Memoir Of Hendrick Zwaardecroon, Commandeur Of Jaffnapatam Part 7

With regard to the high grounds northward and southward of the town, this is not very considerable, and thus not a source of much danger. I admit, however, that it would be better if they were somewhat lower, but the surface is so large that I fear it would involve a great deal of labour and expenditure. In case this were necessary, it would be just as important that the whole row of buildings right opposite the fort in the town should be broken down. I do not see the great necessity for either, while moreover, the soil consists of sand and stone, which is not easily dug. With regard to the horse stables and the carpenters' yard just outside the gate of the Castle, enclosed by a wall, the river, and the moat of the Castle, which is deepest in that place (although I did not see much water in it), I think it would have been better if they had been placed elsewhere; but yet I do not think they are very dangerous to the fort, especially as that corner can be protected from the points Hollandia and Gelria; while, moreover, the roof of the stable and the walls towards the fort could be broken down on the approach of an enemy; for, surely no one could come near without being observed. As these buildings have been only newly erected, they will have to be used, in compliance with the orders from Batavia.

Thus far as to my advice with regard to this fort; but I do not mean to oppose the proposals of the Commandeur. I will only state here that I found the moat of unequal breadth, and in some places only half as wide as it ought to be, of which no mention is made here. In some places also it is not sufficiently deep to turn the water by banks or keep it four or five feet high by water-mills. Even if this were so, I do not think the water could be retained on account of the sandy and stony soil, especially as there are several low levels near by. Supposing even that it were possible, the first thing an enemy would do would be to direct a few shots of the canon towards the sluices, and thus make them useless. I would therefore recommend that, if possible, the moat be deepened so far during the south-west monsoon that it would be on a level with the river, by which four or six feet of water would always stand in it. With regard to the sowing of thorns, I fear that during the dry season they would be quite parched and easily take fire. This proposal shows how little the work at the moat has really advanced, in fact, when I saw it it was dry and overgrown with gra.s.s. So long as the fort is not surrounded by a moat, I cannot see the necessity for a drawbridge, but the Honourable the Government of India will dispose of this matter. Meantime I have had many improvements made, which I hope will gain the approval of Their Excellencies.

52. The fortress Hammenhiel is very well situated for the protection of the harbour and the river of Kaits. The sand bank and the wall damaged by the storm have been repaired. The height of the reservoir is undoubtedly a mistake, which must be altered. The gate and the part of the rampart are still covered with the old and decayed beams, and it would be well if the project of Mr. Blom be completed. This is a very necessary work, which must be hurried on as much as circ.u.mstances permit, and it is recommended to Your Honours' attention, because the old roof threatens to break down.

53. As I have not seen any of these places, I cannot say whether the water tanks are required or not. As the work has to wait for Dutch bricks, it will be some time before it can be commenced, because there are none in store here.

54. Manaar is a fortress with four entire bastions. I found that the full garrison, including Europeans and Mixties, [75] consists of 44 men, twelve or fifteen of whom are moreover usually employed in the advanced guard or elsewhere. I do not therefore see the use of this fortress, and do not understand why instead of this fortress a redoubt was not built. Having been built the matter cannot now be altered. It has been stated that Manaar is an island which protects Jaffnapatam on the south, but I cannot see how this is so. The deepening of the moat cannot be carried out so soon, but the elevations may be removed. Lime I consider can be burnt there in sufficient quant.i.ties, and my verbal orders to the Resident have been to that effect. The pavement for the canons I found quite completed, but the floors of the galleries of the dwelling houses not yet. The water reservoir of brick, which is on a level with the rampart, I have ordered to be surrounded with a low wall, about 3 or 3 1/2 feet high, with a view to prevent accidents to the sentinels at night, which are otherwise likely to occur. The Dessave must see whether this has been done, as it is not likely that I would go there again, because I intend returning to Colombo by another route.

55. Great attention should be paid to the provisions and ammunition. The order of His Excellency van Mydregt was given as a wise precaution, but has proved impracticable after many years of experience, as His Excellency himself was also aware, especially with regard to grain and rice, on account of the variable crops to which we are subject here. However, the plan must be carried out as far as possible in this Commandement, with the understanding that no extraordinary prices are paid for the purchase of rice; while, on the other hand, care must be taken that the grain does not spoil by being kept too long; because we do not know of any kind of rice except that from Coromandel which can be kept even for one year. At present rice and nely are easily obtained, and therefore I do not consider it necessary that the people of Jaffnapatam should be obliged to deliver their rice at half per cent. less to the Company. The ten kegs of meat and ten kegs of bacon must be sent to Colombo by the first opportunity, to be disposed of there, if it is not spoilt (which is very much to be feared). In case it is unfit for use the loss will be charged to the account of this Commandement, although it has to be borne by the Company all the same. Greater discrimination should be exercised in future to prevent such occurrences, and I think it would be well in emergencies to follow the advice of the late Mr. Paviljoen, viz., to capture 1,000 or 1,200 cattle around the fort and drive them inside it, while dry burs, &c., may also be collected to feed them. The arrack must never be accepted until it has been proved to be good. In Batavia it is tested by burning it in a silver bowl, and the same ought to be done here, it being tested by two Commissioners and the dispenser. In future bad arrack will be charged to the account of the person who accepted it. The acceptance of inferior goods proves great negligence, to say the least, and Your Honours are recommended to see that these orders are observed. It is a satisfaction to know that there is a sufficient stock of ammunition. An attempt must be made to repair the old muskets, and those which are unfit for use must be sent to Colombo. Pitch and tar will be sent. The storing away of fuel is a praiseworthy precaution; but on my arrival I found only very little kept here, and the s.p.a.ce for the greater part empty.

56. The military and the garrison are proportionately as strong here as in other places, the want of men being a general complaint. However, in order to meet this defect in some way, 34 of the military men who came here with me are to remain, and also the three men whom I left at Manaar and appointed to that station. I therefore do not think it necessary to employ any more oepa.s.ses, [76] especially as we intend to reduce the number of these people in Colombo to a great extent, so that if they are really required, which I cannot see yet, some of them might be sent here. At present we have nothing to fear from the Sinhalese. We are on good terms with them, and it would be inexcusable to employ any new men whose maintenance would be a heavy expenditure. Strict discipline and continual military drill are very important points, specially recommended to the attention of the Dessave.

57. Public Works.--Care must be taken that no more native artisans are employed than is necessary, as this means a considerable daily expenditure. The various recommendations on this subject must be observed. The four old and decayed Portuguese houses, which I found to be in a bad condition, must be rebuilt when circ.u.mstances permit, and may then serve as dwellings for the clergy and other qualified officers, [77] but orders from Batavia must be awaited. Meantime I authorize Your Honours to have the armoury rebuilt, as this is indispensable.

58. I agree with the recommendations with regard to the horse stables, and also think that they could very well be supervised by the Chief, and that it is undesirable for private overseers to be employed for this purpose. The stable outside the fort has been brought into readiness, and it may now be considered for what purpose the stable in the Castle could be utilized.

59. It is well that the floor of the hospital has been raised, but the floor of the back gallery is also too low, so that it is always wet whenever it rains, the water both rising from the ground and coming down from the roof, which has been built too flat. It is also necessary that a door be made in the ante-room and the entrance of the gallery, in order to shut out the cold north winds, which are very strong here and cause great discomfort to the patients. I also think that the half walls between the rooms should be raised by a half stone wall up to the roof, because it is too cold as it is at present for such people. These and other improvements are also recommended to the attention of the Dessave.

60. It is always the case with the Company's slaves, to ask for higher pay as soon as they learn a trade. I cannot countenance this on my part, because I consider that they already receive the highest pay allowed for a slave. They deserve no more than others who have to do the heaviest and dirtiest work. These also if put to the test would do higher work, as experience has proved. It is true that the number here is small, but I think the rules should be the same in all places. As there are, however, some slaves in Colombo also who receive higher pay, the wages of the man who draws 6 fanams might be raised to 8, 4 to 6, and 3 to 5 fanams, on the understanding that no increase will be given hereafter. The emanc.i.p.ation of slaves and the intermarrying with free people has also been practised and tolerated in Ceylon, but whatever may be the pretext, I think it is always to the prejudice of the Company in the case of male slaves. In the case of women without children the matter is not quite so important, and I would consent to it in the present case of the woman whom a native proposes to marry, provided she has no children and is willing to place a strong and healthy subst.i.tute. Until further orders no more slaves are to be emanc.i.p.ated or allowed to intermarry with free people. Those who are no longer able to work must be excused, but those who have been receiving higher pay because they know some trade will, in that case, receive no more than ordinary slaves. It is not wise to emanc.i.p.ate slaves because they are old, as it might have undesirable consequences, while also they might in that case very soon have to be maintained by the Deaconate.

61. It is in compliance with our orders that close regard should be paid to all that pa.s.ses at Manaar. This has been confirmed again by our letter of June 1, especially with a view to collect the duty from the vessels carrying cloth, areca-nut, &c., as was always done by the Portuguese, and formerly also by the Company during the time of the free trade. Further orders with regard to this matter must be awaited from Batavia. Meantime our provisional orders must be observed, and in case these are approved, it will have to be considered whether it would not be better to lease the Customs duty. Personally I think that this would be decidedly more profitable to the Company.

62. With regard to the ill-fated elephants, I have to seriously recommend better supervision. It is unaccountable how so many of these animals should die in the stables. Out of three or four animals sent to Jaffnapatam in 1685, and once even out of ten animals sent, only one reached the Castle alive. If such be the case, what use is it to the Company for efforts to be made for the delivery of a large number of elephants? Moreover, experience proves that this need not be looked upon as inevitable, because out of more than 100 elephants kept in the lands of Matura hardly two or three died in a whole year, while two parties of 63 animals each had been transported for more than 120 miles by land and reached their destination quite fresh and well, although there were among these six old and decrepit and thirteen baby elephants, some only 3 cubits high and rather delicate. It is true, as has been said, that the former animals had been captured with nooses, which would tire and harm them more than if they were caught in kraals, but even then they make every effort to regain their liberty, and, moreover, the kraals were in use here also formerly, and even then a large number of the animals died. These are only vain excuses, for I have been a.s.sured by the Lieutenant Claas Isaacsz and others who have often a.s.sisted in the capture of elephants, both with nooses and in kraals, that these animals (which are very delicate and must be carefully tended, as they cannot be without food for 24 hours) were absolutely neglected both in the stables at Manaar and on the way. An animal of 5 or 6 cubits high is fed and attended there by only one cooly, while each animal requires at least three coolies. They are only fed on gra.s.s, if it is to be had, and at most 10, 12, or 15 olas or coconut leaves, whereas they require at least 50 or 60, and it is very likely that those that are being transported get still less, while the journey itself also does them a great deal of harm. How little regard is paid to these matters I have seen myself in the lands of Mantotte and elsewhere, and the Chief of Manaar, Willem de Ridder, when questioned about it, had to admit that none of the keepers or those who transported the animals, who are usually intemperate and inexperienced toepas soldiers or Lascoreens, had ever been questioned or even suspected in this matter. This is neglect of the Company's interests, and in future only trustworthy persons should be employed, and fines or corporal punishment ordered in case of failure, as the death of such a large number of elephants causes considerable loss to the Company. I think it would be best if the Chief of Manaar were held mostly responsible for the supervision and after him the Adigar of Mantotte. They must see that the animals are fed properly when kept in the stalls during the rainy season; and these animals must always have more than they eat, as they tread upon and waste part of it. During the dry season the animals must be distributed over the different villages in the Island, some also being sent to Ca.r.s.el. Care must be taken that besides the cornak [78] there are employed three parrias [79] for each animal to provide its food, instead of one only as at present, and besides the Chief and the Adigar a trustworthy man should be appointed, either a Dutch sergeant or corporal or a reliable native, to supervise the stalls. His duty will be to improve the stables, and see that they are kept clean, and that the animals are properly fed. The tank of Manaar, which is shallow and often polluted by buffaloes, must be cleaned, deepened, and surrounded with a fence, and in future only used for the elephants. The Adigar must supervise the transport of the elephants from Mantotte and Manaar to the Castle, and he must be given for his a.s.sistance all such men as he applies for. At the boundary of the district of Mantotte he must give over his charge to the Adigar of Pringaly, and the latter transporting them to the boundary of Ponneryn must give them over to the Adigar of Ponneryn, and he again at the Pa.s.ses to the Ensign there, who will transport them to the Castle. Experience will prove that in this way nearly all the animals will arrive in good condition. The Dessave de Bitter is to see that these orders are carried out, and he may suggest any improvements he could think of, which will receive our consideration. This is all I have to say on the subject. It seems that the Castle, &c., are mostly kept up on account of the elephants, and therefore the sale of these animals must counterbalance the expenditure.

63. The cultivation of dye-roots is dealt with under the heading of the Moorish Trade.

64. I approve the orders from Colombo of May 17, 1695, with regard to the proposal by Perie Tamby, for I think that he would have looked for pearl oysters more than for chanks.

65. With regard to the pearl fishery, some changes will have to be made. The orders will be sent in time from Colombo before the next fishery. In my Memoir, left at Colombo, I have ordered with regard to the proposal of the Committee that four buoys should be made as beacons for the vessels, each having a chain of 12 fathoms long, with the necessary adaptations in the links for turning. With regard to the question as to the prohibition of the export of coconuts on account of the large number of people that will collect there, I cannot see that it would be necessary. When the time arrives, and it is sure that a fishery will be held, Your Honours may consider the question once more, and if you think it to be so, the issue of pa.s.sports may be discontinued for the time. Most likely a fishery will be held in the beginning of next year, upon which we hope G.o.d will give His blessing, the Company having made a profit of Fl. 77,435.12 1/2 last time, when only three-fourths of the work could be done on account of the early south-west monsoon.

66. All particulars having been stated here with regard to the inhabited islets, I do not consider it necessary to make any remarks about them.

67. Horse breeding surely promises good results as stated in the annexed Memoir. I visited the islands De Twee Gebroeders, and saw about 200 foals of one, two, and three years old. I had some caught with nooses, and they proved to be of good build and of fairly good race. On the island of Delft there are no less than 400 or 500 foals. Many of those on the islands De Twee Gebroeders will soon be large enough to be captured and trained, when 15 animals, or three teams, must be sent to Colombo to serve for the carriages with four horses in which it is customary to receive the Kandyan amba.s.sadors and courtiers. They must be good animals, and as much as possible alike in colour. At present we have only ten of these horses, many of which are too old and others very unruly, so that they are almost useless. Besides these, 15 riding horses are required for the service of the Company in Colombo and Galle, as not a single good saddle horse is to be found in either of these Commandements. Besides these, 25 or 30 horses must be sent for sale to private persons by public auction, which I trust will fetch a good deal more than Rds. 25 or 35, as they do in Coromandel. The latter prices are the very lowest at which the animals are to be sold, and none must be sold in private, but always by public auction. This, I am sure, will be decidedly in the interest of the Company and the fairest way of dealing. I would further recommend that, as soon as possible, a stable should be built on the islands De Twee Gebroeders like that in Delft, or a little smaller, where the animals could be kept when captured until they are a little tamed, as they remain very wild for about two months. Next to this stable a room or small house should be built for the Netherlander to whom the supervision is entrusted. At present this person, who is moreover married, lives in a kind of Hottentot's lodging, which is very unseemly. The Dessave must see that the inhabitants of the island Delft are forbidden to cultivate cotton, and that the cotton trees now found there are destroyed; because the number of horses is increasing rapidly. The Dessave noticed only lately that large tracts of land of two, three, and more miles are thus cultivated, in direct opposition to the Company's orders. It seems they are not satisfied to be allowed to increase the number of their cattle by thousands, all of which have to derive their food from the island as well as the Company's horses, but they must also now cultivate cotton, which cannot be tolerated and must be strictly prohibited. Once the horses perished for want of water; on one occasion they were shot on account of crooked legs; and it would be gross carelessness if now they had to perish by starvation.

68. The Pa.s.ses of Colomboture, Catsjay, Ponneryn, Pyl, Elephant, and Beschutter; Point Pedro; the Water fortress, Kayts or Hammenhiel; Aripo; Elipoecareve; and Palwerain-cattoe. No particular remarks are necessary with regard to these Pa.s.ses and stations, except that I would recommend the Dessave, when he has an opportunity to visit the redoubts Pyl, Elephant, and Beschutter with an expert, to see in what way they could be best connected. I think that out of all the different proposals that of a strong and high wall would deserve preference, if it be possible to collect the required materials, as it would have to be two miles long. As to the other proposals, such as that of making a fence of palmyra trees or thorns, or to dig a moat, I think it would be labour in vain; but whatever is done must be carried out without expense or trouble to the Company, in compliance with the orders from the Supreme Government of India.

69. The instructions with regard to the water tanks must be carried out as far as possible.

70. I agree with what is said here with regard to the public roads.

71. That the elephant stalls and the churches should have been allowed to fall into decay speaks badly for the way in which those concerned have performed their duty; and it is a cause of dissatisfaction. The orders for the stalls in Manaar must also be applied for here, and repairs carried out as soon as possible. I have been informed that there are many elephants scattered here and there far from each other, while only one Vidana acts as chief overseer, so that he cannot possibly attend to his duty properly. It has been observed that the elephants should have more parias or men who provide their food. These and other orders with regard to the animals should be carried out.

72. No remarks are required with regard to this subject of thornback skins, Amber de gris, Carret, and elephants' tusks.

73. The General Paresse [80] has been held upon my orders on the last of July. Three requests were made, two of which were so frivolous and unimportant that I need not mention them here. These were dropped. The third and more important one was that the duty on native cloth, which at present is 25 per cent., might be reduced. It was agreed that from the 31st December it would be only 20 per cent. I was in a position to settle this matter at once, because orders had been already received from Batavia that they could be reduced to 20 per cent., but no more. As shown in the annexed Memoir, the inhabitants are not so badly off as they try to make us believe. The further instructions in the annexed Memoir must be observed; and although I have verbally ordered the Onderkoopman De Bitter to have the Pattangatyns appear only twice instead of twelve times a year, as being an unbearable inconvenience, the Dessave must see that this order is obeyed. He must also make inquiries whether the work could be done by one Cannekappul, and, if so, Jeronimus must be discharged.

74. Conclusion.--The advice in this conclusion may be useful to Your Honours. I confirm the list of members of the Political Council, to whom the rule of this Commandement in the interest of the Company is seriously recommended. Reports of all transactions must be sent to Colombo.

NOTES TO APPENDIX.

A.--No remarks are necessary in regard to the introduction.

B.--In elucidation of the doc.u.ment sent by us with regard to the opening of the harbours of the Kandyan King, as to how far the instructions extend and how they are to be applied within the Company's jurisdiction, nothing need be said here, as this will be sufficiently clear from our successive letters from Colombo. We would only state that it would seem as if Mr. Zwaardecroon had forgotten that the prohibition against the clandestine export of cinnamon applies also to the export of elephants, and that these may not be sold either directly or indirectly by any one but the Company.

C.--It is not apparent that our people would be allowed to purchase areca-nut in Trincomalee on account of the opening of the harbours. Mr. Zwaardecroon's plan has been submitted to Their Excellencies at Batavia, who replied in their letters of December 12, 1695, and July 3, 1696, that some success might be obtained by getting the nuts through the Wanny from the King's territory. An experiment might be made (provided Their Excellencies approve) charging Rds. 1/3 per ammunam, as is done in Colombo, Galle, Matura, &c. This toll could be farmed out, and the farmers authorized to collect the duty at the pa.s.ses, no further duties being imposed whether the nuts are exported or not. If the duty were levied only on the nuts that are exported, the inhabitants who now buy them from the Company at Rds. 6 per ammunam would no longer do so, and this profit would be lost. Whether the duty ought to be higher than Rds. 1/3 remains yet to be seen. The same rule must be applied to pepper, cotton, &c., imported at the pa.s.ses, 7 1/2 per cent. being charged as alphandigo. [81] This being paid, the articles may be sold here, exported, or anything done as the inhabitants please, without further liability to duty.

D.--In the proclamation referred to here, in which free trade is permitted at all harbours in Ceylon in the Company's territory, it is clearly stated that the harbours may be freely entered with merchandise, provided the customary duties are paid, and that only the subjects of the Kandyan King are exempted from the payment of these. It does not seem to me that this rule is in agreement with the supposition that because of this free trade the duty on foreign and native cloth would be abolished. If Mr. Zwaardecroon had made inquiries he would have been informed that, as far as the import of foreign cloth is concerned, the duty is the same as that in Colombo and Galle. The proposed change would apparently bring about an increase of the alphandigo, but where then would be found the Rds. 7,1 0 as duty on the native and foreign cloths? I cannot see on what basis this proposal is founded, and I therefore think that the Customs duty of 20 per cent. on the imported foreign cloths and the 20 per cent. for the stamping of native cloths must be continued when, on the 31st December next, the lease for the duty of 25 per cent. expires, the more so as it has been pointed out in this Memoir wherever possible that the inhabitants are increasing in prosperity. This agrees with what was discussed at the general Paresse. With regard to the Moorish merchants from Bengal, there would be no objection to the duty on the cloths imported by them being fixed at 7 1/2 per cent., because they have to make a much longer voyage than the merchants from Coromandel and other places on the opposite coast; while we have to humour them in order to induce them to provide us with rice. Moreover the Bengal cloths are not very much in demand, and these people usually ask to be paid in elephants, which do not cost the Company very much, rather than in cash, as has been done again by the owner of the ship that is here at present on behalf of the Bengal Nabob Caungaarekan. He also complained of the duty of 20 per cent. and said he would pay no more than the Company pays in Bengal. He said his master the Nabob would be very angry, &c. We therefore considered whether the duty could not be reduced to 7 1/2 per cent., as may be seen in the resolutions of June 4 last. On December 12, 1695, a letter was received from Batavia in answer to the difficulties raised by Mr. Zwaardecroon with regard to these impositions, in which it is said that the Customs duty for Bengal from the date of the license for free trade should be regulated as it had been in olden times, with authority to remove difficulties in their way and to give them redress where necessary. I found that the duty paid by them formerly on these cloths was 7 1/2 per cent., both in Galle and here, and I therefore authorize Your Honours to levy from them only that amount. This must be kept in mind at the farming out of these revenues at the end of the year, in order to prevent difficulties with the farmer, as happened only lately. I trust, however, that the farming out will not yield less than other years. Meantime, and before any other vessels from Bengal arrive, the approbation of Their Excellencies at Batavia must be obtained with regard to this matter, so that alterations may be made according to their directions without any difficulty.

E.--I must confess that I do not understand how the subject of free trade can be brought forward again as being opposed to the Company's interests, as is done again with regard to the 24 casks of coconut oil which the inhabitants have to deliver to the Company, which are properly paid for and are not required for the purpose of sale but for the use of the Company's servants, or how any one dares to maintain that the lawful sovereign who extends his graciousness and favours over his subjects and neighbours would be tied down and prejudiced by such rules. It is true that the coconut trees in Matura are required for the elephants, but in Galle and Colombo it is not so; but the largest number of trees there is utilized for the drawing of surie [82] for arrack, &c. It is true that some nuts are exported, but only a small quant.i.ty, while the purchasers or transporters have to sell one-third of what they export to the Company at Rds. 2 a thousand, while they must cost them at least Rds. 3. Out of these we had the oil pressed ourselves, and this went largely to supplement the requirements for local consumption, which are very large, since the vessels also have to be supplied, because as a matter of economy the native harpuis (resin) has been largely used for rubbing over the ships, so as to save the Dutch resin as much as possible, and for the manufacture of this native resin a large quant.i.ty of oil is required. Your Honours must therefore continue to have all suitable casks filled with oil, and send to Colombo all that can be spared after the required quant.i.ty has been sent to Coromandel, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa, reserving what is necessary for the next pearl fishery and the use of the Commandement. In order to avoid difficulties, Your Honours are required to send to Colombo yearly (until we send orders to the contrary) 12 casks of coconut oil and 2 casks of margosa oil, which are expected without failure. For the rest we refer to what is said under the heading of Coconut Trees.

F.--This form for a pa.s.sport was sent for no other purpose but that it should be introduced according to instructions.

G.--There is sufficient time yet for the opening of the road from Putulang to Mantotte. I am well pleased with the work of the Dessave, and approve of the orders given by him to the Toepas Adigar Rodrigo, and the various reports submitted by him. In these he states that the roads are now in good condition, while on June 5, when 34 elephants arrived from Colombo, on this side of Putulang nothing had been done yet, and even on July 16 and 17 when His Excellency the Governor pa.s.sed part of that road the work had advanced but very little. I therefore sent on the 14th instant the Lieutenant Claas Isaacsz, who had successfully transported the animals from Colombo to Putulang, and is a man who can be depended upon, with two surveyors to see that the roads, which were narrow and extraordinary crooked, were widened to 2 roods and straightened somewhat in the forest, and to cut roads leading to the water tanks. Sixty Wallias or wood-cutters, 150 coolies, and 25 Lascoreens were sent to complete this work, so that in future there will be no difficulties of this kind, except that the dry tanks must be deepened. I will see Mr. Isaacsz on this subject on my return. On account of his shameful neglect and lying and for other well-known reasons I have dismissed the Adigar Domingo Rodrigo as unworthy to serve the Company again anywhere or at any time, and have appointed in his place Alexander Anamale, who has been an Adigar for many years in the same place. In giving him this appointment I as usual obtained the verbal and written opinions of several of the Commandeurs, who stated that he had on the whole been vigilant and diligent in his office, but was discharged last year by the Commission from Colombo without any reasons being known here, to make room for the said incapable Domingo Rodrigo, who was Adigar of Ponneryn at the time. I suppose he was taken away from there to please the Wannia chiefs Don Philip Nellamapane and Don Gaspar Ilengenarene, whose eldest son Gaspar, junior, was appointed Master of the Hunt, as stated under the heading of the Wanny and Ponneryn. With regard to the instructions to compile various lists, this order must be carried out in so far as they are now complete. With regard to the significant statement that the Honourable Company does not possess any lands in Jaffnapatam, and that there is not the smallest piece of land known of which the Company does not receive taxes, and that it therefore would be impossible to compile a list of lands belonging to or given away on behalf of the Company, and in case of the latter by whom, to whom, when, why, &c., I am at a loss to follow the reasoning, and it seems to me that there is something wrong in it, because the protocols at the Secretariate here show that during the years 1695, 1696, and 1697 five pieces of land were given away by Mr. Zwaardecroon himself, and this without the least knowledge or consent of His Excellency the Governor; while, on the other hand, I know that there are still many fields in the Provinces which are lying waste and have never been cultivated; so that they belong to the Company and no one else. At present the inhabitants send their cattle to these lands to graze, as the animals would otherwise destroy their cultivated fields, but in the beginning all lands were thus lying waste. With a view to find out how many more of these lands there are here, and where they are situated, I have instructed the Thombo-keeper, Mr. Bolscho, to draw up a list of them from the newly compiled Thombo, beginning with the two Provinces Willigamme and Waddamoraatschie, the Thombo of which is completed; the other three Provinces must be taken up later on. Perhaps the whole thing could be done on one sheet of paper, and it need not take two years, nor do we want the whole Thombo in several reams of imperial paper. As soon as the surveyors and Mr. Bolscho return from their work at the road to Putulang, this work must be taken in hand and the list submitted as soon as possible. I also do not see the difficulty of compiling a list of all the small pieces of land which, in the compiling of the new Thombo, were discovered on re-survey to have been unlawfully taken possession of. Since my arrival here I had two such lists prepared for the Provinces Willigamme and Waddamoraatschie covering two sheets of paper each. This work was well worth the trouble, as the pieces of cultivated land in the Province of Willigamme amounted to 299,977 1/2 and in Waddamoraatschie to 128,013 roods, making altogether 427,990 1/2 roods. These, it is said, might be sold to the present owners for about Rds. 7,000. I think it would be best if these lands were publicly leased out, so that the people could show their deeds. I think this would not be unreasonable, and consider it would be sufficient favour to them, since they have had the use of the lands for so many years without ever paying taxes. When the new Thombo is compiled for the Provinces of Patchelepalle and Timmeraatsche and the six inhabited islands, some lands will surely be discovered there also.

H.--It is in compliance with instructions, and with my approbation, that the accounts with the purchasers of elephants in Golconda and with the Brahmin Timmerza have been settled. For various reasons which it is not necessary to state here he is never to be employed as the Company's broker again, the more so as the old custom of selling the elephants by public auction has been reintroduced this year, as has been mentioned in detail under the heading of Trade.

Your Honours must comply with our orders contained in the letter of May 4 last from Colombo, as to how the cheques from Golconda are to be drawn up and entered in the books. With regard to the special request of the merchants that the amount due to them might be paid in cash or elephants through the said Timmerza to their attorneys, this does not appear in their letter of December 7, 1696, from Golconda, but the princ.i.p.al purchasers of elephants request that the Company may a.s.sist the people sent by them in the obtaining of vessels, and, if necessary, give them an advance of 300 or 400 PaG.o.das, stating that these had been the only reasons why they had consented to deal with the said Timmerza. In our letter of May 4 Your Honours have been informed that His Excellency Laurens Pit, Governor of Coromandel, has consented at our request to communicate with you whenever necessary, as the means of the Golconda merchants who desire to obtain advances from the Company, and how much could be advanced to their attorneys. Such cases must be carefully dealt with, but up to the present no such request has been made, which is so much the better.

I.--The 20,000 paras or 866 2/3 lasts of nely applied for from Negapatam will come in useful here, although since the date of this Memoir or the 6th of June the Council agreed to purchase on behalf of the Company the 125 1/5 lasts of rice brought here in the Bengal ship of the Nabob of Kateck Caim Caareham, because even this does not bring the quant.i.ty in store to the 600 lasts which are considered necessary for Jaffnapatam, as is shown under the heading of provisions and ammunition. It will be necessary to encourage the people from Bengal in this trade, as has been repeatedly stated.

K.--The pet.i.tion mentioned here, submitted by the bargemen of the Company's pontons, stating that they have been made to pay all that had been lost on various cargoes of rice above one per cent., that they had not been fairly dealt with in the measuring, &c., deserves serious investigation. It must be seen to that these people are not made to refund any loss for which they are not responsible and which they could not prevent, and the annexed recommendation should be followed as far as reasonable. The point of the unfair measuring must be especially attended to, since such conduct would deserve severe correction.

L.--The instructions given here with regard to the receipt of PaG.o.das must be carried out, but none but Negapatam or Palicatte PaG.o.das must be received or circulated. Our instructions under the heading of Golden PaG.o.das must be observed.

M.--The Dessave de Bitter is to employ the Lieutenant Claas Isaacsz in the Public Works Department on his return from Putulang after the transport of the elephants, being a capable man for this work. The most necessary work must be carried out first. Last year the Commissioners, Messrs. van Keulen and Pet.i.tfilz, presented the son of the deceased Don Philip Sangerepulle with a horse and a sombreer [83] by order of His Excellency the Governor, apparently because he was the chief of the highest caste, or on account of his father's services. Much has been said against the father, but nothing has been proved, and indeed greater scoundrels might be found on investigation. I now see that Mr. Zwaardecroon, because no act of authority was shown to him, has rejected this presentation and ordered the Political Council here from the yacht "Bekenstyn" on March 29 of this year to demand back from the youth this horse and sombreer. This having been done without my knowledge and consent, I countermand this order, and expect Your Honours to carry out the orders of His late Excellency the Governor. [84] With regard to the administration of this Commandement, I have stated what was necessary under the heading of the Form of Government at the conclusion of the Memoir to which I herewith refer. I will only add here that since then I have had reason to doubt whether my instructions with regard to the Political Council and the manner in which the administration is to be carried out has been properly understood. I reiterate therefore that the Dessave de Bitter will be looked upon and respected as the Chief in the Commandement during the absence of the Commandeur, and that to him is entrusted the duty of convening the meetings both of the Political Council and of the Court of Justice. Also that he will pa.s.s and sign all orders, such as those for the Warehouses, the Treasury, the Workshop, the a.r.s.enal, and other of the Company's effects. Further, that when he stays over night in the Castle, he is to give out the watch-word and see to the opening and the closing of the gates, which, in the event of his absence, is deputed to the Captain. The Dessave will see that order and discipline are maintained, especially among the military, and also that they are regularly drilled. He is further to receive the daily reports, not only of the military but also of all master workmen, &c.; in short, he is to carry out all work just as if the Commandeur were present. Recommending thus far and thus briefly these instructions as a guidance to the Administrateur and the Political Council, and praying G.o.d's blessing--

I remain, Sirs, etc., (Signed) GERRIT DE HEERE.

Jaffnapatam, August 2, 1697.

NOTES

[1] Note on p. 40.