The United Company Monopoly and the Spice Trade of the Towns of Northern Java

Abstract

As far as the intermediary trade in spices was concerned, the most important port on the coast of northern Java at the end of the 16th century was still the dual town of Grise-Jaratan. Thanks to Pires, we are already familiar with the place at the beginning of the century. When first visited by the Dutch, the town was under the authority of the ruler-priest of Giri, but soon afterwards nearby Surabaya included Grise under its dominion. At the beginning of the 17th century the little kingdom of Surabaya included Sidayu and Pasuruan as well as Grise. Between 1599 and 16o1 Panarukan and Balambangan were added to it, and it even subordinated territories overseas and laid claim to Sukadana,² Banjarmasin,³ Lave Kate ⁴ and Bawean.⁵