and the Far East round the Cape to Batavia, Canton and South Chinese waters. In 1751, while on its way way back to the Netherlands with cargoes of Chinese goods loaded in Canton, it hit a coral reef and sank in the South China Sea. The bulk of the cargo was salvaged by Captain Michael Hatcher and in 1986 sold at Christie's in Ams

of bookkeeping and the resulting insights in the proceeds of the company at the settlement, the private bills of exchange sent from Colombo to The Netherlands and an analysis of the VOC-employees at the offices in Ceylon constitute the four areas of research. The study is predominantly based on quantitative sources to be found in the archives in The Hague and in Colombo. The detailed results about Ceylon – signifying about one eighth of the Asian branch of the Company – can be used for a better understanding of the history of the VOC at all her settlements from The Cape to Japan. An important general conclusion is the complementary character of the East India Company on the one hand and the private business activities of her servants or employees on the other hand.