Part 15

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 passports may be discontinued for the time. Most likely a fishery will be held in the beginning of next year, upon which we hope God 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 ambassadors 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 Passes 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 Passes 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 document 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 passes, 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 passes, 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 quantity, 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 quantity 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 quantity 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 passport 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 passed 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 principal purchasers of elephants request that the Company may assist the people sent by them in the obtaining of vessels, and, if necessary, give them an advance of 300 or 400 Pagodas, 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 quantity 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 petition 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 Pagodas must be carried out, but none but Negapatam or Palicatte Pagodas must be received or circulated. Our instructions under the heading of Golden Pagodas must be observed.