Chapter V - THE DUTCH AND PERAK. Part [2]

Page 36 A History of Perak.

another: we kindled a good fire to keep off wild Beasts and passed the rest of the night in many pleasant discourses and tales Thus we daily pitched water and firewood and caught an abundance of very good Fish, such as Mullet, Pike, Bream, Flounders, Flatfish and Sea Turtles of good flavour. Meanwhile the black Envoys of Pera started with the Netherlands Opperhooft for Malacca, and we, being at last ready left the Island Dinding on the 3rd December to proceed on the voyage to Bengal, but were scarcely beyond the straits of Pera and out at Sea again, when we were overtaken by such a violent storm from the North and such a heavy Sea that our Topsails nearly flew away and were torn in many pieces; the Fore-yard was broken in the middle and fell down, so that in a distressed condition we were obliged to go back again to Dinding, there to make another Fore-yard and avoid the rage of the violent tempests and yawning billows. Sailing back, we arrived again, towards evening, at the anchorage between the Island Dinding and the Coast of Pera, and we soon got accustomed to the place where we had been before and to which we had now again returned. At night we again had rough and stormy weather, but we now lay quiet encircled by Land and secured against stormy winds and rolling Sea. Our Sailors went on shore early in the morning, cut down one of the largest Trees, and having made out of it a new yard, put it up and also other sails, then weighed anchor and went to sea again."

To return to our ledgers. On 7 February 1664 the President ordered that the 32 ½ reals a bahar then being paid for Perak tin be raised by 5/8 ths or 4/5 ths of a real to compensate the Malays for the trouble of bringing it aboard Dutch vessels off their coast, the lodge still being closed: if it were brought to Malacca, the price would be 40 reals free of toll. He also lent the Bendahara 400 reals "to be repaid soon." By April, however, the local price for Perak tin was raised to 35 rix-dollars a bahar, over and above the toll of 1 in 100; the Company had also decided to allow Acheh access to Perak and not to take more than half the tin cargoes of Achinese vessels; moreover, until further notice, it was permitting Moors and others to visit Perak. Probably the reason for this leniency is to be found in an entry in the Dagh-Register under March 26: "the Perak blockading force could not stand an Achinese attack: more cruisers wanted at Malacca! " Lucasz, however, reported that the Queen of Acheh, dismayed at the closing of the lodge at her capital, had now written to Perak to let the Dutch trade as friends, adding that though they had quitted Acheh she knew of no reason for hostilities. But the Dutch spoilt their gesture of generosity, forced though it may have been, by that passion for meticulous accountancy which often marks trading companies. In 1660 the Sri Paduka Tuan, an Achinese chief whose province was the care of foreigners, had been given by Balthasar Bort the privilege of exporting from Perak 30 bahar a year of tin free of tax and toll. In 1663 this chief died and was succeeded

The Dutch and Perak. Page 37

by a Sri Paduka Raja, whereupon Riebeck enquired if the aforesaid privilege was to be continued. Now, in April 1664, the answer came that it was to cease! Acheh sent a Sri Maharaja Dewa as its representative to the Perak court, to see that the Dutch did not get too much tin! On 28 June Perak envoys came to Malacca to ask that the Dutch lodge be reopened: but Perak could not keep any of her promises for fear of Acheh and the closing of the lodge had removed the nightmare of sudden massacre. On 19 September the Dutch must have continued to be short of cruisers; for it was resolved that the Achinese should still be allowed ingress to Perak. Still, however, the Dutch seized half the tin exported in Achinese vessels, and Lucasz even took 9 bahar out of one of the Queen's ships because now there was no Dutch Resident at Acheh to check cargoes! Under 14 October, 1664, the Dagh-Register records that the Company had 656 bahar of ore in stock brought from Perak by the Malays of that State, and by the Malays, Portuguese and Chinese of Malacca; on top of that amount, the Palleacatte brought a further 164 bahar. The output of Perak tin was fair, though the raising of the price from 31¼ to 35 rix-dollars a bahar had had no marked effect:—it was not raised for tin taken from Achinese craft. Adriaen Lucasz opined that Perak was now less populous than before and could not produce more tin. At the end of 1664 some Javanese vessels sold rice to Malacca for 20 rix-dollars the koyan of 4,800 pounds and passed on to exchange salt for tin at Perak, Kedah and Ujong Salang on the understanding that they would sell the tin at Malacca.

On 19 January 1665 the President at Malacca reported to Batavia that the yacht, de Fortuijn, was too small for the Perak blockade and he asked for one or two more ships. Nevertheless the blockade was so effective that very few Achinese vessels now visited Perak, and Malacca got good supplies of tin. Surprised, Batavia warned Johan van Riebeeck at Malacca to beware lest the Achinese were concocting some dirty trick. In September the galliot Ganges, unfit for longer voyages pending repair, was sent to Perak because her deck-house was well fitted for the exhibition of goods. In November Lucasz wrote that Perak was tired of Achinese control. The fly-boat Zuylen, 4 tingang and 1 sloop were now engaged in the blockade. After being closed for two years the lodge was again opened ashore with a fleet in the estuary for its protection.

In 1668, Bort tells us, Batavia sent a memorandum to the Shahbandar at Malacca, laying down inter alia that passes for Perak, as also for Johor and Java, had to be signed both by Shahbandar and Governor: the charge was 1 real for a pass to Perak and 1 to 4 reals for anchorage dues according to tonnage. Javanese vessels often sailed with Dutch passes to Perak taking salt, sugar, onions, leeks and various small wares which they bartered for tin to be delivered (solely owing to the blockade) 

Page 38 A History of Perak.

to the Honourable Company at 40 reals the bahar. But in June 1670 the ruler of Japara (in Java) was discouraged from sending salt, rice and pepper to Acheh, Perak and Kedah, because the Company was at war with them.

A letter in the Malacca records dated 5 August 1670 gave orders to take possession of Pulau Dinding and build there a strong-hold of wood and another letter dated 31 October 1670 laid down that the garrison should consist of a sergeant, three soldiers and three sailors.

From 1676 the Dagh-Register renews its detailed information. In a letter dated 2 March Balthasar Bort reported that the Dutch sloops were often attacked by Malay pirates off the coasts of Perak and Kedah and merrily battered them, though in the Perak river the sloop Macareel was surprised under pretence of friendship by two pirate craft and all but two of her crew were killed:— the pirate stayed in Perak and had access to the Sultan! In July off the Perak coast the sloop Cacap escaped from Kedah pirates with the loss of three men. In November 1677 a sloop, the Brak, was sunk at night in. the Perak river through the fault and imprudence of the crew.

For 1678 the most valuable record is the report of Governor Balthasar Bort on Malacca. Though insisting on a garrison of five or six hundred soldiers for that port, he notes that " the power of Johor is much reduced, Aatchin (= Acheh) 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." Perak was still Acheh's vassal but her suzerain now demanded little tin. " At the present time 59 men are before Pera, engaged in the blockade of that place and stationed on the island of Dindingh, which the Honourable Company has in its possession, occupying a square wooden fort there provided with 9 pieces of iron ordnance." Their Honours maintained " that all things can be fitly managed " at the office at Perak by one superintendent merchant, one deputy or junior merchant, one first assistant, one assistant as bookkeeper of the yacht there stationed, one captain, one lieutenant and 2 ensigns. Actually there were two assistants too many and a naval force there which really required one armed yacht of 50-60 tons and 2 sloops with 60 men for their crews. This cost more than the old Residency up-river with its ten to twelve men but the greater supply of tin (about 1,200 bahar a year) made " the un-avoidable expenditure in some measure more tolerable." The 59 men (on the island and in the yacht Laren, the sloop Cacap and the boat Dingdingh) comprised a superintendent, a skipper, a bookkeeper, three assistants, 3 second mates, 2 junior surgeons, 8 soldiers and 40 seamen. Everything the yachts and sloops got from the Company's store was entered in full under the proper date in the ship's accounts and checked once a year. The

The Dutch and Perak.  Page 39

Honourable Adriaen Lucasz, now promoted chief merchant second in command and administrator of Trade at Malacca, kept the trade-books, " so well that complaints have never been made ": along with those of Indragiri and Perak and the ships' books and all other accounts, they were closed annually on 31 July and sent to Batavia in September or October. Some of the debts were bad. " The king and nobles of Pera owe florins 130,606.12.4, the amount still remaining for them to pay of the 50,000 reals imposed on them by contract in 1659 to pay on account of the despoiling of the Company's factory and murder of its servants in Perak in 1651. Whenever they deliver tin to the Honourable Company for 31¼ reals per bhaar, 1¼ reals are written off this debt but they seldom do this." The outstanding debts in Malacca, Perak and Indragiri in 1678 were florins 842,595.13.4.

Bort made for the superintendent and council in Perak a resume in 1678 of the various orders the Company had issued concerning that State so that they should not be overlooked:—

35 reals a bahar in piece-goods or cash might be paid for good quality tin delivered to the Company on the Perak river: payment in piece-goods rather than cash was always to be preferred. Perak vessels with cargoes of tin should be encouraged to sail to Malacca and promised a good reception but the blockading ships had to remove so much of their tin-cargoes as would deprive them of a reason for visiting other places and cause them to sail straight to Malacca, where the tin removed would be paid for at 40 reals a bahar on presentation of an order for payment signed by the superintendent in Perak:—the superintendent had also to check and certify the balance of tin left on each ship so that the Company might get it all. The Dutch staff in Perak was threatened with heavy penalties if any of them signed orders for payments in fictitious names so as to keep for themselves the difference between the 30 to 35 reals paid for tin in Perak and the 40 reals paid for it at Malacca. Tin bought at 30 reals had to be entered separately in the invoice and trade books " so as to credit the account of the king and nobles of Perak which still stands at florins 130,606.12.4 on the debit side with 1¼ reals a bahar. Discretion must be shown in dealing with tin exported from Perak actually for the queen of Acheh and only a part of it taken out after a suitable agreement has been reached with her ministers; for it is said that only 40 bhaer yearly ought to belong to Her Majesty from the country of Perak as an acknowledgment of her suzerainty. The quantity in one year does not usually amount to more: if the rulers of Perak make an earnest petition on the matter, the ship may be allowed to pass without anything being taken from it, so that we may not make ourselves hated." Persons sailing from Perak to Kedah or Bengkalis had to deliver their tin to the Company at 30 reals a bahar, or if payment were in piece-goods, at 35 reals, " so as to get more custom for the cloth, whereto all diligence must be applied." Before a Dutch pass was given to

Page 40 A History of Perak.

any Perak vessel, it had to produce proof under the seal of the Bendahara that the crew were honest folk and not fugitives. Achinese vessels required no Dutch passes and were to be allowed free ingress to the Perak river.

" The Moorish ships which we may on occasion allow to go to Pera for the purpose of buying elephants and exporting them to Bengale or Cormandel, as we did last year in the case of the yacht Chaffarie of the Nabob Mamet Aminchan, are bound to pay the Company's dues, 10% of the elephants purchased, just as if said animals were brought here and then exported; they are bound also to deliver all their tin to the Honourable Company. Hereto you must give careful heed, assessing the cost of the elephants here and demanding the dues, taking over all the tin (without releasing any), granting passes and putting at the disposal of the owners of the mineral an assignment to enable them to demand payment for it at 40 reals the bhaer of 375 lbs., either here in Malacca, or in Bengal or Cormandel, also writing with each ship to the Company's servants in the places, which are its destination, a short note giving the number of the exported elephants, their cost and the dues paid thereon, together with the quantity of tin delivered.

" But you shall not allow 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 other places, especially if they have come from the North and have passed by Malacca without calling there.

" The people of Queda itself must be refused entrance to Pera: even if they have a pass from our blockading force there, this pass you have to take away and send to us, allowing within the blockade only such natives of that state with their passes issued by us as have nothing but provisions in their vessels or bring some tin to sell to you or to bring themselves to Malacca, otherwise none.

" The people of Pera voyaging to Queda and Bencalis may, on their return, bring only rice, wax, iron and other similar trifling 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 in Pera at the following prices, viz.:

Price of cloth in Dutch Perak

 

The Dutch and Perak.  Page 41

" However, you will not be able to tie them down to this rate, but will have power to waive so much of it as by exact enquiry you learn is done up river in Pera by others, following thus merchants' usage, but taking care that said piece goods and calicoes are not dealt with at a lower rate than they are worth here in Malacca, reckoning the tin that is taken for them at 35 reals per bhaer.

" The tin which is given in pawn and is paid for here in Malacca at 40 reals the bhaer is almost always smelted into bars easy to handle: so that no allowance must be made for loss in smelting. Such deduction is necessary only in the case of trade tin and then only for what has been actually smelted from small pieces into ingots easy to handle and (it should be estimated) at 1%, at which we are of opinion you will be safe from loss. When receiving the tin you must be careful to see that it is not mixed with lead or fraudulently adulterated with earth or stone.

" Credit dealings have been definitely forbidden for a long time past by our masters on account of the great loss occasionally suffered therefrom. We therefore 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 to do them no discourtesy, agree, provided, that is, that the quantity 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 of tin in store, so that we may regulate our action accordingly and you may have it when necessary fetched away.

" 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 by rascals and robbed of the tin. Be careful to have the tin in stock sent to us by all ships and sloops coming to Malacca by way of Pera, if they have room or are convenient 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 such wise that it does not fall short in the weighing, otherwise the Superintendent of Pera (for the Honourable Company cannot suffer thereby) shall be bound to make good the shortage, it being understood 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 missing.

" 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, whenever any is sent to Malacca, for it is only fair that the trade should bear the expenses

Page 42 A History of Perak.

incurred in getting it. Remember also to record in the ships' books, as is customary, the ship's expenses, charging the yacht therewith.

" Of the tin exported to Malacca on the one hand and to Aatchin and the countries dependent on that kingdom on the other, you must keep proper record, so that at all times, when required, the quantity on each account can be shown.

" The grant made formerly to Sirij Paducca Tuan, governor of the foreigners in Aatchin, of the right to export 30 bhars of tin yearly from Pera without handing any of it over to us, became invalid on the death of said Orangh Caya, so that you have now to pay no regard to it.

" Any tin supplied to you at 30 reals the bhaer by the nachodas of Aatchin vessels during their stay in Pera, so that they may in return transport a like quantity afterwards to Aatchin (as has been done habitually by many in the past), you shall accept on that condition and allow said nachodas to depart unhindered with the like quantity without committing any fraud, so as not to incur the heavy penalty 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 reals the bhaer, if they are men of Pera or Aatchin, but they must be warned not to do it again, on pain of being more hardly dealt with. A notification of each case must be made to the rulers in Pera. If foreigners attempt such smuggling, the tin shall be taken from their ships and confiscated, in whole or in part according to circumstances, to the benefit of the Honourable Company, the discoverers of the smuggling being given a modest present therefrom, so as to encourage them again to keep a sharp look out on other occasions.

" The Honourable Company pays no duties in Pera on imported merchandise and wares, but, on exported tin which is bought at 30 reals the bhaer and at no higher price, we are subject to a duty of 2 reals 24 stivers per bhaer, and, in addition, on each goerab's cargo, which may be reckoned at 100 bhaers, to 3 reals 45 stivers for steelyard hire (daats loon), mast, and anchorage 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.

" The Civil (Seville) reals of eight in specie, which, like the Mexican, are not desired in Pera, although they are good silver and heavy, and moreover are current like other reals here 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 provincial dollars could also be introduced and given currency yonder, it would be a very desirable

The Dutch and Perak. Page 43

thing; you must try to get the people of Pera to listen to this and in time to bring it to pass, which should bring you much honour.

" You must diligently endeavour to prevent private individuals from getting even the smallest part of the tin, since it is obligatory on you and on everyone above all things to abstain therefrom, so 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 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 said rulers small presents, as circumstances may require and as may be to our advantage, without running to excess or going beyond what is moderate, entering in the accounts what you have actually given in presents, if you can prove it.

" In the past some complaints have been 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 him to take up continuous residence near or on the Company's yacht at the mouth of the river. When he comes, you shall be helpful to said weigher and accommodate and treat him courteously, allowing him to weigh on the steelyard all the tin that comes, so that neither one nor the other party comes short, otherwise he must be answerable and liable therefor.

" Last year the English brought their piece goods and calicoes from Queda in a sloop and sold them in Pera taking tin 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 with them), but, on the resolution of the king and nobles, they were warned off and consequently compelled to depart thence bootless and ashamed, so that we may hope that they will not return to Pera or, if they do, that they will again be warned off by the people of Pera. However, in case English, French or Danes should, contrary to our confident expectation and the efforts you would then make in the future happen to get permission to trade yonder, then you must write news of it to us at the earliest opportunity. In the meanwhile you must not use any rough measures 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 rate, as little as is compatible with good breeding. They too, on

Page 44 A History of Perak.

their side, must not oppose us, if we compel the people of Pera to maintain the said contract, since they will have broken it in admitting said Europeans.

" For instance, you must try to prevent the people of Pera from going on board English and French [ships], not allowing them to take any tin on board or to fetch piece goods from them; at first merely forbidding the same, but, if the people of Pera dare to persist in doing it, use such forcible means (without, however, venturing on anything reckless or hazardous) as may be to your hand, taking from them all 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 allowed 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 right, which they thus unjustly filch 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 here with the goods and trade in them, if they are willing to submit to the payment of the customary dues. "

You must not keep a larger force than 50 men for the blockade, in addition to those who are at present stationed in the house on the island of Dingding, if there is no more work to be done than there is at this time.

" You shall have the order recently issued by the fiscal, Jacob Martensz. Schagen to the authorities on said Dingding conformed 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.

" You must not deprive our ships passing Pera of their equipment and, if you take anything of which you have need from them, you must give a payment order for it, as is fitting. But, in order commonly to be provided with so much the more willing servants, you shall be empowered to give the equivalent sum in exchange for a signed order to such members of all our ships, yachts and sloops, without exception, happening merely 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

The Dutch and Perak.  Page 45

to stay there any longer. But this must be done on the understanding that said ships are commanded by skippers; in the case of any special persons of higher degree being on board, permission must be asked with due respect of them and no action taken in this matter without their consent, in accordance with the letter of authorization on this point issued 16 July 1667 to 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 during their time of service are found suitable for and are appointed to some office, shall 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 blockading force, you must have examined and aired at least every fortnight in fine 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 Malacca by a regular requisition, response to which you have to expect, when opportunity 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 examine, 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.

" Those persons, who allow any of the passing ships to escape us, must be sent hither to be made to suffer here their well merited punishment. But those members of the force stationed under you yonder in the blockade, who happen to commit any fault or offence under civil law, you yourself may judge in accordance with the general ordinance, the heaviest sentence in your power being keel hauling, so as to deter others from similar evil course. Delinquents guilty of more criminal offences you shall send under arrest to us to receive sentence here as the facts of the case demand.

Page 46 A History of Perak.

" You shall maintain a correspondence with the blockading forces of Queda and Oedjang Salangh, sending letters at every opportunity, wherein you record everything that has happened to you, as they also have orders to; since it is frequently necessary in the interests of the Company that the one should be informed of the condition and actions of the other, so that they may make use of this knowledge the more surely in similar or other circumstances.

" By distributing the sloops and vessels you have at your disposal 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 stealth 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 surrounding 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, dealing with the said vessel as stated above.

" Our cruisers may certainly employ arms to secure control of the Saletters, who are usually armed and have no goods or cargo of importance, if they offer resistance and it is consequently impracticable by gentler methods. Preference should, however, be given to the latter over the sternest measures and all unnecessary bloodshed should be avoided. You shall then, when occasion serves send these pirates to us under arrest to be put in chains or otherwise dealt with as the case may demand.

" You must take careful heed to the prevention of all abuses and attacks on honest men in mistake for bad ones. You must give to all the people of Pera going out daily to fish or to drag for krang or oysters a free pass note to show to our cruisers, if they meet any.

" In the issue of provisions you must maintain the requisite order according to the general ordinance, and must see to preventing the arrack from being drunk up at once on the sloops, as is customary yonder, but that each man is given daily his ordinary ration, so as to prevent all dissoluteness and needless waste of provisions, you yourself setting a good example in sobriety and numerous other

The Dutch and Perak. Page 47

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 of the barrels also and none must be neglected, but all kept in good condition. At every opportunity you must remember to send as many to us as can be spared yonder, so that it may be possible, as necessity arises, to reprovision the blockading force so much the more conveniently.

" You must close the trade books on the last day of June and at the first opportunity after that day send them hither, so that they may be duly entered in the trade books of Malacca. The ships' books must also be here every year in good time, so that they can be sent to Batavia and thence to Holland.

" If circumstances arise as to which no special order is given here, such action shall be taken as you shall judge to be demanded by the interest of the Honourable Company, after you have weighed everything well with the Council, which shall consist of the superintendent, the skipper and the bookkeeper together with all such persons in addition as the general ordinance names.

" In conclusion we recommend you always to be on your guard and in an attitude of defence, keeping both large and small firearms ready for use, so as not to be surprised unprepared by our open enemies or false friends, whom, if they have committed 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, I commend you and the Company's interests entrusted to you to God's beneficent protection."

" Again there was issued an order for Caspar Wensel of Calis in Saxony, sergeant in the service of the Dutch East India Company and also superintendent appointed over the island of Dingding, and those who may be stationed there hereafter, according to which they have, in general, to regulate their action.

" The highly esteemed Honourable Company has not only had an eye on said island of Dingding, which has never yet been held by any of the neighbouring peoples nor been counted as part of their territory, but has for a period of over 20 years almost continuously had its servants there, especially members of the Pera 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 partially. This occupation it is now decided to make complete and therefore to that end to have a house built, so that other Europeans, and especially the English, should not be beforehand with us in taking it and drawing the same island into their sphere and service. The house is now

Next Part : Chapter V - THE DUTCH AND PERAK. Part [3]