[VOC] Deferred land transfer deed

bought by the "Inlander van den negozij Latuhalat met name Abraham Likahina 'ila" from "den meede inlander van gem. dorp genaamt Arnoldus Willem Lekalompessie" on 1 October 1788, manuscript on a plano sheet, 32.5 x 40 cm. Issued, signed and sealed with red wax seals by Aeneas Mackay and Godhelp Reis "beide leeden inc (?) den agtbaaren Raad van Justiitie dezes Cateels". Also signed by the secretary Frederik Willem Progers van Guericke, dated "Amboina ter Ordinaire Raadkamer van Justitie den 1 Junij Ao. 1795", with the certified VOC tax blindstamp at the top.

Folds and waterst., upper margin lacks some portions (likely due to (tropical) insect damage), affecting the tax stamp certifier's signature. Highly interesting deed of transport, since both buyer and seller were indigenous to Ambon. The buyer stated to Mackay and Reis that he had lacked sufficient funds between 1788 and 1795 to formalise the purchase valued at "vijf en twintig rds 48 sw." The original land description was deemed too vague, prompting a more precise addition in the left-hand margin: "Aan de regterhand met het erf van Patijmara Manahûti'an, aan de linkerhand met het erf van Gimalaha Latûmieten en van agteren sluitende met het het erf van Hopihûwad Maûlanij." Only one year after this deed was issued, the British took over Ambon. Added: (2) Similar notarial document in poor condition, issued by the English East India Company at Fort Victoria on 8 August 1814. Just five days later, on 13 August, Ambon was restored to the Dutch by virtue of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of that year. (total 2)