March t, 1895.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
AN OLIO. 
Reverting to the subject of 
TEA-DRINKING BY THE DUTCH, 
I translate the following from the Vies des 
Gouverneurs Hollandoisaux hides Orientcdes by J. 
P. I. du Bois (1763), p. 296 :— 
In the coiu-3e of the year 1720 the Dutch Com- 
pany had received from the Indies an extraordinary 
Fleet of 2i3 Vessels richly laden; but the returns 
of the following year were even more numerous. 
They amounted to 33 Ships, the Cargo of which had 
cost in Purchase 98 Tons of Gold, 33,1G9 fl. 17 : six 
of these Vessels which arrived first in the Ports of the 
Republic had taken only 7 months and six days to 
make the Voyage.* As at the same time the English 
Company also received 3 of its Ships from the Indies, 
especially from China, whence they brought more 
than 425,000 pounds of Tea, of different kinds, 
and as besides the vessels of the New Ostend 
Company also returned laden with this Merchandize 
formerly so precious, the price of it fell so greatly, 
that Tea was sold in Amsterdam along the streets 
by barrow-loads. 
A little further on, the writer, after referring 
to the resuscitation of the trade with China by 
Governor Zwaardekroon, gives the following 
account of 
THE BIRTH OF THE COFFEE ENTERPRISE IN JAVA :— 
It is to his pains that the Company also owes the 
cultivation of Coffee in the Island of Java, where 
it has succeeded above all expectation, and has since 
become a considerable branch of Trade. The General 
commenced by having trees planted in his fine Estate 
of Oadauwany, 4 leagues from the Town. The fruit 
having appeared after some years, the Inhabitants 
soon imitated this example. The Company made 
a contract with them, in pursuance of which they 
were paid for the Coffee at the rate of 15 crowns 
the I'irol, of about 125 pounds. 
At the end of his work du Bois gives a 
lengthy report by Baron von Imhoff, for- 
merly Governor of Ceylon, and later on 
Governor-General at Batavia, dated Amster- 
dam 24th Nov. 1741, on the navigation, 
trade and Government of the Dutch Indies, and 
on the means for remedying the cause of their 
decadence. Chap. IX. treats of the Dutch trade 
with China ; and relates almost exclusively to 
THE TEA TRADE. 
I translate as follows ■ — 
1. Although the tragic event which occurred at 
Batavia in 1 7 10f dealt to the Trade with China a blow 
so fatal, that one might doubt whether it still existed, 
yet in the hope that it will revive as soon as this affair 
shall take a favorable turn, we shall here speak of it 
as if nothing bad happened between us and the 
Chinese. 
2. The Trade between Batavia and China is very 
diffi rent from that which is carried on with it directly 
from Europe. The one can bo neither too much 
encouraged nor too carefully fostered ; the other, 
although important, has fallen oh greatly on account 
of the large number of foreign vessels, which, in 
competition with one another, frequent the Ports of 
that Empire. 
3. It must be admitted also, that the ships 
of the Company, which go from Batavia (o 
trade in China, whence they return to Holland, 
contribute to the weakening of a Trade already 
so divided. It is not, however, necessary on that i 
account to abandon it ; it is best to continue it, 
* The year 1722. however, was disastrous to both 
the Dutch and the English dcets, a large number 
being lost at sea. — D. W. P. 
I The massacre of Chinese on 9th (Jet. 1 7 10, a full 
account of which, with a graphic illustration, is 
givon by du Bois. For his part in this affair 
Imholf was arrested and sent as a prisoner to 
Holland : but was acquitted, and returned as Governor- 
General,— D, W. F. I 
70 
but with moderation. Until matters shall have 
changed their aspect at Batavia, a single vessel 
might sufficefor this trade. 
4. Tea constitutes the most considerable branch of 
the Trade between China and Europe. Without this 
article, the vessels could return only half freighted ; 
the rest not being important enough to pay the 
cost of transport, no one would think oftaking them. 
5. This product also forms the principal object of 
the Trade between Batavia and China. Although the 
Junks carry there, for the use of the Colonies, Por- 
celain, Earthenware, Tobacco, Paper, and a hundred 
other trifles, the Tea is always the merchandise 
that repays them best for their trouble and expense. 
6. The quantity that arrives annually by Batavia 
in the United Provinces, both on board vessels of 
the Company and on those of Private Individuals, 
is known only to the Merchants. It is probable, 
that the arrangement which has been proposed 
would put a stop to the transport of this product 
by Private Individuals ; but on the other hand it 
should facilitate and augment the importation to 
Batavia : without which, the Trade of the Junks 
would be exposed to the danger of falling off. 
7. It is questioned whether it is to the interest 
of the Company to buy all the Tea that the Chinese 
bring to Batavia. The reasons for and against are 
equally valid. Nevertheless it is certain that such 
a large purchase would cause an obstruction and in- 
terruption in the traffic of the Junks there, the more' 
so as the Chinese are so far bound to the sales of 
the Company, that they are not masters of their 
Tea until after it has been inspected, tested and 
valued; so many formalities to decide if the Com- 
pany will keep it or not. In case it contented 
itself with the old custom, and loaded a vessel with 
Tea which should be received on the return of the 
supercargoes from China, then it would not have 
to meddle with this Trade except for the collection of 
their dues, leaving to the owners the liberty of dis- 
posing of their merchandise according to their wishes ; 
which would be simpler and more advantageous. 
8. In a word it seems that it would be bet- 
ter were the Company to send from Batavia 
to Europe only a single ship and another of 
smaller size for the return journey of the super- 
cargoes, and abandon the rest to the Colony of 
Batavia. It is even thought that the Company ought 
to lend a helping hand in this, and that it would 
be more useful for it to allow to Private Individuals 
transport of their Tea on board its Vessels at 40 
per cent of the price of the sale in the United 
Provinces. It is some years since this proposal was 
made, of which we shall here add a precis. 
9. The Company should, at the time of its first home- 
ward voyage, from the 1st to the middle of October, 
hold a sufficient number of ships for the Transport 
of the Tea of Private Individuals, and reserve the 
bottom in which to place its own, in case it should 
not deem it expedient to destine it to carry 
Porcelain. 
10. The Company being in this way interested to 
the extent of 40 per cent in the Trade of Private 
Individuals, the consignments would be made by them 
without any of them being subject to the fear of 
malversation , there being no possibility of any that 
would not recoil on itself. 
11. Consequently the Tea, furnished with the 
ordinary distinction of letters and numbers, would be 
received at Batavia into the Warehouses of the Com- 
pany, embarked under its name and transported to 
the I'nitod Provinces, to bo there discharged and 
sold by auction with the other merchandise, the 
proceeds of which would be afterwards remitted, en- 
tered in a private Register, to those to whom it be- 
longed, after deducting the 10 per cent agreed upon. 
12. And to facilitate as far as possible this Trade 
to those who might not havo Correspondents or 
Holders of powers of attorney in the United Pro- 
vinces, in consideration of a further payment by 
them of 10 por cent, they would receive at Batavia 
the portion due to them, and would thus participate 
in the return of the premium on their money. 
13. Certainly the proposal is of importance, espe- 
cially if it is euusidercd that every yo.vr there enter 
