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Paramita:Paramita: Historical Historical Studies Studies Journal, Journal, 28 (2),28(2), 2018: 2018 164 -173 ISSN: 0854-0039, E-ISSN: 2407-5825 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15294/paramita.v28i2.14663

COAST, LOWLAND, AND HIGHLAND: A GEOGRAPHICAL UNITY IN SUPPORTING THE ECONOMY OF CIREBON FROM XIX-XX CENTURY

Eva Nur Arovah1, Nina Herlina Lubis2, Reiza Dienaputra2, Widyo Nugrahanto2 1) Department of History Education, STKIP Pangeran Dharma Kusuma 2) Department of History and Philology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Padjadjaran University

ABSTRACT ABSTRAK

Since 14th and 15th century, the kingdoms Semenjak abad ke-14 dan ke-15, kerajaan- located among the islands of archipelago, in- kerajaan yang terletak di kawasan pesisir cluding Cirebon, have involved in trading ac- Nusantara, termasuk Cirebon, telah terlibat tivities among the islands of archipelago or dalam perdagangan antarpulau Nusantara even international. Started from the fall of maupun perdagangan antarnegara. Dimulai and Demak kingdoms, the northern semenjak runtuhnya Majapahit dan kejayaan coastal areas of mostly are dominated by Demak, kawasan pantai utara Jawa hampir the rulers and Moslem traders. In 17th centu- seluruhnya dikuasai oleh para penguasa dan ry, by the equal disintegration of traditional pedagang muslim. Memasuki abad ke-17, ber- politics and taking over of the power of Cire- samaan dengan disintegrasi politik tradisional bon by VOC and the system and direc- dan pengambil-alihan kekuasaan keraton Cire- tion of policy which are made by the Dutch bon oleh VOC serta pola dan arah kebijakan government, the sector-based trade in the yang dikeluarkan pemerintah Hindia Belanda, coastal area of Cirebon becomes increasingly sektor perdagangan yang berpusat di kawasan advanced and widespread. Started from the pesisir Cirebon menjadi semakin mengikat dan coastal area, in its development, the develop- meluas. Dimulai dari kawasan pesisir, dalam ing center trade becomes in hand with the de- perkembangannya pengembangan pusat veloping of agricultural sectors in the lowlands perdagangan menjadi beriringan dengan and plantation in the highlands. By the histori- perkembangan pertanian di dataran rendah cal method and structural approach from Fer- dan perkebunan di dataran tinggi. Dengan nand Braudel, this research is trying to explain menggunakan metode penelitian sejarah dan Cirebon’s Geography as a synthesis that plays pendekatan struktur sebagaimana yang dil- a role in Cirebon economic activity. No less akukan Fernand Braudel, penelitian ini men- important, archaeological evidences will be coba mendeskripsikan geografis Cirebon se- included as an attempt to identify the histori- bagai sebuah sintesa yang berperan besar da- cal fact. Because in reality, the three regions lam kegiatan ekonomi Cirebon. Karena dalam (coastal area, agriculture and plantation) are a kenyataannya tiga kawasan di atas merupakan unity of the mutually bounded and have a re- suatu kesatuan yang saling terikat dan mem- ciprocal relationship in its contribution to the iliki hubungan timbal balik dalam sumbangan- economic progress of the Dutch. ya terhadap perkembangan ekonomi Hindia Belanda. Keywords: coast, lowland, highland, econo- my, Cirebon Kata Kunci: pesisir, dataran rendah, dataran tinggi, ekonomi, Cirebon.

Author correspondence Email: [email protected] 164 Available online at http://journal.unnes.ac.id/nju/index.php/paramita Paramita: Historical Studies Journal, 28(2), 2018

INTRODUCTION development of Cirebon, three geograph- This article is written in order to observe ical factors (coast, lowland and highland) three geographical features of Cirebon, were significant for the power sustainabil- namely the coastal areas, the highlands ity of the colonial government. Therefore, and the lowlands as a unity which can be the research question is how the descrip- seen from their contribution for the econo- tion areas in Cirebon and how the synthe- my development of the . sis and the relationship between those are- Thus, the particular concerns are in the as and the economic activities in nine- Cirebon harbor, agriculture, sugar- teenth and twentieth century. cane plantation and coffee plantation in nineteenth and twentieth century. RESEARCH METHODS Several historical records show the This research used the historical method shipping and trading activities since four- including four stages, namely heuristic, teenth and fifteenth century in the coastal critics, interpretation and historiography kingdoms, such as Majapahit, Malaka, (Herlina, 2013: 1-55), and the structural Aceh, Demak, Tuban, , Bali, Ti- approach as conducted by Fernand mor, Kutai, Southern Kalimantan, Ma- Braudel when studying the History of kasar, Maluku, Cirebon and the others. Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding Those places had become both the trading world during Philip II era. Braudel stated center in and international, in- that there should be attempted and practi- cluding Vietnam, Cambodia, Burma, Chi- tioner of historical and social sciences dis- na, India, Arab, Syria, East Africa, and ciplines to observe the people experiences (Wardaya, 2001: 23). To some as a unity. Because in reality, the history extents, the kingdoms clearly showed that explanation was framed in three im- the coastal areas of Indonesia had long portant structures, namely geography, been a trading center which opens to the economy and politics. The geographical international trading activities. structure became a medium to the histori- Due to fulfilling the logistical needs cal facts to the human activities, especially of Batavia and increasing profits of the from the economic side (Braudel, II, 1995: colonial government, also by means 112). Thus, this research was trying to pre- providing solutions for the financial prob- sent the history of Cirebon affected by its lems, the lowlands and highlands in Cire- geographical structures, namely the coast, bon were also occupied by the colonial lowlands and highlands as a unity to sup- government. Particularly, in nineteenth port the economy for Dutch East Indies century, marked by an extremely intense from nineteenth to twentieth century. colonial penetration in Java, most people As a literature review, several re- involved in planting the commercial searchers had presented their studies relat- plants which were in demand for interna- ed to the social-economic impacts from tional trades, such as indigo, coffee, tea the geographical conditions of Cirebon. and quinine (Zakaria, 2011: 98). This The research by Singgih Tri Sulistyono means that the geographical position of (1994) was about the Cirebon harbor the kingdoms as the strategic role holders which had rapidly developed in the sec- should be noted first. The coastal areas ond half of nineteenth century, so it not only might economically simplify and ranked fourth of the biggest harbors in Ja- prosper the trading activities, but also va. This might represent the coastal areas open the competitiveness for the traders. of Cirebon. M.R. Fernanado (1982) ar- This was started from the trade through gued the social-economic impacts from sea and together with the agricultural ac- the plantation in the forced cultivation era tivities, particularly rice and other com- in the early twentieth century. In line with mercial plants, such as , coffee, M.R. Fernando, Awaludin Nugraha indigo, etc. in the lowlands and highlands (2001) also chose the social-economic life of Cirebon. In the contexts of economy of the farmers as a theme related to the

165 Paramita: Historical Studies Journal, 28(2), 2018 industry and plantation in the highlands of Europe, and other countries mingled and Cirebon. Meanwhile, Murdiyah Winarti created trading networks with the local (1999) analyzed the economic linkages and Indonesian traders (Algemeene Archief between the rice farmers and their social Depot Ministerie van Kolonien, 1814-1849. life in the Residency of Cirebon in 1900- Inv. Nr. 308 -Cheribon: 17-18). In addi- 1940. tion, the invention of stamp marked al mulku, al wahid, al qohhar, and also ceram- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ics, statues, bronzes, gems, hilts, and other The Coast of Cirebon valuable goods which became the part of The position of Cirebon which was in Ja- treasures and succeeded to transport from va Island and directly adjacent to the the ruins of foreign ships in the waters of northern coast of with the long Cirebon (Kompas, 17 November 2006). coastline and the Muara Jati Bay formed They were artifacts which became a true this area as both a harbor and strategic indicator concerning the arrival of the trading and shipping routes. Geographical traders and voyagers to Cirebon. Similar- analysis by J.J. Baggelaar (TT: 130-131), ly, the ship ornaments could be found in Singgih Tri Sulistiyono (1994: 39-40), and the ceramics mounted in the wall of Cire- Veth (1882: 195) stated that Cirebon har- bon’s . Therefore, this might be an bor had an extremely strategic position evidence of trading and shipping activities because it was in a bay protected by In- there. dramayu Peninsula and coral reefs from Trade across Indonesia and abroad the waves coming from the northern part increasingly was increasingly dynamic of Java Sea. supported by the position of Cirebon on the “silk path”, a connection to both ship- ping and trading routes between Indone- sian archipelago and other islands in the world. The silk path was a witness to the historical development of civilization and trades in the past through the land path. In fact, this path was difficult because of the weather and crime there. This condition then encouraged the traders to seek easier and safer alternative routes for supporting their trade. These efforts resulted in the water transportation system as well as strengthening the coast of Cirebon as one of the developed harbors in the colonial cities. Until entering the seventeenth cen- tury, the inclusion of VOC to Cirebon marked by an agreement on 7 January 1681 and continued by other agreements (Hoadley, 1975: 48.49, and 390), in fact, managed to shift the economic advantages which previously were obtained by the traders. VOC took an authority over com- Figure 1. Map of Cirebon Residency in 1912 modities which had considerable econom- Source: Leiden University Libraries–Colonial ic value in the worldwide market. Black Collection pepper and sugar flour were considered as the most profitable commodities at that In Cirebon harbor, the traders from Sema- time, and were chosen by VOC as com- rang and , , Arab, India, modities entirely controlled by VOC.

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Meanwhile, VOC only took portions be- ping by 13.854 times, the second place low 50 percent for the other commodities. was harbor by 13.854 times, Se- Even for the particular commodities marang harbor by 13.427 times and Cire- which did not have any economic impacts bon harbor by 7.589 times (Department of for VOC, the authority was ignored and Education and Culture the Republic of belonged to other parties, and then was Indonesia, 1998: 63). adapted by VOC’s interest. Since 1700s, Another development of the trading the combination between the power of and shipping activities in Cirebon could trade, ship — and the power politics— also be seen from the number of ships and seemed became the special rights of VOC cargos which was in and out from the to control them. At certain points, the Cirebon harbor as can be seen in the table VOC power towards trade and ship was 1. extremely exploitative and looked like ex- Apparently, there was a positive tortion. response towards the existence of Cirebon Approximately a century later, after harbor from the traders. This could be VOC disbanded, the Dutch East Indies seen from the increasing number of ships government as the following ruler per- which came to Cirebon harbor each year. formed several improvements and expan- Those ships were carrying commodities sion of Cirebon harbor started from 1865, for trade. Commodities from Cirebon 1888, 1918, and 1919 by spending money were rice, sugar, laksa, paste, to- of f. 800.000 (J.J. Baggelaar, 1931: 130- bacco, leather, indigo, tapioca, etc. on the 134). Although it did not become a priori- other hands, goods from other countries ty development as Tanjung Priok harbor were European fabrics, Chinese , in Batavia, the various expansions and raw metal, gold, gambier and decaying improvements encouraged Cirebon as one materials, etc. (Algemeene Archief Depot of the biggest harbors along the northern Ministerie van Kolonien, 1814-1849. Inv. Nr. coast of Java, between and Pekalon- 308-Cheribon: 17). One inevitable thing gan harbors. Cirebon harbor belonged to was what the Dutch East Indies govern- the middle harbor (middem-haven), and ment did was essentially to win the trade placed fourth from the biggest harbors in competition and to maintain the trading Java, namely after Batavia, Surabaya, and and shipping supremacy by the prior rul- harbors. The evidence could be ers (VOC). seen from the number of shipping which Beyond the development of the har- took place in 1926. The first place was bor, Cirebon was popular in one of the Batavia harbor with the number of ship- producers of fresh fish and processed

Table 1. The Number of Ships and Cargos in and out Cirebon Harbor No Year The Num- Amount of the Entered Amount of the Goods out ber of Ships Goods (M3) (Ton) (in-out) Gross Weight Net Weight Gross Weight Net Weight

1. 1823 914 - - - - 2. 1824 922 - - - - 3. 1926 1.110 12.263 7.589 4.333 2.681 4. 1927 1.157 13.277 8.219 4.692 2.904 5. 1928 1.217 14.733 8.993 5.206 3.178 6. 1929 1.292 15.678 9.651 5.540 3.397 Source Algemeene Archief Depot Ministerie van Kolonien, 1814-1849. Inv.Nr. 308-Cheribon: 19; J.J. Baggelaar, “De Haven van Cheribon” in Gedenkboek Der Gemeente Cheribon1906-1931. p. 142.

167 Paramita: Historical Studies Journal, 28(2), 2018 products for a long time. As a part of shal- they became the most significant central of low waters in Sundanese flat, the waters of sugarcane in Cirebon (Veth, 1882: 187). Cirebon had the high level of turbidity and Similar to the lowlands in the east- the highest clarity which rarely exceeded ern Cirebon, roads in the northern areas twenty meters. As sea in the waters of Ja- mostly leaded to sea. This was started va which generally was full of plankton, from the first district of Afdeling Cirebon therefore, the waters of Cirebon had many which was directly adjacent to fish (Bottemanne, 1946: 13-14). Approxi- District, namely Gegesik Lor. Further- mately 1.500 species of fish, 250 species of more, the big sugar plantation was located them had been identified as profitable fish in the western part of the main highway (Hage, 1910: 105). within a distance of 6 paal, which was Another characteristic was that called Arjawinangun. At 14 paal distance, these waters also had sloping beach, flat there were rural areas and rice fields and muddy seabed and became a water (Veth, 1882: 187). reservoir from other either big or small then were transported to rivers, and this was possible to create em- several sugar factories around the planta- bankment. Several rivers could be used for tions and processed to be sugar. In 1824, a natural transportation between the lands there were four Chinese sugar factories in and supported the economic activities Cirebon (Algemeene Archief Depot Ministerie from the coastal areas to hinterlands and van Kolonien, 1814-1849. Inv. Nr. 308- vice versa. Another function was for Cheribon: 15) and continued to increase household necessities (Dahuri, et.al, 2004: together with the expansion of sugarcane 14-26). fields. Until the early twentieth century, in sea and embankments there were 13 sugar factories in Cirebon created fishermen, sailors, traders or sea- with the land use by 12.675 bau. For more food producers. This showed the historical detail, see table 2. power which succeeded in strengthening Thus, another important sector en- the economic and social bases of most couraging the economic activity of Cire- Cirebon people. Due to the significance of bon was the invasion of sugar industry. In fisheries, in 1902, Mindere Welvaart the northern part of Cirebon, there was a Onderzoek commission was established to big sugar plantation called Arjawinangun. investigate the causes of poverty among Even though in the eastern part, several those people, including fishermen. In ad- plantations had worked through contract dition, the commission also provided ad- with government such as Sindanglaut and vices to the government in order to im- Karang Sembung. Initially, Sindanglaut prove the fishermen’s life (Widodo, 2011: had a land area of 500 bau and was the 34-35). Through the fishermen’s work, the first sugar plantation in the forced cultiva- fish was caught, carried and then directly tion era while Karang Sembung had a sug- sold to the fish market, but if there was arcane land area of 300 bau, Ciledug 705 leftover, fish was carried to the fishermen bau and Tersana 480 bau. Another loca- villages to be proceed. In other words, this tion was called Blender with 300 bau might show the fisherman journey was which was rented to the Chinese business- shifted from sea to the villages. man (Veth, 1882: 198). Then, the condition changed after Lowlands the forced cultivation in which the sugar- Moving from the coastal areas of the east- canes were planted in the rice fields as in ern Cirebon, the lowlands were from the eastern part of Java. Even Sindanglaut Losari District to Sindang Laut, Ciledug, became a main area of sugarcane produc- Tersana to Karang Sembung Districts. ers in Cirebon with the land area by 600 Almost all lands were dominated by rice bau (approximately 420 hectares) fields. In addition, sugarcane fields were (Breman, 1986: 136). This was recorded also could be found in those areas, and that the sugar production and export from

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Table 2. The List of Sugar Factories in Cirebon in the Twentieth Century

No Name of factory Besluiten Land Area (Bau) 1. Tersana Baru G.B. 8 Augustus 1900 No.29 2375 2. Soerawinangun (Plumbon) G.B.19 Juni 1901 No.4 1375 3. Gempol ------700 4. Arjawinangun ------675 5. Sindanglaoet ------1625 6. Karangsoewoeng ------900 7. Djatipiring ------575 8. Leuwinggajah ------1000 9. Losari Baru (Panggang) ------375 10. Paroengdjaya ------725 11. Djatiwangi ------1175 12. Kadipaten ------1025 13. Tjidahoe Dir.bes. 25 Januari 1910 150 Source: Memori van Overgave van G.J.Oudemans, Aftredend Resident van Cheribon aan zyn Opvolger den Heer F.Ch. N. Van der Moore, Assistant-Resident van BLORA. Arch. Kol.Mailrap.1362/1911. pp. 53.

Cirebon gradually increased each year. in the lowlands, and this also became one This was recorded that in 1828, the pro- factor to trigger economy of the colonial duction of sugar was 4621 loads, then in rulers. 1832, production was 635.517 load. The In addition to sugarcane plantation, number continued to rise 129.543 tons in the lowland areas of Cirebon were also 1928 (Algemeene Archief Depot Ministerie van known as one of the most significant rice Kolonien, 1814-1849. Inv. Nr. 308- producers. The importance of rice farming Cheribon: 11). in Cirebon could also be seen from a re- The following period became a diffi- port submitted by Cirebon Regent to the cult time for sugar industries intended for General Governor Raffles in early Decem- an international market. Abdul Wahid ber 1815, few months before Raffles left (2006:109-110) stated that in 1930s, to- Java and he stated: “there are no definite gether with the critical time (malaise) and data showing a change, but its agricultural the decline of sugar price in the interna- improvement seemed real” (Raffles, 2014: tional market, reported that the number of 100). Furthermore, the development of sugar factories in which still operated was agricultural activity in Cirebon could also eight factories, and the operation scale be seen from the notes describing the Cire- continued to decrease. Another indication bon area and its rice fields. according to the declining number of land Veth (1882: 186-199) mentioned area used by sugarcane crops. In addition, that almost the areas of Cirebon planted even though the number increased and rice, either in the rice fields or fields. This decreased (and never recovered) in the included the northern part of Kan- sugar industry in Cirebon, the industriali- danghaur, Losarang, Lelea, Juntinyuat, zation symptom marked by the achieve- Cantigi, Lohbener, to the first district of ment in Cirebon plantations and lowlands afdeling Cirebon; Gegesk Lor, Ar- affected the economic transformation for jawinangun, Palimanan, Plumbon, Ender, the society. Thus, this could not be denied Mundu, Sindanglaut. Several specific that the strength of Cirebon was in its sug- points in , , and Ga- arcane plantation and sugar productions luh also planted rice. Hence, this meant

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Table 3. Rice Production Cirebon (yoke) in the Second Half of Nineteenth Century

No District Rice Field Production Field Production Total

1 Cirebon 1.636.324 116.241 1.752.565 2 Indramayu 889.188 7.625 896.565 3 Majalengka 1.317.465 7.625 1.419.463 4 Kuningan 367.666 101.998 458.518 5 Galuh 381.084 59.183 440.267 Total 4.591.727 375.899 4.967.626

Source: W.R van Hoevell, 1863. Reis Over Java, Madura, en Bali in het Midden van 1847. 1st deel. Am- sterdam: P.N.van Kampen, p. 7. that although the areas of fertile soil in Resident van Blora. Arch. Kol. Mail- Cirebon were different for each district, rap.1362/1911. p. 75). most lowlands in Cirebon characterized in Until the mid-nineteenth century, fertile lowlands and were possible to plant from the list of rice crop production in rice. Statistiek van Cheribon 1835-1859, this could A typical characteristic of rice fields be seen the tendency of increasing rice in Cirebon was nearly identical with the crop production in the particular districts narration written by Peter Boomgard in Cirebon. Gegesik Lor District was the (2004: 137-138) concerning the typical largest rice producers and the city district characteristic of rice fields in Java. The was the least (Algemeen Rijksarchief Depot rice fields were a plot of cultivated fields Aanwinsten Kolonien Afkomsting uit Losse surrounded by galengan which had served Aanwinsten tot 1980. Inv. Nr.14. Statistiek to accommodate rain or irrigation inside van Cheribon 1835-1859, p. 35-36). No won- the fields. Galengan was usually a mound der if Gegesik Lor and Sindanglaut Dis- of 30-40 cm and made elongated in varied trict became the largest rice producers in width between 20-40 cm. Besides accom- Cirebon because of the wide areas of their modating rain or irrigation, galengan also rice fields and the fertile soil features in had a function as a footpath for the farm- Gegasik Lor District. While in Sin- ers to walk and as well as a border of rice danglaut areas, long time before VOC re- fields (Boomgaard, 2004: 135). quired this area to produce sugarcanes in Through the door in galengan, the the end of eighteenth century, the rice cultivated fields could be flooded by water fields were planted by rice. or dried. If the rice fields had water from a However, in 1930s, Indramayu oc- river, a creek, a reservoir or a ditch, then cupied a position as a high-quality rice we called them as irrigation fields, and as with the largest surplus in Cirebon, so it opposed were rain-fed fields (Boomgaard, became one of the rice exporter to the 2004: 138). The irrigation development . Together with the important was one of the important factors for the projects in early twentieth century created rice fields, so the rice farming was also to develop agricultures, especially irriga- improved. Thus, in early twentieth centu- tion channels. One of them took water ry, the government worked on the devel- Cimanuk river built in 1907 with cost opment of irrigation in the significant are- f.15.000 (Memorie van Overgave Resident as, such as Jatitujuh and Lohbener In- H.A. Lincklaan Westenberg, 1932. Seri 2E. dramayu by utilizing the water source Reel 03 & 04 p. 75-76). Together with from Cimanuk river (Memori van Over- Karawang, in 1930s, Indramayu became gave van G.J.Oudemans, Aftredend Resi- the largest rice producers in Cirebon and dent van Cheribon aan zyn Opvolger den succeeded in selling its rice crops outside Heer F.Ch. N. Van der Moore, Assistant- the area by 115.000 tons in a year

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(Creutzberg and van Lannen, 1987: 94- The Priangan Regent obtained the tested 96). coffee seeds from Batavia, while Therefore, it could be concluded Regent and other regents from West and that at least, there were two significant East obtained those tested seeds from crops in the lowland areas of Cirebon, Cirebon Sultanate (Lasmiyati, 2015: 218). namely sugarcanes and rice. Due to the Coffee was planted in the highlands importance of rice, VOC issued a regula- of Cirebon approximately in 1720s as a tion regarding billing, remittance and part of coffee and tea planting undertaken management towards all rice crops in by VOC in Priangan area. However, in Cirebon. The entire regulation of the 24 the end of this century, coffee plantation articles was listed in Nederlandsch Plakaat- had begun to be planted in large quantities boek 1602-1811 Veertiende deel 1804-1808 at the private lands of Cirebon, so it hard- which mentioned that the detailed rules ly caused people’s displeasure. Then, until were related to wage taxes, plant supervi- 1813, they destroyed five million of coffee sion, seed varieties, rice storage ware- trees. This incident occurred together with houses, new land clearing and crops at the emergence of resentment inside Cire- district level (Chijs, 1895: 711-719). bon society to the Dutch and Chinese plantation owners or landlords. Thus, this Highlands incident was increasingly rampant and Another fact revived economic and ship- then could be minimize in around 1817 ping networks in Cirebon was coffee pro- due to persuasive actions and exploitation duced in the Kuningan, Galuh and of people’s fear towards the coffee supervi- Majalengka highlands. One of the possible sors (Molsbergen, 1931: 18). reasons to cultivate coffee in those areas The outcome could be seen in De- was stated by M.R. Fernando and Wil- cember 1824 that the number of coffee liam J. O’Malley (1988: 238-243), namely trees in this residency was 6.013.285. In the natural environment located at an alti- 1850s, the number of entire coffee trees in tude of 1000 meters above sea level, on Cirebon Residency reached 17.552.044 the slopes of Ciremai and Sawal Moun- (van Hoevell dan Veth, 1849), and the tains which had suitable fields to plant amount of harvest was 14.740 load in coffee and were supported the great num- 1857 (Statistiek van Cheribon 1835-1859, p. ber of people. 23-24). Approaching 1870s, a decline of Coffee began to plant in Cirebon coffee harvest was caused by the age of highlands since VOC succeeded in con- old coffee. This condition deteriorated in trolling the entire Priangan in 1705 alt- the end of 1870s to 1880s due to hemalia hough Priangan had no direct supervision. vestarix. The coffee production in Cirebon Along with Aria Prince of Cirebon as an which reached 28.400 load in 1870s fell Opziener of the Priyangan regents, VOC into 9.000 load in the end of 1880s established Tatar Sunda areas (Batavia, (Fernando and O’Mallaey 1988: 225-226). Priangan, and Cirebon) to implement the Nevertheless, beyond the development mandatory coffee plantation in 1707 as and fluctuation of the harvest and price of well as to mark the coffee plantation sys- coffee, it could be noted that Cirebon at tem officially in the Tatar Sunda areas that time took profit from coffee planta- (Ekajati, 1991: 2). tion in its hinterlands. Particularly, Priangan area would The problem occurred was the dis- become a sample area of coffee plantation tribution of coffee crops due to the isolat- in Java. Coffee seeds previously had been ed area of coffee plantation to the main successfully tested by the Governor Gen- distribution channel, namely harbor. In eral van Hoorn and Zwaardercroon in order to overcome the problem, on the their garden at Batavia and Cirebon banks of Citarum and Cimanuk rivers, around 1696, then were distributed to the precisely in Cikao and Karangsambung, regents to be cultivated in their own areas. an adequate large coffee warehouse was

171 Paramita: Historical Studies Journal, 28(2), 2018 with 60 to 80 piles. Through those rivers, specialization of products which became coffee crops were transported by boats to the supporting factor of the economic de- the beach then to the harbor, and finally velopment at these areas: the sea coast were exported to various countries areas of Cirebon with its harbor and ma- (Algemeene Archief Depot Ministerie van Ko- rine sources, rice and sugarcane plantation lonien,1814-1849. Inv. Nr. 308-Cheribn: in the lowlands and the plantations of cof- 10). fee, vegetables and woods in the high- Based on a brief overview towards lands. several economic activities there, this In other words, this meant that the could be seen that since 1500s, Cirebon main possible factor to expand the eco- gradually emerged as a new city; a trading nomic development was in line with the and shipping city as well as a city palace. natural conditions of Cirebon. Certainly, The next phase was since the seventeenth there were similarities, differences, red century, we could see the phenomenon of thread and connection between the coast, economic development in Cirebon was lowland and highland areas in Cirebon, recognized, especially from the side of and those were mutually connected and Dutch economic achievements as a group related to the economic activities of Cire- succeeded in taking an opportunity to ex- bon. Because those three were not only plore the economic functions of Cirebon. geographically dependent, but they were Additionally, this phase became integrated economically coherent. Thus, this showed economic foundations marked by the rap- a symbiotic mutualism where the coast id spread of trades between both islands areas became a distribution point and the and countries in the following century. chain of trading networks for export and Into the seventeenth century, to- import commodities as well as the provid- gether with the colonial politic strategy er of imported goods required by the low- who succeeded in conquering the power lands and highlands. Moreover, the coast of Cirebon, the Dutch East Indies also became one of keys for the continuity rulers grew as a new colony as well as a of trades between islands and countries. great minority. Then, they succeeded in Meanwhile, the lowlands and highlands modifying and in controlling almost the became the suppliers of daily necessities entire economic activities, either in the for the coastal society. coast, lowlands or highlands of Cirebon. In other words, we could see the role and CONCLUSION policy of the Dutch East Indies as a con- According to the description and the re- siderable factor which determined the eco- search question above, it could be con- nomic development in Cirebon. These cluded that one of strengths possessed by policies sometimes tended to cause nega- Cirebon in early nineteenth century was tive effects consciously and unconsciously. its geographical compositions consisting The Dutch East Indies utilized the poten- of coast, lowlands and highlands. Those tial of those areas in order to fulfil their three features had different potentials. interests and necessities towards various Nevertheless, due to the ability of the co- commodities which had a high economic lonial government, those varied natural value in an international market. Most of resources could be utilized by the colonial those products could be found in large government in order to earn maximum quantities and had a strategic value. profits. Those three areas became a unity Together with the varied activities which had mutual supports with the of people, economic roles, characteristics Dutch government for the sake of increas- and geographical conditions, weather, soil ing profits from the colonies. and water, these three areas became a sig- nificant provider of needs for the success- REFERENCES ful economic development of the Dutch Algemeene Archief Depot Ministerie van Kolonien, East Indies. This could be seen that the 1814-1849. Inv. nr. 308-Cheribon.

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