Indian Antiquary Vol 42

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 222

210
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[AUGUST, 1913,
and Ampat Suku, of Rumbowe, must give up to the Government all the tin from Lingee, Sungie-Ujong, Rumbowe, and any place under their authority, without reservation. The Government binds itself to pay 40 Sp. dollars per bhara of 800 kati of 370 lbs."... On the resumption of Malacca by the English in 1825, the tin trade relapsed into the hands of private merchants.
p. 100. The tin assumes the shape of the ingots of commerce, of which there are two kinds, common in Sungei-Ujong, tampang and keping or bangka. The former weighs from half a kati to two kati, and the latter from 50 to 60 kati: one kati is equal to one pound and three quarters.
p. 103. According to Mr. Crawfurd (Hist. of the Indian Archipelago, 1820), the cost of producing a cut. of bangkas tin is but £ 1-2-8, whereas the cost of producing the same quantity of Cornish tin amounts to £ 3-4-7. The cost of a cut. of the metal in Sungei-Ujong is estimated by an intelligent native at £ 1-8-0.
III. J. R. A. S. Straits Branch, No. 10. 32 Nos., Singapore,
1878-99.
p. 246. In a MS. collection of Dutch treaties prepared in Batavia under the orders of Sir Stamford Raffles, while he was Lieut.-Governor of Java the following engagement is to be found. It is dated 15 August 1650, Cornelis van der Lyn being then Governor-General. "Contract with the Chiefs of Perak, dependent on Acheen, stipulating that the exclusive tin trade granted to the Company by the Ratoo of Acheen will likewise embrace the State of Perak; that is to say, that the same will in future be restricted to the Dutch Company and the inhabitants of Acheen. Yang-de-per Tuan, Sultan of Perak, further promises in obedience to the order received from Acheen to direct all foreigners now trading at Perak to depart without delay with an interdiction against returning hereafter. The Company to pay the same duty as at Acheen for the tin it shall export, and the value of the tin coinage to remain as it is at present: viz., 1 bidor for Sp. dollar, and 1 bahara of 3 pikul for 125 bidors or 31 Sp. dollars. P. 247. c. 1651. The first named, Peirah (Perak), is situated on the Malay Coast and is subject to the Queen of Acheh (Acheen). The Establishment, which is under the control of an onderkoopman is maintained by the E. Maatschappy solely for the trade in tin, which is obtained for ready money or piece goods at the rate of 51 Rix-dollars the bahara.
p. 258. We are told, in an extract from a Malay Chronicle of Perak, that for a bahara of tin the Dutch could pay 32 reals (dollars); the duty was 2 reals besides.
p. 262. In a contract between the Dutch E. I. Company and the Sultan of Perak, dated 1765, the latter engages to sell all his tin exclusively to the Dutch "at the rate of c. 36 or Sp. dollars 11 per (pikul of) 125 lbs., or per bahara of 375 lbs. Sp. dollars 34."
p. 267. The tin of Perak is said to be delivered to the Dutch "at the rate of 32 Sp. dollars per bahara of 428 lbs." (1786).
p. 268. Maxwell says (1883) that the old Perak currency, lumps of tin weighing 2 kati each, called bidor, have altogether disappeared.
IV.
Marsden, History of Sumatra, ed. 1811. P. 172. "Tin called timah is a very considerable article of trade The mines are situated in the island of Bangka, lying near Palembang and are said to have been accidently discovered there in 1710 by the burning of a house. . It is exported for the most part in small pieces or cakes called tampang, and sometimes in slabs" (keping).
68 I. e., from the Island of Bangka near Palembang in Sumatra.
ca Stevens, Guide to E. I. Trade, 1775, p. 87, says exactly the same thing: "The Pecul contains 100 Catty or 375 lbs. or 125 Bid" (bidor).