Founded in 1619 on the smoking ruins of Jacatra, Batavia was intended to function as a repository for products to Holland and the administrative center of the Society of Dutch East Indies (VOC).
For in order to protect its monopoly of independent citizens-traders, the VOC has discouraged the settlement of private-people-freemen by Batavia unattractive to anyone not employed by the Company. This policy has had a distorting effect on demographics. By 1750 the total population of Batavia was 30,000 to 50,000 people, 2,400 of whom were expatriates VOCs related to 0 (an internationally mixed group) freemen. The remainder consisted of Chinese, Aboriginal groups and slaves.
According to the governor-general Jacob Mossel free men were rude and many civilized. They were generally poor. A previous Governor General, Johan Maetsuycker had already invited a nephew to come to Batavia as a freeman. The young man replied that he would not dream of becoming a slave on Java.
But those in the VOC fold will live comfortably. François Valentijn, Minister of the Gospel, called twice to India and a close observer of everyone and everything around him, has in his encyclopedia in eight volumes in Oud Nieuw Oost-Indien (Old and New East India) a mine information about the goings-on in Batavia, and wondered how these low-paid workers could live in such a rich abundance.
According to Valentijn, life was expensive, rent a house on one of the channels or the most beautiful streets, imports of wine than French, Dutch beer, ham, butter, cheese, smoked salmon , herring, olives and smoked meat, prices were high and 3,000 guilders a month did not allow much luxury. The Governor General had a monthly salary of 1,0 florins, to which was added another 400 florins living allowance. Daily needs of the beer, wine, bacon, oil, butter, candles and other products, if any, were provided by the warehouse of the Company, as well as remains attractive. A primary dealer earned 0 florins, a merchant of 60 guilders and 24 guilders per month assistant. All received additional income in kind.
Governor General van Hoorn, who retired (was forced to retire, actually) with a capital of 10 million guilders, had also spent a fortune on his third marriage in November 1706. Valentijn is again telling the event. The wedding party includes Batavia garrison, members of the Council of the Indies, merchants, other important VOC officers and their wives. After Mass, the wedding 0 guests were feted at the residence van Hoorn 11 am to midnight, while in the early evening fireworks illuminated the sky of the city and added to the gaiety.
Decades later governor-general Jacob Mossel surpassed everything. He, too, has accumulated a large fortune and, on the instructions of the Council in Amsterdam (Heren XVII), he is the instigator rather ineffective measures against corruption. In addition, to counter excessive splendor, he was told to deliver the "Rules ter beteugeling van Pracht in Praal" (Regulations Curb Pomp and Circumstance) which prescribes in detail what has been authorized the ostentatious luxury and magnificence of VOCs officers, for example, the number of buttonholes on the coat of a man, to the size and ornamentation of ladies umbrellas of various ranks were allowed to use, generally carried by a slave following ma'am. at one point, he was even decreed that ladies of mixed blood are not allowed in this parasol service, which led to a boycott of church attendance and was quickly revoked.
But qu'est- it applied to others do not go to the GG itself. and when he died of a debilitating disease in 1761, his funeral procession was a work of art in itself.
Valentijn also records the different methods used for self-enrichment. was first exchanges done privately by agents of the company, competing with the VOC (the employer) and in violation of their strict orders. And the irony of it all is that the contraband was transported on its own VOC ships. In a letter to the Governor General, the Heren XVII complained that ships were so overloaded with these products that one wonders how they ever did through the seas.
Another method was by the faulty accounting. In the sugar industry, for example, the pressing results have been under-reported, and losses in warehouses were overstated. The weights have also been tampered with, a standard Pikol was about 125 pounds; buyers for VOCs, however, increased weight at 140 and 0 pounds while paying for the standard Pikol. In addition, the price of goods sales company was registered under, and those in positions of power did not only sell jobs to potential VOC agents, but also gave lavish gifts on New Year by Chinese traders and of tax collectors under license. The licenses were of course also sold and some had a 50,000 florins price tag.
The VOC was blamed for this situation. Because of low wages, it was said, had not Jan Pieterszoon Coen complained of low pay! And so the benefits were considered an eligible need. It seems that little has changed since those days spent ill.
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