warehouses. The Company transfers it
to others, principaily Portuguese and Moors proceeding to tlie
coast of India, for 5 re", the bhaer, that is 100% profit. This is
done on an order from the Governor, without which, and unless
Si Sia proves that the money has been paid into the Company's
chest, he may not deliver even the smallest amount to anyone.
This resin used formerly to be produced in large quantities by the
jungie of Malacca and the neighbouring places, but it has to come
now mostly from Palimbangh, where it is bought on the spöt for
the Company and sent to Batavia, so that the import here is very
small and what does come in is imported by the Company for it&
own use and paid for according to ils value at 2, 2^ to 3 re'',
the bhaer.
Japanese fmally refined bar copper comes here in such large
quantities that, after the demand for the coast of (232) India is
satisfied, there is a surplus to stock and seiid to Batavia. Per-
mission has recentiy been given to sell some of it to the Portuguese
and Moors, coming from the Manilhas and proceeding to Cor-
mandei, Souratta or elsewhere, at 24 r"^. of 8 in specie the picol of
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
126 Report of Governor Bultliasar Borton Malacca
125 Ibs, since coinage in good estimation is usually demanded for
thc pLirchase of tin and their I lonours in Batavia cannot provide
US with as mucli as we need. For this reason copper was sold to
persons of the nationalilies named at aforesaid price in 1677 to
their Honoiirs' satisfaction and it sliould be possible every year, if
tlie mcrciiandise is reserved and liept for ihe Company only; at
present everyone is at liberty lo bring it here from Batavia and
sell it to the Portuguese and Moors, who then go to them to buy
and pass över ihe lionourable Company.
There is nowadays litlle or no demand for the Company's
cloths and piece goods, so that recently we have not asked for any,
since the Company's warehouses were well provided, as they still
are. The clolhs are all at fixed prices in agreement with those
ruling in Batavia, as can be seen from the detailed list made of
them.
(233) Price of the Chormandel, Bengal and Sourat
cloths specified below, current on (he 1st Aug. 1659, set by
the late Governor, joan Thijss; and the Council in Malacca.
Cormandel cloths
Averagecost Present price Advance %
Guinea cloths
/129.15 r
\ 80 or /240 /84
Red moories
592.15
360 or 1,080 82
Bleached
705. 3. 3
360 or 1,080 53
Samadra
448.12. 4
[no figu res given]
Dungarees (dongrijs)
200. 1 5
120 or 360 79
Raw yarn
38. 3
fno figures given]
Negro's clolhs
185. 7. 9
96 or 288 55
Modophons
leij de Coutchin
996.16
480 or 1,440 44
Celas leij de
Coutchin
907. 8. 5
480 or 1,440 58
Sarassa leij de
Coutchin
686. 7
512or 1,536 123
Wicker wandys . .
440.17. 2
[no figures given]
Papeles borre
157.10
[no figures given]
Tape ramrat
1,145.18
[no figures given]
Salalous . .
/226.14.I4I
M92or/576 /i 54
Godschie giutchie
501... 5
[no figures given]
Bleached bethilles
368.11. 9
200 or 600 62
Tape grandes
383. 6.10
256 or 768 100
Brown blue bethilles
352.10.13
220 or 660 87
Committers
383.16. 2
320 or 960 1 50
Tape quitchils . .
288.18. 6
192 or 576 99
Blue boelongs ^ . .
134.10
80 or 240 78
Drogams maleije
[no figu res given]
Tape Chindos from
the coast
240. 9
288 or 864 259
Caijm goelonghs
363. 1
256 or 768 111
Tape leij de Coutchin
400.10
288 or 864 115
journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor, Balthasar Bort on Malacca 127
Cormandel cloths
Average cost Present price Ac
vance
Cotlon stockings
{linne coiisen)
233. 4. 2
125 or 375
60
Shirts
149. 9
93:1 or 281.5
88
Tape Sarassas . .
355.17. 1
288 or 864
142
(234) Poclongh gobars
/384. 7 r
^ 256 or /768
/ 99
Red salampoeris
522.
320 or 960
83
Sarassa maleijc . .
1,033.12. 6
640 or 1.920
85
Gördel chindos . .
375.14.11
288 or 864
129
Ramboutijns
376.10. 7
288 or 864
129
Brown blue cangans
583.13
304 or 912
69
Sailcloth . .
S3.10
60 or 180
115
Gingans
from ihe coast
340.18
240 or 720
111
Bleached salempoeries . .
31^. 0. 4
176 or 528
, 62
Red Percallen
432. 8.14
384 or 1,152
166
Bleached . .
377. 6.15
384 or 1,152
205
Sarassa gobars . .
438. 4. 4
320 or 960
119
Petas maleije
1,190. 5. 9
[no figures given]
Red bethilles
528. 8. 9
320 or 960
81
Raw bethilles
284. 7. 8
200 or 600
111
Bethilles d'oirnael
1,505.15
600 or 1,800
18
Chiavonijs
/333.10
[no figures given]
Quiits (deecUens)
[nofiguresgivenj
Bengal Piece Goods.
Fotas or negro's cloth
/1 69. 15. 9
M29or /36a
/114
Ouglijsc [Hooghiyl
gingams
352.10
240 or 720
121
Garras
174.
[no figures given]
Bengal cassa
745. 6.14
400 or 1,200
60
Surat cloths
Caricams . .
494.14. 5
300 or 900
8!
White narrow baftas
794. 1 2
48 the corge
or 144
30
Red
565. 5.14
288 or 864
52
Black
303. 6.11
288 or 864
184
Black broad
311. 1. 4
256 or 768
146
Beeutas
408. 1 2. 6
[no figures given]
^(235) Black
baftas brootchia . .
1,535.15. 4
960 or 2,880
87
Red
1,719.14. 8
960 or 2,880
67
White
1,565.15. 5
960 or 2,880
B3
Cannakijns
/437. 7. 4 I
M60or /480
f 9
Narrow Surat chits
[chintz]
434. 7. 1
192 or 576
32
Broad Surat
302.18. 8
192 or 576
90
Cotton {Gecalloeneerdé)
coverlets
115.14.14
80 or 290
36
Silk Chindos
4,597.16.12 3,000 or 9,000
96.
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
128 Report o( Governor Balthnsar Bort on Malacca
The kinds which are still to some extent in demand are mostly
bleaclied Guinea cloth and brown blue saiempoorees, the former
sold at 80 re^ and the other at 50 re^ Ihe corge or 20 pieces and
also given in exchan^e at this price lo the purveyors of tin and
pepper, if payment is made half in cloth and half in cash; it is
principally strangers, seldom the inhabitants, who are induced to
agree to this, and, since at present little pepper is brought here,
thoLigh it used to come in great quantities from Palimbangh, and
the import oT tin by strangers is also small, so I hat al[ transactions
are carried out by payment from the Conipany's chest, this practice
must be continued, in order to retain the money here in Malacca,
because the small coinage is not exported, but the large coinage is,
for the Portugiiese, Moors and Chinese are eagcr to get it and give
10 to 15% on the exchange, as also for the reai of 8 in specie. These
■coins are regarded as an artide nf merchandise for the Malays and
are senl la their tin districts in payment for Ihc mineral, as happens
here also sometimes at a price of (236) 33, 34 or 35 re^. the bhaar.
I^ayment is made on the Governor's order by the chief trading
mcrchanl who has charge of the money.
No iVloorish cloths may be exported from here to Jambij,
Palimbangh or Batavia, nor may any passes be granted to oiir in-
habitants or to strangers direct to Bantam. Our burghers are now
forbidden to voyage lo Palimbangh, nor is tlie export of opium
allowed from here to Batavia, where it is bought bythe ilonour-
able Company itself. No voyage to Andragierj is permitted, be-
cause the Honourable Company has a factory there and would like
to monopolize the trade of that place, especially in the gold found
there, but this is prevented by the strangers from other parts.
Here in Malacca, on the seashore of both the northern and
Southern suburbs, gold was formerly sought and found in small
nuggets and in dust of high alloy, but, after it was farmed out to
the Gentoo goldsmiths who were more skiJied therein, both shores
yielded no more than 180 re*', a year and so had no money value
and it was no longer farmed. Since then everyone has been at
liberty to look and keep it for himself, which is still done,- but
mostly b>' poor folk, on the northern side, without, it is thought,
anything of vahie being found. .As fo gold-seeking your Monour
will get full information and a clear idea from the extract from
our letter to their Honours, the supreme Government of India in
Batavia, written on 24th March 1670, to the following purport:
(237) Touching the goid previously mentioned, about which
our chiefs write, because some occurs in the neighbourhood of
Malacca or comes thence, it wili be necessary to make full enquiries
as to that matter and to weigh well whether it might be worth the
trouble and expense to have some further search made by experts, ,
although it is well known that the same was undertaken longago. Some
dust and aiso small nliggets have sometimes been found by the far-
mers at the northern suburb of Malacca within range of the guns of
Journal Malayan Branch IVoI. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 129
tlie fort nlong tlic sliore |at a placej about iOO rods in length, where
the mudcly groiind i$ mthcr stony and rocky and where there are
'Orchards planted moslly vvith cocoanuts and pinang [areca palms].
The farmers at fir&t paid 90 lo 100 r'\ a year to the Monourable
Company for their rights, hut at the last the payment was rediiced
lo 50 r"., so that the farm was no longer worth anything. Gold dig-
.ging at the southern suburb of .Malacca along the shore, where it
is all santly and muddy, was carried out by a Gentoo goldsmith
with oiir jiennission in 1660, but also came lo nolhing. Gold is,
however, still searched for sometimes by poor folk on the shore at
aforesaid northern suburb and occasionally found, though in very
small quantity, mostly at low water after it has rained heavily for
-several days in succession. It has, for this reason, been supposed
that the gold is förced out of the soil (238) down to the shore or
from below to the surfacc, but hitherto no veins or mines of gold
have been found here, in and round about Maiacca. Should the
same bo revealcd at some fulure lime, we will be very careful of
■{mesvagercn) the knowledge and send your Honours secret notice
thereof. We shali then be able to judge whether it is worth while
to incur some Irouble anti expense. We are at present unable to
:see that any advantage would be derived therefrom.
Malacca is visited by-both Company's and native ships and
vessels from ihe under mentioned places, viz.
To the Southward
!From Batavia Rio Formosa
Bantam Paddangh
The whole of the Java coast Moor [Moar]
Palimbangh
Jambij
Andragierij
To the North-westward
!From Pera
Queda
The jsland of Lada
Oedjangh Salang
Bangarij
Tannassarij
Arracan
Bengale
Cormandel
Ceylon
Coutchin
Goa
Suratta 2nd
Persia
(239) Purther from the whole of the island of Sumarta
■on the east of Aatchin the furthest cape up to Bencalis, which
lies immediately opposite to Maiacca.
'1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
130 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
To tlie Nortli-eastward (sic: Om de Noort ood).
Johor, destroyed iii 167? by the Jambinese
The islands of Boelongii and Binlangh
Pahangh, where Lhe king of Johor now holds his comt
Borneo and places situated on that island, such as:
jBanjermassingh and
fSuccadana
Manilha
Patanij
Ligoor
Siani
Cambotlia
Quinam
Maccaii
China and
J apan
This traflic of course occasions (rade among (he people in food^
clothing and other necessaries (maincthnentos) , but litlli; in iiier-
ciiandise, sinco tiie Company's and niost native ships come herc
oniy lo provide themselves with necessaries and thcn proceed to
other places with their cargo (wilhout unloading it here), cxcept
those whose cuslom it is (that is ConTpiniy's ships) lo bring to-
Malacca what is requisitioned, such as:
From Balavia: Cash, merchandise, provisions, cquipmenl,
artizan'5. tools srnd other necessaries.
I-rom Connandel: A yacht's cargo of cioth lo the amount of
aboLit ly'2 tons [150,000 guilders], for which purpose one-
yacht used to be reserved and was sent hither every year,
(240) but latterly this has not been done, because (as was.
hereinbefore set out) we were, and still are, provided
with a stock of cloth, for which there is no demand.
f-rom Benga): F^ice, a little cioth, opium (amphioen), light
cordage, sail thread and seine nets.
Prom Souratta: A little cloth, v/heat and soap.
From Persia: Wines, rosewaler, carpets {alcatijs) and fruit
{tafel fruijten) .
From Siarn: Rice, cocoanut oil, woodwork, capock [tree^
cotton], and some food.
From Japan: Porcelain and some food.
From all these places we have annually reqiiisitioned what we
lacked; which yoiir Honour will be pleased to do also; above all to-
ask for slaves"from elsewhere, for they are much needed here for
the Honourable Company. We have written several times on this-
subject to Ceylon and recently to Coutchin algo, but, so far, have
received none.
journal Malayaii Brancb [Vol. V^
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 131
The ships from Japan, which usually arrive here each year at
the end of November or Ihe beginning of December, must aiways
be dispatchecl as quickiy as possible to their destinations, the coast
of India and Ceylon, together with, in addition, such ships as their
Honoiirs in Batavia are in the iiabit of ordering hither about that
time and of attaching to them from the Straits here, so as to sai]
-^way in company with the Japanese ships and to divide among
them the large capita! these bring with them, consisting nowdays
mostjy of gold coubanghs [kobangs] and fineiy refined bar copper,
fiuther camphor, lacqiier work, porcelain and some food.
(241) h seldom happens that a junU or other vessel from
Japan or the C^hina coast comes here. This year one from the
former jilace did arrive, the naciioda of which hails from Quinam,
whilher he relurned. The Chincsc living liere would be wiliing
to send sliips to Japan, as ihose at Batavia do, but hitherlo this has
not been allowed. The voyage to China, however, although not
furtiier than from Canton to Chincheeuw has been permitted. To
■the latter place the captain of the Chinese here sent a sloop last year
and retunied with more loss than profit, for the pepper taken there
Jiad to be sold dirt cheap, though it is now, no doubt, worlh more at
Canton, but the most advantageous cargo to bring back from there,
viz. spelter is now at an uncommonly low price here. It was sold
here a short time ago by the Portuguese coming with it from Mac-
caiiw at 7^ re", the pico], which is | less than it used formerly to
be worth.
The junks from Japan and China are not allowed to pass by
Alakicca | without calling], whereto your Honour will be pleased to
attend as a matter of iniportance.
The traflic by the Portuguese and Moors from Porto Novo
.and other places on the Cormandel coast with Malacca for trade
purposes has been sufTered hitherto, because it is argued that, so
iong as we do not prevent their coming to places in our neighbour-
'hood, it is better to permit them to enter our own harbours, so as
not to lose the dues, as we should, if they were refused admission
and (242) consequently frequented the piaces neighbouring
'On us so much the more and we should see that everywhere,
both there and here^ would be filled with Moorish cloth and should
therefore be aware of no better or greater demand for Company's
cloths, but probably of a decreased traffic with neighbouring
peoples, who now come here to buy these Moorish cloths and there-
by increase the trade and dues. If we refused to admit these
traders, the others would, for the most part, stay away too and
would go to the places where these Moors wouid then be, as, for in-
■stance, Queda, Aatchin, Oedjangh Salangh and Tannassarij,
whither the traffic of the people surrounding us, namely Malays
and Javanese, is already far too great. They are chiefly attracted
thither by the cheap cloth they can buy there, but, since everything
must be ordered according to and brought inte harmony with
J927J Royal Asiatic Society.
132 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
present times, we must do, not wliat vve wish, but what \ve can.tak-
ing into consideratfon that, evea if wc were to preveiU* (he Moors-
from sailing to saiti places and several otliers, llie Honourablo Com-
pany woiild ali thc same not attain its object, since Iho linglish,
Portuguese, Frencli and Danus, priiicipally tlie first nanicd, would
in time of peace frequent tlie saitt places so mucii ihe more. whereas,
since llie Moors are there, they mostly stay away, knowing that, as.
regards llie trade in clotli in compctition with them, they, like (243)..
ourselves, liave no chancc. This has been clearly proved at Aat-
cliin lo llic L-nglisli, wlio stopped their trade in that place so long as-
we aUovved the Moors to traflic there, but, as soon as we kept
the Moors away, thcy canie (accordlng lo liieir old usage) to fish
in our troubleti waters, insisting on admi.sslon yomkr, nllliough
we niaintained a blockade of tlie liarbour and, failing in liiat, cön-
trived by protests againsl loss and injury tlone lo iheni, lo make
capita! and get profit out of it in Ilngland, 'i"his blockade was
kept up at Aafciiin in 1656, 1657, 1658, and Ifi59 and reduced
that kingdoni to such straits for clolh that much gokl was sent
secretly to Alalacca and spcnt tliere on cloth; attempts were even'
made to biiy it on our ships, 160 re^. buing paiti for a bale of Com-
pany's common Guinea cloth, Wfiereiore ihe commanders of the
blockading force were moved to demand a good quantily of cloth
from Malacca, but it was decided not to send it on the ground that
we were at war with Aatchin and thal no traffic is permissible witli/
an enemy.
Although the real aim of the blockade was to compel Aatchin,
by depriving it of the extensive importation of Moorish cloths, to^
buy from the Honourable Compan>', nevertheless in 1660 the
traffic of the Moors in Aatchin was once more allowed and the
piace became after the old fashion so fuii of cioth (244) that one'
has seen a bale of Guinea cloth as good as the Company's sold for
48-50 re^. and even taken to Malacca, where it usually yields-
80 re^
Whereby it also happens that the iMoors, being prevented by
i!s from traflicking, they load the ships of saxl i;i,irop<;an nation oi-
take some members of that nation into service on their own ships
and lly their flag, these men then procjaim Ihemselves the owners of
the ship and of the Whoie cargo, a trick they have made trial of
several times before Qiieda. Against this device there is as yet
nothing efse to be done than to follow the latest order of their
i-Ionours in Batavia given in their letter of I9th Oct. of last year,
reading as follows:
But if Moorish ships from Suratta or elsewhere should conie tO'^
the places where tin is to be had wilhout certihcates from the Hon-
ourable Company and flying the English flag and with some men.
of that nation in the crew, so that these may affjrm that
■ they are the owners of the said ships and of the cargoes, our block-
ading forces round about these pJaces must bear themselves with
all discretion, as our previous orders ordain, so that no trouble may
Journal Malayan Draitch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Bulthasar Bort on Malacca 133
be made thereby for nur (.ovenimenl in ISurope, as wouUl happen,
il' ihey acted ollierwise, which action wc have lo avoid here at least
.as carcfiilly now as at aiiy lime.
(245) The tralRc of privale individuals not in ihe service of
the English Compaii}-, as also of the Moors, from Suratta to Siam
by way of liiis place h;is greatly increased during the !ast few years.
They call here usually with their ships and, if they can sell any-
thing, do .so, (he saics consisting chiefly of wheat, a little cloth and
calict). Tliis has hilherto been allovved, provided the ciistomary
■diies are paid, tliat is ?% of the wheat and 10% of the other
,g(X)ds. Tlicsu l;iiglish al Gormande] voyage also thence to Siarn
espcci;ill\-, calilng here also en pasumi. They are now bcginning
to bring rice thence to sell here, which is miich to our advanlage, so
!ong as i! is not being imporled from Java. '
As was louched on above, the merchandise of Ihc Ilonourable
Company, the piircliase of which is made here, consists mostly of
tin which is founJ in certain places to the North of Malacca, viz.:
Songhoedjongh \ belonging lo Johor
Calangh \
Pera siibject to the kingdom of Aatchin
Queda reboliious vassal of Siam
'ITangh 1
■Oedjan Saiangh | under Siam
Bangarij J
In addition new tin mines were discovered four years ago on
the east coast oi' Sumatra, a free people siibject to iio man's over-
lordship being masters of them. The way to them is, along the
river Siaka. The heads of these tin mines, who are Malays, first
■came before iis here in Malacca in 1676 and voluntarily ixiund
themselves in writing (in their own hand and by their own (246)
wish) to consign all the tin found in their homes, called Cotta Råna,
Cabon and Gitlij wholiy to the Honourable Company either in
Malacca or on the river Siaka, gt the price of 40 re^. the bhaer of
375 Ibs. They also promised to induce their neighbours, the chiefs
of Tonda, with their dependencies to do the same. A good begin-
:ning was made at first of the delivery of this tin, and it still con-
linues, but not in such quantity as formerly, partly because, the
people ihere being at strife wilh each other, there is not so much of
the mineral mined, and partly because the johor shahbandar,
■stationed at the mouth of the river Siaka as officer över the Malays
living there, does his best to detain the tin coming down and to
compel the people to sell it lo him. It is then exported to Riouw
■on theiisland of Bintangh (where the johor Laksamana has his
abode). This detention of the tin must not be suffered by your
Honour, if the people wish to deliver it to the Company; you must
compel said shahbandar to release the same. He did so on one
■occasion on the demand of our envoys sent thither. U is thought
that When the people in these places live in peace and quiet, it
■ought to be possible to get from these tin mines 400 bhaers a year,
.1927] Royäl Asiatic Society.
134 Report of Governor BaUiiasar Bort on Maiacca
wJiicli Ihe Uonourable Company ought not to alJowi lo be filched!
from it; all the more since the owners thereof had recourse to us
here in Maiacca and got from us men expert in the mining and
snielting of tin. This was also one of the motives (247) for tlieir
preferring the Ilonourable Company in Ihis transactlon to otiiers;
also at Iheir request they were provided by us witli a Coinpany's.
llag (priucerlag) for thelr use.
'I"he pcople of Pera and Queda have undertaken to deliver a
haif, and tiie people of Bangarij the wiiolc of the tin foiiiid in their
land lo Uie llonourable Company, but at Occljang Salangh 1 find
that no preference över others has been granted to us. The con-
tracts made with the kings, princes and regents of the places named
have seldom been carried out by them and some are somev/hat
antiqualed and now no longer in use according to their contents,
since the Monourable Company has been compelled by violence
and damage sufFered there to abandon the factories it had in those
places and to relain only a blockading force before Pera and a
residence on the neighbouring Island of Dindingh, whereby the-
Honourable Company gets the benefit of the latest made contract
and draws about 1,200 bhaers of tin yearly thence, since Aatchin;
now demands little tin yonder.
Queda furnlshes nowadays more of that mineral than former-
ly, production being increased to about 1,000 bhaers anuually
traded to the English and Moors there and what is found in Trangh
is taken to Queda.
Oedjangh Salangh and Bangarij are very rich in tin, but it is
now exported principally to Tannassarij, which is much frequented
by the IVloors. These then are the tin districts in which the Hon-
ourable Company has trading privileges according to the contracts
given below:
Contract with Queda.
Agreement and contract made by Jan Hermansz., chief mer-
chant and director of these tin (248) districts, on behalf of the'
Directorate of the Dutch East India Company in the kingdom of
Queda, on the authority of the honourable Heer AnthonJo van
Dienen [Diemen], Governor General of the Orient together with
the honourable Heer Joan van Twist, Governor and Director of the-
town and fort of Maiacca, given in bis honourable letter to His
Majesty dated 18th June 1642 empowering us thereto, of the one
part and ilis Highness, the king of Queda, Boule Lada and severai
other lordships of the other part to be for ever and inviolable, this-
I5th [? llth] July ]642in Queda.
Firstly, the king shali allow the just haif of all tin found in
Queda (or coming into Queda from abroad) to be consigned to the-
Dutch East India Company or the servants of the same and that at
7 taels 13 maces per bhaer, each tael reckoned as 4r'^. and the mace
as J^r^, said taels and maces together making 31'^t^. in inferior
Queda coinage. The people, however, who bring tfie tin for sale to-
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasur Bort on Malacca 135
the Diiich are ofTercd llieir choice of clemanding cloth at a reason-
able price or said Qiieda coinage without making other evasions as
lo Spanish r". or any other claims.
Further, the king shall not have it in his power to export any
tin in his own yachts, i>r;ios or olherwiye (much less in those of any
other nation), bcforc ihc chief merchant or other Company's ser-
vant appoinled to this office has gone on board with an agent of
the king and has weighed the quantity (249) and taken it in full
to the siiburb Poiipen. Said Company's ships or yachts and other
vessels hefore they lake any lin away from here are equail)' sub-
ject lo this condilion. The above named agents appointed to this
•ofTice shall, as soon as (he 3'achts, ships or praos have gone down
stream and they have come up, go lo the king or Orang Kaya
Besaar at the First opportunily, each wiih his memorandum,
having previously kepl a running account of the export, (alvoren
hijxonder een contfaboek van 't utjtgevoerde continuelijck te samen
weihoudeii) and report the amount of the tin exported to the king
or orang kaya, so tiial, if it is found that more has been exported
■or assigned to the king, or to the king's order or otherwise, than to
the Dulch, Ihe king shall be bound, wilhin 5 or 6 days, to deliver
the amount of the shortage in our vvarehouses or in the tin exported,
for the price and on ihe condition stated above.
The king shall have the right to give permission for ships from
Bengal, Souralta and other places, if they produce passes from the
■chiefs of the Dutch Company's servants of those places, to trade
in Queda, but, if their pass is held on condition that they first touch
at Malacca and they have not yet been there but call here first, in
that case the merchant of the Dntch Company, with an agent of
the king commissioned by said king and the Governor General
shall reluse them entrance to the river and shall direct them to
Malacca to ask for a pass from the governor there; then further,
on their (250) return and the production of the same, shall grant
them leave to trade and not otherwise. For which examination of
passes credit (geloof)* shall be given to the merchant of said above
named Company. Signed Jan Flarmensz; [Hermansen] In the
margin: After comparison with the original, which the king has
had written in Mialay and confirmed with his usual mark, this is
found to agree, Dated as above, signed Jan llarmansz. [Her-
mansen].
Contract with Oedjangh Salang.
Agreement or contract between the honourable Anthonio van
Diemen, Governor General of the State of the United Netherlands
in the East Indies, of the one part and Ouboang In Sachon Cierij
Joan Fhaiowan, governor of the island Oedjangh Salang of the
other part, made with the said Phalowan by order of the Honour-
able Jeremias van Vliet, governor of the town and fort of Malacca
*Thig may be for verloof, "leave, perniiasiou, " to examine the passes.
,1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
136 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
witli ihe dcpcndencies thereof, by iis, Jan Hermansz., chief mer-
chant anti heaci of ihese tin åistricts. WJiich contract shall be in-
violable and biiidiiig, reservation being made of the claims on ac-
count of the great massacre of Dutchmen carried out and commilted>
b)' the predecessor of the honourable Phalovvan.
Pirstiy, the governor of Oedjangh SaJangh shali be bouncl to>
allow a perfectiy free sale of the merchandise brought here by the
Dutch, no matter (251) where it comes from or of what it consists,
without his Honoui-'s selecting the best, imposing dues, obstructing,
the sale or btirdening it with monopolies (as has happened in the
past), and siiall permit the purchase and resale of tin antl other
nativc merchandise.
The mcrchants and common folk shali not be removed from
ihe Company's houses by open or secrel nieans and prociamations.
(as has been cuslomary in the past), on Ihe conlrary, if ihc Com-
pany's residenls meet witji any injuslicc (Vk'hich God forbid), ihey
are to have a iiclping hantl ofiered to Iheni, for the preservalion of
the Con]pany's property, by the governor or, in his abscnce, hy the
nearest councillor, wilhuut burdening them with exorbitant ciis-
loms, but always holding them in duc estecm, antl giving lielp wilh
all speed on all reasonablc demands.
The governor aforcsaid shali have a proclamation made lo the
natives and Inhabitanls, whatever their nationalily, who trade with:
the Company's residenls (since great frauds have bcen comniitled
in the forms of the tin and the reguhitions have not becn observ-
ed), that the tin shall heiiceforth be delivered lo Ihe Conipany's.
servants stationed here and weighed with the balance and ap-
pointed weights ordered by the governor aforesaid, in the presence
of the Comolaet and other orang Kayas, stamped with his honour-
able siap, so that all fraud and disputes, which would otherwise
result, may be prevenled as far as possible.
(252) These regulations being made, the captain and head of
these Dutch tin factories, in response to the urgent demand of the
governor and chiti nobles, has set a definite price on the different
kinds of cloth, as stånds herewith, according to which the governor
and his subjects, together with the Company's resident shall regu-
late their action, as may be seen below, viz.;
A Sarassa leij de Coutchfh at 7 bits to the king and 9 to the
common people; asallempoeries7, 9; apieceof Guinea cloth 12, 16;
a piece of blue» bethilles 6^, 8; a piece of rambontijns 15, 18; a
piece of ardias 3^^, 4}4 ; a baff tas 4, 5 ; a piece of white bethilles 8,
JO; a piece of madaphon 4, 5; a cain goelongh 4, 5; a piece of red.
bethilles 8, II; a piece of white mouris 6J^, 8^4; a piece of sail-
cloth 2^, 3; a piece of negro cloth 3, 4; and a Sarassa maleije 1 1,
13, one bits being counted as 17 stivers, it being understood that
the king's share is not to amount to more than 9-10 bhaers of tin
with each ship's arrival, wherewith he must be content.
fournal Malayan Braiich [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca 137
If any of the Company's servants or subjects (which God for-
bid) shall so ofleiui against the governor or the nobles of
this government Ihai his act deserves exemplary punishment,
the governor shall nevertheless not have power to inflict the same,
biit shali deliver the deliiiquent with Ihe evidence into Ihe hands,
of the 0)mpany'5 resident and, il' the resident is himsulf impli-
cated, shall report it in a memorial, at the first arrival of our ships^
so that the governor of Malacca may then order him to be punished
as the case demands (253) or to be taken to the fort and handed
över to justice.
The governor shall not be allov/ed to give leave to trade to
any mercliants from Queda, Perach, Java, Cormandel, Bengale or
other adjacent places, uniess they have hrst shov/n their pennits to>
tlie Company's resident here, have called at Malacca, paid their
ducs there and obtained free conduct and that in accorclance with
old Malacca right.
In conckision, the governor promiscs herevv'ith to observe the
rules toLiciied on above to the full, according to their intent and to
cause thcni lo be obscrved. Which provisional contract is confirm-
ed and ratifictl on bolh sitles in wilness to its truth, in the presence
of the Comolaet, Omonrath and several other orang kayas with
their usuai signature on the iSlh March 1643, signed Jan Här-
mäns'/, logether with the guvernor's ordinary mark on the siap.
Contract with Bangarij.
I. Omoehangh Scheij Boerij Sysa Con Schaiiw Moehangh in
Bangarij, have agreed the artides here following with the chief
merchant, Davidt Walravens sent by order of the honourable
Governor General, Anthonio van Diemen and the honourable Jere-
mias van Vliet, governor in the town of Malacca, to inspect the
tin districts and the factories situated there, to wit:
(254) Firstly, I, Omoehangh Scheij Boerij Sasakon promise
to deliver annually to the resident stationed here in the interest of
the Dutch Hast India Company and to him only all the tin found
and mined here.
Secondly, if vessels from foreign parts arrive here, I promise
to acquaint the resident of the same and to forbid my inhabitants
(as also merchants living here) to buy any cloth from these ships
and, if they [the shipsj have brought any necessaries (maincti-
mentos) and sold the same, accepting tin in exchange for them,
they shall be bound to deliver said tin to the Company on condi-
tion that they are paid for it at the price current in the country
with cloth or money which may happen to be at the time in the
Company's factory.
Thirdiy, no inhabitants of this place shall be allowed to export
tin from here under any pretext whatsoever, on the following
penalty: for the first offence forfeiture of half of the tin; for the
second, forfeiture of all the tin; and for the third, forfeiture of the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
138 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
tin, the prao and all the olTender's goods and the reduction to
slavery of the ofiender himself ; this confiscation to be one half for
tlie king and the other half for the Company.
FoLirthly, I promise to assist the Company's people at all times,
('t sij ini goede ojte guade [motiwii] and in all things; to procure
workers for them at a reasonable wage to transport tin or cloth.
Fiflhly, i promise to conform within my realm lo the large lin
mould of Oedjangii Salang on the arrival of the first cargo of cloth
here.
(255) Sixlhly, 1 shall enjoin and command that all merchants
and inhabitants, who buy any cloth from the resident here, shall
pay for it at the actual time of the purchase wilhout any at-
lempt at evasion and, if the resident makes a complaint to me there
anent, I shall compell the satisfaction of the Company's claim by
law.
Seventhly, I will prolect and defend {hevfijaen) the Com-
pany's servants stationed here and the factory, as if it were my
■own house, against all who miglit try lo bring any trouble on the
same.
Eighlhiy, if it should happen (which God forbid) lliat any
Dutch stationed here should transgress by the miirder or vvounding
of any or by rape or robbery, I shall not have the powcr lo execute
justice on the same, but must wait for the superintendenfs annual
coming and deliver the criminaf into his hands.
AU the above artides i have agreed with my Council of my
own free will, wilhout being constrained thereto in any wise and
promise to carry them out and adhere to them in all points, in
witness whereof I have marked the same with my own mark. Ist
Jan. 1645 in the Negrij Concloeij in Bangarij.
Contract with Aatchin and Pera.
In the year after the birth of oiir prophet Mahomet 1070, on
the day Salassa [Tuesday], the 6th of the month Maharam [Sept.
23. 1659] the Gapade moeda lilla attended by the boedjanghs
Cay allula and dendany brought out the (256) suassa seal and,
in the name of God on command from Mer Majesty, comes
with an order from Her Majesty to calij maiical adul,
■orang kaya maradja Siri maradja, orang kaya laxamana Sirij
pardana mantri, orang cacaya Sierij paducca tuan orangh cacaya
radja bintara, orangh cacaya Sirij paducca magat orangh cacaya
Sirij maradja lilla, orangh caija radJa oedana Hlia orangh caija
paducca Sirij nära, orangh caija maradja Sirij indra orang caija
radja macotta, orangh caija Sirij paducca radja bintara moeda,
radja lilla wanghsa, paducca maha mantrj, Sirij ratna pardana,
with all the oelebalänghs and all other officers of the royal court, I
have made this peace between the Atchinese and the Dutch, so as
not again in the future to come lo strife. Thus the Governor
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of öovernor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 13?
General, Joan Maatsuijcker, has, through Sittria Sibidi, Indra
Siltia, Sirij Nära Wanghsa, the commander Jacob Keyser and the
commander, Balthasar Bort made the foilowing demands:
ToLiching the afFairs of Pera, if the bandara Paducca Sirij"
maradjn be not recalled but is forgiven by Her Majesty for all
his faujls and allowed to remain bandara in Para, tiien the com-
manders Jacob Keyser and Balthasar Bort vvill also petition the
Governor Genera! to forgive his offences and to permit him to con-
tinue tlit;re in Pera, but the shahbandar (being now mentri in Pera)
shall be summoned lo Aatchin (257) and handed över to us to be
judged.
Mer Majesty also grants 50 bhars of tin in compensation for
the goods of tlie Company stolen in Pera, which the commander
Balthnsar Bort shall receive ihere; also that the price of tin in Pera
shall not be Iiighcr than 30 r^. untll the goods of the Company,
amounting still to 44,000 r"., shall be paid for. When all this debt
is cleared, the price shall once more be set at what it was formerly,
viz. 3l}i ]"\ IVloreover no other traders shall come to Pera to deal
in tin, but all trafiic therein shall be divided between the Aatchinese
and the Dutch, each laking just half. If any vessel is dispatched
with tin, whelher by Aatchinese or Dutch, an Aatchinese and a
Dulchnian shall always examine it, so that on neither side too-
much or too little, but by each just the half, is exported.
As to dues the right shall remain such as has been customary
hitherto without change.
All of this Her Majesty agrees to in its entirety according tö
the Governor GeneraKs demands.
Further, concerning the affairs of the west coast, Her Majesty,
on the demand of the [Governor] General, agrees that at Priaman,.
Bandaer Galipha that is Tico and Sillida, all the property of the
Honourable Company seized at the three above named places shall
be restored to the commander, Jacob Keyser, and, as to whatever
is short of the 49,518^ r^., Her Majesty agrees that pepper bought
there (258) from the community shall be paid for at 1 r^ less the
bhaer until the Company has recovered its property aforesaid, when
this practice shall cease.
On Ihe request of the [Governor] General, Joan Maatsuyker,
to Her Majesty, it is also agreed that no foreign merchants shall
trade at aforesaid places except Aatchinese and Dutch only and,
if any foreign merchants should happen to come to aforesaid places
to trade, the Company shall have the right to remove them thence,
either amicably or by force, whereby the peace with Aatchin shall
not be broken in the smallest degree.
Demand is also made that 1,200 bhaers of pepper yearly shall
be duty free for all time, which we grant also, as was granted in the
year 1048. Likewise that riksdollars (rijxdaaldefs), in a case of
lack of Spanish r"., shall, as far as possible, be accepted, provided
that the same are good and not alloyed with copper, this demand
J927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
140 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Maiacca
•vve accede to. Also that a dwelHng house may be erected in Aat-
chin 011 the ground the commander Dirck Scliou [ten ?| formerly
demanded in the year 1066, as also [one] in the country of Pera
close lo the river bank.
Also if the Dutch in Pera, Tico, Priaman and Siilida hai)pen
lo come to blows with the inhabitanls ovor some dispulc, the
:Sullan|s| and the Panglimas on the west coast shall have power
lo seKle il, if ihc olTence i.s small, biU, if (259) the malier is too
difiiciill. they have not the right lo exercisc jiirisdlction, hut must
arrest Ihc ill-doers and send them to Aalchin, where lier Majesty
sliail Jiulge the same equitabiy; the Uiilch, however, they shall
scnd (o Maiacca or olsc Balavia to be punished Ihere by Ihe
(GovcrnorJ General accordlnglo thuir descrts.
All foreign merchanls from tlie west, vi/., from Suralta, Dabul,
Ma.sulipatnam, Ja/Tanapalnam, Carapalam, Bengale, Clings, liiig-
lish, Danes from the Maldives, Mallcbaer, Conanoor, Arracan and
Pegu shall be allowed to Irade here in Aalchin. Al! merchants
■from the east, viz. those from Johor, Patanij, Andragicrij, jnmbij,
Javanese, Siamese, Cambodians and Macassars shalj not be allowed
to trade in any of the above named placcs, hut only here in Aal-
chin.
AU which arlicles of agreement have been confirmcd on ihe
day Allahat [Sunday], the lOth of the month Maharam at Mer
Majesty's banquet {gastwael) in the presence of the commanders,
Jacob Keijser and Baithasar Bort, also the HngUsh caplain, Wil-
liam Courtis, wilh all joy and gladness in Her Majesty's garden,
called Lalla Lalleij. Herewith, therefore, all above artides are
isettled irrevocably, and shall endure as long as the world, now the
Dutch have come to a settleraent as far as Her Majesty, Lilla
Lahij Filalham is concerned and the English also, amen.
Finding, among other things in the above treaty, that the
Chinese were named among other peoples who must not voyage
except to (260) Aatchin and that this had been inserted withont
-our having been even consulted or having heard of it, we declared
that the Honourable Company did not and never will allow the
Chinese from China to voyage direct to Aatchin. When we
pointed this out, the radja and the interpreter, Abdul Latief said
this was well known to the officers of state, since no vessel had
ever come here from China, therefore only tJiose Chinese were
meant who live in Batavia, Maiacca, Johor and Patanij. On this
condition we then agreed tö accept said treaty.
Contract with the places, Cotta Råna, Cabon and Gittij.
Within the town and fort of Maiacca on the llth Jan. 1676
in the shahbandar's house, we, orang caija radja Leila, orang
caija Sultan Bagagar and orangh caija Magat maradja, all chiefs
■of the places Cotta Råna, Cabon and Gittij situated on the east coast
■of Sumatra, have made this contract following with the honour-
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 141
abie Governor, BaUliasar Bort, Councillor Hxtraorclinary of India
and governor and director of Ihe town and fort of Malacca, and
his Honour's Coiincil tiaat all ihe tin which is found in Cotta
[Råna], Cobon [Cabon] and Gittij shaii be sold and delivered at
40 re«. (261) per bhaer solely to the Dutch Hast India Company at
Malacca or to persons coniing to Siaka on their behaif and lo no
■otiicrs, bccauso v/e iiave already acqnired so mucli honour and
favour in llie delivcry of the tin firsl mincd by iis.
We will also try to induce tlie chiefs of Tandon with ils de-
pendcncics lo conform to this same contract and will not omit to
make known there our good reception, (n order tliat no fraiid
[be pcrpclratcdj in tlic Iransport of the lin, so Ihat it may be
delivered wiiolly to the Company, and that nonc of it can or shall
be sold lo others on liic road, we shall send wilh aii llie vcssels
having lin in liieir cargo a niemorantluni of the quanlily ihey
carry of ihe same lo the shahbandar of Malacca, wlio shall send
US a receipt in rctiirn. We will punish according to the fault
committetl those who seil the lin to others and tfo not take it to
Malacca.
It is also granted to us that our vessels shall have the right
to sail from anti to Malacca with a llag of the Monourable Com-
pany and that Ivvice a year, when coming with tin belonging to our
chiefs, they shall be excused from ali dues.
In witness of this, tlie Governor and a!l of us, the chiefs, have
signed this contract [in duplicate], whereof the one signed by us
remains here in Malacca and the other we shali take with us to
our own country.
Malacca, the 25th of the month Sauai, 1670 [P1086], being
in our reckoning of time the I4th [?12th] Jan. 1676.
(262) Up to the present no contracts have been entered into
with the people of Songhoedjongh and Calangh aforesaid. These
two places produce yearly about 400 bhaers, whereof Malacca gets
a very small share, since most of it is taken to Aatchin and Ben-
calis, also to Pahangh and Riouw. The last is now beginning to
come to an end, the people there [i.e. in Sungai Ujong and Kelangj
being Manicabers who, since the conquest of Johor by the Jam-
binese and the flight of the king thence to Pahang, have not
renderad their due obedience to that Kingdom and do so still less
now, being suspected to siding with the rebellious people of Nan-
ning and Rombouw. The tin comes from Songhoedjongh by the
Pannage, but its transport is being prevented at present by our
blockade. It ought ,to be possible in this way to prevent the
transport from Calangh also, if we could come to an agreement
with the king of Johor on this matter.
Their honours wouid be glad to see the trade in tin set going
Qnco more for the I-lonourable Company at Oedjangh Salangh and
Bangarij, it is not however to be done by maintaining a blockade
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
142 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
thcre, bul b}' an aniuial dispatch of ships tliither or by establishing;
faclories there, whercof your honour should be abie to rhake proof
sonit:timc when a good opportunity offers.
Tlie Company here has not yct been abIe to sellie its differ-i
ences with the Radja of Queda, since he will not send plenipoten-
tiarics either hither or to Batavia to settie {definieren) the mattar,
(263) as we have always insisted. It should nevertheless be pos-
sible, in my opinion, to conclude a peace and trading contract with-
him soon, if the ilonourable Company were to write off the money
it claims on good grounds from him.
'I'he Pera people treat us very fairly, biit the blockadc there
must not be given up or the Honourable Company will once more
be deprived of tin. Our people there regulate their action by the
following memorandum;
Order for Ihe Superintendent (opperhoofi) and ihe couii-
cil in Pera, according to which they shall act in the service of
the Dutch East India Company in tiie administration of the
trade and the carrying on of the blockade there.
From the year 1639 the Honourable Company traded peace-
abiy in Pera by virtue of the contract made with Aatchin, the
suzerain of Pera, sometfmes on [and and sometimcs at the mouth
of the river, according as was judged best for the getting of the
[argest quantity of tin, until in 1651 the factory was overpowered
by the people of Pera and the Company's resitlenls murdered.
Thereupon we were involved in war with them hut in 1655 after a
reconciiiation the factory was recstablished.
Shortly after, however, by reason of the (264) failure of the
people of Pera to maintain our agejits in their rights, it was again
abandoned and we continued at war with tliem till 1659, when a
contract was once more entered into with Aatchin of the nature
shown by the copies [given] and thereupon residence was taken
up again in Pera, but from time to time we had plaiii evidence
that the Aatchinese were depriving us more and more of the tin,
paying no heed to the conditions agreed on, so it was again given
up in 1663 by orders received from Batavia. From that time
onward we have maintained our rights secured by the most recent
contract aforesaid at the mouth of the Pera river and have dealt
with the people of Pera according to the same, as beseems traders
in all friendly sincerity. This is still done and should be con-
tinued until further orders, notwithstanding that the expenses are
thereby somewhat greater than they were when we held with lO'
to 12 men, the residency up river in Pera, for, in compensation,
the tin is now brought to us in greater quantity and tliereby the
unavoidable expenditure is made in some measure more tolerable.
By this manner of trade, to which the people of Pera are accus-
tomed, there have been established and given on varioiis matters,
both in order to bring about an increase in trade and to obviate
all hindrances and also to enable our people to Hve in peace and
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort oti MaUicca 143
securily, varioiis well devised orders in successive letters written
to OLir people beforc Pera. Blunders might easily be made in
■carrying out thcse orders, since ihey are scattered far and wide
and can consequently be found, when (265) necessary, only with
difllculty and loss of time, we have therefore collecled all said
orders together and made a resumé of them arranging them ac-
cording to their character, as under. All which must be ob-
served and conformed to in future as a general fixed order, so long
as no other orders are given.
Pormerly, in accordance wilh the aforenanied latest conlract,
31)4 v\ werc paid in Pera for the bhaer of tin, whereof 30 r". were
given to Ihc owners and 1% re", were written off the debt of the
king and nobles of the land to Ihe Monourable Company. After-
wards, so as lo sccurc a great (juantily of tin, permission was given
to pay 35 r". per bhacr in piece goods or cash to the people of Pera
bringing tin down the river for saie to the Company. Good
quality must be ofTcred at this price, otherwisea bargain must be
made for less. Paynient in piece goods rather than cash should
always be preferred.
No hindrance must be put in the way of vesseis laden with tin
which conie down the river on their way to Malacca, on the con-
trary they must actually be counseiled and encouraged thereto, so
as to increase the traffic with Malacca, and they must be promised
in addition a good reception there. In accordance with ordinary
custom, of the amount of tin each ship contains so much pro rata
[sic] must be (266) unloaded from it as shall be judged likely to
deprive them of a reason for visiting any other places and to cause
them to sail straight to Malacca, where the tin unloaded shall be
paid for at 40 reals the bhaer, on presentation of the orders signed
by the Superintendent (opperhooft), and given to the owners.
Moreover it must be defmitely stated on the passes how much tin
there still remains on each ship, a careful examination being made
in friendiy wise for this purpose, so that the whoie amount may be
demanded for the Honourable Company and each may be de-
prived of the cliance of allowing private persons to have any share
of it.
-' If the king and the most powerful nobles, when sending some
vessel to A^alacca, wish to leave all the tin in its cargo in Pera,
you may agree to this and give an assignment (assigmtie) for it,
so that payment may be secured in Malacca.
But no assignment may be given for demand of payment in
Malacca to anyone, of whatsoever rank or condition he be, for tin
that has not been received, but only (267) for the quantity which
has been previously delivered for the Company.
Also we expressly forbid under a heavy penalty the passing
of any such assignments to fictitious names for tin traded for by
you yourself in Pera for cash or piece goods at 30 to 35 r». the
1927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
144 Report of Governor Balthasar ^oit pn JVlalacca
bhaer, so as to get the Malacca price for it und so to trade witlv
the Company*s nioney and cotlon as an indivitlual for one's owiv
bciicfit.
Vessels going lo and beionging to Aatchin or any placcs under,
its suzerainly, such as Assahaii, '1'anjongli, etc. must have half,
their cargo of tin taken out, hut not so (exaclly) tlial you con\e to-
blows över two or three bhaers and it must be paid for at 30 r". the
bhaer in cash (cojitant). If the owners can be persuaded to de-
liver the whole amount to the Honourable Company, onc half can,
be paid to them in cioth goods and the otiier in cash {contant) at
35 r"^. the bhaer.
The tin traded for at 30 r'\ you must (2G8) enter separately,
bolh in the invoice book and in your trade books, so as to crcdit the
account of the king and nobles of Pera, which still stånds at
/I30606.I2.4 on the debit side in the trade books here in Malacca,.
v/ith \y/[. renls for each bhaer.
But discretion must be shovvn in dealing witii the tin eX|)ortcd
from Pera actually for the queen of Aatchin and only a part of it
taken out after a suitable agreement has bcen come to wilh her,
ministers, for it is said that only 40 bhaers yearly ought to belong
to l-Ier Majesty from the country of Pera as an acknowledgment
of her suzerainty. The quantity in one year does not usually
amount to more; i{ the ruiers of Pera make an earnest petition on
this matter, it may be allowed to pass without anything being taken-
from the ship, so that we may not make ourselves hated.
No vessels belonging to foreign nations, not dependencies of
Aatchin, may export tin to Aatchin, but must deliver it all to the-
llonourable Company at 30 r*^. the bhaer and must submit to ex-
amination for that purpose. The same holds good of persons
wishing to voyage from Pera to Queda or Bencalis, they also must
deliver all their tin to the Honourable Company (269) at 30 reals
the bhaer. Mowever, if the payment is in piece goods, tlie tin from
these vessels may be paid for at 35 r"^., so as to get more custom
for the cloth; whereto all diligence must be applied.
You may give passes to all such vessels as have satisfied the
Honourable Company's claim to the tin (as aforesaid), but the
people of Pera must, before their passes are put at their disposal,
give proof with the siap of the dato bandhara that they are honest
folk and not fugitives. The javanese and other vessels coming
merely to trade in Pera provided with passes from JVlalacca must
not have their passes taken away from them, but only endorsed as
having been produced and (270) the holders must then return
hither, no other passes must be given to them by you.
As to all vessels of Aatchin or of peoples subject to that king-
dom, although they are provided Vi'ith no pass, you must not put
the least obstacle in the way of their voyage up the river, but, after
speaking {verspreken) the people, enquiring about their cargo;
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 145*'
you nuisl: iise them courteously and let them at once proceed un-
molested.
The Mooiisli sliips vvhich \ve may on occasion aliow to go-
{largeeren) to Pcra for the purposc of buyjng eiephants and ex-
porting thein to iiengale or Gormande], as we did last year in the
case of the yacht ChafTarie of the Nabob Mamet Amiiichan, are-
boLind to pay the Company's dues, 10% of the eiephants purchased,
just as if said animals were brought here and then exported; they
are bound also to deliver all their tin to the Honourabie Company.
Hereto you must give careful heed, assessing the cost of the eie-
phants here and demanding the dues, taking över all the tin (with-
out reieasing any), granting passes {passerende) and (271) put-
ting at the disposal of the owners of the mineral an assignment
to cnable them to demand payment for it at 40 re*", the bhaer of
375 Ibs., either here in Malacca, or in Bengal or Gormandet, also-
writing with each sHip to the Company's servants in the placcs,
which are ils destination, a short note giving the number of the
exported eiephants, then- cost and the dues paid thereon, together
with the quantity ol' tin delivered.
But you shali not ailow other ships and vessels, having no'
passes issued by us, in Pera, but shall direct them to Malacca tO'
ask for passes and you are authorized to take some goods from
Malay or Javanese vessels, which have cargoes of consequence, tO'
be held in pawn as security, in this way hindering them from going
to otber places, especially if they have come from the North and
have passed by Malacca without calHng there.
The people of Oueda itself must be refused entrance to Pera,
even ifthey have a pass from our blockading force there, this pass-
you have to take away and send to us, ailowing within the block-
ade only such natives of that, state with their passes issued by us"
{met d'onse haet vryeleijde) (272) as have nothing but provisions-,
in their vessels or bring some tin to sell to you or to bring them-
selves to Malacca, otherwise none.
The people of Pera voyagfng to Queda and Bencalis may, on
their return, bring only rice, wax, iron and other similar trifling;
(geringe) necessaries, without any quantity of piece goods or
calicoes which are brought here from Malacca and Aatchin in
more than sufficient quantity for them.
Company's cloths have hitherto usually been sold En Pera at
the following prices, viz. :
I piece of white salempoeris
Guinea cloth 18-17^1 bidoorsof
brown bluesalempoeris -12 j- tin each
white bethilles 10- 9 i weighing 3 Ibs.
biue bethilles
Sarassa maleije 161 bidoorsof
Tapie Sarassa 6[ tin each
Bafta brootchia 30, 25 to 20} weighing 3 Ibs,
1927] Royal Asiatic Society. ,
146 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
However, you will not be abie tö tie them (273) down to this
råte, but will have power to waive so much of it as by exact en-
■quiry you learn is done up river in Pera by others, following thus
merchants' usage, but taking care thaC said piece goods and
calicoes are not dealt with at a ]ower råte than they are worth
here in Malacca, reckoning tlie tin that is talien for them at 35
reals per bliaer.
'I'he tin whicii is given in pawn and is paid for here in.
Malacca at 40 reals the bhaer is almost always smeitcd into bars,
(balen) casy lo handle: so tliat tw aliowance must be made for
loss in smelting. Such dcduction is necessary only in the case of
trade tin and Ihen onJy for what lias been actuaily smeited from
small picces into ingöts' casy to liandle" and |it sliould be es-
timaled] at 1%, at which we are of opinion you will be safe from
loss. Wiien receiving the tin you must be carefu] to see that it is
not mixed with lead or fraudulently adul!cr:Ued with earth or
stone.
(274) Credit dealings have been definitely forbidden for a
long time past by our masters on account of the great loss oc-
■casionally suffered therefrom. We (herefore recommend you also
to avoid the same as far as is in any way feasible. However, if
the king and the great nobles sometimes make written request (as is
their custom) through their servants for piece goods and calicoes,
you may, in order (o do them no discourtesy, agrte, provided, that
is, that the quantiCy is not too great, and afterwards make civil
■demand for payment.
At every opportunity we must be advised not only of the
State of things and of events in Pera but also of the amount ol tin'
in store, so that we may regulate our action accordingly and you
may have it when necessary fetched away (en Ul. deselve des
noodigh sijnde te läten aff balen).
You must not occupy a larger area yonder on shore than
necessity demands and must not risk much tin there, so that we
may not be surprised hy rascaJs and robfaed of the tin. (275) Be
careful to have the tin in stock sent to us by all ships and jloops
coming to Malacca by way of Pera, if they have room or are con-
venient for this purpose, when the tin amounts to 20, 30 or more
bhars.
However all the tin you ship away must be weighed in the
Dutch scales, which can be done without loss to you, in sucli wise
that it does not fall short in the weighing, otherwise the Super-
intendent (oppe7ihooft) of Pera (for the Honourable Company
cannot sufFer thereby) shall be bound to make good the shortage,
1 The first ]etter o£ this word lost in the original; tlie rest of it
Teada eugen.
2 Tho original bas liaiiäclbaare, -wliicli may possibly mean "uisrclian.
table."
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 147"
it being iinderstood that if the pieces are delivered otherwise, i.e.
short, the signatories of the bill of lading must answer and be-
liable for any pieces inissing.
All expenses, wherein you must aim as much as possible at
economy and incur none not absolutely necessary, you shall (as-
has been done in the past) debit to the tin, (276) whenever any is
sent lo Malacca, for it is only fair that the trade should bear ihe
expenses incurred in getting it. Remember also to record in the-
ships* books, as is customary, the ship's expenses, charging the
yaclit therewilii.
Of tlie tin c'X]7ortcd to Malacca on the one hand and tO'
Aatchin and the couiilries dependent on that kingdoni on the
other, you must keep proper record, so tliat at ali times, when
required, the quantity on each account can be shown.
The grant made fornierly to Sirij Paducca Tuan, governor
of the foreigners in Aatchin, of the right to export 30 bhars of
tin yeariy from Pera witliout Iianding any of it över lo us, became
invalid on the death of said orangh caya, so that you have now to-
pay no regard to it.
(277) Any lin supplied to you at 30 re^ the bhaer by the
nachodas o( Aatchin vessels during their stay in Pera, so that they
may in return transport a iike quantity afterwards to Aatchin (as
has been done habitually by many in the past), you shall accept
on that condition and aliow said nachodas to depart unhindered'
with the like quantity wilhout committing any fraud, so as not tO'
incur the heavy penaity attaching thereto.
Tin smuggled in any ships shall, when discovered, be taken
out of them, but the owners shall all the same be paid for it at
30 reais the bhaer, if they are men of Pera or Aatchin, but they
must be warned not lo do it again, on pain of being more hardiy
dealt with. A nolification of each case must be made to the
rulers in Pera. If foreigners attempt such smuggling, the tin
shalJ be taken from their ships and confiscated, in whole or in part
according to circumstances, to the benefit of the Honourable Com-
pany, the discoverers of the smuggling being given a modest pre-
' sent therefrom, so as to encourage them again to keep a sharp look
out ön other occasions.
The Honourable Company pays no duties in Pera on im-
iported merchandise and wares, but, on exported tin which is
;bought at 30 re^. the bhaer and at no higher price, we are subject
;to a duty of 2 reals 24 stivers per bhaer, and, in addition, on'(278)
each goerab's cargo, which may be reckoned at 100 bhaers, to 3
reals 45 stivers for steelyard hire {daats loon), mast, and anchor-
age money. Fulfilment of which obligation must be continued'
and his dues must be sent annually to the king in cash or piece
goods without reduction of the amount due to His Majesty in any
degree, so as to give him no reasons for complaint against us.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
148 Report of Governor Balthäsar Bort on Malacca ;
The Civill ' [SevtUe] (CivUiaanse) reals of eight in specie;
v/hich, like the Mexican, are not desired in Pera, although they are;
good silver and heavy, and moreover are current lilte other reals
fiere in Malacca, as elsewhere under the Company's rule, for 24
heavy double stivers, you must try to recommend the people of
Pera to accept in payment for their tin and, if the provinciali
dollars (provintie daalders) could also be introduced and giveri'
currency yonder, it vv-ould be a very desirable thing; you must try,;
to get the people of Pera to listen to this and in time to bring it toj
pass, which should bring you niuch honour.
You must diligently endeavour to prevent private individualsj
from getting even the smallest part of the tin, since it is obligatory-
■on you and on everyone above al! things to abstain therefrom, sol
as to avoid loss and ruin to yourselves.
The favour of the king and all the ruling nobles of Pera, and;
among them especially the Dato Bandhara, you must try to.gain'
by courteous and friendly behaviour for the furtherance of the;
Company's service and in order to secure a great quantity (279);
'Of tin. You must treat the people well and give them no cause for-
complaint by reason of arrogant speech, as to which the people of;
Pera are very sensitive. You may, with this end in view, give saidj
rulers small presents, as circumstances may require and as may be^
to our advantage, without running to excess or going,beyond whatj
is moderate, entering in the accounts what you have actually given^
in presents, if you can prove it {niet* in reecq. hreviiende als 't,
geen doen hlijcken kunt warelijck hebt vercbonken). . ■ }:
In the past sonie compiaints have bcen made against us of not
■dealing quite fairly yonder when using the steelyard, on taking
delivery of the tin. In order to avoid that scandal in future, the
king and the Dato Bandhara recently promised to appoint a trust-.
worthy Pera weigher for the Company and to order Iiim lo take up',
continuous residence near or on the Company's yacht at the moiith;
of the river. When he comes, you shail be helpful to said weigher,'
and accommodate and treat him courteously, aliowing him tö.;
wcigh on the steelyard all the tin that comes, so tliat neilher one
nor the other party comes. short, otherwise he must be answerable
and liable therefor.
Last year the EngJish brought their piece goods and calicoes
from Queda in a sloop and sold them in Pera taking tin (280) to
export in exchange to an amount, according to rumour of about
200 bhaars. In the month of August last they were again in Pera
with a ship coming from Suratta by way of Aatchin and Queda
(having the said sloop again witli them), but, on the resolution of
the king and nobles, they were warned off and consequently com-
pelled to depart thence bootless and ashamed, so that we may hope
that they wiii not return to Pera or, if they do, that they will
-again be warned off by the people of Pera. However, in case
*0r me*.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govenior Balthasar Borl: on Malacca 149*
English, French or Danes should, contrary to our confident ex-
pectation and the efforts you would then make {en Ul. als dan te
doene ijver) in the future happen to get permission to trade-
;yonder, then you must write news of it to us at the earliest op-
portunity. In the meanwhile you must not use any rough mea-
'sures against said Europeans to hinder their trade and to make
them depart thence, but must leave them in peace and quiet.
^though holding no communication with them, or, at any råte, as
little as is compatible with good breeding. They too, on their
side, must not oppose us, if we compel the people of Pera to
maintain tlie said contract, since they will have brokeh it in ad-
mitting said Einopeans.
Por instance, you nuist try to prevent the people of Pera from
;going 011 board English and French [shipsj, not allowing, tliem Xo>
:take any tin on board or to fetch piece goods from them; at first
merely lorbidding the same, but, if the (281) people.of Pera dåre
to persist in doing ii, use such forcible means (without^ however,.
venturing on anything reckless or ha/.ardous) as may be to your
hand, taking from them ai! the tin and piece goods found in their
praos and not restoring them until these Europeans are warned
off and have departed. You must take care above all that our
people do not trade with them, prohibiting this on pain of severe
punishment. So long as said Europeans are yonder, no tin must
be released for Aatchin, nor must any vessels from Aatchin be
aliowed to proceed up river to Pera. You must always give us
detailed information of all matters touching these things.
You must also make secret enquiries. whether said Europeans
have brought with them goods belonging to Moors subject to-
Malacca's dues and rights, which they thus unjustly fiJch from
the Company. In such case you should explain this to them and
see that the Moors with their goods are withdrawn. You may
give them permission to come hare with the goods and trade in.
them, if they are willing to submit to the payment of the custom-
ary dues.
You must not keep a larger force than 50 men for the block-
ade, in addition to those who are at present stationed in the house-
on the isiand of Dingding, if there is no more work to be done
than there is at this time.
(282) You shal! have the order recently issued by the [Iscal,,
Jacob Martensx. Schagen to the anthorities on said Dingding con-
formed to on all points, keeping the people there from infringing.
it and taking careful note of their good and bad behaviour.
If English, French, Danish, Portuguese or other Europeans
lie in the harbour of Dingding or are in the river of Pera, you
must give diligent heed to prevent any malicious or discontented;
persons from contriving to hide on their ships and so get away.
)927J Royal Åsiatic Society,
150 Report of Governor Baithasar Bort on Malacca
You must not deprive our ships passing Pera of their equip-
jjieju and, if you take anyihing of wbich you have iiecd from thera,
you must give a payment order for it, as is fitting. But, in order
commonly to be provided with so miich tiic more willing servants,
you shail be empowered to give tlie equivalent sum in cxcliange
for a signed order lo sucii members of all our ships, yachts and
sloops, without exception, happening mcreiy to pass yonder,
whether they come from here, Batavia or elsewhere and have other
destinations or are on their way from other places hither, as happen
to finish their time in Pera and have no desire to sign on again
•or to stay there any longer. But this must be done on the under-:
standing that said ships are commanded by skippers; in the case
-of any special persons (283) of higher dcgrce being on board, per-
mission must be asked with due respect of them and no action
taken in this matter without their consent, in accordance with the
letler of authorization on this poinl issued \6ih ]u\y 1667 lo the
superintendent of Pera to this end.
Company's servants, however, who have served their time and
are desirous of continuing still longer or who durtng their time of
service are found suitable for and are appointed to some ofTice,
-shalJ send us a request in due form for renewed engagement to the
Company with increase of pay or to be in such wise improved as
the general ordinance indicates.
The carpenters attached to you in the blockading force must
be employed continuously and, if there is urgent work to be done,
must work at the sloops and small vessels as well as the yacht to
the end that they do good service and that said servants really earn
the high wages they get.
Company's piece goods and calicoes yonder with the blockad-
ing force, you must have examined and aired at least every fort-
night in fme weather, so that they may not get musty, spotted or
•damp or be damaged by ants. Loss occurring through neglect of
this shall otherwise be put to your account. ]
When asking for the cash, piece goods, food, ship's equipment, .
medicines and other material needed by the Pera blockading force, ^
you shall apply to us here in IVlalacca by a regular requisition, ,
response to which you have to expect, when opportunity (284) ,■
serves, to such extent as we judge useful and as can be spared from ;
■our stores. On receipt of any cash, merchandise or other goods,
you shall examina, count or weigh them in the presence of the ■
persons bringing them or of two credible witnesses, and shall, on .
every occasion, report to us in writing on the result and form
thereof, so that we may make use of it to have compensation or
payment made by those through whose negligence anything shall
have been delivered damaged or short and, in order that we may
convince them, you can send us also an attestation, signed by the
..persons who were present at the delivery of the goods.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govemor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 151'
Those persons, who allow any of tlie passing ships to escape
US, must be sent hitlier to be made to suffer here their weli meritedi
punishment. B ut thosc members of the force stationed under you
yonder in the blockade, who happen to commit any fault or ofTence
under civil lavv, you yourself may judge in accordance with the-
; general ordinance, the heaviest scntence in your power being keel.
hauiing, so as to deter otiiers from similar evil courses. Delin-
quents guiity of more cdminal ofTeiices you shall send under arrest
to US to receive scntence here as the facts of the case deniand.
You shall maintain a correspondence with the blockading,
forces of Queda and Oedjang Salangh, sending letters at every
opportunily, wht!rein you record everything lliat has happened lo-
you, as ihey aiso havc orders to do with you; since it is frequently
necessary in Ihe interesls of the Q)mpany that the one should be
informed of the condition and (285) actions of the other, so that
they may make use of Ihis knowledge the more surely in similar
or other circumstanccs.
By distribuling the sloops and vessels you have at your dis-
posai to lie on watch by night in the river of Pera, you must, as
far as possible, contrive to prevent any vessels from going out or
.coming into the same by steaith and so defrauding the Honourable
Company of its lawful rights.
At all spring tides or whenever there is no necessary work to-
be done, you must examine the rivers of Barnam, Larot, Dingding
and Borrewas together with the streams and creeks in the sur-
rounding districts by means of the sloops, if you have any at your
disposal for the purpose, and sometimes have a little cruising done-
at the Sambilangs.
In the case of vessels met with, which are not exempt (onvrij)
or unprovided with a pass, you shall put none of our people in-
danger, but shall seize the nachoda, or two others of the principal
persons, and all the tin they have in the ship and then have the-
vessels brought to the Pera blockading force, charging our people •
to take good care of the persons seized and to give not the least
opportunity of doing them harm, deaiing with the said vessel as
stated a bo ve.
(Ouv cruisers may certainly employ arms to secure control of
the Saletters, who are usu^IIy armed and have no goods or cargO'
of importance, (286) if they offer resistance and it is consequently
impracticable by gentler methods. Preference shouid, however,
be given to the latter över the sternest measures and all unnecessary
bloodshed shouid be avoided. You shall then, when occasion
serves send these pirates to us under arrest to be put in chains or
other\vise dealt with as the case may demand.
You must take careful heed to the prevention of all abuses
ind attacks on honest men in mistake for bad ones {geen goede-
voor quade Itnjden aan te tasten). You must give to all the-
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
152 Report of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca
poople of Pcra gonig out daily to fish or to drag for kräng or
foyslers a free pass note to show to our cruisers, if they meet any.
fn the issue of provisions you must maintain the requisite
'Orcler according to the general ordJnance, and must see to pre--
venting the arrack from being drunk up at oncc on the sloops,' as is
CListomary yonder, but that each man is given daily his ordinary
ration, so as lo prevent all dissoluteness and ncedless waste of pro-
visions, you yourself setting a good example in sobriety and
nnmerous other virtues. You must keep memorandum books of
the consumption of all food, drink, ship's and other necessaries,
so that you can, when required, give an account of everything.
■Good care must always be taken oi the barrels also and none must
be neglected, but all kept in good condition. At every oppor-
tunity you must remember to send as many to us as can be spared
yonder, so that it may be possible, as necessity arises, to re-,
provision the blockading force so much the more conveniently.
(287) You must close tho trade bookson Ihelastdayof Jime
and at the first opportiinity after that day send Ihcm hilher, so
that they may be duly entered in the trade booi« of Malacca.^
'i"he ships' books must also be here every year in good lime, so
that they can be sent lo Batavia and thcnce to Holland (naa 't
vaderland).
K circumstances arise as lo which no special order is given
liere, such action shall be taken as you shall judge to be demanded
by the interest of the Monourable Company, after you have
weighed everythijig well with the Council, which shall consist of.
the superintendent {oppefhooft) , the skipper and the bookkeeper
together with all such persons in addition as the general ordinance
names.
in conclusion we recommend you always to bé on your guard
.and in an attitude of defence, keeping both large and small fire-
arms ready for use, so as not lo be surprised unprepared by our
■open enemies or false friends, whom, if Ihey have commilted an
act of hostility against you, you are not bound to respect, but, in
such case, may certainly (according to nature's law) resist force
by force.
Relying on all of which injunctions, ! commend you and the
Company's interests entrusted to you to God's beneficent protec-
tion.
Order for Gäspar Wensel of Gaiis in Saxony, sergeant in
the service of the Dutch East India Company and also super-
intendent (opperhooft) appointed över the island of Ding;
ding, and those who may be stationed there hereafter, ac-
cording to which they have, in general, lo regulate Iheir ac- ■
tion.
The highly esteemed (hoog gedagie) Monourable Company
lias not only had an eye on said island of Dingding, which has
aiever yet been held by any of the neighbouring (der havde)
foumal Malayan Bravch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 153
peoples nor been coiinted as part of their terrilory, (288) but has
for a period of över 20 years almost continuously had its servants
there, especially members of the Pcra blockading force, who did
■carpentry and other services and in consequence it has of necessity
been occupied by our people from that time, onwards, although
only to partially. This occupation it is novv decided;to nialte com-
'plete and tlierefore lo that end lo have a hoiise buiit, so that other
Europeans, and especially the Cnglish, should not be beforehand
■with lis in tnking it and drawing the same island into their spherc
and service. The house is now finished and has been made solid
and strong by the work put into it (according to the model given
to US by the Governor Balthasar Bort and the Counci! of
Malacca). You shall therefore take up your abode there and
take special heed to carry out the foilowing poinls of order, care-
fully to maintain and duly to fiiUil tlicm.
In the first place you shall allov/ all people of nations with
whoni wc are at peace, both luiropeans, vi/.., linglish, Prench and
Danes, and aI.so Indian peoples to draw waler on said island, to
CLit (irc- and other light wood, as also lo jirovide and refresh them-
selves from the hardships of the sea at their convenience and
pleasiire wilhout causing any of them in so doing Ihe least an-
noyance or hindrance, or suffering such to be done lo Ihem by your
people, no matter what show of jiislice there niight be for it. You
must, however, take care that very large and heavy Irces suitable
for the making of ships' masts, nnd also redwood trees. are cut and
carried away as little as possible on said island by any of said
people, (289) excusing your refusal with all poiiteness by affirm-
ing the superior need of the llonourable Company itself.
But if any of said people have lost any of their masts, yards,
etc. through storms or otherwise and have no olhers to set up in
their place, you shall, in such a case of need, have it in your power
to grant them permission to provide themselves with ihe necessary
masts, yards and other things of the kind, so as to be able duly
to complete their voyage.
But you must try to accustom said people, one as much as
-another, to clo or carry out nothing on said Dingding, uniess they
have first asked for and got your consent thereto, so ihat you may
always know who is on or at the said island and theii you can, to
some extent, regulate their action according as those people are
more or less trustworthy.
All Malay, Javanese or other vessels belonging to Indians,
which approach or pass Dingding in the channe! in great numbers,
must be hailed or signalled to with one or two musketshots, so
that the nachodas or chiefs may come ashore to you with their
"praos. You must then ask them whence they come and whither
they are going, demanding their passes in a friendly way. If they
■possess and show them, you must let ihem go their way un-
lindered.
1927] Royal Asiatk Society.
154 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
If, as does liappen, it is believed that vessels, especially those-
belonging to inhabitants of Queda, are returning empty from Pera^;
and make an attempt to load with tin between the Pera river and
the island of Dingding, especially in an inlet (inkam) on a piece-
of flat groiind called Heckeren and inhabited by various men of
Pera, (290) in order to export it, to places to the North, then you.
sliall be authorized, when they come to Dingding, to have them
examined in a perfecfly amicable way, even if they have passes,.
and to do this, especially in the case of such as are going to Queda;;
and appear to sotne extent to have a cargo; any tin found in them.
yoii may land, directing the owners to the Pera blockading force
for payment. Biit you understand, this must be done only if nO»
evident danger is to be seen or suspected in the detention and
examination and in the removal of the tin, otherwise such vessels.
Iiad beller be Icfl aloiie and an entieavour made, before the de-
parture of the same, by some means or olher lo inform the chief
of the Pera blockading force.
The vessels which have no pass and intcnd to voyage further
than Pcia, you must have brought to anchor at Dingding and'
made to lie there, especially if they are large and have a cargo,.
the nachodas being ordered to go with their own prao and men.
to the Pera river (v/hich, with the lide, is only 3 hours' härd row-
ing away) and fetch safe conduct passes from the Dutch chief oni
Ihe yacht lying in the blockade. He will no doubt give you orders.
as to what you are to do or leave alone.
You must, above all, take good care that the people of Pera.
or any other people with whom we are at peace, or at any råte not
openly at war, are not ireated rudely, insolently or vexatiously by
you or the common soldiers under you, (291) much less that any
act of open enmity in word or deed is committed, so as not to^
disturb the people's minds or give them any reason or cause for
aversion to you.
Still you must, on occasion, in kindly and honourable terms,,
defend the Company's right and just claims and try, as regards.
the foreigners passing by, to make yourself agreeable and, at the
same time, with all courtesy, to do the duty now imposed on you-
and any that shalj be ordered in the future.
Ne\'erthele5s you must also, by a constant good watch by
night as much as by day and the maintenance of your arms in
readiness, see to being always on guard and ready for all opem
enemies and false friends, so as to make defence and to oppose
force with force against any who attack and ireat you as enemies,,
trusting no foreigner över much, but considering that you have to
deal with Malays, some of whom are bad and malignant and are
actually very desirous of depriving Christians of their lives and
property, as various grievous examples have given clear evidence.
in order to prevent all conceivable and inconceivable mishaps,
you shall allow no one to go or voyage eJsewhere except duly
Journal A4alayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 155
armed and provided with a gun (of which the natives are very
much afraid) and each with a stout broad sword. Moreover you
must, if any of your men are away from the house in another bay,
be mindful always to have some men armed as above in the prao
while the others (292) fish or carry out any other task assigned to
them.
As interpreter with the Malays and other peoples, you can
•employ the sailor Diego from Bengal, who is fairly weii acquainted
with the language and has bcen expressly assigned to you for that
■pur pose.
Besidcs aforcsaid sailor and yoursclf, there are 13 persons
under your orders, to wit:
1 Corporal
iO Soldiers and
2 Slaves of the Company, one being a joincr.
You must live with them as befits honest folii, prevenling all
strife, disputes, wrangling and fighting, but making each man fulfil
what is neccssary and has been laid upon him.
Above all you must not neglect divine worship, but have the
usual prayers said morning and evening. On Sunday you must
also have a sermon read and then God the Lord will graciously
preserve and biess you all.
On weekdays, when there is no more necessary work to be
■done, you must try to make the flat piece of ground, on which said
house is built, larger and larger. You must also plant and sow it
with all sorts of fruit trees and also vegetables, for which purpose
you shall be provided with garden seeds from Malacca, as op-
portunity offers. Which fruit and vegetables must be used for
the food and maintenance in health of yourself and our men in the
Pera blockading force together with the passing ships, but es-
pecially for men who are sickly.
The flag on the staff in front of said level ground (293) you
must fly only on Sunday and not on weekdays except when ships
or vessels are sighted; at nightfall, and during the day also when
it rains, it must be brought in, so that said flag may last the longer.
There are in the house for your use the following necessaries:
' 2 smal! boxes of assorted nails
6 iron shod spades
6 pickaxes
12 axes
2 crowbars
12 cane baskets
I prao
I seine net
300 musket balls
100 Ibs. of gunpowder and
4 bundles of matches.
^1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
156 Report of Govcmor Balthasar Bort on Malaccti
You must ;ibovc all tal<c goocl care that tliere is no neglect of
thcse things, nov iKvöksa squaiulorjng of the provisions. Other
necessaries which yon wili need or receive, you shali be provided;
with by the chief of the Pera blockading force. He is at present^
l.hc junior merchant, Sr. Adriaan van der Walle; you are under-
liis conimand and must consequently be obedient to him and pay
him duc honour and respect; you must also carry out the orders he-
shall in the future thinit good to give you in addition to those of
"this memorandum against all irregujarities and cvii courses, which,
caniiol now be known bul with experience uill m;niifesl them-;
scives.
]U'lying hereupon und on what Jias jieen brlclly ciled above,.
wc conimend you all to God's iioly protection (294) and remain,'
your friend (Signed) Jacob Martensz. Schaagcn. (In the mar-
gin) Dingdingh, in ihe yacht De Meyboom, 21st Oct. 1670.
A blockade must also be malntained before Queda at times
when yachts and sloops suilable for the purpose can be spared, to^
show the king of that place, so iong as he continues to refuse satis-
faction to iha Company, that we do not give up our claim, and
also to keep ofF^ali Portuguese and ]\'loorish ships, if they wish to-
enler the port", and (o make any, who may have conie ihere before
the arrival of our blockading force, pay ]VlaIacca's dues (that
is 10%) on the cargoes brought by them, also to remove half thé'
tin they are exporting, provided you pay for il at the Malacca
price oi^ ^D ce^ Ihe bhaar of 375 Ibs. ; hn-ihtr to prevent aJI nalive
vessels from entering or leaving the Queda river and to confiscate-
such as you can overtake, especiaily those laden with tin. . .-
Last year a Moorish ship is såld to have appeared before:
Queda from Souratta and to have departed again with a large/
quantity of tin early in the month of November as reported to us.
by the equipage master, Ciaarbout, whom we had sent thither tov
make the examination there. In reference to this matter a letter
sJiouid be written to t]ie Director, Sibrant Abbema in Suratta tO',
ask if this Moor (wlio succeeded by his speedy departure in,
defrauding the Honourable Company of its due) could be per-
suaded to payment, especiaily if he shöuld ask for the Company's-:
pass either for Queda or elsewhere hereabouts, by refusing it, unless-
he hmds himseif to the payment of said dues. In this way their
I-lonours succeeded wery circumspectjy in 1677 in dealing with one;
Mamet Selbij, a Turkish merchant in Suratta, (295) whose ship
returned safely also froJii Queda without having paid any dues.
Afterwards, when he wanted a pass for the same ship to Siam by
this route, it was granted to him under a promise to have the
further claim of the Company here in Malacca paid by the na-
choda of the said ship, who actually did this by a payment of-
1000 re^
The Queda blockading force has usually been provided by us
with the foilowing:
Journal Malayan Bnnich [Vol. V,
Report of Governor BalUiasar Bort on Mal:iccu 157
Order for tlic commanders of ihe ships and sioops em-
ploycd in the blockade of the river Queda whereby they shalJ
regulate Iheir action.
In view of tiie fact lliat the king of Qucda and his nobles
are still in default and liave not paid the Honourabie Company a
notabie sum of money, amounting accorth'ng lo the books of
/55784.8.8, which it ciaims from them and that Ihere lu-e just
reasons for rcsenting and aveiiging the massacre perpetiated in
I65g on nino Uulch seamcn on the river Qucda. having moreover
good caiise lo maintain tiie contract made wftli theni in 1642,
wliereby thcy are boiind to dehver lo tiie Honourabie Company
half of tlie tin fonnd in their counlry and brought thither from
abroad at 3l'/i re'', the bhaar, which contract has never been
carried out by t/iem, iJierefore Vi'e are compelled to continue tlie
biockade tJiere, in which you shall conform to the order given to
you in the follov/ing.
The chief object of this blockade is tiie prevention of most of
the trade and trafTic of foreigners in Queda by refusing them en-
trance and access to the river, but on the contrary keeping them
away, espcciaily the f-^ortuguese and Moorish ships, so as to cut
them [i.e. the King and nobles of Queda] ofF from a large part of
the prosperity and revenue which they would (296) enjoy from
said traffic, and thereby to force them to come to the resolution tO'
give satisfuction (o tiie Ilonourable Company.
When any Portuguese or iVloorish ships anive, even if the
same should be provided with passes from our officials in Cor-
mandel, Bengaale and Suratta (since they usually come from those
piaces), you shail not ailow them to enter the Queda river, but
must keep them outside and not suffer them lo land any goods or
:to receive any from the shore for the purpose of trade or war,.
even if they are wiliing to pay Malacca's dues lo you there. In-
stead they must depart thence either to .Aatchin or Tanassery.
This, however, we should not like to see, but would rather they
came hither, whereto you ave to exhort them and to promise that,
when they have been here and paid toli, they shall not be refused
a pass to aforesaid place on condilion of delivering to you a cer-
tain fluanlity of tin from there, for which payment shai! be made
to them at 40 re^ the bhaar.
Since we have maintained and are mainlaining only a block-
ade at Queda without atlempting anything more by means of open
warfare, Iherefore, in accordance with the iatest treaty concluded
between the sovereigns on bolh sides in Europé, we must not keep
the Englisii out of Queda, but must allow them to go out of and
into the river undisturbed. They are, however, in conformity
with said treaty subject to examination, which you shall propose
to them with discretion and in fact carry out (so as to maintain;
the custom) . *
I927J Royal Äsiatic Society.
158 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
It is not their practice to carry any contraband goods thither,
tut they do bring merchandise belonging to the Moors as freight,
which ought to be subject to the Malacca toll, if we knew it for
certain, but they will never own to it, so that we cannot find it out;
all the same you may (297) learn of it by a side wind and ask
theni if they have any Moorish goods on board, and must note-
■down their answer and the names of the ships and their captains
logether with the nature of their cargoes, whence they come and
by whom they have been eqiiipped, all of which information you
must then write in delail (pertinent) to us at the first opportunity
that offers. ...
All native vessels which are not provided with our passes, you'
jTiiist also keep outside Queda, except those coming from the*
North, viz. from Aetchin, Oedjangh Salang and Träng, which are-
still allowed to voyage lo Queda (without being obliged to go to
Malacca first) and have the right to take piece goods and other;
merchandise there, but never any tin. All vessels must therefore
be closeiy but politely and not rashly examined and, if any tin is"
found in them, you shall remove the wliole of it and give the
owners a bill to enabJe them to demand payment for it here, which
shall then be made. If, however, they are disposed themselves to
come hither at once with their own vessel, you are lo remove only'
half and to allow them to retain the other half, on the under-'
standing that you give them a receipt for what you have taken'
and do not in the smallest degree wrong them in their persons or
goods nor treat them rudely.
You shall warn any vessels touching there from Pera to depart
■with their cargo, but any tin found in them you must remove,'
keeping a good record of the amount both of the pieces and of the'
■weight together with the name of the owner to whom you shall
also give an acknowledgment of receipt, so that he may ask pay-^
ment here from us. ■
The force blockading Pera is now enjoined to grant no passes'
to Queda and you must" not provide the Queda people with passes;
to voyage to Pera, as being disadvantageous lo the llonourable
Company at this conjuncture.
You must remove about a third of the tin in their cargo from,
vessels coming from Queda, even if they (298) hold passes from.
US and wish to come hither and must give for it a bill on us to be
'discharged here at 40 re^. the bhaar of 375 Ibs.
If Moors or other people bring you tin of the country, you
are also authorized to accept it, the purchase to be completed either.
here as above or yonder by yourself, if you have the money, but
you must not pay more tJhan 35 reals of eight in specie for the
bhaer of the stated weight. You cannot get too much at this price.
You shall allow the Queda fishermen to go about their busi-
ness unhindered and free and to go in and out of the river daily,
trying to accustom them to ccme to you for a pass, as happens
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 15^
before Pera, so as to make it possible to distinguish their vesseis.
from those of the Saletters or pirates roving there and thereby to-
prevent their being attacked if encountered by our ships. In re-
turn for this liberty they must occasionally bring necessary pro-
visions on board to you, so as the betler to keep our men in heallh-
You are to buy these from them, treating them civilly. You must
make them understand this and, at the same time, make it clear
that, if they neglect to do it, you, on your side, will not sufTcr their
fishing, but wi!l put obstacles in the way. However, you must not
do this lightly, since it is rather hateful to do damage to poet
harmiess fisherfolk.
On land also you shall underlake no hostilities and shaii ailow^
none of our people to go ashore, so that they may not be surprised
and killed by the Malays. At sea and in the river the practice of,
hostiliLy or enmily towards the Queda and other native vesseis
must be avoided in future as in the past and no oiTensive, but
merely defensive, action must be taken against the same wheif
meeting, boarding (aandoen) and examining vesseis. You must
abstain from the commission of the first hostile act, but must all
the same be always so much on your guard that they do not harm
you, even if they intended to do so. If you are (299) first at-
tacked by them, you may not only resist, but may overcome t^^-^m,.
as is permitted under the laws of war.
If the king of Queda or the nobles of the country attempt to
send a ship to Cormandel, as has certainiy happened in the past,
you must effeclively stop it even by force of arms, and see that
you not only prevent it, but also employ and set means in action-
to get the same into your power, sending it then with crew, goods
and everything hither, so as to derive from it payment of the
notable sum of money which the Honourable Company claims:
with justice from the king (as heretofore indicated).
Jf vesseis wish to board you now as in the past with a white
flag and to bring a message from the king or nobles, you must
allow them to come and go unhindered and must treat the crew
in a f riendly way and receive them well ; all the same you must not
trust them too far and must see to it that you are carefuUy on
your guard and in an attitude of defence against their rascally and
treacherous wiles. You must make a note of their message and
of whatever else you learn from them and, when opportunity
serves, send us a report thereof. !f they happen to make any
proposals for the settlement of the Company's claim, you shail tell
them that the Governor and Council of Malacca have now re-
ceived orders from their Honours the Supreme Government of
India in Batavia to come to an agreement with the king concern-
ing this matter and, if his Highness is disposed to send envoys with
full powers for that purpose alone, give them to understand that
we, on our side, will contribute everything that is just and right
to the arrival at a treaty and agreement, so as to renew and re-
establish the old friendship betweeji Queda and us.
1927] Royal Åsiaik Society.
I6ö Report of Governor ÖaJt/iasar Bort on Malacca
Pour saiiors ran away from the yacht Celdria in 1669 when it'
was blockading Querfa; ihey are said to be living in Queda by per-
mission of the king. (300) You must never cease trying lo get
them back and making enqiiiry as to their doings yonder. It is
reported tliat three of them have already died, but we have no
assLirance of this.
The biockading force must be kept yonder almost the whole
year, so long as we get no satisfaction, wherefore, so as to have no
lack of drinking water and firewood, Ihey must be looked for
betimes in the Bonting and other isiands, so that these necessaries,
may always be fetched thence. I f, on such occasions, any durable'
ship's timber and other wood for building praos is found in the
forests, see to getting a goodly provision of it to scnd to us one time
or another or to bring \jit\\ you yourself.
1-or the protection of aforesaid drawers of water and hewers of
wood some men must always be employed, otherwise they run the
risk of being suddenly attacked and slain by the Malays, as has
happened several times in former days.
In conclusion I recommend you to take this our order weil
to heart and to fulfil it and put it in action with circumspection
according to circumstances; relying on which we wish you a good
result in all your dispositions and God's blessing. We remain.
your friends (signed Balthasar Bort, H. Schenkenbergh, H. Sv
van der Oy, A. Lucase, Nicolaas Muiler, Jan Joosten Bal, and
Jacob M. Schagen, Secretary. {\n the margin) A'Ia]acca. löth
July 1670.
A trading expedition was sent by us to Oedjang Salang and
Bangarij for the first time in 1670 and was continued up to 1672,'
bearing some fcuit, whereby the Honourable Company secured a
tolerable amount of tin. This reasonable beginning should have
led to good results, (301) if we had been abie to go on with it,
but their Honours in Batavia could not approve, principally by
reason of the perverse report from our officers in Siarn, who in
their letters to their Honours aforesaid depicted our procedure
very ill, relying on the complaints constantly made to them by.
the Siamese nobles, who always fobbed off our people with tfaes
(paijende d'onse 'ielkens met traes), that is, letters addressed lo
the governors of those places admonishing them to favour us in
trade, but their reai contents were always unknown to us, for
they were written in the Siamese language and never translated
for US.
The Honourable Company cannot continue in the trade there,
if the Malays and Javanese go thither to trade and, instead of
delivering the tin to the Honourable Company, transport it to
Aatchin, Queda and Tannasserij. The same is true if the Moors and
Siamese from Tannasserij frequent Oedjang Salang and Bangarij
in such iarge numbers and get possession of all the tin. With this
end in vlevv they force the governors and inhabitants to accept
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 161
"their piece goods nnå merchandise in exchange for tin, being witli
this object provided with letters from the Siamese king and nobles,
which are obeyed betler tlian those we have so fa»' secured.
On our repeated complaints against the governor, Opra Peth
as an enemy of the Honourable Company and a grtut favouier
'of the Malays trading there and as inciting them against us Irea-
cherously to overpower the Company's sioops, as happt-ned tc; two,
the crews being cruelly murdered, he was indeed recalled from
"Oedjang Salang to Siarn and retained there, but two Moors vvere
sent in his place to govern that island and Bangarij also. These
men persuaded our residents in Siarn that they would favour us
rn trade and help us to a great deal of tin. This, however, is not
now to be expected (302) from them, for, after entering on their
.government last year, they did not retain it long, since one day
when both were at Oedjang Salang in the house of one of them,
it was set on fire and they were killed by a mob composed chiefly of
Malays from Queda who usually support themselvfes there by rob-
bery and theft and would be glad to be masters of the country
themselves, having already many of their creatures living there,
who conspired with them and the Aatchinese, lying there with
their vessels, against said IVtoorish governors, because they, as
the story goes, were unwilling to aliow the export of tin to any
'Other place then Tannasserij. In furtherance of which, I believe,
the Moors in Siam (who have a share in the government there
and are nrging the king to adopt their religion) have, by the
■expenditure of a great deal of money, brought it about that the
king passed över his own countrymen, contrary to oid custom
and appointed these two Moors as governor of these lands of
his, but to their misfortune, whereby others of that nation will
iose any desire to incline in that direction. Perhaps this will
;not be bad for the Honourable Company, if it some day once more
, takes up trade there. However you must not come to this before,
and only when, you have information how this massacre is re-
.garded by the Siamese king and what is done in punishment of it,
for, however good that prince's intentions may be towards the
Honourable Company, we cannot trade safely in these lands of
his except under arms, so long as we have not his protection
against these Malay foreigners, of which there has been hitherto
■ complete lack, apparently because these lands are too far away and
:he knows that his own peopie are not good warriors.
The first order issued by us to that place reads as follows;
(303) Memorandum and order for the Captain Gerrit
Pieterse van WeseJ and other commanders of the
yacht Stokvii and the frigate Malacca, togelher with
the sioops Angelier and Dolphijn setting out for Oed-
jang Salang.
The island of Oedjang Salang, situated about 96 miies lo the
norlh of Malacca close to the mainland and about 56 miles
from Aatchin, which places lie opposite to each other respec-
J927J Royal Asiatic Sodety.
162 Kepoit of Governor Ba/thasar Bort on Malacca
tively N. E and S. W., and Bangarij, situated on the mainland.
near said island, have always been famous as places very rich
in tin and were therefore visited very often by the CompanyV
ships, even before the coiiquest of the town of Malacca.
After the conquest the dispatch of ships thither and to the:
other tin districts, i. e. Pera, Queda and Träng, from Batavias
was continued for some years, but then all those places, as.'
being situated near to Malacca, were included under its-
government, v/hich consequently established ail sorts of fac-
tories, took up residence and made favourable coiitracts,,
which, hov;'ever, were nevcr effectively carried out and
maintained. (f a disposition was nevertheicss shown Lo enjoy
the benefit promised by those contracts by the use of rough
measures, they had not sometimes the best resiilt. A sad:
example of this was seen, for instance, at said Oedjang Salang;
the Company's factory there was attacked and set on fire and
its servants, who could not escape, were cruelly put to death and.
murdered by some Malays, who wished to go to Tannasserij with
two vessels, one of which had had 50 and the other 26 pieces of
tin removed from it for which the owners had been paid. This.
was the first cause and the second foliowed it, viz. that the barque-
Hentavi on guard in the river Lepon tried to preveiit the departure
of four Malay priests with their followers on their appearance at the-
mouth of this river with two vessels, because they refused to allow
their vessels. .to be examined. Some shots were fired after it and
one of said priests was hit, whereupon they went to said barque,.
overpowered it and killed all the crew which was on board. (304)
Previous to this, however, some Malays with their sampans had
come on board under a pretence of friendship as fishermen and-
these, on the agreed signal from said priests, immediately fell upon
our men. Maving accomplished this by viliainous craft they then
came hy night to attack the factory. Our people were oniy seven
in number and the enemy was fully 60 strong, nevertheless they
could not, in face of the resistance offered, make themselves
masters of it as quickly as they wished, so they set it on fire and our
men were obliged to flee from it. Those who could not escape
were massacred by these murderers as stated. The same fäte befel
a free burgher, Hendrik van Uls by name and his crew who lay ih
the river Bouquet with a vessel, which was also overpowered by
them and taken away with about 60 bhaars of tin.
All this happened on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th April 1658 and
that with the previous knowledge and consent of the governor of
Oedjang Salang, called Opra Peth, who was stil! there. In this
massacre 17 Dutch and 4 blacks löst their lives without cause and
the llonourable Company suffered a loss of property amoimting to-
/23244.7.3 through the destruction of the factory and seizure of said
barque and all its effects in Ihese parts, it retained only
/7882.13.7, mostly at Bangarij, where the Company's residence was.
undisturbed.
Journal Malayan Branch jVol. V,,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 163
Up to the present not the smallest veiigeance has been taken
nor punishment infiicted for this great murder and damage, nor has
;any satisfaction been given, wherefore the governors in that state
have been encouraged and have become more insolentand petulant
;and have treated our people with so much the less esteem and re-
:gard. They have even taken the whoie of the trade from us and
handed it över to other foreigners coming from abroad (contrary
to the oid contracts made with the llonoiirable Company).
For this reason the factory was removed thence in 16Ö0 and
:since then trading expeditions have been sent thither four times, so
that the trade in tin there may not be entirely abandoned, to wit:
(305) In !6öl the 3rd February, the yacht Amsterdam
under the comniand of the assistant Hendrik Grypecove with a
cargoof: /6763. 6. 1
In 1663 on the 30th April, the galliot De Ganges
under the command of the assistant Adriaan van der
Walle ' /7709.12. O-
In 1664 on the i9th February the same galliot and
:said van der Walle 19260. 2.14
In 1665 on the lOth June the galliot Hammerbiel
under the junior merchant Johannes Sacharias /7817. 4. 6
These expeditions have turned out, for the most part, fruitless,
:sirice but Httie trade was done, the only tin come thence being as
follows:
.By the first expedition
Received for the outstanding debts
.By the second
For a certain Moor
-By the third
By the fourth
For other people
Kemoved from a Javanese vessel
bhar
Ibs
bh
20
262
1
331
-__
22
5
1
1
6
13
3
34
22
274
3
Ibs
243
— — 28 308
Altogether Bhaars 70 201
The cause of this small trade has usually been ascribed to the
ill will of the aforesaid governor, Opra Peth, who demanded imme-
diate payment in full of the dues on the cargo taken thither (even if
(306) it was not disposed of) and in addition the piece goods and
■ other merchandise before they were exchanged for tin with the in-
habitants. In fact he paid slight respect or regard to the tra secur-
ed by the honourable commissioner, Pieter de Bitter, from his Sia-
mese Majesty as to free trading, so that, since it was evident that
the Honourable Company coiild not for this reason do any great
]927] Royal Asiatic Society.
164 /Report o^ Governor Balthnsar Bort on Malacca
IrEitlc thert-, no further expeditions were sent thilher after that..
Tiie place was however visited by our inhabitants and also by the:
foreigners trading here, especialty the Javanese and Malays, but,.,
wiien we became aware that, instead of coming here wilh the tin:
they traded there, they went witii it to Aatchin, contrary to (he pur- ■
port of the passes granted to them by us and that traffic by all sortSi
of nativcs thither was increasing more and more and that even a^
small Moorish ship from Masulipatnani had arrived tiicre, more-'
över learning too that quitc 600 bhaers of tin were bcing exported,
theiice annually by these nalives without any regard to Malacca,,
since neverthcless its domination and jurisdiction in thisstrait have-
always cxlended to said island, thcrefore thcir 1 lonours the Sup-
reme Govenimeht in Batavia were moved to resolve and delermine-
to admit no Moorish, Portuguese, Javanese or Malay vessels or-
ships from that place, unless (according to the hitherto observed-
custom) they had touched at Malacca, paid the usual dues and
obtained a pass permitting them to voyage yonder. It was more-'
ovcr approved by their Honoms and orders were sent to iis that an.
endeavour shoiild be made lo bring the oid contracts once more
into use there, though not all (307) at once, hut with motleration,,:
gradually and by degrees.
Three originals of these contracts are here in Ihe Secrctariat,.
viz.: Two dated 18th March and 23rd Oct. 1643 made with Ocd-
jang Salang and one of 1st Jan. of the year 1645 with Bangarij,.
wherefrom it is seen among other things how the I ionourable C"om-
pany is privileged in the tin trade there, espccially in Bangarij, and.
that that mineral may not even be exported elsewhcre but must all
be delivered to the Honourabie Company, and none may be admit--
ted to the trade there except those who have received licenses and'
passes therefor from us. This custom has for some years past
fallen whoUy into disuse and the country has thereby become full.
of all sorts of foreigners who, like pedlars with their packs, go from
house to house with piece goods and other wares ofTering them for
sale. Wherefore the Honourabie Company cannot make a living,..
if it has a residence and factory there, for no one comes to look at
or enquire about our merchandise, still less can the llonoiirable
Company hold its own there in" trade, because, besides the tax of.
7}4% of the imported goods (exported goods are exempt from tax),.
considerable presents ha\'e to be made every time on the arrival of
new cargoes not only to the goveriior at Oedjang Salang but also to.^
the governor at Bangarij and the other great men of the place.
Moreover the piece goods have to be given to them at a lower price
than to the common peopie and, worst of all, no trade can be done
there except on credit and on trust, the peopie there being so idie
and lazy that they mine no more tin than the amount necessary to .
pay for the goods they have already received before delivering the^
tin.
(308) When all this became clear to us on abstracting and
re-reading the letters, reports, contracts and other papers from::
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,,
Reporl: of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Mulacca 165
those*districls, that have from tiirie to time arrived in Malacca, it
was judged in the inlerest of the Ilonourabie Company inadvisable
to take Lip a permanent residencc there again as yet and to make
^expeditions thithcr in the former way for purposes of trade since
(as relaled above) thc}- lurncd ont almost fruitless and the outlay
was in vain, seeing that the governors there are determined neither
to allow US to do business on sucli terms nor to keej) out of the
country liie lorcign traders vvho comc there in largc nunibers vvith-
'OUt passes from u.s. Whercto careful attention having been given
by US, aflcr ripe deiiberalion, it was approved and re-solved to scnd
'Out same yaclits and sloops to cruise aliiout there and blockade the
piace, the vcssels having been ssnt to us here from Batavia for that
purpose, viz. the yacht De Stokvis with the sioops Aiigelier and
Dolpbipi, wcil manned by saiiors and soldiers, and \ve hope that it
wiil be possible, by this means, to attain and accomplish our object
and gootl inlent. Since a good, suitable, prudent, eXperienced and
skiifiil conimander is needed and these qualities shouid be possessed
by tiie skipper Gerrit Pietersz. van Wesel, as is declared and be-
Heved of him, therefore the control and command of this expedi-
tion is given and entrusted to him, wherefore he shall be acknow-
ledged, rcspeclcd and obeyed by ilie men appointed to said expedi-
tion in everylhing which he orders in the service of tiie Honourable
Company and, so that he himself may be tbe better able to pursue
its interests, the foilowing shall serve him and his appointed council
as instructions:
(309) When sailing thither you shall try to look out for and
speak all native ships and vessels met with and encountered, asking
their commanders whence they come and whither they are voyag-
ing. I f they have come from the south and have passed by Malac-
ca without calling there, yon shall dissuade them from completing
their voyage and direct them back to iVIalacca. If they accept
your advice, you shal! troubie them no further, but let them depart,
though with a v/arning that, if you meet them a second time and
they cannot show written proof of having been to Malacca, you
will confiscate their ship or vessel with the goods in it. ■ You must
not take this step [yourself ], but shall in such a casesend the vessel
under arrest to us in the most convenient way under escort of one
of your boals, either yacht or sloop; this is to be understood as
applying only to such ships as arejarge and contain cargo of im-
portance. You shall not look out for small vessels, praos or boats
if you meet any, take no notice of them, but let them go their way
(without speaking them).
Ships coming from the north southwards you have only to
warn that, if they wish to go beyond Malacca, they must touch
there. This must be said with special emphasis to the masters of
Portuguese and Moorish ships and they must at the same time be
informed that it is useless to go to Pera or Queda, since they would
be kept out by our blockade there, but if that is their only destina-
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
166 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
tion. they must have bcen to Ma!acca, paid their dues and received'
a definite license therefor and have bcen provided with a pass ac-
cording to the ancient custom.
If you suspect tin ill the vessels plying between Queda and
Oedjang Salang and, on examination of the ships, you find tin there,
you must remove it all. no matter iiow Uttle it may be, and pay the
owners 35 reals of eight in specie for each bhaer of 375 Ibs, or else
give them an order on (310) us for the receipt of 40 re», here, if
they prefer to have this. You must do this oniy in the case of
vessels unprovided with our passes. From those that have passes,.
you need only remove about a third of their cargo of tin, giving n
receipt for it, so that they may not proceed with the remaining tin-
to any other place than Malacca, where they shall receive 40 reals^
a bhaer for the tin they carry and also for what has been removed,
"this you must give them courteously to understand.
Oi\ your arrival before Oedjang Salang (which you have to-
touch at at 7° 30') you siiall proceed a!I together, so as to inspire
greater awe and respcct, to Ihe safest and most sccure roadslead
there is; this was formcrly a pedrero shot from the river Boquet
behind a smail island. There you must stay for two or three days
to see whether anyone from the shore or elsewhere wishes to come on
board. If this happens, you must treat the people courteously and
use them weJI, at the same time informing them that you have come
there not to show enmity but friendship to each and all, if they give
you no reason for the contrary. Allow them the first time tO'
depart without making any further explanations.
IVIeanwhile make an exact and keen examination as to what
kind of foreign ships and vessels are already there. Whether any-;
one comes on board or not, you shall at once prevent all vessels,.
which have no passes from us, from entering or approaching afore-
said river Boquet and direct them to go back whence they came,
uniess they wish to come to Malacca, for which purpose you shall
give them a pass to voyage hither.
After the iapse of two or three days, it wiil be necessary to visit
the river Lepon also, by which tjie Malays mostly go in and out and
(311) further to patrol Papera, the channel between the island of
Oedjang Salang and the mainland, so as to compei vessels met with
there, which have no passes, to go away again.
During your stay there^ if any Portuguese or Moorish ships
should put in, you must notify the masters of same in a friendiy
way of Malacca's ancient jurisdiction and right, as expressed above,
and in accordance therewith you must direct them to Malacca ta
get passes, in no wise sufFering them to do trade in Oedjang Salang
or Bangarij; with that object preventing them from landing their
goods or taking tin on board .
English, French or Danish ships, however, which you may
encounter, whether at sea, yonder in the harbours or happening to
land near you, you must leave undisturbed and put no obstacles
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report or Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 167
in Ihc way of their voyage or trade on siiore, since reciprocal
-agreements and engagements have betn made with those nations
not lo hinder eacli other in trade.
You sliall tal<e incasures, eilher by friendly admonilion, per-
sLiasive arguments or threats, bul nothing niore, to cause any
Portiiguese or Moorish ships you find on your arrival in harbonr
in this place to depart, and, if Ihey agree to go, you shall let them
■go their way, first removing haif of the tin they may have traded
for there and paying for it at 30 r". of eight in specie for every
biiaer of 375 ibs. If tliey have not yet done any trade there, you
sliall not permit Ihcm lo do any, and, if they refuse to listen to
admonilion lo relurn to tlie place from which they came or to go
to Malacca, but obslinately continue to iie there, you shali take
care. fhe first time, onJy to cut them ofF from traOic and com-
jnunication with fhe pcople on shore, but mal<e it (312) so weari-
some for them. that they wiil be compelled to depart.
If you find Javanese vesseis there without oiir passes, as also
Malay vesseis under which are included those from Aatchin, Diilij,
Qucda, Pera and Johcn', you shall not treat them roughly for the
first voyage, but inform them that they need not be afraid that
any harm will be done lo them by you, that they may conclude
the business they have begun without anxiety, and, on their de-
parture, come fearlessiy to you, when you shai! remove half of
the tin in their ships and give to the owners thereof a receipt, so
that they may come here with the rest of the tin and be paid for it
at 40 re^. the bhaer. In the ca.se of persons who may be dis-
inclined to come hither, but wish to return to their own country,
you shall allow them to do so, but shall remove the whole of the
tin and not pay them more per bhaer than 30 r*^. with which they
\v\\] have to be content.
,. You shall not ailow the inhabitants of the country to send
away their vesseis to other places with tin, but, if they wish lo go
to Malacca with it, you are authorized to give them passes for this
purpose provided they unioad a third of the tin to ensure their not
going to any other places.
If they cannot bring themselves to do that, you shall take
över the whole of the cargo of tin and similarly give them 30 reals
per bhaer in payment and then allow them forthwith to go their
way.
The river Tintelij is frequented by the people of Tanasseriji
and, because that country, as also Oedjang Salang and Bangarij,
is a dependency of the kingdom of Siarn and we are at present
good friends and at peace with his Majesty, because also the
Honourable Company has a factory and residence established
there, this people must for the present be somewhat favoured and
their doings winked at. (313) They frequent said river in the
month of November and depart in the February or March foHow-
ing. You shall allow Ihem to frequent said river and other places
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
168 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
undisturbeci, provided tliat on their departure you remove half of
the tin in their cargo and pay 30 r". per bhaer for it, whcreof youi
can advise and warn tiiem on their arrival. U they are inclined;
before their departure to furnish as much tin as the half of the
quantity tiiey export would be lilteiy to amoiint to, you shall agree-
and grant ihis and consent that tlicy at the same time export the
whole of the tin procured with the money receivcd for what was.
removed.
To all vesscls provided wil!i our passes found tlierc on your
arrivnl or coming afterwards you shall show favour and good will
in the husiness they have to do and give any reasonabJe help, if
thcy ask for wiiat is ncccssary Lherelo. You may protcct tliem
from any wiio may scek to wrong theni, provided (hat you take on.
their departure for this place a lliird part of liiclr tin on tlie samfr
plan as we have described abovc, in the case of ships mct with-
under v/ay.
If tin is brought on board for sale from sliore, you shall buy
it from the people and may give 3Q r". per bhaer. You cannot get
too nuicii at that price and must therefore urge each and all tO'
furnish tin and see to persuading them to bring it to you every
day, if the Company'5 objcct is lo be attained, for thi.s expedition
is made 5ole!y for the purposc oi" procuring lin and not lo commit
any lioslilities yonder.
Tin is deiivercd there in ingöts which are called in the
language of the country tondijs and bits. These the llonourable-
Company has hitherto considered equivalent, the former to 17)4
and the latter to 4^ Ibs. Dutch and has reckoned 20 tondijs or 80'
bi/s (o the bhaer. making according to this conipulation not more
ihan 350 Ibs. liowever we have been informed thal the said
ingöts of tin are somewhat heavler and consequenlly a bhaer might
amount to 370 or 375 Ibs. To this niatter you must give careful
hecd and we recommend you to see that the Honourable Company
does not (314) come sliorl.
In thal: p^.:\ce pcople do not go to märket with money but wilh
tin, tlie weight of which must be calculated on the price of a bhaer,
which has h therto been 23 r*. of eight in specie.
Formerly a fixed price was also set on certain piece goods and
calicoes at which they iiad to be sold to the governor and the
commonaJty of the country. These prices are shown by the con-
tract of 1643, the I3th .March, to have been at that time as under:
To the governor To the commonaity
A Sarassa Icij de Coutchin 7 bih of tin 9 bits oF tin
A Salempoerjs 7 „ ■ „ 9 „
A piece of Guinea clotb 12 „ „ 16 „ „
A piece of blue bethille 6>4 „ „ 8 „
A piece of ramboutijn 15 „ „ !S
A piece of ardias Syi „ „ 4^ „ ,, ,
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 169
A piecc of beeatas 4 ,, ,, 5 „ ,,
A piece of wliite bethiile 8 „ „ 10 „ ,.
A picce of madaphon 4 „ „ 5 „ ,.
A piece of red bethiile 8 „ „ 1 1 „ „ _
A pidce of while moeii 6}4 „ ■> 8J^ „ „
A picceof saii cloth (?^W/7t?o^Ä) 2^2 „ „ 3 „ „ .
A picce of negro cioth 3 „ „ 4 „
A piecc of Sarassa maleije II „ „ 13 „ „
Howcvcr each time a ship came in with cargo the governor
might not Iiave more piece goods at above price than the value
of 9 lo 1(1 hliaers and in ihose days tiie bits of Lin was reckoned
at the value of 17 slivers, when the bhacr as stated abovc stånds at
aboiit 23 reais at 60 slivers each. Orders were however given to
aforesaid four expeditions lo pay 28 to 30 r". per bhaer and, if
even at that price no tin was to be had, the price current to the
foreigners there might be given. This you also are authorized to
do, if you secure trade.
So as to cnabie you to pay for the tin which you (315) re-
movc from the vessels and buy, you will be given 4000 r^ of
eight in specie and in addition as merchandise:
8 balcs or 160 pieccs of Guinea cjotli
2 „ or 200 pieces of bleaciied bethilles at 32 asta
2 „ or 160 pieces of blue salempocris
2 „ or 160 pieces of bieachcd saiempoeris
4 „ or 800 pieces of photassen or negro cloth
1 „ or 800 pieces of tape Sarassa lelpocan
1 „ or 240 pieces of tape Chindos from the coast
1 „ or 800 pieces of Surat tape Chindos
I „ or 2^0 pieces of gördel Chindos
1 „ or 200 pieces of Sarassa leij de Coutchin
1 „ or 250 pieces of red caricams
2 „ or 160 pieces of sailcloth
100 pieces of madaphon and 100 pieces of Chelas leij de Coutchin
iOO pieces of sill< pathoien at 4 asta the piece
4000 ibs. of iron and 40 peculs of pepper
The booki^tvper Cornelis Braats shall keep books in due form
and have the management of this cash and merchandise amounting
according lo th- invoice to /22637.8.13, hut under the superior
control of the skipper, Gerrit Pieterse aforesaid, and, although
these two are responsible for the barter of piece goods for tin and
for the valuatfon of that mineral at 30 reals the bhaer, neverthe-
less you must take good care lliat a profit is made thereon of 75,
80-90% or as much more as you can get by bargainfng. The
sheet and pig iron has hitherto usually been exchanged at Ij^
bhaers for I bhaer of tin and in small quantities weight for weight
and a bhaer of pepper for a bhaer of tin, which råte you also must
try lo secure now.
1927] lioyal Asiatic Society.
170 Report oF Govemor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
At the time of the removai of the ofllce, the outstanding debts
amounted lo /3094.4.4 according to the trade books kept by S.
Jacob Jorisx. Pits, who was then Superintendent there, viz.:
IJnknown and dtceascd persons /I856. 3.12
Monschieuw, lale govcrnor of
Bangarij (31ö) . . . . for 564 bits of tin 479. 8.
MccLschieuw, the Opra's mother for 37 „ „ 31. 9.
Commelaat for 235 „ „ 199.15. .
Omonschieuw Pak, ihe govcr-
nor of Bangarij .. ..for 283 „ „ 240.11.
Mompct, alias Lebemoor .. for 337j^ „ „ 286.17. 8
lötai liits 1456^ /3094. 4. 4
Said Mompet in I66i dclivered
here in Malacca in part pay-
ment of his debt 20 ibs. of tin
wherefor there is placcd to his
credit 178.11.12
Remainder /29I5.I2. 8
However in the currenl trade books of Malacca the o/Tice in
Oedjang Salang has only a debit account for outstanding debts
/2628.I7.I1. It is not likely that you will be nble to collect any
of this, but all the same 1 have noted it here, so that it may not
be forgotten.
On the mainland between Papera and Bangarij there is a
mound of heavy black sand almost exactly like the heaps from tin
pits and mines in other places, but the inhabitants of the country
have not hitherto known how to have it smelted and so obtain
tin from it. It is believed that this might be done, if some means
could be discovered for smelting it. You shall see to bringing us
a fair amount of the same sand, so that it may be tested.
You must first of all have search made for places where good
drinking water and firevi/ood can be got in safety, so that at all
times (317) you may be able to provide yourself therev/ith. As
reported to us, the same is to be had on the small island mentioned
aboVe by the river Boquet and also at Oedjang Salang and on the
mainland in some bays there, whereof you can have a chart made,
when opportunity serves, and send it to us.
So as to keep your men in health, you must not forget the
need of fresh food and must procure it from the country, taking
care to induce the Chinese and other people living there to bring
the same to you, provided that you duly pay them for it.
The south west and north east monsoons prevail there, the
former begins in May and lasts till September, wlien the other
commences and makes the good weather there, wherefore it should
be possible to remain until the 30th of April. So long as you stay
fournal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca i7l
yonder, we shall not fail to assist you constantly with what you
need, for we consider it of tfie first importance that a constant
patrol must be kcpt up yonder on the look out for native ships,
so as lo kecp ihem away from tliat piace, employing the afore-
meiitioncti yacht De Stokvis with tlie sloops Angelier and Dolphijn
for Cliis purpose. We shall send in addition the frigate Malacca to
Oedjang SaJang. wliich you shall send back to us in the month of
Octobcr, with Ihe tin you may have obtained by the other ships
and with full reports of your experiences and dispositions, giving
orders to tlie frigate lo visit the blockading forces before Pera and
Queda in passing, on the chance of their being tin there to take on
board and bring herc.
Said four vesscis are manned, armed and victualled as fol-
[ows:
De Stokvis 30 men, 6 pieces of ordnance and 10 months'
provisions
Tlie frigate Malacca 26 men, 6 pieces of ordnance and 4 months*^
provisions
D'Angelief 16 men, 12 pieces of ordnance and 6 months'
provisions
Dolphijn 12 men, 6 pieces of ordnance and 6 months'
provisions
Tota! 84 men, 30 pieces of ordnance.
(318) Included in aforesaid number of men are 15 soldiers
with a sergeant and corporal wlio must take care always to keep
their arms clean and ready. A big rowing prao is now going also
from here to be employed before Oedjang Salang in fetching
drinking water and firewood and in other services.
Our men must be strictly forbidden on pain of heavy punish-
ment, when stopping and examining vesseis and removing the tin
from them, to do harm to or to defraud the people in either their
persons or their property, This tt is also very seriously enjoined
on you all to prevent, above all guarding against being the first
to commit an act of hostility or enmity, but using force only in
resisting force and seeing that you are all always on your guard
and in an attitude of defence, so as not to be overcome by a sur-
prise attack. You must remember that the Indians, especially the
Malays and Javanese, are treacherous and hare-brained people
who are ver}^ ready to play the desperado.
In order to prove to each and all that you have come there,
not as enemies but as friends, solely to uphold iVIaIacca's ancient
jurisdiction and right together with the privilege as to the tin trade
in Oedjang Salang and Bangarij acquired by the contracts cited
above, you will have a written deciaration thereof given to you,
which we have had translated into Malay and have had six copies
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
172 Report of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca
made of it, whidi you will causc all and sundry to lead and
handle, cspecially the inhabitants of tfie country and the TanaSr
scrij traders. ■ •. . ^
Two interpreters, Philippe de Costa and Bartholomeus ac-
company you, wiio are well known in Oedjang Salang and Ban~
garij and are expert in the Siamese, Malay and Moorjsh iangu-
ages; you can employ tliem where the service of the Monourabie
■Company demnnds and iieep thcni lo their duty.
(319) You must take constant and good carc of the barrels
wiiich becoine empty, stj I hat (Jicy mny not be neglecled nor broken
lo pieccs and used for other unnccessary purposes, but kept intact
and preserved to be sent to us at the proper time. You muät allow
no infringtment of tliis order, for othervvise we should by reason
thereof be likely to fall into difTicultics in revictualling you.
The command of the yachts and sloops mentioned above and
of tiie men on board them is given to the skipper Cerrit Pietersz.
van Wcsei (as stated at the beginning), the foilowing being at
present joined with him as council:
Steven Ciaarbout, skipper on the frigate Malacca,
Cornelis Braats, bookkceper on De Siokvis,
Pieter Smitsen, booklteeper on aforsaid frigate,
Vi/hich persons shall on all occasions be called togetlier by said
skipper, Gerrit Pietersz. and sucli resolutions shall be laken as they
shall deem to accord best with the interests of the ilonourable
Company and this our order, if a consultation has to be held on
matters of justice and right, mates also shall be called into council
and such others as the general order mentions, accordmg to the
contents of which you shall regulate your action in delivering
judgments and imposing penalties on the delinquents and cri-
minals and in executing the senlence, with the exception of such
crimes as ouglit to be punished with death, which you must not
decide yonder, you must send all such criminals under arrest to us.
Further, keep always good order among the men and take
■care of the provisions, so that they may duly last out. Relying
upon which we wish you all God's blessing and success in this
commission (320) laid upon and entrusted to you.
Malacca, 9th Aug. 1670.
The Honourable Company, as touched on above, allows none
of its subjects to trade to Andragierij, because it now has n factory
there with 26 servants under the command of the merchant and
Superintendent, Adriaan van der Walle, also named above. They
trade there mostly in Cormandel and a Uttle in Surat piece goods,
the kind of goods in demand being now solely Guinea cloth and
blue and white beteelas, which do not yield a smaller profit on
the average than M% f?"75%l, if gold is reckoned us \9 r«. the
theijl or 1 ffr''. in weight, and pepper at 16 r". the bhaer of 488
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Repoit of Goveriior BalUuisar Bort on Malacca 173
!bs., as is now done in cxchange for picce goods, exciiiuige being in
fact the only mctliod in usc owiiig to Ihc fact ihat thcre is littie
or no circulation of moncy yonder, although the I lonourable Com-
pany is in Ihc iiabit of sending iOOO r". of eight in specie ihither
every year for the payment of dutics and damages (giiastos).
Formerly goltl was not subjcct to ducs, hut later it was agreed to
give one r*^. from each theijl in weight. This regulation is still
in forcc. Siniilariy two r". for one bhacr of pcppcr; these terms
apply lo the Monourable Company on!y, bat tlic trade in gold it
has in comnion with oEhcrs, though it is of most iniportancc to
it; so much liie n^orc bccausc a higher price is paid yonder for
pepper than here or in Batavia and spice is not mnch grown there,
so that orders havc constantly becn given for the purciiase of gold
ratlier than peppcr. l^omierly trade in piece goods to the amount
■of about 100,000 guikiers (een tonne gouts) was done each year
but the people of Andragierij cannot fLM'nish us with any trade
when the Manicabers of the hills do not come down with their
gold and (321) pepper. They sometimes fal! out wilh the hill-
men and then the trade comes to a standstill, as happened, the
year before last, when the Manicaber King of Quantam made open
war on Andragierij and tried to make himself master of it, but
failed so that he had to fiee. On his return to his own country,
he sued for peace and, as we understand, obtained it, whereby
trade was once niore set going to soine extent. Al! the Andragierij
gold and also all bought here may certainly be sent to Batavia,
if it can get there by about the middle of July, so as to be sent to
Corniandei witli the last convoy to Cormandel, which goes then.
Otherwise it must be kept until the end of the year, when a dis-
patch is made to Coimandel from iiere, to be tal<en thither with
the Japanese gold. The office at Andragierij has been under the
contiol of Malacca since the year 1667 and the Honourable Com-
pany has the following contract with the Icing there.
[n tiie name of GcJ amen, this document is confirmed and
made from sincere friendsiiip by the, Sultan Agamath Sach
Nasrodin, bardaulath in the town of Andragierij throngh the
commissioners of the two brothers (Jang de Pertuang), Orang
caija Laxamana, Orang caija Siamer Wangsa, Orang caija
Paducca Sirij Deuwa, and Radja Deuwa of the one part and
the Dutch with the commissioners and ambassadör from the
Governor General, Joan JVlaatsuijker in Batavia, Jan van
Weesenhage of the other' part.
(322) \. That the Dutch in Andragierij shall live under
the oversight and protection of the two brothers Jang de Pertuang
and shall be protected against all annoyance from tliose who might
cause them any annoyance or harm.
2. Fir.st of all it is decreed that the Dutch in Andragierij
shall be allowed to trade with ali who are disposed thereto both
great and small.
19271 Royal Asiatic Society.
174 Report of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca
3. It is decreed that if anyoiie wishes to buy piece goods, no
matter who he may be, great or small, lie shall be bouiid to pay a
suflicient price for them and according to the märket vvithout
rnaking -^ny trouble for the Dutch tiiereover.
4. Moreover that the Dutch shall not be compelled to give
credit to any except of their own free will withoiit any trouble
being made for them thereover.
5. It is ålso decreed that all the pepper in AndragierJj may
be bought by the Dutch and no others whether Engilsh, to whom
not one grain of it shall be given or sold by Jang de Pertuang the
two brothers or other merchants than to the Dutch aforesaid, but
if nny wish to biiy AndragierJj pepper, thcy shall be obliged to
take it to Batavla or Malacca: the Dutch must not oppose this,
but in such a case peppcr, to the amount of 10 to 12 picols to a
vessel shall be taken out of the ships by the merchant of the
factory to be paid for at Batavla or Malacca according to the
märket price of Andraglerij. And, if the remaining pepper is not
taken to Batavla or Malacca, the amount wlthheld shall be for-
feited or, should ihe vessel be wrccked, thcn såld pepper shall be
either rcslored or paid for, I lowever, if anyone (323) atlempts to
buy his pepper in some other way wjthout the knowlcdge of the
shahbandar, and the Dutch know of it, they shall make it known
to the two brotiiers Jang de Pertuang, when said pepper shall be
forfeited.
6. It is also decreed that if any Dutch, Chinese, blacks or
slaves take refuge with the two brothers Jang de Pertuang or with
any other great men, either by reason of debt or of some misdeed,
such persons shall be restored to the Dutch by the two brothers
Jang de Pertuang and, if any subjects of Andraglerij take refuge^
with the Dutch, the Dutch shall in like manner restore them to
Jang de Pertuang the two brothers.
7. Above all if any slaves of the Dutch run away, the person
who brings them back again shall be given 2}^ maas; if the slave
is possessed of any property amounting to 1 teijl or 16 maas, it
shall be forfeited, but anything he may have above 16 maas shall
be restored to the Dutch. In like manner runaway slaves of
Andragierij who have been acquired by the Dutch shall be paid
for but this applles to runaways from Batavla or Malacca who
arrive here from those places, but not to those who are caught
on the way from Batavla or Malacca to Andragierij; these are
to be the property of the captor whether Dutch or of. Andraglerij
and forfeit to him.
8. Moreover all subjects under the rule of the Honourable
Company who may come to Andragierij shall be under the juris-
diction of the superintendent (opperhooft) and of no other, but if
they do not obey the superintendent and he makes complaint lo
Jang de Pertuang the two brothers, he shall be assisted by them.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 175
9. Moreover, if the Dutch wish to dwell liere in Andragierij
permanently, Jang de Pertuang the two brothers, (324) shall give
them a license for the construction of warehouses and dwellings
built of wood and roofed witli tiles and surrounded with a baniboo
pagger ffence] and grant them a suitable site for this purpose,
■close to the river and far away from other houses because the
Dutch are afraid of (ire.
10. A4oreover, the two brothers Jang de Pertuang undertake
to appoint an honourable and suitable person to receivc the gold,
who shali have as pay from the Honourable Company one bouson
'or ^ of a maas for each teijl and jie shall be surety for the
quality of the gokf and, if it is discovcred that it is alloyed or
dcbascd wi(h coppcr or icad, said rccciver shall nol only be
punished with death hut in addition all his property shall be con-
fiscated and handcd över lo the Honourable Company.
1 i. Morcover if ihe Dulcli ovcrpower or dcstroy any vessels
bclonging lo Andragierij and murder the crew and seize their
■goods, the Governor General shall do justice therefor, even to the
death penaity, if the crew is killed, and have restitution made of
the property, that is missing, from the ship that has been guilty of
-the crime. The people of Andragierij shall do in like manner.
12. Moreover if Jang de Pertuang Ihe two brothers desire to
send any vessel to Siarn, Cambodia, Pattanij or Borneo. the Super-
intendent of the factory shall grant them a pass therefor, but if
they wisJi to proceed further, they shall get a pass from Batavia or
Malacca.
13. A-loreover if the Dutch do amiss by assaulting any
women and they give the alarm and the husband, father or
brother discovers them making any such attempt, in such case,
the offender may be killed by any one of these and he shall not
be tried for it, much less if the offender was caught in the act and
so struck down ; but, if the woman is spared, she shall be executed
by the verdict of Jang de Pertuang the two brothers as this is the
custom of Andragierij.
(325) 14. Further if any women by day or by night'either
nobles, persons of state, free or slaves seek out the Dutch and are
caught in the factory, no punishment "shall be inflicted but the
factory shall be wholly free therefrom.
!5. Moreover if any slaves belonging to Andragierij run
away from their masters and take refuge in the factory and their
masters when making enquiry of the Dutch about them are put
■off by denial, if they afterwards are discovered there, the person
detaining said slave, male or female, shall be made to pay double
price for his person provided that the slave shall tlien remain
with the man paying the price; but, if not, if the slave was bought
for 2 taijl, he can be paid for with the like sum, which is the law
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
176 Report of Govemor B^illhasar Bort on Malacca
of thc two brothers Jang de Pertuang. In like maniier the people
of Andragierij shall be bound to pay to llie Dutch.
16. Moreover if a yacht comes into the river here, it shall
pay 500 reals on its cargo for dues and 5 teijl or 80 re^. for rouba
rouba and ounis ounissan, that is one piece of each kind of cloth;
and on a ship 1000 r^ [in dues], 10 teijl or 160 r". for rouba rouba
and ounis ounissan and similarly, one piece of each kind, and
those payments shall reiease the Dutch from all other dues and
this shaJi be paid when the ship or yacht is fully laden, but, if it
lias not a full cargo, an agreement must be conie lo as to payments
by Jang de Pertuang the two brolhers and the merchant and
assistant of the faclory.
17. Further all small matters and questions stated in this
docunicnt shall be setticti by Jang de Pertuang tlie (wo brothers
and ihe nicrchanl and as.sislanL of llie faclory aiui, if tiicy are
seltlcd by inoney payments, they sliall (326) be execuled by Jang
de Pertuang the two brothers and ihe merchant and assistant of
the faclory. But other punishments, as putting in irons or in the
stocks or in chains Ihc two brothers Jang de Pcituang shall hand
ovcr lo the merchant and assistant of the factory for execulion
the re.
Made in the counlry Andragierij the 27th October 1664
(having on the vacant space at the foot) tiie seal of the king
in black, and below, the signalure Jan van Weesenhage and
in the margin in red sealing wax the seal of said Wesscnhage
in place-of the Company's seal.
The people of Joiiore claim that the Honourable Company is
greatly indebted to them on the ground of their having to some
extent helped in the conquest of iVlalacca, wherefore they occa-
sionally bear themselves very proudly and imagine that no demand
of theirs ought to be refused, however, so as not to get involved
with them in any disagreement or estrangement, we have induiged
them as far as has been possible or expedient, especially in ex-
empting the vessels of the king and nobles from dues when they
come to this place to trade or pass on tiieir vvay elsewhere. How-
ever their greed has carried them so far that they venlured lo
declare that the vessels and goods of the Moors and others irad-
ing in Malacca and Johor were their property, in relurn for a
present which they received from the same people. Hiis we
resisted (when we became aware of it) by making them pay
Ma!acca's dues (327) and we consider that it is necessary for you
to pursue the saine course, so that the same may not, by being
once ailowed, become a custom and an ordinary practice.
Johor as previously indicated, was destroyed by the Jambi-
nese in 1673 and the king with all his subjects went to settle in
Pahang, a place belonging to his kingdom situated on the
mainland 36 miies to the north of ihe Straits of Singapore.
There he died at a great age without leaving children and his
Journal Malayan Branch \Vo\. V.
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 177
cousin succeeded him in the same place. He is said to be busy
getting Johor once more inhabited and even to fix upon it as Iiis
capital. This new king has announced tlie death of the otiier in a
letter, wiiich tlie laxamana (living on the isiänd Bintang which
is well populated) has aiso done; he is an oid man of great
authority. We answered both these letters on the 9th of Febru-
ary last and have promised at a convenient time, to send a person
of quajity to the king lo congratulate him personally and to renew
and confirm the aiiiance, peace and friendship aJways maintained
betwcen Johor and Malacca. This has up to the present been put
off, but must novv be carried out by your Honour at the first
favourabie opporlunity and at the same time bis Majesty must be
infornicd of my dcparturc to Batavia and of your Honour's arrivai
as Governor here. Tliisshould be y/ritten also, when opportunity
ofTers, to all neighlwuring kings and princcs cspccially those of
Pera and Andragicrij.
No writien treatics made with Johor since the cönquest of
Malacca are found in the sccvetariat here, there is only a con-
tract as lo the escape of slaves of cithcr party, who must be
rcicascd (328) provided ihat payment is made of half their value
calculated at 20 re"., wh'ch is seldom done. The enmity between
Johor and Jambij still goes on; it arose in the first place from a
broken marriage between the young king of Johor and the
daughter of Ihe king of Jambij. On this account Johor still
kceps many wnrships in readiness, on the designs of whicli a close
vvatch must be kept, so as not to be surprised by them here, for
the Johorites are not well disposed to Malacca and must rather
be regarded as faise friends. Mowever, all enmity must be
avoided, as far as possibie. especiaily now we are at war with the
Manicabers, so as to give them no cause for going to the assistance
of these lattcr.
Bcncalis which is, as before mentioned, a dependency of
Johor, lies on an island about a miie from Sumatra and is a mere
fishing village. The pcople there have a shahbandar as chief över
them who looks after thé alTairs of the king of Johor. Although
it is only a fishing village, it is much frequented by Malays, Java-
nese and Moors wlio foregather there for trading purposes from
the Javanese coast, Palimbans, Jambij, Andragierij, Aatchin,
Queda, Pera, Caiang, Johor, Pahang, Pattanij, Cambodia, Coet-
chin China. The Manicabers who live in Sumatra also appear
there in large numbers, and get a great deai of salt and rice, and
also fish which is caught there mostiy at certain times of the year
by the Saletters, a Malay tribe of very uncivilised people, wha
live with their wives and children in their vessels among the
islands roving hither and thither. This fish, as well as its fine
roe. is dried and salted and the natives are very keen after it.
(329) The roe is used by us and the Portuguese as a good side
dish, for instance with wild boar. They are caught and salted
down by these same Saletters at special times when they are in the
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
178 Report of Governor Balthusar Bort, on Mal acca
water in large numbers and are swimming from one island 10
anothcr, grcally to the convenience of the Christian inhabitants
here, who buy the fish there at a low price and bring it liere, as
also said boars' fat {bet smeer van do' verkens), not only för
iheir own use biit also to sell again here. Oiir garrison here spends
money on it, so as to get food cheap, which we also were recently
conipelied to do for the I lonourable Company, because there was no
meat or bacon here and issued it for the victualling of the shipS;
Eacli Sianiese pot, holding on an average 30 ibs., costs I rd"". in
addition to the pot and the salt furnished by the Company itself;
lliis salt pork kceps for about six months. This great traffic and,
trade at Bcncalis plainiy prospcrcd at the expenso and tothe
injury of IVlalacca, so I made piovi.sion against it during my
governorship by introducing the oid customary right of this
Reformed lown and fort not allowing any vesscis to harbour
there nnless provided with the Company's passcs, 'Ihose actualiy
belonging to men of Johor and voyaging only to Bcncalis are al-
lowed there without passes, as also the Manicabers who Ii ve in
Sumatra and come from the rivers Siaka, Campar and Raccan,
except those laden with tin. It would be inconvenient for these
situated so close to Bencalis, if they did not wish to go further
than that place, to come here first to fetch a pass; but all vessels
■of any importance making for Bencalis from other places, evenj
if provided with Company's passcs, must first come to Malacca^
and pay their dues there, and then permission is given them to'
voyage thither. In order to carry this out, we have kept sloops
cruising to the south and north of Bencalis to cut ships off from;
approach thither and to bring them here. By this means the,
extraordinarily great traffic to that fishing village has been greatly;
reduced and Malacca's revenue much increaseti. This practice
must be continued. provided the roadstead and river of Bencalis
are left inviolate by the seizure of (330) yessels that have escapedi
our cruisers. .;
Moar and Rio Formosa, both having convenient rivers, the;
former 6 and the latter 11 miles to the south of Malacca and, as
mentioned above, also subject to Johor, are fertile lands whence
our inhabitants derive great advantage in supplies of paddy, rice,
small cattie [pigs and goats] and fruit, daily voyages there and
back being made on both sides. Since the Jambinese overthrew
Johor by surprise and the king after his flight became apprehen-
sive about these possessions of his, he placed them under the pro.
tection of Malacca and their Honours in Batatvia have granted
our request to be allowed to take them över and', if the Jambinese
are disposed to hostilities yonder, to keep them away by force,
if friendly means do not avail. But hitherto they have not come
in any strength and have been there with only a few vessels and
although they had formerly done some pillaging at the moiith of
the river and on the shore, they forthwith went off again to avoid
being caught by our forces.
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor Baltliasar Bort on Malacca 179"
Dillij, Tanjong, Raccan and Pannaeij situated on the East
coast of Sumatra are also places from which Malaccaderives-
advantage tlirougli the import of rice, paddy and wax. They are
constantly in nced of salt, which the Javancse who come therewith'
from their own country to Maiacca, supply to tliem in sufficient
quantity and if they demand lo go thither have passes granted lo-
■them. When they have done their business there, they return
here and then go back to Java.
Tliese same Javancse voyage also with passes from us to Pera,
Öedjang Salang and Bangarij, whithcr they also take salt, sugar,,
onions, lecks and various small wares [pcdlar's warcs], which
they barler for tin to be dcHvercd to the Honourable Company
for 40 re^ the bhacr, as is done at Pera out of respect for our
blockade tiiere, but not at Ooedjang Salang and Bangarij afore-
said, whence they sometimes go to Aatchin and Tanassirij with
their tin inslead of coming here. There they se!! it to the Moors
and are paid b}' them in piece goods, wherewith they betake them-
selves to their own country going by way of the West of Sumatra
through the Sunda Straits so as to avoid Maiacca from fear of
being overtaken by. our cruisers and fined for not carrying out the
conditions of their passes. In order to prevent such action we-
have enjoined them to deposit in the hands of the shahbandar
before their departure to those places, some money, viz. 40-50 re^,
which is restored to them on their return, but if they do not return,
is forfeited to the Company. This practice must be continued,
since the Javanese are suitabie persons to collect (331) that
mineral in the tin districts where they traverse the whole country
with their wares like a pedlar with his pack.
In order to prevent ships and vessels from passing Maiacca
without first calling there and paying the customary dues, the
Straits must be constantly occupied and patrolled by yachts and
sioops, the number of which and of those for use before Pera and
Queda together with those sent to Andragierij and Siarn, Gor-
mande! and Bengale has been taken by us in 1675 at, in sum, 4
yachts, 7 sioops and 4 rowing boats manned by 295 men in all.
The following plan was sent to their Honours in Batavia which
should still be persisted in so much the more as the closing of the
river Panagie has since then been undertaken by reason of the war
with the Manicabers.
Plan of the yachts and sioops with their size and ratings
which in times of peace are needed and should be maintained
in the straits of Maiacca and in the blockade of Pera and
Queda on the lowest and most economical footing possible, to
wit: —
In order lo maintain a constant patrol to the South and
North of Maiacca, on the coast of Sumatra and round about
Bencalis and elsewhere on the look out for foreign vessels, so that
they do not pass Maiacca without having first touched there and*
paid the customary dues:
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
ISO Report of Governor BaJthasarBort bn Malacca
4 sloops of 6-12 tons and 4 rowing böats manned in ali by-
50 mem?
For patroiling during tlie Southern monsoon in the monthsof.
May, June and July on ihe look ont for Portuguese ships, as Hable
also lo Malacca's tolls, coming from Goa, Gormande! and Bencalé
and on tlieir way lo Maccanw and Manilla, as also, during tlie;
northern monsoon, for patroiling on Ihe look out for Portuguese
ships going from those places and Siarn lo Goa, Cormandel and:
Bencalc and to many ollier places on llic coasl during the months-
■of November, December and January:
2 yachts fully armed, one of I2(M30 (332) and Ihc other of
■60-70 tons, tlie two manned by 120 men.
These yachts should also be dispatched oncc a year before the
■end of tiie northern monsoon to Cormandel and to Bencale to help
in Ihe transport of those places of the cargoes from Japan, and the
tin and pepper from here and also to bring back to Malacca
thencc at the due time, viz. in the month of May, the merchandise
and neccssaries which we requisition yearly thence.
'I he same can also serve to take the necessary cargoes to the
faclory at Andragierij and to bring back pepper and gold thence.
If need arises, thcy could also be employed lo go to Batavia and
also for fetching firewood and coral rock to set up limekilns of
which we are in constant nced here.
To keep up a continiious blockade before Pera, as is necessary
in order to prevent the export of tin to places other than Malacca
and lo secure trade in it there for ourselves:
I armed yacht of 50-60 tons and 2 sloops, for the manning of
which and for the protection of the Company's residence on the
isiand of Dingding situated before Pera there would be needed
60 men.
To maintain a blockade before Queda for keeping away from
that place Moorish ships unprovided with the Company's passes.
and, if they, as also the Portuguese, do come there, to make them
pay Malacca's dues:
I armed yacht of 70-80 tons and a sloop provided with
65 men.
The same must be sent thither twice every year, viz. in the
Southern and northern monsoons. tiach time on their return they
can be employed with the others in the Straits.
The orders maintained at the present time in the Straits and
along the southern and northern shore and now also given to the
blockading force before the river Panagie are shown in the fol-
lowing:
(333) Order for our cruisers in the Straits between Cabo
Rochado and the Islands of Maria and Pittij, together with the
;passage to Rio Galere of Bencalis.
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca ISf
For Ihe mainlcnance of Malacca's rights, which are necessary
and have alvvays becn in force, the Straits here are patrolled and
blockadeti, both in ihe soutiiern and northern monsoons in order
that all siiips and vessels desiring to travcrse the same may not'
pass by withoLit first touching there and paying the usual dues to
provide for the great expenses which the Ilonourable Company
incurs by kceping these Straits safe. Ilowcver, the Ilonourable
Company is sonictimcs nol provided with the numbcr of ships,
yachts and vcsseis reqiiircd thcrefor, wherefore the patrol lias becn
siibject lomany cliangcs with regard bolh to the ships and to the
'persons cmployed Ihcreon and in conscquence we Iiave frequently
;been obliged to make use of the means (however small they might
be) at our disposal, so as not to let aforesaid patrol fall into
^disuse, but as far as possible to keep it up, whereto then it: is
necessary that the commanders cmployed on the same shouid
know what regulations to follow, therefore this our order given
belov/ shall serve thereto till further orders.
Firstly this patrol, consisting of 1 yacht and 3 sloops must be
constantl}' mainUiined in the Straits (the same shall be duly block-
aded), espccially lov/ards the time of the change of the monsoon,
ie. the months of April and October. The yacht shall be sta-
tioned at sea crnising to and fro between Cabo Rochado and the
islands of Pittij but staying niostly at Poelo Pittij, because vessels
which have no passes, frequently try to get through close under
that island. The first sloop shall sojourn within the straits of Rio
Galere, the second inside the Cape of Tandjong Jahatij which is
the passage to Bencalis and the third vvithin and to the north of
the Johor passage, so called because the Johor vessels pass that
way in great numbers, between the islands Tandjong Pantjor and
Tandjong Parpar Serattas. Through this channel and the
Brouwer strait there is much traffic to Bencalis.
You must allow no native vessels, even those coming with
passes from Batavia, to pass. uniess they show you that they have
.touched here at Malacca. In the case of those aileging that they
intend to proceed hither, if they are vessels of importance, es-
pecialiy Javanese or Aatchinese ships, you shall convey them as
far as the roadstead; but in the case of those that have already
passed by Malacca, whether they hoid a pass from Batavia or
the Company's residents in Japara, Palimbang, Jambij, Andra-
gierij. Slam and Cambodia or not, you shall bring them up under
arrest to be dealt with here according to their deserts. In the
seizure and conveying of ali such and other vessels, you shall take
on board your own ship the nachoda or two others of the chief
men taking care not to endanger the lives of any of our people in
any Javanese, Malay or other ships, so that they may not be
murdered by those reckless and proud people, as has happened in
the past.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
182 Report of Govemor BaJthasar Bort on Malacca
(334) The only vessels that may sail by Malacca, even if
they cannot show any passes, are Ihose of Johor voyaging to.-
Bencalfs, Siaca, Camphar and Raccan, since these are dependencies ,
>of that kingdom, but you must admonish them earnestly to pro-
vide themselves therewith in Malacca in future.
The roadstead of Bencalis shall be left inviolate and no vessels
in it shall be attacked much less carried ofT by you, but the sloops !
may occasionally run in there to see and ascertain what vessels are
lying there, but they must not board them for examination.
The Saletters or pirates who are always in this channel, of
whom those from Queda are by no means the fewest in number;
you shall, when you fall in with them, if you are certain they are
pirales, take care to master and then bring liilher. If vessels
belonging to our inhabitants with cargo of importance on board
beg for convoy hither from you from fear of attack by the
Saletters, you shall grant their request and give the escort, but,
when you come within sight of the roadstead, you must repair once
more to your appointed place of patrol.
The captains or commanders of Portuguese and Moorish
■ships. yachts or vessels fallen in with by you must (as our good
friends at the present time) be warned very courteously not to pass
Malacca without calling there, and, in order to prevent this the
yacht or patrol at Cabo Rochado shall sail with them to the road-
stead, or, if they have already passed by Malacca, shall compel
them to turn back thither (if it is more powerful and the master'
-of them) .
The English, who are fallen in with, must be spöken and asked
■quite amicably the name of their captain and of the ship, whence
they come and whilher they are going, as also their cargo and its
amount; and further must, by fair words, be persuaded to come to
the roadstead here, assurance being given them of a good recep-
tion, honour and friendship. An attempt must be made to dis-
suade them from passing by Malacca, but, if they will not listen
and so do not toucji here, but insist on pursuing their voyage with-
•out turning aside, you shall allow them to do so without hindrance
and shall merely accompany them as far as across the roadstead
and then leave them, when you shall land and report your meeting
with them to us.
You are to remain on your appointed stations as long as your
supplies last, because we can always summon you by one ship or
another, if your earlier return hither is necessary.
When the time its provisions will last is neari}' up, the yacht
shall load up the empty space with firewood got at Cabo Rochado
or Poelo Pittij and bring the same to us here.
The commanders shall keep good order among their men and
not aiiow them to treat the natives on the vessels met with and
other people with discourlesy, much less to damage their property,
Journal A4alayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Reporl: of Govornor Balthasur Bort on Miilacca 183'
ailowing eacli and all who prove that they ha ve touched herc lo go,
their way undislurbed.
The puople of Maccassar have braken the peace vvith the-
Honourable Company, therefore you must attack at sight (335)'
all vessels manned by such or belonging to that place, if you see>
you have a good chance against them. If you prevail, you must
bring them here under arrest wilh their cargo unlouched, to be
duiy dealt with here.
So that no vessei of any importance nor any men of Macassar
get past 3''ou without having first come on board your ship and
proved that they are our fricnds and have touched here, you shall'
have all vessels you fall in with spöken and if any, whether*
Malays, Javanese or our own inhabitants, tr>' to pass you without
speaking or hailing you, you shall have one or two blank shots
fired över the vessei as a signal to come to you. if it does not heed
nor come to anchor, you are authorized to fire on i^^-with live shot*
and so compeJ it thereto, especially if you perceivé that they are
large vessels.
As concerns smali vessels, which are open and undecked, or
praos, you may let them pass unmolested without forcing them to-
come lo you.
The men, whether one, two or three in number. whom you
remove from the ships for security to the yacht, or still more to-
ihe sloops, to bring hither together with their vessels, you must,
have well guarded; not even the smallest chance must be given,
them of doing 3'ou harm or taking advantage of you ; for those
people are wholly untrustworthy and make nothing of killing our
men, if they see any opportunity of doing it; as was proved to our
regret, when a Alalay, taken recently from a vessei into De Pot-
fisch killed one and seriously wounded two of our men and thern
sprang overboard, loosened the keel of said sloop and got away
with it, thereby escaping with his vessei laden with tin, to the dis-
grace of our men and the disrepute of the Honourable Company;
wherefore in future better care must be taken. Relying there-
upon we commend you to God's holy care.
Malacca, the 21st Nov. 1668. Subscribed: your friends (signed)
Balthazar Bort, Johannes Massis, Hadriaan Schimmel-
penning van der Oij, .A.braham den Bak, Adrian
Lucasz., Nicolaas Muller and Jan Joosten Bal.
Order for our patrol along the south and north coast of
Malacca from Cassang to Cabo fiochado, whereby they must
regulate their action.
Whereas we find that the channel here is becoming more and
more the haunt of rascals and thieves who, when they meet those
who are too strong for them, represent themselves, under one false
pretence or another, as honest folk, but, for all that, when they
have the chance either on (336) land in the orchards or at sea by
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
184 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
night and in the dark, not onJy thievishly rob our inhabitants ofr
their property, but also (which is still worse) villainously murder;
them and so deprive them with their worldly goods of their pre-
cious lives to the great grief of their wives and chiidren, wliom:;
they often have here, as has occurred several times in the past,^
and again not long ago at Boacras (situated about three miles tÖJ^
the soLith from here). Now recently on the 23rd August it haS'
happened again that one of our fishermen's praos was attacked^
ciose by here by wicked men of this kind without any reason hyl
a fraudulent trick and two men in the prao were so badiy hurt that"
one died of his wounds a few hours låter; therefore, being sensible;
of this injury done to our inhabitants, as a protection for them^
and all other people constantly yoyaging to and fro here for their^
business and trade or othei^wise in the pursuit of their calling;.
and [Q clear these Straits, as far as possible, of such rascals, who;
olherwise (witliout such provision being made) would make it'
very unsafc, we have decided lo have always patrollcd by one or,
two sloops, according lo circumstances, the Straits about and along;
the shore appertaining to the territory of Malacca, that is (accord--
ing lo its exlent and as it is reckoned) southwards to Cassang and
northwards to Cabo Rochado. So that said palrol may know. on-
what rules to act and what it has to do, the foliowing artides shail
serve therelo as an order.
Pirstly, said sloop or sloops shall constantly cruise up and
dov/n between said Cassang and Cabo Rochado and always keep
round about and close lo the shore or where the praos of our in-;
habitants mostly lie or other vessels pass, that is, if the sloop or-
sloops can be kept there without great risk when strong winds are
blowing from Sumatra or elsewhere.
All passing praos and vessels, whether they belong to our in-
habitants or to strangers, must be hailed in all friendiiness and the
character of the same inspected. The people here round about
and near or coming from any other places and having cargo on
board with which they wish to sail here, must not be detained,
much less rudely treated, but only admonished with fair words to
pursue their voyage hither without deviating from their course.;
If said patrolling vessels are rendered suspicious in the case of any
such persons by their speech or otherwise that they might perhaps
in the end choose another harbour than this, then such vessel or
prao, whether one or more, shall be convoyed to this roadstead. ,
All Malay, Javanese and other like vessels appearing to come
from Malacca and to wish to go to other parts, if they are not
provided with passes from us, must be stopped and brought hither
in the most convenient way. (337) If, however, they produce
passes, they snall then be allowed to go their way unmolested.
But the Moors, Malays and other such peoples, whether in-
habitants of Malacca or strangers, who hereabouts and thereabouts
fetch wood, stone or other necessaries with their praos or vessels,
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca IS5
are, on each occasion, provided by the saabandar here with a
permit for that purpose and, on their producing it, when met
■with, they must be allowed to go on with their work in peace.
Any not provided with such a permit shall be arrested with their
praos or vessels and brought hither, without injury however to
their persons or goods. The hlsck inhabitants here, as others of
the Portuguese race, when they sail out to sea to visit their plan-
tations or for other purposes are also given a certificate by the
shabandar valid for a whole month, but no longer, which said
patrol must demand from them and examine and, if any are not
provided with one or if it is more than a month oid, such persons
must be warned, llie former that they must in future provide them-
selvcs with one, and tiie iatter that tliey must fetcli a new one and
see to getting it or else that in future they will be arrested and
complaint riiade lo us.
Our said patrol shall allow our (ishemien wel! known by ihcir
praos and fishing tackle lo go ihcir way and shall give Ihem help
wiien needcd.
All praos and vesscis whlch are mannwl by Salctters, Malays,
Javancse, Manicabers or other such people and are met with by
any Islands or channels, creeks, rivers or streams (sprmjten) with-
out a pass and provided oniy with arms, but without goods or
cargo, shall be brought hither under arrest, but without any harm
being done to the persons or property of the people in them, for
those rascals, of whom previous mention has been made, almost
always voyage thus on the look out for an opportunity of practis-
ing their knaveries. If such suspects are unwiliing to come hither
and take to flight (as they commonly do), they must be pursued
and an attempt must be made, at first by firing över their vessel,
toforce them to return, but, if they pay no heed, and do not turn
tack, then they may be fired at with live shot until they come to
our sloop or sloops and surrender, for the very fact of flight then
makes them suspect. They must then, as aforesaid, be brought
here.
Said patrol must also be careful that no persons on the pass-
ing praos or vessels with cargo on board provided with permits
suITer the smallest harm or loss at the hands of olir men, but are
always well and civilly treated. Those, however, who, in spite of
this, should be the first to commit an act of hostility, ought to have
no consideration, but must, in such case, be forcibly withstood.
(338) Everything stated above we recommend all those who
shall be employed in future on the patrol hereabouts and along the
shore to apprehend well and to have in due regard, so that no
abuses may be committed. The action to be taken in all other
matters can be further discovered in the orders given once for all
to the patrol on the east coast of Sumatra, with whicii each sloop is
provided, whereto further reference must therefore be made {daar
■ons dan wijders aan gedraagen),
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
]86 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort.on Malacca
Malacca, the l9th Sept. 1668. Your friends (signed) Balthazae;
Bort, Johannes Massis, Madriaan Schimmelpenning van der
Oij, Abraham den Bak, Adriaan Lucasz. and Jan
Jooslen Bal.
Order for those cinployed on the blockade of the enemy
Manicaber river, Paniiagie, ia. ihe conim.inders of the yacht.
Diamant and the sloop Onrust, \:
'I lie oniy ihunage we Iiave hitherto been abie and still are able
to inflicl on oiir enemios, the IVIanicabers of Nanning and Rom-
bouw and also of Songoedjong and neighbouring piaces has beea
the blockade of the river Pannagie about four iniles from here^
vvliich must be kepl up, since they would otherwise, if it were
left open, be abIe to secure Uie importalion of provisions by it,
from all of which we must cut them o(T, so as, ifpossiblc, to-
rcdiice them to wunl, faniine and distress, until wc shall be abIe
to fall upon them wilh armed forces and destroy them root and
branch. Wherefore you must always stay in the said river, al-,
lowing no vessels to pass in or OLit by the barricade of palisades.
we have already had made about two miles from the moulh of
said river. All vessels you can capture, you shall treat as enemy
vessels (except those belonging to our inhabitants who are busy
ihere fetching wood from the jungie and doing other duties, these
men you must prolect against our enemies), all such enemy vessels^
you have thus got into your power you shall send, with their
cargoes and crews under arrest to us. If, however, the crews are
too numerous for you to spare the lives of all except at risk tO-
your own, then so many of them may be dispatched and killed
as shall be necessary.
You must see to it that you are constantly on your guard and'
in an attitude of defence, always keeping all your guns, both large-
and small, and your muskets quite ready, so that, if you are your-
selves attacked by the enemy, you may be able not oniy to resist
but also to get the better of him, whereto you must show unflinch-
ing (339) courage and bravery, therehy gaining honour and pro-
moting 3^our advancement.
Nevertheiess you must not go past the said barricade nor land
to do damage to the enemy, uniess you have received beforehand
our express order, for the enemy might be too powerful for you
there.
If they come to you with a flag of truce, you shall confer with
them, and send them to us, but be very careful that they do not
deceive you under a show of friendship and play you some evil
trick, which they commonly do, if they see a chance and oppor-
tunity thereto.
When you are in need of provisions, let us know by the sloop,
we will then provide them. 7'he sloop must also be sent when you
have need lo send a letter to us.
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 187
Malacca, I4lh Feb. 1678 (Subscribed). Your good friends
(signed), Balthasar Bort, Adriaan Luca.sz., Govert du
Lavay, Cornelis Verburgh, Abraham Burgers and
Jacob Snickers.
The strait of Sincapura and thereabouts by ihe point of Bar-
baquet used formerly also to be patrolled by Company's ships
with the object of overpowering the junks and vessels of ihe
Koxinga Chinese [Cokcbinse Cbinesen], who are still our enemies,
:ion their passage to Johor and^ since, as before stated, the des-
troyed town of Johor has been again taken possession of and re-
peopled by the king, it might happen that these enemies of ours
might underlake the voyagc thither again, if your Monour be-
comes aware of this, then two or three light yachts must be sent in
the norlliern monsoon lo said Barbaquet, situated lo windward of
the river Johor, lo watch for and to seize the same. All other
junks from China, Japan and Maniihas must be kept away from
Johor and brought to Malacca to trade there and to deprive Johor
■of that tralTic.
Our instructions, given in 1667 for the patrol in those parts
run as follows: —
Instructions for the commanders of the ships and sloops
which are sent to the Strait of Sincapura to cruise there round
about tlie point of Barbaquet against the enemy Chinese
junks.
The junks and vessels manned by Koxinga Chinese [Cok-
cbinse Cbinesen] from Formosa, Taijoan, the cqast of China,
Ainam, Tonquin, Quinam, Cambodia, Siarn, Pattani, IVIanilla and
elsewhere not provided with passes and safe conducts from our
'Officers, (340) which you may meet and fall in with, you shall
regard as enemies and try to overpower either by arms or by any
■Other skilful means, in such wise as shall be best adapted to the
occasion, avoiding ail killing in cold blood, but, if they actively
resist, they must not be spared and no more must be ieft alive
after they are overpowered than you can master. You must pre-
vent all plundering so long as you have not got the enemy com-
pletely into your power and even then you must not allow the crew
to do more than common plundering of things sewn up {daer de
vaalt door gegaan is) ; you must prevent their opening any chests,
cases, canisters {canassers) and other closed artides, much less the
hold, in order to lay hands on the cargo. So as the better to
prevent this, immediately after the victory you shall nail up and
seal the hatches so that they may come here in that state, or else
at a convenient opportunitj' be opened yonder hy you and every-
thing duly inventoried and handed över on your return here.
But all junks and vessels belonging, not to the jurisdiction of
the Koxinga Chinese {Cokchinders), but of our friends the Tar-
tars, when you meet them whether you have passes or not, you
shall try to persuade amicably or by friendliness to come here,
1927] Roy al Asiatic Society.
.188 Report of Govcrnor BalthasarrBort on Malacca
and, if they agree, you slial] accompanj^ under pretext of escorting
them and see Ihein contcntedly depart from the coasl of Johor.
Wheii they are considerablc distance away, you shali adnionisli
Ihcin lo sail on to Maiacca, or even come with them yourself,
according to whal weather and circumstances make advisable and
you decide, lelling and assuring them first and all the time that
they will be ailowed good trade thcre and that favoiir will be
shown them. But, if they, notwithstanding, obstinately refuse to
go to Maiacca and fuliy intend to go to Johor, you shall not pre-
vent it by force and shall allow them to go their way without
doing the least harm to their persons or depriving them of their
goods, which you are carnestiy charged to prevcnt.
So as to be able to recognize and distinguish between thC'
Tartars and the Koxinga Chinese [Kokcbinse Cbinesen\, you will
have to mark this fact, viz. that the Chinese who have yielded
themselves lo the ruie of the Tartars, as a sign of this, wear their
hair shaved or cut short up lo the crown of the head, where the
whole of il is kept in a long plait or in an unplaited trees hanging.
down lo the back or fastened up in the Tartar fashion. Very
often they wear Tartar caps of plaited rush or straw adorned at
the lop with a tail of red horsehair or silk. (341) The Koxinga.
Chinese [Kokcbime Cbinesen] have thick, long hair fastened up'
al the back, but, to escape recognltion, they now sometimes show
themselves shorn Tartar fashion, but they do this only at the
mom.ent they catch s.ight of our ships. Of this we had an example-
in the Eijtan junks caiight by our patrol in the neighburhood of
said Barbaquet in 1662 and you must keep it in mJnd and take^
good heed so Ihat they do not deceive you.
Chinese who wear their hair long but live in Batavia, Ma-^,
lacca, Palembang and Jambij, Tonquin, Cambodia, Siarn and Pat-
tanij, if they can produce passes, when met with in iheir junks.
and vessels, you must aliow lo pass unmolesled whether they wish,
to go to Johor or Maiacca, bul, if they have no passes, you must
arrest them and send them hither, treating them, however, not as-
enemies bul as friends and taking good care that the people on'
board are not injured in their persons or deprived of Iheir pro-
perty. If they are on Iheir way here for trade, they also (like-
the Chinese under Tartar ruIe aforesaid) shall be ailowed to pro-
cQi^d and not be treated as enemies.
\'ou shall endeavour nierely lo speak all Javanese and Malay
vessels you see yonder and allow them then to proceed unmolested
and treat them as friends, whether provided with passes or not or
whether they wish to go to Johor or come from there.
Porluguese ships and vessels from Maccauw, Cambodia or
elsewhere appearing yonder on their way to Goa or other places,.
since we are at present at peace with that nation, you shall merely
admonish not to sail past Maiacca wilhout touching there to pay
the customary passage money. You are nol empowered lo aban-
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V^
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 1'8?
don your station in order to accompany them. Even if they are
deterinined lo go to Johor, you shall put no hindrance in their way,
but you may advise against it and in favour of sailing to Malacca
as a better trading place, where they will be weli treated and re-
ceivcd.
You shall be on guard against ihe English, with whom we are
now at war, as open enemies of our country and shall see to being:
always ready for battle, if you meet them ; if you see a chance of
beating them, try to do it. If, under God's blessing, you succeed,
you must allow no plundering, but must send the ship, crew and
goods under arrcst here to Malacca; if, however, they are (342)
loo strong for you, you must lake care to evatle Ihcm in the most
seemly way.
We are al present at war with the people of Macassar also,
and if you meet with any yontier, you shall lake care tooverpower
them too, but usc discretion and be on your guard against their
desperate amok attacks," so Ihat you may come to no harm either
beforc or after the caplure. According to report six Macassar
vessels are lying at Johor [up the river], wliere you must not
molest them, but, if they depart and you see them at your station
Barbaquet, you shall attack them as enemies, dealing with them if
defeated as prescribed above in Ihe case of other enemies.
A junk belonging to Slam made its appearance in the Johor
river on the lOth Dec. last; if you happen to meet with it on its
departure thence and it can produce a pass from our superintendent
in Siarn, and even if it has no pass, if it can prove to you con-
clusiveiy that it belongs to Siarn and is manned with Chinese
living there and with Siamese, you must allow it to pass im-
molested. But, if you find that it is a Koxinga (Coksins) inter-
loper, you shall bring it here under arrest.
It may happen that some of the people of Johor may come to.
you to ask questions and spy on you, in which case you are to tell
them quite frankly for what purpose you have been sent, but point
out that you leave the Johor river and harbour alone and do not
inlerfere there; for that reason you shall watch for and attack our
enemies the Koxinga Chinese (Cokcbinse Chinesen) at sea and
must treat them [the Johorites] in a friendly and courteous way.
They have at present many vessels fitted out for war and were
recently engaged in fighting with the Jambinese, with whom they
are al strife. If they come to urge you to join with them or lo give
them any assistance, you must courteously refuse, giving as your
excuse that you are not empowered thereto, have no orders and
miist not trouble yourself with their dispute either on one side or
the other, but must remain neutral. Nevertheless keep well on
your guard against them and give them no opportunlty of doing
you any harm, if they have any evil intentions. We are, however,
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
190 Report of Governor Baithasar^Bort on Malacca
unwilling to credit them with such, since they are the Company's
■old and faithful allies. You must therefore not be Ihe first tO
give oITence, biit must show them all friendship.
(343) During your sojourn before Barbaquet, you shall elit
against the time of your leaving that place as much timber and
<:rooked wood {crombout) as you can store of such kinds as the
■note given to you by our equipage master indicates, so as lo come
hither with your hold filled therewith.
For the purchase of provisions when you get the chance, we
give you 50 Spanish reals and 6 p**. of Guinea cloth, of which
you have to give good account on your return.
Ill conclusion we recommend you in all cases to deliberate
well and consult duJy wilh (he ofhers, joining with yourself for
this purpose such persons as the general orders indicale; to ad-
ministcr justice according to the contcnt of the same in all civij
cases; to keep good order among ihe men under your charge, tÖ
see that they have their ordinary ralions and lo prevent all excess»
in strong drink. On your return hcre you must make us a good
and honest report of everything.
The abovc givcs Ihe conlent of (he latcst in.structions given
on the 9th Jan. last to our paUol ships when departing for above
mentioned Barbaquet- There hus been very little change and
addition made up to the present and the commanders, viz. Dirk
Vandervel, the captain, and Jan de Looper, the bookkeeper, who
have now been sent thither with the yacht Alkmaer and the sloop
De Goede Hoop shall regulate their action by and adapt them-
selves completely to these instructions, following them all as
promptly as shall be in any way feasible and practicable.
Sailors Soldiers Guns
Alkmaer aforesaid has on board 22 7 12
De Goede Hoop „ „ 14 5 6
Together 36 12 18
They are both provisioned for tliree months. We reckon that
you will be able to hold out till the 30th April, hovvever you are
authorized to leave your station and come hither on the 15th of
that month.
You shall instruct the mate Sleven Claarboul, whom we iiave
appoinled as commander to the sloop De Goede Hoop to make
soundings in all directions of the reef which extends seawards from
(344) Barbaquet and to have the same marked on a large scale
chart with the neighbouring coastline, islands, rocks and so on, as
far as it may be possible to do so conveniently.
In conclusion we wish you success on this your voyage and a
safe passage there and back, (Subscribed) Your good friends
(Signed), Balthasar Bort, Joannes Massis, Hadriaan Schimmel-
Journal Malayan Braiwh [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 191'
penningh van der Oij, Abraham DenbaU, Adriaan Lucasz:,.
Nicolaas Muller and Jan Jooslen Bal. (In the margin)
Malacca, 2öth Jan. 1667.
I judge the previously specified naval force to be sufllcient
for the patrolling and blockading of the Straits here and also for
the necessary dispalches of ships for the furtherance of trade and
such purposes in a time of peace with the European nations, 'and,,
although the Malacca garrison is somewhat weak, it can make use
of this naval force in case of necessity, When, however, there is-
war with these peoples, we ought to have a somewhat more formid-
able force here in the Straits for both offensive and defensive-
piirposes.
At present our State is still at war with France, but the ship-
ping of that country coming to these lands is not so numerous as
to cause us alarm and thcy have never yet come into the Straits-
here. .'
We may hope to remain at peace with the EngUsh and Por-
tuguese, however, if we should go lo war widi them again, lliey
wouid not fail to navigate these Straits, if they realized that we
were not strong enough to do them harm, in which case a stronger
naval force must be maintained here.
A recueil of the proceedings of the Commission of our direc-
tors to England, containing the most Important of the transactions
in and during their mission in 1674 and 1675, I attach hereto for
yoiir Honour, to be read and preserved by you and handed över
to future governors, as enjoined by the order of their Honours in
Batavia issued to me in 1676. You will see from this document
that the said commissioners could not come to an agreement with
those of the English Company about the making of new trading
regulations in these Indies after much debating and disputing
(345) över the right to blockade and close certain places, also of
the private, exclusive and separate contracts as to the purchase of
all or certain sorts of wares produced by a country to the exclijsion
of other [nations].
They decided therefore not to make any commercial contract,
but that both Companies should continue their trade in peace and
quiet without doing eacli other any harm or injury or defrauding
each other of their rights or dues, both sides having to regulate
their action according to the marine treaty recently concluded by
his Majesty and the States General.
Regulations agreed to between the King of England,
Charles II, and the High and Mighty States General touching
the English and Dutch East India Companies.
Whereas by the ninth artide of the treaty concluded by the
most iliustrious and powerful Prince and Lord, Charles II, by the
grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland,
Defender of the Faith, and the High and Mighty States General
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
192 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
of the United Provinces of tlie Netlierlands at Westminster on the
ninth of February (old style) in the year of our Lord 1674 [Old
Styie 1673], it was agreed among other things that Commissioners
to be appointed by both parties sliould meet in this city of London
for the purpose of deliberating and agreeing upon artides to stånd
firm and endure for the satisfaction and security of the subjects of
both parties whereby a just and reasonabie regulation of the
trade in the East Indies might be established in which assembly
■of the Commissioners however nothing certain could be fixed and
determined but since it is unquestionable that it is in the highest
degree to the advantage both of public peace and of private (346)
interests that the closest friendship and the most eager desire tp
embrace each other with reciprocal goodwill siiould llourish be-
tween the Companies of English on 'he one side and Dutch on the
other trading in the East Indies it has this day been resolved and
agreed between us the Commissioners named below of His IVlajesty
aforesaid and of the said States General in virtue of the fiiil
powers conferred on us respectively thereto that b'>th the Com-
panies shall bear themselves peaceably and friendly towards each
other aiso that each shali further the honour and advantage of the
other and foster and preserve everywhere a faithful and friendly
neighbourliness according to the treaties between Mis Majesty
-aforesaid and the said States General already made or to be made
at any future time and that ilis Majesty of the one part and the
States Genera! of the other will enjoin this earnestly on each Com-
pany respectively and will strictly demand its observance from
each but should any dispute arise between above named Com-
panies (which it is hoped will not happen) or if any loss injury or
violence should be inflicted or should be alleged to have been in-
flicted by the one Company or by any persons under the jurisdic-
tion of either of the Companies upon the other in this case be it
forbidden that the one Company should have recourse to violence
or any hostiie acts of any sort or kind against the other such dis-
putes shall however in no wise be subject to the vexations of the
law court or the examinations of a legal process but the matter
itself shall be brougiit before His Majesty aforesaid in person in
the, case where the Dutch Company is aggrieved and before the
States General above named where the English Company is ag-
grieved but if right and justice be deferred and delayed beyond six
months after such complåint (347) has been lodged and the ag-
grieved but if right and justice be deferred and delayed beyond six
whole matter shall ipso facto devolve in virtue of Ihese presents
upon eight Commissioners to be nominated by the two parties four
of whom shall be appointed by flis Majesty in the name of the
English and four by the States General in the name of the Dutch
which Commissioners shall meet together within three months of
the expiration of the. lime set for the interposition of a decision of
His Majesty on the" one hand or of the States General on the
other and whatever it may be that said Commissioners or a majo-
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 193
idty of ihem shall deem right to be decided judged or determined
that shal] by virtue of these presents have the force and effect of a
judgment and final settlement without any appeal reduction peti-
tion or other relief whatsoever ordinary or extraordinary and His
Majesty for bis part and the States General aforesaid for theirs
undertake and engage by mutual obligation that they will in all
sincerity see to it that such judgment decision or determination is
■carried out in all its details and duly put into execution.
!t has also been agreed that London shall be appointed as the
first meeting place for such Commissioners and if other Commis-
:sioners shotild be needed for the settlement of new complaints they
shall meet at the llague on that occasion and in this way the two
places shall siiccessively alternate biit if it should happen that the
Commissioners or a majority of them do not agree on a decision
which must be finally produced by them within three months
counting from the date of the first meeting then the Commissioners
themselves shall choose an arbitrator or referee for themselves
Avithin (348) the space of one month after the expiration of said
three months to settle and finally determine all points left un-
decided by them and everything that such arbitrator or referee
shall propound shall take the place for each party of a final judg-
ment and transaction.
And Mis Majesty and the States General aforesaid promisefor
themselves and respectively undertake that they will cause the
judgment and decision of the arbitrator or referee whatever it may
be to be carried out in full and efFectively executed that if neither
5uch Commissioners nor a majority of the same agree and decide
upon an arbitrator or referee within one month after Ihe expira-
tion of the time in which they ought to have disposed of the dis-
pule or if the properly appointed referee himself has not given his
ciecision on the points left undecided within six months after such
appointment the final determination of the matter shall in such
cases be in the hands of His Majesty and the States Genera! afore-
said and whatever shall be decreed or determined shall be exactly
and fully executed.
Lastly it is agreed and concluded that the present clause and
each and everything contained in it shail as soon as possible be
ratified and confirmed and that the ratifications thereof shall be
reciprocally and duly exchanged by the parties within two months
from the date of these presents and within one month after such
exchange of ratifications it shall be deposited in proper (349) and
authentic form with both the Governor of the Énglish Company
trading throughout the East Indies on the one hand and with the
Directors of the Dutch Company trading throughout the East
Indies of the other part to the end that it may be observed and
<;arried out in every particular by them and by all others living
respectively within their jurisdictions and under their power. In
witness and confirmation of each and all of which we the Com-
1927] Koyal Åsiatic Society.
194 Reporf pf Goverrior Baltbasar Bort on Malacca
mjssioncrs of Mis Majesty above named and of the aforesaid StateSj
General by virtiie of the sufficient power given to us for that pur--
pose have signed our names lo these presents and have sealed thém
with OLir seais.
London March 8 1675 [1674] (Old Style). Tho. [T/|^
Culpeper, C. Douweningh [Dowing], Richard Ford, Willemi'
fWiil.j Thomson, Johannes [Johanes] Jollis [Jollife], J.,
Corver, C Sautijn, Samuel Beijer, And. van Vossen, P. Duve-r
laar IDuuelaer], iVl. Michielsz [iVlichielzon].
All the above was already written down in readiness before.
your rionour's arrival here in person on the 30-31 Aug. last by the
yacht hlkuiv Noortwijk and Ihe small yachts Bantham and De
lloop bringiiig lo us from their Monours the Governor General
Rijklor van Goens and the Councii of india their letter of the ]2th:
of the rnonth of Aug., containing among other matters some new
orders. 1 shall in the following set them down briefly for your
Honour's guidance, warning you that, if anything staled above.
does not agrcc therewith, this Ihcir llonours' order must be pre-
hrrcå iuk\ carried into effect.
By their letter of the flrst of June last their Monours have
given orders to Governor Jaques Caulier and the Councii at Gor-
mande] to grant no passes to any Moors for their sea-going ships-
and, (350) if they nevertheless venture to come hither without:
being provided therewith, their ships and cargoes are to be seized
here and retained, the holds closed and sealed, the keys there
together with their öars and saiis are to be kept on shore and their-
l-Ionours are first to be informed thereof and their decision as to-
disposal thereof awaited. Movvever, if passes have been wriing
from our officers at Cormandel by the Moorish regents or if they
have secured themselves by getting English or Danish safe con- ^
ducts they must be suffered for that reason, but in that case they
are liable immediately on Iheir arrival to the payment of 20%
on import and export.
Moreover the burghers and inhabitants of Malacca shall not
go to the undermentioned places except with ror,ipany's piece
goods bought and paid for, which they must prove by a note from
the head merchant and the cashier, viz. :
Johor
Siaka
Queda
Pahan
Rio Formosa
Pera and
Assahan
Moar
Oedjang Salangh.
Campar
Calangh
(351) Voyaging is prohibited also to Andragierij, Palim-
bangh, Jambij and other places to the eastward thereof, especialiy
the coast of Java and Banjermassingh, similarly to Aalchin, but
the voyage dJrect to Batavia without touching at any other places-
is allovved on the conditions and under such penaity as siiall be-
stated in the passes. Before their departure the owners and skip-
fournal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort oii Malacca 195
pers and also the crews shall be informed that the ofTice at Andra-
^ierij has been separated from Malacca and placed under Batavia
again by their Honours, whence the ship De Batavise Coop^nan
■should be sent shortly with such wares, provisions and other neces-
saries as our people at Andragierij have demanded. Their
Honours wiil then also make their dispositions as to the services
there, and the improvements asked for by the .bookkeeper and
second in command, Pieter de Jongh.-
At Oedjang Salang and Bangarij their Honours would fain
sec US in a position to get soie conlrol of all the tin found there, to
the excliision of all others, hut, since those lands belong lo the
Siamese king, wlio also appoints the chicf ruler Ihcre and con-
sequently this privilcgc cannot be obLaincd except from his Ma-
jesty in Siarn, we wrote in our letter lo the Company's chief the
lionourablc Dirk de Jong and the Council, sent thither on Sept.
lOth by the yacht Muijerberg, as to this matter and rccommended
that this privilege of exclusive trade should be asked for from his
Majesty and also exemption from dues for the Company's merchan-
■dise taken thither and exported thence. We wrote lo them also
that, should his Majesty grant this request in whole or in part,
presents should be made to him, in moderation, above all that he
should be rather seriously urged to exciude (352) other Europeans,
.as English, French, Danes and Portuguese, also Moors, Aatchinese
and men of Queda together witli Malays and Javanese arriving
there without Company's passes. It would, however, be inadvis-
able to press this too härd against the people of Tannasserij, if
his Majesty is seen to be disinclined, since they are his own sub-
jects and should be abie to share the tin trade with us. It does
not seem that the Honourable Company would ever be abIe to
■carry on a profitable trade there without this privilege, even if a
blockade, similar to that begun in 1670 yonder were again under-
taken there for a year or two.
We have also recommended that binding and valid orders as
to the privileges secured touching this matter should be issued by
his Majesty to the regents of Oedjang Salong and Bangarij and
sent to you translated, so that you also may know their contents.
The result of these recommendations you will learn on the return
■of said Muijerherg; by the same ship you wiil get the woodwork,
coconut oil and some other stores which we requisitioned in our
letter of I7th June last, and wrote hy sziå Muijerherg; to have sent
in preference to the 200 loads of rice asked for.
All the pepper brought here and bought, their Honours. desire
in future to be retained for the Honourable Company and dis-
patched to their Honours until further orders.
Their Mönours have requisitioned 30 loads of wheat from
here, but the burghers have not at present so much in their pos-
session, contrary to the report made to their Honours, so your
Honour must be pleased to bear in mind, since the same must in
1927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
}96 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
future be secured, to buy it up at a reaspnable price and send it tc>
their [lonours, provided it is good, sound and worth the moneyi
(353) It shotild be possible lo spare a certain amount of the 24
ioads with wliicli the Company's storehouse is provided, but it is
niostiy spoiied, so that tiieir Monours ought not to be served with
it.
Their llongurs have consented to have silver diicatoons and
gold Japanese coebangs accepted here in the Company's treasury
and issued therefrom, the former at 12 shillings {Schellingen) and
Ihe latter at 10 re«. a piece. 'Ihis has already been made public by
prodamation and by pjacards; at the same time warning has been
given to take care that the same are of the diie alloy and weight,
since it has been found at Batavia that coins have been struck by
Ciiinese or other rascais, which were fauity in both tiiese respects.
No second in command may henceforth be deprived of his
Office and sent to Batavia before and until their Honours have
been acquainted with the reason and their decision has been re-
ceived, unless he has been convicted of serious crime or of infideiity
and private trade, in which case their Monours will await his
arrival with the evidence and documents referring lo the charge
against him.
The skipper Barent Visser canie hither with your flonour to
undertake the oflice of equipage master, wiiich he has ah'cady en-
tered upon; he is at the same time overseer of the Company's
works and workmen, as was skipper Steven Ciaerbout aforemen-
tioned, who is now on the point of departing to Batavia with me
by the ys^cht Nieuw Noordivijk.
So. Jacob Snickers has now been promoted to and confirmed
in the olfice of chief merchant by their Honours with a salary of
60 gldrs a month and will, as head of the pay office, have to keep
the day-book thereof.
(354) Their Hononrs have been pleased to appoint Adriaan
Wijiand as storekeeper and in his place as shoplteeper Pieter van
Helsdingen, whose office as license master is transferred to Jesias
Schaap, ail of them persons already mentioned, whcm your Honour
must, in fulfilment of their Honours' orders, be pleased to indnct
into their respective offices, causing them to transfer to each other
the Company's property under their administration, and choosing
as warehouse master, in place of said So. Schaap, such person as
your Honour shali judge fit.
Their Honours maintain and judge that all things can be fitjy
inanaged here and the service of the Honourable Company in all
departments performed by tlie foliowing persons:
I Governor,
1 Chief Merchant, who must himself keep the books,
1 Captain of the Garrison,
I Merchant and Shahbandar,
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Ballhasar Bort on Malacca 197
Merchant and Fiscal,
IHqiiipage master,
Merchant, tlic head (hooft) of llie pay o/Tice who must keep
the (laybook himself,
Merchant, the Superintendent (opperhooft) of Pera, aii
members of the CoLmcil, including the last named when
here, together with
Junior Merchant as Secretary.
In the Secretariat.
n addition to aforesaid junior merchant and secretary,
Pirst Assistant as confidential clerk, together with
Assist an ts.
(355) In the Trading Office.
Junior Merchant and Warehouse master, who rnust be the
deputy of the chief merchant,
First Assistant and
Another Assistant.
In the Pay Office,
n addition to the chief of the same
Deputy, who should be a bookkeeper in rank and
Assistants, among whom must not be included any tem-
porary or young assistants.
In tJie Excise or Custom-house.
n addition to the shahbandar.
Junior Merchant as exciseman, the one not being in com-
mand of the other, but both on an equality and under
the direct orders of the Governor.
The Treasury.
Junior Merchant as cashier
The Equipage Yard. .
n addition to the Equipage Master
Writer
The Provision Store or Issuing Warehouse.
Junior Merchant as storekeeper and
Junior Merchant as shopkeeper.
(356) The Office at Pera.
Merchant as Superintendent (hooft)
Junior Merchant as deputy for the Superintendent
First Assistant
Assistant as booklteeper of the yacht stationed there.
In Permanent Command of the Military.
In addition to the Captain
Lieutenant and
2 Ensigns.
327] Royal Astatic Society.
198 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Their Honours have given orders to send all above this num-
ber to Batavia as soon as they can be spared, which your Honour
must be pleased to do. The present excess in number is 8 writers.
{pemmten), lo wit:
In tiie Secretariat 1
In the CustonihoLise 2:
With thc Shopkcepcr I
Wilii the Cashier 1
With the Slorekeeper 1
With the blockade before Pera 2'
In the Malacca consignment of tin received from the return-
ing fleet in 1676 at the Amsterdam oflices of the Company, after
an assay was talcon of one block of tin weighing 53 Ihs it was.
found to be 13 aas too iight throughout, each aas one gl: in the^
hundred, making /13 to the 100 Ibs. This block of tin No. 3, to-
gether with another, No. 2, was sent back to Batavia by the ship'
Temate in 1677 and brought here with your lionour to demonstrate
the fraud and falsification practised in said tin and to have a,
strict investigation made to discover by whom and in what way it
(357) was done, so that in future the tin received may be care-
fully examined and only genuine tin may be accepted. This is
the first time that the tin has been found at home to be thus fal-
sified, not only the block in question but various others as well and'
that by the other ofRces of the Company in addition to the Am-
sterdam Office. As to this many complaints have been made
which caused much annoyance and loss ancj the tin might be
brought into disrepute if this practice were continued, sothat both.
our lords and masters at home and their Honours at Batavia
must earnestly recommend and enjoin that this be put right.
These two blocks of tin have therefore been examined by us with-
attention and are thought to be mixed with lead; this is a practice
of the Malays at Bencalis, where we are now informed that lead'
is brought from Cambodia. This must be prevented by careful
examination on delivery and we have already given orders to this
effect to the chief trading merchant and his deputies and the same
must further be issued by your Honour to Pera and other places
where there is trade in tin.
With reference to some matters touched on by their Honours
in the aforesaid letter and also some, of which no mention is made,
some questions and considerations have occurred to us bolh in and
out of the Council, viz. :
I
What action should be taken concerning the passage of the
Moors through tiie Straits here, on the way to places other than
MslSiCca, without Company 's passes.
Journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 199
II
Whether those provided merely with passes or other safe
<conducts from the Unglish, Danes or Portuguese shoiild be al-
lowed to Irade hcrc in Ålalacca.
(358) III
Whether the export of the Moorish picce goods still in ihe
possession of our inhabitants should be allowed to tlie perniitted
iplaces, as also trade in such piece goods as might be brought here
by the Moors who have passes which they have extorted from us.
IV
Whether anyone wishing to voyage to the permitted places
without Company's or Moorish piece goods, but with olhcr goods,
■such as salt, rice, iron pans and porcelain warc, sliould be allowed
to do so.
V
Whether pepper, which the people of Palembang are ailowed
to export to Aatchin and elsewhere to the amount of 1000 picois,
should be accepted, if they, aithough holding Company's passes
for that purpose, nevertheless cal! here and are disposed to deliver
their pepper to the Honourable Company provided they get the
iprice ruling at Batavia.
VI
Whether copper and spelter should all be bought in for the
Honourable Company and others shouid be forbidden to buy it, as
your Honour has testified to beihg now done at Batavia.
VII
Whelher the memorandum for the shahbandar and his de-
puties, sent from Batavia in 1668 by the Supreme Government
there and inserted above, should, after being read in the Council,
be altered, because these words have been added in their Honours'
letter touching the shahbandar and license master; "The one not
being in command of the other, but both on an equality and under
the direct orders of the Governor."
VIII
Whether the temporary and young assistants at present doing
their service here should be dismissed, because in their Honours'
missive it is expressly stated that (359) among assistants appointed
to the pay ofllce there shall be inciuded no temporary or young
assistants.
What discussions, arguments and decisions have been carried
on and taken on these 8 questions propounded is known to your
Honour, resulting as follows:
I. That the passage of the Moors to places other than
Malacca without Company's passes ought not to be allowed, but
that their ships, when met with here in the Straits by our patrol,
.]927] Royal Asiatic Society.
200 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
shouid be brought to Malacca and kept there under arrest until;
information thereof has been sent to the Supreme Government at.
Batavia and their Monours' orders shall have been received.
II. That ships provided merely with passes or other safé-
conducts from the English, Danes or Portuguese and coming to-"
Malacca to trade ought not to be allowed to do so, for there would'
never be any lack of passes from these people, if it became known
that we respected such passes and the Honourable Company
would be brought into contempt and these other nations wouid be-
highly esleenicd; we are not bound lo permit these [English, Danes-
and Portuguese] themselves to trade here, if it would be to our
ch.sadvantage, much less tiicn such persons as may conie to us.
merely provided wilh passes from them.
\\\. That the Moorish piece goods still in the possession of ■
our inhabitants, as also such piece goods as are brought here',
by Moors holding passes extortcd from us, may be exported to the-,
permitted places provided they pay 10%.
IV. That anyone wishing lo go to the same places with goods
other than Company's or Moorish piece goods shall be allowed tO'
do so.
V. That the Palimbang pepper shall be accepted at the'
Batavia price of 5 re", the picol of 125 Ibs. each, provided that,
according to the usual custom, }i real is deducted for dust, be-
cause the Honourable Company is now in need of it, and also in
order to deprive the Moors of it. from (360) whom the Palimbang
people would get all the piece goods they needed and take them
to their country.
Nachoda Wiera Watchiama, on the 31st Aug. last arrived'
here with a vessel from Palembang provided with a pass from:
Sr. Joannes Schilhoorn, our Superintendent {oppenhoojty
there, dated the 8th of the same month, granting him ieave-
to voyage to Aatchin with his cargo of pepper; however in-
passing he touched here of his own accord and offered to'
deliver his pepper here to the Honourable Company provided
he received the Batavia price of 5 re^, which is I re^. more than
has hitherto been paid. After deliberation in the Council, it was-
decided to accept this offer, the payment being made one half in
cash and the other in Company's piece goods, wherewith he was
content on condition that he might spend the money on Moorish
piece goods and export them to Palimbang, otherwise he intended
to go on to Aatchin with his pepper. On our further consideration
of the matter it was remembered and noted that the export of
Moorish piece goods from this place to Palimbang is forbidden,
but, if we refused permission, then the Honourable Company
wouid lose the pepper and the Moors at Aatchin would get the
advantage of it and it would be taken to Cormandel, Bengale,
Suratta or Persia and in exchange for it, for the return voyage to
Palimbang, a sufficient amount of Moorish piece goods would be
Journal Mälayan Braitch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 201
available. He was therefore granted leave to purchase the sam&
here and export it on condition that he paid 10%. When he was
informed of this and at the same time told that Company's piec&
goods were duty free, he preferred the Company's to the Moorish
and spent his money on them. He delivered 724% picols of
pepper vvhich were shipped on board the yacht N. Noordwijk to-
be taken to Batavia.
VI. I^hat all copper and speiter brought here Tor sale should
be taken for the Honourable Company and Ihafc the purchase
should be forbidden to others, which is the practice introduced at
Batavia.
(361) VII. That the before mentioned memorandum for
the shabbandar and his deputies shall remain intact until their
llonours at Batavia, on reviewing it, are pleased to make such
change and correction therein as shall be advisable, the authority
of the shahbandar and license master remaining meanwhile as it
is at present.
VIII. That the temporary and young assistants here at pre-
sent shall be retained on the ground that the Honourable Company
derives better and more service from them than from some per-
manent assistants, who moreover earn larger salaries than ther
others.
I have with all possible speed made över and transferred to.
your Honour all the property of the Company here, consisting of
its effects in cash, gold, merchandise, ammunition and instruments
of war, provisions, equipage, goods, materials, tools and apparatus,
together with all papers, books, letters and documents pertaining
to the government and direction of Malacca, clearly set fortli in
the transfer and registers made thereof and lianded to your Ho-
nour.
When the trade books were closed on July 31st last, I included
in the account of the general estimated effects, the outstanding
debts both in Malacca and Pera and Andragierij amounting to
/842595.13.4. The chief assets still existing here at present con-
sist of the following, to wit:
52989.4 re^. cash {contant in paijementY'
4000 reais of eight in specie
504 teijls in Ligor coinage
]ll5}i teijls, bv weight, of gold dust
294043 !bs. of tin
5035 Ibs. of cioves
432 bales of various kinds of piece goods, viz.
(362) 262 bales of bleached Guinea cloth
107 bales of brown blue salempoeris
*Peräiapa tlus nicans "cash in good coin"j or, conceivably, in coius
smaller than the real of eight.
1927] Royäl Asiatic Society.
20Z Report of Governor Balthasar Bprton Malacca
3 bales of bleached salempoeris
1 ] bales of fine bleached moeris
2 bales of sailcloth
I baii of tape leij de Coutchin
6 bales of tape chindos from ihe coast
i bale of Sarassa leij de Coutchin
1 bale of Sarassa gobars
17 bales of black narrow baftas
I bale of half narrow baftas
6 bales of wide black baftas
i bale of drogam gingham (ghigan)
1 bale of silk chindos de 4 asta
1 bale of silk chindos de 5 asta
4 bales of committers
3 bales of caijm goclongs
5 bales of tape grandos
4 bales of tape quitchil
5 bales of negros cloths
190479 Ibs. of assortcd iron
1608 Ibs. of Steel
14472 Ibs. of lead
1329)4 reals weight of silver work
26 pieces of various kinds of carpets {alcaiifs)
110 ells of satin ({atijn)
64 ells of camlet (greijiien)
430 ells of various kinds of cloth
7 pieces of chcrgies
I piece of perpetuano (perpetuaan)
15 pieces of Bengal taffeta
30 pieces of Persian velvets
59 pieces of Persian brocades (hrocados)
218 pairs ofcoarse and fine cotton stockings
17 pieces of Bengal cassa
89 pieces of coarse and fine hats
6517 pieces of porcelain, various
1005 Ibs. of red and yellow sheet copper
160 Ibs. of cinnamon
210 Ibs. of nutmegs
(363) After making which transfer, being on the point of
■departure to Batavia to become a member of the Supreme Govern-
ment of India there by order of our lords and masters at home, I
have introduced and made known to you as governor and director
here the ministers {i.e. Government servants], subjscts and in-
habitants in the customary v/^y and have also had the commission
for that purpose given to you by their Honours the Governor
Genera! and Council of India publicly read tö them and they have
all undertaken to acknov^-ledge, respect and obey your Honour as
such on the oath by which they are each and all bound to the
Honourable Company.
Journal Mälayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report or Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 20?
Just when I thought herewith to make an énd, the so long.
expected yacht, De Faom returned from Andragierij on Sept. 18th,.
bringing with it 850 taijis vveight of gold and 17652 Ibs. of pepper,
costing according to the invoice /52836.9.1 including the value of
4880 Jbs. of pepper left behind at Andragierij, because the yacht
could not take it in, to be sent on låter without being taken into-
account.
The trade books of Andragierij, closed on the 30th of June
last with a clear profit beyond all expenses of /9566.13.9, could
not be entered in the compleled trade books here in Malacca,.
closed according to annual custom on the 3Ist of July, because:
they arrived too late, so this must be done in the books of the.
current year.
'I1ie merchant and Superintendent {opperhoojt) there, Sr.
Adriaan van do Walle died yonder on the llth of May and the
administration therefore fcll to the bookkeeper Pieter de Jong and
the assistant Anthonij Groeneweegen, who inform us in their letter
dated Aug. 31st Ihat peace has been maintained with the kings of
Andragierij and Quantam and thereby (364) the trade, which had.
long been at a standstill, has been set going again. On receipt of
the news of the death of the Superintendent Sr. Adriaan van der
Walle aforesaid, taking into consideration the fact that their
Honours at Batavia could not have had any knowiedge thereof at
the date of their dispatch of a ship thither and consequently that
no orders can have been sent by them as to this matter and more-
over cannot now be sent until the end of the northern moni^oon
next March or April and we dåre not, without uneasiness, trust the^
administration and controi there to said Pieter de Jong, who,
though he has very great ability and dexterity therein, sometimes-
misuses the same owing to drunkenness, therefore we, after de-
liberation with the others in Council thereupon, decided to send
the Secretary, Jan van Assendelf, thither in place of the Super-
intendent with the title of temporary merchant, in order to keep-
the oHlce at Andragierij in good order and duly to advance trade-
there. Hc set out thither with the yacht De Hoop on the I4th
inst.. provided with a written order to this efTect and letters to said
Pieter de Jong and Anthonij Groenewegen and also to the king of
Andragierij and the shahbandar, as your Honour knows, which are
preserved in the Secretariat.
As, in consequence of this, the office of secretary has become
vacant, the head clerk, Laurentius Schulerus, has been chosen and
appointed thereto, since he has the necessary ability therefor
and is of good behaviour. Your Honour will be pleased in due
course to grant him a elever youth as head clerk.
(365) Two Moorish ships have meanwhile arrived here, one
from Paleacatte on the 19th Sept., named Bfugge, or in the
Moorish tongue, Ilhaij (? Ilhalj), with a pass from Governor
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
204 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Caulier dated JuJy 5th last. The cargo consists, according to the
jnanifest, of;
70 parcels and 7 cases with various piece goods
8 ioads of rice
12 picols of Steel
^ load of salt
A parcel of earthenware cooking pots
Thls same sliip bad Icft here on ihe 27th Feb. 1677 after
getting a pass from us, valid only for a voyage to Aatchin and no
further, but according to the declaration of the Dutch pilot on
board, Claas Stolkvett, it did not direct its course thither but to
Porto Novo, which place however could not be reached, so it went
to Paleacatte and thus infringed the conditions of our pass. On
the arrival of this ship, since we did not know on what grounds
said Meer Caulier had granted the same a free conduct hither,
contrary to the orders of their Honours the Supreme Government
of India at Batavia sent to him and the council at Cormandel on
June 1st last, as stated above, therefore said ship was put in arrest
with intent to await the decision of their said Honours with regard
to it or whatever else should seem advisable, if information touch-
ing this matter should reach us from said Heer Caulier. This did
happen on the appearance (paresse) of the yacht Schieland from
Cormandel on the 25th Sept., for we found from the copy of a
letter of 29th July written by said (366) Heer Caulier and council
to their Honours at Batavia, that, on payment to the Honourable
Company at Paleacatta of 100 pagodas for infringing the afore-
said pass granted by us, a free conduct was given to said ship
before the arrival of aforesaid order of their Honours at Batavia
and was not afterwards withdrawn from fear of lessening respect
for the Company. This therefore moved us also to release this
iship from arrest and to allow k to trade on this voyage.
The other ship arnved from Porto Novo on Sept 23rd, bring-
ing with it a pass from said Heer Caulier dated I4th June, when
their Honours' order not to grant any passes cannot have been
received, wherefore this ship was also allowed to trade. The
cargo consists, according to the manifest, in:
240 parcels of various coarse clotlis
2% coijangs of rice
20 bladders of lamp oil
1 5 picols of tamarinds (tamarijn)
These ships must, according to the new order of their Honours
at Batavia, pay 20% for entrance and clearance of their cargoes,
which the nachodas have already been told and a protest has been
lodged by them against it, on the ground that, since they were not
warned of it on their departure for this place, they'ought to be
iiable only to the former 13%.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 205
The crews of these ships say that three more Moorish ships
are to come hither this season (367) as well as five to Aatchin and
two to Queda, alf from Porto Novo aforesaid.
Wherewith I conclude and wish your Monour in all your
■doings for the service and advantage of the Honourable Company
and the welfare of your i lonour's person and family the generous
.and good blessing of God Almighty and remain
Your l]onour's fricnd lo cominand
(signed) BALTMASAR BORT
(in the margin)
In the town and fort of Malacca, 6th Oct.
1678.
Notes.
Aatchin, Aetchin, Atchin, Achin, Acheen (properly Acheh, the
nasal final being due to the influence of a Portuguese pecu-
liarity), a state taking in the NW. corner of Sumatra, but
formerly supreme över a constderable part of tbe East and
West coasts of the island besides clainiing suzerainty över
Perak.
Aatchinese: the people of the above mentioned state.
adap: Malay atap, ''roof" and particularly a roof of palm-leaf
thatch, hence also f he pieces of thatching used for such a roof.
An atap (commonly " attap ") house is one that is usualiy
constructed of very perishable materials (wood, plaited bam-
boo, or even bark) and covered with such a thatched roof.
Aetchin see Aatchin.
Agua de Loupa: a point on the Malacca river, seemingly about
halfway between Malacca town and Alor Gajah. There was
a chapel there. The name looks like a corruption of Guada-
lupe, the name of a mountain range in Spain.
Aijer Itam: Malay ayer hitam, " black water," a small river and
hamlet about 14 miles roughly NW. of Malacca town and
near the seashore.
Aijer Tower; Malay ayer tawar, " fresh water," a small river about
14 miles roughly ESE. of Malacca town and near the sea-
shore.
Ainam: probably the island of Hainan off the S. Coast of China,
but possibly Annam (Anam), an ancient Kingdom on the E.
Coast of Indo-China.
alcatif; Arabic al-qatlf, "carpet with long pile." These might be
of silk (either Persian or Indian), or cotton (from Ahmada-
bad, Agra, etc.)
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
206 Report of Governor Balthäsar Bort on Malacca
Andragerij, Andragierij: Inderagiri (from the Sanskrit IndragirK
"hiil of Indra"), a nver and territory on the East Coast of
Sumatra, a féw miJes South of the Equator.
arack: Arabic 'araq, " distilled spirits, arrack." The word haS'
been adopted into Malay in the same sense.
ardias: etymology not ascertained; explained as "a speties of
dyed cloathing." Hiey were made in Gujarat from stout
calicoes woven in Northern India and shipped from Surat to
Java and eisewhere. Apparently in the process of prepara-
lion they were dyed and beaten.
Arracan: Arakan (properly Rakhaing), the West coast of Burma
from the Chittagong börder of Bengal to Cape Negrais; for-
merly an indcpendent kingdom.
Assahan: Asahan, a river and state in Hastern Sumatra about lat.
3* N.
asta: Malay hasta, "a cubit " (from Sanskrit hasta, same sense,
defined as from the elbow lo the tip of themiddle finger, there-
fore about half a yard).
atap see adap.
Atchin see Aatchin.
attap see adap.
bafCa, bafta brootchia, baftas, baftas brootchia, bafftas, beftas,
beeutas: Persian häfta, "woven." Ordinary calico woven all
över Gujarat, the word being _aIso appHed to similar Sind
fabrics; made in pieces, 14-15 yards long, in two vvidths,
narrow about 26 inches, broad about a yard; sold by the
piece or by the corge (20 pieces); unbleached, bleached, or
dyed in the piece; exported to most parts of Asia and for a
time to Europé. About 1680 the Dutch were getting similar
calico woven on the East Coast of India. Some, of some-
what superior texture, were made in the town of Broach
(Baroch) in Gujarat. The price varied with the fineness of
the yarns, the island märkets took large quantities of the
coarser grades. It was one of the great Indian staples, Jighter
in weight than the ordinary ''Coast" calicoes from the East
(or Coromandel) Coast of S. India.
Bale Panjang: Malay halai panjang, "long hall," a mukim or
village about 2 miles NW. of Malacca town.
baloijn, baloon: Marathi balyänw, a species of rowing boat.
Bandaer Galipha: presumably Malay (from Persian and Arabic)
bandar khali/ah, " the Caliph's port," and apparently iden-
tical with Tico (which see). There is, however, also a Bandar
Khaiifah on the E. Coast of Sumatra, between Deli and Batu
Bara.
journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 207
Sbandara Paducca Sirij Maradja: Malay Bondahara Padiika Såri
Maharaja. title of a high (usualiy the highest) minister of
State {see paducca and Sirij). Dato bandhara,. Malay Dato'
Bmdahara. is a short form of the same.
-Bangarij: a place on the mainland not far from Ujong Salang
(Junk Ceylon) island. Presumabiy it is the Bangri (pro-
perly Brmg KIilT) which some maps place some distance N.
of Papra (properly Päk Phrah) Strait.
-banghsaal, bankshall: Bengali hangkshäl, " harbourmaster's ofTice "
(probably from a Sanskrit compound meaning " trade-hall "),
The Malay bangsal, " warehouse, shed," seems to come from
this source.
.Bangsa Radja, Bangsade Radje: Malay titles of Sanskrit cty-
mology, presumabiy for Bangsadiraja.
Banjermassingh : Banjarmasin, a territory (formerly a state) in
SK, Borneo.
bankshall see banghsaal.
Bansade Radje see Bangsa .Radja.
Bantam, Bantham: Bantam (properly BantGn), a territory (for-
merly a State in the extreme W. of Java.
Barbaquet: Berbiikit, Merbukit, Malay bérbukif, " hdly," a point
on the SE. promontory of Johor not far from Pulau Tekong
and near the entrance to the estuary of the Johor river.
■Barnam: Bernam, a river on the W. coast of the PeninsuJa forming
the bonndary between the states of Perak and Selangor, about
lat. 3° 5r N. at its mouth.
:Baros; Barus, a place of the W. Coast of Sumatra, about lat. 3°
N., best known for its exportation of the true camphor (Malay
kåpor Barus).
'Barotten: Dutch plural of Portuguese barrote, " rafter, beam."
Bataampa, Batouampa, Battoeampar: Malay hatu hampar. "flat
spread out stone, bedrock "; the Tirst two represent the name
of a hamlet in Naning territory, about 19 miles N. by W.
from Malacca town; the third a place where the Dutch Com-
pany had an estate (and therefore, presumabiy, in its own
territory of Malacca).
Batasauwer: Malay batu satvar, "fish-weir rock," a former resi-
dence in Johor of the Sultans of that state.
Batin Sape, Battin Sape: Malay batin, a title and subordinate
o/Tice, sapi, "ox." (The last part was the man's name, he
being a minor chief among the aborigines or orang bénua, of
Malacca territory).
Batouampa see Bataampa.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
20Ö Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
Battabrandnm: Malay batu beréndam, " submerged stone," a
mukim or village about 4 miles N. of Malacca town.
Battantiga: Malay batav^ tiga, " three trunks (or streams)," a
stream and hamlet on the seashore, 5 miles WNW. from
Malacca town.
Battantongal : Mahy -hatang tunggal " solitary trunk," a place
where the Dutch Company had an estate, unidentified.
Battin see Batin.
Battoeampar see Bataampa.
beeutas see bafta.
beftas see bafta.
Bencalis; Bengkalis, an island lying about lat. 1° 30' N-,* due S..
of Malacca and close to Sumatra, from which it is separated
by Brouwer (otherwise Brewer) Strait. The chief place on
it bears the same name as the island.
Bengaale, Bengale: Bengal.
beteelas, bethilles, Bettilles d'oirnael: Portuguese betilha, " veil,"
applied to the muslins from the Eastern Deccan (Golconda,
roughly the Hyderabad State of to-day), exported mainly
from Masulipatam, eilher unbleached, bleached, dyed or wilh
prinled patterns, to various places including the Malayan
region (but not in large quantities, being rather superior
goöds). Oirnael probably represents the district and town
Warangal in Hyderabad, as the form oringal is also found.
Some betilhas also came from Surat and Bombay, othcrs from
Bengal.
bhaar, bhaer, bhar: Arabic bahär, from Sanskrit bhfira, "a load."
From the latter comes Malay bahara, and the various forms
used in the Dutch text are used in the Malay sense of a unit
of weight normally equivalent to 3 pikuls {see pecul). Now-
adays the Malay bahara is standardized at 400 Ibs. avdp.
The Dutch reckoned it at 375 of their pounds, in certain cases;
but for tin at Ujong Salang at 350 and for pepper at Indera-
giri at 488.
bidoors: Malay bidof, a slab of tin, nowadays weighing about 2§
Ibs. avdp; the Dutch reckoned it at 3 of their pounds.
Biiimbin: Malay belimbing, " ridged lengthwise," and also the
name of several species of fruits. (In the latter sense it pro-
bably owes its origin to Southern India, as in several Dravi-
dian languages the word occurs under forms like bilimbi,
vilimbi, etc.) Hence the name of a mukim or village in
Malacca territory, about 9 miles nearly due N. of Malacca
town.
Bintang, Bintangh: Bentan (commonly Bintang), an island off
the SE. end of the Malay Peninsula,. for some time the seat of
the Johor Sultans, about lat. I " N.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govenioi- Bulthasar Bort on Malacca 209'
bits: a small slab or ingöt of tin iised as currency at Junk Ceylon,
80 being reckoned as making up a bahara (see bhaar). It
wouM, therefore be about 5 Ibs. avdp. if we took the bahara
at the modern standardized value. Apparently it weighed
normaliy between 4}4 and 4^ Dutch ibs. The name is al-
most certaiiily the same as that of the viss of Burma, which
now weighs 3.652 Ibs. avdp. (almost 3 Ibs. lOj^ oz.); Por-
tuguese sources give intermediate forms such as bisä. the ui-
limate source bcJng the Tamil visai.
Boacras: Malay buab köras, "härd fruit," a kind of nut; name
of a placc in Mialacca territory described as being 3 Dutch
miles S. of Malacca town (therefore about 12 of our miles
about E. of the same, as our text habitually speaks of E. as
S., and W. as N., in relation to Malacca topography).
boedjangs: Achinese hujang, " page, squire " (the same word as
the Malay hujang, " unmarried, divorced, or widowed person
of either sex").
Boelongh: Bulang, an island ofT tlie S. end of the Malay Peninsula^
S. of Singapore in lat. 1° N.
boeiongs: Malay bulang, "to wrap, wrapper, and in particular a
kerchief."
Bongarie, Bongerij ; Malay hunga raya, literaiiy " big flower " but
actuall)'- the cultivated hiljiscus (especiaily the red kind);
name of a suburb of Malacca town towards the N., but E. of
the river.
Bonting: properly Bunting, Malay bunting, "pregnant," a smalf
island being the northernmost of a little group known as the
Bunting islands, off the coast of Kedah, W. Coast of the
Malay Peninsula, about lat. 5° 52' N.
Bonuaes: Malay orang benua, " people of the country," one of
the numerous Malay appellations for the so-called aborigines
or uncivilized tribes of the Malay Peninsula, particularly
applied to those of the South.
Boquet, Bouquet: Phuket (commonly Puket, Pucket), a place and
a small river on the island of Ujong Salang (Junk Ceylon).
Borrewas: Malay héruas, a certain shrub (Premna cordifolia);
name of a small river in the N. part of the Dindings, about
lat. 4° 30' N., and also of a village on its upper reaches in
Perak territory. The district was a little state about the end
of the I5th century and its name is recorded in Malay his-
tory.
Boucquet China, Boukit China, Bouquet China: Malay bukit
Chhia, " Chinese hill, hill of the Chinese "; name of a hill just
NE. of Malacca town, connected in Malay history with
Chinese settlers of the 1 5th century and now containing many
Chinese graves.
1927] Royal Asiaiic Society.
210 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca
.Bouqiiet see Boquet.
brootchia sec bafta.
.Brouwer Strait: tlie strait separaling Bcngkalis (and other islands)
from the B. coast of Sumatra (see Bencalis).
Bruggestraet : "bridge street," a strcict in one of the suburbs of
Malacca town.
:Biigis: the natives of part of the SW. peninsula of the island of
Celebes, a race of great seafarers and traders.
>Cabo Rochado: this Portuguese naine apparently means " cloven
(rachado) headland/' Cape Rachado, a promontory on the
coast of Sungai Ujong (see Songhoedjongh), on the W. Coast
of the Malay Peninsula,* about lal. 2° 25' N. Ils Malay name
is Tanjong Tiian, " the master's cape."
Cabon: Kubon, a place in the region of the Tapong river, in the
NW. part of Siak, which is a state of the £. Coast of Sumatra,
aboLit lat. 1° N.
'oadjanghs: Malay kajang, a number of strips of palm Icaf tacked
together and Lised as awnings for carts, boats, etc.
Caffers: African negroes, probably slaves. The word is the Arabic
kåfir, " unbeliever, non-Muslim."
icaijm goelonghs, caijm goelongs, cain goelongh: Malay kain,
"cloth," gulonj, "lo roil, a roll." These are mentioned
among the piece-goods from the E. Coast of S. India, but
their precise nature has not been ascertained, save that Satovv's
Voyage of jobn Saris (p. 217) speaks of " Java girdles alias
Caine Goolong."
■calambac: Malay kéUmbak, a fragrant wood, stated by Hervey to
be the heart of the kemhoja tree (frangipani, Plumiera acu-
tifolia), but identified doubtfuily by Wilkinson with Radix
rhei.
CaJang, Calangh, Callang, Callangh: Kelang (commonly Klang),
a river and tdwn in the State of Selangor, W. Coast of the
Malay Peninsula, about lat. 3" N.
calij malical adul-: Kali Malik-al-adil, "the Kadzi of the Just
King," Arabic title of an Achinese dignitary, originaily the
ChJef Justice of Achin proper; but the olTice soon developed
into an hereditary secular chieftainship. (The peculiar
Arabic sound inadequately represented hy d^ and really a
veiarized variety of the th in the English " the " becomes / in
several Indonesian languages).
'Callang, Callangh see Calang.
Cammoij, Cammoy: Kamoi, a hamlet in Naning territory about
20 miies NNW. of Malacca town.
Campar, Camphar, Campher: Kampar, a river and territory on
tlie E. Coast of Sumatra, SE. of Siak, about lat. i° N.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 211
Campo Ciingh: Malay kampong KHing, " the Tamil quarter," iiv.
this case, of the town of Malacca, situatcd on tiie W. bank
of the river.
Cananga: Malay Miianga, a name borne by various trees and.
slirubs, particularly a tree with scenled green ilowers {Cananga
odoraia); a place NW., and not far distant, from Malacca,
lown.
Candam: Malay kandang, "cattle pen "; name of a Hamlet about.
4 miles NNW. of Malacca town.
cangaiis: sonic Idnd of colton goods froin the \l. Coast of S. India,
but Iheir nature is unUnown, uiiiess (as scems possiblc) the
name is a mere variant of ':-annakijns, below.
cannakijns: small, cheap pieces of calico (usually coarse), dyed
blue, or occasionally black. They were made up. in Gujarat
and Sinti from various calicoes, shippcd from Surat, and dis-
tributed very widely {e.g. to Java, Sumatra. Macassar, Siarn,
etc). The nameprobably represents Marathi khandakl, Kon-
kani khankl, " a piece," modified by the usuai Poituguese
final nasal (as in Achin for Acheh, etc).
Gapade moeda lilia: title of an Achinese dignitary. The last two
v.ords are doubtless muda, "young," and Illa (Sanskrit),
"charming," etc l"he first word has not been traced.
Capitayn Moor de Noort: title of a Portuguese ofTicial at Goa, pre-
sumably meaning Captain Major of the North (capitam mor
do norte).
capock: Javanese kapok, " tree cotton," used for stuffing mat-
tresses, etc. The Maiay name is kahzi-kahii or Hkabu.
caricams: some kind of piece goods from Surat, no particulars
being available about them except that some of them were
dyed red.
cashee, cassa: Arabic khässa, " special," a flne kind of muslin, from
Bengai.
Cassan, Cassang, Cassangh: Kesang, a river about 20 miles E. of
Malacca town and now forming the E. boundary of Malacca
territory; also the region aiongside the same and a mukim
or viliage higher up the river, NE. of Malacca town.
Catip Itam Moeda; Arabic kbatib, "preacher in a mosque,"
Malay bitam, "black," muda, "young"; title and name of
a man.
Cay aliula: this title may be wrongly divided, it is posslble that
the first part may be kaya (as to which see orang cacaya).
l"he rest is unexplained.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
212 Report of Goverhor Balthasar' Bort on' Malacca
Celas leij de Coutcliin, Chelas leij de Goutchin: piobably Kon-
kani chél (from Sanskrit caila), "cloth"; the Malay chele
is almost certainiy the same word. According to one account
celas (or chelas) were a kind of coioured cotton cloth, not so
bright as chintz; hut the name seems also to have been applied
to thin white muslins. The reSt of the name probably means
" in the style of Cochin " (see (jjutchin), the leij represeiiting
PortugLiese lei, " law." (It can iiardiy be the Malay belai,
kli).
Chelas see Celas.
Cherenapoetoe, Chereiiepoetc: Malay cbhana pttieh, " vvhitc tray
(or bowl)"; name of a liamlet in the mnkini of Taboh Naning
ciose lo the boundary of IMmbau and aboiit 23 miies NNW.
of Malacca town.
chergies: probably the same word as " serge," and therefore of
woollen material and perhaps of Eiiropean origiii. The word
is found in the Dagh Register of Batavia (1680) p. 759,
sergies de loudre, received from Holland, (1681) p. 37, cher-
gie d'Londfe, scnl to Térnate, which entries seem to confirm
this explanation, loiidre being presumably a mislake for
hondre (London).
chiampan, sampan:. Malay sampan, " boat," of various sorts and
sizes. The etymology has been miich dispuled, some imagin-
ing it to be Chinese ("three planks"), which seems improbable.
Recently a still more unlikely American origin has been sug-
gested for the word.
Chiavonijs: uncoloured piece goods from the E. Coast of S. India.
Hobson-Jobson gives. cbavoyiis.
Chim: Cheng, or Ching, a mukim or village aboiit 5 miles NNW.
of Malacca town.
Chincheeuw: Chang-chau not far from Amoy in the Chinese pro-
vince of Fuhkien. This was the chief port of the province for
foreign trade in the I6th and 17th centuries.
Chindos: possibiy a fabric coioured chintz-fashion, so that the
name might be regarded as a variant form of chintz (the
Hindustani form of which is chlnt). But I am disposed to
conjecture that we have here a modification, with a Por-
tuguese termination, of tlie same word as the Malay chindai,
" bright patterns in cloth," which (it has been suggested)
may be derived from Sindbi, " of Sind." U is to be noted
that some " silk chindos" came from Surat, which is con-
sistent with such an explanation. On the other hand, cbindai
itself might be a variant of the same indian word from which
we have made chintz; perhaps this might be due to its passing
through some South Indian language, e.g. Tamil or Telugu,
and some chindos came from the E. Coast of S. India.
Journal Mälayan Brmtcb [Vo!. V,
Report of Covemor Balthasar Bort on Malaccu 213
chits: Marathi cbtt, from Sanskrit cbitra, " variegated, speckled.""
The PorlngLiese and Malay forms are chita. Thesc are
printed or spotted cotton cioths, our chint^ (which is ap-
parently a plural based on the Hinduslani form cblnl). The
best camo from the E. Coast of S, India.
Ciiormandei, Cormandel: originally Cholamandalam, the region
ruled by ihe ancient Chola dynasty, round about Negapatam,
biit extended to the ii. Coast of S. india generally. A mis-
take in speiling and a confusion between the Portuguese and
Dulch vallies of ch gave rise to tlie form Coroniandei.
Civiliaanse reals: doHars of Seville. Various corruplions of the
expression are found, of which one (Civil) has been put into-
the IransUilion as an Hnglisii representative of Ihe Dutch
form.
Clcen Bretang: Dutch kleen, " little," Malay bértarii. a kind of
palm (Cugeissoiia tristis), and hence the nameof a river about
4 miles NW. of Malacca tov>/n and of two estates (the otiier
being Groot Bretang) near its banks, and in modern tim.es of
a mukim and viilage of Burtam on its E. side.
Cleen Cabaco; for eken ef. the preceding note. The last liaif of
tjie name has not been identified (a connexion v^'itth the Por-
tuguese caba(^a, cabaco, " gourd," seems just possible), nor
has the locnlity of this estate been deterjiiined.
Cleen Pringij: for cleen ef. Cleen Bertang. The second half is.
presumably Peringgit (commonly Pringgit) a mukim or vil-
lage 2 miles N. of Malacca town, of which " little Peringgit '"
probably formed part.
Cliban Cleene: Malay Kelebang Köchil, "little Kelebang" (com-
monly Kiebang), a mukim or village 2 miles WNW. of
Malacca town and bordering on its W. (by the Dutch autlior
styied " northern ") suburb.
Cliban Groote; Dutch groot, " big." Malay Kelebang Besår,
" great Kelebang,', a mukim or village bordering on the pre-
ceding and about a mile further from Malacca town.
Clings: Mahy Ksling (commonly Kling), " Tamil." No doubt
the name originally denoted the Telugus of Kalinga, the N..
part of the Madras Presidency on the E. Coast of India
Northern Circars), but in the i7th century, as now, it was-
mainly applicable to the Tamii people of the S. part of that
coast, from about A'1 ådras downwards, and of N. Ceylon.
Coast, Coast of India: i.e. the East Coast of S. India or Coro-
mandel Coast (see Chormandel).
coebangs, coubanghs: Japanese kobaiig, an oid gold coin, usually
weighing 222 grains troy.
1927] Royal Åsiatic Society.
.214 Report of Governor BalthasariBort on Maiacca
'Coelchin China: Cochinchina, But the name, now tending to be
confined lo tJic extreme SE. of the Indo-Chinese peninsula,
formerly applied rather to the main part of the E. coast of
the same. i .
coijang, coijangh: Malay koyan, a largé unit of capacity, viz; 800
gantangs (the gantang being 271.65 cubic inches or nearly
V/i gallons in modern times, but varying somewhat locally);
aiso a large unit of weight, the leading Malay variety being
one of 40 pikuls {see pecul), which by modern standards
would be 5333;^ Ibs. avdp. but in former times aiso varied.
Cokchinders, Cokchinse Chinese, Coksins, Kokchinse Chinese,
Koxinga Chinese: adherents of the pirate Koxinga and his
successors, whose ephemeral kingdom based on Formosa
(which Koxinga took from the Dutch) lasted from 1662 to
1683. They were largely partisans of the former Ming dy~
nasty and were at war with the new Manchu dynasty (in the
text called " Tartars "), which was at peace with the Dutch.
At various times during the period with which our text is con-
cerned they held Amoy and other portions of the province of
Puhkien, but on a very precarious tenure, against the troops
of the Manchu government.
■commilters: some kind of cotton goods from the E. Coast of S.
India. The word is perhaps derived from kömati, the name
of a trading caste in those parts.
Commoij see Cammoy.
■Conanoor: Cannanore, a place in N. Malabav, on the W. Coast of
S. India, lat. 11° 52' N.
■Condoor: Malay kundor, "'the wax gourd," name of a hamlet
about 8 miles WNW. of Maiacca town.
'Cormandel see Chormandel.
"Cotta Råna: Kota Renah, a place near Kébon {see Cabon). In
Sumatra the word kota, " fort " (Malay from Sanskrit) often
means no more than a stockaded village.
■ coubanghs see coebangs.
Coutchin: Cochin, a town and territory in Malabar, on the W.
Coast of S. India, lat. 9° 58' N.
■cris: Malay keris, " dagger," the weapon commonly known as
" creese" (and other variant spellings).
vcrusado: Portuguese crniado, a coin " stamped with a cross."
There was a gold cruzado, the vaiue of which has been va-
riously stated as 30/- and 9/9 (English money). About the
middle of the 16th century there was in Maiacca a silver
cruzado worth 5 tangas or 360 reis, say 3/- (English monev),
{Journal Äsiatiqiie, Juillet-Décembre 1920, p. 87). By 1805
there was a " new cruzado " {cruzado iiovo) worth 2/8 and
Journal Malayaji Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Govcrnor Balthasar Bon on Miilacca 215-'
two-fifths of a penny, and also an " old cruzado" {cmiada-
velbo) worth 2/3 (Eiiglish money). Probably thc ones men-
tioned in the text were the silver ones, wortJi 5 tangas.
daats: steel-yard for weighing. Tlie Dutch name seems to be am
abbreviation of its Malay name daching.
Dabul: formerly an important port situated on the N. bank of the
river Anjanwel in lat. 17° 34' N. on the Konkan coast, W.
Coast of S. India.
dato bandhara see bandara.
demto: Latin dempto, " removed, taken away," in the text it.
means absenl from a meeting of tJie councii.
Diilij, Diily: Deli, a port and territory a little S. of lat. 4° N. om
the Ii. Coast of N. Sumatra.
Dinding, Dindingh, Dingding, Dinghding; the island known as.
Puiau f-^angkor, which forms part politicaliy of^the territory
now commonly called the Dindings, somewhat N. of lat. 4**
N., W. Coast of Malay Peninsula.
Doedjong: Malay duyong, "dugong"; name of a river and'
vmkhn or village about 3 miles E. of Malacca town.
Dou SontagaiT. name of a plantation somewhere near ihe E. bank
of the Malacca river. Probably it stånds for Dusun Tagaa
(or Tahan .''), as the Malay dusun means " orchard."
drogam gingan: a certain kind of piece goods; the first part is
probably Javanese dragem, "purple, dark brown," for the
second see gingans. In these trade terms the order of the
words is variable, owing no doubt to foreign influence, and no.
reliance can be placed on it.
drogams maleije: drogams of a kind preferred by Malays.
ducatoon: Italian ducatone, Dutch dukaton; the coin referred t&.
in the text was apparently the silver ducatoon, as it was to be
current at 12 Dutch shillings (making 72 stivers or about
6/6 English money). In 1727 the dukaton was valued in
Europé at ^3 stivers oiily, about 5/8 English money, or a:
little more, but under 6/-.
dungaree: Marathi dongrJ, dongarl, " a coarse and inferior kind of
colton cloth," apparently deriving its name (dongarl, " a Httle
hill ") from dongarl killa. Fort St. George, Bombay.
Eijtan: possibly this represents He-lan (Haitan or Chu Shan)
island, oflf the E. Coast of China, somewhat N. of lat. 25° N.
and not very far S. from Fuchau (Foocliow).
f : written in the MS. as a long slanting line (like the old-fashioned"
!ong 5) with a short line meeting it on the right about thc
middle. 1 presume this is an abbreviation of fiorin. Three of.'
them went lo the dollar (real of eight). See gl:.
1927] Royal Asmtk Society.
2\6 Report of GovernorBalthasar Bort on Alalacca
iiscal: Ihe Crown advocale, a sort of Attorney-General, taking his
title from the fiscus or Treasury. •. :.
iisher's isiand: evidently Puiau Upeh (meaning in Malay "palm
nower-siiealh Island "), which is 3 miles W. of Malacca town.
ihile: Duich ftuyt, "a fly-boat."
J-otas, photassen: Persian futat (also in Arabic, but of doubtful
origin, by some alieged to be Indian, and possibly therefore
llie Ilindustani philtd, " variegated "), "a Itind of striped
Indian cIolJi from which trousers are made; a sash, a ban-
dage; a wrapper for the body," (also Persian fnta, " a cloth
which they wrap round the middie when going to batiie" —
which is probably ihe same word in spite of the slight difFer-
cnce in spclling). Commcrciaily, tlie word nieant a long
stiip of clolh worn cither as a inrban or round the waist; it
might be wool, cotlon, or silk, and witli or without goid or
silver Ihread. In Dutch commerce it appears to refer to
muslin from Bengal. The " photassen or negro cioth " woiild
apply to a cheap grade.
'Gaja Beram: Malay gajah berang, " furious elephant"; name of
a hamlet on the oulskirts of Malacca town, on the NVV.
gailiot: Dutch galjoot, from Portuguese galeota, " a light vessel.
gantangs, gantings; Malay gantang, a measure of capacity nearly
equivalent to ly^. gallons. Biit it seems to have varied localiy
to some extent.
garras, gerras: Hindustani gärhä, " unbleached fabrics, which con-
stitute a large proportion of the clothing of the poor";
also iised for shrouds and for wrapping up parcels. They
came from Bengal.
'Gentoo: Portuguese gentio, " heathen," hence specifically used (as
in our text) in the sense of '^ Hindu " (as opposed to Muham-
madan qr Christian); and still more specifically, in S. India,
as denoting the Telugus and tiieir language.
gerras see garras.
^ingans, gingham : the origin of the name is in dispute (either from
the French town of Guingamp or Javanese ginggang, Malay
genggang, a kind of striped cloth. Probably the first ety-
mology is the right one). They came raainly from Bengal,
but also from Gujarat, under the same name, which suggests
that it was a foreign one to India at any råte. Some were
plain, others flowered, speckled, or striped; and though origin-
ally the fabric seems to have been a plain calico, which could
be printed, it appears that the name also covered goods with
woven patterns (vv'hether in coioured yarns or not is not
clear).
*Gittij: a place, not identificd, in the neighbourhood of Köbon {see
Cabon).
Journal Adalayan Brmich [Vol. V,
Report of Govemor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 217,
gJ:, glclrs, gis;: guilders, Dutch gulden, worth 20 stivers, about
1/9^ English money. For the more usual abbreviation see
f. Three guiklers were taken to eqiial the reaJ of eight or
dollar {see r".).
Goa: the capital of ihe Portuguese possessions in India and the
East, situated somewhat N. of lat. 15" N., in the S. Konkan,
W. Coast of S. India.
gobars: Maiay gvbar, " sheet, counterpane of coarse white cloth ";
but also of other material (see sarassa gobars).
.godschie giiildiie: some kind of piece-goods from the E. Coast of
S. fndia, unexplained.
goerab: Arabic ghurfih, " ravcn; a kind of gallcy," with two or
tliree m;isls.
gördel chindos: Dutch gördel, "girdle"; no dotibt waistbands
of variegated pattern, printed or paintcd {see chhidos).
Groot Bretang: Dutch z^oot, " big " (and see Cleen Bretang).
Groot Cabaca: see the preceding and also Cleen Cabaco.
guinea cloth : almost certainiy the same as what the English traders
called " long-cloth/' which was one of the four great staple
export calicoes of the E. Coast of S. India, the others being
moorees, percalies and salempores. It was a stout caiico,
37>^ by 1 rV yards being the standard size, and was sold un-
bleached or bleached, more rarely dyed or printed. It ap-
parently owed its name to the trade opened up by the Por-
tuguese belween S. Ijidia and the Guinea Coast of W. Africa.
Låter on the Dutch took it up. {See also negro cloth).
-Hoorn Chamber; \-]öom is a small town in Holland and was one
of a limited number of towns which possessed a iocal Chamber
of the Dutch East India Company.
Inar; Ina (in the loca! pronunciation), a Hamlet on the Malacca-
Tampin börder, close to the Tampin Railway Station and
situated about 17 miles (by road about 24 miles) nearly due
N. of Malacca town.
India, Indians: these words have a somewhat moreextensive mean-
ing in Dutch than in English, including as they do the Dutch
East Inoie? and their inhabitants, Maiay, Javanese, etc.
Injate planks: perhaps the Maiay nyatoh, a valuable timber tree,
Payena costata. (But see also quiate wood, which last how-
ever is not indigenous in the Maiay Peninsula, as Injate
appears to have been).
Intje Cadaer, Intje Cadeer': title and name of a Malay, Énche'
Kadir {i.e, Abdulkadir).
Jacatra: Jakatra, Jakarta, beiieved to be a corruption of Jaya-
karta, the name of the place where in 1619 the Dutch founded
their new capital Batavia, in W. jäva.
11927] Royal Asiatic Society.
218 Report of GoVemor Bålihasär Bort on Malacca
Jaffnapatnam: commonly Jaffnapatami JafFnä, a place in the ex--
treme N. of Ceylon, a little S. of lat. !0° N.
Jambij: Jambi, a river and territory on the E. Coast of Sumatra,,
between inderagiri and Palembang, its mouth being in about
lat. PS.
Jambinese: the inhabitants of the foregoing territory or state.
Jan de Patuan, Jang de Pertuang; Malay yang di~pertuan, liter-
aliy "(be) who is acknowledged as lord," the usuai denomina--
tion for the supreme ruler of a Malay slate. In the hidera-
giri contract, where mention is made of two brothers Jang de
Pertuang acting on behalf of the titulär supreme ruler, it may
be doubted whether the Dutch version was not a mistrans-
lation of an original reading " Iwo brothers of the Yang-di-'
pertuan."
Japara: a port on the N. Coast of Java, about long. 111° E.
Johoor, Johor, Johore: Johor or Johore, the southernmost State of
the Malay Peninsula, which however in the iatter part of the-
I7th century included a larger territory than it does now.
Jonghsalangh, Oedjan Salangh, Oedjang Salang, Oedjang Salangh,.
Oedjang Salong, Oedjangsalangh : Ujong Salang, commonly
Junk Ceylon, an island ofF the W. Coast, of Lower Siarn (the-
long isthmus which leads down to the Malny Peninsula) in
about lat. 8° N. The name is Malay, from ujong, hujong,.
" point," and salang, which bas various meanings but in the^
present case is probably only a corruption of the Siamese-
name for the island, viz. Chhaläng, with the variant Thaläng.
jure Panckelang, jure panckelangh; Malay juru, used in such-
combinations as this in the sense of "expert, person in^
charge," pangkalan, "quay, etc, from which people embark
on boats or other vessels."
kadjangh: Malay kacbang, a generic term including various kinds -
of beans, peas, and also in partfcular pea-nuts.
Kokchinse Chinese see Cokchinders.
Koxinga Chinese see Cokchinders.
kräng: Malay kérang, an edible shell-fish, Area.
Lada (island of), Poule Lada; Malay pulau, "island," lada
" pepper," a small island forming part of the Lankawi group'
off the W. Coast of the Malay Peninsula, lat. 6° 12' N. and
in the I7th century belonging to the state of Kédah (see-
Queda) .
Laksamana, , Laxamana: Malay Laksawana, a title roughly equi-
val to Admiral, to which certain administrative and court
duties on shore were also attached.
lantees: Malay lantai, " laths or strips of bamboo or wood such-
as are used for Malay houses in the country."
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,.
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 219
.l.arot: Larut, a river on the coast of Perak, W. Coast of the Malay
Peninsula, about 4° 45' N.
last: a Dutch unit of weight and ship measurement generally
stated to equal two tons or 4000 pounds.
'Laxamana see Laksamana.
^Lella Maradij, Lella Maradja, Lella Maharaja: Malay Lela
Mabaraja, a title (both words being of Sanskrit origin).
:Ligoor, Ligor: Ligor, the Malay name of Nakhon Sri Dhammarat,
a Siamese lown and territory (formerJy a vassai state), the
town heing near the E. Coast of the isthmiis leading to the
Malay Peninsula, about lat. 8° 30' N.
.Lilla Lahij rilalham: Arabic diillu-llähi fi-l-fäam, " shadow of
God in the world," a common title of Muslim sovereigns and
in this particuiar case of the Achinese Queen Täju-J~aJam
SafTalu-d-din, A.D. 1641-73.
!Lusitanian; Portuguese,
:maas, mace: Malay mas (from Sanskrit masha, "a kind of bean
{Pha&eolits radiatus), a small unit of weight"), a fraction
(usually one-sixteenth, in some places one-tenth) of a tabil
{sce tael).
Macassar, Maccassar: Macassar, a port on Ihe W. Coast of S.
Celebes, a little to the S. of lat. 5° S.
Maccauw. Macao, a Portuguese settlement on the S. Coast of
China, about lat. 22° N.
:mace see maas.
madaphon, modophons ieij de Coutchin: a check-pattern cotton
cloth, made chierty in Gujarat and shipped to Java and
Sumatra. Those mentioned in the Report came (at any råte
in part) from the E. Coast of S. India, and leij de Coutchin
(as to which see Celas) seems to imply that they were of a
kind preferred at Cochin, which is on the W. Coast of S.
India. The name (now Madapollam, from Mädhavapalam
or Mädhaväyapälem, a place on the Southern Delta branch of
the Godavan', lat. 16° 26' N., E. Coast of S. India) is now-
adays still in use but is applied to a cotton cloth intermediate
between calico and muslin, plain white.
Maharam: Muharram, the first month of the Muslim lunar year.
:mainctimentos: Portuguese mantimento, "provisions."
Malij: presumably Maiim, a village about 4 miles NW. of
Malacca town.
Mallebaer; Malabar, the W. Coast of S. India. The modern Dis-
trict of the name extends from lat. 12° 18' to 10° 13' N. but
probably the name formerly applied right down to Cape
Comorin, about lat. 8° N.
;1927] Royal Äsiatic Society.
220 Report of Governor Balthasar Bort^on Malacca
Manicaber, Manicabers: riatives of Menangkabau in the W. part
of Central Sumatra and their descendants in the part of the-
Malay Peninsula that Hes to the N. of Malacca, where many
of them had eifected settlements iong before the end of the
16lh century.
Manilha, Manilhas; Manila, commonly Manilla, the capita! of the'
PhiHppine Islands, a little S. of lat. 15° N. But it loolis
as if the word, especially in its plural form, were used to cover'
the Phiiippines generally.
Maria see Pittij.
MarlJmoen, Marlimou: Malay mérlimau, a kind of wild orange,
a tnukim or village in Malacca territory on the sea-coast
about 12 miles ESb. of Malacca town.
Martaban jars: jars of glazed pottery, and often of large size,.
made in lower Burma and formerly, for many centuries,,
shipped from Martaban, an old port near Moulmein, about
lat. 16° 30' N.
]\1.asulipatnam: commonly Masulipatam, a port on ihtt E. Coast of*
S. India, a little to the N. of lat. 16° N.
Matchap: Machap, a mukim or village in Malacca territory about
13 miles NNE. of Malacca town.
Meetschieuw, Met Schiauw: possibly Me Chao (which is, howevér
nowadays an expression for the mother of a prince, and not
for the mother of a Phra sucli as the Opra mentioned in the-
text).
Mehemeth: Mahmud, the last Malay Sultan of Malacca, from
wJiich he fled when it was conquered by the Portuguese.
Melecque, Melecse; Mulekek, a mukim or village in Naning terri-
tory, situated about 15 miles NNW. of Malacca town.
mentri; Malay ménteri (Sanskrit mantrl), "minister of state."
mile: the dictionary estimates the Dutch mile as about three times.
the length of the English one; but in the text, so far as can
be inferred from the distances given in round numbers, it
appears to be about four English miles,
Moar, Moor: Muar, a river and territory borderihg on Malacca
territory to the Eastward and at its nearest point about 17*
miies E. of Malacca town.
modophons see madaphon.
moeri, moeris, moories, mouris: one of the four great staple
calicoes of the Coromandel Coast (E. Coast of S. India).
it was fmer and dearer than Guinea cloth (or long-cloth),
in size 9 by 1 yards, unbleached, bleached, or dyed, and was.
widely distributed in Asiatic maritets, but not in great quan-
tities, being probably too dear. The quality varied with the
fineness of the yarn, and the fmer grades ranked with percalles
Journal Malayaii Branr.b.[Vo[. V-
kcpoit of , Covernor Balthasar Bort on Malacca Iti
(see. percallen) and were presents for minor kings. Malay has
the word (muri), but the ultimate derivation is uncertain.
Mompet: the first part of this seems to be Mom (a Siamese litle
nowadays borne by the wives of jirinces, but it does not appcar
that Mompet was a woman). 'i'he second part may be Ibc
Siamese word for " diamond."
Monschicuw, Omonschieuw: probably Momchao, a Siamese title
nowadays born bygrandchildren of the kiiig.
Moor see Moar.
Moor, Moors, Moorish: these terms, properiy applicable to cer-
tain natives of N. Africa, were applied by i^ortuguese, and
their Dutch and EngHsh successors, to the Muhammadans of
Asia, especially of India, but not always to the exdusion of
the MusJims of the Eastern Archipelago.
MoWacca pinda; MeJa]<a Pindah (literaliy, "Malacca removed"),
the name of an affluent of the Malacca river and hence of a
mukim or viliage on its banlts situated about 11 miles N. of
Malacca town.
mouris see moeri.
miim: a species of beer, originally brewed at Brunswick. Theire
is an interesting note on this in Anderson's EngHsh Intercourse
with Siarn in the Seventeenth Century, pp. 407-420.
Nabob Mamet Aminchan: presumably Nawab Muhammad Amin
Khan.
nachoda; Ha.i3iy nakhoda (from Persian), Asiatic skipper (par-
ticularly of a vessel coming from W. Asia).
Naning, Nanning, Nanningh: Malay naning, a large speeies of
wasp, the name of a territory lying tothe-N. of Malacca
which under the Portuguese, Dutch and British was a vassai
State until 1832 when it was conquered and brought under
direct British administration.
Negrij: Malay negéri (from Sansiait nagarl), " country, district,
town."
negro cloth, negros cloths: Indian cotton goods, small in size
and cheap, perhaps the same as what the English records call
" Guinea stuffs." They were in various patterns, some striped
and some checked, usually blue and white, and usually made
in Gujarat.
nelly: Tamil nellu, " rice in the husk, paddy."
nybooms, nypboomen: Malay nihong, a species of palm used in
house building (oncosperma tigillafia).
oebisen: Dutch double plural of Malay ubi, "tuber, yam."
Oedjan (and Oedjang) Salang (and Salangh and Salong) see
Jongsalangh.
192,7] Royal Asiatic Society. ■
tit Report of Governor Ba]thasar"Bort'on Malacca
aelebalangh, oeleballangh: Malay huluhalang. Achinese ulee-
balang, a title, originaliy implying military functions, but
often (especially in Achin) exteiicled to territorial and other
chiefs.
Omoehang Scheij Boerij Sasakon, Omoehang Scheij Boerij Sysa
Con Schauw Moehangh: possibly the first and last part are
the Siamese muairi, " town, province," thc second seems to be
Saiburi, which is howcver also the Siamese namc for Kcdaii
(buri meaning "town"); Schauw presumabiy represcnts the
title Chao (see Monschieuw). The rest of the title is un-
expiained. For the initial O see Opra.
Omon Chieuw Packdie: see Monschieuw. Pakdie represcnts a
Siamese word meaning a faithful servant entrusted with some
job or other, and is a common Siamese nanie.
Omonrath; a Siamese title, possibly for Mom Rajawangse (a title
nowadays borne by the children of Momchaos, see Mon-
schieuw). As to the initial O see Opra.
Omonschieuw see Monschieuw.
onkas: Malay ungka, a small anthropoid ape, gibbon.
Ophir: the Identification of Solomon's Ophir with the Malay
Peninsula goes back to Josephus, but is decidedly improbable.
Opra, Opra Peth: originaliy Ok Phra, now simply Phra, a Siam-
ese rank of nobility. Peth is probably a variant of Pet (see
Mompet). The prefix Ok became reduced to O and was
eventualiy dropped.
orang cacaya, orang caija, orang caya, orang kaya, orang caija,
orangh caya: Malay orang kaya (also kaya-kaya, abbreviated
kékaya). literally " rich man," a title of ministers of state,
vassal or tributary chiefs, court officials, etc.
orang kaya bessar: the same as the last with the addition of
Malay hésar, "great."
Ouboang In Sachon Cierij Joan Phalowan; conceivably the first
word of this Siamese titje may be a corruption of the Omoe-
hang above. The last two words are cleariy the Malay title
(from Persian) Johan Pahlawan, "champion of the world."
Cierij is probably the Sanskrit érl, an honorific and auspicious
prefix.
ounis ounissan: Malay unusan, " dues," apparently especially in
connection with the sale of goods. (It is not quite clear
whether the spelling ought not to be hunusan, from bunus.
" unsheathing," the connection in meaning being obscure).
padacken, pedack, pedacken : Malay pedaka, a sort of lodge.
Padangh, Paddangh: Malay padang, " plain," the name of a dis-
trict on the W. Coast of Johor, Malay Peninsula.
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca 223
paducca: Malay paduka, an ingredient in many titles (originating
from Sanskrit paduka, " slippers, shoes," and referring to the
exalted position of the titulary, vvhose slippers were treated as
higher than the head of the humbicsuppliantaddressinghim).
pågar, paggcr: Malay pagaY, " fcncc."
pagodas: the pagoda (of which the etymoiogy is still in doubt)
was a money of S. India, with a value varying in different
places. At Piilicat it appears that tlie Dutch in their trading
counled it as 105 slivers bul valued it at 112 in paying their
scrvants.
Pahan, Pahang, Pahangh: Pahang, the largest State in the Malay
PeninsLila, situated on the E. Coast, with its ancient capital
about 3° 30' N. lat.
Paleacatta, Paleacatte: PuHcat, a port about 25 miles N. of
Madras in lat. 13° 25' N., the first settlement of the Dutch in
S. India.
Palimbang, Palimbangh: Palembang, a town and territory in the
E. of S. Sumatra, about lat. 3° S.
Panagie, Pannage, Pannagie: Penajeh, or Penajis, another name
for the Linggi river which forms part of the boundarv of
Malacca territory to the NW. and is about 21 miles NW. of
Malacca töwn.
Pancalan Avoer: Malay pangkalan, "starting point, quay," etc,
aur, " bamboD," the name of a place in Malacca territory
where there was in 1678 a certain plantation.
Panckelan Banir: see the preceding word: the second part is the
Malay hanir. " buttress-root." A place-name in Malacca
territory, unidentified.
Panckelan Nanning, Pankelan (Nanning): see Pancalan and Ma-
ning. A point on the Malacca river within Naning territory
and about 12 miles N. by W. of Malacca town, near the Alor
Gajah railway station.
Panckelaran: Pangkalan Rama, a village less than a mile N. of
Malacca town. (See Panchalan Avoer).
Panglima: an Achinese title of certain chiefs subordinate to the
Sultan. The word occurs also in Malay as panglima or peng-
Urna, with an originally military connotation.
Pangoor, Pongoor: Malay punggor, "a dead tree-trunk," a small
river and hamlet about 4 or 5 miles ESE. of Malacca town.
Pankelan see Panckelan Nanning.
Pannaeij: Panai, a river in E. Sumatra which enters the Straits of
Malacca about lat. 2° 30' N.
Pannage, Pannagie see Panagie.
1927] Royal Asiatic Sociefy,
224 Report of GovernörBälthasar Bort on Malacca
Pantjoor: Malay panchor, "flowing of water through a conduit,"
a hill in Maiacca térritory about H miles N. of Malacca
town.
Papeles borre: some kind of piece-goods from the E. Coast of S
India, unexplained.
Papera: P.äk Phrah (commonly Papra) Strait, to the N. of Junk
Ceylon (Ujong Salang) island and separating it from the
mainland.
parang, parangh: Malay paraiig, " a woodcutter's large knife (for
lopping and chopping)."
paraphure: paraph, a nourish or special design formerly used to
confirm signälures, especially on diplomatic documenls.
paresse: "to appear," in the sense of to arrive. This may come
from the Portuguese verb apparecer, which caii bear that
meaning.
Parit China: Malay parit, " ditch," China, " Chinese," a small
river about 2 Miles E. of Malacca town.
Passaal, Passael: Malay päsal, a certain trea (Ardisia odonto-
phylla), name of a small river and hamlet about 7 miles ESE.
of, Malacca town.
Patania, Patanij, Pattani, Pattanij: Patani, formerly a Malay
State now a Siamese province, and also the name of a parti-
cular district within it, on the E. Coast of the Malay Penin-
sula, about lat. 6° 50' N.
patholen: Portuguese patola, Malay pStola (both from Malaya-
lam pattuda), " a cloth of silk, or silk and cotton mixed,. used
for skirts, etc,
Pattani, Pattanij see Patania.
pecul, picol: Malay pikul, aunit of weight of 100 katis, nowadays
standardized at 135^ ibs. avdp. but formerly variable in
difFerent places.
pedrero: Portuguese pedreiro, "a small piece of ordnance, mostly
used in ships, to fire stones, etc; it was managed by a swivel.
jpedro porco: bezoar stone, from Portuguese pedra de porco, '' pig
stone " (also called pedra de porco espinho, "porcupine
stone")-
per gouverno: .Portuguese por governo, " for the Government."
Pera, Perach: Malay perak, "silver," the name of the largest of
the Malay States of tlie W. Coast of the Malay Peninsula
and of a river (from which the state takes its name) whose
mouth is in about lat. 4° N.
percallen: percalles were the best of the four staple calicoes of the
■ Coromandel Coast (E. Coast of S. India). Their size was 8
yards by 1 yard. They were sold unbieached, bleached, or
dyed (frequently red, with chay-root), and also much used
Journal Malayan Branch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor BaUhasar Bort on Malacca, 225
for printing. They became very populär in Europé (the
French percale, " glazed or shining calico" indicates the
nature of the stuff) but were not much handled in Asiatic
märkets, probably because they were too dear.
Perlingh, Perim (which is a copyist's error for Perlin): Perling, a
hamlet in Naning territory, about 16 miles NNW. from
Malacca town.
Perpatti Sowattan, perpatty Souwatan : part of the title of one of
the Naning chieFs, evidently imitated from the legendary
Menangkabau lawgiver and chief Perpateh Sabatang of oiden
days in Sumatra.
perpetuano: Portuguese perpetuana, "a sort of serge." The stufF
in question was a kind of European woollen cloth, tlie name
probably originally Italian.
petas Maleijc; pcrhaps Malay pita (from Portuguese fita), "rib-
bon." The second part of the name means that they were of
a kind saleable in Malay märkets.
photassen see Fotas.
picol see pecul.
piece of eight see r".
pinang, pinank: Malaya pinang, "the areca (commonly called
betel) palm and its nut." (Betel is really the name of the
vine (Ma]ay sh'eh) of which the leaf is used in conjunction
with this nut).
Pittij, Poelo Pittij: the name looks as if it represented a Malay
original pulau petai. This and the island of Maria must have
been on the Sumatra side of the Straits and I conjecture
they may be Pulau Medang and Pulau Rupat (lat. 2° N.),
this being the narrowest part of the Straits near Malacca.
Poelo, PouIcLi: Malay pulau, "island," a hamlet about 6-7 miles
due N. from Malacca town.
Poelo Pittij see Pittij.
Poelongh gobars: some kind of coverlets {see gobars). The first
part of the name has not been traced.
Pongoelo: Malay Penghulu, " head man/' the title of a Malay
head of a village or small district.
Pongoor see Pangoor.
Porto Novo, Porto Novas: the first of these names (meaning either
" New Port " or " New Oporto ") was a Portuguese founda-
tion on the E. Coast of S. India in lat. 11° 50'. The second
is the Dutch adjective formed from it.
Poule Lada see Lada.
Poulou see Poelo.
prao, prauw; Malay pérahu, "ship, boat."
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
22fi Report of Governor Bnilliasar Boil on MiilncC;i
Pr/anian: Pariamnii, a pori on (he VV. Coast of Sumatra, situaled
about lat. O*' 40' S.
pro fisco: tilorally " for Ihc trcasur)'," but pfdiaps m cerlaiii cascs
it may iiulicale paymciil of a honus. lo Ihu (iscal.
Proviiioi' Mooi" (los Omlos: MorhijJiiirsc jiyoviuloy iiifr dos rdiilos,
" cliicf coiiiniissary of Ihc fxclicqucir."
provinU' daaldcrs: sevci';i! pvovinccs of llif Unilud NdhLTiaiui-^
had Ihfir own coinagf.
Quanlam: Kuanlan, Ihc ptopcr iiamc of [hc l!ulrra;j;iri river (sce
Aiuira^crij) and Ih-iicl- of an inland Icrriiory aloiif» ils hanks
Qiicda, Qucdah: Kähdi, a Slale on ihc W. C;oasl of Ihc Malay
Pcninsiila, of which fhe modern capilal lies in ahout lat, 6°
7' N. on ihc river Ihal f>ive.s ils naiiie to ihc Slale.
QniaU; wnod: i)n)iiabiy leak fMahty !<ayu jaii), lUil "([iiiate"
( - Kiaii) niiis!; conic Ironi .»^omc othcr ln<ioncsian language
ihan Makiy.
(JiiiiKun: Oiiinhon, oi- Kwi-nhnn, a |)orl oii Ihc W. (>ia,s( o!' indo-
Cluna^aboul lat. 14" N.
Y"\, r". of cij»hL, rcai, rcal of eighl, rcM lhe.se ali denole thc (Spa-
nisli) dollai-, also cailed " piecc of eight." The rd''., rijx-
daaider," riksdollar, rixdollar, was a (.killar of Ihc I loly
Roman i.:mpire (or one of ils States) and of somewhat vari-
ablc \'alue, usiially worlh less ihan Ihe Spani.sh dollar.
Racan, Ruccan: Rckan, a river antl Icrrilory on tiic H, Coast of
Sumatra, about lat. 2" N.
Radja Deuwa: Malay yaja, " princc," deiva. " divinity " (boLh
words from Ihe Sanskrit), litle of a chief or niinisler of stalc.
Radja Bbrahim: Raja Ibrahim ("Abraham").
radja lilla w;inghsa: Raja l.ela Wangsa, a litle. Thc lasl pari is
from Sanskrit vam^^a. " dcscent, race." {See C'apade niocda
lilia).
Radja Mera: i^aja iMerah, a lille borne for many generations by
tlie Chief (Pcnghiilu) of Naning. It is noticeable, howevcr,
thal in the 1641 Trealy wilh Ihe I.Xitch the bearcr of ihis lille
is not llic prinicipal personage aniong thc Naning chicfs
named as contracting parties. The then Chief (or Caplain)
being stylecl '1'oulella Palawan.
Rajah Sabrang: from Malay s/i bi-runt^. " on ihc other sidc (of Ihe
river)." The prince who was commonly known by Ihis lille
was a brolher of Ihc Sidtan of Johor rcigning in 1606 and
subsecjucntly inspired tlie composition of ihc vvell-knovvn
Malay classic, Ihe Sejarah Meiayu.
Journal Malayaii Bravch [Vol. V,
Report of Govenior Rallliasar Bort on .Malacca 227
rambou(.ijn, rnmboutyn: A'liilay ramhuii. "a clolh of hairy tex-;
Inro." It vvas a verv minor avi ide of trade. Tlu; namt:
cvidcntly conu's. from Maiay ramhul. " hair of Ihc head,"
Inil Ihc linal vowcl is probahly llic Arahic or Persiaii ad-
jcclival IcnninaLion, for liic Maiay siillix -/only niakcs verbs.
( ".aslanlieda says llial rainbiilis \vei"c of colloii aiul made in
lk'ii;^ai; biil lu' ma)' he misl.-ikt'i).
rallaiij;: Malay roUiii, " ralhin."
rti''. scc r-'.
ical, leal of eif^hl, vv". .icr \".
Kiafdnnosa, I^Jio i"oriii(isa: Portu^iiese rio foriuoso, " bcaiiliful
river," Ibe river of IJalu Pahal, Johor. Milualed on Ihe W.
(.AVMl (){' tlie Malay Feninsula abouV lal.. I" 48' N.
rijxdaalJer sce r'-'.
riksdollar .ur r''.
Ringij: a small slream aboul l-l milcs liSU. from Malacca lown.
'riiuuii.li Ihe iianie on Ihc niap is ^iveii as Keiigck, it is more
prcihaitly Keiigil, whicli is llic iianie of a sniall insect.
Rio l-oiinosa scc Riaforniosa.
Rio tlaiere: presumabiy Ihis is Selat Rupat, thc strait between
Pulau KLi|)al and Sumatra (about lat. 2 N.). See Pittij.
Riouw. Riau, comnioni}' Rhio, tlie capilal, in modern times, of
llic island of Bentan (see Bintang). Il:s proper namc is Tan-
jong Pinang. Tlie name Riau is also used for the whole
island and ior (he groiip of islunds of which it is the chief one.
rixdollur see v".
Rombouw: Rembaii, a small state to the N. of Naning, fountied by
Menangkabau settlers from Sumatra and for u considerabie
period under the nominal suzerainty of Johor. Now a part of
the Nég&ri Sembilan.
Roinbouwers: inhabitanls of the aforementioned state.
rouba rouba: Malay ruba-ntba, " dues," especialiy harbour dues.
Rumbia: Alaiay rhiibia. "the sago-palm," name of a mukim or
village in Malacca territory aboul 9 miles NNW. from
.Malacca town.
^nbandaar, sabandar, sabandor, shahbandar: Malay <:lhihhti)}(hir.
from the Persian, lilerally "chief of the port.'" The title
denotes a port ofllcer concerned with the collection of dues,
jurisJiclion över Ihc harbour and ils .shipping. and fornierly
över foreign traders, etc.
Sabangh: Sebang, a village in Naning territory. The name sur-
vives in Iwo inukims, Padang Sébang, about !5 miles N. of
Malacca town, and Pulau Sebang, about 2 miles fiirther N.
1927] Royal Asiatic Society.
228 Reporl of Ciovcrnor lialHia.sar Bort oii Malacca
Sabraiii^aja: Sahilrang Gnjah, a jilace in Malacca Icnilory aboul
iU miles noarly diie N. of Malacca lowii, to Ihe weslvvard of
Lhc river Malacca, or else a place of tlic saine naiiie about 7
miles NW. of Malacca lown, The naiiie seems to indicate llie
existeiice, formerly, of a foid iised by elephanls (Maiay
gajab). See Radja Sabrang.
Salalous: some kind of piece-good.s from Ihe I-. Oiast of S. india.
The form sallaUo is aiso foimd (and ihesc were " bluc and
black''), but tlie vvord niav l>f thc same as Ihe lelugu sniri,
'■ clolli." A similar word in llindiislani deiiotes Tiirkey-red
clolh.
salanipocris. salempocris, s;illenip()eris: saleinpores. Ihe fourlli
slaple calico of tlie Coronuuuiel C>)asl (Ii. C,oasl of S. hulia).
Ordinary saicmpores werc of (he same grade as "(iniiiea
clolh" hut fine saleinpores cosl nearly as much as nioorces
(sce moerij. They were sold in pieces 16 yards long by över
a yarti wide, iinbleachcd ()r bleaclied, somclinies tlyed, per-
Iia()s occasi<inal/3'' j)r inled. I hcy were sokl in nioderate
(luanlilies in Asinlic märkets aiul for a time e.Kporletl very
larg(;ly lo hjiio|)e. I lu: iianie nieans " weaver-lown," htil Ihe
fown in (piesLion lias not becn identifieti, and tlie name may
have heen corrupletl into ihis form so as to filve il an ob-
vious nieaning.
Saletters, Zaletters: from Ihe .Malay srlai, " strail." The nanie
(in various spellings) was applied very earl_\' in the I6lh
century by the Portuguese to the sea-gypsies (Malay orang
laut), who wandered in their boats iip and down the Straits of
Malacca and only made more or less temporary settlenients
on shore.
sallempoeris see salampoeris.
Samadra moeris: see moeri. Perliaps Saniadi"a represents Si'ma-
tra, not as a place of maniifacture but as niart for these
piece goods.
Sambilangs: Malay pulaii s<'nibUan, " the nine Islands." a group
of small islands ofF the W. Coast of the Malay Peninsula
opposite the mouih of the Perak river and about 15 miles
distant from it, about lat. 4° N.
sampan see champian.
Sarassa gobars, Sarassa lelj (or lev) de Coutchin. Sarassa maleije
(or maleys) : Malay sefasah, a word of doubtfid origin bul
probably from Persian. This was a flowered chintz, printed
on öne or both sides, often with gold and silver thread, from.
the I£. Coast of S. India, used for women's skirts, coatlngs,
and veiis, etc, also coverlets (see Celas, Gobars).' Maleije
means that these particulai" ones were suited for sale in Malay
märkets.
scheiling, see shilling.
journal Malayan Brancb [Vol. V,
Report of Govciinor Ralthasar Bort oii Malacca 229
Schoiiiia: Malay chuf^ak, a mcasure n{ capaciLy; Toin- make oiic
ganlang {see ganlangs).
Seacq, siaka: a river, Stale, and ils capital, in thc E. CoasI region
of Sumatra, thc capilal being about lat. 0° 30' N
shahbandar see sabandaar.
siiilling: the Oulcb scbeUing was about half the valuc of the
l-iiglish onc, bcing 6 stivers, ahouf sixpencc lialfpenn\'.
Siaka sce Se:ic(j.
siap: Malay cbop, " scal " (usuaily blackened aiul pres.sed on the
(locunicnl cerlified) fioni nintiustani cbhap.
Sillida: Salida, a place on the W. CoasI of Sumatra, soinewhal In
llie S. ol* 1'adaiig (which lasl is ahoiil lat. I" S.)-
Sincapiira, Sincapure: M\\\i\y S inga pura (from Ihe Sanskrit, mean-
ing " lion city"), Singapore.
sirij: Malay shch, "betel" {^ce pinang).
Sirij: In litles. Malay ^('n-') (Sanskril syl), an auspicioiis lionnrilic.
So Sirij iJenwa (Dewa), see Radja Ueuwa; Sirij Padncca
Tuan {see padncca).
Sittria: a title, probably itlenlical witli Malay chHcria (from Sans-
krit hshdriya. a niember of Ihe warrior casle).
Slavenburgh: Hteraily " slaves' castle."
Songa Poula: Malay sungai, "river," putat, generic name of cer-
tain planls {barringtonia) , name of a small tribulary of the
Malacca river and the land near its banks, about -I miles
NNW. from Malacca town.
Songhoedjongh, Songoedjong: Sungai Ujong, one of the States of
the Negeri Sembiinn with a coastline on the W. Coast of the
Malay Peninsula about lat. Z° 30' N. The modern form of
the name is due to faise etymology, from the oider form re-
])resented in ihe above Diitch spelling, which can be traced
through intermediate forms to an original Sang I lyang
Mujung, " holy cape," nientioned in the N.lgara Kretägama, a
Javanese poem of the middle of the I4th century.
Songoe Baroe: Malay sungai, " river," bara, the name of certain
plants {e.g. llibiscus iiliaceus), name of a river about 18 miles
to the NW. of Malacca lown and of Ibur vmkims or villages
through which it passes.
Sourat, Souratta, Suratta: Surat, an ancient commercial town, at
one time the most imporlant in India, situated on the Tapli
river in lat. 21° 12' N., a few miles inland from the W. Coast
of S. India.
ss: see sz;
1927] Royal ÅsiaticSociety.
230 Report of Goveinor Baltliasar Bort oii Malacca
St. Ilicroniino Pcqiienino, St. I iicroiiinnis: St. jcronimo, aboiit 2-3
milcs N. of Adnlacca lown. 'I'Iic lirst namc nicans " small St.
Jerome."
stiver; Dutcli shiiver, a coin worth slightly ovci" a pcniiy.
-siiassa: Malay siiasa. " gokl alloyal witii some ollicr metal, usually
coppLT or hroDZc."
Siiccadana: Sukadann, a porl nn (lic W. Coasl of P.ornco, ahnnl
lat. r 12' S.
Sij|!nii Af^nmaili Sach Nasroilin harclaiilaih: Siillaii Aliuiaci Shah
Nasiucldiii burclaniat. The lasr vvord is a Malay acljoctivL-
coiinoliiiR iiiajcsly, aiicl ihcr likt;, dcrivcd from llic Araliic
daulai, " godd forlunc, vvealUi, powcr," cic.
Sultans: this litlt (uscd iii mtKlerii tinics of niOst df thc IMalay
riilers in tht; Peninsula) is applicd in ihc Ircalj' \vi(h Acliiii
(o tht^ vassal niicTS of suhordinalc slaics under Achincsc sii-
|)rcn)acy, wliicli aL llial linr.' cjxlcaidcd niiich furUuT to fhc S,
on bntii sidcs of Siinialra tlian il did in modern limcs. I.ocal-
\y tJicsL' cliicfs bort' various lilles,
Surnlta see Soural.
sz; ss:: this terminalion {- ssen) at the end of proper iiamcs re-
presents an abbreviation of loon, "son," forming palronymic
names like our Johnson, Thomson, etc.
tael, taijl, tayl, teijl, teyl, theijl: Malay tahU, primarily a iinit of
weiglit and then usually one-sixtcentb of a kati (and ihei"efore
nowadays standardizcti at one ounce and a thirti ad\'p.), but
the kaii itsell" was variable and in some place.s and fur special
pnrposes contained 20 iahili); secondly, a unit of value, "..f^.
as measured In golö dust or t'm.
Taijoan: Taiwan: a port on (be W. Coast of the island of Por-
mosa, about lat. 23° N.; the name was also applied to Lhe
island as a whole.
Tampin: a viilage and territory just beyond the N. frontier of
Naning territory about 19 miles N. (by a little W.) frcni
Malacca town.
Tanasserij, Tanasser}', Tanassirij, Tannassarij, Tannasserij: Tenas-
serim, a town in S. Burma, about lat. 12° N., a!so the whole
extenson of S. Burma from about 17° to 10° N. The orijdn
of the name is in doubt, but the final vi is merely the sign of
the usual Portuguese nasalization, not an original part of the
word.
Tandon, Tonda: evidently a place in Sumatra somewhere near
Kebon (see Cabon), but not identified.
tanga, tange: a coin, see crusado.
Tanjong, Tanjongh: a place in E. Sumatra, probably Tanjong
Balai, the capital of Asahan, lying on the river of that name a
few miles upstream from its raoutli, about lat. 3° N.
Journal Malayan Bra-nch [Vol. V,
Report of Governor l'althasar Bort on Alalacca 231
Tanjong J.ihnlij: Taiijong J;i(i. Ihe W. poiiil of the island of BCng-
kaiis (sce BcncalisJ al. (Ik' \V. ciUraiice lo Brouwcr (or
Brewcr) Strait.
'I'anjong Pantjor: Tanjong Panchor, evidently Pulau Panchor
(olhcrwise cafictl Piilaii Rangsang) an island ncar the B.
cnlrancc of IJrouwcr Slrail, aboiit lat. 1° N.
Tanjong Parpar Scraltas: Ihi.s wouid sccni to ht Pulau Rantau
(or I'. Trbing Tinggi) S. of llic prcccding.
"ränna Mera: Malay iaiiab vierab, "red carth," (I) a place ncar
Ulf Malacca river, about 8 miics N. of Maiacca lovvn, (2) a
placc near Ihe scashore about 9 miics WNW. of the same
town.
Tannasarij, Tannasscrij, see 'lanasscrij.
(apc chindos, lape grandcs, tapc grandos, (apc Icij de Coutdiiii,
lapc qnitcliil, tape ranirat, lapL- sarassa, tapc sarassa Icipocan:
Alalay iapeb, Javancse iaj^ih, " skirt wurn by wonien " (cciiii-
valcnl to tiic Malay sarong, cxcept llial Ihis is also uscd of
men), [-"urtugucsc granäe, " big," Malay kcchU, " small," and
see Ciiindos, Celas, and Sarassa. liamrat and telpocan are
iinexplained.
Taprobane: this is undoublcdly Ceylon (in Ptolemy), bul the
erroneous conjecturc llial it was meant for Sumatra lias
oftcn i.icen made, even in modern times.
Tartars; Ihe Mancluis, who conquered China in the I7th century.
Taypa: a siiburb of Malacca town, unidentified.
teiji, teyl, theijl see taei.
Tico: Tiko, Tiku, a port on the W. Coast of Sumatra, about lat.
O" 20' S.
'loedjong, Tudon: Tedong, u smal! ri\'er, and also a mukim or
vdlage about i I miles ÉSE, from Malacca town.
Tommagon; Malay ievifinjgong, " title of a high minister of
State."
fonda see Tandon.
'Jonquin: Tonquin or Tongking, the most northern pari of Ihe
E. Coast of Indo-China, formcrly an independent kingdom.
Toulella f-^alawan; To' Leia Pahlavvan; To' is an abbreviation of
Malay äaio', '■' chief ; for LeJa 5^1? Gapade; Pahlawan is from
the Persian, meaning " champion."
tra, traes: Malay tera, "a royai seal," and hence royal letters
purportiiig to convey favours or privileges.
Träng, Trangh: Träng, a town on the W. Coast of Lower Siam,
about lat. 7° 20' N.
IQ771 /?/iv/,; Ac^^f-;,- c«.;^^..
MONASH UNI
C0291 18419 Sary
Å^l Ki^|i(iil <il' llovciMoi li;iltli:is:ir Itorl oii Älnlaco;!
'l'u;ilnn: Miilay hiahnni, " ;i hirgi; Iivl' oii wliich wlUi ha-.s in;il<(.:
Ilicir \K-^\," ii.-uiic [)!" ;i plitcc in M;il,-iC(-";i IrniUirv ;i'n)ii( 7 \m\\is
N. liy Ii. of Malacca inwii.
Tudon, see Tocdjong.
'I^inm^an: a jjlacc in Malacca Icnilory whcrc llic Diiich ii. I. Co.
Iiati an L;,stal.c, unidcnlifiL-d.
Viringiii: Malay hrriuion. nanic of a Ircc (l-iius hniinuiiiici ), a vil-
i;t^o aiul wukhu in Malacca UTriloiv' alnmi K) iniltvs N. of
Malacca lown.
Wiclicr waiidijs: .soine kind of pii-cc j^odd.s, prcsMniahly from
Vikrnvandi, a j)iacc in llic SoliIIi Ai'coI, iJisliicI, S. India,
aliouLiong. 79" .M' Ii., la!. 12" 2' N.
Winguiia: Vciiigurla, a jilacc in S. Konltan, \V. (jkisI of S. india,
in la(. 15° 52' N.
ZalcLtcrs sec Salcttcrs.
