独尊义兴？
——从《港主法令》看19世纪晚期柔佛的商业与社会（1862－1900）
香港中文大学 徐冠勉
摘要 在19世纪下半叶，随着欧洲的殖民扩张和工业革命，东南亚的热带产品诸如胡椒、甘蜜成了世界市场的重要商品。在这一需求的驱使下，大批华人移居东南亚，在热带丛林中拓殖种植园。这些移居海外的华人必须面对不同的国家制度与生态环境，并形成各自特有的社会组织与商业模式。这一变化过程在各地呈现出截然不同的面相。其中马来西亚柔佛所形成的港主社会正是很独特的一例。在这一社会体系中，传统华人社会原有的公司组织——义兴公司——被柔佛苏丹所制定的港主制度所容纳与认可，并逐渐被后人解读为所谓的“独尊义兴”。但是如果我们重新解读港主制度，可以发现港主制度并非一种独尊义兴的制度，而是一整套基于港契来规范华人社会和商业的法规。通过这些法规，我们可以看到，海外华人在柔佛这样一个特殊的环境下其实已经形成了一个高度商业化的社会，这一社会已经与同时期中国本身的传统社会截然不同。
关键词 港主法令 义兴公司 柔佛 海外华人
一 引言
在18～19世纪的东南亚地区，华人公司（Kongsi）作为一种商业与社会组织有其丰富的内涵与多元的类型，并在东南亚社会发挥重要作用，但是其中有一批公司（包括义兴公司）却先后被殖民地政府归类为私会党（secret societies）并遭取缔与打压。就星马地区（新加坡与马来西亚）而言，这个归类与管制的过程大约始于19世纪60年代末期，并随着英国海峡殖民地政府立法日益严峻以及其管辖领地日趋扩大，而逐步强化与深化，到了1919年，曾经在新加坡和柔佛等地有着强大势力的义兴公司也在柔佛遭强制解散。
义兴公司解散时，其所遗留的2万元存款成了两家华人机构——宽柔学校与椒蜜公局——所争夺的对象。尽管争夺的细节已不可尽知，但可知的结果是宽柔学校最终获得这笔存款，而据称存有义兴公司重要遗物的“明墓”，则从此由该校负责春、秋二祭。义兴公司解散后，其骨干成员继续活动，并于1922年召集其他侨领成立华侨公所，该组织最终发展为目前在新山华社颇具影响力的中华公会。宽柔学校也日益兴盛，并后来发展出一系列小学、中学乃至大专院校。而椒蜜公局却从此少有记载，并逐渐湮没无闻。
从事后来看，继承了存款的宽柔学校以及继承了骨干成员的华侨公所（包括其后的中华公会）之间始终有着密切的合作，并各自以不同的方式强调了义兴公司在早期华社中的正统地位，而所谓的由柔佛《港主法令》确定的“独尊义兴”原则更是成为这种领导地位的最佳证明。
但是倘若仔细翻阅《港主法令》，会发现所谓的“独尊义兴”其实只是总共81条法令中的一条（第13条），其语义与语境也并非如此笃定，而整个法令文本的更大价值，却在于其对19世纪晚期整个柔佛地区商业与社会的间接描绘。此外，更加引人深思的是，尽管该法令只有一处提及上述的椒蜜公局（第67条），但是基于法令全文的内容并结合其他相关材料，可以发现这个如今已经少有人提及的组织在19世纪晚期有着不容忽视的重要地位。
二 研究背景及材料介绍
甘蜜与胡椒的种植是19世下半叶柔佛经济的支柱产业，这两种作物因为其互补性而通常被培植于同一种植园之中。在柔佛，这种种植园的开垦主要依赖于一种特殊的港主制度，这种制度与柔佛的特殊地形有着密切关系，该地区在19世纪还主要是一片丛林，对外交通与对内开发都是沿着一条条的河流，因此一条河道便成为一个开垦单位，也被称为一条港，而负责开垦与管理这个港的头人则被称为港主（Kangchu）。自19世纪三四十年代天猛公易卜拉欣（Ibrahim）招募华人开港以来，前后一共颁发了约163张港契，每张港契通常对应一条港。港契股东、港主以及种植者主要是华人，并且以潮州人为主，但是也有其他方言人群。
图1 柔佛地形及各港分布图
资料来源：James C. Jackson, “Chinese Agricultural Pioneering in Singapore and Johore 1800－1917, ”p.102。
港主制度在整个19世纪逐步演化，借以规范港主制度的《港主法令》（“Kanun Kangchu”，英译“Law of the Kangchu”）是直到1873年才由柔佛王公阿武峇卡（Abu Bakar，即后来的柔佛苏丹）颁布，在这之前主要是通过港契、港主委任状等文书来规范港主的权利与义务。
A. E. Coope曾于20世纪30年代将该法令译为英文，并发表于其对港主制度的开拓性研究论述——“The Kangchu System in Johore”中。该文同时还翻译了一份港契（surat sungei，英译river document）与一份港主委任状（surat tauliah，英译letter of authority）。60年代，许云樵在Coope研究的基础上，另外又考据了港主制度下的各条港名单，并揭示了部分港主的姓名与籍贯。
到了70年代，Carl A. Trocki开始系统研究柔佛档案，并于1975年发表了一篇关于该档案的介绍性文章。该文对所有档案文书进行了归类与断代，并认为其有一个演进的过程，比较重要的几个节点分别为天猛公阿武峇卡即位（1862年）,《港主法令》颁布（1873年），以及印刷文件的引进（1880年）。此外，到了1867年之后，除了原有的港契之外，几种新的文书开始出现，例如：买卖文书（surat jual －beli）、包税文书（surat pajak）、公司文书（surat kongsi）。基于这批材料，Trocki后来陆续出版了几部重要著作，反思了整个新加坡与柔佛的19世纪历史。
但上述这些材料原文多为爪夷文（Jawi）书写，且大部分为手稿，非经专门训练难以解读。故本文仅尝试基于Coope和Trocki的研究成果，围绕已由Coope系统翻译的《港主法令》，并补充一些其他材料，来对19世纪晚期柔佛的商业与社会做一初步探讨，并希冀为将来的系统研究做一铺垫。
附录一、二分别为摘自Coope（1936）的《港主法令》与港主委任状，附录三为摘自Trocki（1975）的三份港契（surat sungai）、一份买卖文书（surat jual－beli）和一份包税文书（surat pajak）。
三 港主的权利与义务
港主的角色非常特殊，他可以不是港契中列明的股东，也未必需要在港契中留有名字，而是由港主委任状来委任，并由《港主法令》来规范其权利与义务，这种现象在1863年以后越来越普遍。因此本文在分析港主的权利与义务时，将先从《港主法令》和港主委任状入手，分析他单纯作为港主时的法定权利与义务，然后再将部分港主同时作为港契股东时的情况做单独讨论。
港主的义务按照对象可分为“对政府的义务”、“对投资方（主要指贷款给种植园主，并收取甘蜜与胡椒产品作为还款手段的资本家）的义务”、“对种植园主的义务”、 “对伐木商的义务”、 “对Mayor of Johore（根据Coope的解释，此人即为柔佛华人的侨领）的义务”，以及“对港契股东的义务”这六大类型；而港主的权利按照内容可分为“管理”和“收益”这两大类型，具体内容及相应条款可见表1和表2。
表1 港主义务
资料来源：附录一《港主法令》，摘自A. E. Coope, “The Kangchu System in Johore, ”pp. 252261；附录二港主委任状，摘自A. E. Coope, “The Kangchu System in Johore, ”pp.249－251。
可见法令对港主义务做了很多细致具体的规定，其中港主对政府的义务更是其考量的重点，此外港主对投资方和种植园主的义务的最终目的是确保种植园债务体系的顺利流转，其余三类义务则仅有零星规定。
表2 港主权利
资料来源：A. E. Coope, “The Kangchu System in Johore, ”pp. 252－261.
可见有关管理的权利是法令规范的重点，而且其相关条款常与表1中的港主对政府的义务项相重合，两者结合反映了政府对于港主管理职责的重视与担忧。而港主收益虽无太多规定，但其内容非常重要，这将在下文详解。
综合而言，《港主法令》与港主委任状都有大量条款在处理港主与政府之间的关系，尤其是对港主行政责任及权限的界定，除此之外，其在保护投资方利益并促进种植园发展方面也有较全面的规定，而对于港主的收益则仅提及一二，但大体还是可以看出港主的收益是与鸦片、酒类、猪肉、赌馆与当铺业务的垄断专卖以及对于进出货物的税收有关。再者，就英译本措辞而言，可以看出整部法令较少重复，逻辑相对严密，这种现象可能与欧洲律师在柔佛政府中的参与有着密切关系。
此外，我们也必须考虑部分港主同时也身为港契股东的情况，此时港契也将成为规范其行为的文书。早期的港契较为简略，例如附录三中的第一份（Example a），该港契签发于伊斯兰教历1265年（公历1849年），文中仅规定了有权开港的中国头人姓名以及他所带领的人数，另加免税期限、开港地点和适用法律等有限信息。第二份（Example b）签发于1863年的港契也很简略。但是于1882年签订的第三份港契（Example c）就相当具体了，其不仅规定了开港的范围、种植园的数量、开港的期限、权限的转让、对特定树种的砍伐限制以及对当地马来人的保护等，而且规定了开港公司的股东名单和股份划分。但是与《港主法令》及港主委任状相比，纵使到了19世纪晚期，港契的规定仍然相对单薄，并对港契股东和港主的收益权利无明确规定。
比较遗憾的是这几份港契都未指定港主，不过可以推想，如果港主也在其中，那么其必然也会受到类似条款的限制。而纵使港主不在其中，且是另外委派的话，那么作为股东委派的代表，他也很可能相应地在一定程度上受到股东与柔佛政府之间协议的制约，可惜目前尚未发现港主和港契股东之间签订的文书，也就难以对这种可能性做实证研究。
综上所述，港主的权利与义务其实非常广泛，甚至在很多情况下还扮演着类似地方官的角色，但值得注意的是，这种关系毕竟还是一种建立在商业化种植业社会基础上的合作关系，而非官僚制度下的行政等级关系，因为无论是港主还是港契股东都是在合同互惠的基础上与政府发生关系，而非由政府单方面提名的行政官僚。下文将试图结合更多的材料，来进一步探讨，在19世纪晚期的柔佛，这一系列规范着港主与政府间合作关系的条款背后，又是有着怎样的商业与社会。
四 法令背后的商业与社会
如前文所述，甘蜜、胡椒种植业是19世纪柔佛的经济支柱，但甘蜜与胡椒却并不是日常生活的必需品，而是主要供出口的商品。这种出口导向的种植业经济与自给自足的生计农业（subsistence farming）经济非常不同，它必须仰赖于产品的交易，并需要进口其他生活必需品。而这种高度商业化的种植园经济模式，正是19世纪柔佛商业与社会的一个基本特点。
这种特点在《港主法令》上即有所体现，例如法令第76、77条规定了港主对大米进口收费的特权，此项特权在这两条条款内是与甘蜜、胡椒的出口收费相提并论的，由此可见输入大米应该为数不少。相关研究也曾指出种植园的劳工属于付费工人群体，这种潜在的货币消费可能正是大批大米进口的一个必要前提。除此之外，对于港主和港契股东，更重要的是一些日常奢侈品的消费，例如鸦片、酒类、赌馆、猪肉等，此外当铺也因为频繁的商业活动所带来的资金需求以及相应的高利润而成为关注的对象，因此这几类消费或经营便成为港主垄断的特权（法令第75条）。这种垄断特权是正是表2中为数不多的几项港主法定收益之一，而根据法令第20、21条，港主也有权分包转让其权利，因此就有相应的转让垄断特权的交易，这类交易有专门的文书记录。
附录三中的包税文书（Surat Pajak）就是专门为转让垄断特权而制作的文书，该文书非常明确地规定了某一港契股东的垄断特权内容及其转让方式，并具体规定了垄断特权由港契股东所有，港主只是保有该特权。垄断特权包括买卖鸦片、酒类、猪肉，以及经营赌馆、当铺等。转让的对象即是这种垄断权利，并且转让的仅仅是一个固定时段的特权（例如两年），受让人在此期间按月支付费用，并且要确保种植园经济和税收不受影响，此外还要支付港主的一切费用。从中可见，垄断特权的真正所有人是港契股东，港主仅仅是行使这种特权，并且其费用最终也是由股东或者受让人支付。
这些文书的设定，使垄断特权的交易可以书面化且标准化地进行，相应也使资本的运作可以标准化。而《港主法令》及港主委任状在其中的作用，则是通过规范港主的一系列相关行为（例如登记鸦片和酒类交易、确保鸦片和酒类充足供应、支付其执照费用等），来确保交易对象的安全。
此外根据Trocki的研究，这些控制鸦片垄断特权的港契股东（港契中规定的公司成员）最终通过分包或者联合等手段组成了一个鸦片包税联盟（The Opium Syndicate），而当时的一些华人重要人物——例如陈旭年——都是其成员。该包税联盟在19世纪60年代进一步和新加坡的鸦片和酒类包税商联合，组成了一个囊括新加坡与柔佛的大包税联盟（The Great Syndicate），并一直良好运作到19世纪80年代。
除了港主与港契股东的收益之外，法令对种植园主与投资方的相关利益也有周密规定。首先，法令第14条规定了种植园主如果向投资方借款开垦的话，必须到警察局登记。其次，法令第41、42、43条规定了种植园主向投资方提供甘蜜与胡椒产品以及投资方向种植园主提供大米给苦力时，港主需允许投资方对甘蜜、胡椒与大米收取一部分佣金，但同时也要督促投资方提供足额苦力，并且港主要对种植园主提供给投资方的甘蜜、胡椒数量与价格进行登记。再次，法令第66、68条分别规定了投资方收购产品时的利润（20%），以及种植园主通过提供胡椒、甘蜜作债务扣减的偿还登记模式。最后，法令第18条还规定了种植园主在无抵押债务（mortgaged）时可自由出售产品，而文中其他条款的投资方通常是用受抵押人（mortgagee）来称呼，由此推想，在有债务关系时，种植园出售的产品通常是已经被抵押给投资方，并只能做定向销售，而无自由寻找买家的可能。
从这些法律规定的关系中，我们可以看出整个种植园的运作是相对独立于港契的另外一套制度。其中提供资金和参与开垦的人都未必是港契股东或港主，而是一些意图开拓种植园的拓荒者向投资方融资，并由投资方提供资金和苦工，然后由种植园主（拓荒者）通过日后的产品来逐步偿还债务。港主在这里的主要作用是监督这种体系的良好运作，并从产品的进出口中收取一定的费用（法令第76、77条）。
通过这种债务关系，投资方实质上控制了大部分出口的胡椒与甘蜜，并掌控了整个种植园经济的核心产品。Trocki认为，这些被称为头家（Taukeh）的投资方，通常是身在新加坡的资本家，并且联合组成了椒蜜公局（Kongkek）。
椒蜜公局的历史目前尚未有系统的研究，但从一些零星的材料中还是可以窥见其大致发展历程，在此特引用其中三个材料来试图说明一些关键问题。第一个材料是《港主法令》第67条，其中提到，如果种植园主与投资方就度量货物的准确性有争议的话，港主需要介入调查并把货物交给椒蜜公局，由存放在椒蜜公局的政府度量衡来决定，如果还是无法解决就提交给政府指定的胡椒、甘蜜包税商那里再做度量。从这里可以看出椒蜜公局有统一度量衡的作用。第二个材料是1877年3月3日The Strait Times中的一篇描述柔佛种植园的文章（标题为：The Plantation of Johore），其中提到了从各港出口的甘蜜与胡椒在运抵柔佛新山或者新加坡的目的地后，需要将港主或税收官签发的船票递交到椒蜜公局办公室，然后确定重量并以此计算货款与税收，并且如果没有椒蜜公局的同意，甘蜜、胡椒将无法卸货。从中可见椒蜜公局在这个产业中处于核心管理地位，而且文中提到陈旭年因为丧失甘蜜包税权而移居新加坡后，组成椒蜜公局的头家（因为陈旭年给他们提供资本）也随之离开新山，进而造成了部分货物的卸货地点由此改为新加坡，这种行为造成了头家与柔佛王公之间的对立。第三个材料在某种程度上也与这种对立有关，根据黄佩萱为其曾祖父黄亚福所著的传记，在19世纪80年代，阿武峇卡利用了崛起不久的广府人黄亚福渗透进椒蜜公局，进而打破了潮州人对这一领域的控制。
综合上述分析，椒蜜公局及其成员在19世纪晚期的柔佛，掌控着柔佛甘蜜、胡椒种植业的资本供给与货物流转，是这一支柱产业的有力控制者，这种地位一方面在政府的法令中得到了一定程度的支持与维护（例如法令中对投资方权利的规定），另一方面也难免为政府所顾忌，并产生微妙的对立关系。而随着黄亚福势力的兴起，柔佛政府也开始有意利用广府人的资源来分化椒蜜公局的势力。
不同于潮籍人士与甘蜜、胡椒种植业的密切关系，黄亚福势力的兴起，主要依靠建筑业的发展。而柔佛政府在19世纪60年代后对新山基础市政开发的大力投入，则为建筑业的发展提供了极佳的契机。后来的历史证明，这股以黄亚福为代表的广府人势力，极大地影响了19世纪70年代后柔佛社会的发展，他们于1878年建立了柔佛新山第一家地缘性组织——广肇会馆，1911年成立育才学塾，1913年联合潮籍人士建立无籍贯限制的华人学校——宽柔学校。而到了1919年，正如本文开头所述，代表宽柔学校的广府人黄羲初，在义兴公司解散时，更是成功地在与椒蜜公局的竞争中，为宽柔学校获取了义兴公司遗留的2万元存款。
义兴公司在19世纪的柔佛扮演了重要角色。当19世纪40年代天猛公易卜拉欣开始发展柔佛时，新加坡义兴公司（或称义兴会）就有计划地往柔佛转移成员并开拓甘蜜、胡椒种植园。其中1844年被授予柔佛历史上第二张港契的陈开顺，便是义兴公司的“侯明义士”。此时的柔佛义兴公司还只能说是新加坡义兴公司的一个分部，但作为总部的新加坡义兴公司却在接下来的几十年内不断分裂与衰落，到了19世纪60年代的时候已经风光不再。Trocki认为，这种分裂与衰弱，与上文提及的大包税联盟以及甘蜜、胡椒头家的兴起有关，因为义兴公司最初是一个由劳工或生产者组成的组织，而随着阶级的分化，其中上层的资本家越来越靠向殖民地政府，从而逐渐边缘化甚至罪犯化（criminalization）了义兴公司，并导致了它的分裂与衰落。
可见，当《港主法令》于1873年制定时，曾经作为总部的新加坡义兴公司已经衰落。而柔佛的情况似乎相对特殊，因为根据现有的材料，柔佛义兴公司既没有遇到其他会党的挑战，也没有出现内部的分裂。所谓“独尊义兴”的法令第13条就是在这种背景下产生的，它的英文译本为：“A Kangchu may not start any Society other than the Ngi Hin in accordance with the provisions of the Order issued in the time of the late Ruler”其中需要特别注意的是结尾部分提到的“the late Ruler”，其目的似乎是为政府保留了将来对这一条款再做解释的权力。除此之外，法令全文再无他处提及义兴公司，对此我们只能根据其他条款来推测义兴公司在港主制度中的作用。如表1与表2所归纳，《港主法令》有大量条款在处理港主行政管理的义务及权利，其目的实质上是与柔佛政府试图通过《港主法令》来管制华人社会有关。而如果没有《港主法令》的这些条款规定，在港主辖区，华人社会事实上也已经发展出了自治的能力（这也是为何《港主法令》颁发之前，华人已经在柔佛成功开辟很多条港的原因），而华人公司就是华人社会组织自治的选择之一。但是《港主法令》的颁布却使这种自治的空间大为受限，并使包括义兴公司在内的华人自治组织的运作与发展受到管制。
而且从事后看来，法令也没有彻底保障义兴公司在华人社会的领导地位。就在这部所谓“独尊义兴”的法令颁布后不久，以黄亚福为代表的广府人就在柔佛新山组建了该地第一家华人地缘性组织——广肇会馆。广肇会馆的确不是会党，但至少在当地广府人和肇庆人中扮演了曾经由义兴公司扮演的部分角色，并且将会在柔佛的商业与社会中发挥越发显著的作用。
五 结论
在华人海外移民的历史中，柔佛乃至新加坡都是晚近才兴起的移民目的地，但它们发展迅速。柔佛自19世纪40年代开港以来，在短短几十年间，便由华人和当地政府合作发展出了一套复杂的商业与社会制度——港主制度。
对于这套制度，仅仅凭借《港主法令》和有限的几份英译文书，我们还无法理解其全貌。但是通过法令，我们至少可以看出，柔佛政府在19世纪晚期，开始力图介入之前由华人自治的商业与社会，其重点当然是规范港主的行政管理职责，但同时也对港主体系中至关重要的垄断特权包税制度以及投资人与种植园主的关系做了必要规定。客观看来，这些规定在事实上进一步促进了商品、特权及资本交易的规范化与标准化，并加速了华人资本主义在当地和新加坡的发展。这种发展与同时中国自身经济的艰难转型相比，最大的一个特点就是其经济基础是一种高度商品化的种植园经济，其与生俱来的对市场交易的敏感与熟悉，使柔佛地区能够在短短几十年内就发展出一整套高度资本化运作的商业和社会制度。
除了商业发展之外，华人各方言群体之间的族群关系也不容忽视。《港主法令》似乎在这一领域采取了融合策略，例如文中只出现过华人（Chinese）或马来人（Malay），而无任何方言群体的称呼。而例如港主负责华人婚姻、出生及死亡登记的义务（第30条）以及港主保护马来人和华人免受伤害和压迫的义务（第71条）等具体的规定，似乎也在无意间促进了“华人”这个概念在当地不同华人方言群体中推广。而以黄亚福为代表的广府人的崛起，尽管对原先由潮州人主导的种植业带来一定程度的冲击，但事后看来也没有造成族群关系的过度紧张与冲突。到了20世纪初，正是广府人和潮州人合力推动，才建立了以华语为教学语言的宽柔学校。
最后，义兴公司在19世纪晚期的角色的确不容忽视，其对当时华人社会的深刻影响，至今仍可以从目前尚立于新山华人义山的一座座“氵月”墓碑上隐约显现。但是单纯就《港主法令》而言，义兴公司虽然由此获得某种程度的特许，但同时也因为政府在港主体系中所强化的管制力度，而受到更多的限制。不过这种一扬一抑的制度安排，对于新山华社来说则未必不是一件幸事，因为这种制度通过限制港主创设新的会党，从而避免了类似新加坡义兴公司衰落期所出现的不同派系与会党之间的暴力冲突，并进而确保了柔佛华人社会在义兴公司逐渐退出的几十年间未出现严重的“私会党”问题。由此看来，与其将该法令视为“独尊义兴”，不如认为该法令为义兴公司的“安然离场”预设了舞台。
附录一 《港主法令》
The law, that is regulation, governing all Kangchus in Johore.
These regulations have been made with the approval of His Highness the Maharaja of Johore and all Members of Council and come into force in the year 1290. They are to serve as information to all persons affected and to the people in the town of Johore Bahru and its environs and districts.
1. All persons who have been appointed Kangchus or who wish to become Kangchus or their deputies or attorneys must come forthwith to the State Police and enter their names in the register kept by the Proper Officer. The Officer in question may collect fees from them before entering their names in his register.
2. Any one appointed as Kangchu will receive from the Raja two canes and a spear, to be called the Rotans and Spear of the Kangchu and they will be his insignia to be kept in his house and that house will be called the Kangchu's House.
3. A Kangchu cannot transfer his title even to one of his own family except with the authority of His Highness the Maharaja. of Johore or his representative.
4. If a Kangchu or his family die, the relatives must obtain the right to administer over the rights and all goods and chattels.
5. If a Kangchu wishes to pay a visit to China, he must appoint a. a. deputy and when making such an appointment he must give preference to members of his own family though he may appoint outside it if the family concur.
6. In cases in which there is a“river document”in respect of which no Kangchu has been appointed, the holder must go to the office of the Registrar in the Police Office of Johore and apply for a certificate appointing some member of his family as Kangchu and pay the fee for the Certificate of appointment prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore. The canes and spear will be given with the certificate.
7. Any one who becomes the deputy of a Kangchu must obtain a certificate from His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative and pay the prescribed fee. Such certificate shall be termed the certificate of a deputy Kangchu.
8. If any Kangchu delays in applying for or taking out his certificate, he may be punished or fined as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representàtive and for such period as prescribed.
9. Every Kangchu must carefully oversee all owners of gambir and pepper plantations within his jurisdiction and instruct them to cultivate in a proper manner and keep their plantations clean. They must visit and inspect the plantations once a week or once in two weeks.
10. A Kangchu must enter all plantations in a register with the names of their owners and their“Chops”.
11. A Kangchu is expressly forbidden to keep convicts and others in the stocks for more than three days or to inflict more than six strokes of the rotan or to fine in excess of $10.
12. When a Kangchu wishes to erect a Big House at his Kangkar and to use planks or timber as materials he must first obtain from the Police Officer at Johore Bahru a certificate showing the nature of the house to be built, its breadth and its length and the name of the river, and the officer will enter it in his register charging a fee for the certificate only without forest—royalty.
13. A Kangchu may not start any Society other than the Ngi Hin in accordance with the provisions of the Order issued in the time of the late Ruler.
14. Every Kangchu must impress on all persons in his jurisdiction that when any of them wishes to open a new plantation and has contracted with a capitalist to advance the capital in return for a mortage over the plantation, they must before the money is paid over or the arrangement completed both go to the State Police and have their names and all details of the proposed contract recorded before the contract is executed; thus both parties will be safeguarded from trouble in the future.
15. Kangchu must watch and inspect all pepper plantations in their jurisdiction and forbid the captains of the river boats to accept inferior gambir or pepper.
16. Kangchus must inspect all lang unfelled for gambir or pepper planting so that if any one wishes to open a new plantation they may show the boundaries and thus prevent future quarrels and disputes.
17. The Kangchus must order any coolies on a gambir or pepper plantation who are in debt to the owner of another plantation within their jurisdiction to return to their creditor, if such coolies go to another jurisdiction the Kangchu of that jurisdictiong must send them back to their creditor upon request.
18. A Kangchu must allow the owners of all gambir and pepper plantations who have not mortgaged their holdings to sell their products where they please.
19. It is important that Kangchus should be able to recognise gambir and pepper of good quality. Good gambir is dry, hard and free from all impurities and twenty five balls of wet gambir will be equivalent to a one kati ball of dry; any gambir lacking the characteristics mentioned is inferior gambir.
20. When a Kangchu or his family wish to farm out the river dues they must inform the Proper Officer of the Johore Police in order that he may record the names as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
21. If a Kangchu or his family wish to sell their rights they must inform His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative and the purchaser must pay the prescribed fee for registering his name and also pay a duty of one percent of the purchase price.
22. If a reverue officer or other officer from the opium Department brings a warrant of arrest and seeks the assistance of a Kangchu in cases of suspected possession of illicit opium of liquor within the Kangchu's area the Kangchu must assist him and arrest the man and seal the place in which the illicit opium or liquor is kept and open it before the Judge of Johore.
23. When a warrant is issued from the State Police Office for the arrest of anyong within the area of a Kangchu, he must show the wanted man and similarly in the case of sub poenas and other processes issued by the Police.
24. Any planter who has mortgaged his plantation and is pressed for money may pledge his gambir and peoper to a Kangchu at so much a pikul and when the product in question are exported the Kangchu may prove his claim against the pledged products in order that the mortgagee may pay him.
25. If a Kangchu has made an arrest in accordance with these regulations and cannot send the arrested man to Johore Bahru owing to the distance or the want of facilities he shall hand him over to the nearest police station to be sent in and shall hand over all the reports and complaints to the officer-in charge to be sent with the man.
26. In cases of theft and homicide and wounding and in cases of homicide and arson and so on and in cases of mischief to gambir or peoper plantations, a Kangchu may arrest on his own warrant and have the offender placed in the stocks.
27. In cases in which a planter sells his estate and then mischievously damages the trees or the house or the（gambir）cauldron and its furnace or molests the new holder the Kangchu must arrest him and hand him over to the State Police.
28. In the case of the occurence within the jurisdiction of a Kangchu of any serious crime such as homicide or stabbing or piracy or robbery the Kangchu must make the fullest investigation and record in his register in full the origin of the trouble and on such an occasion the Kangchu must not delay action for more than six hours and he must send the persons responsible together with the witnesses to the State Police.
29. As regards proceedings under section 19（?）before passing sentence or ordering a fine a Kangchu must fully investigate and record in his register the name of the complainant and the accused and the names of all their witnesses and the offence proved if any, and must record the fine or other punishment ordered.
30. Kangchus should take cognisance of all proposed marriages of Chinese in their jurisdiction and the parties or their aagents and relatives should go to their Kangchu and report and answer truly all questions put by the Kangchu as to their intentions and the Kangchu must keep a record in his register. A similar procedure should be followed in the case of deaths and birth.
31. If there are any disputes or quarrels about the boundaries of estates or jungle lands and the Kangchu cannot settle them or, more especially, if the two parties are not willing to accept a decision from the Kangchu, he must at once go to Johore Bahru and see the Engineer-in-charge and may request him to go himself and settle the matter and decide the disputed point.
32. If a Kangchu has not time to go to Johore Bahru he must at once write a letter, placing his“chop”thereon and give it to the disputing parties and send them to the Engineer abovementioned. Any costs incurred in the matter shall be payable by the party in default.
33. Kangchus should weigh all gambir and peopper exported whenever the boats sail, that is every month, and must give a certificate to the owner of the products and another to the person who has“farmed”the export duty and state in the certificate the amount sent in the specified boat and certify that it has been weighed with correct scales.
34. Kangchus should make in their registers copies of all certificates issued under section 33.
35. Kangchus must investigate all disputes and quarrels between owner of estates and their mortgagors as regards the weighing of gambir and pepper and rice and other goods or as regards their price and similarly with other goods in common use among planters.
36. Gambir and pepper vessels and boats in a Kangchus jurisdiction must be compelled to take out a certificate and allowed to carry it on their bows.
37. Owners of such vessels should be forbidden by the Kangchu to accept any gambir and pepper bearing a chop which has not been registered in the Proper Of fice.
38. Kangchus must instruct the owners of such vessels to keep a register and record the owner's name and the extent and the estate name or chop of all gambir and pepper estates and they must record the date of leaving the river and date of arrival at their destination.
39. Crews of gambir and pepper vessels may on no account buy any gambir or pepper except such as is required for their personal use.
40. Kangchus must carefully watch for cases of gambir or pepper being smuggled out of the river in unauthorised vessels and, if they discover any such case, they must assist the persons responsible and seize the gambir and pepper and hand them over forthwith to the State Police.
41. Kangchus must allow mortgagees of gambir and pepper plantations to charge the estate owners a commission of 30 cents a pikul of rice supplied by them and similarly the estate owners must pay an extra 5 katis on each pikul of gambir and pepper.
42. Kangchus must insist on estate-owners keeping a pass-book. In it they must record all goods received from or delivered to the mortgagees and the price per pikul.
43. Kangchus must inspect estates in their jurisdiction and if they find any estate without coolies or short of coolies they must inform the mortgagee and instruct him to replenish the labour-force in order that the estate may be kept in good condition.
44. If any one in a Kangchu's jurisdiction wishes to open a gambir or pepper estate or to sell or transfer an estate or charge it for debt or mortgage it, the Kangchu must instruct both parties to enter the transaction in the register of the Proper Officer at Johore Bahru. The parties must produce the transfer or other instrument and set their hands to it in the presence of the Proper Officer, who will then record it in his register.
45. When in the case of an estate held in partnership, any one wishes to sell his share, he must first inform the Kangchu and obtain his permission and the Kangchu shall impress his chop on the transfer.
46. If an estate-owner owes money to a kangchu and dies or absconds, aban doning his estate, or otherwise disappears, the Kangchu must inform the Head of the Treasury and the Head of the Treasury shall value the estate. If it has been sold and the price paid, then if there is any unsatisfied judgment against the estateowner, the Kangchu shall pay the amount into Court and similarly if there is a suit and an attorney has been appointed.
And as regards coolies employed on the estate, the Kangchu may receive$50 towards the debt if they are in debt, and similarly must pay the mortgagee and if there is any balance and there are other debts, the Kangchu must distribute the balance as far as it will go, and the Kangchu may receive his own debt and if there is still a balance the Kangchu must hand it over to the Treasury for safe-keeping or payment to any genuine claimant.
（N. B. —I have made when I can of Section 46 but the text is evidently corrupt. Essentially it is clear that when an estate was insolvent, the Kangchu was to act as a sort of Official Receiver.）
47. If any estate owner has contracted for consideration received to mortgage his estate and fails to execute the mortgage, the Kangchu must investigate and send the parties to the State Police for a decision and similarly if the party paying money fails to have the agreement put into writing the Kangchu must report at once in order that the State Police may decide what is fair to both parties.
48. When a Kangchu buys opium or liquor from the State Opium Office or from any opium shop he must enter details of the transaction in his register, similarly in the case of sales by him to persons in his jurisdiction.
49. A Kangchu must inspect in every case when people receive passes to cut timber or saw planks and so on in his jurisdiction.
50. When any one in a Kangchu's jurisdiction kates up jungle land and opens a new plantation or extends an existing one, he must first report to the Kangchu in writing in order that his name may be entered in the register.
51. Kangchu must watch persons holding passes such as are mentioned in section 49 and see that they work not more than 50 fathoms from the boundary of the estate. If any one infringes this regulation the Kangchu must detain him pending receipt of instructions from Johore Bahru whither he must send a report.
52. Persons such as are mentioned in section 50 may be restrained by the Kangchu if their plans will involve a breach of these regulations. No one may be restrained from cutting timber in jungle which is surrounded by gambir and pepper plantations or fruit orchards.
53. If timber cutters or plank surveyors have no way by which to bring out their timber or planks without traversing a plantation or orchard in a Kangchu's jurisdiction, the Kangchu shall grant them passage. He must first inform the owner of the land in order that the owner may let them through.
54. When woodcutters or plank surveyors such as are mentioned in section 49 wish to buy opium or liquor, the Kangchu must sell to them at a lower price than to planters and others in his jurisdiction in accordance with rules prescribed by His Highness Maharaja of Johore for each bowl of liquor in section 49 and each kati of pork（?）.
55. Timber cutters and sawyers may not be arrested for gambling among themselves in their own camp. An offence will only be committed if they admit outsiders or planters.
56. There must be a Malay policeman in every kangkar and he shall obey all proper orders of the Kangchu but policeman must be a man of good character and reliability and intelligence to be appointed on request by the Commissioner; a Kangchu may not select his policeman himself.
57. A Kangchu must pay the wages of the policeman mentioned in section 56 and supply his necessary expenses and food each month at the usual rates in force among Kangchus in Johore.
58. The Kangchu must obtain the policeman's uniform from the Commissioner and apply for a new uniform every six months and must pay the cost in accordance with the rates prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore.
59. Once in every four months a Kangchu must send a report to the Mayor of Johore.
60. If a Kangchu wishes to have a theatrical performance in his Kangkar he must obtain a licence from the State Police, such licence will hold good for 15 days only. Fees will be payable as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
61. Kangchus with a large or a small kangkar must……as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
62. All revenue such as is mentioned in section 61 must be handed over to the Mayor of Johore once in four months.
63. Kangchus must pay fees for each registration—certificate and number plate and flag of a gambir and pepper vessel once a year as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
64. Kangchus must pay yearly fees for each opium or liquor licence and for each notice board for an opium or liquor or pork shop and also dues for gambling saloons and pork shops as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
65. Kangchus must instruct owners fishing boats in their jurisdiction to take out yearly licences and number plates and pay for them such fees as prescribed by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
66. Kangchus must instruct all owners of gambir and pepper estates to allow their mortgagees 20% profit on all goods supplied by them, the percentage to be calculated on the prices of importing houses or the prices telegraphed to them weekly.
67. If there is a dispute or quarrel between the owners of gambir and pepper estates and their mortgages as regards the correctness of the scales of the mortgagees, the Kangchu must fully investigate the matter and send the goods to the Kongkek to be weighed on the Government scales provided for the Kongkek and if either party is dissatisfied with the weighing of the Kongkek the gambir and pepper must be sent to the person who farms the duty on gambir and peopper to be weighed in the Government scales provided for him and when the matter has been decided whichever party, whether the estate owner or mortgagee or Kongkek is found to be in the wrong, a fine or other punishment may be inflicted on him in accordance with the regulations of His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative.
68. When an estate owner sends gambir or pepper to his mortgagee he should ask the mortgagee to deduct the price from his debt and the Kangchu must so inform the mortgagee in order that he may fulfil the request of the estate owner so far as may be just.
69. A Kangchu must keep clean his Kangkar and the roads and boat-sheds and Big House and forbid pig-rearers to allow their pigs to roam about instead of being kept in a pen and must keep in repair all bridges in the Kangkar and so on.
70. Kangchus must be cognisant of all valuable articles exported from their jurisdiction such as tin ore and minerals or gold and so on and similarly with all useful and fruitful agricultural products which may be profitable to the Raja.
71. Kangchus must look after any occasional Malays or Chinese who live temporarily in his area, seeking their living and see that they do not suffer any mischief or oppression.
72. Kangchus must arrest any convicts who have escaped from Johore or Singapore prisons and forthwith hand them over to the State Police.
73. Kangchus must look after persons suffering from want or hunger and if they have no means to go to their destination or wish to return home, Kangchus must assist them in attaining their purpose.
74. A Kangchu must know the fees payable by him monthly and yearly as shown below.
75. A Kangchu is allowed to sell opium, liquor and pork and to run gambling saloons and hold the pawnshop monopoly within his jurisdiction.
76. A Kangchu may receive as revenue, fees on account of the vessels exporting gambir and pepper at the rate of 12 cents a pikul and at the same rate on rice imported.
77. Instead of the fees payable on account of vessels, a Kangchu may when gambir or pepper is taken out of his jurisdiction by land charge a fee of 6 cents a pikul.
78. Fees collected in accordance with sections 76 and 77 must be shared with the men of the vessels in accordance with the custom prevailing.
Authorised fees.
（1）One suit of policeman's uniform i. e. trousers, coat and cap, as mentioned in section 58—$6.00.
（2）Theatre—licence as mentioned in section 60—$12.00.
（3）Fee payable to the raja on each large Kangkar as mentioned in section 61—$3.00.
（4）Fee payable on each small Kangkar—$1.50.
（5）For each registration and number plate of a gambir and pepper vessel as mentioned in section 65—$2.00.
（6）For each flag on such vessel—$3.00.
（7）For each opium licence as mentioned in section 64—50 cents.
（8）For each notice board for opium shop—$1.00.
（9）For each liquor licence as mentioned in section 64—50 cents.
（10）For each notice board for liquor shop—$1.00.
（11）For each pawn shop licence—$1.00.
（12）For each pawn shop notice board—$1.00.
（13）For each licence for gambling saloon—50 cents.
（14）For each board containing a list of royalties on gambling—$1.00.
（15）For each licence and number plate for a fishing boat as mentioned in section 65—$2.00.
79. Any Johore Kangchu who transgresses against or disobeys the regulations hereby enacted shall be fined for a first offence up to $100.00, for a second offence up to $500.00 and a third offence up to$1, 000.00 and for a fourth offence may be dismissed or degraded as may appear right in accordance with the view and decision of His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative and the nobles and members of Council.
（N. B. —The figures $100.00, $500.00 and $1, 000.00 in the above section are written in pencil in my copy with a query mark against each. One gathers that they represent blanks in the original）.
80. A Kangchu subject to these regulations, in carrying out bis duties must behave himself correctly and show courtesy and justice and if any of them breaks the laws of the land by conspiring to do mischief or injustice or malicious acts and so on or does any act injurious to the State or its denizens or subjects—on proof of such acts, they shall inevitably be treated as an offence by His Highness the Maharaja of Johore or his Representative and all the nobles and members of Council and justice shall be done to the offender.
81. When any estate-owner has been arrested by the police for any offence, his Kangchu may wait for two weeks and, if by that time he does not return or his case is not settled, the Kangchu must forthwith give written notice to the mortgagee of the Estate.
资料来源：A. E. Coope, “The Kangchu System in Johore, ”pp.252－261。
附录二 港主委任状
FIRSTLY—You are required to comply with all Our instructions Orders and laws both those now in force and those which may hereafter be issued—to carry them out yourself, to see that others carry them out and to enforce them—Fail not in this.
SECONDLY—You are required to avoid and prevent any matters we may prohibit and to enforce such prohibitions.
THIRDLY—You are required to safeguard all your people, Our subjects, and instruct them correctly so that they may work to their own profit and the advantage of their cultivation of pepper and gambir—and make yourself acquainted with all matters concerning that cultivation.
FOURTHLY—You are required to promote settlement in and development of your area and to arrange and settle the affairs of every one according to the authority you hold with justice and equity.
FIFTHLY—Whenever you may receive our order to appear before us, you shall come forthwith.
SIXTHLY—You are required to assist the Police and other Officials and to give effect to the orders of Our Government officials whenever they are in difficulties or require your assistance.
SEVENTHLY—You are required to assist to the utmost of your power anyone suffering oppression.
EIGHTHLY—You and your people are required to arrest and hand over the Police in Johore any escaped convicts.
NINTHLY—Be it known to Kangchus and to whoever who has shares in this river and to others that this“Kangchu Authority”may not be sold, or mortgaged or charged for debt—Such action will be absolutely invalid.
TENTHLY—The Kangchu may not delegate his powers to anyone, even a parther and much less anyone else to act as a Kangchu unless with the approval of Government for the Government will take cognisance only of those whose names are in the register as Kangchus and look to them.
ELEVENTHLY—You are here reminded regarding opium and spirits in your river that you may not allow the supply to fail. The Government require you to daily maintain such supplies of those commodities as may be sufficient for the use of the agricultural labourers in your river and those from time to time living in the Kangkar.
In case of any failure of supplies the blame will rest with you.
TWELFTHLY—In case of the death or departure（of the Kangchu）and whenever it may be desired to ask for a change of the Kangchu who has been given this authority in his name, it is requisite that this authority be returned to a Government Official in order that it may be exchanged for another.
THIRTEENTHLY—It is requisite that the Kangchu shall enquire and ascertain and record in a proper register all happenings and events and the number of plantations on the river in his area and the number of men on them in order to be able to render the information whenever the Government may require it.
FOURTEENTHLY—The Kangchu must always inspect the plantations and give orders to have them weeded and inform each Mortgagee in order that he may provide money to weed the mortgaged plantations. Do not be lax in this matter. If the weeding is delayed by owner's labourers and there is delay in the supply of money for weeding by the mortgagee, the Kangchu himself shall pay men, to do the weeding and call on the owner of the plantation to refund him such money as may be right—Should he not pay, take from the gambier and pepper exported from such plantation so much as may amount to the sum expended on the weeding and notify the mortgagee in writing of the matter.
FIFTEENTHLY—Receive and keep for yourself such profits as we have granted you all and divide them fairly amongst all who are partners.
SIXTEENTHLY—Those who do well will receive reward and those who do wrong will be held responsible for their faults and will receive punishment.
SEVENTEENTHLY—Be it known to you and to all men, no one may be called Kangchu unless he has been granted by us a letter so entitling him, in this form.
It is not incumbent on Us retain anyone in his position who acts contrary to our orders. This must be remembered.
May the Lord of All the Universe assist you.
Granted in on day 19
资料来源：A. E. Coope, “The Kangchu System in Johore, ”pp.249－251.
附录三 三份港契（surat sungai）、一份买卖文书（surat jual-beli）和一份包税文书（surat pajak）
JOHOR ARCHIVES DOCUMENTS
Given here are several examples of different documents used in the administration of the kangchu system. They include three different samples of surat sungai to show changes made in the general form over the course of time. Each is representative of the period in which it was produced. The surat-jual-beli and surat pajak, both being rather late developments, did not undergo the same evolution as did the surat sungai, thus there is only one example of each. The documents are given first in romanized Malay and then are followed by and English translation.
Surat sungai
Example a.
Source: SKMK-I No.1.
Tarikh kapada 1265 dan kapada dua puloh enam hari 26 bulan Ramadan hari Khamis jam pukul lapan delapan siang dan kapada masa ketika itu-lah kita Ungku Temenggong Serimabaraja memberi surat tanda keterangan kapada orang China yang hendak berkebun dalam tanah Johor, Sungai Sekudai.
Ya-itu name china Lau Lib Keng orang-nya 25 orang banyaknya. Dan perjanjian china itu dengan Ungku Temenggong: tiga tahun lama-nya tiada diambil dia punya chukai lepas daripada tiga tahun tiada boleh tiada china itu mesti bayar bagaimana adat yang di dalam Singapura yang di-buat oleh Kompeni bagitulah yang di-turut oleh Ungku Temenggong kapada segala orang china yang berkebun dalam tanah Johor ada-nya.
Example a. English translation.
Dated 1265 on the 26th day of the month of Ramadan（16 August 1849）, Thursday at 8 o'clock in the morning. At that time, We, Ungku Temenggong Sri Maharaja gave this license to the Chinese who wish to open plantations in the territory of Johor on the Sekudai River.
The name of this Chinese is Lau Lib Keng and he has 25 men. The agreement between this Chinese and Ungku Temenggong is that for a period of three years he will not collect his tax. After three years, these Chinese must pay it without fail according to the law of Singapore which has been passed by the Company［the East India Company］and which is followed by Ungku Temenggong in regard to all Chinese who are planters in the territory of Johor.
Example b.
Source: SKMK-I No.38.
Johor, Iskandar Putri, kapada 20 hb. Mubarram 1280.
Bahawa ini keterangan dari bawah kuasa Yang Maha Mulia Ungku Temenggong Abu Bakar Serimaharaja, Raja Johor kapada orang China yang hendak berkebun di-dalam tanah Johor. Nama-nya Goo Loon Hee. Ada pun kedudokan kebun2 ini di-Sungai Santi, Pengerang, ya-itu sa-belah kiri mudek Sungai Santi dan sempadannya dari tepi laut dan ka-hulu-nya melalui Sungai Baur ya-itu pada dalam sempadan hingga sampai sa-belah kiri Sungai Jelutong ada-nya.
Dan Goo Loon Hee hendak-Iah membayar chukai kapada Beta bagaimana adat yang Beta aturkan di-dalam tanah Johor. Bagitu mesti ia menurut dan membayar.
Sunggoh dengan nyata-nya serta ada-lah chap Beta termetri di-atas shatar ini ada-nya.
（signed）
Enche Wan Abdul Rahman ibini
AI-Mahrum Ungku Temenggong
Ibrahim Serimaharaja Johor
Example b. English translation.
Johor, Iskandar Putri,8 July 1863.
This is a license（granted）by the authority of His Highness Ungku Temenggong Abu Bakar Sri Maharaja, the Ruler of Johor to the Chinese who wish to open plantations in the territory of Johor who is named Goo Loon Hee.
The location of these plantations is on Sungai Santi in Pengerang. That is, the left bank of Sungai Santi, downstream, and the boundaries are from the edge of the sea up-river following Sungai Baur, which is the boundary, as far as the left bank of Sungai Jelutong.
And let Goo Loon Hee pay taxes to Us according to the laws which We have made in Johor and which he must follow and pay.
Truly and clearly, Our seal is affixed to this document.
Signature
Example c.
Source: SKMK-II No.13.
Di-perbuat dalam Johor Baharu kapada 16 Dzul'bijjah 1299.
Bahawa ini keterangan dari kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maharaja Johor yang memiliki keraja'an Johor serta daerah ta'alok-nya.
Di-kurniakan kapada Lim Hock See, Lim Tong Hock dan Ungku Abdul Majid mereka yang tersebut ini berkongsi masing2 dengan bahagian-nya saperti yang akan tersebut dalam surat ini. Maka di-benarkan kongsi yang tersebut ini memukul hutan dan membuat 100 kebun gambir dan lada hitam dalam perentah Johor Sungai Bukit Serampang ka-hulu-nya ya-itu dalam Muar kiri mudek yang bukan sempadan orang lain.
Maka hendak-lah kongsi ini serta orang yang dalam Bukit Serampang yang tersebut ini menurut segala hukum dan adat kita yang telah lalu dan yang akan datang atau keturunan warith ganti kita dan hendak-lah kongsi yang tersebut ini membayar chukai kapada kita atau keturunan warith ganti kita menurut bagaimana adat bayaran yang di-pakai dalam perentah Johor.
Dan lagi mana hutan dalam sempadan kongsi yang tersebut ini tiada di-pukulnya membuat kebun gambir dan Iada hitam setahun lama-nya boleh-lah kita membenarkan orang lain membuat kebun di-situ tiada-lah dapat kongsi yang tersebut ini menahan atau melarangnya.
Sebagai lagi larangan kita ka-atas kongsi yang tersebut ini tiada boleh ia menumbangkan segala kayu yang berguna saperti tempinas2, balau, keranji, darus2, keruing, dan sebagai-nya melainkan jika sangat menyusahkan atas kebun-nya.
Dan lagi apakala mati salah sa-orang yang tersebut dalam kongsi ini atau hendak berjual bahagian-nya atau hendak menembah rakan atau menyerahkan ka pada orang lain dapat tidak hendak hendaklah ia memberi tahu kita dengan sebenar-nya2 atau warith ganti kita.
Sebagai lagi segala kawasan atau sempadan atau tanaman atau kampong halaman atau ladang dan sawah orang Melayu yang telah sedia diam dalam kawasan yang di-benarkan kapada kongsi yang tersebut ini atau pencharian merek a saperti gaharu, getah, kayu minyak keruing, damar batu dan lain-nya bagaimana kebiasa'an mereka itu masok keluar tiada-lah boleh kongsi ini melarang atau menyakitkan atau merosakkan atau champor mulut sekali.
Ada pun keada'an kongsi ini sa-belas（11）bahagian ya-itu：
Lim Hock See
8 bahagian
Lim Tong Hock
2 bahagian
Ungku Abdul Majid
1 bahagian
Sunggoh dengan nyata-nya ada-lah di-meterikan chap kita di-atas sharat ini ada-nya.
Kerana Yang Maha Mulia Maharaja Johor
（signed）
Abdul Majid bin Ibrahim
Example c. English translation.
Done at Johor Baharu on 29 October 1882.
This is a true license done under the authority of His Royal Highness the Maharaja of Johor, Ruler of the State of Johor and its territories, granted to Lim Hock See, Lim Tong Hock and Ungku Abdul Majid, who have combined in a company, the shares of which are stated in this letter.
The aforementioned company is authorized to clear the jungle and to make 100 black pepper and gambier plantations in the State of Johor, in the area of Bukit Serampang and its upstream hinterland, which is located in the downstream area of Sungai Muar on the left bank, which is not the property of any other person.
And, in the event that the aforementioned company does not fell the jungle and begin planting within one year's time in the area that has been granted, then We may authorize another individual to open plantations there and this company cannot forbid it.
Furthermore, We forbid the company to fell valuable trees such as templnas, balau keranji, daru2, keruing and such like, unless they would otherwise cause a great hardship to the planters.
Furthermore, in the event of the death of any of the aforementioned, individuals in this company, or if there is any intention to sell, bring in additional partners or transfer this license to someone else, the company will inform Us, or Our deputy and receive authorization for such action without fail.
And furthermore, in regard to all areas, holdings, farms, villages, plantings, or rice flelds belonging to Malays who are already living in the area of the river which has been granted to this company, thses and their means of livelihood such as the collection of gaharu, getah, minyak keruing, damar batu and the like, and the freedom of these people to come and go on the river as is customary, shall not be forbidden, damaged, destroyed or interfered with in any way whatsoever by this company.
The distribution of shares in this company is as follows：
There are eleven（11）shares.
Lim Hock See
8 shares
Lim Tong Hock
2 shares
Ungku Abdul Majid
1 shares
Truly and clearly, Our seal is afixed to this document.
For His Royal Highness, the Maharaja of Johor
（Signature）
Surat Jual-Beli
Source: Buku Daftar Surat Jual dan Beli, Gadai dan Hutang 1284 －1301, No.22.
Bahawa ini Surat Jual-Beli.
Ketahuilah dalam Johor Baharu kapada 17 Ramadan 1290.
Maka ada-lah saya Tan Ah Tian mengaku dengan sa-sunggohnya dan menerima wang tunai banyak-nya $1, 000.00 ya-itu harga satu-bahagian saya dalam Sungai Redan bagaimana Surat Kongsi yang dikurniakan oleh Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maharaja Johor yang jadi kapada 15 hb. Ramadan tahun 1278, yang telah dengan kesuka'an dan keredza'an serta akal yang sempurna, berjual dan menyerahkan serta beri dan pindahkan satu bahagian milek saya yang tersebut itu kapada Tan Eng Tee yang tersebut.
Maka daripada hari ini telah berpindah-lah daripada nama milek saya yang tersebut dan menjadi hak empunya atau milek Tan Eng Tee yang tersebut itu dengan sa-benar-nya2.
Maka sunggoh-lah yang demikian dengan nyata-nya serta ada-lah saya Tan Ah Tiam yang tersebut menaroh tapak tangan saya di-bawah ini di-hadapan saksi yang hadzir.
Tapak Tangan Saksi
（not given）
Tapak Tangan yang Berjual
（signed）
Tan Ah Tiam
English translation
This is a Bill of Sale.
Be it known to all people present and otherwise.
Done in Johor Baharu on 8 November 1873.
That I, Tan Ah Tiam, do hereby truly acknowledge and receive the amount of$1, 100.00 cash, as the price for my one share in Sungai Redan according to the Letter of Incorporation which was granted by His Royal Highness the Maharaja of Johor, which was done on 17 March 1862, and with full willingness and consent, and with a sound mind, do sell and hand over, give and transfer, this one share, my property to Tan Eng Tee.
From this day it is transferred from my name and property and becomes the right and property of the aforementioned Tan Eng Tee with full authority.
Truly and clearly do I, Tan Ah Tiam, the aforementioned, afix my name below here in the presence of witheseses gathered here.
Signature of Witnesses
Signature of Seller
（Signature）
Surat Pajak Bahaglan Sungal
Source: Register Surat Pajak Bahagian Sungai 1290－1300, No.5.
Bahawa in Surat Pajak.
Di-perbuat dalam Johor Baharu pada 5 hb. Dzul'hijjah, tahun 1291.
Di-antara Ng Yong Hua dan Ng Yong Seng kuasa Ng Too Meng satu pehak dengan lain pehak ya-itu Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok. Maka di-antara kedua2 pehak yang tersebut telah bersama2 suka redza serta sudah mematutkan dan menurut pada diri masing2 kerana pajak sungai bagaimana tersebut di-bawah ini：
Pertama: Perjanjian Ng Yong Hua dan Ng Yong Seng kuasa Ng Too Meng yang tersebut, ada pun Sungai Pulai bagaimana yang tersebut dalam Surat Keterangan Sungai yang di-perbuat kapada 17 Muharram tahun 1270, yang telah di-kurniakan oleh AI-Marhum Ibrahim itu. Make daripada hari ini telah di-pajakkan oleh Ng Yong Hua dan Ng Yong Seng, kuasa Ng Too Meng yang tersebut, ya-itu jual, beli chandu, arak, babi, judi dan gadai dan lain-nya yang bergantong kapada sungai yang tersebut bagaimana yang di-dapati oleh segala kangchu di-dalam daerah Johor serta kekuasa'an-nya yang terima bagi segala kangchu kapada Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok yang tersebut.
Kedua: Perjanjian Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok kapada Ng Yong Hua dan Ng Yong Seng kuasa Ng Too Meng yang tersebut kerana pajak sungai yang tersebut di-atas ini, ia akan membayar kapada Ng Yong Seng dan Ng Yong Hua yang tersebut pada tiap2 sa-bulan $160.00.
Ketiga: Kedua pehak yang tersebut di-atas ini bersama2 suka menetapkan perjanjian pajak sungai yang tersebut dua tahun lama-nya daripada hari ini.
Ke'empat: Perjanjian Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok yang tersebut, ia akan memelihara sungai yang tersebut dengan sempurna-nya serta menjaga dan memeliharakan kebun2 gambir lada yang ada di-dalam-nya dan anak2 kebun yang tersebut dan memberi hutang chandu, arak dan lain2-nya bagaimana istiadat sungai dalam daerah Johor.
Kelima: Apakala sampai tempoh bagaimana yang tersebut di-atas ini, Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok mesti serahkan kembali sungai yang tersebut kapada Ng Yong Hua dan Ng Yong Seng yang tersebut dengan selamat-nya.
Ke'enam: Segala belanja bagaimana istiadat kangchu2 bagi sungai dalam Johor semua-nya atas Ng Ah Ling dan Ng Cheng Kok yang tersebut.
Ketujoh: Surat pajak ini di-perbuat dua naskah dengan semacham perkata'an tiada lebeh dan tiada kurang. Satu naskah terpegang kapada yang memajakkan dan satu kapada yang memegang pajak.
Sah-lah dengan nyata serta ada-lah kedua pehak yang tersebut menaroh tapak tangan di-bawah sharat ini di-hadapan saksi yang hadzir.
Tapak Tangan Saksi
（signed）
Abdullah bin Tahir
Tapak Tangan yang Memajakkan
（signed in Chinese characters）
Ng Yong Seng
Ng Yong Hua
Tapak Tangan yang Memegang Pajak
（signed）
Ng Ah Ling
Ng Cheng Kok
English Transiation
This is a Letter of Monopoly
Done in Johor Baharu on the 13th of January 1875.
Between Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng who holds the power of attorney for Ng Too Meng, the party of the first part, with the party of the second part, Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok. Between these two parties, with full consent on both sides, it has been agreed and fairly adjusted to lease the monopoly of the river as stated here below：
First: The agreement of Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng, power of attorney for Ng Too Meng, the aforementioned, who hold Sungai Pulai according to the River Document which was done on 20 October 1853, and granted by the Iate ［Temenggong］Ibrahim, is that from this day Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng, power of attorney for Ng Too Meng, the aforementioned, do give the monopoly，that is, for the selling and buying of opium, spirits, pork, gambling and pawnbroking, and so forth, which are attached to this river which are held by kangchu in Johor, together with all powers which are received by all kangchu in Johor, to Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok, the aforementioned.
Second: The agreement of Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok to Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng, power of attorney of Ng Too Meng, is that they will pay to Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng, $160.00 every month for the above-mentioned monopoly.
Third: Both the aforementioned parties have agreed to fix the period of this agreement at two years, starting from today.
Fourth: Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok agree to maintain the aforementioned river with perfection including watching over the pepper and gambier plantations located therein, together with the planters thereon, and will pay the taxes on opium, spirits and other things according to the River Laws of the Territory of Johor.
Fifth: When the above-stated time falls due, Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok must surrender the aforementioned river to Ng Yong Hua and Ng Yong Seng with security.
Sixth: All the expenses of kangchu as laid down by the laws governing kangchu on the rivers of Johor will be borne by Ng Ah Ling and Ng Cheng Kok.
Seventh: This monopoly agreement is made in two copies, both of which contain the same words, no more and no less. One copy will be held by the giver of this monopoly and one will be held by the holder of this monopoly.
Thus it is openly agreed by the two parties who have placed their signatures here below in the presence of a witness.
Signature of Witness
Signature of Giver of Monopoly
Signature of Monopoly Holder
资料来源：Carl A. Trocki, “The Johor Archives and the Kangchu System 1844－1910, ”pp.11－17.
The Primacy of Ghee Hin?
—Kangchu System and the Commerce and Society in the Late 19th Century Johor, 1862－1900
Xu Guanmian
（The Chinese University of Hong Kong）
Abstract: In the second half of the nineteenth century, the surging demand from an industrialized and expanding European economy created an enormous market for the tropical products from Southeast Asia. With the stimulus from this market, lots of Chinese immigrants moved to the tropical jungles of Southeast Asia to reclaim land for plantations. These immigrant communities formed various social structure and business models based on the different institutional and ecological context of their sojourning destinations. Among them, the so － called Kangchu system in Johor was an interesting case. In this case, the Chinese Kongsi organization, the Ghee Hin Kongsi, was legalized and incorporated by the Sultanate of Johor, and, therefore, became a foundation of local Chinese society. More and more, it is believed by the local Chinese that the Kangchu system was a system which recognized the primacy of Ghee Hin in local society. However, if we revisit the regulations on Kangchu, it is evident that it was not an institution to put the Ghee Hin Kongsi to the primate position. Instead, it was a decree to regulate the society and commerce of local Chinese communities. With these regulations, we can find that, in Johor, a distinctive Chinese society had formed based on a pepper and gambier planation economy. This society was highly commercialized and manifested many aspects that were far different from the contemporary Chinese society in China.
Keywords: Kangchu System; Gnee Hin Kongsi; Johor; Overseas Chinese
（责任编辑：王格格）