Antique Print Chinese Massacre by Van Schley (c.1740)

This 1763 print shows the terrible massacre of the Chinese that occurred in Batavia October 9th 1740. The print shows Dutch troops firing cannon into Chinese houses on the banks of Kali Besar, slaughtering people as they fled their burning homes and waiting in boats to kill those that sought escape in the river. It is estimated that some 10,000 Chinese were killed. The massacre was prompted by tales of Chinese atrocities following the death of 50 Dutch soldiers at the hands of enraged Chinese sugar plantation workers who were protesting government repression and declining sugar prices.