242 ACCOUNT OF CELEBES , AMBOYNA, &C.

spprehenfions are entertained that that enterprizing nation will endeavour to profecuteit more and more, as they are now almofl the foie mailers of the trade in piece-goods from Bengal, and they feem to aim at eftablifhing themfelves likewife in theeailern parts of India . Yet the Company’s charges do not decreafe in the fame propor-tion with their receipts : it is true, that by the good management of Mr. Van Pleuren,in the concerns committed to his care, the charges have been lowered thirty-threethoufand gilders in the fpace of eight years, and in the lafb year he reduced them evento three thoufand gilders below the lateft memorial of ceconomy: but what can thisavail, if we confider that by the above means the profits have been reduced by onehalf, and perhaps more, and that Macafler is yet a lofing eftablilhment to the amountof upwards of eighty thoufand gilders a year ; while it cannot be expected that all whofucceed Mr. Van Pleuren in his office fhall equal him in integrity, and ffiall facrificetheir own intereft to promote that of their employers # .

The memorial drawn up by the above-mentioned Mr. Van Pleuren, for the improve-ment of the Company’s trade in Celebes and the oppofite iflands, feemed to me to bea judicious and elaborate compofition. I he chief point on which he infilled, was theprevention of the clandeftine trade of the Engliffi, and the reduction, under the Com-pany’s influence, of Salemparre, a kingdom whofe Prince is attached to the Englifh,.and has always refufed to become the ally of the Company ; for he would thereby haveobliged himfelf not to fuffer any other nation to refort to his dominions, agamft whichhe moll ftrenuoufly obje&cd, alledging that his country was open to all ftrangers whobehaved with propriety, and regularly paid him his duties.

When the eftablifhment is complete at Macafler it ffiould amount to eight hundredEuropeans f; but this number is not nearly complete, on account of the great morta-lity on board of the Company’s outward-bound ffiips, by which means fewer men arebrought to Batavia than are wanted, and they are confiderably thinned by the un-healthinefs of that place, and of Bantam , whereby not only Macafler, but likewifealmofl all of the Company’s pofleffions are in want of men.

Befides the Europeans, the Company have, in time of war, a great number of Ma-lays in their fervice. Thefe people, who have emigrated in the fixteenth century fromJohore , Patanee, and other places on the Malay coafts, and have fettled themfelves here,dwell in a fort of town, feparate from the Bouginefe, which is called after them Campon-Maleyo. They are under one captain, or chief, who is nominated by the Company.They have always been infeparably allied to the Company, and have rendered them,very fignal fervices both by fea and land.

The Company have given the ifland Tanakeke to their captain, for his ufe. He:came on board of my fhip, with his brother, in order to accompany Mr. Van Pleurenas far as the point of Tourattea : he appeared to me to be a peculiarly friendly andopen-hearted man, and they both poflefled much fenfibility ; for when they took theirlaft leave of Mr. Van Pleuren the tears rolled down their cheeks ; they told me afide,.that they loft in him their befl friend and benefadtor. Indeed, I heard the fame a fewdays before he went away from Macafler from many others, both Europeans and In-dians, who fincerely lamented his departure, as that gentleman had made himfelf uni-verfally beloved, by his great affability and his generous difpofition.

* In 1779 the receipts of this government amounted to/.63,19c, and the charges to /163,137, leav-ing a deficiency of/. 1.00,053, or about 91OQI. fterling. Tr.

•{• In 1776-1777 the ellabliftiment at Macafler confifted of 57 perfons in civil, and 3 in ecclellafticalemployments, 13 furgeons and affillants, 27 belonging to the artillery, 178 feamen and marines,. 502 fol-diers, and 72 mechanics; in all 8jz Europeans. Tr,.

9 The