Maritime
Lanka
 

The Avondster in the Dutch East India Company - part 2

This is the second part of the Avondster records of the Dutch East India Company, and follows on from part 1, 1653-1657.

Dutch original
 
English translation / notes
10en [-09] gelopen tot op 23 vadem, sagen het land
15en: na de middach arriveert alhier in de vloot een wingurlaes vaertuijgh met schrijven [na later blijkt van de 13e september] van de Hr Vice-Commandeur de bitter adviserende hoe dat hij met de Jachten terschelling, weesp ende avontstar dwars van wingurla ten ancker lach.. hebbende de patache sancta crux verovert
18en: arriveert de bitter met de Jachten derschel- en weesp en t veroverde patasje santa crux in de vloot hebbende tjacht de avontstar noch voor wingurla om water en eenige verversinge aldaer in te nemen gelaten.
19en: [uit wingurla wordt gemeld dat de avondster naar een opzettelijk ten N. van wingurla gestrande Portugese patache is gestuurd; uit later berichten blijkt dat hieruit vrijwel niets veroverd kon worden] 21[-09-1657] arriveert in de vloot het jacht de avontstar.
SLNA 1/3378
 

Sept 1657: Avondster involved in capture of Portuguese ship 10th: we [Roothaas] came on 23 fathoms [depth], saw the land [Goa]..
15th: in the afternoon here arrives in the fleet a boat from wingurla with a letter [which was written on the 13th of September] from the Vice-Commander de Bitter in which he let us know that he was lying at anchor before wingurla with the yachts terschelling, weesp and avontstar.. and that they had conquered the patache [a type of Portuguese ship] santa crux [the Avondster had arrived only 3 days later than the faster ships in the fleet].
18th: de Bitter arrived with the yachts derschel- and weesp and the conquered patache santa crux in the fleet, having left the yacht avontstar still before wingurla to take in water and some refreshments.
19th: [From reports from wingurla: the avondster is sent to a Portuguese patache which intentionally ran ashore north of wingurla; from letters sent later it is clear that hardly anything could be captured from this ship.]
21st: the yacht avontstar arrived in the fleet.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3378


St Crux naar Ceylon met brief voor van Goens; daarin nieuws over :
Achterlaten de bitter met o. a. Avondtstar
Terugkomst in de vloot de bitter met ook de santa Cruz
Tijdens de reis in de gehele vloot 13 doden
Huidige aantallen opvarenden in de vloot:

  30 Sept 1657:
St Crux
is sent to Ceylon with a letter for van Goens with news:
Leaving behind de Bitter with the Avondtstar and other ships.
Arrival in the fleet of de Bitter with santa Cruz.
The fleet has had 13 deaths during the voyage.
The numbers of men on board the ships are given:
   Ship
   Zeevarende lieden
Total sailors
moorse matrosen
Moorish sailors
caffers
black sailors
portugeese gevangenen
Portuguese prisoners
Phenix
165
7
6
6
Der schel
101
24
6
5
Weesp
103
-
2
6
Leeuin
86
-
2
2
Worcum
102
-
2
3
Tholen
110
7
2
8
Avontstar
76
-
1
9
Z.Zee
103
-
2
2
Goutsbloem
84
-
2
6
Tsamen / total
935
38
25
47

Op het prijsje 13 hollantse en 17 moorse zeeluyden
[ na 07-12 :lijsten met overgescheepte goederen en gevangenen
In de Salmander 2 Caffer en 6 Toepassen uyt de Avontster]
SLNA 1/3378; 30-09-1657

  On the prize [St Crux] 13 Dutch and 17 Moorish sailors
[after 7 Dec: list with goods and prisoners moved from one ship to another. In the Salmander 2 Caffers and 6 Toepassen - persons of mixed Portuguese and local blood - from the Avontster.]
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3378 [30-09-1657]

den commandeur roothaes maekt de vergadering bekent dat hy op aprobatie van de admirael aende schippers van all de schepen uyt de veroverde caffers hadde vereert ider een slaefken ofte jongen… daeronder niet begrepen waren vice commandeur de bitter, de schipper van weesp noch de schipper van d'avontstar omdat sy niet goet opgepast hadden [op de veroverde goederen, voor Goa,1657, voor de komst van van Goens].
ARA VOC 1.04.02; 1227, fol 326
  Allocation of captured slaves: Avondster out of favour
commander roothaes announced in the council that on approval of the admiral he had donated to the skippers of all the ships from the conquered blacks to every one a slave or boy… not included the vice-commander de bitter, the skipper of weesp, nor the skipper of the avontstar because they had not taken good care [in administering the conquered goods].
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 [VOC] 1227, fol. 326

De laatste resolutie gaat over het steenhalen voor o.a. de Avondster; de datum is niet leesbaar - alleen 15…; gezien de resolutie daarvoor van 04-10, waarschijnlijk 15-10 (zie ook hieronder) Men wil niet meer veel schepen afzenden vanwege de dagelijks verwachte aanval der Portugezen
Tholen en Goutsblom hebben hun steenballast gehaald aan de zuydelijke eilanden voor Goa, maar dat ging vrij moeizaam
Van de drie overblijvende Z:Zee, Leeuwin en Avontstar kan de Leeuwin de meeste lasten vervoeren.
Deze resolutie is ook mee ondertekend door Adriaen Hem.
SLNA 1/3378, resoluties achterin
 

Changing sand to stone ballast
[In a set of resolutions, the last is about ships being sent to take on stone ballast; of the date only '15..' can be read, most probably 15 October.]
Because a Portuguese attack is expected it is not advisable to send more ships. Tholen and Goutsblom loaded their stone ballast on the southern islands of Goa, but that was rather laborious. Of the three remaining ships [which have to load stone ballast] Z.Zee, Leeuwin and Avontstar, the Leeuwin has the largest capacity to take on a burden.
This resolution is also signed by Adriaen Hem.
Sri Lanka National Archives, 1/3378 [resolutions registered in the end of the book]


De Leeuwin zal naar wingurla gaan voor het ontladen van de zandballast en vol met steenballast wederkeeren om daar mee ook de jachten Z:Zee en Avontster te versien 16 De medicamentenkisten zijn gevisisteerd o.a. door de Oppr- Chirugijn van de Avondstar Hr Cornelis Raatjens 17 Brief naar Wingurla [kennelijk als antwoord op een brief van daar :] Het laden van de steen ballast in de Leeuwin, ook voor Z:Zee en Avontster, kan wel in 4 ipv in 6 dagen 24 Jegens den middach verschijnt bij ons van wingurla het jacht de Leeuwin mede bengende omtrent 2?45 last steen [het stuk is hier sterk door worm aangevreten, maar de 45 is duidelijk en de 2 ervoor vrijwel zeker].
SLNA 1/3378; 15[-10-1657]
 

Oct 1657:
15th:
The Leeuwin will go to Wingurla to unload her sand ballast and come back fully laden with stone ballast with which also the yachts Z.Zee and Avontster can be provided.
16th: The medicine chest has been inspected; one of the inspectors was the master surgeon of the Avondstar Mr. Cornelis Raatjens.
17th: [A letter sent to Wingurla - apparently in reply to a letter from there]: Taking in stone ballast in the Leeuwin, also to be used for the Z.Zee and the Avontster, should be done in 4 days instead of 6. 24th: Around midday arrived with us in the fleet from wingurla the yacht Leeuwin bringing about 2?45 last of stone [the document is affected by insects, but '45' can be read without doubt and the '2' in front of those figures is nearly certain].
Sri Lanka National Archives, 1/3378 [15-10-1657]


2en: vrouch inden morgenstondt vertrect het Jacht d'Avontstar na wingurla om aldaer sich van steen ballast te voorsien, also de leeuwinne aangebrachte ballast eendel- maar voor hem en t Jacht Z:Zee nevens een cleen restant voor worcum gedient hadde
9en: Jegens den middach comt van wingurla 't jacht d'Avontster, die aldaer sich van steen ballast hadde voorsien, sijnde dit het laeste der sandt ballast schepen deser vloot, waer mede van bat-a gecomen waren, dies nu alle de selve haer competente steen ballast soo aen de zuijdelijcke Eijlanden van Goa als op wingurla becomen hebben mede brengende partije versch water, nevens 19 stucx koebeesten, 29 stucx bocken, 9 verckens eenige corven ajuin en ettelijcke potten broodt &
SLNA 1/3378 Novemb
  Nov 1657:
2nd: early in the morning the yacht Avontstar sails from here to wingurla to take on stone ballast there, because the ballast brought by the Leeuwin was only sufficient for this ship and the yacht Z.Zee and the small remains used for Worcum
9th: In the afternoon comes from wingurla the yacht Avontster that has provided herself with stone ballast, being the last of the ships in this fleet which came ballasted with sand from Batavia, so they now all have a suitable amount of stone ballast, obtained at the islands south of Goa or at wingurla, [also] bringing fresh water and 19 cows, 29 goats, 9 pigs, some baskets with onions and a number of pots with bread etc.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3378 November.



 

17 March 1658: Avondster seaworthy?
Letter from Commissar Ryckloff van Goens to the Governor-General Joan Maetsuijcker and the Council for India:
Honourable, valiant, wise, prudent and very generous Sirs,
We seize the first opportunity to inform you that after a perilous voyage we only reached Goa on November 19th. We were disappointed in finding things very different from what we were led to expect. Instead of the vessels we had hoped to find ready to join our intended expedition to Diu, we were obliged to exchange our strong war-yacht Vlielandt for the unseaworthy Arondster [sic; there are more errors in the spelling of ships names]. The enemy's fleet consisted of four splendid galleons and five lesser vessels. The flagship carried 48 guns; the vice-admiral 40: and the other ships from 24 to 30. There was also a yacht mounted with 10 guns ready to start with a cargo for Portugal. Six days before the arrival of our fleet, three large vessels had entered the port of Goa. Under these cicumstances it was considered inexpedient to undertake the attack of Diu.. It was therefore decided to reinforce the fleet at Goa, for which purpose we left the Phoenix, Tholen, Vlielandt, Weisp, Worrum, Schelning, Goudsbloem, Junkyer and Livness, under command of Adrian Roothaes with Admiral van Kener as vice-Commander and Rens Jansen as Rear-Admiral. The guns from the Salamander, Goes, Naarden and Arontster were transported on these several vessels, so that when I left there were 352 heavy guns on the fleet and 1100 combatants. [There is another description by van Goens of the situation (of 19 Nov 1657), see below. Pieris apparently translated this version based on the letter written on 17 March 1658.]
Pieris(2); 236.

Verslag overleg na aankomst van Goens voor Goa , 19-11-1657
Eerst omschrijving situatie :
9 schepen van oorloge [waren] vooruit gesonden met 307 stucken en 935 sielen die het Portugese secour moesten voor syn, daerna de andere schepen met 700 militaire coppen en 600 bootsgesellen]
.. alle dese concepten meest gesien hebbende, op het portugese aencomende secoers, om tselve voor aff te vernielen, dat nu misluckt Zijnde, dándre een groote hinderpael veroorsaeckt, jae ons den voet heel dwars schijn te setten, hebbende den vijandt boven 't vergooten van sijn Zeemacht daer mede nae een roep 1500 ende soo wel te gelooven is niet minder dan 1000 weerbare mannen binnen goa gekregen, haer macht ter Zee nu sijnde 6 so groote als mindere galjoenen en 3 gemeene scheepen van 24 tot 28 stucken geschut, nae de nauwste advijsen onser spijons, alle wel bevolckt en met amonitie van oorloge versien, deese Zeemacht des vijants dus gestelt sijnde, maeckt sijn E den Raat mede bekent, hoe sijn ordre speciael dicteert de Zelve door alle mogel- macht te vernielen, ende datmen daerop boocven alles te letten heeft, dat sijn E [fol. 320] daerom de saecke den Raed voor twee dagen soodanigh als nu bekent gemaeckt hadde, om haer wel te bedencken ende in haer meditatie gedachtigh Zijn dat nae t'voorgeven vanden Commandeur roothaes ende sijnen raet, den vijant alle mogelijcke debvoir soude aenwenden met eenige fregats nae Ceijlon te vertrecken om aldaer van haere nieuwe soldaten aen te brngen, ende hun te nestelen tot merckelijcke schaeden onser desseijnen, ende om de saacken tot voordeel onser principael;en wel te beharigen sijnde omvragen distinctel- gedaen als volght
off den Commandeur Roothaes ende de voornaeme leden sijner voor affgesonden scheepen hun bastant kennen, den vijant het hooft te bieden & met hoeveel scheepen men de bhare van goa behoort beseth te laeten
wert met eenparige advijsen verstane ende gearresteert, dat men de vloote voor Goa eer behoort te verstercken dan te verswacken dat ingevolge geschieden sal Vwisselen het onbequaem Engels jacht de Avontstar voor het defencive oorloghsjacht Vlielandt.. dat men tot dien eynde de goederen voor dese treyn sal uyt vlielandt in de avontstar overschepen, dat men daerenboven vande schepen goes, naerden ende avonstar noch sal eenigh canon lichten en op Vlielandt en d'andere blyvende schepen te leggen … de blyvende vloot verstercken tot 1050 coppen daeronder 90 soldaten synde 115 mannen meer als voor heen… de soldaten van de byde fluyten sullen tydelyck op de andere schepen overgaen todat de Avontstar vaardich is ende goet uyt vlielandt overgenomen heeft [en dan de volgende dag naar hun bestemmingen vertrekken].
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1227; fol 319ev
  Report of the discussions after van Goens arrived at Goa, on 19 Nov 1657
[First a description of the history: 9 warships were sent in advance with 307 pieces and 935 men, who had to arrive in advance of the Portuguese relief, and after that the other ships with 700 military men and 600 sailors]
.. all these intentions were mostly thought out with the idea that first the Portuguese relief should be destroyed, and now since we did not succeed in that, all other plans are greatly hindered, even seem to be impossible, because the enemy not only enlarged his power at sea, now having reached 1500 according to rumours, but as we believe certainly 1000 strong men inside goa, and their seaforce is now 6 big and smaller galleons and 3 other ships with 24 to 28 pieces of cannon, according to the latest information from our spies all amply equipped with ammunition; now the enemy has this seaforce, his Ex. makes apparent to the council, that his special order is to do his utmost to destroy this power and tells them to take good notice of this and that for this reason he had given this information to the council, so that they had time to think about it and also include in their deliberations that Commander Roothaes and his council are of the opinion that the enemy will do his utmost to leave for Ceylon with some frigates, to carry their newly arrived soldiers there and install them which would be very inconvenient for our plans, and to look carefully after the advantage of our principals the next questions have been asked:
whether Commander Roothaes and the important persons in the ships which have been sent in advance think they will be able to resist the enemy and how many ships one should leave at the bar of goa in the blockade;
was resolved unanimously that the fleet in front of Goa should be reinforced rather than weakened and that the inadequate English yacht Avontstar will be exchanged for the war-yacht Vlielandt.. and to reach that goal the goods for this 'treyn' [war-expedition] will be shipped from vlielandt into the avontstar and that above that from the ships goes, naerden and avondstar some cannons will be taken out and put on the ship Vlielandt and the other ships staying here.. to reinforce the fleet staying here to 1050 men, under which 90 soldiers, being 115 men more then before.. the soldiers from the two flutes will go temporary to the other ships until the Avontstar is ready and has taken over the goods from vlielandt [and then they will leave for their destinations the next day.] [Note that van Goens did not call the Avondster unseaworthy, only unsuitable for offensive action].
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] fol. 319v
Copie brief van Goens van Jaffnapatam 17-03-1658
't onweerbare schip d'avondSter tegen t cloecke oorloghsjacht vlielandt te verwisselen.
ARA VOC 1227 ; fol. 236
  17 Mar 1658: copy of a letter of van Goens from Jaffnapatam
.. to exchange the indefensible yacht avondSter with the stout warship vlielandt.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] fol. 236
Seylon Aen d'heer Ryckloff van Goens [09-08-1658]
[aangekomen] de missive [van 17 Marty] van Jaffanapatanam [waarin het verslag van van Goens met de beslissing voor Goa] by te setten het Jacht vlielandt tegen d'avontsterre om dat het selve soo bequaem ten oorloch niet en was, welcke resolutie wy oordelen [juist te zijn].
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 882 fol 359-374
  To Mr Ryckloff van Goens [received] your letter [of 17 Mar] from Jaffanapatanam [with van Goens' report of the decisions taken for Goa] keeping the yacht vlielandt there in support instead of the avondsterre because the same is not so fit for war, which we approve. [Note how the term 'unseaworthy' in the Pieris translation may be a slight overstatement of the wording in the Dutch sources, which ranges from 'inadequate' through 'indefensible' to 'not so fit for war'.]
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 882, fol. 359-374 [Letter, 09-08-1658, from Batavia to Ceylon]
't Jacht Vlielandt, t welck nu van sijn mede gebrachte treijns goederen t eenmal ontslagen en in t jacht den avontster overgeschept is.
SLNA 1/3378; 26[-11-1657]
  The yacht Vlielandt, from which now all commodities for the war have been unloaded and moved into the yacht avontster.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3378, [26-11-1657]
Beschrijving van de bewapening van elk der schepen
Phenicx 49 stucken
waaronder 2 metale france cartouwen schietende 36 # clocxspyse?
ter Thoolen 39 waarvan 2 x 18 #
Ter schelling idem
Vlieland 36 stucken
Zierickzee 36 waarvan 2 x 24
op d'avontstar
6 isere stucken schietende 8
7 do van 6 #
1 do van 5
[vergelijk bij vertek : 24 isere en metale stucken]
ARA VOC 1227; fol 323verso - 324verso; Ook RSLA 9 pt I; <14>verso en <29>
 

Description of the armament of each of the ships [after redistributing the guns]:
Phenicx 49 guns, of which 2 metal french 'cartouwen' [a kind of heavy gun] shooting 36 pounds [of brass?]
ter Thoolen 39, of which 2 of 18 pounds
Ter schelling the same
Vlieland 36 guns
Zierickzee 36, of which 2 of 24 pounds
on the avontstar:
6 iron guns shooting 8
7 of the same of 6 pounds
1 of the same of 5
[compare: when leaving Batavia, 24 iron and metal guns]
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, papers and letters from Asia] fol. 323v/324v
Also: Sri Lanka National Archives 1/9, Pt I <14>v and <29>

    Avondster ordered to Ceylon
After despatching the fluits Venenburg and Oyeraar to Surat the Avondster and Boterbloem were told off in advance to Ceylon, to inform Governor van der Meyden of our designs on Tuticorin and the North Coast of Ceylon. Captain van der Laan went on Dec 5th with the Salamander and Naarden to cruise in company of the Arondster about Cape Comorin and wait for my arrival. I followed on Dec 10th and expected to find the vessels waiting for me at Cape Comorin with advice from Ceylon. The Arondster and Boterbloem were lying off Cape Comorin, but had not been able to cross over to Ceylon on account of the weather. The Salamander and Naarden had not been heard of and had as I thought been driven by the strong North-East winds past the Cape and perhaps past Ceylon. At last on Dec 25th it was decided to send Arondster and Boterbloen across to the Island and remain a few days longer at Cape Comorin in hope the other vessels make their appearance.
Pieris; 236.
Den zelven dag (29 Nov) waarop de admiraal met zijn raad orders had gegeven aan de achterblijvende schepen voor Goa, zond hij een brief aan den gouverneur van Ceylon, Adriaan van der Meyden, met het galjoot de Botterblom. Het jacht Avondsterre zou het kleinere schip begeleiden tot kaap Commorijn, voorbij de sterkten der Portugeezen.
Aalbers; opus cit 135
  The same day [29 Nov] on which the admiral and his council had given orders for the ships to stay before Goa he sent a letter to the governor of Ceylon, Adriaan van der Meyden, with the galliot Botterblom. The yacht Avondsterre would accompany the smaller ship until cape Comorijn, past the Portuguese strongholds.
Aalbers; 135

Gelijck mede t jacht Vlielandt t welck sijn treijns goederen aan de avontstar overgedragen heeft alhier de derde stem en de plaats van schout bij nacht blijven occuperen.. [Verder in dit stuk helaas niets over de overgeladen treinsgoederen etc].. snachts vertreckt den avontstar en t Galjooth de boterbloem met partije soldaten na Ceylon.
SLNA 1/3378; 29[-11-1657]

  .. as the yacht Vlielandt, which has transferred the commodities for the army to the avontstar will be here the third in rank and occupy the place of rear-admiral.. [unfortunately the diary of Roothaas does not contain any details about these goods being shipped over].. at night the avontstar and the galliot the boterbloem leave for Ceylon with a number of soldiers.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3378, 29 [29-11-1657]
Brief van Goens van Cabo Comoryn 28-12-1657
Naerden en Salamander, vooruitgezonden, zijn niet rond de "Caep"gekomen hoewel nog voor Coutchin gezien zijn
Goes, Avontster en Boterbloem zijn in 3 dagen van Coutchin naar de Caep gevaren de soldaten en matrozen op de Avondstar beginnen in te vallen, daarom wordt besloten Colombo aan te lopen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; fol 327
  28 Dec 1657: letter of van Goens from Cape Comorin
Naerden and Salamander, which were sailed before [him] have not rounded the Cape [Comorin] although they have been sighted in front of Cochin. Goes, Avontster and Boterbloem have sailed in 3 days from Cochin to the Cape. The soldiers and sailors on the Avondstar start to become ill and for that reason the ships will go to Colombo.
Dutch National Archives, 1.04.02 , 1227 [Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 327
[136] Eerst tien dagen na 't vertrek uit de vloot voor Goa [dus op 19-12] kwam van Goens onder Kaap Commorijn. Hij vond er wel de Avondsterre en Botterblom, maar geen berichten uit Ceylon.[137] Het galjoot had wegens den hevigen noordoosten wind de vaart naar Ceylon niet durven wagen. Ook van der Laan was er nog niet, ofschoon zijn schepen op de hoogte van cochin nog gezien waren. Drie etmalen werd er gewacht, maar van der Laan verscheen niet… Avondsterre en Botterblom zond hij af naar Colombo… Zelf probeerde hij Tutecorijn te bereiken. Maar hoe hij ook met verlies van zeilen en ankers trachtte tegen den noordoosten wind op te laveeren, het gelukte hem niet. Van der Laan bleef weg, de matrozen en soldaten begonnen "hard in te vallen" ..Den 28sten December stelde hij den raad voor, of het ook met het oog op het drinkwater niet beter was … naar Colombo te zeilen… De schippers hadden gelijk gehad : Colombo was te bezeilen. Vier dagen na 't vertrek van Commorijn, den 1 sten Januari 1658 kwam van Goens op de reede voor de stad aan.. [138] Avondsterre en Botterblom verschenen eerst drie dagen later. Van Jan van der Laan met zijn Salamander en Naarden was niets vernomen.
Aalbers; opus cit 136-8
  Ten days after he left the fleet before Goa, van Goens arrived at Cape Comorin. He found there the Avondsterre and the Botterblom, but no news from Ceylon.
The galliot had not ventured to sail to Ceylon because of the strong north-easterly winds. Also van der Laan had not arrived, although his ships had been seen before Cochin. Three days they waited, but van der Laan did not appear.. He sent the Avondsterre and Botterblom to Colombo.. He tried to reach Tutucorin himself, working against the north-east wind with the loss of sails and anchors, but did not succeed. Van der Laan stayed away and the soldiers and mariners started getting ill. On 28th he proposed to council whether it was better, on account of the watersupply, to sail to Colombo. The skippers had been right: it was possible to reach Colombo. Four days after leaving Comorin, 1 Jan 1658, van Goens arrived in the roadstead before this city.
The Avondsterre and Botterblom arrived three days later. Nothing was heard of Jan van der Laan and his Salamander and Naarden.
Aalbers, 136-8

December 1644: Instructie voor d'H=r commissaris vinck waer naer hem int oversteecken van Cabo Commerin naer Ceijlon sal reguleeren
.. waer naer hun d'H=r Comissaris vinck ende vordere operhooffden vande Jachten heemskerck en bergen opden zoom int opseijlen van hier naer Zeijlon sullen hebben te reguleeren
Op heden goet gevonden sijnde u E met dese twee Jachten een preuve te laten doen om de reijse op Zeijlon te gewinnen : sal u E so haest den wint eenichsints toelaet .. anckers lichten & trachten soo veel bijde wal op te comen als Eenichsints doenlijck sal weesen van waer onderleggen sult oft mogelijck is Zeijlon te beseijlen dies neen & dat u E ten halver waeter gecomen sijnde geen goede apparentie daertoe en vertoonden, sult niet in parijckel van dese wal niet weder te cunnen becomen u coers weder herwaerts stellen doch ten aensien veel aent arivement deser Jachten op Zeijlon gelegen is , moet eerst alle mogelijcke middelen, om Gaele soo't negombo niet weesen can, te beseijlen

 

[earlier instructions for the passage from Cape Comorin to Ceylon]
.. what Mr Commissioner vinck and the other heads of the yachts heemskerck and bergen op den zoom have to observe while sailing from here to Zeijlon.
Today we found good that your Hon. will try to sail with these two yachts to Zeijlon: as soon as the wind allows you should wind up your anchors and try to make as much progress as possible along the coast and if possible sail to Zeijlon, and if not and having reached a point halfway you do not think to succeed, you will not endanger yourself in such a way as to be unable to return on this coast again, but sail back, but because it is very important that the yachts will arrive in Zeijlon, you shall first try to reach, if not negombo, then Gaele.
Instructions for Mr commissioner Vinck for the passage from Cape Comorin to Ceylon, Dec 1644

ARA 1.04.02 VOC 1226; ; fol 868
Register van de papieren aende heren Bewinthebbers 09 Feb 1658
door Gouverneur Adriaen van der Meyden uyt Colombo over Persia na Nederlant gesonden
fol. 869 Brief van der Meyden van Colombo
Roothaes was net (6 etmalen) te laat voor Goa (op 10 september)
Jachten ter Veer, Romeyn en waterpas op 05-12 [1657] naer de overcust
van Goens met Goes en avontster te reede 01-01-1658
Vertrek van Goens met ter Goes, avontstar, Ter veer, Caneelschilder, Mousambique, romeyn, Mannaer en 't Waterpas, galjoten Tayouan en Boterblom, als mede ander cleyn vaertuych by aldien 't schip de salmander met over de 400 fluxc gasten … den E Majoor van der Laen pr Naerden reede al aende over Cust was.
  Roothaes was too late [6 days] at Goa [10 Sept 1657].
The yachts ter Veer, Romeyn and waterpas have been sent to Madure on 5 Dec 1657.
Van Goens left [on 1 Jan 1658] with ter Goes, avontstar, Ter veer, Caneelschilder, Mousambique, romeyn, Mannaer and the Waterpas, the galliotes Tayouan and Boterblom and other small boats, when the salmander with her 400 able soldiers will arrive [.. she will be sent also.. there is news that..] the Hon Major van der Laen did already arrive with the ship Naerden at the coast of Madure.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1226 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia]
fol. 868 Letters sent by van der Meyden by way of Persia to the Netherlands, 09-02-1658
fol. 869 letter of van der Meyden from Colombo

Voor de expeditie [naar de bocht van Tutecorijn] werden aangewezen de jachten Ter Goes en Avontsterre, die voor 't overvoeren van manschappen begeleid zouden woren door de fregatten en galjoten Mozambique, Manaar, Waterpas, Botterblom, Caneelschilder en al het kleinn vaartuig, dat Ceylon te missen had. Daarop zouden dan nog nagezonden worden de jachten Ter Veer, Romeijn en Zeeblom, die van de "overcust" terug verwacht werden, en Naarden, zoodra het schip terecht was, met de in Ceylon vrij gemaakte troepen.
Aalbers;opus cit. 139
  Jan 1658: Avondster sent to Tuticorin
For the expedition [to the gulf of Tuticorin] were appointed the yachts Ter Goes and Avondsterre, which would be accompanied, to transport the soldiers, by the frigates and galliots Mozambique, Manaar, Waterpas, Botterblom, Caneelschilder and all the small boats that could be spared from Ceylon. The yachts Ter Veer, Romeijn and Zeeblom expected to arrive soon from the coast of Madura ['overcust' = the Indian coast opposite Sri Lanka] and the ship Naarden, as soon as she arrived, would follow with those soldiers which could be spared from Ceylon.
Aalbers; 139
Den volgenden dag 19 Januari konden weer drie kleine jachten naar Tututcorijn worden afgezonden, gevolgd door een paar grotere schepen en al het klein vaartuig, dat te Negombo verzameld was (Nt: Tayoan, Mozambique, Caneelschilder, gevolgd door Ter Veer en Avontster met het klein vaartuig).
Aalbers, opus cit. 144
  The next day, 19 Jan, three more small yachts could be sent to Tuticorin, followed by a few of the larger ones and all the small ships that were gathered at Negombo (Note: Tayoan, Mozambique, Caneelschilder, followed by Ter Veer and Avontster with the small ships).
Aalbers;144
    Having sailed for Colombo we found sufficient forces available for an attempt on Tuticorin, Mannar and Jafanapatam. We heard that Captain van der Laan had reached the first mentioned place before us and made an unsuccessful attack on it. We at once started thither, arrived on Jan 24th and next day had the place already in our posession.. After appointing Factor Ooms resident at Tuticorin and having entrusted him with a mission to the Naique of Madura and Tevar, we crossed over to Mannar, but owing to the strong winds and want of small craft for landing the troops we only could begin operations on Feb 19th.
Pieris; opus cit. 236 ev.

vanwege onbeseyltheyt vooruyt senden de jachten avontsterre, ter Veer, mossambique, caneelschilder, romeyn, boterblom, tayouan en zeeblom later komen dan de schepen Goes, naerden en de jachten manar, waterpas en de chaloup japara [naar Manaar].
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; fol 333verso, Tutucoryn 28-01-1658
  28 Jan 1657: Avondster to join the attack on Mannar
because of their bad sailing the yachts avontsterre, ter Veer, mossambique, caneelschilder, romeyn, boterblom, tayouan and zeeblom will be sent in advance, while the ships Goes, naerden and the yachts manar, waterpas and the sloop japara will follow later [to Mannar].
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 333 [Lettter from Tututcoryn 28-01-1657]
[149] De acht slechts bezeilde schepen (Nt: De Jachten Avontsterre, Ter Veer, Mozambique, Caneelschilder, Romeijn, Botterblom, Tayoan, Zeeblom; de snellere waren Ter Goes, Naarden, Waterpas, Japara. Colombo wordt niet meer genoemd.) werden vooruitgezonden naar het eiland Rammanacoyl, waar zij de andere vijf zouden inwachten [150] Met Ter Goes en de andere goed bezeilde schepen verliet Van Goens op 4 Febuari Tutucorijn, om de andere schepen te volgen in de richting van Rammanacoyl. Daar [bij Killecarre] was twee dagen na 't vertrek toch weer de gehele vloot bijeen [151].. Met de kleine jachtjes verspreid, voordurend in het onbekende water peilend, voorop, laveerend met contrarie noordoosten wind vorderde de vloot slechts langzaam en kwam zij eerst 16 Februari bij het eiland Rammanacoyl. Hier moest weer gewacht worden,want de vier slechtst bezeilde schepen (Nt : Mozambique, Caneelschilder, Tayoan, Romeyn) hadden zwaar met tegenwind te tobben. Toen zij er waren kon de hele vloot in veiligheidsformatie ten zuiden van de Adamsbrug naar Manaar stevenen.
Aalbers, opus cit. 149-150
  The eight ships that were sailing the worst (Note: the yachts Avontsterre, Ter Veer, Mozambique, Caneelschilder, Romeijn, Botterblom, Tayoan, Zeeblom; the faster ones were Ter Goes, Naarden, Waterpas, Japara. Colombo is not mentioned any more) were send in advance to the island Rammanacoyl, where they would wait for the other five. With the Goes and the other well-sailing ships, van Goens left Tutucorin on 4 Feb, to follow the other ships in the direction of Rammanacoyl. There (at Killecarre) the whole fleet was together again. With the small yachts spread widely in front and continuously sounding the unknown waters, tacking against the adverse north-east wind the fleet advanced slowly and did not arrive before 16 Feb at the island of Rammanacoyl. Here they had to wait again, because the four slowest sailing ships (Note: Mozambique, Caneelschilder, Tayoan, Romeyn) had severe problems with the adverse wind. When they had arrived the whole fleet could sail on in safety-formation along the southern side of Adams Bridge to Mannar.
Aalbers; 149-150
Adriaen Hem sal by de landing op Manaer optreden als capiteyn van de bootsgesellen in d'Arriere garde.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; 335 [09-02-1658 tussen Tutecorijn en Manaar], adriaen Hem tekent,als schipper op de avondstar, als laatste 338 [krijgsorde voor de aanval op Manaar ca 17-02]
  Adriaen Hem will act as commander of the sailors in the rear-guard while landing on Manaer.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia], 335 [copy of a resolution taken at 09-02-1658, between Tutecorijn and Manaar]. The last signature is of adriaen Hem, skipper of the avondstar, 338 [military orders for the attack on Manaar c. 17-02]
des anderen daegs [20-02; aanval op Manaar] liepen onse Schepen Goes, Naerden, Terveer en avondster soo dicht by de fregats dat wy dezelve met grof geschut begaen conden.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; 239
  The next day [20 Feb, attack on Manaar] our ships Goes, Naerden, Terveer and avondster ran so close to the [Portuguese] frigates that we could shoot at them with our guns.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] , 239
heldhaftigheid van deheer van der Laan ondanks zijn zwaarlijvigheid
D'onsen hadden in 't Landen vry tegenstant… ondertusschen wierden de Porugezen die hun volk meynden te ontzetten, van ons Geschut, leggend op de Schepen, met kogels en schoot geladen, soo nauw onthaald ende begroet, datter veel met de neuzen in 't zand stoven ende een korte begraffenisse hadden.
Baldaeus, Ceylon, 148
  Describes the heroism of Mr van der Laan in spite of his corpulence.. Our men met some resistance when landing.. in the meantime those Portuguese who tried to help their men, were welcomed by the guns of our ships loaded with bullets and shrapnel, so intensely that a lot of them fell with their noses in the sand and had a short burial.
Baldaeus, Ceylon, 148

Het gevecht [op 21-02 bij Manaar] werd ingeleid door een kanonnade van de groote schepen, die zo dicht mogelijk den wal naderden om met grof geschut de kleinere fregatten te lijf te gaan… Aan 't eind van den dag was er door 't geschut nog maar één fregat vernield… [ de volgende dag worden de fregatten wel vernield; het fort wordt 23 of 24-02 overgegeven; 155] Uit het fort kwamen slechts 124 Portugezen. In en na het gevecht bij Narcoura waren er 70 gevangen genomen. De ongehuwden zouden bij gelegeheid naar Batavia en vandaar naar Europa gebracht worden, de gehuwden met vrouw en kinderen naar de kust van Indie.
Aalbers, opus cit, 153
 

21 Feb 1658: the battle at Mannar
The fight started with cannon-fire by the big ships, which came as near as possible to the shore and shot at the smaller frigates.. At the end of the day only one frigate was destroyed. [The next day all the others were destroyed; the fort was taken 23-24 Feb.] From the fort came only 124 Portuguese. In and after the fight at Narcoura 70 prisoners were taken. The unmarried prisoners would be brought on occasion to Batavia, the married ones with women and children to the coast of India.
Aalbers; 153

Caneelschilder en mosambique door haer onbequame ouderdom ons gene minste dienst alhier meerder en connen doen daerinne de gevangen portugesen te schepen om na Colombo gebracht te werden.. ter veer met rijs nae Colombo.. taijouan recht door naer Colombo en vandaer retourneren met advijs.. boterblom eerst naer tutucarin en met advies van Eduard Ooms naar Colmbo.. Goes Naerden en Avontstar buyten Ceylon om tot benauwinge van Jaffenapatna.
SLNA 1/9 pt I; <35> ;24-02-1658
  While Caneelschilder and mosambique cannot give us any more service because they are too old, they will be used to transport the prisoners to Colombo.. ter veer with rice to Colombo.. taijouan directly to Colombo and return with news from there.. boterblom first to tutucarin and with news from Eduard Ooms [merchant/head at Tutucorin] to Colombo.. Goes Naerden and Avontstar outside around Ceylon to blockade Jaffenapatna.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/9 Pt I, <35> [24-02-1658]
Sondagh 24 February [1658]
welcke jachten dan van hier soo haest vaerdich sullen syn ende de tyt gelegentheyt sal geven sullen volgen om buyten Ceylon om te varen tot benauwinge van Jaffenapatnam, de Cappitale jachten der Goes, naerden en avontstar ende op dat op dese bezetting en regeringh der scheepen met de dienstichste ordre mach toegaen wert goet [fol 341v] gevonden den schipper Pr. Berckhout als schipper commandeur over de selve te stellen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; 341
  Sunday 24 Feb 1658:
.. which yachts from here, as soon as they are ready and time permits, will follow outside Ceylon to blockade Jaffenapatnam, the big yachts Goes, naerden and avontstar and the skipper Peter Berckhout will be made commander-skipper over these ships so that this blockade and the government on these ships will be kept in the best order. [After this decision was made about the Avondster in the end of February, there is no information on her whereabouts until she reached Jaffnapatnam at the end of august.]
Dutch National Archives, 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC Letters and papers from Asia], 341.
T jacht der Veere is op den 12 Mei van voor Coutchin gescheyden geraeckt.. syn van Cacoulangh op den 6en Courant omtrent dese reede aengeweest ende voort na galos bay geordonneert, dat wy by aldien 't Jacht [fol 269verso] Avontstar van de Madurese overcust daer oock niet comt te..
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227; fol 266 - 269verso, van der Meyden uit Colombo 15-06-1658 fol 269.
 

The yacht Veere sailed from Coutchin on 12 May.. from Calicoulang they were on the 6th of this month on the roadstead here [Colombo] and have been ordered to go to Gale, in case the yacht Avontstar does not arrive there from the coast of Madura [in which case Veere will have to stay in Gale to protect the city].
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] fol. 269. van der Meyden from Colombo, 15-06-1658.

van Goens van Jaf. 06-07-1658, 285v
Van Ceylon verwachten wy noch de jachten avontster ende leeuwinne om ons van de resterende gevangenen te ontlasten en voorts van coromandel tot uEl- te ??
ARA VOC 1.04-02 - 1227; 285v
  6 Jul 1658: letter by van Goens from Jaffnapatnam to Batavia
From Ceylon we are expecting the yachts avontster and leeuwinne to get rid of the remaining prisoners and to [transport them] from coromandel to your Hon..
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] , fol. 285v
van Goens van Jaffnapatnam 25-07-1658
met de Leeuwin 500 sielen meest getrouwde met vrouw en kinderen naar Batavia.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1227; fol 289 verso
  25 Jul 1658:
With the Leeuwin [we send] 500 people, mostly married, with women and children to Batavia.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] fol. 289v, van Goens from Jaffnapatnam to Batavia.
Van Goens uit het schip ter Goes 2 september 1658:
het onverwachte aentreffen van 't jacht Sluys met den Coopm. Wyns present occasie gegeven u desen toe te laten comen [met] noch 158 gevangenen]
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1227; fol 293 verso
 

2 Sep 1658:
The fact that we unexpectedly met the ship Sluys with merchant Wyns gives us the possibility to send you this [letter] and 158 prisoners more.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1227 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] fol.293v. [van Goens from the ship ter Goes, 02-09-1658]


het schip d'avontster is noch eijndlijck van ceylon herwaerts gecomen twelck ick wel gewenst hadde vroeger op Jaffenapatan verschenen was Zeer bequamelyck zal tselve de negapatanse gevangenen nae bengale connen vervoeren ende sulcx meer als u Ed. voor dat comptoir te scheepen hebben om dan met het begin van tander Zaisoen vol rijs geladen voorts recht toe nae Ceylon te retourneren.
Nevens dese gaet open in handen vanden Coopman Weynes? de lyste van de gevangen soldaten om die uyt d'avontster daer noch werden by gevoecht de namen inde selve gestelt ende tgetal my by occagie bekent gemaeckt te worden.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 155 [van Goens aan Pit 02-09-1658]
 

2 Sept 1658: Avondster to transport prisoners to Bengal
.. the ship avontster turned up at last in this region from Ceylon, but I would have wished she had arrived earlier in Jaffenapatan. She will be very capable of transporting the prisoners we took in negapatan to bengal, and also those things your Hon. wants to ship to that place and then to return in the next season fully laden with rice directly to Ceylon.
With this [letter] goes, unclosed, in the hands of the merchant Weynes the list of the soldier prisoners to add the names of those from the avontster and to let me know their number when you have the chance.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , letters and papers sent from Asia] fol. 155
[Letter van Goens 02-09-1658, from the ship ter Goes near Tegenapatam to Laurens Pit in Paliacatte]


Mettet aentreffen van 'tJacht Sluys hebbe gisteren aen U ed. ende op hope deser noch tydich paliacatte voor syn vertreck sal belopen niet willen in gebrecken blyven… soodanige advysen bekent te maecken als heden met d Avontster van Tutucorin ende negapatam toegecomen sijn.
Overgekomen stukken ARA VOC 1227; fol 295 van Goens int jacht der Goes seylend voor Tegenapatam 3 september 1658
  3 Sept 1658:
With the yacht Sluys I wrote yesterday to your Hon and I hope that this [letter] will reach paliacatte in time [before the Sluys leaves again] as I want to tell you.. the news I received today with the Avontster from Tutucorin and negapatam.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 295 [Letter from van Goens, in the yacht der Goes, sailing in front of Tegenapatam, 3 Sept 1658 to Laurens Pit in Paliacatte]

… is hier op gistermorghen van negapatan aengecomen d'chaloupe narsepour met ontrent 100 portugese canalje ende savonts laet 't jacht sluys.. uwe aengename missive gedateert 2en stanty waer opt volgende tot antwoort dient ende eerstelyck sullen wy ons met Ued advys met schip d'avontstar op syne verschyning alhier na bengale te demitteren volcomen confirmeren daer mede oock de resterende 24:@ stucx realen uyt Sluys ende niet minder als 75:@ gl aen abasys?[van Dam RGP 76: abbassi, ook abasy of abacy - Perzische munt] aen D'hr directeur pieter Sertemius senden
preadvys hierover is met het jachtje piply (met ook 3 paarden en 70 Portugees rapalje) gesonden naer ougli
Tjacht sluys sullen wy insgelycx so haest d'avontstar hier maer comt over aen te landen over masulipatnam ende malacca na batavia depescheren.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; fol 174 - 175 Laurens Pit in fort Geldria, 04-09
 

4 Sept 1658:
.. the sloop narsepour arrived here yesterday from negapatan with about 100 Portuguese riff-raff and late in the evening the yacht sluys.. with your pleasant letter dated the 2nd of this month, to which our reply is the following: first we will, as you advise us, send the ship the avontstar when she arrives here to bengal, we also agree totally to send there the remaining 24,000 realen [24:@ - the original symbol being an 'O' with a dot inside, standing for thousand] and not less than 75,000 abasys [a Persian coin] to Mr director pieter Sertemius
we sent a first message about this with the small yacht piply (in which we also sent 3 horses and 70 Portuguese riff-raff)
The yacht sluys will, as soon as the avontstar arrives here, be sent by masulipatnam and malacca to batavia.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 174 [Letter of Laurens Pit from fort Geldria in Paliacatte, 04-09-1658]

Tschip d'avontstar comt noch niet te voorschyn.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 176 Laurens Pit in Geldria 06-09
  The ship avontstar did not arrive here yet.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] [Letter of Laurens Pit in fort Geldria, Paliacatte, 06-0-9-1658]

In dit schip [Sluys?] geen meer als 152 Packen meest vaderlantse sortering cleeden naer Batavia met 130 stucx gevangen Portugese soldaten vant guarnisoen van Jaffenapatnam ende noch 24 stx op de avontstar verbleven om in bengalen aen de schepen die van daer tot u ed [fol 94] staen te komen insgelycx overgescheept te werden.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1227 fol 93verso [Fort Geldria 09-09-1658]
  9 Sept 1658:
In this ship [Sluys?] not more than 152 bales of cloth [from India], most for the fatherland via Batavia; and 130 Portuguese prisoners of the garrison of Jaffenapatnam, and another 24 have been left on the avontstar who will be brought to you with the ships from there.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] fol. 93v [Letter from fort Geldria 09-09-1658]

met dit schip de avontster gaen 9 Engelsen die ick om redenen met haer bagagie tot uEd sende volgens ingesloten Inventaris [159] … met schip den avontster hebbe jongst geschreven
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231 ;158 Naschrift brief 09-09 van Goens aan Pit
  9 Sept 1658:
.. with this ship avontster are despatched 9 Englishmen which for a certain reason I send you with their belongings, of which an inventory is included.. with the ship avontster I wrote to you lately
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, letters and papers from Asia] [Postscript to a letter of van Goens to Pit of 09-09-1658]

… vertreckende oock op heden van hier direct na bengale 't schip d'avontster met 991 Cour Chiancos [Beschryvinge van Dam, RGP 76; 391 zijnde yder cour 120 stucks] ontrent 210 stucx nagapatnamsche Portugesen bestaende meest uit vrouwen en kinderen, toepasen, slaven ende slavinnen welck kloecke hol wy verhopen in bengalen syn volle Rys last zal krygen om in octob- van daer weer Zeylonwaerts te komen
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1227; fol 94[Fort Geldria 09-09-1658]
  9 Sept 1658:
did also leave here today, directly to bengal, the ship avontster with 991 baskets of chiancos ['chiancos' are a kind of shells; every basket holds 120 shells, according to van Dam, 'Beschrijvinge..', RGP 76, p.391], about 210 Portuguese from negapatnam, most women and children, toepassen and slaves; the big hold we hope will be completely loaded with rice in bengal to sail in October from there to Zeylon
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] fol. 94 [Letter from fort Geldria 09-09-1658]


[fol177] Den 6en stantij schreven jonghst eenige regulen aen U Ed- tot geleyde vande becomen wingurlase advijsen die verhopen u Ed noch tot negapatnam sullen belopen hebben, tsedert quam hier den selven dagh savonts ter reede tschip d'avontstar met uEd- wel aengenaeme brieven gedatert 3en en 4en do waerop volgende tot antwoort dient
[178verso] 166 stux blasen inhoudende 12782 # netto cruijt hebben wy int schip d'avonstar gescheept om op Ceylon te disbarcqueren, alsoo ons niet connen verseeckeren off SE: heer gouverneur van de meyde voort uijtgaen deser mousson meerder scheepsruymte naer cormandel sal connen Zenden
[fol179] De gevangen Ingelse op d'avontstar hebben int voorby passeren van madrespatnam een briefken pr cattemarauw aenden president greenhil gesonden waer op Zyn E: by een Courtois briefken aen ons geschreven heeft, ende wy deselve op u Ed- bevel oock terstont derwaerts gesonden hebben
Vermits ons met d'avontster 70 packen gunees voor tpatria uijt getekent van tegenapatnam toequamen, soo hebben deselve in tjacht sluys doen overschepen ende daer van landt noch 20 : packen [bovengeschreven : meene ses packen] ?ialou gingans ende eenige andere dienstige sorteringe 't samen tot den number van 151 packen….. dat voorsch- jacht twee dagen in Zijne dispessie hier wel verlet heeft, doch sal soo veel te spoediger op Masulip- connen affgladen werden. Zynde op gister derwaerts vertrocken gelyck oock d'avontstar deselven avonth Zyn dispessie directelyck nae bengale erlangt heeft.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 177 Laurens Pit, fort Geldria 10-09-1658 aan van Goens
 

10 Sept 1658: letter from Laurens Pit in Paliacatte to van Goens
The 6th of this [month] we sent you a small note accompanying the news we received from wingurla, which we hope arrived with your Hon in negapatnam, since then on the same day the ship avontstar arrived in the roadstead here with your pleasant letters dated 3rd and 4th of this month, to which our answer is this:
we shipped 166 pouches with 12782 pounds net of gunpowder in the ship avonstar to be unloaded at Ceylon, because we were not sure if the Hon Mr governor van der meyde would be able to send more ships to cormandel before the end of the monsoon.
The English prisoners on the avontstar, when passing madrespatnam, sent a small letter with a catamaran to president greenhil, after which His Hon sent us a polite letter [to Paliacatte] and we have sent them directly over there according to your Hon's orders [ie the prisoners were returned to the British settlement].
Because we received with the avontster 70 bales of gunees [cloth] for the fatherland, sent from tegenapatnam, we have shipped them in the yacht sluys and from here [also some bales of cloth] to a total of 151 bales, which meant that this ship spent two days longer here before she left, but can be loaded in shorter time at Masulip - and left yesterday as also the avontstar received leave on the same evening to go directly to bengal.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia], fol.177-179 [Letter of Laurens Pit in fort Geldria, Paliacatte to van Goens of 10-09-1658]


… negepatnamse Portugesen Pr 't gemelte Jachien pipely [1227 fol 93 : vertrokken fort Geldria 03-09] 73 ende met D'avontster 200 coppen gel- oock met d'boot paleacatte ende de chaloup narsepr- den 2 deser op de bengaelse rede verschenen )?25 personen door de heer Pits toegesonden om hier in bengale te mogen… [men is daar in Ougly niet blij mee].
ARA 1.04.02 -1227 ; 194 [Missive van Ougly 27-10-1658]
  27 Oct 1658:
Portuguese from negapatnam [brought here] by the mentioned small yacht pipely 73 and with the avontster 200 heads, similarly with the boat paleacatte and the sloop narsep- which appeared here in the roadstead on the 2nd of this [month] ?25 persons, sent by Mr. Pits to bengal. [The Dutch in Ougly are disappointed by the arrival of so many Portuguese.]
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 194 [Letter from Ougly 27-10-1658]

… verhoopende dat ons de toegeseyde scheepen tot overvoer van den resterende salpeter als den pipely schen Rys tydich sullen geworden, synde niet qualyck geslaecht (om ons vanden selven enichsints t'ontlasten en d'behoeftige guarnisoenen op Ceylon te provideren) dat 't Jacht d'avontster volgens d'ordre Van den E Heer Super Intendent Ryckloff van goens uyt die quartieren de 7den deser [10-1658] over paliacatte
[fol 193] achter Ille de gale [zie kaart en noot op pag 104 van Lin 33 - eiland in de mond van de Hooghly riveir] is komen te arriveren bijwelcke occagie D Heer Gouverneur Laurens Pith dese directie met 24 O Stx spaensche realen en 84 O Stx abassies ten bedrage van gl 120 221 : 19 : 8 heeft gelieven te voorsien, nevens Zyn E advysen en schryven van den Heer Adriaen van der Meyden besijden den rys voor desselfs gouvernement bestaende in 10 O # amphioen, 1200 Stx Zeylcleeden, 6000 stx goeny met 80 potten soo boter als olij van dit lant welck een en ander pr- voorschreven avontstar (nevens 166 : blasen ofte 12782 # buscruijt op Paleacatte voor Ceylon daer geladen) in 9br [november] derwaerts verhoopen te bestellen gelyck wij..
ARA 1.04.02 - 1227 ;192 [verso Missive van Ougly 27-10-1658]
 

27 Oct 1658:
.. hoping that the ships which have been promised to us for shipment of the remaining saltpetre and rice from Pipely will arrive soon, in the mean time we succeeded (to dispose of the rice partially ourselves and to provide it to the garrisons on Ceylon, which want it) with the yacht avontster according to the order of the Hon Mr superintendent Ryckloff van goens from those quarters on the 7th [Oct 1658] via paliacatte
arrived behind Ille de gale [an island in the mouth of the Hooghly river, according to Lin XXXIII, p.104 - not to be confused with Galle in Sri Lanka!], on which occasion Mr Governor Laurens Pith has sent to this office 24,000 pieces of Spanish Reals and 84,000 pieces of abassies to a value of f.120221:19:8, along with letters from him and from Mr. Adriaen van de Meyden; we loaded for his government, apart from the rice, 10,000 pounds of opium, 1200 pieces of sailcloth, 6000 pieces gunny with 80 pots of butter and oil from this place which things we hope to send there in November (together with 166 pouches or 12782 pounds of gunpowder loaded in Paleacatte for Ceylon).
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1227 [VOC , Letters and papers from Asia], 192 [Letter from Ougly, 27-10-1658]


De schepen goes en worcum die seer afgevaren sijn en dierhalven eerst nodigh na Batavia ….[Worcum is gelijk met Avondster van Batavia naar Goa gekomen; der Goes zelfs nog iets later] ende aengesien door gecommitterde geoordeelt is t jacht d'avondster noch wel een jaar sal connen overblijven ende wij alhier nootsaeckelijck van rijs dienen te werden voorsien, soo hebben goetgevonden tselve een toght na canara te laten doen om daer rijs ladinge door den coopman abram carter te doen procureren met welck jacht dan oock met eens naer goa sullen largeren alle de hier overgebleven familien ende opdat onder scomp-s vijanden niet mogte werden gereleveert hoe veel volck macht naer batavia mogte werden gesonden en te welcker oorsaeck tselve geschiet soo sullen eerst bespoedigen dat gem jachten avontster en goutsblom vertrecken ende dan d'andere na batavia.
SLNA 1/9 Pt I; <80>e.v. ; 11?-01-1659 ; uitgebreide resolutie, genomen in Colombo, waarin op <82>verso
  Jan 1659: Avondster to buy rice in Canara
The ships goes and worcum which are in bad condition and for that reason should necessarily go to Batavia first and while the supervisors judge that the yacht avontster will be able to stay another year [NB Worcum left together with Avondster from Batavia and Goes even some months later] and it is necessary that we will be provided by rice here, it is decided that the same [yacht avondster] will make a voyage to canara [on the westcoast of India] to buy there a cargo of rice through the merchant abram carter with which yacht also will be set free at Goa all the [Portuguese] families who have remained here and to hide from the enemies of the company how many troops are sent to batavia and why that is done we will first send off the mentioned yachts avontster and goutsblom as soon as possible and after that the others to batavia.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/9 Pt I <82>v [Resolution Colombo 11?-01-1659]

Na 8 a 10 dagen Zal van hier nogh volgen 't schip d'avontster met de Coop. abram Carter om op de Custe van Canara 't selve vol Rijs te negotieren waer mede nader aen de vloot voor Goa sullen adviseren.. [266] de gem- avontstar verwachten wij mede noch soo tydich te Rugh dat U E het aenwesende ende Resterende houtwerck op deszelfs Overloop ons sult Connen bestellen des niet moet U E niet versuymen met de passeerende Scheepen van goa ofte Cruijsende Jachten voor Coutchin 't selve noch soo tijdich laten toecomen dat wy tselve gevoegelyck voor 't quade saysoen op Columbo mogen lossen… Om met den triancotter, porcatter en Calicoulander soodanige Contract aen te gaen als met de Chingematij geschiet is, wert UE toegesonden met den avontster 4 aliaes die UE cunt vereeren daerse best sullen passen, wy sullen niet versuijmen aende triancotter een compliment briefken daer nevens te voegen [267verso]met d'avontster sullen uE. nader schryven.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 265verso[brief Van Goens naar Coylan 27-01-1659]
  27 Jan 1659: Avondster to transport elephants
Within 8 or 10 days will follow from here the ship the avontster with the merchant abram Carter to negotiate the same full of rice on the coast of Canara with which we shall send more news for the fleet before Goa..
we expect the mentioned avontstar back in time to be able to ship over to us on the orlop deck the wood remaining with your Hon, if not Your Hon. should not hesitate to give it to the ships passing from goa or cruising before Cochin in order that it may easily be unloaded in Colombo before the bad weather season starts..
To make a contract with the triancotter, porcatter and Calicoulander as is done with the Chingematij we will send Your Hon with the avontster 4 'alias' [male tuskless elephants, a Sinhalese word] which Your Hon can give to those you think best, we will not hesitate to send a nice accompanying letter to the triancotter, we will write you again with the avontster.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , letters and papers from Asia] 265-267 [Letter of van Goens to Coylan 27-01-1659]

soo gaan noch met dit schip de avontstar over 4 alias mannekens die ul op t alderspoedichst sult lossen ende 't schip niet ophouden alsoo op t hooghste om rijs verlegen zijn waerom dit schip expres nae Canara gesonden werdt [volgt een uitleg aan wie welke olifant het best vereerd kan worden].
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 350 van Goens van Colombo aan Serooskercke in Coijlan 06-02-1659
  6 Feb 1659:
with this ship the avontstar go 4 alia-elephants which
you will have to unload as fast as possible and do not delay this
ship further, because we need the rice very badly, for which we
sent this ship especially to Canara. [An explanation follows about which elephant should be ceremonially donated to each of the local authorities.]
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 -1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 350 [Letter of van Goens from Colombo to Serooskercke in Coylan, 06-02-1659]
[513] Instructie voor den Coop= Abram Carter seijlende met 't schip d'avontstar van hier naer de Cust van India tot Procure van Rijs om hem daer na op de Rijse ende In 't Coopen vanden Rhijs sal hebben te Reguleren
Van dese Rede afseijlende sult u met aller spoet de Caap Comorijn soeken te Passeeren ende voor de stadt Coulan te Comen, alwaer gearriveert Zijnde soo Rasch mogelijck Is te lossen de vier elifanten voor die Plaetse gescheept ende geensints aldaer langer te verblijven waeromme oock aende overh- gesr- is. vande Elifanten ontladen Zijnde sult de Reyse tot voor barcelor vervolgen ende aldaer vande Lantsaten soo veel Rys souken te bemachtiogen als tot volladinge van 't voorS scheeps Ruijm mitsgaders noch t gunt uijt de besettinge van Goas baere volgens onse ordre door Command- Roothaes sal werden toegesonden van nooden sal heben ende beyde Laeden sullen Connen Ende alsoo staet maecken dat beyde die bodems wel 550 ende meerder lasten sullen wech voeren, soo gaet tot betalinge van dat graen In ul handen 10000 Comp Realen ende eenige andere CoopmanS volgens factura nevensgaende
[514] wanneer een van beyde de scheepen met Rijs Zal Zijn volladen sal ul t selve datelijck herwaerts aen doen sturen sonder na de ladinge van 't andere te vertouven d'opperhoofden goede sorge te dragen aenbevelende ende In 't passeren Coulan aen te doen om vande overheeden te verstaen ofte te yts te adviseren hadde ende mede om houtwerck aldaer Inne te Nemen waer toe nochtans Int affladen vande scheepen geen Plaetse Moet gelaten worden alsoo tselve op den overloop sonder verhindering wel Can worden gebercht
[514verso] De mate daer de Rijs op 't ontfangen sult gemeeten hebben sal Ul in Zeyldoeck naijen en versegelen
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 513-514verso
  Instruction for the merchant Abram Carter sailing with the ship avontstar from here to the coast of India to buy rice, which he will have to observe on this voyage and while buying the rice:
Sailing from this roadstead you will try to pass Cape Romijn as soon as possible and go to the city of Coulan. When you arrive you will have to unload the four elephants as fast as possible and stay no longer at that place, for which reason we sent a special letter to the authorities there. When you have unloaded the elephants you will have to continue your voyage to barcelor and try to buy from the inhabitants there such an amount of rice as is needed to load your ship's hold and that of the [ship] that will be sent to you from the blockade of Goa, according to the order we sent to Commander Roothaes, and they can load both because we calculate that these ships will together be able to transport 550 last [1100 tons] and moreover we give into your hands 10000 Realen of the Company and some other merchandise according to the invoice which goes with this [letter]; when one of the two ships is fully loaded with rice you have to send her directly here without waiting for the other to be loaded, advising her officers to take good care and when passing Coulan to ask the officials there if they have any news and to load the wood which is there, though in loading the ships no space must be left, because the wood can be loaded on the orlop deck without problems. The measure [the physical object] by which the rice has been loaded shall be sewn into sailcloth and sealed [presumably for checking].
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 513-514v.

omdat wij seer benodicht om rijs zijn hebben naer barcelor op de custe van Canara gesonden tschip d'avontstar met den Coopman Abram Coster [Carter?]
ARA VOC 1.04.02 , 1231, fol. 307 van Goens in Colombo aan Pieter van zandvliet in Wingurla 06-02-1659
  6 Feb 1659:
as we are in great need of rice we did send to barcelor on the Canara coast the ship avontstar with the merchant Abram Coster [Carter?]
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 307 [Letter of van Goens in Colombo to Pieter van zandvliet in Wingurla, 06-02-1659]

338verso … soo syn wy noch op 't allerhogste om rys verlegen ende wensten dat uE. noch een bodem nae barcelor cost senden alwaer t schip d'avonstar nu mede gesonden wert om rijs last te versorgen hebbende de coopman Abram Coster die dese negotie bevolen is last gegeven by aencomst niet alleen d'avontster maer ook 't schip dat uE daer nevens wert gesonden vol te negotieren waertoe hij den goeden raet ende adsistentie vanden Coopman zandvliet al van daer sal hebben.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 338ev Van Goens aan Roothaas, Colombo 06-02-1659
  6 Feb 1659: Letter of van Goens in Colombo to Roothaas
we are in great need of rice and do wish that you are able to send a ship for barcelor, where we do now send also the ship avonstar and we did give order to her merchant Abram Coster [Carter] that in doing business after his arrival he should not only procure a cargo for the avontster but also for the ship which you will send him, in which he will have assistance and good advice from the merchant Zandvliet.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC , Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 338v
[Serooskercken uit Coylan 11-02-1659]
Ingeval de goutsblom alle de gesaegde plancken van calicoul- niet can wegh voeren sullen in d'avondster wanneer over dese plaets na Colombo keert 't resteerend scheepen
fol.361 vermits de rijs in de loge extreem dier en hier niet wel te becomen is, versoecken uEd ons gelieve te ordonneren uyt de avontster wanneer van de custe van Cannara hier weer comt te verschijnen zoo veel van dat grain te lichten als geduerende den winter tijt voort guarnisoen sullen benodicht wesen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 358 verso
[van Goens uit Colombo naar Coylan 06-03-1659, in antwoord op het schrijven van Serooskerken]
ende also wy d'rys van d'avontstar nootsaecklyk op Colombo van doen hebben sal ul de scheepen met Rijs niet op houden maer de selve liever aldaer duer opcoopen, ten waere noch soo vroegh quamen datse gemackelijck voor de quade tijt alhier aen landen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 347verso
  11 Feb 1659: letter of Serooskercken from Coylan
since the goutsblom is unable to carry away all the sawn wood from calicoul we will load the rest in the avondster when she passes this place to go to Colombo
while the rice here is extremely expensive and hardly obtainable, we ask Your Hon to order that when the avontster comes back here from the coast of Canara, we can unload as much of that grain as we need for the garrison for the winter period.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 358v
6 Mar 1659: van Goens reply to Coylan
because we need the rice from the avontstar very badly in Colombo you must not delay the ships carrying rice, but better buy the rice expensively over there, unless they come early enough to arrive here easily before the bad season.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 347v

Zijn laatste was van 11-02 met de jachtjes Romeyn etc.
Sedert is ons met 't behouden aenlanden vande avontster uEd ons zeer aengename missive van dato 6 feb wel geworden
uijt de 4 aliasse Eliphanten die uEd tot schenkagie voor dees Lants grooten heeft gelieven te senden hebben de signatische noch de Triancotters volcq geene willen aennemen voorgevende hunne gebueren haer soude verwyten uEd hunne ider soo een dier toegesonden hadde om daer mede te verstaen te geven noch mannen noch vrouwen en waren, maer versochten uEd aenschryven souden dat haer in plaets van dien twee mannetjes of wijfjes van de andere caste soudt gelieven te stueren [364verso,naschrift].. die van trivancor ende singuaty hebben ons nieux versocht uEd in plaets vande gesonden andere Eliphanten en mannekens met tanden gelieft te senden.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 362 [Missive Serooskercken uit Coylan 04-03-1659]
[Antwoord van Goens]
dat die onredel- luyden haer gierigh- sulcken schyn int senden van de alias weeten te geven betuyght datse onverzadel- zyn..
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; fol 346 van Goens naar Coylan 19-03-1659
  4 Mar 1659: Avondster's elephants spurned
His last [letter] was of 11 Feb with the yachts Romeyn etc. Since then we received with the arrival of the avontster Your Hon's very agreeable letter of 6 Feb
about the 4 alia-elephants which Your Hon sent as a present for the authorities in this land neither the signatic, nor the Triancotter people, would accept any, pretending that their neighbours would say that Your Hon sent each of them such an animal as if wanting to declare them neither men nor women, but have asked to write to Your Hon. to send in their place two male or female elephants of another caste, those from trivancor and singuaty have asked again if Your Hon will send them inststead of these elephants, other males with teeth.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 362 [Letter Serooskercken from Coylan, 04-03-1659]
19 Mar 1659: van Goens' reply on the elephant fiasco
That these stupid people give such pretension to their avarice, regarding the sending of the alias, means that they are really insatiable.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 346 [Letter van Goens to Coylan, 19-03-1659]

Gemerckt ons doort Schrijven vande E H-r Laurens Pith Gouverneur over de Custe Cormandel in dato [open gelaten] wert bekent gemaeckt dat dit Jaer door de weijnige regen en Schaersheijt van gewas den Rijs granen op die gantsche Custe gevallen, den eijsch van Ceijlon niet wel mogelijck soude sijn te voldoen, ende reeds door de E H-r Superintendent van Goens tot dien eijnde 't Jacht den avont star is afgevaerdicht op Barceloor te Sien sijne ladinge van voorgemelte gaen te krijgen, en schrijft voorgem- H=r aen ons bij aldien noch en scheepsruijm uijt dese vlote conde gemist werden deselve mede derwaerts te sturen ende So met malcanderen die granen Ceijlon waerts helpen overvoeren … onderwijlen den E H=r Superintendent van Goens door sijn Ed=l Schrijven van dato 5=e februarij uijt Colombo ons aenschrijft dat nodigh is dat en onser scheepen na Barcaloor soude afsteken alwaer den avontster van Colombo alreets is gesonden, om de selve twee bodems daer vol rijs te negotieren, alsoo op Ceijlon darom hooghstens benodicht waren …[besluit] noch aensien tot medio deser
SLNA 1/3382 Resoluties vloot voor Goa; Vrijdach Adij 7=en maert 1659
  7 Mar 1659:
As we are informed by a letter of the Hon Mr Laurens Pith, Governor of the Cormandel Coast of [date left open] that this year because of the lack of rain and the scarcity of rice crops on all of that coast, they will not be able to send the required amount to Ceijlon and that the Hon Mr Superintendent van Goens for that reason already sent the yacht avont star to Barceloor to try to get a cargo of that grain and the mentioned Sir wrote to us that if we could spare a ship of our fleet then we must send it there also so that both can assist in bringing that grain to Ceijlon … in the mean time the Hon Mr Superintendent van Goens by His Hon's letter of 5 Feb from Colombo writes to us that it is necessary, and he already sent the avontster from Colombo to procure rice for two ships, because they were in great need for rice at Ceijlon.. [the decision is] delayed to the middle of this [month]
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3384 [Resolutions of the fleet before Goa]
Mede staet morgen of overmorgen het schip muyden na barcalor om daer uEd geeyschte rijs te procureren te vertrecken tot welcken eynde mons- van Santvliet twee benjanen tot adsistentie van mons carter sent [343] Roothaes van Goa aan van Goens 20-04 …sedert hebben wij op den 18 derselver maent [03-1659] t jacht muyden na Cannara tot procure vande geeijste rijs voor Ceylon… afgesteken [344 verso]Den 18 do t Jacht muyden na barcaloor om daer volgens uE ordre nevens het jacht den avontstar sijne ladinge rijs te negotieren, dat vertrouwen dat nu tot contentement sal geschiet zijn en zij op dato al na galle zullen vertrocken wesen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 341 verso Roothaes aan van Goens 15-03-1659
  15 Mar 1659: Roothaes to van Goens
Also, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow the ship muyden will leave for barcarole to procure the rice that Your Hon has ordered, for which purpose two benjans [local merchants] have been sent by Mr van Santvliet to assist Mr carter
20 Apr 1659: Roothaes to van Goens
since then we sent on the 18th of the same month [Mar] the yacht muyden to Cannara to get the ordered rice for Ceylon
the yacht muyden left on 18th for barcaloor to procure there Your Hon's rice cargo according to your orders, together with the yacht avontstar, which we trust that has been done and that they will have left now already for galle.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia], fol. 341-344
hebben wij den coopman Sr Abraham Coster (Carter?) tot achtervolgingh van uEE bevel den 18e daer aen volgende f 12000 toegesonden met aanschrijvens hy aldaer eenige verdere comptanten van doen had (hij moest schrijven, waarop nog geen bericht gekomen is)
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 316 Wingurla 12-04-1659
  according to Your Hon's order of the 18th we sent the merchant Abraham Coster [Carter?] f.12000 with a letter that in case he needed more money .. [he should write, but until now no reply]
Dutch National Archives, 1.04.02 , 1231 [Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 316 [Letter from Wingurla, 12-04-1659]

t Jacht den Hercules .. in passant basseloor aengeweest hebbende zoo hadt de avontstar in 20 dagen maer 40 last rijs ingekregen Jae meende den coopman Sr karter [sic] syn volle last wel tot de 10e of 20e deser zou aenlopen, edoch wanneer t Jacht muyden welck daerby bleef leggen d-os volle ladingh mede zou inkrygen wist noch niet seecker te zeggen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 383 [van der Meyden uit de schepen voor Calicoulangh aan van Goens 20-04]
  April 1659: continued shortage of rice
the yacht Hercules.. which had been in basseloor [heard there that] the avontstar in 20 days had procured only 40 last of rice and the merchant Mr. karter [sic] thought it possible that he would not have his full load before the 10th or 20th of this month, but he could not say when the yacht muyden which would stay there could have a full cargo.
Dutch National Archives, 1.04.02 , 1231 [Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 383 [Letter of van der Meyden from the ships before Calicoulangh to van Goens, 20-04-1659]

…middelerwijl comt hier soo datelijck van de canaersche cust by ons ten ancker t jacht d'avontser op uEd ordre geprojecteert om hier op de overloop noch partye plancken in te nemen, doch vermits wij noch goede scheepsruymte hebben ende de plancken voor 2 a 3 dagen noch niet sullen connen afcomen zoo hebben genoemde Jacht daerom niet willen ophouden maer opt spoedichst zijn reijs na gale laten vervolgen
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 372 Serooskerck uit het jacht der Schelling voor Calicoulangh aan van Goens 24-041659
Sedert onse jongste pr t Jacht d'avontster in dato 24 april aen uEd gecarteert
373 Serooskercken uyt der Schelling voor Calicouilangh aan van Goens 26-04-1659
  24 April 1659: Avondster leaves Calicoulangh for Galle
.. in the meantime just arrived here from the canara coast and anchored with us the yacht avontster, which according to your order should take on a number of planks, but because we still have plenty of space and it might take 2 or 3 days before the planks will be ready to ship, we did not want to keep the ship here that long but let her continue her voyage to gale as soon as possible
26th: Since our last, which we sent with the yacht avontster on 24 April..
Dutch National Archives, 1.04.02 , 1231 [Letters and papers from Asia]
fol. 372 [Letter of Serooskerck from the yacht der Schelling before Calicoulangh to van Goens, 24-04-1659]
fol. 373 [Letter van Serooskerck from the yacht der Schelling for Calicoulangh to van Goens 26-04-1659]
..met sulcken last aen de opperhoofden van't Jacht den Hercules die 't selve houtwerck sullen laden, dat bij aldien daer [Colombo] na den 5=en April souden moeten verschijnen haer na Gale soude vervoegen, om daer voor Colombo met het sware Schip op een lager wal in geen ongelegenheijt te geraken..
[dit zal ook voor de Avondster hebben gegolden, die na 24-04 in Colombo zou aankomen en die zal dus hoogstwaarschijnlijk niet naar Colombo, maar direct naar Gale zijn gevaren].
SLNA 1/3382; resolutie Roothaes, Goa 13-03-1659
  .. with this order for the officers of the yacht Hercules which is going to load this wood [at the Indian Coast], that if they would arrive there [in Colombo] after 5 April, they should proceed to Gale, to avoid trouble with the heavy ship on a lee shore before Colombo..
[Most probably the Avondster, which would arrive in Colombo after 24 April, will have had a similar order and sailed on to Galle instead of Colombo.]
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/3382 resolution Roothaes and Council of 13-03-1659 [taken before Goa]
[Ceylon is] met Rys uijt bengalen p-r 2: moorsche schepen als 1: biemelepatanisch vaerder ende van Canara met de Jachten muyden enden avondstar (god loff) wel geprovideert
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 767 [van der Meyden uit Colombo aan Pit; zonder datum, maar na 06-05]
  [Ceylon is] well provided (thanks to God) with rice from bengal by two Moorish ships and one ship from biemelepatnam and from Canara with the yachts muyden and avondstar
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02, 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 767 [Letter of van der Meyden from Colombo, without date, but after 06-05-1659]

Ende dewyl den tyt op handen compt en begint te naacken omden arreeck vande Comp naerde Cust Cormandel te versenden om gebenificeert ende te gelde gemaackt te weren [535 verso] ende dat tot vervoer vandien verscheyde bodems vereijssen is goet gevonden ende g'arresteert dat daer toe sullen aengeleght werden 't nieuwe jacht Xx?: van Colombo Item de romeyn St Thome, de duyff, Tayeuan boterblom de roode Leeuw de avontstar ende bantham waar van de leeuw soo haest in gales Bhaey gecomen is voor? aff? sal gaen, ende opt spoedichste met areeck nae paleacatte verseylen ten eynde tselve volgens den eijs van de gouverneur Jan Thys in tijts naar malacka mach aff.. gevaerdicht werden, blyvende als dan noch op Colombo de fregatten tutucoryn en roohaas mitsgaders de chialoup waterpas
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 535 [Colombo, 29-04-1659]
  29 April 1659: arrangements for shipping areca nuts
[as] the time is coming to ship the arecanuts of the Company to the Cormandel Coast to be sold there and it is necessary to use more ships, we have ordered that for this purpose will be used the new yacht xx?; from Colombo also the romeyn, St Thome, the duyff, Tayeuan, boterblom, the roode Leeuw, avontstar and bantham, from which the leeuw will go first as soon as it has arrived in the bay of Gale and sail as fast as possible to paleacatte, to be in time to go from there, as the governor Jan Thys has ordered, to malacka.. then in Colombo there will remain the frigates tutucoryn and roohaas and also the sloop waterpas
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 535 [Resolution in Colombo, 29-04-1659]

Hoedanige quantiteyt areek uE met dese schepen toe comt wert uE van Gale bekent gemaeckt daer aen mij gedragen d'avontster hebben goet gedacht te ordonneren soo lange te vertoeven tot dat de geheele restant can derwaerts brengen met ons weten heeft niemand eenige arreeck van hier gevoert
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 763verso [van der Meyden aan Pit 22-05-1659]
  22 May 1659:
The quantity of areca nuts to be sent to you with these ships will be announced from gale... we have thought it appropriate to order the avondster to wait until all the remainder can be brought over there; with our knowledge no one [else] did transport any arecanuts from here.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 763verso [Letter of van der Meyden to Pit 22-05-1659]

Vande ses jachten soo groot als kleijn genaempt mars, avontstar, Rode Leuw, bantam, Romain, duijf en:de de 3 galjoots tajowan, boterblom en:de twapen van Collombo, die de Ed=le H=r admirael ons schrijft uijt Colombo over galen, battecaloa, trinckenemale En:de puncto das Pedras naerd'custe cormandel te sen:den en:de ?erstur? plaets aen te doen om volgens ordre van:de Ed=le H=r gouverneur Laurens Pit, haren over te brengen arreeke op d'comptoiren noordwaert afseijllende geschicktel= tlossen sijn alhier voor puncto das pedro Eergisteren namiddagh aengekomen dese vijff, namentl= Roode Leeu, bantam, duijff, boterblom ende twapen van colombo.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1231; 761 Brief uit Jaffenapatam naar Negapatam 17-06-1659
  17 June 1659:
Of the six yachts, big and small, named mars, avontstar, Rode Leuw, bantam, Romain, duijf and the 3 galliotes tajowan, boterblom and the wapen van Collombo [Weapon of Colombo], which the Hon Mr admiral writes from Colombo that he will send via gale, battecaloa, trinckenemale and puncte das Pedras to the cormandel coast and will visit [?? place] to unload their areca nuts at the appropriate northern tradeposts, there arrived here before puncto das pedro the day before yesterday these five, named Roode Leeu, bantam, duijff, boterblom and the wapen van colombo.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 761 [Letter from Jaffenapatam to Negapatam, 17-06-1659]
Zijn wij voornemens bij spoedige verschijninge 'tschip d'avontster ende 1 a 2 der grootste Jachten in aug.o naer bengalen te zenden, ophoope d'zelve haren rijslast aldaer wel zullen erlangen.. [als Bantam naar Malacca kan varen, dan:] den Leeuw tot becominge zijner rijs last nevens d'avontster als vooren aengeroert naer bengalen laten vertrecken.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 668 [Laurens Pit aan Maetsuycker uit Geldria 30-06-1659]
 

30 June 1659: plans for the Avondster to go to Bengal
We have planned to send the ship avondster, when she arrives soon, to bengal in august, together with 1 or 2 of the largest yachts, in the hope that they will procure there their cargo of rice.. [when the Bantam can go to Malacca, then] the Leeuw will be sent for a cargo of rice to bengal together with the avontster as written here before.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1231 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 668 [Letter from Laurens Pit fort Geldria, Paliacatte to Gov. Gen. Maetsuycker, 30-06-1659]


[fol 129] Met het schip mars dato 23 Juny passato hebbe jongst aen ued geschreven
[fol 154 verso] Met leetwezen moeten u Ed bekent maken hoe 't schip d'avontster door enckel achteloosheyt en versuym dy lieflyck schoon weder in de bay van gale syn touw aen de klippen doorvylt synde aen de wal gedeven ende verongeluct is waer mede wy onmachtigh syn u Ed: eenige scheepsbodems toe te senden..
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 : Overgekomen stukken 1660; fol 129 -158 Missive van Goens 12 nov 1659
  loss of the Avondster
Our last letter to you was with the ship mars on June 23..
with regret we inform you that the ship avontster only by negligence and carelessness and during fine weather in the bay of gale has cut her rope at the rocks and was driven ashore where she perished and so we are not able to send any ships to your Hon.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 129-158 [Letter from van Goens, Nov. 12, 1659]

fol. 162/162v [copie aanwezig]
Naer onsen laeste van de 23e juny voorleden p=r fluyt scheepje peguw over cormmandel [sic] aen U. Ed. gesz soo ist tot ons groot misnoege op den 2=en july snachts het oude jaght den avondster in gales Bhaye naer dat dos touwen het harde geweer uyt gehouden hadden, met stilte van syn anckers gespilt en door quade toesight verongeluckende gebleven welcq door den stierman Bartel Schagh van dansigh die daer om eerst op de wacht geroepen was geen acht genough geslaegen is weder neer leggen gincq onderwyle abuserende den schieman, coert alberse en quartiermeester dirck willemsz daer het quaeste vermoeden op viel de cleyne wacht uyt sienders tot dat den lesten den [fol 162 verso] den schipper Arent Danielse lem, mede geport wierdt die oocq wel een quartier uyr tydt versuymde om een ancker toe te laten gaen, vermits hy meende dat jacht met een worp ancker op dieper waeter te brengen, edoch eer 'selffde uyt raeckte soo stiet godt betert het opgemelte jaght aen de gront en testont te borsten voor marcus cassels thuyn, ende het uyt lopende revierken ter Zyde den bergh.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 fol 159 - 166verso [Copie Missive van der Meyden (ook van 12-10 met de Boterbloem ?) aan Maetsuycker]
 
After our last [letter] to Your Hon of 23 June with the small flute peguw via Cormandel, to our great displeasure, on 2 July in the night, in Gale bay, the old yacht avondster, after her ropes had withstood the bad weather, in a light breeze slipped from her anchors and because of bad supervision perished.. the first mate Bartel Schagh from Dantzig, who was first called by the watch, did not pay enough attention and went to bed again, while the boatswain's mate coert alberse and the steward dirck wilemsz were not taking care in their watch duties, until in the end the skipper Arent Danielse Lem was called too, and neglected for a quarter of an hour to drop an anchor, because he thought that the yacht could be brought to deeper water with a kedge. But before the same was brought out the yacht ran aground and broke up immediately before the garden of marcus cassel and the small outflowing river at the side of the mountain.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] [fol. 159 - 166 verso: Copy of a letter of van de Meyden to Maetsuycker (also sent with the Boterbloem on 12-10-1659?)]

So is mede in Sonderlinge overwegingh getrocken de Sorgeloose Actie der scheeps hooft officieren, des Jachts avontsterre, In Gales baey verongeluckt, en daarop geresolveert, dat d'Heer Gouverneur op Gale verschijnende de Schipp: Stuijrluijden en andere Suspecte officieren des voorz Schip in hechtenisse Sal doen Stellen ende wijders voor den fiscael tegen hun Criminelijk doen procederen, als in rechte ter Saake vereijchen sal Ende dat den Areek die door dat ongeluckigh voorval d'E Comp Op Gale aende handt gebleven is, sal moogen aan de burgerije verkoft werden a 10 R=al d'ammenam [<142>verso] op deselve conditie als aen Jochem Jochems= toegestaen namelijck dat Sij dien sullen vermoogen Na [onleesbaar] Nagepatnam directel- te voeren ende nergens anders machtigh sijn te vercoopen als waar d'E Comp den haaren ter vente brenght ende Subject[?] de Ord- en met volkomen Communicatie van d'E Hr Gouvern- Laurens Pitt ofte sijn gemachtighde.
SLNA 1/9 Pt I; <142>; 08-07-1659, resolutie Colombo
  8 July 1659: special arrangements for selling Avondster cargo
After taking special notice of the careless action of the principal officers of the yacht avontsterre, wrecked in the bay of Gale it is decided that the governor [van der Meyden] at his arrival in Gale, will take into custody the skipper, mates and other suspect officers and proceed with them in justice before the public prosecutor as the case will require and that the areca nuts which by this unhappy accident have stayed in the hands of the Company in Gale can be sold to the Dutch inhabitants for the price of 10 Reals per ammenam [an 'amuna' is a volume measure used in Sri Lanka, 1 amuna of areca nuts is about 24,000 nuts] on the same conditions agreed with Jochem Jochems, that they may be transported directly to Nagepatnam and not sold at any other place where the Hon Comp sells them and under the orders and full communication with the Hon Mr Governor Laurens Pitt or his representative.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/9 Pt I <142> [Resolution Council Colombo, 08-07-1659]

Sijn E gaf meede reedenen van seekeren brief dato 24 Septemb uijt Gale aend Heer Gouverneur ende Raadt gechreven waarin sijn E onder ander Saaken geprotesteert had over t betalen van seekere 300 R=al aan den fiscaal Van der dusse ende de Armen weegens condemnatie over 't verlies van 't Schip davontSterre, sustineerende Sijn E= dat daarmede niet alleen Ordre van d'E heer Gouverneur Generael en Raaden van India overtreeden, maar d'E Comp moetwilligh verkort was, met dat het gewijsde niet recht en goet, maar dat de betalingh on wettig geschiet was, Omdat d'E Comp boven 't moetwilligh ende Jammerlijk verlies van haar Schip, ende waarom dofficieren in de vergoedingh waaren gecondemneert, Noch deese 300 R=al amende moeste missen, die niet eer konde betaalt werden voordat de verliesrs voor haare sorgheloosheyt de Compagnie eerst voldaan hadden, daarop d't teer? Diende, meede van der Commisaris volkomen advies <178> te weesen maar dat Sij deese betalingh door t Aendringen van d-o fiscel ende bij plurale stemmen hadde moeten inwilligen.
Hierop dan gemediteert sijnde is verstaan den fiscael deser 300 R=al weeder met lief oft leet af te doen vorderen ende In sComp-s Casse te doen bestellen verstaende eenparigh d'E Comp-e deese bethalinge in geenen deele schuldigh te sijn.
SLNA 1/9 Pt II; <177>verso; Gale, 30-09-1659
  30 Sept 1659:
His Hon [van Goens] also gave reasons why he sent a certain letter on 24 Sept from Gale to the Governor [van der Meyden] and his council in which he protested against the payment of a certain amount of 300 Reals to the prosecutor van der dusse and to the poor [standard practice was for part of all fines to go to the poorhouse] as a sentence for the loss of the ship avontSterre; his Hon explaining that, not only were the orders of the Hon Mr Governor General and the Council of India infringed, but also the Company was wilfully short-changed, and the sentence was not right and proper, and the payment was not lawful, because now the Company would not only be deprived by wilful and lamentable loss of her ship, for which the officers were condemned, but would also lose this penalty of 300 Reals, which should not be paid before those responsible for the loss had first paid the Company, to which the answer was that they agreed with the superintendant but had consented to this payment because of the prosecutor's insistence and the plurality of voices in the Council. After discussing this it is decided that the prosecutor will have to pay back the 300 Reals, whether he wants to or not, because the Company has no obligation to pay this amount.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/9 Pt I <177>verso; Gale 30-09-1659

synde den voornoemde schipper en stierman gedeporteert en gecondemneert in de waerdye van dat ouwe holl met resterende toebehoren ( by gecommitteerde gesamentlycq niet meer gextimeert als f 5873:21 mits gaeders die schieman en quartiermeester in schandael met roede aende kaecq gestaen en 6 jaeren aende gemeene wercken te moeten arbeijden, gelijcq breerder [sic] by de condemnatie blijckt, item al dos voorder onschuldigh volcq haer reecq- geslooten, op dit eylandt aen lant genomen ende meest op de vaertuygen verdeelt, staende dos boecken nevens dese guarnisoens boecken u Ed mede toe te comen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 fol 159 - 166verso [Copie Missive van der Meyden (ook van 12-10 met de Boterbloem ?) aan Maetsuycker]
  Oct 1659: punishment of those responsible
.. the aforementioned skipper and first mate dismissed and condemned to pay the value of this old hull with the remaining accessories (being estimated by the supervisors at not more than f.5873:21) and the boatswain's mate and steward being publicly shamed in the stocks and they have to serve 6 years on public works; also all those sailors who were innocent have had their accounts closed and have been landed at this island and most [of them] have been placed on ships. The books of the same and the books of the garrison will be sent to you.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] [fol. 159 - 166 verso: Copy of a letter of van de Meyden to Maetsuycker (also sent with the Boterbloem at 12-10-1659?)]
[Omdat wij door het verongelukken van de Avondster] onmachtigh syn u Ed: eenige scheepsbodems toe te senden ende d'E Comp geen cleene schade geleden heeft, dat onsen arreeck na cormandel heeft connen gevoert werden maer die genootsaeckt geweest tot 10 Rlen van 48 Stv aende burgerye te vercopen die daer voor 12 Spaense Rlen ex porte nove crygen ende goet proffyt doen dat haer wel te gunnen is.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 : Overgekomen stukken 1660; Missive van Goens nov 1659 fol 154 verso
  [Because of the perishing of the Avondster] we are unable to send your Hon any ships and the Company suffered no small loss since our areca nuts could not be transported to cormandel but [we] were forced to sell them for 10 Reals of 48 pennies [stuiver] to the inhabitants who can make 12 Spanish Reals in porte nove and make a nice profit which they can have with our blessing.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 154 [Letter from van Goens, Nov. 1659]
door welke jaghts schadelijcq blijven over de 2000 ammonons areecq aende burgers van gale is vercoft die wy anders mede voor de E. comp versonden souden hebben des bidde godt almachtigh dat die schade in behoudender negotie gewin weder beter mach verset werden ende is met de besettingh van calpatin en dat onse cruysers voor batcaloa en coetiaer geweest syn, den areecq op de cust cormandel tot seer hoogen prijs van 12 Rlen d'ammonon gesteygert, welcq als men tranquemale oock in neemt daer niet veel aen staet te beteren off ginder moet van malebaer, door het geberchte groote quantiteyt gecoocqten areecq overgebracht worden.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 fol 159 - 166verso [Copie Missive van der Meyden (ook van 12-10 met de Boterbloem?) aan Maetsuycker]
  .. because of this harmful loss more then 2000 ammonons of areca nuts stay here [and] are sold to the citizens of gale which we otherwise would have transported for the Hon Company, so we pray to god almighty that this loss may be made good by better negotiation and with the blockade of calpentin, and since our cruising yachts have been before batcaloa and coetiaer the price of arecanuts on the coast of cormandel have risen to the very high price of 12 Reals for an ammonon, which shall not change much when we also take tranquemale, if not a large quantity of boiled areca is brought over the mountains.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] [fol. 159 - 166 verso: Copy of a letter of van de Meyden to Maetsuycker (also sent with the Boterbloem at 12-10-1659?)]
uijt d'bygaende brieven doord'E h-r admirael Rijcklof van goens dat 29e July uyt Colombo aen ons ges- zullen uEd ongetwijffelt tot ongenoechte vernemen het schip den avontster mits quade toesigt in gales baey aend'clippen gedeven en vergaen is coomende hier noch by dat t Jacht bantam ter rede masulip- onnavigabel gevonden zijnde t Jacht de leeuw in desselfs plaets naer malacca heeft moeten gímployeert woren… invoegen Zeylon dit Jaer niet alleen die twee scheeps bodems maer oock desselves geprojecteerde Rys last uyt bengalen compt tontbrecken.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 -1231; 777verso [Laurens Pit uit fort Geldria aan Maetsuycker 06-09-1659]
  .. from the attached letters by his Hon Mr admiral Rijcklof van goens of 29 July from Colombo you will undoubtedly have noticed to your displeasure that the ship avontster because of bad supervision has been driven on the rocks in gale's bay and is perished; on top of this the yacht bantam has been found unnavigable in masulipatnam and we had to employ the yacht leeuw is her place to malacca, and so Zeylon will miss this year not only these two ships, but also the Rice intended to be sent from Bengal.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 777verso [Letter of Laurens Pit from fort Geldria to Maetsuycker 06-09-1659]

dat de Bay van punto de gaele vry wat vuyl ende clippigh is ende waer door dit jaer aldaer op den 2en July verleden by goet hantsaem weder seer clackeloos is comen te verongelucken het Jacht de Avont Star synde het touw door de scherpe grondt doorgeveylt ende het schip voort door onvoorsichticheyt vande officieren tegen de klippen geraeckt waer over de Schiper boven deportement van syn ampt inde schade gecondemneert is getaxeert op 5873 gulden mitsgaders de schieman ende quartiermeester die de wacht [fol 14 verso] wacht hadden met roeden aende Kaeck geset ende voor 6: Jaren ad opus publicum gebannen.
ARA VOC 1.04.02 - 1230 : Overgekomen stukken 1660 Orginele generale missive van de Generael en Raden aen XVII in dato 16 Jan 1660; fol 14
  Jan 1660:
the bay of gaele is rather unclean and rocky and this year on 2 July the yacht Avont Star perished there in a stupid way because her rope was cut by the sharp stones on the seabed and the ship driven against the rocks through negligence of her officers, for which the skipper is condemned to pay the loss which is estimated at 5873 guilders and also dismissed from his job, and the boatswain's mate and the steward who were on watch are publicly shamed [in the stocks] and sentenced to hard labour for 6 years.
Dutch National Archives 1.04.02 , 1230 [VOC, Letters and papers from Asia] fol. 14 [General letter by Governor general and council to H XVII, 16-01-1660]

Wijders is in raet omstandigh gesprocken wegen de arreecks reecq- der burgerije van gale, bevindende dat de selve noch ruim 6000 rE schuldich staen, waer op ende de pretentie van affslach die de participanten meenden te hebben, gelet sijnde komt den heere superintendent voor, hoe de selve onder andere beweechredenen voorwenden dat doenmaels door sijn Ed- belooft soude sijn de haven van Coriaer beset te sullen blijven, daer door den uijtvoer van areecq niet gedoogt soude werden, ende dat sulcx een dr conditien soude sijn, daer op den areeck hadden aengenomen, twelck nae alle apparentie een versierde loogen moet sijn, die de participanten niet als na de doot van Jochem Jochemsen zaliger hebben voorgegeven, met wien dit nae haer voogeven soude bedongen sijn, want den h-r admirael verklaerde sulcx noijt geschiet te sijn, ende soo een point jmmers bij d'conditie moste blijcken, waerop de koopman ooms die bij tbedingen van den koop en de conditien present geweest is, ende nu hier tegenwoordigh was van dese saeck ondervraegt sijnde, seijde dat Jochem Jochemse van den grooten areecq [199] uijtvoer van cotiaer spreeckende tot antwoordt bekoomen hadt, dat daer tegen niets te doen ware… verstaen en goet gevonden een gedeelte van de present inkomende arreeck aende bengaelse mooren te verkoopen dewijl daerom aensoeck wrt gedaen, stellende de selve binnen gale om de gereetheijt op 29 a 30 ende inde galjettes billigam & tot 28 larijnen de ammenam.
SLNA 1/2712; 198 april 1663
  April 1663: ongoing areca nut arguments
Further the council has dwelled at length on the account of the citizens of gale because of the areca nuts, observing that they are in debt for over 6000 Reals, of which they want a reduction for those who share it, giving as one of the reasons that at the time his Hon. had promised to keep the harbour of Cotiaer blockaded and not allow any export of arecanuts from there and that they had accepted the areca nuts on that condition, which is apparently a nice lie invented by the participants after the death of the late Jochem Jochemse, with whom such conditions should have been made, but the admiral declared that this had never been the case and that it should have been clear then, and so we interrogated the merchant ooms who was present when the purchase and conditions were made and he said that when Jochem Jochemse spoke of the large quantity of areca nuts exported from cotiaer, he had received the answer that nothing could be done about it.. to prevent problems like this it is decided that a part of the areca nuts will be sold to the Moorish merchants from bengal, who asked for it, and the price will be 29 to 30 in gale because it is already here, and 28 in billigam and the galjettes.
Sri Lanka National Archives 1/2712; fol. 198; April 1663

  1. Aalbers, Jacobus - Rijcklof van Goens, commissaris en veldoverste der Oost-Indische Compagnie en zijn arbeidsveld, 1653/54 en 1657/58. Thesis Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, 1916
  2. Pieris, P. E. (Ed.) - Some documents relating to the rise of the Dutch power in Ceylon, 1602-1670, from the translations at the India Office. London 1929; reprint 1973.


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