Portuguese Malacca and Native Trade in the Malay-Indonesian Area

Abstract

A detailed survey of the development of native trade in the Malay-Indonesian area in the 16th century is impossible because of the lack of relevant data. Some general notes on the subject follow below, but this trade can only be seen against the background of Portuguese activity in Asia as a whole (as outlined in the previous chapter) and, further, against the more detailed background of Portuguese Malacca. Since the scanty data available come from Portuguese sources, Portuguese Malacca must serve as the starting point of our considerations as well as the background to them. Native trade comes within our range of vision only in so far as it came into contact with the Portuguese and was influenced by them.