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The “Lastposten”: Eastern Kalimantan and the Dutch in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 April 2011

Ian Black
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Extract

Until 1900 Dutch rule in eastern Kalimantan was little more than nominal. In January of that year, as if to indicate the rapid changes which the new century would bring to this as to other areas of the Outer Islands till then ignored, the Dutch Cabinet gave approval for the Netherlands East Indies government to intervene decisively in the affairs of the states constituting the region. During the year new contracts were signed with the rulers of these states which transferred to Dutch control the external trade upon which the states depended for much of their income. Henceforth Dutch officials would supervise the harbours and levy customs and excise; control of the salt and opium monopolies also passed to the Dutch, and, in some cases, of pawnbroking and gambling. Annual pensions were arranged for the former holders of these rights.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Volume 16 , Issue 2 , September 1985 , pp. 281 - 291
Copyright
Copyright © The National University of Singapore 1985

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References

Except where stated the footnotes in this paper refer to records of the former Netherlands Ministry of Colonies in the Rijksarchief, The Hague. “K” indicates files pre-1900; “KD” openbaar files after 1900; “KDG” geheim files after 1900; “MR” mailrapporte

1 K5451, 10/1/00,37; K5455, 22/1/00,13; KD114, 8/3/02, 37.

2 K1665, 16/10/65, 15.

3 Notable companies included “Borsumij” (Borneo-Sumatra Handel Mij.); Handel & Scheepvaart Mij. Bandjer, later Borneo Industrie Mij.; Samarinda Produce Co.; B. P. M. (Royal Dutch/Shell).

4 KD372, 17/4/06, 15; KD474, 4/7/07, 35; KD537, 30/3/08, 33; KD458, 14/5/08, 49; KD136, 6/8/02, 2; KD158, 10/1/03, 12; KD181, 8/6/03, 33.

5 KD246, 10/6/04, 40.

6 KD757, 5/8/10, 5. “Short Declarations” (Korte Verklaringen) were signed by all sultanates in the South & East Borneo Residency in 1906, on the initiative of the Resident, but were not enacted by the Indies government until 1909; Kutai's was not enacted. Such declarations acknowledged a territory to be part of the Netherlands East Indies, forbade diplomatic connections with foreign powers, and accepted obedience to any orders of the Dutch government.

7 Memories van Overgave, H. J. Grijzen, 3/9/17.

8 See, e.g., Broersma, R., Handel & Bedrijf in Zuid- en Oost-Borneo (s'Gravenhage: G. Naeff, 1927), pp. 187–92.Google Scholar

9 KD22, 22/9/01, 43; KDG34, 14/1/04, KDG40, 27/5/04, L12; KDG55, 17/4/05, Q10; Memories van Overgave, H. A. Schadee, 6/8/11.

10 KD648, 16/6/09, 8.

11 KD865, 20/9/11, 33.

12 For Dusun Lands see, e.g., KD1067, Verslagen, Kort, October/December 1912, and Broersma, op. tit., pp. 52–53. For Pasir see KD1855,17/7/18,33; Memories van Overgave, L.F.J. Rijckmans, 3/6/16.Google Scholar

13 Principal sources for this section were Irwin, G., Nineteenth Century Borneo. A Study in Diplomatic Rivalry (The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1955)CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Moor, J. H., ed., Notices of the Indian Archipelago and Adjacent Countries (London: Cass, 1967, reprint of 1837 edition)Google Scholar; Noorlander, J. C., Bandjarmasin & de Compagnie in de Tweede Helft der 18de Eeuw (Leiden, 1935)Google Scholar; Warren, J.F., The Sulu Zone 1768–1898 (Singapore: Singapore University Press, 1981)Google Scholar; Wortmann, J. R., “Milestones in the History of Kutai”, Borneo Research Bulletin 3,1 (1971); Encyclopaedic van Neder-landsch Oost-lndie ('s-Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff, 1917).Google Scholar Relevant contracts are contained in KD456, 26/4/07, 32.

14 Pearn, B. R., “Erskine Murray's Fatal Adventure in Borneo, 1843–44”, Indonesia (N. Y.) 7 (1969): 20–32.Google Scholar

15 K1665, 16/10/65, 15.

16 See, e.g., K3397, 22/4/81, 61; K6413, MR880, 1881.

17 K6452, MR293, 1886; for a detailed account from local sources see Nieuwenhuis, A. W., In Central Borneo. Reis van Pontianak naar Samarinda (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 2 vol., 1900), vol. l, p. 127f.Google Scholar

18 See, e.g., K5246, 16/2/98, 61; K6494, MR514, 1892. All slaves were to be registered, at a maximum value of F. 250; each month F2.50 was to be deducted from their value, bringing theoretical freedom in eight years.

19 K6495, MR711, de Heer to Joekes, 29/6/92.

20 For events in Sabah see Black, I., A Gambling Style of Government. The Establishment of Chartered Company Rule in Sabah 1878–1915.(Kuala Lumpur: O.U.P., 1983)Google Scholar; Warren, J.F., The North Borneo Chartered Company's Administration of the Bajau 1878–1909 (Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Center for International Studies, 1971).Google Scholar

21 K6452, MR150, 1886.

22 K6452, MR293, 1886.

23 K1093, 38, Dahmen to Verspijck, 26/6/61.

24 K6445, MR649, 1884.

25 K4677, 1/3/93, 19, Joekes to G.G., 17/6/92.

26 See note 6.

27 K5246, 16/2/98, MR538, MR629, MR708.

28 KD474, 4/7/07, 35; KD641, van Weert to G.G., 27/1/08, 11/5/08.

29 MKD288, 16/1/05, 56, de Rooy to G.G., 18/10/04.

30 K5508, 2/8/00, 30; KD184, 27/6/03, 34; KD201, 21/9/03, 28; KD245, 8/6/04, 22; KD458, 2/5/07, 31; KD648, 16/6/09, 8.

31 KD1067, 23/7/13, 29, Lt. Habbema, MR978, 1911.

32 After the illness and death of a suspected head-hunter sent to the coast for trial, the threat of punishment in exile was not invoked. The dead man's companions served out their sentences of hard labour at Longiram. KD1067, 23/7/13, Kort Verslagen, Aug/Nov 1912 and Feb/Mar 1913; Res. to G.G., 29/1/13.

33 KD1845, 24/6/18, 10, Kort Verslag, June 1917. For administrative policy in Apokayan generally see KD865, 20/9/11, 33.