アンボイナ（Amboina）の初期支那町について

When the Dutch had begun to govern the island Amboyna at the beginning of the 17th Century, they imported the Chinese immigrants in order to cultivate this island. Gradually their number increased, and they settled their own quarter westwards to Castle Victoria. The Dutch government appointed the chief of them to their “Capitein” and made him control their countrymen, collect their poll-tax and other various taxes, and be present at court as a jury. But as Chinese were thrifty and laborious, and had a special talent in commerce, they gradually oppressed the Dutch citizens, so that the latter asked the government to limit their immigration and commerce. The Chinese, however became already indispensable for the daily life of both citizens and the natives, and the various taxes upon the Chinese were the important resources for the government. Therefore such a limitation could not be carried on immediately. At last as their smuggling on the cloves and pepper trade at the Molucca islands began to damage the essential profits of the Netherlands East India Company, the government ordered to limit their shipping and immigration in 1672. Since then these orders were repeated, and the number of the Chinese immigrants has not been so much increased. For instance, the number was 300 in the 17th Century, 400 at the end of the 18th Century, and 500 at the beginning of the 20th Century. The Reformed Church of Netherlands has had successful results in christianising the natives, but as for the Chinese, all efforts have proved to be vain. If the general policy of the government towards the Chinese in the Dutch East Indies is taken into consideration, the system of “Capitein,” the contract of the various taxes, and many other policies for the Chinese Quarter at Amboyna can be understood more thoroughly