in 1619 at the smoldering remains of Jacatra, Batavia means as a depot for the product for Holland and the administrative center of the Dutch East Indies intended function Company (VOC) ,
For the purpose of its monopoly of independent citizens to protect merchant, the VOC discouraged the settlement of private-free men-by make Batavia unattractive for anyone from the company employs. This policy had a distorting effect on demographics. Around 1750 was the total population of Batavia 30000-50000 people, of which 2400 were related VOC expats and 0 (an internationally mixed group) free men. The rest consisted of Chinese, indigenous groups and slaves.
According to Governor-General Jacob Mossel free men, a coarse and uncivilized lot were out. They were destitute generally. Earlier Governor General, Johan Maetsuycker had to come once a nephew to Batavia invited as a free man. The young man replied that he would be a slave, on Java.
would In contrast, has in the VOC multiple life comfortable dream. François Valentijn, minister of the Gospel, called twice to India and a keen observer of all and everything around him, presented in his eight-volume Encyclopedia Oud en Nieuw Oost-India (Old and New East India) a wealth of information about the goings-on in Batavia, and wondered how this poorly paid officials to live in such abundant wealth.
to Valentijn Loud, life was expensive, from a house to rent on one of the beautiful canals or roads to the import of such as French wine, Dutch beer, ham, butter, cheese, smoked salmon, herring, olives and smoked meat, the prices were high and 3,000 guilders a month, it was not for many luxury. The Governor General had a monthly salary of 1,0 florins to which another 400 guilders maintenance allowance has been added. His daily necessities of beer, wine, bacon, oil, butter, candles and other products, if any, have been delivered from the warehouse of the company, together with an attractive mansion. A senior trader earned 0 guilders, a merchant 60 guilders and an assistant 24 guilders per month. All received an additional income in kind.
Governor General van Hoorn, who retires (was forced to resign, actually) with a capital of 10 million guilders, had spent a fortune on his third wedding in November 1706. It is Valentijn again, the the event told. Bridal procession included the Batavia garrison, the members of the Council of the Indies, merchants, other prominent VOC officers and their wives. After the service, the 0 wedding guests were celebrated on the van Hoorn residence from 11 am to midnight, in the early evening fireworks lit while the sky over the city and added to the amusement.
Decades later governor-general Jacob Mossel outdid everything. He also amassed a large fortune, and on instructions from the board in Amsterdam (Heren XVII), he has instigated rather ineffective measures against corruption. In addition, to counter excessive shine, he was told that "Regulations ter beteugeling van superb en Praal" (Regulations Pomp and Circumstance Curb) issue, which prescribed in detail what was striking allows luxury and splendor to VOC officers, for example, the number of buttonholes on a jacket of the Lord, the size and ornamentation of umbrellas ladies of different ranks were using typical worn allowed by a slave woman following. At a certain moment it was decreed also that women of mixed blood is not this sunshade service were allowed, which led to a boycott of church attendance and was quickly revoked.
But what is not applied to the other for the GG went. And when he died of a Wasting Disease in 1761, became his funeral was a work of art itself.
Valentijn draws the various methods of self-enrichment used. Primarily, the trade was done privately by the officials of the company, competing with the VOC (the employer) and in breach of strict orders. And the irony of it all was that this contraband was transported to the VOC their vessels. In a letter to the Governor General, the Heren XVII complained that ships were so overloaded with these goods, that one wonders how they ever made it across the seas.
was Another method by faulty accounting. In the sugar industry, for example, the results of pressing underreported were, and the losses in the camps were too high. The weights were also manipulated a standard pikol was about 125 pounds; the buyer for the VOC content, but increases the weight at 140 and 0 pounds, while paying only for the standard pikol. Moreover, the selling price of the company's goods was under recorded, and those who are not only jobs for potential VOC sale in positions of officers, but were also given lavish gifts at New Year of Chinese merchants and licensed tax collectors. Licences were also sold and some had a price of 50,000 guilders.
The VOC was blamed for this situation. Low salaries, it was said, Jan Pieterszoon Coen had not complained about the low wages! And thus the fringe benefits were considered a legitimate need. It appears that little, there has changed the bad old times.
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