Memoir
Of
Hendrick Zwaardecroon,
Commandeur of Jaffnapatam,
[Contents]
Memoirs and Instructions of Dutch Governors,Commandeurs, &c.
(afterwards Governor-General of NederlandsIndia),
1697.
For the Guidance of
The Council of Jaffnapatam, During His Absence at the Coast ofMalabar.
1697.
For the Guidance of
The Council of Jaffnapatam, During His Absence at the Coast ofMalabar.
Colombo:
H. C. Cottle, Government Printer, Ceylon.
1911.
H. C. Cottle, Government Printer, Ceylon.
1911.
[iii]
[Contents]
Introduction.
This Memoir of Commandeur Zwaardecroon was, as stated,compiled and left by him in 1697 for the instruction and guidance ofthe Political Council of Jaffnapatam during his absence from the“Commandement” on special duty as Commissioner to the Coastof Malabar. He did not, however, return to his post, having beenappointed Director of Surat on the termination of his Commission. Ofthe many compilations of the same kind prepared by successiveCommandeurs on the standing orders of the Supreme Government atBatavia, this of Zwaardecroon is one of the most exhaustive andauthoritative in regard to the Dutch Company’s affairs in thenorth of the Island. It was quoted and referred to from time to timeduring almost the whole period of the Dutch rule in Ceylon. Its valuewill be found to consist chiefly in the light it throws on such mattersas native industries, sources of revenue, and the condition of thepeople. Many obscure terms, some local, some obsolete, such as“officie gelden,” “adigary,”“alphandigo,” &c, which occur in the old records, willbe found explained here for the first time; and the topographicalinformation is both full and accurate. In a word, the work bears theimpress not only of a man of great powers of observation and soundjudgment, but also of a strong and capable ruler. His independentcharacter is shown in the plain-spoken manner in which he marks hisresentment of the methods adopted at headquarters in regard to appealsfrom the native subjects of the Commandement. That a man possessed ofsuch intelligence and independence of character should in the course oftime have risen to the highest post in the Company’s service,viz., that of Governor-General of Nederlands India, was in the naturalcourse of events. [iv]
The following brief personal account of him, based on informationcollected from various sources, will, I am sure, be of someinterest.
Hendrick, or Henricus, Zwaardecroon was born at Rotterdam on January26, 1667. His father, Theophilus Zwaardecroon, son of an older HenricusZwaardecroon, was Rentmeester, or Steward, to JonkerGysbrecht van Mathenesse, his mother being Margaretha van Heulen. Hecame out to the East in 1684 as Secretary to the High CommissionerHendrick Adriaan van Rh
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