we were by the same Island and had fiue degrées To the Easte of this Island Botton lye thrée other Islands from whence many corners and shoels stretch to seaward toward the South-east In sayling towards Amboyna the said three Islands must be left on the starboord and so running forward out by Botton there lye other two Islands to the Northward which must be left on the larboorde sayling forth betwéene both this is to be well obserued by reason of the sholes in that place stretching from those thrée Islands The 20. day wée passed thorowe the straight betwéene Anno 〈◊〉 the 20. of October Selebes and the Soles where two Islands lye right in the middest of the gap betwéene which we ran they lye a good league one from the other it seemed that there was a fire in one of them we might sée boates passe from one Island to another This gappe lyeth from Bantam some 30. leagues and as we returned homewards we left many Islands on our starboorde which lye in 5. degrées and 50. minutes The 21. day we had 5. degrées and 50. minutes to the Southward of Selebes sayling thorowe the straight This land stretcheth for the most part West and by North and East and by South here we made an ende of our last smoked fleshe and euery messe had a kan of Wine The 22. day we passed by the Island Selebes which stretcheth West and by North and East and by South from the straight it is some 20. leagues long Westward with lowe grounde lying before it and thereon very hye and hillie ground as it were doubled or indented the South end whereof lyeth in 5. degrées and 50. minutes and as a man passeth from the West ende forward in comming towards it sayling some eyght or ten leagues along by it there appeareth a round high hill like vnto a cocke of haie in the fieldes séeming to lye farre off from the rest outward but approaching néere thereunto it lyeth plainelie farre within the Land the ground before it being very lowe and stretching at least two degrées thorow the Line on the North side so that it is aboute some eyght degrées long South and North. The 23. day we sayled ouer a shallow of sixe fathome déepe wending West and by South in fiue degrées and sixe and fiftie minutes about some eyghtéene leagues from the Land the winde being Southeast at what time we had sight of a small Island from our Maine top lying to the Northwarde of vs. The same euening we sayled ouer the shallowe at 12. 13. 14. and 15. fathomes which continued thrée glasses wending West and West and by North. The 24. day at noone we had a dish of Rice and a Kan of Wine being the first day since the 30. of August that we sayled without view of Land The 25. day halfe the night time we sayled againe ouer the shallowes the winde West and West and by North at some twentie fathomes depth and as we gessed wee were about 90. leagues from the west ende of Selebes The 29. day wée sawe the Land of Madura as wée guessed where we had béen imprisoned hauing fortie and fiftie fathome with claye grounde The last day we were againe allowed a dish of Rice Anno 1599. the 29. of October we saw Mednra seeing euery day Land but could not haue any certaine knowledge what Land it was The 2 day of Nouember we had sight of the length of the maine Land of Madura to the Northwards wherof lyeth the Island Laybock some 18. leagues distant We ran betwéene them hauing sight of land euery day The 5. day we left the Island Carman Iava behinde vs lying some 20. leagues from Laybock most East and West a sunder finding sometimes 30. 35. 40. 45. and 50. fathome depth all good clay ground The 9. day we passed by another Island where eyght or ten trées stand in the water a little from the Island lying some 20. leagues from Karmen Iava most West and by North and East and by South from each other where we sayled about by the North. The 13. day we came before Saketra where we made some prouision of Rice and were God be thanked deliuered of our former penurie and hunger héere we heard that the Vizadmirall was departed from Bantam about thrée moneths past The 16. day we sayled from Saketra anchoring the same day before the fresh Ryuer where we furnished our selues with water the Chinans brought vnto vs Aracca and Rice in most plentifull sorte which we bought for some fiue pence the pound The 17. day wee sayled thence towards Bantam where two Dutch ships lay The 18. day we spoke with them they were the Long barke and the Sunne which had lyne eyght moneths and tenne dayes before Bantam and were departed from thence in the night time not refreshing themselues where they had so néerely bartered all that in the ende for want of money they trucked also the whistles from about their neckes and yet had not effected any great matter for both the ships had but 60. last of Pepper and Cloues together and farther were weakened 55. men The 19. day wée arriued before Bantam where wée We arriued before Bantam The price of Pepper Maces Cloues were much made of Iohn Martsson hauing taken in his first Pepper but the fifth of this moneth and bought the same by the bagge euery bagge waying fiftie pounde for the which they paide foure péeces of Ryals of 8. and an halfe but at the last foure Ryals of 8. for a bag The Maces and Cloues are bought by the Baer waying 500 pound the Maces for 80. and the Cloues for 65. péeces of Ryals of 8. The 15. of Ianuarie 1600 our Admirall went a shore to the Magistrates of Bantam bestowing on them sundrie presents and giftes and dealt with them about farther trade wherein they agréed very well with thankes and due salutations on both parts which done he tooke his leaue after he had giuen the boate vnto the Gouerner of Bantam wherein he came ashore hanged with Skarlet cloth and appoynted with two murthering péeces but those people haue small knowledge how to vse the same The 20. day we brought all our Marchants aboorde hauing almost solde all their wares The 21. daye one of our Marchants went againe ashore with a small parcell of Veluet and returned Veluet with twentie bagges of Pepper made of the sayde Veluet The discription of Bantam THE manners and policie vsed in Bantam are very strange for when a man dyeth leauing behinde him any goods whether he haue children or none the King seazeth vpon the widow children and goods appropriating all to himselfe making the Mother his slaue and if a man of China desire to buye the Mother or daughter he selleth them and if afterwards they chance to haue children betwéene them it happeneth to her againe as it did after her first husbands death if the King doe vnderstand of any goods left by the deceased such
to consult together what was to be done and it was thought best to set our course towardes Iaua for we could not reach Amboyna where our Admirall lay We sayled for the most part South and South and by West The 7. day we had a fine gale from the South-east holding our course all the forenoone South South west and at after noone we haled in our Sheates and held our course West South west the weather faire The 8. and 9. dayes we held our course West South west at after noone we tooke the height and found 4. degrees and an halfe Southward of the line Aequinoctial the weather being very faire The 10. day we continued our course West South west we had sight of the Iland Cebesse and perceiued that it was parted in 7. or 8. little partes or portions with a great necke or corner lying out 6. or 7. leages in length wherefore we durst not sayle forwards that night The 11. day in the morning we held our course West South west and South west towardes the Iland Bouton And at noone taking the height found 6. degrees about the middest of Bouton The 12. day in the morning we sayled beyonde the Iland Combayna At noone we tooke in our sayles and lay still vntill the last quarter before day that we might be before the straight of Celebes by day light for in that place it is narrow The 13. day in the euening we passed the straight of Celebes and founde that there ran a mightie streame or currant The 14. day in the morning it was calme and at after noone it began to blow a litle gale The 15. and 16. dayes we made a great way holding our course most West and South west and by South and sometimes West and by North. At after noone we saw two small Ilandes the one lying from vs South South east and the other South South west The 17. day we tooke the height finding 7. degrees lacking one quarter At noone we had sight of the East ende of Madura lying South west off vs. We helde our course along the coast of Madura West and West and by South The 18. day in the euening we were hard by the towne of Arosbay lying on the West end of Madura in which place we lost our men outwardes bound as is before declared The 19. day we were against the land of Iuban and Sydaye holding our course West and by North and at after noone North west towardes the high land of Iapan The 20. day we saw the high land of Iapan The same euening dyed one of our Marriners called Renier Reyneirszen vander Schellingh The 21. day we draue in the calme vnder the high land of Iapan The 25. day we helde our course directly for we knew not where we were Towardes the euening we sawe the Ilandes of Iaketra And the same night we let fall our Anchors The 26. day in the morning we set sayle againe and had sight of the east corner of Iaketra And in the after noone we Anchored before Iaketra The 27. day our Boate rowed a shore to buy freshe victuals The 28. and 29. dayes we were busie to make prouision of victualles as Rice Hennes Coquers and such like The same day the King sent a young Steere to our Vice-Admirall The. 30. day our Boate went againe a shore to buy Rice for there were two Ships come thyther with Rice which came in good season for vs. The 1. 2. and 3. dayes of August we spent in buying August 1599. of fresh victualles In the euening came to vs from Bantam a long Boate from the Ships of Zealand the long Barke and the Sunne shewing vs that they had lyen at Bantam 4. monthes and an halfe and now waighted for the next season or haruest The 4. day the Admirall with the Marchants went a shore to speake with the King In the euening the Boate returned towards Bantam The. 5. day we made further prouision of fresh victuals on the shore The. 6. day we sayled from Iaketra to the fresh Riuer to take in water About noone we ariued and let fall our Anchors before the sayd fresh Riuer beginning the same day and so continuing all night to bring water a boord making all the haste we could to haue in our water The. 8. day about noone we sayled towards Bantam casting our Anchors the same night about some 4. leages from Bantam The. 9. day in the morning about 10. of the clocke we set sayle againe in the euening we let fall our Anchors before Bantam where presently the Maisters and Marchantes of the aforesayd Barke and of the Sunne came aboord vs declaring that there were 36. of their men dead so that they were hardly able to sayle their Ship The. 10. day our Comisares or Marchantes went a shore to buy some Purselayne Dyshes and other thinges The. 14. day about noone the Gouernour of Bantam came aboord vs accompanied with some 400. men viewing our Ship and offering great friendship requiring our Vice-Admirall to go with him a land The 19. day we departed from Bantam meeting with a sharpe gust of wind and raine which continued some hower The 20. day in the morning we were past the coast of Iaua shaping our course the most part of the day South-west The same day our alowance of water was againe lessened to wit euery day one Ran a Mutskin of Arake a Wine which the wild people of the countrey vse themselues to drinke making it with Rice and is a very strong Wine in taste The 22. day about noone it rained thundred lightned with so great a winde that we were forced to take in all our sayles This storme continued two howers The 23. day it was very faire weather we shaped our course as before the wind East South-east About noone the Carpenter of our Ship died called Peter Lauwelssen of Harllem which was the third man that died in our returne homewardes The 24. day in the night foule weather the wind South South-east keeping our course most part West and Southwest and by North bearing onely our mayne-sayles The 25. 26. 27. 28. and 29. dayes ill sayling weather the wind South South-east in so much that it was as much as we could do to beare our mayne-sayles The 31. day the weather began to be somewhat fairer so that we might put out our top-sayles The first day of September we tooke the height were September in 15. degrees lacking 3. quarters at noone we sent our Boate aboord the Zealand to fetch the Maister and Pilot to th end we might confer togither what course were best to be kept their conclusion was to sayle West South-west vntill we should come to 20. degrees for the storme droue vs far to the Southward We held our course West south-west with a fine gale from the South south east The 4. day in the night we had the wynd East south east with faire weather shaping our course most South west by
in the ende there came none néere our ships but onely the Kings galley who sent into our ship one of his Captaines to confer with our Admirall by an interpreter but the King himselfe would not come aboorde Towards the euening the King returned with two gallies onely the one wherein the King was not had a boate or one of their Praus and rowing a good way from our ships the King in the meane while boorded vs with his gallie and being come into our ship desired after salutations and some other spéeches with our Admirall that our Gunner might make a shot at the Praw or boate which the other gallie had brought and was now a drift a good way from the said gallie to sée how néere he could shoote with the great péece which was accordingly accomplished and a very faire shot made to the great contentment and liking of the King perceiuing well that if the shot had béen made at one of the great gallies it would haue pearced and runne thorow the same The 29. day towards the euening Raynard Reinerdson dyed and was the same night buried on the land The 30. day the King came againe vnto vs with one The King commeth secretlie aboord vnknowne to vs. gallie in very simple sort to sée how we would behaue our selues giuing vs to vnderstand that the King would come aboorde vs who was in a little boate in person to wed by the said gallie vnknowne to vs supposing that he would come afterwards and comming close to our ship went into the gallie demaunding for many strange things too long to heere repeated The last day was a spirite in Iohn Martsens Cabin about midnight making such a rumbling and iumbling that all that were in the Cabin ran out in great feare The 2. day of Iune all our principall officers were Iune with the King on land with certaine presents which they deliuered vnto him reporting at their returne that Presents carried to the King there were some store of Cloues to be had and that the next day some should be sent aboord vs to see what commodities we had and to make price with vs to the ende we might trucke with them for some of theirs The 3. day some of the people accordingly came aboord vs to see our wares but we could not agrée vpon any barter but for readie money they offered their baer for 120. péeces of Royalls of 8. but we would not make no offer vpon so high a price The 10. day our dyet was shortned to wit euery day once flesh or fish and the other three meales Ryce The 11. day our Marchants went a shoare thinking to speake with the King but could not by reason that it was their Sabboth day The 12. day our people went againe a shore carrying with them some marchandize the same euening the King came aboord vs but not into our ship but desired to haue a gilded Musket which was fréely giuen him but as we A gilded Musket giuen to the King vnderstoode his answere was it should be paide for in his tole or custome rated at two baers and an halfe taking the tenth pennie of his tole The 18. daye wée receiued the first Cloues aboorde The first Cloues brought aboord and 600. viols of glasse solde for one baer of Cloues Three Orkins is a pennie sterling Iulie The price of Cloues namely some two baers and euery day more or lesse for which we bartered for the most part viols of glasse of an orkin the péece and had in trucke one baer of Cloues for 600. of those viols The last day our dyet was againe diminished of flesh and fish and were appoynted weekely but twise flesh and as often fish The 9. day the price was agréed of Cloues for money viz. the baer for 54. peeces of Royals of 8. the baer waying 620. pounde The 11. day the people of Ternate made an attempt vpon a village in the Isle of Tydore from whence they brought swordes and shieldes as trophes whereon hung the eares of their slaine enemies which they presented vnto their King with a woman of Portugal whom they afterwarde solde for a slaue The 24. day they of Ternate made another sallie vpon the said Island of Tydore returning with fiue heads and some prisoners whereof they killed one as hée came on land and cut off the head of another who was a stranger and came in trade of merchandize to Tydore The 25. day the King of Ternate came aboord our ship The King commeth aboord the Admirall viewing the same in euery corner and desired our Admirall that he would leaue some of his people there with him and so going vp and downe the ship all that he sawe liked him well and comming into the Cooke-roome tooke vp the bellowes which he desired to be giuen him and as he stoode blew with the bellowes into his mouth as if he had not been well in his wits The 28. day the King came againe aboord so earnestly viewing the same in all parts and places as if he had ment to buie the ship but his chiefe intent was to haue some of our people to abide with him but there were none that would harken vnto his perswasions The 29. day came a Praw or small boate from Banda signifying vnto vs that our two ships there were almost laden yet we could not vnderstand the certaintie of them for it was sixe wéekes since they came from Banda The 4. of August we receiued some further portion of August lading aboord our ship preparing our selues to departe from this place The 5. day the Admirall went a shore to speake with the King who lay in his galley néere the shore The 6. day the Admirall went againe to the land with store of Merchandize to bestowe on the King The 12. day the Marchants with all their marchandize came aboord to the ende wée might depart thence homeward The 13. day the King came aboorde vs where he barganed in trucke for 250. baers of Cloues to be deliuered the next growth or haruest The 14. 15. and 16. dayes the King and Admirall agréed that fiue men and a boye should remaine there with whom he left great store of commodities and some portion of money to buye and ingrosse all the Cloues against the comming of the next ships their names that were so appoynted to remaine there were Franck Verdoes The names of those that were left in the Island of Ternate for trade cousen german to the Skoute or Sheriffe William Verdoes of Amsterdam Dirick Floritssen of Harlam Iacob Lambertsson of Amsterdam Iohn Iansson of Grol Cornelis Adriausson of Leyden and the boye Hendrick Iansson of Amsterdam A description of the Isle of Ternate lying 28. leagues from Banda IN the Island Ternate is small store of victuals to be had and is without any kinde of cattell except some very few Goates and some small store of Hens and but little fish There groweth no Rice
lying to the westwarde of Oba where manie other Islands are but we knew not their names for in the Pylots Cardes were found but two Islands in the place where all these Islands are this place is excellent good for anchoredge where we had 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. and 23. fathome faire sandie grounde the next morning we set sayle againe The 12. day we let fall our anchors againe vnder the same Island by reason that Iohn Martsson sayled from our companie to séeke way betwéene the Islands but the next day came againe to vs for the Admirall discharged a péece to the ende he should returne The 13. day Iohn Martsson returned to vs and then we sayled thence together but towards noone we cast out our anchors againe for that Iohn Martsson could not kéepe vs companie by reason of a great tempest that then blew but towards the euening he came to vs and then sayled thence together but could not goe farre by reason of the shoels wherefore we cast out our anchors againe and rode at 9. 10. 12. and 15. fathome The 14. day wée hoysed vp our sayles and went thence but at afternoone let fall our anchors againe at what time came a boate or Praw from the land vnto vs telling vs that the Island was called Bankore and the other next was Sabobe and warning vs of the great number of shoels in that place and moreouer shewed vs that to shun them we must sayle to the aforesaid Island Sabobe where we might prouide our selues of water and other fresh victuals Their King as he sayd dwelled behinde Sabobe in an Island called Mithare these Islands lye in two degrées southward the Lyne The 16. daye we sayled thence towards the Islands The 16. day we were compassed with Islands from whence we came at afternoone we let fall our anchors againe and within an houre after set sayle againe and in the euening cast out our anchors againe then some of our Saylers went vp to the maine top Mast from whence they discried and tolde some thirtie Islands lying round about vs within the compasse of fouretéene or fiftéene leagues but by no meanes wée could get out of them The 17. day in the morning we hoysed vp sayles againe with a South Southeast wind shaping our course South Southwest and Southwest and by South to seawards whereby with Gods helpe and prouidence wée got cléere of the Islands sayling thorow a very narrow channell or gappe leauing the necke of the land that lay out on our star boorde side where we found a little narrowe place to get out for on our larboorde lay thrée little Islands where many shoels were to the southward and as farre as we could discerne we might sée a fyre and at afternoone we saw another great fyre in the open Seaes some foure leagues from land which we left on our starboord hauing a very fine gale of winde The 18. daye in the morning wée sawe againe high land which stretched out a great length The 22. day we came néere to this aforesaid land meaning to sayle about that way to the Eastward but for want of winde could not in conclusion we agréed to shape our course along the coast Eastward and to goe about to the Westward and so put forth our foresailes The 23. day Iohn Martsson discharged a péece being very néere aground hauing but two fathome and a halfe water and was faine to towe the ship with their boate from the shoels the weather being very cléere and faire as God would and afterward came aboord vs declaring that he had séene sixe boates but not spoken with any of them neither could he learne what Island that the same was our Pylots supposed it to be Boere The same night Iohn Martsson came agrounde but wound himselfe off with a bowe anchor but lost a planke of his ship some fathome and an halfe long howbeit the ship God be praysed remained tight it was an vncertaine or vnéeuen ground for hauing cast his leade and finding 40. fathome before they could cast out the leade againe the ship sat fast aground but being now off we ran East Southeast of that place The 25. day Iohn Martssons folke were a shore where They goe ashore at Tabocke they spake with some of the people who tolde them that the land was called Taboke and that there was plentie of Rice Goates and Hennes This is a very great Land for by all iudgement we had sayled some 30. leagues along the coast thereof and now at last were come where was abundance of sholes and yet could sée no ende of the land insomuch that we were constrained to returne the same way we came The land lieth so bending with corners that it cannot be well described except it were explained corner by corner The first day of October 1599. The first day of October was allowed a kan of Wine to euery messe for toye that we had reached the East ende of Tabocke where we found many other small Islands The same night Iohn Martsson droue a ground on the East ende of the said Island the weather being very calme the ship sate before aground hauing behind twentie fathome water whereupon they cast out their bowe anchor behinde at the gallerie and so in winding her off she swayed to the sholeward but wound her off againe with the Capsten and pulling vp their anchor they found the same to be broken for the shanke was in two peeces but they got them vp into their ship by reason that the Buy rope was twisted about the Cable The 2. 3. and 4. dayes we lay at hull about some two degrees Southward of the Lyne by reason of extreame winde and tempestious weather the Sunne being for the most part ouer our heads The 5. day Salomon Dirikson of Harlyng dyed who was a quarter Master and before had béen the Stowers mate The 6. day our last Rice was spent in so much that the Cooke drest vs no more victuals our féeding was then bread and water with one Mutskin of Wine and A Mutskin is the eight part of a quarte one of Honie euery day to a messe The 9. day our allowance of bread was increased so that we had some fiue pounde of bread allowed for fiue dayes this day we made an end of our fishe The 10. day was a kanne of Wine allowed to euery messe because there was nothing else to eate but drie bread The 11. day William Hermanson Klock of Alckmer was appoynted quarter Master in place of Salomon Dirickson so that he was both quarter Master and Corporall The 12. day Wouter Egbertsson of Bréewolt was appoynted Gunner The 16. day our allowance was appoynted to be fiue poundes and one halfe of bread for seuen dayes The 17. day we sawe two Ioncken or boates but spake not with them being then at the East ende of Botton and hauing fiue degrées and sixe minutes now we knew where we were for outward bounde towardes Amboyna
paled it round about after did sow and plant al sorts of fruits to proue if they would there grow increase Our ships also left some Hens there to proue whether they would there increase or not Sundry times we sent of our folk vp into the Island to vnderstand if there were any inhabitants on the further side of the Island they were sometimes 3. or 4. dayes out before they returned but they neither saw nor heard of any no not of any 4. footed beasts A further and more particular declaration of the Island de Cerne otherwise called Mauritius No. 1. THis is the entrance of the Isle Mauritius lying East Northeast A wilde Palm-tree which wee set here for a Beacon if perhaps any ship should chaunce to arriue here The Crosses are all rocks which lie vnder the water Is a little Island where wee gathered Indian Nuttes These are swéete riuers where we caught such plenty of fish with our cock-boate that somtimes we had 50 fishes at one draught which we named Trenchors by reason of their flatnes together with many other smal fishes of diuers sorts so that oftētimes we thought that our net would breake and with our ship-boate we were oftentimes forced to helpe them to vnlade the cocke because they could not without great labour and danger of sinking bring the cocke aboord and which is very strange they swom in such innumerable multitudes hard along the shoare that men might take them with their hands as they stood on the land yea oftentimes we killed them with our halfe-pikes This is a fresh riuer where wee filled our water with our boate and heere wee caught a Thornebacke which was almost three yards in compasse besides her taile so that our people had much to doe to get it into the boate Our Vice-Admirall sayled about this corner or necke of the land for his pleasure caused Oringes Lemons peason beanes and all kind of other graine to bee sowed which he had in the shippe to see if the same would grow well there or no to the end the same might hereafter serue for refreshing of such as should chaunce to come thither These are small Islands against which the Sea masheth sometimes casting vpon the land many Torteyses A repetition or more plaine manifestation of such things as we found and saw in the Island Mauritius and of such matters as we there did in the time of our abode No. 2. These are Torteyses which liue on the land and haue no finnes to swimme being so great that they will créepe away with a man standing on their shelles which they carrie on their backs they liue vpon crabs which are as bigge as a mans foote Is a fowle altogether as bigge as a Swanne hauing two or thrée curled feathers behinde at her taile without any wings but in place of wings they haue thrée or foure smal black Quils of which fowle we caught some with store of Turtle Doues and other birds which our Marriners with great ioy brought aboord dealing to euery ship part of their wild fowle after they were first sent ashore to search for the déepest fresh riuers and what harbour there was for our shippes whereupon the next day wee went to the hauen with our shippes taking one of those Marriners into euerie shippe for a Pilot which had béene a shore the day before These fowles we dressed and sod but we found them so tough that we could not how long soeuer they sod séethe them tender but were faine to eate them so tough as they were As soone as wee were entred into the Hauen our Vice-Admirall sent some of vs with the long boate ashore to spie if there were any inhabitants in the Iland but wee found no creatures except onely great quantitie of Turtle Doues and other birds whereof we caught and killed with cudgels great numbers for seeing they had not beene accustomed to be feared by any people there inhabiting they had no feare of vs but would sit still suffering themselues to bee killed with staucs and cudgels To be short it is a plentifull land of fish and fowle and so abundant that in all our voyage we found not the like This is a Palme trée which carrieth leaues so great that a man may shrowd himselfe with one of them from the raine and not be wet if in this trée a hole bee bored and a quill or tap put into the same immediately there runneth out wine or liquour hauing a swéete and pleasant taste like vnto sacke but if it bee kept thrée or foure dayes it waxeth Towre and therefore it is called the Palme trée This is a bird or fowle which we called Rabos Forcados for that their tayles are in shape resembling a Taylers sheeres they were very tame and little lesse then a fadome long when they were stretched out their bils are long their backes most part blacke and their breasts white they eate flying fishes which they catch and the guttes or garbell of other fish and fowle as wee found by experience for when we cast abroad our garbell of such fish and fowle as we had taken yea of their owne kind they would straight wayes come and deuoure the same their flesh would not be sodden tender Is a bird which we named an Indian Kauen almost as big againe as a Parret they are of two or thrée sundrie colours Is a wild trée whereon for a memorie if any other ships should there arriue is nayled a board hauing thrée srutcheons or armes grauen or cut thereon so wit the armes of Holland Zealand and Austerdam to the end they may know that ships of Holland haue béene at that place This is a Palmites trée where of our Marriners cut downe many and cut out the pith marked with the letter A which we found to be an excellent remedie against the scuruie disease it is some thrée or foure foote long within very white and hath a sweete taste Some of our people ate the pith of 7. or 8. of these plants A Bat or flying Mouse hauing a head like vnto a Monkie and flie in this Iland in great numbers they hang themselues on the 〈◊〉 by the wings and often times they fight and bite one the other Here our Smith set vp a forge to repaire our broken iron workes and such other things as were needfull to be mended abeard the ships These are cottages made by vs of trées and boughes where our Smith and Coopers did forge and hoope their Caske that we might bee readie to sayle thence with the first faire wind At this place our Preacher made euerie Sunday two Sermons in the morning one half of our people went ashore and at afternoone the other halfe to heare the sermon In this place was a man Christened borne in the Iland of Madagascar and named Laurence with one or two of our company which had not béene christened Here we tooke so great abundance of fish that it may séeme incredible to be written yea
visited by their enemies But to come to our purpose and speake of our attempt we wil leaue to speak any further of the situation of Arosbay Ianuarie 27. 1599. after wee had anchored vnder the land of Iaua wee found a mighty shallow or banke which stretcheth out euen vnto the mouth of the straight of Madura so runneth forth to the land of Iaua This banke in some places is but sixe fadome deep and in other places déeper or shallower as it may fall out by reason whereof we were constrained to part company as before is partly declared concluding among our selues that the Vice-Admirall which was the Geldria with the other ship called the Zelandia should saile to the straight of Madura lying betwéene the Island of Iaua and Madura to a little towne named Iortan which is the place whereunto the Jauanars come with their ships attending there for a faire wind to go to the Islands of Moluccas At this place therfore we meant to take in a Pylot to bring vs to the Islands of Moluccas this was the onely reason that brought vs hither In the meane while our Admirall and the Vtrecht sailed to the West and of Madura where they let fal their anchors before a small towne called Arosbay sending their long boat to the said towne to buy Ryse other victuals the mariners were no sooner landed but they were all apprehended vnarmed taken prisoners the most part of them spoiled of their apparell and other rags giuē them to couer their bodies The Admiral séeing that the said boat stayed so long away and returned not sent a cocke-boat with thrée men to the shore to know the cause why the other stayed so long frō the ships These 3. men were no sooner come to the shore but they were also taken prisoners by the inhabitants of the said towne and carried to their fellowes After that they were thus dealt with the commitees which were takē in this sort among the rest obtained of the king licence to send 3. of their company vnto their Admiral to aduertise him of this imprisonment conditionally that the said 3. men should presently returne to the towne after they had béene aboord their shipe which was accordingly agréed and accomplished After that the Admiral vnderstood of these proceedings he sent a boat vnto the Vice-Admirall to aduertise him hereof Who presently waying his anchors droue downe the streame vntill he came before that said towne Arosbay where the mariners were imprisoned Euery day letters were sent to fro to come to some agréement for the liberty of our people but that K. demanded a great ransom namely the 2. blacke péeces of ordinance which were in the Admiral some nūber of cloths péeces of veluet W e 1000. rials of 8 This demand pleased the Admiral nothing at all answering that if they would content themselues with money or wares hee would with all his heart agrée with them but as touching the Ordinance by thē demanded they belonged not vnto him neither had he any power or authoritie ouer them for they belonged vnto his land or state of whence hée was This maner of parle continued in this sort fiue or sixe daies and euery day their demands were more vnreasonable then other In the end the Admirall called all the Marchants and masters aboord him counselling together what was best to bée done Then they concluded to land some of their company and with force of armes to deliuer the prisoners for wee were aduertised that our men were kept in the long boate wherewith they went ashore as yet lying in the hauen before the gate without bonds fetters or close prison meaning sodainly and before they of the towne should be able to preuent vs to deliver our men but we failed of our purpose The 5. day of Februarie after we had very well and in good order with 150. men manned and armed thrée long boats and thrée ship boates we rowed to the shore where wee found a great multitude of people before the towne among whom were two Portingals who came vnto vs with flags of peace or truce in their hands saying they would agrée with vs which was nothing but deceit and knauerie for they assembled themselues verie strongly within the towne Whereupon some twentie of our Muskettiers leapt on land discharging their muskets among the thickest so that thrée or foure of them fell downe dead and running towardes the place where the long boat lay with the prisoners our Vice-Admirall called vnto vs to returne into our owne boat and to bring her in néerer vnto the towne which we did in the meane while the townsmen were come out at another gate meaning to enuiron vs and so to enclose vs in the hauen that we should not be able to returne We perceiuing their intent sent presently two of our boats to the bome or barre to kéepe the hauen frée for our returne for if the enemie could haue possessed the corner it would haue returned to our great hurt While wee were thus in skirmish one with the other they had cléered their brasse Bases discharging them very terribly among vs they had also many calieuers and great store of Bowes and arrowes wherewith they shot among vs so that it séemed that arrowes rained vpon vs they thought as soone as our powder was spent to deale easily ynough with vs but wée stayed not so long by reason that the weather beganne to grow very tempestuous the water was much falne and besides we thought good no longer to hazard our liues in vaine wherefore we retyred to our boats and pulling vp the dregs rowed out of the hauen towards our ships for the wind began to rise more and more and beeing some shot off from the land the Admirals boat with 36 men and the boat of the Zealand with 13. men were with the waues billowes turned topsie-furuy and ouerthrowne wee that were in the other boates were not able to helpe them for it was as much as we were able to doe to preserue our owne boats aboue water so that many a man came to his end by this mishap some being drowned and others killed by the wilde people on the shore but some that hapned to swim to the one side of the towne were saued by the Renegado of Tuban which stoode by as the men came to land and intreated for their liues perswading the people to take them prisoners whereupon they were suffered to come to the land and knéeling on the ground the people laid sand on their heads in token that their liues were saued but so many as swoome to the other side of the land were put to the sword without mercie Thus there died 25. of our mē to wit 15. of the Admirals one of Iohn Martssens ship 9. of the Zealāds The prisoners were the same euening led through the town and kept without the gates in a countrey house The Trumpeter and the Corporall were bound and fettered the rest were
cōmeth aboord our ships our ships wondring not onely at our great Ordinance muskets and other artillerie but also that we were so well prouided of all other necessaries hee was a very readie man with a péece wherein he tooke most delight The 6. day in the morning the Vice-Admirall with 3. of the Committées went ashore to conferre with the Captaine and to know whether we could there be prouided of sufficient lading for our shippes or no. After that they were landed they were mette by the chiefe Lordes of the Land saluting and reuerencing each other after their Countrey maner shewing themselues very glad of our comming and said that we should there haue sufficient fraight for two of our ships which we were very glad to heare afterwards bringing the Vice-Admirall vnder a place of shaddow from the Sunne they remayned together in conference néere 3. houres In the afternoone the Vice-Admirall returned to the ships bringing with him the King of Ternates his brother with many gentlemen desirous to sée our ships and afterwards toward the euening they returned to the shore at what time wee honoured them with fiue great shot whereof two were laden with bullettes for so they had desired of the Admirall The seuenth day in the morning they brought vs great store of fruit aboord our shippes offering the same in change The 8. day in the morning our vnder-Cōmittees were sent ashore to speake to the Gouernour of the land for an house to lay in our wares which was presently granted and to that end one appoynted vs. The 9. day all the Committees and Masters were aboord the Admirall where they deliberated and conferred together what ships should bee chosen to séeke their lading at some other place for we vnderstood that here we should not find sufficient fraight for all our foure ships The same day about noone Carpenters were sent aland to repaire and make fitte the house which was appoynted vs for our wares The 10. day Iustice was executed in our shippe the Gelderland The same day store of fruits was brought aboord our shippes and wee were very earnest to hasten the repairing of the house To the Reader THe Gentle Reader may please to vnderstand that the foure shippes namely the Amsterdam the Vtrecht the Zealand and the Gelderland arriued the third day of March before Amboyna where perceiuing that they should not find sufficient lading for all the foure ships after consultation had it was determined to separate the ships to send 2. of them to Banda namely the Zealand whereof Iohn Cornelissen was Master the Gelderland whereof Iohn Bruiin was Master The eleuenth day of March therefore these sayd two Shippes sette sayle from Amboyna leauing the other two Shippes behinde them the which remayned there two moneths after where leauing them we will proceede with the nauigation of the other two towards Banda declaring vnto you the rich and speedie lading which they there found and afterwards returne to speake of the nauigation of those other two to wit of the Amsterdam whereof Claes Ianssen Melknap was master and of the Vtrecht whereof Iohn Martssen was Master who also departed from Amboyna the 8. day of May toward the Islands of Moluccas Thus much I thought good to note vnto the fauorable Reader that hee might the better reade and vnderstand the order and whole discourse of this Voyage made by the 8. shippes which sayled from Amsterdam the 13. day of March 1598. to the East Indies THe 11. day of March at afternoone we parted from 1599. March 11. our consorts at Amboyna towards Banda but the Zealand lay still by reason that she could not weigh her anchor wherefore we were faine to stay vntill the shippe was lighted for in that place is very bad anchoring and wee imagined that the Cable was wound about some stone wherefore that night we turned to and fro to haue his companie The 12. day in the morning the Zealand with our 1599. March 12. shippe the Gelderland set sayle together but for that it was calme weather wee could not make any way The 13. day about noone the Zealand came aground in the straight of Ceru néere an Island called Ielau where a mightie currant runneth and the weather very calme so that the streame droue her vpon the banke which lyeth before this little Island but God blessed her sending a fine gale whereby she presently got out an Anker and so wound her off Thus with great ioy and comfort we sayled foorth together At after noone two Praus or Boates came aboord vs telling vs that there lay a Portingale ship vnder the Iland of Noesau which Iland lyeth in the mouth of the straight of Cera towards the east end of Amboyna the people whereof are Canibals or deuourers of mans flesh The. 14. day very calme with a fine gale towards the euening from the north-west we holding our course southeast towards Banda The same euening we had sight of the Iland Banda lying from vs south-east In the night time we came by an Iland called Loel Setton lying on the North-west end of Banda about some 5. Leages This little Iland is not inhabited neither dare any man A strange tale if it be true presume to come into it as our Pylot reported that was in our Ship The people are wonderfully afeard thereof for they are of opinion that it is the habitation of Sathan in so much that when they approach neare vnto this Iland with their shipping they know not how to make haste enough to passe from or by it which we might easely perceiue by our Pylot who tooke a Boate-hooke in his hand placing himselfe before in the Ship where he stood drawing and pulling the hooke towardes him imagining that thereby we should the sooner leaue the land behind vs but after he was wearie with pulling he laide the hooke before ouer the Shippes side not suffering vs to take the hooke away before we were passed this little Iland and when it was a little calme still weather this prettie fellow went whistling with his mouth vp and downe the Ship meaning therewith to call and intice the Diuell whereby we saw that these people were very weake of beliefe The 15. day we saw two Ilands more lying Southwest of Banda some leage and a halfe the one is called Polleway and the other Polleruyn which lie some halfe a league distant from each other At Noone came aboard vs one of the Praus full of people from the Iland Polleruyn they are very nimble and lusty men they were apparrelled with a garment made of Cotton cloth their weapons were Pikes which they throw with their hands In the euening we let fall our Anker in the Riuer of Banda The 15. day we came into the Riuer of Banda but the Zealand stayed yet behind by reason the weather was so calme and still The same euening came many Boates aboard vs telling vs that there had been 2. Portingale Ships laden there
aforesayd parted from vs. The 12. day in the night we lost the company of the Zealand by reason of the mist The 13. day we heard nothing of her In the night we ran Northward taking in our top-sayles to th end we might come together agaiue The 14. day in the morning we were neare to Faire Lee hauing sight of a Flecte of 30. Sayle but could vnderstand nothing of the Zealand About noone we saw Douer Clifts hauing a fine South west wind a long the coast of Fraunce The same night we left Douer behind vs. The 15. day in the morning we saw Callice Dunckerk where we met with a Northerly wind and at noone turned towarde Douer Roade at what time the Zealand came againe to vs and the same euening we let fall our Anchors in Douer Roade The 16. day in the morning the Boate rowed to the shore to buy some fresh victualies the Wind North North west with a very hard gale The 20 day came a Post to vs from London with Letters which he deliuered with other newes to our Vice-Admirall Afterwardes with great ioy to all the Marchantes and Owners whom it concerneth were ariued God be thanked in safetie in the Texel where the Nutmegs were vnladen and put into bagges and sent to Amsterdam to the great admiration and comfort of the people where they were layde vp in Warr-houses which with the other Spices yeelded a most pleasant sweete smell to all the neighbours dwelling there aboutes And it is most true that these Nutmegâ—es were so fresh that Dyle was pressed out of them the like whereof were neuer brought from Lysborne Hauing thus finished and declared the ariuall of these two Shippes in the Texel we will returne to the other two namely the Amsterdam and the Vtrecht which after they had lyen two months at Amboyna before Tuban and could not there finde sufficient store of lading sayled thence the 8. day of May towards the Ilands of Moluccas THe 13. day of March Anno 1599. March the two Ships lying before Tuban there ariued three Ships of warre from Iaua full of Souldiers which were sent for by the Tubans to ayde them against the Portingals and to take a Castle which they there helde committing dayly great outrage and mischiefe against those of Tuban because we were suffered to lie there These Iauaners were receiued with great ioy and triumph who after their landing fell to making of Boothes and Cottages running ouer all the land clyming the Coquar trees and gathering the fruites to the great damage dissyking of all the people of Amboyna The 20. day some of vs were a shore to kill fowle with our Peeces where wee killed greene Pidgions as great as Duckes The 25. day Iohn Cornelissen of Edam died who was the first man that was buried there on the land The 29. day was a letter sent to the Vice-Admirall lying at Banda The 30. day some lading in small quantetie was brought aboard for that they could not agree on the prises The last day the Admirall went ashore to agree about the price of wares but effected nothing The first day of Aprill Isack Henricksen of Rees died Aprill was buried on the land The 2. day Gisbrecht Wolfertsen died also and was buried on the land The 10. day the price of Cloues was agreed viz. for 35. The price of Cloues peeces of Ryals of eight the Baer the Baer waying 550 li. The 12. day was agreement made for the price of head peeces viz. 250. li. of Cloues for euery head peece of Murrion The 13. day we tooke in some Cloues The 19. day the long Boate returned from the Vice-Admirall at Banda which is some 28. leagues from Tuban from whom we vnderstood that the said Vice-Admirall had taken into his Ship some 30. Last of Nutmegs and Maces and it was supposed that at this time he had in his full lading for the Boate had been 5. dayes on the way and that the other Ship of Melcknap began to lade also The 20. day the Portingales attempted to take a little Towne in the Iland of Amboyna not effecting any thing but that they killed two men for the people of the Iland assembling made head against them in the ayde of the towne in which company 4. of our Marriners went in the Boate with the King of Ternates his Brother which seemed strange vnto them and as a mirracle that the Hollanders would take their partes in their warrs as enemies to the King of Spaine and Portingall May. The 2. day of May Iohn Martsen a Wallon and our Trumpeter died and was buried on the land The 8. day we bartered for some small quantitie of Cloues of which commoditie was no great store in this Island to bée had but wonderfull plentie of Rice insomuch that for a looking glasse of a blancke or of a pennie of sterling money we had fiftéene or sixtéene pounde of Rice and so accordingly after the same rate for all other wares In the end we set saile and departed thence towards the Island Moluccas carrying with vs a Gentleman belonging to the King who gaue himselfe out to be the Kings brother but it was not so This gentleman tolde vs that the Kings father of Amboyna had in his life time 70. married Wiues besides his other concubines and that the King now liuing had 40. married wiues besides his other women or concubines The 14. day died Albert Petersen in Iohn Martsens ship The 16. day in the night wée crossed the Line hauing sight the next morning of the Island Ternate and Tidore The 22. day towards the euening we let fall our anchors Anno 1599. The 22. of May. vnder the Island of Ternate and rode at fiftéene fathome The 25. day dyed one Iacob a Flemming and was buried on the land The 28. day the King of Ternate came aboord vs but The King of Ternate commeth aboord not into our ships desiring our Admirall to come into his gallie which the Admirall did betwéene whom was long conference by interpreters so that we supposed he would haue come into our ships but hée would by no meanes excusing himselfe first that the ladder had no conuenient couering although there was a péece of woollen cloth cast ouer it then it was too late for him and it was now time for him to goe to his prayers for said he the Sunne is now very lowe The 29. day the King came the second time to vs In what triumphant manner the King came the second time with 32. gallies maruailouslie well trimmed and appointed with some hundred bases of brasse rowing in triumphant maner thrice about ourships with great noyse of singing drummes and copper basons In the meane while we made our selues readie with our ordenance muskets pikes and other artillerie placing some of our men aloft and other some beneath to make resistance if nèede had béen and that if they had offered vs any violence but
people sitting with them in the side of the Tent to heare what was sayd Are Hollanders with their Trumpets appoynted now and then to sound wherein these Nobles and the rest tooke great pleasure delight woondring greatly thereat A description how those of Banda vse to make them selues terrible vnto their enemies when they ioyne in fight No. 8. COmmonly when the people of Banda enterprise any matter of warfare they haue great assembles and meetinges the reason whereof is the Iland hauing 5. or 6. Townes and as I sayd before being seuered into three partes or factions deadly hate and malice each other Nera is the principallest Towne of the Iland Labbetacke Combeer Waeyer Townes of the same Iland ioyne together in mortall hatred against the Nerans On the other part Lontoor lying on the other side of Nera with two other Ilandes lying some leage from Banda called Polleuine and Poelway hold and take part with the Nerans Now when any of these confederats pretend any attempt against those of Labbetacke they come with their Gallies to Nera where the people of Banda prouide a Banquet euen against the instant that the execution of their attempt is appoynted inuiting al their people therevnto holding the same openly in the streets and sitting side by side there is brought and layde before them a peece of a leafe of the Bonanas plant for or in stead of a trencher with a peece of their bread which they call Sago then is set before euery one a messe of sodden Rise in a dish or porrenger made of the leafe of a tree and therein a bit of flesh wherevnto they fall with good appetite like rauening beastes casting the Rise with their fingers into their mouthes in the meane season and while they sit thus at their victualls commonly the Gentlemen with their weapons in their handes come into the streetes where this good cheere is kept dauncing and fighting as they daunce one with an other while their drummes and basons standing one against an other make them musique after the sound whereof they daunce and play at fence vntill they are weary then are their weapons taken from them they ledde thence to their houses in whose place an other dauncer succeedeth and thus continueth as long as they are at their banquet No. 9. The Gallies of Banda vsed by them in their warres called in their language Caracora are light and swift neither are they vnexpert to row them in very good order They make them commonly weake of timber cut out of one peece for the inner part of the Gallie the outside is made of planckes lyned vpon the ioyntes and bound together with roopes and commonly the same roopes are fastned therevnto with the lyninges euery lyning is some faddome one from another in the finishing whereof the lyninges are so placed that they lie leuell vppon euery plancke which are pinned in the inside of the Gallie on both sides of the lyninges for the strengthning binding together of the worke then they Rauke her with a certaine substaunce made of the inner barke or peeling of the Indian Nut-tree which they call Clappus after the same hath bin beaten with an hammer vntill it be like vnto Towe Pitch they hane none but instead thereof they daube all the seames chinkes and ioyntes with Lyme tempered with some other substaunce which lyeth so fast that the water cannot wash it away A. Is a slaue of Banda which they call Leschar comming from the Garden with fruite and wine of Palme which they themselues drinke B. A poore Woman comming from the wood with all kind of fruites which the carrieth to the Market to sell hauing the same in a Mat made of Canes which they carrie behind them fastned for their ease to a hood on their heades hanging downe at their backes No. 10. Is the description of our House in Nera wherein was our Warehouse to buy and sell in for money or in barter shewing how the people came to the same bringing their wares to be waighed Their waightes are iust and true called Katti in their language One pound of their waightes maketh fiue pound and a quarter of our pounds The Beame is made of wood which we receiued with the waightes of the Sabander or Gouernour after which waight all others that they vse are made No. 11. A litle Turke named Goeytyen of whom we bought much wares and receiued great friendship A Gentleman as he goeth in the streetes with a slaue after him commonly apparrelled after their manner whereof they are very proud A woman of Banda as she goeth in the streetes with a woman slaue commonly waighting on her which carryeth a Hatte for her Mistresse to keepe her from Sunne burning when she putteth off her tire No. 12. Is a Mappe shewing the maner of their Foote-ball play spurning the Ball one to the other standing round and one man in the middle one of them smiteth the Ball first to his fellow as high as a man is able to throw it It is made of Spanish Reede interlaced one with another of the fashion of a Sylera mundi being a great shame and reproch to him that misseth and hitteth not the Ball with his foote when it commeth to him for then the rest and others standing by mocke him and laugh him to scorne This play is greatly esteemed among them sometimes they will spring leape vp and hit the Ball as it reboundeth and sometimes turne them selues round about as the Ball reboundeth and yet smite the Ball to his fellow before it shall come to the ground No. 13. When the Inhabitantes of Banda go out in Warfare they carry a Shield in one hand and a Sabel in the other which they call Padaug and commonly they haue also a Speare or Picke which they cast at their enemies and after the same is so cast they vse their Sables which they hould with their hand behind the Shield vntill they haue discharged them selues of the Picke The. 5. day of Iuly in the morning we set sayle and Anno. 1599 the 5. day of Iuly we set sayle from Banda departed from Banda discharging all our Ordinance for our farewell which they liked very well About noone we were past Banda and directed our course North-west towardes Amboyna with a faire gale The. 4. day in the morning we saw the Iland Noeseleau the Inhabitantes whereof are Canibals or eaters of mans flesh from thence we sayled to the straight of Cera but by reason of the storme that we then had we were fallen too low missing the right channel or entrance wherefore we turned vp and downe thinking to passe at the Westerne gappe of Amboyna but the wind came contrarie with very foule weather raining lightning and thundring so that we were forced to take in our Sayles The 6. day we shot off two peeces before the Westerne gap of Amboyna to th end that the Maister and Committes of the Zealand should come a boord