Ternate - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

TERNATE 123
SHORT CHRONICLE
III
From the Restoration of Dutch Authority to the Present Time, 1817-1888
1817. Resolution passed by Commissioners on April 5 to take over the islands. 1 In
accordance with that Resolution, the following are appointed [p. 170] Commissioners to
take over Ternate and its dependencies: J. Groot, Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of H.M.
the King of the Netherlands, commanding officer of the frigate Maria Reigersbergen, and
J.A. Neijs, Administrator of Ambon. The latter is also appointed provisional Resident.
The frigate Maria Reigersbergen arrives at Ternate on April 24 and the handing over from
the British Resident W.G. Mackenzie is effected on April 30.
The sale of linen continues, with the stipulation that it be conducted by a dealer who agrees
on a five percent return.
The Resident Neijs is temporarily placed at the disposal of Rear-Admiral and
Commissioner-General of the Dutch Indies A.A. Buijskes; during this period Neijs is
replaced by J.P. Hulft van Hoorn (September).
Departure to Ambon of twenty kora-koras with approximately fifteen hundred Alfurus to
serve as auxiliaries to our troops during the revolt at Saparua (September). 2
Spices continue to be supplied by the rulers to the Government of the Dutch Indies at the
price of 20 rijksdollars per picul of nutmeg and 30 rijksdollars per picul of mace.
The Commissioner N. Engelhard concludes a treaty with Sultan Mohamad Ali on
September 16. Article 14 provides for the total extirpation of clove and nutmeg trees;
article 20 grants an annual subsidy of 16,320 Indies guilders, of which 11,200 are for the
Sultan; [p. 171] 1,600 for the nobles; 3,200 for the headmen of Makian; and 320 for the
headmen of Moti.
A day later a similar treaty is concluded with Sultan Mohamad Tahir of Tidore: an annual
subsidy of 12,800 Indies guilders is granted and the original division is later changed as of
January 1, 1821, so that the Sultan receives 6,400, the nobles 2,000, the headmen of the
island of Tidore 2,200 and those of Maba, Weda, and Patani also 2,200 guilders.
1 [p. 169, n. 5] The Commissioners were N. Engelhard and J.A. van Middelkoop; Middelkoop also
acted as Governor. Article 3 of the treaty concluded on August 17, 1814, between the United
Netherlands and H.M. the King of Great [note continues, p. 170 bottom] Britain stipulated: “Les
places et forts dans les colonies et établissements, lesquels doivent être cédés et échangés par les
deux Hautes parties contractantes en vertu des deux articles précédents, seront remis dans l’état où
ils se trouveront au moment de la signature de la présente convention.”
2 [p. 170, n. 1] The medal and chain with which Sultan Mohamad Ali was rewarded for this
assistance is described in the Tijdschrift van het Bataviaasch Genootschap XI:233.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES DIGITAL EDITION