Memoir of Hendrick Zwaardecroon, commandeur of Jaffnapatam (afterwards Governor-General of Nederlands India) 1697.: For the guidance of the council of Jaffnapatam, during his absence at the coast of Malabar.Zwaardecroon, Hendrick
History
Memoir of Hendrick Zwaardecroon, commandeur of Jaffnapatam (afterwards Governor-General of Nederlands India) 1697.: For the guidance of the council of Jaffnapatam, during his absence at the coast of Malabar.
Zwaardecroon, Hendrick
Jaffna (Sri Lanka) -- History
The Province of Timmoraten 376. 2.8 [40]
The Province of Pathelepally 579.10.0
Panduamoety and Nagachitty 2,448.13.0
Company's weavers 167.15.0
Manuel van Anecotta, Master Dyer 9,823. 6.0
The Caste of the Tannecares 1,650. 0.0
The dyers at Point Pedro and Nalloer 566.14.0
Don Philip Nellamapane 375. 0.0
Ambelawanner Wannia 150. 0.0
===========
Total 16,137. 0.8
With regard to the debt of the weavers, amounting to Fl. 2,616.8,
I deem it necessary here to mention that the arrears in Timmoratsche
and Patchelepally, spoken of in the memorandum by the Administrateur
of January 31, 1696, compiled by Mr. Bierman on my orders of November
30, 1695, after the closing of the accounts at the end of August,
of which those of Tandia Moety and Naga Chitty and that of the
Company's weavers which refer to the same persons, may, in my opinion,
be considered as irrecoverable. It would therefore be best if Their
Excellencies at Batavia would exempt them from the payment. This debt
dates from the time when it was the intention to induce some weavers
from the opposite coast to come here for the weaving of cloth for the
Company. This caste, called Sinias, [41] received the said amount in
cash, thread, and cotton in advance, and thus were involved in this
large debt, which having been reduced to the amount stated above, has
remained for some years exactly the same, in spite of all endeavours
made to collect it, and notwithstanding that the Paybook-keeper was
appointed to see that the materials were not stolen and the money not
wasted. It has been, however, all in vain, because these people were
so poor that they could not help stealing if they were to live, and it
seems impossible to recover the amount, which was due at first from
200 men, out of whom only 15 or 16 are left now. When they do happen
occasionally to deliver a few gingams, these are so inferior that
the soldiers who receive them at the price of good materials complain
a great deal. I think it unfair that the military should be made to
pay in this way, as the gingams are charged by the Sinias at Fl. 6
or 6.10 a piece, while the soldiers have to accept the same at Fl. 9
and 9.15. The same is the case with the Moeris and other cloths which
are delivered by the Sinias, or rather which are obtained from them
with much difficulty; and I have no doubt Your Honours will receive
instructions from Batavia with regard to this matter. Meanwhile they
must be dealt with in the ordinary way; but in case they are exempted
from the payment of their debt I think they ought to be sent out of
the country, not only because they are not liable to taxes or services
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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