Report of Three Residents of about the Threat of Johorese War vessels in the Batang Hari River, 11 September 1714

FROM: DAILY JOURNALS OF BATAVIA CASTLE,  11 SEPTEMBER 1714 [BEGINNING WITH FOL. 1148]

Translation

Report submitted by the three local inhabitants, Encik Nonnit, Encik Restant and Kiewerie Sarana, to Junior Merchant and Resident Isaac Panhuys on 11 September 1714 about the activities of the Johorese inside the mouth of this Jambi River.

That on the eighth four vessels were dispatched downstream by the ministers Temenggung Mancoeboemy (Mangkubumi) [fol. 1149] and Nata[di]ningrat, on the orders of the Resident, accompanied by another well-armed vessel, after a report arrived that the Johorese had entered this river etc., for the purpose of observing the actions of the aforesaid Johorese, carrying orders that should there be any inimical action this force should be countered with force, and hence driving these same [Johorese] out of the river.

Consequently, when they arrived the next day at qual Njor (Kuala Niur), they learned from the Orang Laout (Laut) who live around here that the Johorese had descended upon the river with eighteen or nineteen vessels, both through the Musquite Gat (Mosquito Gap) and through Kuala Niur, and that they had tried to woo the inhabitants with honeyed words, [asking] them to forswear their king, Sultan Kiai Gede, and transfer their fealty to their lord and king, the Yang Dipertuan, asserting that they would be better off under Johor than they would be if they remained under their own ruler Kiay (Kiai) Gede. They offered to transport the inhabitants with their wives and children, but that said inhabitants were opposed to the idea.

That for this reason, the aforesaid Johorese had, as the reporters declared they had seen with their own eyes, burnt out the whole negorij and had taken a group of inhabitants prisoner and had pillaged and plundered the whole area.

That they had again understood from the said Orang Laut that the Johorese had carried out a hostile attack on four Javanese trading vessels, which had already advanced a considerable distance into the river carrying salt, rice and Javanese cloths, despite the fact that their captains had shown them their Company passes. They caught them by surprise and battered some of the crew to death and took three of the vessels prize, claiming that that we [they] had sailed with warlike intent against both the Honourable Company and against the people of Jambi. They did not give a fig for the Honourable Company, and also fostered plans to capture Malacca (Malaka), because it belonged to us [them] Johorese etc. and immediately thereafter would test Batavia’s mettle.

While the aforesaid Johorese were occupied taking the above-mentioned trading vessels, seeing their chance said captured Orang Laut jumped overboard and with the exception of three or four persons escaped the hands of the robbers and recounted the above to those making the report [fol. 1150].

That finally the reporters understood from said captured Orang Laut that, three or four days before the beginning of Ramadan, the Yang Dipertuan Muda, the crown prince of Johor, intended to enter the river in person to pursue the invasion more thoroughly, yea indeed wanted to advance as far as the Company lodge (headquarters), and moreover that the aforesaid Yang Dipertuan Muda lay ready at Pulau Farel with sixty well-armed warships.

Finally, notwithstanding  those who reported this ventured past Kuala Niur, saw not one single pirate vessel, but had spied the suspect Johorese mentioned above from a distance in a small prau with the aforesaid Orang Laut . Had also understood that they were then outside this river and on the high seas, as [they] had heard vigorous shooting from that direction.

Jambi, in the Company lodge 11 September 1714 (was signed) Jacobus Panhuys.