Page 48 - Dutch Ships in Tropical Waters
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4 Connecting the Asian regions: The trading and shipping network in operation after Introduction After the period of ‘round trading tours’, a network of regular shipping gradually developed in the various regions in Asia. In , Batavia in Java became the centre for shipping. It was the traffic control centre for most shipping in Asia and the main connection between the European management and the Asian branch of the VOC. Shipping was dependent on the seasons of the monsoon. The following sections describe the development of the Asian shipping network as the various shipping configurations were adjusted to the requirements of the weather and other conditions. It was sometimes very difficult for the VOC to regulate the connections between the many shipping routes spread out over a large area. In some cases, a ship delayed for only a short time could have major consequences for the organisation if a connection on a route sub- ject to a specific monsoon season, could not be made; for instance when important products like textiles from India could not reach Batavia in time to be shipped to the Spice Islands where they were significant items for barter. Another difficulty was created if ships were delayed for months while waiting for a change of season and could not be employed on other routes. These problems do not appear to have been fully appreciated by the power holders in the Nether- lands. Already in , Governor-General Hendrick Brouwer had to explain to the VOC Direc- tors in the Netherlands the importance of the timely departure of ships in order to be able to make the connection with the most prominent shipping routes in Asia: The money and cargo \[from the Netherlands\] that is meant for China and Japan should arrive here \[Batavia\] in the month of May. The commodities for Coromandel, Persia and the Surat are to be sent at the beginning of July and therefore, also because these trading posts are drawing most of the money and other means, \[we\] request Your Honour to send us these with the ships departing in the autumn that is before the winter from Your Honour, because otherwise these delayed arrivals means a fruitless stay with us for a year (Colenbrander , p. ). Ships departed and arrived to and from Europe at regular intervals. Fleets of VOC ships left the Netherlands for Asia around New Year (the so-called Christmas fleet), and at the beginning of the spring (the so-called Easter fleet). Departures from Batavia to Europe were around New Year (December-January). Running the shipping through Batavia was first and foremost a management control issue since, for ships to call at Batavia was not always the most practical strategy. Ships could follow various main routes for voyages within Asia to or from Batavia, depending on the season and sometimes on the type of ship. Over the years, the VOC suc- ceeded by trial and error in designing a shipping network that ensured an efficient year-round deployment of ships to various destinations.
