Letter from Sultan Kuda of Manguindanao (r. 1699-1702) concerning the trading activities of Chinese nakhoda and the need for military support, 21 July 1700
FROM: DAILY JOURNALS OF BATAVIA CASTLE, 21 JULY 1700 [BEGINNing WITH FOL. 381]
Translation of a letter in Spanish addressed to His Excellency the Lord Governor-General Willem van Outhoorn by the King of Manguindanao
This letter is from Sri Sultan Amirol Amra Zhumra Alam Abnu, Sultan Drascha Abnu, Sultan Zala Ima Nairodin, to Fuhul Labu Bibie Val Musilmin, Kings of the realms and lands of Manguindanao, and is addressed to my friend and brother the Lord [Governor-]General of Batavia.
The above exordium is followed by:
My Lord I inform you that on the 6 July of this year 1699 my eldest brother, Carnal Groot Sarry Snu Jamodsa Brahaman Abnu Sultan Sayefo Drasha passed away.
As all the business of the realm has devolved into my hands, and I have now acceded to the position of Sri Sultan of this kingdom and of the lands of Mindano, it behoves me to inform your Excellency of the great goodwill shown to our people which only augments my [sense of] obligation [382].
In his testament my said eldest brother acknowledged such matters, not least that the friendship and correspondence which was current at the time of my grandfather and of my father should be kept up, and that it shall continue to be as steadfast and as regular as it is at that moment, and that there should not be any interruptions. Therefore should anyone else who wishes to deny this say to Your Excellency that this is not true, you should attach no credence to this, as our amity shall be as fixed and constant as the Sun and the Moon.
I also inform Your Excellency that in the month of June a galiot called the Lasdragh arrived here on the shores of this kingdom. Her skipper was Cornelis Calesz. Sekver and the first mate Pieter Bolarte. She came from the harbour of the Moluccas on her way to Menado, but heavy weather and contrary winds stranded her in this kingdom without any letter or pass from the Honourable Company [addressed] to this my kingdom. I immediately gave orders that they should come in because here it was winter, and otherwise they might possibly have found themselves in difficulties. Hence they sailed into this Sumuay River and often frequented my house, where I entertained and treated them as I would have done Your Excellency yourself.
We have helped and assisted the said skipper, his first mate and their crew, as we remain indebted to Your Excellency for the many courtesies we have received.
And, in the event of the Governor of the town of Molucca (Ambon) sending a ship to my realm in the forthcoming good season, we would prefer that Your Excellency to order said skipper Cornelis Calsesz. and First Mate Pieter Bolarte to sail on her, this would be a [gesture] of great friendship to me, as I have great affection for them as they were a great help.
For this reason I entreat and prevail upon Your Excellency that the said skipper may be promoted, as he is a man of honour and astute.
The reason the afore-mentioned galiot tarried here so long and did not put to sea earlier was that, as the variable and contrary winds persisted so long and there were more reports of disasters at sea, it seemed more sensible to wait. Now in the month of September he has departed as the prevailing winds are blowing and the right season has arrived. I arranged matters so as the affairs of the Honourable Company are as dear to me as my own.
I also entreat Your Excellency that orders may be given to me at the price for which they were sold to the King of Ternate. Payment of said muskets will be handed over punctually next year.
I also request that Your Excellency sell me two metal 500 or 600 pounder cannon of equal size with a rather long barrel so that they might be used effectively and should it please Your Excellency to demonstrate your friendship, they can be dispatched to the Governor of Molucco [383] and from there be sent on to my address. Their value will be promptly recompensed. I send Your Excellency two piculs of wax, entreating that you graciously accept this and will pardon the impertinence that they are so few and of such little value, being no more than a token of the affection and gratitude of the many benefactions we have already enjoyed and shall still [continue] to receive.
And though I offer nothing else, I wish that the future will still bring Your Excellency long years of peace and beneficial law and order, which I wish from the bottom of my heart.
(Dated) Semuai 16 November 1699, most faithful friend and brother of Your Highness, [your] affectionate servant (was signed) Humrxa Alam and Dayyo (the royal seal affixed to the side).
I inform Your Excellency that in the year 1688 a vessel arrived in the harbour of Sarangam [Island] whose skipper was a mestizo Chinese from Japara named Loanko. My brother informed the Lord Emperor of this and the latter sent four of his people there to discover what they had come to do. They answered that the vessel was the property of the Chinese Captains Pinco and Concua, sailing to my realm of Mindanao with a pass from the Company to trade and do business as contrary winds had meant that they were unable to make their destination. Whereupon my brother’s people told them that they were forbidden to trade or buy or sell with the people of Sarangam. Should they wish to dispose of their goods they should do this to our people. Consequently the people of my afore-mentioned brother unloaded and took possession of goods and wares to the value of 727¼ rix-dollars. Thereafter we returned here with the clerk of the afore-said vessel of Loanko. Three months later the vessel put in here laden with wax of which they had purchased more than 100 picul as well as 3 picul tartaruga (tortoiseshell), therefore they have brought their troubles on themselves, because it is our convention that Chinese vessels which put in at the harbour of Sarangam may purchase no more than 500 catties wax. When they were asked if they were carrying letters from Captains Pinco and Concua, they answered ‘No’. Moreover, the Company pass did not specify my realm but [that of] Passick. Later Lianko and five of his associates departed for Manila where they sold all their wax for gold pieces-of-eight (gold reals) and leather and, upon returning to this kingdom Leanko settled down and married, under the terms of his marriage contract incurring a debt to the tune of 4 gold thalers and one slave, for which I stood guarantor, until my brother pardoned him for his offence and infringement of the [allowed amount of] wax bought at Sarangam.
However, to settle up the 727¼ rix-dollars, it was necessary to have the letters from the Honourable Company Captains Pinco and Concua, authorized by [the department of] Justice and the Honourable Company because, [designating them] qualified and sanctioned [to do so], it was they who were the recipients of the money with which Leanko departed with a letter from my brother to the Emperor to Your Excellency, and nothing more has been heard of him since then.
Afterwards, in the year 1695, my brother the Emperor dispatched a vessel to Batavia with a skipper but no ambassador only letters for [384] the Honourable Company, but on account of terribly strong contrary winds said vessel fell apart in the harbour of Caily. The skipper wanted to continue his journey to Batavia but there was a Chinese in Caily whose name was Luanco who obstructed him with threats, declaring that should he do so he would run into considerable difficulties on account of the debt of a mestizo Chinese in my country by the name of Najoda Sandit who owed a subaltern in Malacca I do not know how many rix-dollars. Hence the skipper remained in the harbour and sold the Chinese all the effects he had with him, which were worth 1,500 rix-dollars. Since the skipper has departed and arrived here in his vessel demanding his outstanding dues as said Chinese has paid only 500 rix-dollars, retaining 1,000 rix-dollars for himself and refusing to pay them on account of the debt of oft-mentioned Leanko who had settled in my realm.
This information has been passed on so that Your Excellency will be aware of the threats and sinister tricks the Chinese employ. Skipper Cornelis Claasz and First Mate Pieter Bolarte will supply you with better and more detailed oral reports, as I have shown them the papers and the letter of the Chinese Cuanc[k]o.