E. Roura was the captain of the French merchant steamer Patty (printed “Paty”; corrected in the Errata) whom the Netherlands Indian Government employed in 1873–1874 to visit the landscapes of the West Coast of Atjeh lying between Meulaboh and Groot-Atjeh, to report on the state of affairs and the disposition of the radja’s, and to make known to them the model act of submission.
Mission along the West Coast
Roura had for years frequented the pepper harbours of the West Coast of Atjeh and had made himself familiar with the several radja’s; the Government had come into contact with him already after the first expedition in Atjeh (1873). Prevented by the blockade from continuing his ordinary business — and naturally having a great interest in disposing the chiefs favourably toward the Dutch authority — he was permitted to visit with his steamship the landscapes lying between Meulaboh and Groot-Atjeh, in order to bring the Government reports of the local conditions and of the temper of chiefs who had never before come into contact with the Dutch authorities. A model of the act of submission was given to him so that he could acquaint the radja’s with its stipulations. The driving of trade was expressly forbidden to him, though he naturally kept the right to point out to the chiefs personally the disadvantageous consequences of the war for the coast places and the interior of Atjeh.
See Also
Source
Vijftig jaren economische staatkunde in Atjeh, by Joh. Langhout (The Hague: N.V. Boekhandel v/h W. P. van Stockum & Zoon, 1923), pp. 29–30, and Errata.