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.

by Hendrick Zwaardecroon

[9]. The subject of the inhabitants has been treated of in such a way that it is unnecessary for me to add anything.

[10]. With regard to the tithes, I agree with Mr. Zwaardecroon that the taxes need not be reduced, especially as I never heard that the inhabitants asked for this to be done. It will be the duty of the Dessave to see that the tenth of the harvest of the waste lands, which were granted with exemption of taxes for a certain period, is brought into the Company’s stores after the stated period has expired.

[11]. Poll tax.—It is necessary that a beginning should be made with the work of revising the Head Thombo, and that the names of the old and infirm people and of those that have died should be taken off the list, while the names of the youths who have reached the required age are entered. This renovation should take place once in three years, and the Dessave as Land Regent should sometimes assist in this work.

[12]. Officie Gelden.—It will be very well if this be divided according to the number of people in each caste, so that each individual pays his share, instead of the amount being demanded from each caste as a whole, because it is apparent that the Majoraals have profited by the old method.

[13]. No remarks are at present necessary with regard to the Adigary.

[14]. The Oely service, imposed upon those castes which are bound to serve, must be looked after, as this is the only practicable means of continuing the necessary works. The idea of raising the fine for non-attendance from 2 stivers, which they willingly pay, to 4 stivers or one fanam,[2] is not bad, but I found this to be the practise already for many years, as may be seen from the annexed account of two parties of men who had been absent, which most likely was overlooked by mistake. This is yet stronger evidence that the circumstances of the inhabitants have improved, and I therefore think it would be well to raise the chicos from 4 stivers to 6 stivers or 1½ fanam, with a view to finding out whether the men will then be more diligent in the performance of their duty; because the work must be carried on by every possible means. Your Honours are again seriously recommended to see that the sicos or fines specified in the annexed Memoir are collected without delay, and also the amount still due for 1693, because such delay cannot but be prejudicial to the Company. The old and infirm people whose names are not entered in the new Thombo must still deliver mats, and kernels for coals for the smith’s shop. No objections will be raised to this if they see that we do not slacken in our supervision.

[15]. Tax Collectors and Majoraals.—The payment of the taxes does not seem satisfactory, because only Rds. 180 have been paid yet out of the Rds. 2,975.1 due as sicos for the year 1695. It would be well if these officers could be transferred according to the Instructions of 1673 and 1675. It used to be the practice to transfer them every three years; but I think it will be trouble in vain now, because when an attempt was made to have these offices filled by people of various castes, it caused such commotion and uproar that it was not considered advisable to persist in this course except where the interest of the Company made it strictly necessary. Perhaps a gradual change could be brought about by filling the places of some of the Bellales when they die by persons of other castes, which I think could be easily done. Although Mr. Zwaardecroon seems to think it desirable that the appointment of new officials for vacancies and the issuing of the actens should be deferred till his return from Mallabaar or until another Commandeur should come over, we trust that he does not mean that these appointments could not be made by the Governor of the Island or by the person authorized by him to do so. If the Commandeur were present, such appointment should not be made without his knowledge, especially after the example of the commotion caused by the transfer of these officers in this Commandement, but in order that Your Honours may not be at a loss what to do, it will be better for you not to wait for the return of Mr. Zwaardecroon from Mallabaar, nor for the arrival of any other Commandeur, but to refer these and all other matters concerning this Commandement, which is subordinate to us, to Colombo to the Governor and Council, so that proper advice in debita forma may be given.

[16]. The Lascoreens certainly make better messengers than soldiers. The Dessave must therefore maintain discipline among them, and take care that no men bound to perform other duties are entered as Lascoreens. This they often try to bring about in order to be excused from labour, and the Company is thus deprived of labourers and is put to great inconvenience. I noticed this to be the case in Colombo during the short time I was in Ceylon, when the labour had to be supplied by the Company’s slaves. There seems to be no danger of another famine for some time, as the crop in Coromandel has turned out very well. We cannot therefore agree to an increase of pay, although it is true that the present wages of the men are very low. It must be remembered, however, that they are also very simple people, who have but few wants, and are not always employed in the service of the Company; so that they may easily earn something besides if they are not too lazy. We will therefore keep their wages for the present at the rate they have been at for so many years; especially because it is our endeavour to reduce the heavy expenditure of the Company by every practicable means. We trust that there was good reason why the concession made by His Excellency the Extraordinary Councillor of India, Mr. Laurens Pyl, in favour of the Lascoreens has not been executed, and we consider that on account of the long interval that has elapsed it is no longer of application. The proposal to transfer the Lascoreens in this Commandement twice, or at least once a year, will be a good expedient for the reasons stated.

[17]. The importation of slaves from the opposite coast seems to be most profitable to the inhabitants of Jaffnapatam, as no less a number than 3,584 were brought across in two years’ time, for which they paid 9,856 guilders as duty. It would be better if they imported a larger quantity of rice or nely, because there is so often a scarcity of food supplies here. It is also true that the importation of so many slaves increases the number of people to be fed, and that the Wannias could make themselves more formidable with the help of these men, so that there is some reason for the question whether the Company does not run the risk of being put to inconvenience with regard to this Commandement. Considering also that the inhabitants have suffered from chicken-pox since the importation of slaves, which may endanger whole Provinces, I think it will be well to prevent the importation of slaves. As to the larger importation on account of the famine on the opposite coast, where these creatures were to be had for a handful of rice, this will most likely cease now, after the better harvest. The danger with regard to the Wannias I do not consider so very great, as the rule of the Company is such that the inhabitants prefer it to the extreme hardships they had to undergo under the Wannia chiefs, and they would kill them if not for fear of the power of the Company. Therefore I think it unnecessary to have any apprehension on this score.

[18]. Rice and nely are the two articles which are always wanting, not only in Jaffnapatam, but throughout Ceylon all over the Company’s territory, and therefore the officers of the Government must constantly guard against a monopoly being made of this grain. This opportunity is taken to recommend the matter to Your Honours as regards this Commandement.