lives after they had hang'd there about thirteen or fourteen hours There are four Seasons of the year here tho' in a quite different time from ours For our Summer is their Winter and in September which was the time I was there it was their Spring-season Their Winters are cold and always foggy and misty but there is never any Frost or Snow Thus far will suffice to inform the Reader of the nature and customs of the Cape de Bona Speranza I proceed now with the continuation of our Voyage CHAP. III. The Author's departure from the Cape in the Ship called the Europa They met with a most violent Storm which held them four whole days about St. Maurice's Island Their arrival to the Streights of Sunda then to Batavia Description of the City and Castle and of the Government of them both Customs of the several Inhabitants there especially the Chineses Many Crocodils in that River they are called Caimans by the Inhabitants The Author present at the catching of several of them The manner of it Tygers Apes Coco-trees Mangoes Bislang Figgs AFter we had spent a pretty while here and were very well recovered from our late Affliction we prepared our selves to be gone in the Europa which by this time was come and ready to sail off again for Batavia and with the first fair Wind we set Sail and in the name of God we ran out of Tasel-Bay leaving only one English Fly-Boat behind us at the Cape which was come thither since we All that day and the next the same fair Gale continued which blew us along so briskly that on the next day we were got out of sight of Africa and came into the Main We had this brisk and fair Gale for eight days together which carried us merrily along beyond the Island called St. Maurice about which place men seldom fail of a Storm and bad Weather so that it was no small joy to us to have so fairly escaped it But alas our joy was soon palled and our security proved very deceitful while we foolishly took the measures of our safety more from the Climes and Latitudes we were in than from His Providence to whom the Winds and Seas are every where subject for when we least thought on 't the Sky darkned all of a sudden and such a Hurrican rose upon us as made us all tremble No sooner had it given us the first toss but our Ship out-did almost the noise of it with the dreadful cracks it gave insomuch that we expected nothing but to sink in the instant All the while the Clouds grew darker and darker and the Wind increased to that degree that we could not hear one another speak The Sea gaped so hideously that it could not be thought we should ever escape being swallowed up our Ship sometimes mounted on the top of a Wave plunged down with such a terrible force as it had been down a Precipice that we expected every moment to be overwhelmed with it And no sooner had we escaped one Gulph but we were raised up again to fall into another All this while what with the Sea dashing in upon us and what with the great Gaps that were in the Ship we were so full of Water that we were all forced to pump like Slaves for three days together all which yet was little enough I for my part who little thought to have been in any such employment yet was forced to fall to and stick to it for four hours together which would have been intolerable to me at any other time But on such occasions a Man doth not much stand upon Niceties And I do not remember that I was so much as tired with it for the hopes we had that God would still cast an Eye of pity upon us and relieve us out of our misery was now all the comfort we had left But the Weather still continued or rather indeed grew worse so that mounting our Ship up an end one of our Carpenters was toss'd out of his Cabin and had tumbled directly into the Sea had not one of the Sea-men luckily caught hold of him I tryed several places to get a little rest in and amongst others I got in by some Sheep that we had brought from the Cape with us which I found almost dead never a one of them being able to stand on its Leggs Not finding my self safe there without holding fast by the Boards which was very tiresome work I went to the Gunner's Room where the Surgeons Chests always lye to try to get into a Hammock But all the Chests there were turned topsie turvy and in such a confusion that I could not get to the place I designed for 'em so I sate me down But I had not been there three minutes but I heard a low broken voice just breathing out the Name of God at which being mightily surprised I looked and found our Provost an old Man lying under those Chests that were jumbled together and crusht to pieces with the vast weight of ' em I ran up to acquaint our Master who in the hurry took little notice of it only order'd some of the Men to throw him over-board which was immediately done without any formalities or so much as a Plank for we had no time to tye him to one as it is usual but over they threw him cloaths and all on It was now the fourth night that we had been in this condition and that we gave our selves for gone every moment of that time So we were all called to Prayers and every one got out upon Deck with much ado and held fast some by one thing some by another to hear our Minister who very earnestly sent up most devout Prayers to Heaven that God would in his mercy deliver us or if it were his good pleasure to receive our poor Souls unto himself To those who are altogether strangers to the Sea the Affliction we were in is altogether unconceivable and for my own part tho' I have been oftentimes in great dangers by Sea and by Land and upon many occasions have with Courage enough stood before the Enemy yet did none of these dangers ever terrifie me comparably to this where death doth not only seem sure and inevitable but comes attended with all the Horrour imaginable and drest in its most hideous and terrifying shapes But by how much the greater our danger was so much the more admirable was the power and goodness of God towards us For on the fourth day in the morning the Winds fell the Air became serene and the Sea calm which restored us all as it were to life again We then as in duty bound first fell to praising of God whence our help came and with Hymns and Psalms to rejoyce in him for his goodness and our miraculous deliverance After which we went to set things to right about us and to mend our tattered Ships To this purpose we put all the heavy Cannon on one side of the Ship to raise
another so that whatever they get between them they bite clear through They are about 20 or 24 Foot in length and they keep about the Ships in hopes of Prey but are much more frequent in the Indies than in the Way where they do abundance of Mischief among the Seamen when they go to swim as we afterwards found when we came in the Road near Batavia where one swimming at a distance from the Ship a Shark came up to him and drew him under Water and we never could hear of him more or so much as see any remnant of him which made all the old Seamen wonder who said They never knew a Shark take any more of a Man than a Leg or it may be a good Part of the Thigh with it But for this Man we did not perceive so much as the Water bloody Near Japara we had a Man who had lost a Limb by this means under our Hands to cure and he lived seven Days after it but at the end of that time he died being mightily tortured with a vehement Cramp Another time at the Isle of Onrust about eight Leagues from Batavia our Ship being layed up to mend something of the side of it the Carpenter going to do something to it about a Knee deep under Water had his Arm and Shoulder snap'd off I took him and bound him up but to no purpose for in less than three Hours time he was dead But now to return to my Purpose which is To give you an Account of our Voyage We had now been above eight Weeks at Sea and had had very favourable Winds in which time most of our Provisions of Brandy Cheese and Tobacco being consumed and the Heat daily increasing to which we must add That many were not used to such sort of Sea-Diet and that at last we could hardly get neither viz. Bacon as salt as Brine Gray-Pease half boyl'd Grout and stinking Water Our Ship became a meer Hospital so many fell sick The chief Distempers were the Dropsie the Bloody-Flux and Scurvey Upon this the sick were divided from the rest and had the Larboard side allotted them which is the side on the left-hand The Starboard was for the others Thus we continued our Course till we reached the Island call'd The Island of St. Paul which we left about 30 Miles off on the left-hand and steered our Course for the Cape of Good Hope After about seven days sail from the said Island of St. Paul with very little Wind the number of our sick increased daily and the distempers that now reigned most were the Scurvy and the Small-Pox which carried off almost all the oldest of our Men but the younger sort quickly recover'd Many were light-headed and ailed nothing more which was occasioned as I presume only from the excessive heat we suffer'd as we passed under the Line and came to the other side of the Globe In this dismal condition we went on our only hope being that we should not be long ere we should reach the Cape Bonne Esperance or the Cape of Good Hope But our hopes were strangely frustrated for we quite lost our course For the Snow fell so mighty thick as it is usual about Africa that our Men could not see one another the length of the Ship Then our Master gave Orders that one should go up the Main Top-Mast head and keep strict watch because we were continually in expectation of coming to Land Early the next morning I got me above Deck and went to take my allowance of Brandy at the usual place After which my Comrade and I who had been old acquaintance before we went to Sea and between whom an inviolable friendship was contracted we agreed to go and smoak our Pipes and fell into a chearful conference about our approaching Joy of setting our feet on dry ground While we were thus talking we heard of a sudden cry of Land Land which mightily increased our Joy little knowing after what manner we were drawing nigh to the Shore But we quickly saw our mistake when the Master upon this out-cry comes out and with death in his looks crys our Oh my poor Ship we are all undone At which we stood in amaze not knowing what to say or to take in hand to help our selves All this while the Ship was running violently to shore the Wind being very high and having no time to hand our Sails we were forced to cut the Gears upon which the Wind carried off our Sails over-board with such a violent noise that one would have thought Heaven and Earth were coming together While we were all running hither and thither in a miserable confusion the Ship begun to crack which made us all cry out with a loud voice to Almighty God to receive our poor Souls It is easie to imagine what a dismal condition we were in with the noise the Ship made and the crying and sighing that so many of us made for we were still 343 persons on Board and the Ship kept still cracking more and more till at last the After-part broke and the Sea beating in violently sunk our Stern in an instant None now expected to escape and we saw nothing but death round about us by reason of the depth of the Sea on one side and on the other the Shore so high that it was inaccessible Yet every body was willing to try what they could do and to prolong their lives as long as they possibly could We resolved therefore to leap into the Sea and if possible to make to Shore which was near enough to us if haply we might reach it But we foresaw it almost impossible to come to it by reason of its steepness and the violent beating of the Waves Thus recommending my self to Almighty God and having implored his pardon and assistance I committed my self to the Sea and strove with the utmost of my power to get to the Rocks I toucht them twice or thrice but the Waves carried me off again by this time some of our Company were got out safe and they could not help us any otherwise than by calling to us and advising us what was best to do which was no small help to those that swom for the directions they gave from the Shore was a great guide to those poor people who were still in the Sea and whom fear made so insensible and so hasty that they could not of themselves think to take the advantages they might have done had they been less terrified After I had been carried off again from the Rock so far that I had little or no hopes of ever recovering it again it pleased God that I was thrown on again and I luckily struck my hand into a claiy part of it and thus got safe to shore Seven more got out after me and 35 before so that 43 of us only escaped viz. the Master the Steers-man two Surgeons besides me three Carpenters the Cook 's men the Swabber the Gunner 22 Sea-men
up the other that the Carpenters might get at it to work which they went about immediately But the Calm did not last long enough for them to do half what we wanted We had a brisk Gale which was very fair for us it 's true but having so many Leaks unstopt we were forced to keep our Pumps going continually This Wind held us six days during which we passed the Latitude of St. Maurice and got in sight of St. Paul de Amsterdam which we left about sixteen Miles on the right off us and steer'd right upon Great Java whereof Batavia is the chief Town In all this time we had a great many of our Men sick and seven of them died and were cast over-board The Wind being so fair for us the allowance was large and there was no stint of any thing almost Yet we wish'd heartily to be ashore and the more for the sake of our Sick But we wanted more than a hundred Miles sail to the place we were to go to But by God's assistance we reach'd it beyond our expectation for by Sun-setting a Sailor cryed out Land which caused a sudden joy amongst us all and the Master straight presented him a Ducat or two Ricksdollers two Cheeses and a Bottle of Canary according to custom Upon this we fell to tricking up our selves painting our Long-Boat and Shalloop and making our Ship very fine We fastned our Anchors and made all preparations to go to Shore which was not now above forty Miles from us By the next morning we got within two hours sail of it but we over-shot it by above thirty Miles on the Westward of it so that we were forced to tack about to the East and after some days sail we came up to some small Islands that lye within five Miles of Great Java there we cast Anchor immediately hawl'd out our Boat and went on Shore to fetch some Coco's which we divided among the rest on Ship-board Three days after this we came into the Road of Sunda wherein a great many little Vessels came to us which they call Prawen which sail prodigious swiftly and brought with them several sorts of fruits as Coco's Pisang Figgs which are a long kind of Figg Eggs and such like Lastly On the last day of November we arrived safely at Batavia where we cast Anchor before the Castle having lost thirteen of our Men and about 20 sick still aboard Here we return'd God thanks for our safe arrival embraced each other heartily and discharged our Cannon very briskly After which the Master taking some company along with him went immediately to Shore to wait on the General who was the Heer John Speelman at that time Governour of all the East-Indies In the mean time the Fiscal came to our Ship to take a view of all the Men and to demand all their Letters After which the Men were landed and the Ship unladen The sick were put into the Hospital and those that were in health marched in good order into the Castle of Batavia where being drawn up before the Generals Apartment he came out to them and kindly bad them welcome and ordered the Major to divide them amongst the Militia but first they had three days freedom given them to rest and take their ease After which they were obliged to gather together every day without fail on a place appointed for them to exercise until they were well vers'd in it and made thorow-pac'd Soldiers of and fit to be sent on any Expedition to any part of the Indies For my part I went to Shore several times and diverted my self very well until I received an Order from the Surgeon general to take my Post in a small Fort about a Mile or somewhat less from Batavia where I found an Ensign two Serjeants two Gunners to eight Pieces of Cannon and sixty private Soldiers I was mighty well pleased with my Station here the Place being very finely and advantageously situated with the Sea on the one side and a very pleasant River on the other which came down from Batavia upon which there were continually a great number of Prawen sailing to and fro with Chineses going to a certain place about half a Mile from thence where their Mosque is wherein they sacrifice at several times in the year to their Idol called by them Jasgin and by the Dutch Josic and there they perform all their Religious Ceremonies which are very diverting to a stranger to see As for Batavia the City and Castle are as well worth a description as they are a Man's sight And truly mine was ravisht with it for I must confess that I think them yet finer even than Amsterdam it self It is five or six Miles in compass The River Jacatra runs thro' most Streets of the Town and almost encompasses it Upon these Canals the Inhabitants have the conveniency of going in Boats to their Gardens and Pleasure-houses The sides of them is wall'd up with good square Stone and all along each side of it there goes a Row or two of fine Cedar Coco or Figg trees where the Free-men use to walk at night under a most pleasant Shade The Castle stands toward the Sea It hath four Bastions two of them to the Sea called the Ruby and the Pearl the other two to the City which go by the name of the Saphir and the Diamon It is in the whole exact square and from top to bottom built up with excellent good square Stone On each of these Bastions are sixteen half Culverins planted Besides this they are full of fine Trees such as Lemons and Mango's which makes them look most sweetly While I was there there was a third Gate built to the Castle which before had but two One of the Gates looks toward the Sea thro' which the Goods come in from the Ships into the Ware houses and it 's call'd the Water-Gate The other goeth into the City which therefore they call the City-Gate In the middle of the Castle is the Generals Apartment and over against it are the Houses of two of the Council-men The rest which are four more live in the City The Government of the Indies lies upon these six Men. The General 's Retinue is not very sumptuous He had but twelve Halbardiers drest much after the manner of our Yeomen of the Guard but in Red and Yellow One of these is always to stand Centinel an hour before his Chamber When he rid out he was attended by a Troop of Cuirassiers and a company of Foot-men and six Halbardiers But all this is nothing to his Revenue which exceeds that of several Princes of Europe There are in the Castle many other Inhabitants some of the chief Merchants some Assistants and Book-keepers also several Handycrafts men as Gun-Smiths Lock-Smiths Joyners and such like that are to be employed in any Military business The Soldiers have their standings under the Gates and on the Bastions Sometimes more sometimes less as they have occasion to send
did not much displease me but it was an Old Woman he told me and the Widow of an European Officer who had served the Company Hearing of her Age made me not so eager to see her as I was at first when he proffered to carry me to her But the very seeing of her disgusted me so much from Matrimony and my Friend that I never had a charitable thought of him ever after I thought at the first of her that it was an Ape of the larger size that had been the wonder and pastime of Mankind for some hundred years And asking him whether he thought me fit for nothing but the procreation of Baboons I left him in a mighty passion and would not so much as speak a word more about the matter When an European designs to marry any of those People He and the Woman must appear before the President of the Council and bring their Contracts which are to be drawn up and signed by a Publick Notary to him to have his consent to the consummation of the Marriage likewise a Memorial of the Goods of each of them must be shewed him and registred And when they have obtained leave the Wedding is generally kept about a fortnight after Besides that this baulk had turned my Stomach for some time against Matrimony I was not very much inclined to it because a Man is obliged to settle and spend his life in India For I had a design to be going further still and by the means of some Presents now and then to obtain leave to go to Japan For which purpose having made some close applications and used the means I mentioned just now I after some time had orders to get me ready to go thither on board the Ship called the Asia which was to go in a fortnight to Formosa and from thence to Japan So I went and provided my self with all necessaries for that Voyage it being no small one According to the Orders given we set sail in the Name of God on St. Steven's day with so fair a South-wind that by the next morning we were got three miles beyond the great Island Java and passed by the small Island Carousing The next day we saw the famous Coast of the Island Borneo and leaving that on the right and Temabo Tumbolan and Ananibo on the left we steerd our Course between them till we came into the open Sea of Paragoa where leaving China on the left of us we sailed directly upon Formosa But e're we could reach it we had very bad weather for some days and were in extream danger for besides that the Sea it self is one of the most dangerous by reason of the many Rocks there we went thro' one of the dreadfullests Storms that was almost ever known insomuch that we lost both Bolt-Sprit and Sprit-sail and one other Sail. As we were drove to this extremity our Master and Steersman advised together whether they should not make what way they could to an Island that lay on the right Hand and within sight of us to see if by that means we might not save the Men and Cargo So it was agreed upon that we should make thither with only our Mainsail But the night coming upon us before we could come near it we lost all hopes of safety for the Tempest increased with the darkness of the night and we were most of us in despair of our Lives and for my part I never was less fond of Travelling than at that time Yet my hope was that as God had often preserved me from Eminent dangers before so he would not forsake me then in this Condition Thus we Continued till near Morning when our Seamen conceived some hopes of attaining to Land and accordingly by break of day we discovered the Island Manilba within two Miles of us and by the help of the Light we made shift to weather the Gulf of Manilba which as soon as we were got into we gave God Almighty thanks for his great Preservation Here we resitted our Ship as well as we could expect and got a new Mast and in Eight days time we set Sail again with a fair wind Early in the morning so that by next day we left China on the left and the next Morning were in sight of Formosa whither we came on safe and cast our Anchors before the Fort called the Zealand Our Master went ashore and did all his business in a fortnights time during which time I was most upon Land but it being needless for me to give any Account of that place which hath been so Amply described by others I will wave it and pursue our Journey We set Sail again with a fair wind and sail'd for Three days along the vast Coast of China which we had still on the left of us and when we came before Cucheu we cast our Anchors and lay still Two days there And then continued our Course so that the next day we passed by the Island of Chanquoish and Steering between the Island of Fuego c. We in few days came before the City of Nangato where we again returned God thanks for having brought us thro' that dangerous Voyage Notwithstanding that our ship was so tattered and that we had lost 14 of our Men and had 20 sick among those of us that were left We were forced to leave our Chaplain behind us at Batavia for the Javians will not suffer any Nation to bring any of their Teachers along with them into their Territorys So that we were forced to make use of one of the gravest of our Company who was Assigned to read Prayers daily in the Ship and assoon as we came to cast our Anchors we had strict Orders given by the Master to hide the Book very carefully that had been used in the Voyage and to keep all other Religious Books close out of sight lest we should go in danger of our Lives if they should discover any of 'em about us CHAP. IX How forreign Ships are received and visited in Japan Women proffered to them for their use while they Stay Some of the Japonneses exceeding Nimble at shewing Tricks Strange variety of Birds in the Port of Nangato A Ship takes Fire by means of the Men drinking of Arack Account of the Manners Customs Religion c. of the Japonneses Departure from Nangato Near being Shipwreckt a going back to Batavia yet Arrive thither Departure thence again to Malacca and Achem with an Account of those Inhabitants and return again to Batavia VVE had scarcely dropt our Anchors before Nangato but we had some Japonneeses Boarding us with their Canows They visited our Ship from Top to Bottom by Order of the Emperor and according to their Custom secured all our Sails and all our Powder and Bullets dismounted our Cannon and took off some of the Principal Tackle of our Ship and carried them on Shore with them Thus they serve all the Ships that come thither and thus they had done to 3 or 4
will not permit them to be thrown so much as in the Water that is near them We had here such a Terrible Storm all on a sudden that if our Ship had not been well provided with Anchors and the Tempests lasted but a very little while it had certainly been lost For in that little while of four Anchors that we had we lost Two The English Ship I was just now speaking of foundered at that time 7 of her Men were drowned and the rest very hardly escaped The next day they refitted our Ship again during which time I had an opportunity of going on Shore again for three or Four days In that time there happened to come some Juglers to Nangato who shewed the finest and the most dexterous Tricks that I ever saw both of Legerdemain and of Activity of Body but of what they Showed of the latter an Instance or two will not be unacceptable One of these Fellows had a Bamboo Cane of about 6 foot length tied to his Middle and as he was Standing still another Fellow leaping on a sudden with his feet upon his Shoulders climbed up to the Top of the Cane and there lay'd himself out at length upon the Knob which was on the top of the Cane of about the bigness of a Goose's Egg stretching out his Arms and Leggs and whiring round 3 or 4 times The Man upon whom the Cane was tied fast walking all the while to and fro and never offering to touch the Cane with his hand After this there came a second who stood upon his head with his feet directly up in the Air and then a third came and got up and stood upon the Soles of his feet Then another set himself firm upon his Leggs and there came one of them and stood upon his head with his feet up in the Air. Lastly they took a Board all stuck with sharp Nails about two spans length over which a Fellow raised himself upon his hands so neatly that his head did not touch one of the Spikes These Tricks being somewhat extraordinary and far more surprising than what I have yet seen in Europe I thought it might not be amiss to give you an Account of them tho' I am sensible that some who think all Impossible which they have not seen will be apt to censure it rather than believe it This last time of my being ashore I chanced to come by one of their Religious Assemblys into which my Curiosity led me to go in hopes of seeing some strange Custom But there was nothing very peculiar There only came in one of their Priests who set himself down in the midst of the place and a great many People being gathered about him he made a kind of Sermon or Oration to them which I hearkned to very diligently but could not understand a word of what he said Nor would any one of that Assembly give me any answer when I asked them what it was that he had been saying to them but all went off like Mutes they do not at all care to enter into any discourse with Christians concerning Religion which I often attempted to bring them upon And indeed it is not safe for Christians to talk to them on that Subject as we had all sufficiently been Informed ' ere we came to Land here Yet I could not forbear to touch a little a upon 't sometimes with one particular Acquaintance I had got there who was a grave sober understanding Man And he would often express very favourable Sentiments of the Christian Religion and did not stick to tell me once fetching a deep sigh that he wished he could be at liberty to Embrace it but withal conjuring me not to discover him because it would cost him his Life if it was known that he had such a desire My time now grew short and I made haste to buy what I wanted but when I came to look about in their Shops and Ware-houses I was so Tempted with the sight of their Fine-works that I bought a great deal more than I at first designed to do What I bought tho' of the Finest-work I had exceeding Cheap Which was another Encouragement to me to lay out my Money These Work-men are but very poor as indeed all the Trades-men in the Country are Some of 'em do not live better than Beggers and a little Charity Transports them into such humble Acknowledgments that if at any time I gave any of 'em the value of Two-pence of our money I could hardly keep them from falling upon their knees before me to thank me There is no middle Rank of Men among them of any value even the Merchants being not lookt upon But on the other side their Gentry or Nobility are valued and Respected at a more than ordinary Rate And in their gate and behaviour one may observe such a Grandeur or rather Haughtiness as is scarce to be seen any where else Our Ship being now full laden with Copper Lacker'd work Jappan-money and other Commoditys the Japponeeses came again to us first to visit the Ship and then restored us all our Cannon Powder and Bullets and our Sails all which they brought us on Board again and the next day we set sail out of the Port tho' it snowed hard and the Wind was somewhat Rough. The next Morning we saw three Suns in the Heavens but the Brightness of the two unusual Phoenomenas the two seeming Suns was not comparable to that of the real Sun all three of them were seen within a large Rainbow The 2d 3d. and 4th day we failed by the Island Ximo and coming to a small Island of about 6 miles compass we cast Anchor to wait there for a Wind. Some our Men went on Shore and brought back some Eggs with 'em which Water-fowls lay usually about the Shore They were as large as Geese eggs and we found 'em extraordinary good The next day we went off with a good Wind 2 or 3 days after we were all of us Surprized to see something Floating and hundreds of Fowl upon it but coming nearer to it we found it was a vast big Fish cover'd with those Birds We found here but 18 or 20 fathoms Water so that we were dayly and continually forced to use the Plummet Till a fresh Storm came upon us which obliged us with all speed to hand all our sails The Tempest was so furious for a time that we thought no otherwise but we should have been swallowed up But God Almighty whose Compassions never fail towards them that call upon him faithfully was pleased to deliver us out of our distress by stilling the Winds and after some time we came to a small low sandy Island called Kruys Island where we dropt 2 of our Anchors In this stress of Weather we lost one Man who was Tossed off the Maintop Mast into the Sea The Billows carried him quite out of our sight else we had been obliged by our Sea Articles to have put out the long Boat
my self with all that was necessary for the Voyage Which being done I went on Board my Ship the Fleet being ready to go off and we should have set Sail the very nextday had not the Ekersloo one of our three Ships sprung a Leak which obliged us to stay while they took all the Goods out of her again and mended her which was a whole fortnight This done she had her Lading put in again and then we went under Sail with a favourable Wind and next day pass'd by the Isle of Lucapara and thus we continued our Course with good Success for about eight days But as it is almost impossible for two or three Ships to make so considerable a Voyage without some Lett or Misfortune the Ekersloo struck upon a Bank of Sand which frighted us all very much As soon as she gave us notice of it by firing a Gun for we were a good way before her but had happily Steer'd aside and miss'd the Bank we immediately set out our Shallops and went to her and found there was no Remedy but Unlading her which we did with all speed and bestowed the Goods partly on Board of our Ship and partly on the other It was a great happiness that the Wind was not very high else we could never have done this When all the Goods were out we made shift by means of casting Anchors to get her off the Bank and having examined her within and found she had no Damage done to her Keel we put the Goods on Board of her again and continued our Course thanking God we had escaped such a great Danger by the favour of the Wind which still continued good for us This happen'd to us in our Course to Tumbolan and Ananibo as we sailed between Borneo and Malacca from which in three days we reach'd the Island Matuna As we pass'd by it we saw some Ships before us which we concluded were Chinese Jonckers About night they pass'd by us directing their Course towards Borneo which made us think they came from Cambodia At break of day we saw five more who likewise past by us about Noon and steer'd their Course towards Malacca When we were come up to the corner of that Island we took the Elevation of the Pole and found we were to Sail more to the Northward and in a short time we came to the River which runs through the Kingdom of Siam up which we sailed as far as the Town Bontempia and there we cast Anchor Our Master and the Factor went straightway in the Long-Boat to the Chief City Odia which is 30 Leagues up the River as soon as they were come back they went to Unlading I then went on Shore too and visited the Dutch Factory there The House which the Dutch Factors have there is amazing both for its Largeness Beauty and Strength Above are all the Lodgings which are wonderful Stately both without and within Under are the Warehouses which are of a vast bigness and richly stored with all manner of Commodities The City of Odia is very large but most of the Houses are very low So that all the Towers of their Temples which are computed to be above Five thousand being rais'd much higher and being all easily seen by reason of the other Buildings being so low seem altogether like a Forest in Winter It is impossible for any one to conceive what vast numbers of People is continually moving about in that City insomuch that a Man who is newly come would be apt to ask what 's the matter and take that for a gathering of the Mob or an unusual Croud which is but the usual Concourse of the Town It is seated upon the River Menan which is likewise fill'd with Ships Praws c. This River is of the same Nature with the Nile the Niger and the Ganges and like them overflows all the Fields about Odia and makes them very fruitful spreading it self over great part of the Country by means of several Arms or Creeks which Providence hath ordered for that purpose And besides this Advantage which this Inundation affords to the Country it is a mighty Fence to the City Odia because the River over-flowing at certain Seasons no Enemy can Besiege it but for some Months during which the City is always able to defend it self being extraordinary well Situated and Fortified Through most of the Streets run fine Channels as at Rotterdam so that one may go with a Boat from one part of the Town to the other which renders it mighty Commodious for Trade I may say that considering all things there is not a finer City in all India Our Ships having now in little more than a Fortnights time unladen and taken in their full Lading which consisted of several Commodities as Buck and Roe-Skins Jappan-Wood c. we fell down the River and with a fair Northerly Wind set Sail homewards again The next day it Snowed so hard and the Wind was so high that we were drove almost upon Land ' ere we could be aware of it but by good Providence we came off without any hurt and in 11 days came up with the Island Puloaura where we lay still three days refreshing our selves and then continued our Course We arrived at Batavia in three Weeks We were hardly come into Harbour when we saw the most dismal Spectacle that can be The Ship the Elephant which rode at Anchor hard by us laden with Powder and other Ammunition design'd for Bantam by some Accident took Fire and in an instant blew up into a thousand pieces so that of above 80 Men that were on Board her there was not one left alive to tell how it came It was the most dismal sight methoughts I ever had seen to behold so many humane Bodies toss'd at such a vast distance into the Air for some of them went over our Ship and so did several large pieces of the Ship likewise and what made it the more dismal was that no manner of help could be afforded them Instead of going ashore with the rest I went on Board a Ship that was come hither some days before us from Cameron in Persia because the Chirurgeon which belonged to that Ship was a Countryman and intimate Acquaintance of mine and we had been together in several Expeditions in the Wars of Bantam He was over-joyed to see me and I was no less pleased to find him well After many Questions past on both sides we came to give one another an Account of our Adventures since we parted which gave him occasion to tell me that he had had pretty good Fortune in all his Voyages but that he had narrowly escaped Death in a place where he thought himself most secure For saith he When I first went to Shore at Cameron I went with some of my Companions to the Factor's House and having spoken with them I had Business with we went into a Cabaret or publick-House whence after we had staid an hour or little more
go about to do me any harm I pull'd out a piece of Tobacco and gave it them They were mightily pleased with that Present but the way they took to shew their Gratitude and to thank me was so odious to me that I wish'd I had not given them any occasion of returning me Thanks For no sooner had I given them this but they all lifted up those Flaps of Sheep-Skin which hang before their Privy-Parts to give me a sight of ' em What with this beastly Behaviour and what with the nasty stench of their Kennels as I think I may properly call 'em I made all haste to be gone Some of 'em I found at their Dinner or rather Eating for that is a word of too much Order and Decency for them They had only a piece of Cow-Hide laid out upon the Coals a Broyling and to make the Carbonnade more pleasant they had squeezed the Dung out of the Guts and spread it finely on the Hide to moisten it and to give it a relish and this they take when it is broyl'd and chop it and so Eat it The very ordering of it in this manner turn'd my Stomach so that I could not stay to see the Eating of it But I made all the haste I could to be gone I went from thence directly to the Lewen-bergh which is a fine pleasant Hill not at all Rocky but cover'd over with Grass and affording a most pleasant Prospect Here I sat me down and took a view of the Country all round me After I had been there a while I espied at Sea a Ship making to the Port with full Sails and presently after I saw the Flag hoisted up in the Castle Upon this I came down to go towards the Fort and as I was going along the Shore there stood a Servant Maid who was come to fill a little Tub with Sand As soon as she saw me she cry'd out to me as loud as she could Maridi sini Senior Oh Sir Pray come and helpme I ran full speed towards her to help her and when I came up to her she shewed me a dreadful long Serpent that had just then been devouring a young Hottentot and had swallowed him all up but the Legs which still stuck out of his Mouth This had put the Maid into a great Consternation and made her afraid that she should be his next Prey And truly being much in the same Apprehensions my self I betook my self to my Heels which the Maid seeing she gave a dreadful Shriek and began to run too That great Shriek she gave brought out some Hottentots that were thereabouts who came running towards us As soon as they saw what was the matter they got themselves ready to catch the Serpent and having brought out some long Ropes they threw them with wonderful Dexterity about its middle and drawing the Ropes some at one end some at another as hard as they were able they held him so fast that I expected they would have cut him in two All the while the Serpent Hiss'd in a fearful manner and Twisted it self strangely but could not slip away At last came some of the Men with great Poles with which they knock'd him on the Head This dreadful Creature was very near 16 Foot long They fastned it to a Stick and let it dry This being done I return'd to the place from whence I came In my return I met with some Wild Hottentots who come down thither from the Cafre's Country about 100 Leagues from thence They as I observed are almost Blind in the day time at least extream Dim-sighted so that they do most of their Business by Night In the time that I staid in the Cape I saw once one of these Wild Prople executed for Theft He had some time before stolen some Cows and Sheep from some of the Freemen without the Approbation of their King which is a Dignity they confer upon some one amongst 'em and whereever they are tho' but to the number of five or six together they always make them a King or Captain to Rule over them without whose Consent no kind of thing is to be done and in this the Company doth not at all interpose but leaves them to their own Customs The Criminal was tied Hand and Foot and stretched out betwixt two Posts about half a Man's height from the Ground after which some Men came with great Sticks and beat him to Death If they hit him on the Head or Breast he is soon dispatcht but they never give over as long as they find any Breath in him When he is expired they carry him to the Wood and there fasten him to a Bough and leave him for a Prey to Wild Beasts The Ship that I espied coming from the top of the Hill was an English Fly-boat which came and cast Anchor by the other English Ship that lay there before The Master gave us an Account of his Voyage which had been thus far very prosperous He was bound for Jappan but was to call at several Places by the way He put in here to Treat with the Governour but about what I could not be informed After we had staid herefull three Weeks which is more by a Week than Ships generally do every body was ordered on Board in a readiness to be going Our Master being Commadore call'd a Council to settle the Orders of their Voyage The next day a Review was made where all were found in very good Order except two that were very sick but yet as ill as they were they would not stay there but would venture on their Voyage The next day after the Review was made our Master and Factor together with the other Masters of Ships went once more a Shore to wait on the Governor to take their Leave of him They came back that same night in order to go out of the Bay with the first fair Wind which happen'd that very night being the 23th of May and then we steer'd our Course North-West All the next day we had the African Coasts in sight Our Water Vessels were shut up again and dealt out by Portions which was a Can to each Person once in 24 hours and half a Quartern of Brandy or Arack When we had been a while under Sail out came a Seaman from under the Hatches who had hid himself there till we were got out in full Sea He was but just come to the Cape with an English Ship and being sent ashore to fetch in fresh Water he so contrived his Business as to get in with our Men being resolved never to go with the English again He was an Hamburgher a brisk active Fellow In the hardest of Weather he was first and last on the Mast and extreamly serviceable So that he got the love of every body and generally had a larger share of the Distributions than any of the rest Having now sailed about 10 days we came up to St. Hellens where the Ships that are homeward bound from India
seldom fail to call but our Master did not think fit to put in there partly because we had already made great stays and partly because we needed no Provisions In 14 days we found our selves under the Line and the Sun stood Perpendicular over our Heads This was the twelfth time that I passed under it in my Voyages to and fro As soon as we came there our Master commanded a White Flag to be hung out which was the usual Token for all the Masters and Steersmen in the Fleet to come on Board of him When they were all come together he open'd their Instructions to them which were That contrary to the Custom of the East-India homeward bound Ships which was to Steer their Course betwixt Scotland and Hitland in their return to Holland they should now go round Hitland and pass betwixt Fero and Filo and so keep along the Coasts of Norway where they should meet with a Squadron of Men of War for their Convoy And this was accordingly done But now being our Voyage was made so much the longer by these Orders than otherwise it would have been they began to shorten each Man's Allowance to make it hold out the better All this while we got Blessed be God all safe from under the Line and were not above seven days a passing of it Whereas it is common for Ships to lie there two or three Months and cannot stir for want of a Wind so that what with the Calm and the excessive Heat they loose abundance of their Men But we had but five Men sick all that time From thence we pass'd to the Gras-Zee or Grass-Sea so called from the Grass which grows there so that the Sea appears just like a Meadow and it lookt to us as if we were already with one Foot upon Land This held for near 100 Leagues together We pass'd through it with a very good Wind and were very glad to get out of it notwithstanding it was a pretty Sight enough When we pull'd up any of that Grass we found it had very long small Roots Soon after this we came in sight of the Islands Corvo and Flores and at the same time of the North-Star Being got thus far each Seaman's Allowance began to increase again But before this Order was given the Master sent to Examine all the Provisions and had an Account brought him of what quantity there was left of each particular He finding there was good store of Arack left and that we had had a very quick Passage so far and the Wind continued so very fair for us that it gave us hopes of being quickly at the end of our Voyage was willing to let the Men enjoy themselves a little more and so order'd that a pretty good share of Arack should be dealt out to every one of ' em But there being several that were sick and could not use their Arack themselves disposed of it to those that were well who having then too much of that strong Liquor made themselves exceeding Drunk and committed a great deal of Disorder For tho' there is very severe Laws on Shipboard and those are generally Executed with Rigour yet such is the Seamen's Temper that they ever grow more disorderly and ungovernable as they come nearer home Wherefore our Master being a very good honest old Man resolved to let none have any more but those that were in a fit Condition to Drink it themselves And that this might be observed punctually he order'd the Under Steersman to stand by every day and to see every body Drink their own Portion By this means he put a stop to those Disorders and prevented a great deal of Mischief When we came more and more in sight of the North-Star we began to be very chearful and fell a Singing of the Hymn Hoe Schoon light on s de Morgen-Star But by that time we got a little beyond the Island Fero the Weather began to seem very Cold to us tho' it was in the very middle of the Summer that we could not bear to sit above Deck till we had got some more Cloaths on What made us so very sensible of Cold was that we came from so Hot a Country as the Indies is Here we observed That the day was 20 hours long and that in the four hours that the Sun was below our Horizon it still gave so much light on the one side or the other of us that a Man might make shift to Read any Book of a fair Character any time of the Night by the help only of that refracted light The next day our Master and Steersmen judged that we were not far from Hitland Then we saw continually great Flocks of Birds and flying Fish which fell down in great numbers in our Ship So Orders were given to watch on the Main-top-Mast-Head and about the Evening one cry'd out Land The Mountains assured us sufficiently that it was Hitland therefore we bore directly upon it with a brisk Gale and no small Joy it was to us that we were thus happily drawing apace towards our Country Thus we kept sailing all the next day along that Coast within about a League from it and so past it Quickly after that we spied four Men of War which we concluded were our Convoy and being come somthing nearer we perceived them to be so by their Colours Upon which we hung out ours and fired some Guns for a Signal We likewise Hall'd out our Boats to go on Board them but the Wind hindred us from doing it All the while we came nearer and nearer and the Convoy having a small Tender with them they loaded it with Provisions and sent it towards us as it is always the Custom to meet the homeward bound Ships and to bring them fresh Victuals c. to refresh them after such a long Voyage They brought some Vessels of Beer Sack Butter Cheese Tobacco Pipes and Brandy When these things were brought on Board of us one Vessel of Beer was put on the one side of the Main-Mast and another on the other side and those were free for any body to go to and Drink at Discretion But we did not long Enjoy our selves thus For as we were just coming to a pitch of Mirth and Jollity such a dreadful Wind arose as we had not met with any thing like it in our Voyage and it terrified us so much the more because we were near home where we thought our selves secure not dreaming of any farther danger The night came upon us and our Ship being very old and crazy began to spring several Leaks so that we were forced to keep continually a Pumping The Weather was so cold the night so dark and the Wind so very boisterous that we were past all hopes except what we had in God's Gracious Providence and to that alone we committed our selves The morning came but gave us but a small Relief for the Wind was as terrible as before and so it pleased God to hold on for
four days together without Intermission at the end of which God was pleased to Calm the Wind and Seas and restore us to our former Peace and favourable Gales for which we all heartily offer'd up our Thanks to the Almighty Here we lost our Upper Steersman who had been sick most of the Voyage and we threw him over-board We had after this hard Weather a pretty good Gale of Wind which brought us quickly in sight of the Northern Coasts We sail'd then all along by them and steer'd our Course directly upon Holland reckoning to reach the Maes in three or four days more In our Course we met with some Fishermen who came a-board of us and sold us some fresh Herrings This was to me the greatest Feast I had had a great while and I think I never liked any thing better in my life Among those Fishermen there was one that was as he said 142 years old and because we scrupled to believe him he shew'd us an Extract of his Birth out of the Register-Book He was as Active at his Business as any of his Fellows Shortly after this came a Pilot on Board of us and by Orders from the Company took the Government of the Ship on himself and dismist the Master So we came to cast Anchor before the Briel As soon as we had cast Anchor here the Deputies of the Company came on Board of us They are generally two of the oldest that are Deputed for that purpose These Gentlemen call'd all the Ship 's Crew together and thank'd them in the name of all the Company for their Faithfulness and Diligence in their Service from which they immediately freed them and promised them that they should be paid with speed After which every one was at liberty and was carried to Shore in some small Ketches that came for that purpose Immediately upon this came other Seamen on Board the Ship which they call Sjouwers These Furl'd in all the Sails and took them down fired all the Guns and charged them again All the Provisions they found remaining was theirs Every one of us was forced to leave his Chest on Board they being all to be brought to the East-India House and there to be Search'd The Wound I had received in the Wars of Bantam had of late been a little uneasie to me and the two Bullets which were ever since that time in my Leg began to be a little troublesome But now my Pain increased so fast upon me that in a very little while after we came to the Briel I was no more able to walk at all by my self but was forced to be carried into a House by a Couple of our Men. I was sorry I had not a little more time to Ease my self here but the rest being ready to go for Rotterdam I was obliged to be gone along with them Being come to Rotterdam and having within 3 days time received my Chest back again as all the rest likewise had I was forced to go from thence to Amsterdam that being the Chamber where I had engaged my self and from which I was to receive my Money Thither I went partly by Land and partly by Water but either way with so much pain and uneasiness that all the Hardships I had undergone in all my Voyages were not to be compared to that Yet was I full of Acknowledgement to Almighty God who had deliver'd me out of so many Extream Dangers to which I had been exposed from the merciless Sea fierce and cruel Serpents and Beasts and from several Heathens of many Nations more Barbarous than them all and had brought me again into a Christian Country And though I was not in Health of Body yet it was an exceeding Comfort to me to have so good Opportunities again of making better Provision for my Soul and to participate of that Holy Sacrament from which I had been absent during seven years Wherefore being in this weak Condition the chief thing I desired was to have a Minister and to receive the Communion My Landlady help'd me to one who was the Minister of the German Lutheran Church at Amsterdam from whose Pious Discourse and Absolution together with the Blessed Sacrament I received an exceeding great Comfort and then very chearfully resign'd my self up to the Almighty's Pleasure I thank'd my Ghostly Father for his Kindness and made him a Present of six Ducatoons some Roses of Jericho and some China Ware My Pain encreasing rather than diminishing and I growing daily worse and worse I sent for a Doctor and two Chirurgions not willing to trust to my own Skill only And being I was not able to go and receive my Money my self I was obliged to send a Person to the East-India Chamber to receive my Money and Goods by Virtue of a Letter of Attorney which I gave him The Money that was Due to me from the Company did not amount to more than 4 or 500 Ducatoons which was all the Fruit of my Labours except some considerable East-India Goods I had brought over on my own Account which I had to Sell But by that time I had satisfied my Attorney my Doctor and the two Chirurgions and defray'd the rest of my Charges I found my Bag very light My Doctor did not cost me above Forty Dutch Gilders The two Chirurgions who were two of the most famous Artists in the whole City of Amsterdam had Eighty Rixdollars They had taken out my two Bullets and cleared the Bone of above Twenty Splinters great and small For my Lodging I paid TWO Rixdollars a Week and had but a very poor Accommodation neither The Apothecary too came in with a hideous Bill In short I should have been but in a miserable Condition if I had not had Money And that went after such a Rate that in less than Three Months time I had spent above 300 Ducatoons However I began to recover a little and my pain was not sharp as before tho' I could not go or stand as yet But as soon as I was able to stir I was resolved to continue my Journey and set out of this place and endeavour to get home whatever befel me And in order thereunto I took a Coach to carry me to the Vtrecht-Poort where I took Boat for Vtrecht and from thence went to Nimeguen and so passed through Cleveland to Cologne By that time I was got hither I was so fatigued that I was not in a capacity of moving any further and therefore I was forced to lie still here for near three Weeks during which time I spent a great deal of Money again and was so weak that I had hardly any hopes of ever reaching so far as home nor did any Body think I should ever have recover'd But it pleased God to Bless human Endeavours so that I recovered a little again upon which I immediately got my self carried to the Rhine and there went on Board a Ship which carried me to Mentz and thence to Franckfort Some Relations and Gentlemen
Man ever saw In the 3d Watch called the Day-Watch about 3 of the Clock we chang'd our Course from West and by North to North and by East The 16th It was a very serene Calm But on The 17th 18th and 19th We had nothing but very unconstant Winds and Weather and very dark Clouds all about us The 20th and 21th We saw neither Sun Moon nor Stars from whence we concluded that we might expect a great Storm and for fear of it we took in our Sails and prepared our selves for it The 22th We had a smooth Gale of Wind at West Our Course being Northward we saw continual Lightning and heard much Thunder I was Amazed that it lasted so long and I enquired of our Master and of some of the oldest Seamen what could be the reason of it They told me That it was dark in that Country of West-Kust six months together that the Country afforded great store of Pepper and some Gold was to be found in the Mountains of it For that Reason the Dutch after a long War had built there some Fortisications and kept Soldiers there which hold it to this day That the Europeans cannot bear the Climate long it being very unhealthy and unless they are fetch'd away within three years time they generally Die. To prevent which they send fresh Men thither every year That those that Die there are commonly taken away suddenly as they are Eating or Drinking at Table Their Food is Rice instead of Bread Bufflars Flesh Beef and Pork and Fish in abundance Their Drink is Suri that comes from the Coco's and Sugar-Beer 3 or 4 years old which they keep under Ground The 23th The Wind blew hard at West We saw an infinite number of Fishes called Springers their length is generally about 6 or 7 foot and about as much in thickness Their Flesh is very firm they Swim always against the Wind. When they Leap very high out of the Water as they did then the Seamen expect a very great Storm and Tempest We catch'd several of 'em with a certain Instrument which they call an Ellegaer striking it into their Bodies This night the Polran parted from us but we could not tell whether it was done designedly by the Master or whether it was by the Carelessness of the Helms-Man whose turn it was to Watch. The 24th We were forced to take in our Main-Sail by reason of the hard Wind and defend our Deck all over with pitch'd Canvas from the Waves that were so boisterous that they almost overwhelmed our Ship The 25th 26th 27th and 28th We had stormy Winds but yet so tollerable that we made 25 or 30 miles of our way in 24 hours The 29th The Wind increased The Polsbroeck which still kept us Company gave us a Signal that she was so full of Water that she stood in need of our help When we came to be somewhat near the Master told us That his Pumps were good for nothing and begg'd of us to lend him some of ours which we did for our Ship was so strong and close that it receiv'd no Water and we did not want'em our selves but that night this Companion of ours lost us too The 30th We took in all our Sails and lower'd our Yards and made our selves ready for a Drift that is to bind the Helm fast and commit our selves to the Winds and Waves to drive us where they pleased This Drift we held out in till The 4th of November five days together Upon Consultation held we cut down our Main-Mast which with the force of its fall was like to have sunk our Ship Till that day we had not taken the height of the Sun so that we could not tell whither or how far we were cast The 5th The Wind fell and changed to the S. E. Then we hoisted up our Sails and took the height of the Sun whereby we found that we were close by the Equinoctial and not cast yet away so far as we were afraid we had been We sailed N. E. and by E. all this Voyage we had that kind of Birds flying about us that live upon the flying Fishes but upon the great Heat we were now come into they left us The 6th We had a brisk Wind and from six in the morning to six at night we made 20 miles of our way and found the next day being The 7th That we had pass'd the Line Two Soldiers and three Seamen died out of our Ship that day and were thrown after Prayers into the Sea And we had about 20 sick The 8th The Wind changed to the South and we were directly to go Northward The Boatswain's Mate catch'd a large Shark in which they found four Boys and some Bones of Men. The 9th We saw a little Vessel that made towards us in the afternoon it came near to us and we were big with the hopes of some News they brought but they were all vain For our Orlamen as we call them that have been before in the Indies spoke to them in the Malleyers Amboineses Cingulaish Malabarish and Maldavish Languages but neither would do and they answer'd us in a Language that none of us could tell what to make of but they made us to understand by Signs that they were in great want of Drink Our Master had their Vessel boarded and in it we found 24 Indians with long Hair ty'd up on the left side of their Heads They had with them 12 Muskets some Gun-Powder and Iron-Balls pretty good store of Rice Pepper and dry'd Fish but no Water We supposed them to be some Indian Robbers come from the West-Kust and drove thus far into the Sea by the late Storm Our Master order'd them to be taken into our Ship together with their Provisions and we drew their Vessel along after us ty'd with a strong Rope to our Ship We allowed them Bread and Water and we made them Pump the Water out of our Ship and Swab it The 10th 11th 12th and 13th The Wind continued directly for us at South we going on still Northward On the 14th We changed our Course to the N. W. and by W. the Wind kept where it was but something weaker This day one that sate on the Foremast holding by a Cord the Cord broke and he fell down Dead into the Ship The 15th We observed that the Water begun to change colour at night we used the Plummet to sound the Water but we could find no bottom tho' the Line was 200 Fathoms long The 16th The Water changed yet more and seemed whitish we made our Anchors and Cables ready if occasion should be to use them The 17th Our Master promised six Rixdollars to the first Man that should spy Land and a Flaggon of Wine The 18th We had a lovely Wind and good Sailing A Seaman that stood on the out-side of the Ship to draw up Water was wash'd of by a Wave We immediately tack'd our Ship and back'd our Sails and threw out our Long-Boat to go