63 



to the former ?vt the rate of thirty-eight Spanish 

 DriUars per Bahar of ihr*>e Piculs;* the s^uppres- 

 sion of piracy ; the adani^siott ut the right of the 

 Dutch to station a vti^ml at the mouth of the 

 Linggy rher, for the purpose of preventing the 

 stmiggled export of tin ; and the ohserv-ance of 

 a strict neutrality, whatever might be the cm^Q 

 of quarrel bttweec the Dutch and the other native 

 powers: in return for these important conees- 

 \»ionf5, the Dui<;h promised tbem their protec- 

 tion. 



We learn by a letter addressed by the Gover- 

 nor in Council at Malacca to the Governor Gene- 

 ral of Batavia, written in 1768,' that I lie principal 

 revenues of Malacca at ihfs period were derived 

 from the clistotns, nnd l!»at tin was abo a source 

 of considerable profit, although less productive 

 than formerly, a circu instance attributed to the 

 importations being less of late years, and to re- 

 medy wliicb it was i*ecom mended that the native 

 chiefs should be compelled to ob?^erve the Dutch 

 monopoly more rigidly, and to part with their 

 tin iit a lower rate;. 



When it is borne in mind that these chiefs 

 were already powerfully influenced by the dread 

 of Butch vengeance, and .would therefore have 

 rather brought the aiticie to tlii^ monopolizing 

 mart at a moderately remunerating price, than 

 have incurred the risk which they would have 

 done by disposing of it to others who could not 

 protect them, we sihould be tempted to wonder 

 at the cool atrocity of this proposition, were 

 it not that spoliation, and violence, when con- 

 nected with Dutch Colonial administration. 



