415 



It strikes us that in former times neither export nor import of 

 tin objects was ever thought of ^). In (he long run such a trading 

 possibility coukl not have escaped Enropean enterprise, no nioi-e 

 than the trade in "Billiton-axes" and "Tambnku swords". It attracts 

 onr attention, however, that the tin objects in this poor island aie 

 found in the soiithwesiern part in the possession of the natives. 

 This might be dne to the presence of tin-ore in that part; 

 however the conclusion might also be drawn that the population 

 disposes of more truck and consequently obtains possession of such 

 objects as their countrymen in other paits must do without. 



According to Godinho dk Eredia "cinnamon"') was exported fiom 

 these parts already in the time of the Portuguese settlement *) and 

 the fort in Nusa Endeh was certaiidy not built only for the purpose 

 of protecting the Dominicans. That also this product attracted the 

 notice of the East-Indian Company is borne out by the report of 

 P. A. Leupe on the discussions at Batavia in 1757, which says: 

 "They had still to contrixe a means to get possession of the cinna- 

 mon-wood Rokko in Endeh ")", and according to J. (J. M. Rademacher 

 it was in the year 1756 that "the Company permitted the natives 

 of Makassar to trade on Endeh and the Mangary provided no wild 

 cinnamon was exported, on the penalty of confiscation of ships 

 and cargo" '). 



Nearly sixty years ago J. P. Freyss still wrote: The gathei'ing of 

 wax and cinnamon constitutes the chief commercial resouice"). 

 The natural result of this trade was a comparatively higher degree 

 of prosperity than was enjoyed by their countrymen, whose income, 

 derived from woodproducts, was smaller and who therefore had 



^) As 1 mentioned before only in 1871 J. A. van der Chus made mention of 

 the export of tin arm- and leg-rings from the Rokka district. (Tijdsclir. v. Nijverheid 

 en Landbouw in Nederl. -Indie 16. Batavia 1871, pp. 158 — 159). 



') No doubt Cassia was meant. (J. G. F. Rie^del The island of Flores or Pulau 

 Bunga. Revue colon, internat. 1. Amsterdam 1886, p 66) 



3) Antonio Louhen^o Caminha, Ordonagóes da India do Senhor Rei D. Manoel 

 de eterna memoria Informai^ao verdadeira da Aurea Chersoneso feita pelo .... 

 Manoel Godinho de Eredia. Lisboa 1807, p. 14.S (written in 1599). 



^) Besognes der Hooge Regeering te Batavia gehouden over de commissie van 

 Paravacini naar Timor in 1756. Bijdr. I. de T., L. en Vk. (4) 1 's Gravenhage 

 1877, p. 479. 



») Korte beschrijving van het eiland Celebes en de eilanden Floris, Sumbawa, 

 Lombok en Baly. Verhandel, van het Batav. Genootsch. van K. en W. 4. Batavia 

 1786, p. 252. 



^) Reizen naar Mangarai en Lombok in 1854 — 1856. Tijdschr. Ind T., L. en 

 Vk. 9. Batavia 1860, p. 512. 



27-^ 



