they brought Rice Beef Pork and fresh Water for those that were Ship-wrack'd where two by Cold and drinking of Brandy miserably lost their Lives in the Night The twenty fourth in the Morning some Chineses coming to a Jonk by Van Campen on the Island proffer'd to carry him to the Fort Minjazen saying that the Governor Hanlavia would entertain him nobly for they suppos'd the Fleet to have been gone to Batavia they also gave him some fresh Pork Eggs and Rice and shew'd him other Civilities The Admiral by Letters advis'd Van Campen the same day that all his expectation and stay was for him that they might set Sail together but suppos'd that the bad Weather had hindred him from coming out and that in the Morning when he heard him Shoot he was about weighing Anchor with all the Ships that were with him at Tenhay of which he had sent him the Finch and Sea-hound and desiring him that if any more Tydings came from Hoksieu that he should Fire three times and for a little while keep in his Flag The same day the Sea-hound Frigat and Finch came to an Anchor near the Wreck in the River of Hoksieu whither Van Campen went immediately with his Boat to see what Goods could be sav'd which to do was almost impossible because of the raging Billows which beat so violently that no Boat was able to come near her In the interim the Fleet which lay at Tenhay also setting Sail fell down towards the Wreck yet afterwards changing their purpose Tack'd about lying Northward The twenty fifth the Admiral 's Sloop with his chief Pilot went aboard the the Vice-Admiral in the Sea-hound Frigat from whence after midnight he was sent again to the Fleet with News concerning the Wreck Little was perform'd that day no Vessels being able to lie near the foundred Ship but the next day they recover'd some Cordage Lead Tin and Sandal-Wood which was put aboard the other Frigats The twenty seventh fetching the last Cables that lay on the Deck they carry'd them aboard the Sea-hound in the Night and then likewise sav'd the Guns and some Shot The next day seven Tartar Jonks came to an Anchor near the Wreck to which Van Campen Rowing put one Mey aboard to look to the Pepper and other Goods that were yet remaining which at last being given to the Tartars was by them esteem'd a great Prize In the afternoon the Sea-hound and Finch weighed and set Sail to get out of the Channel of Hoksieu and came towards Evening to an Anchor by the Fleet in the Bay of Linkun where Van Campen immediately went aboard of the Naerden to the Admiral Bort to whom having given a Relation concerning the loss of the Ankeveen he Row'd aboard the Zirickzee The first of March being Thursday the Admiral at Day-break fir'd a Gun as a Signal that the Fleet should all weigh Anchor and putting to Sea proceed on their Way to Batavia In the Evening about Sun-set they came up with the South-Point of the Isle of Crocodiles which bore South-west about five Leagues and the South-Point of Carellos Nor-Nor-east about six Leagues from them their Course West-South-west The second they saw several Fishers Jonks near the Coast and about Noon came into twenty four Degrees and fifty three Minutes Northern Latitude and had the Southern Island Makau North-west and by West about five Leagues from them they steering South-west and West and by South Saturday being the third the Fleet at Sun-set was about three Leagues and a half from another Isle and on the next day at Noon in twenty two Degrees and thirty eight Minutes Nor-Nor-East about four Leagues from the Sandy Banks and against Evening came up with the Black Hill on the Coast of China about four or five Leagues from them their Course being South-west and by West and West-South-west The fifth the Fleet was about five or six Leagues from Ilhas dons Viedos and at Noon in twenty one Degrees and twenty nine Minutes the next day in twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes and the day after being Wednesday at Noon in nineteen Degrees and fifty Minutes On Thursday Van Campen was got out of sight of the Fleet in nineteen Degrees and thirty six Minutes and the next day reach'd nineteen Degrees and twenty Minutes The tenth in the Morning he came up with the East-Point of the Island Ainan but at a great distance from him and found himself at Noon in nineteen Degrees and twenty four Minutes Northern Latitude the East Point West and by South and West-South-west about four or five Leagues and Poele Tayo North-west about three or four Leagues distant The East-Point of Ainan appears like two Isles as you come about the North. The twelfth about Noon Van Campen was in eighteen Degrees and twenty seven Minutes three Leagues from the South Coast of Ainan which is found to be six or seven and forty Minutes more Southerly than it is placed in the Maps and in the afternoon coming near the Shore he espy'd the Fleet standing South-South-east and the next Morning he descry'd the Admiral Bort with seven Sail to lie a little to Leeward on his Larboard About Noon being eighteen Degrees and thirty two Minutes the Mount Tinhosa bore West and by North about four Leagues from him appearing like three Isles whereof the middlemost is the biggest More into the Countrey are two other Hills to be seen and in the South-west and by West many Highlands The South-west Shore was seen in the South-west and by South about four or five Leagues from him This Countrey is not rightly placed in the Maps neither in its due Latitude nor Longitude for it lies forty six or forty seven Minutes more Southerly in the Maps than it stands The fourteenth in the Morning the Admiral Bort with all the other Ships were behind in the Channel East-North-east and about Noon in eighteen Degrees and seventeen Minutes Sail'd Northerly up to the Fleet which in the Evening came up with Tinhosa The next day at Noon they came to seventeen Degrees and fifty nine Minutes and the day after to Fifteen Degrees and forty Minutes Northern-Latitude their Course South The seventeenth about Day-break they espy'd the Coast of Champan which is very high Land lying South-west and by West from them Six hours after they discern'd the Isle call'd Round Holm near the Coast of Champan and about Noon were in the Latitude of twelve Degrees and ten Minutes and Sailing along the foremention'd Coast in the Evening they past by the Bay call'd Bagerang and about Sun-set they descry'd Poele or the Isle Cicier de Terra Westwards about a League from them The eighteenth Van Campen being about midnight separated from the Fleet found himself about Noon in nine Degrees and nine Minutes and about Sun-set saw Poele Candor West-Nor-West five Leagues from him his Course South-West and by South The nineteenth he came into six Degrees and twenty nine Minutes the twentieth in four Degrees and thirty Minutes
the separated Ships are strictly Commanded not to pass by the foremention'd Island De Lemas but put in to it and there wait for the Fleets coming that so they may proceed on together in their Voyage and the more resolutely bid the Enemy defiance if they should Rancounter After leaving the Island De Lemas and coming on the Coast of China they shall first put in for the Bay of Engeling or rather that of Hoksiu they being the safest and convenientest Harbors in the Southern Bay or Mouson and with the whole Fleet except those bound for Iapan which will part from us before run into them to inquire how the Affairs of War stand between the Tartar and Coxinga and whether he be in China or Formosa therefore if in the way from Lemas to the Coast of China any Frigats should be separated from the Fleet let them put in for the foremention'd Bays of Engeling or Hoksiu where they shall joyn with the Fleet again When the white Flag shall be set up at the Admirals Stern and a Gun be fired from his Ship then the General Council of War shall meet consisting of these following Persons to consult with the Admiral viz. Henry Indiik of the Ship Loosduinen Iohn Idze de Vink or Van Campen Vice-Admiral of the Fleet but so long as Indiik is by the Fleet the Finch shall carry the Flag as Rear-Admiral of Zierikzee The Merchant Constantine Nobel who carries the Light before the Fleet after Indiik hath taken leave shall bear the Flag of Domburgh Peter Iansz Veldmuis Captain of the Naerden Ysbrand Bowmester Captain of the Domburgh Barent Iochemsz Captain of the Overveen Harman Symonsz Commander of the High-Land Iohn Hendriksz Master of the Sea-Dog Dirk Gerritz Commander of the Meliskerke Iohn Ysbransz Van Bank Captain of the Ankeven Valk Master of the Vink Christopher Edwartsz Secretary If the Admiral le ts flie his Red Flag from his Poop then all the remaining Commanders of the Fleet as Brukelen Loenen and Ter-Bode shall also come aboard with the foremention'd persons and likewise their chief Officers of War as the Ensigns and Serjeants But if the Admiral will have his Privy Council to come aboard he shall put out his white Flag with a Bend from the Poop The Privy Council shall consist in the following Persons Henry Indiik Iohn Idze de Vink Constantine Nobel Peter Iansz Veldmuis Commander of the Naerden Ysbrand Bowmester Captain of the Domburgh If the Admiral is desirous to speak with the Captain of the Loosduine he shall let a Pennon flow from his Mizzen-Yard if with the Zirikzee a Pennon from the Fore-Yard if with Domburgh a Jack from the Sprissel-Yard If any one be found to neglect these Orders he shall be put in mind of it by the Secretary and after examination of the cause receive all due punishment All these were made and agreed on in the Naerden Frigat Sailing about the Thousand Islands the 26. of Iune 1662. Balthazar Bort Iohn Idze de Vink On Thursday morning being the twenty seventh the Fleet having the same Weather found themselves to be in four Degrees and eighteen Minutes South-Latitude and in the afternoon beyond the Point of Boomy's Riff in nine and ten Fathom Gravelly Ground in the Night on fourteen and fifteen Fathom the same Ground they spy'd the Banks of the foresaid Riff at a pretty distance On Wednesday Morning the twenty eighth the Fleet being in thirteen and fourteen Fathom Water the Wind Easterly saw the Island Lucipar or Lukapar lying to the South-West about a League and a half from them This Island lies near Sumatra in the Mouth of the Straights of Banka and is fourteen Leagues in Circumference It is uninhabited yet Wooddy and yields a pleasant Prospect with its high Trees towards the Sea it is interlac'd with many murmuring Streams which abounding in Fish and the Woods with Beasts makes it a fit place for the Sea-men to refresh in In the afternoon being in three Degrees and seven Minutes Lukapar lay three Leagues South South-East from the Fleet and having got the first Point of Sumatra on their Starboard their Course being North-East and by East they Sail'd along the Coast of Sumatra in ten and thirteen Fathom Water The twenty ninth about Noon the Fleet Sail'd by Poele Nancha lying in the Straights of Banka thirty Leagues to the In-land in two Degrees and twenty five Minutes Southern-Latitude and were got within a small League from the third Point of Sumatra Poele Nancha that is The Isle Nancha for Poele is Island and Nancha the proper name of the place and signifies Round Island so call'd being indeed almost Circular and hath eight Leagues in Circumference very barren being onely Sandy Ground having on the Shore nothing but a few Turtles In the Evening about Sun-set they came up with the high Promontary Monapien on the North of the Island Banka and the fore-Fore-Land of Sumatra lying West South-West about a League from them Banka an Island about a League from Sumatra is inhabited fruitful and full of Woods The thirteenth being Friday the Fleet was at Noon gotten into one Degree and twenty two Minutes South-Latitude and had Poele Toutyon that is seven Islands East and by North four Leagues from them in sixteen and seventeen Fathom Water These Isles though they lie close by one another yet are uninhabited Close by Poele Toutyon towards the East lies the Isle of Linge Inhabited on the Shore by Fishers and Rusticks but in the Countrey by a People who came thither from the Mountain Passarvan which is in Iova for these People opprest by the King of Passarvan with great Tributes and other Inconveniencies fled for their better accommodation to several places most of them being Licens'd by the King of Bantam to have setled behind the City on the Coast of Sunda at the foot of the Mountain Gomon Bezar where they have built the City Sura and several Villages Electing a King of their own which pays Tribute to the King of Bantam Others have setled themselves on this Isle and built Towns and Villages which they enjoy'd in Peace a long time but submitted themselves at last either out of kindness or force to the King of Sura These People live peaceably and friendly maintaining themselves with Husbandry or Tillage and observe the old Pythagorean Doctrine concerning the Transmigration of the Soul therefore they neither kill nor eat any animated Creature They go clothed in white Paper made of Trees of which they tie only one piece about their Head and another about their Middle for decency This Isle hath all manner of good Provisions though not in very great plenty but abundance of Birds which are from thence Transported to China for a great Dainty The first of Iuly about Noon the Fleet finding it self in twenty five Minutes South-Latitude spy'd the East Point of the Isle of Linge North-West from them and Poele Zay South-West and by
torments them for ever therefore they worship him that they may not be tortured They also firmly believe That the Souls of the Wicked return again on Earth to plague and terrifie those alive which they say appear to them in several Visions On the fifteenth day of the seventh Moon they present him a well drest Swine whole and likewise Hens Ducks Pinang and Cakes of fine Meal Keekieuw that is Arak or Brandy and Sugar-Canes The Hog they lay down on his two foremost Knees with his Head on his fore-Feet opposite to the Image Tytsoequi and use afterwards so many extraordinary Ceremonies at this Offering that beginning early in the Morning it continues above an hour after Sun-set Several Gilded pieces of Paper made like a Boat are also burnt in honor to him and they are very zealous in their Prayers to this Tytsoequi In Hell they say he is served like a King having two Councellors and twelve Spirits which wear mighty Knives and wait upon him continually like Halberdeers to receive and execute his Commands besides several other Spirits which serve him as Gentlemen The second or Vice-Roy of Hell they call Iamkoen who Commands with great Authority wherefore they worship and fear him The third Iamtouwi The Chineses also observe a certain day in the Year on which they Offer to all the happy departed Souls calling it Chinkbinch and is kept Annually on the third day of the third Moon the Year after Leap-year but in the Year before Leap-year on the twentieth day of the same Moon Thus far David Wright In Valour and Warlike Policy the Chineses of Tayowan and Formosa far exceed those on the Main Land most of them at all times wearing Skeans by their sides except when at Meat in their own Houses They use no Knives Forks or Spoons to eat withall but take it up with two small Sticks made of Ivory or Ebony-Wood Tipt at the ends with Silver or Gold Women of mean Capacity maintain themselves with Spinning and Twisting of raw Silk which is brought thither from the Territory of Chickinny The Women eat not constantly with their Husbands at Meals and when heretofore the Men found no Women according to their minds on the Islands they sent for them out of China and barter'd for them as other Commodities Lastly it is requisite in this place to give a short account how Coxinga and his Associates Anno 1661. took both these Islands from the Netherland East-India Company but first we will shew his Extract strange Rise with the Ruine of his Father who was call'd Chunchilung and by Foreigners Iquon or Ikoan and Equan a Man of mean Descent born in a small Village on the Sea-shore in the Territory Fokien near the City Annay his Father very poor and as some say a Taylor by Trade He first Serv'd the Portuguese in the City Makao and afterwards the Hollanders on the Island Formosa where soon after he became a great Merchant by the Iapan Trade and at last a Pyrate Having from this small beginning gotten a great Fleet of Ships and obtain'd by his politick Designs and grand Undertakings to so great Treasure that the Chinese Emperor was not able to stand in competition with him for he onely of all the Chineses ingrossed the Commodities of all India in his own hands driving therewith a vast Trade with the Portuguese at Makao with the Spaniards on the Philippine Islands and with the Hollanders at Formosa and Batavia and likewise with the Iapanners besides other Oriental Kingdoms and Islands He onely Transported the Chinese Commodities by his own People bringing back the Indian and European in Returns for them so that he began to grow so exceedingly rich that he could fit out a Fleet of three thousand Sail. Yet this Chinchilung or Iquon not contenting himself herewith began to Plot how to be Emperor of China but well knowing that he could never effect it so long as any of the Imperial Tamingian Family was in being which at that time held the Royal Seat therefore he made choice of a time to extirpate that Family which was Anno 1644. when the Tartars over-ran the whole Empire except three Provinces being Folnien otherwise call'd Chincheo Quantung and Quangsi and the more closely to hide his Design he pretended to take up Arms against the Tartars as Enemies to the Chineses and defend that Empire with all his Forces And without doubt under this Disguise he would have been taken for the Redeemer and Protector of that Crown had he not held Correspondence with the Tartars to whom he gave what Intelligence he thought good for his advantage At the same time when the Tartars fell into the Countrey of Fokien Iquon was declar'd General by the Emperor Lungun of all his Forces the Officers also were either his Brothers or Friends so that being able to do what he listed he permitted the Tartars to come into the Empire for which they gave him the Title of King making him King of Pingnan which is in the Southern part of China and sent him many great Gifts the more easily to delude him and though perhaps not ignorant of his Design but fearing his formidable Power they durst not use any rigorous course against him but rather Treated him very honorably with Presents high Entertainments and large Promises of the Government over the Territories of Fokien and Quantung so that he thought easily to get an absolute Command over the Southern Countreys But when the Tartar intended to return to the Imperial City Peking and all his Vice-Roys according to custom came to attend and accompany him some part of the Way Iquon also not suspecting any danger came to shew his Respects in like manner and went with a few having left his Fleet in the Haven before the City of Focheu but now being ready to depart having perform'd his Complements and desiring leave to return the Tartar Prince requested him to go with him to Peking to the Emperor where he promised him the highest Preferments and although Iquon sought with many Arguments to put off this Journey yet was he at last forced to go so that by this Stratagem he was taken which could not be by force of Arms or any Device whatsoever Coming to Peking he was put close Prisoner not onely under a strict Guard but the Door of the Place wherein he was kept made up with Stone and himself loaded with Fetters about his Neck and Feet and if any new Troubles hapned by his Son Coxinga and the News thereof brought to the Court at Peking as it did Anno 1657. at which time the Netherlanders were there in an Embassy they laid fifteen Chains more upon him His Son Coxinga and Brothers inform'd of his Imprisonment betook themselves again to the Fleet and made all the Seas near China by their Pyracies almost useless Upon this account Coxinga with his Associates and a crew of Rebel Chineses kept the Tartars on the Coast of China in continual Alarms
Enemies The City hath three straight and long Streets which all concenter before the Royal Palace from whence one leads to the Sea the second to one of the City-Gates and the third to the Mountain-Gate None of the Streets are pav'd except those three for the other By-Lanes and Alleys are Sandy And notwithstanding the whole may be Navigated by Channels that run through every Street which receive their Waters from the foremention'd Rivers yet are they very foul because when the Water falls it goes off so slowly Near the Court on the West side of the City stands a spacious Temple on the East-side the Arsenal and on the South side the Kings Palace artificially built with spacious Courts and Walks within At the end of the Street that leads into the Countrey stand the Mayor or Chief Magistrates House wherein all the Kings Servants or Slaves reside and where are also his Stables and other Offices The City stands divided into four parts over every one of which a Noble-man hath the chief Command in time of War Fire or other Accidents In each of these is also a Drum as big as a Rhenish-Wine Fat whereon they beat with a Hammer which always hangs near it when any Uproar happens The Merchandise to be had there are all sorts of Wrought and un-wrought Silks flower'd and plain of divers Colours as Peelings Hokiens and the like They trade also in white Linnen At Noon the Vice-Admiral Van Campen found himself in fourteen Degrees and forty Minutes Northern Latitude and in the Morning came up with Admiral Van Bort with seven Ships and a Jonk The twenty second about Sun-rising the Fleet spied Poele Canton North-West and by North about five Leagues from them and were in the Latitude of fifteen Degrees and thirty one Minutes their Course North-East The twenty third the Fleet was in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes North Latitude The twenty fourth being Munday they discover'd the Island Hainan at a good distance from them and taking observation at Noon were in eighteen Degrees and fifteen Minutes about four or five Leagues South-East from Hainan The twenty fifth about Noon they reach'd nineteen Degrees and fifty one Minutes The twenty sixth they had twenty one Degrees and seven Minutes North Latitude and were within four or five Leagues bearing South-South-West from the Southermost Island of Macao or Macau in twenty six and twenty seven Fathom Water The twenty seventh the Zierikzee and Ter-Boede cast Anchor in the Evening near the Island of Macau by the Box-Heads being separated from the rest of the Fleet by Misty Weather that being the appointed Rendezvouz where they were to meet if by any Accident they should lose one another The next day in the Forenoon Indiik accompanied with the Loosduinen Singing-bird and three Frigats Domburgh high-High-land and Meliskerke came to an Anchor in the same place under the Coast of Macau in thirteen Fathom Water gravelly Ground which made up their Number eight The Islands of Macau receive their Denomination from the City of the same name scituate on a small hanging Islet joyn'd to one that is somewhat bigger a Ship may without danger in Stormy Weather Sail betwixt and there lie Land-lock'd riding in an always smooth Sea where they never want store of Fresh-water from the living Spring The twenty ninth being Saturday Indiik by putting out a white Flag gave the Signal to the Commanders of the other Ships to come aboard to Council where it was judg'd convenient because Indiik suppos'd that the staying with the Ships bound for Iapan would be chargeable to weigh Anchor in the Morning put again to Sea and sail through the Isles of Macau ordering every Ship now and then to fire a Gun in hopes thereby to meet again with the other five Their Course being Nor-East by East and Nor-Nor-East in sixteen seventeen and eighteen Fathom gravelly Ground about nine of the Clock they bore up with one of the greatest of the Macau Islands in Portuguese call'd Ilhas de Lemas where they saw five Champans or Jonks lying neer the Shore which had a few Houses Here also eight of the Fleet dropp'd Anchor for Indiik with two laden Flyboats steer'd for Iapan The Boats went ashore well Mann'd where they found five great Champans with their Fishing-Nets and above five thousand dried and salted Shepherd-Fish with two hundred Pots of the Rows of the same Fish pickled The Chineses taking their flight into the Woods so left all their Goods to the disposal of the Hollanders onely three were overtaken by the Sea-men and carried aboard the Vice-Admiral who asking them from whence they came they told him From Xantung and also inform'd him of Coxinga's Death who were glad of the News and paid the poor Men for their Fish In the Afternoon they joyn'd with the Admiral Bort and the other lost and separated Vessels which lay at Anchor full three Leagues to Lee-ward of the most Easterly Macaan Isles where they were not able to row ashore with their Boats because of the swiftness of the Current The Admiral making the usual Signal the rest of the Captains came aboard where he ruffling a little and chiding them for not keeping their Rendezvouz according to Order he set upon each of them the Penalty to bring him aboard eight Hogsheads of Water The one and thirtieth in the Morning the Fleet setting sail was at Noon in twenty two Degrees and twelve Minutes a League and a half North-East and by East from Pedro Branke About Noon spying five Sail in the North-East the Vice-Admiral Van Campen made Chase after them and coming up with one in the Evening took it with three Chineses from Tamsua and some fresh and salt Fish On Tuesday the first of August the Vice-Admiral went aboard the Naerden Frigat to know what he should do with the three Chineses and their Vessel Bort replied That he should let them go At Noon the Fleet was in twenty two Degrees and thirty six Minutes in twenty and twenty one Fathom Water fine Sandy Ground mix'd with Shells and the next day at Noon in twenty three Degrees and thirty eight Minutes bearing about three Leagues West-South-West from the Island Tang Goie in twenty two and twenty three Fathom Water Sandy Ground mix'd with small Shells their Course North-East and by East In the Afternoon they spied several Fisher-Boats in the North-East which the Admiral and Vice-Admiral order'd to be chased The Loenen Pink overtaking one of them found onely one Man in her the rest escaping by swimming The third the Fleet came up with the Point of Puthay lying on the main Coast of China Northward from them their Course North-East and by North along the Shore This Point of Land appears in Prospect Mountainous yet full of Valleys and Plains planted with Trees of a wondrous height whose Wood is as black as Pitch and as hard and smooth as polish'd Marble or Ivory some resembling Ebony some a reddish Colour
distant from the Fleet. The ninth in the morning they saw above twenty Fisher-Jonks near the Shore of Pakka who were putting to Sea to fish but not being able to get out were by the Current driven towards the South Van Campen chas'd them between the Islands yet the Jonks by their swift sailing escap'd him In the afternoon the Hollanders came again to an Anchor behind Campens Point in nine Fathom Water about a small Cannon-shot from the Shore The tenth they saw two Frigats in the Bay of Pakka viz. the Sea-hound in which the Admiral Bort was as they understood the next day and the Highland which on the eighth was sent thither for Intelligence The eleventh in the morning the Admiral Bort came in the high-High-land Frigat to an Anchor about half a League from the Vice-Admiral Mean while the Admiral Bort had by Storm taken the Fort Kitat lying in the Bay of Pakka and with it plunder'd all the Towns Villages and Hamlets being twenty in number belonging thereto All which he had written to the Vice-Admiral Van Campen the tenth of the said Month from the Bay of Pakka adding thereto That had he not been detain'd eight days by tempestuous Weather he had been with him before that time to find out Zwathia lying about the North in hopes there to find several Trading Jonks The same day Harman Symonsz went aboard the Vice-Admiral being sent thither by the Admiral from the Bay of Pakka with the Letters before-mention'd bringing also with him a small Supply of fresh Victuals which was equally distributed amongst the Ships They found in Kitat nothing but a little Rice Salt and a little Lumber besides twelve Women and fifteen Youths which were transported for Servants to Batavia The Hollanders fell upon this Place because some of Coxinga's Party resided there The twelfth they descried three Jonks and a Fishers Boat in the North-East one of them being without a Mast Van Campen by the Admirals Order set Sail towards them with five Ships That Jonk which had lost her Mast was onely taken the rest escaping by the advantage of the Tide In the taken Jonk they found no more but onely Salt Rice and Wood. Towards Evening the Frigat came again to the Prize-Jonk and about eight at Night tow'd her along with them to Campens Point In the afternoon the Sea-hound and High-land Frigats and Ter-Boede Pink came up to the Vice-Admiral and at Night Anchor'd South and by West about a League from them Wednesday being the thirteenth the Ter-Boede was sent from the Fleet to the River Hoksieu there to stay till Van Campen's Squadron came back from the North. Against Noon the Overveen Frigat came out of Kitat-Bay near the Fleet and turning up Northerly in the afternoon was forc'd by contrary Winds to lie in seven Fathom water About midnight the Fleet weigh'd Anchor and hearing several Cannons fired and Van Campen fearing some of the Frigats to be run ashore sent his Boats thither and found the Calf to be drove very near the Shore on which the High-land Frigat had also been fast but was got off again whereupon Van Campen return'd Ysbrant Pilot to the Admiral and another were sent aboard of the Vice-Admiral to enquire how many healthy persons he had in his Ship of Seamen and Soldiers and what number of Sea-men he could be able to send ashore fit for Service whereupon he reply'd about thirty Thursday about Noon the Fleet was in twenty seven Degrees and nineteen Minutes Northern-Latitude two Leagues and a half from West and by North from Zwamzwa Cape In the afternoon about two a Clock the Fleet weighed Anchor again and in the Morning were within four Leagues North and by East of Zwatia three Leagues East Nor-East from Cape Elephant and three Leagues and a half West and by South from Zwamzwa About Noon the Fleet forc'd by contrary Winds and Tydes cast Anchor in eleven or twelve Fathom Water about three Leagues Nor-West and Nor-West and by West from the River Zwatia and two Leagues and a half South-east and by East from Cape Elephant where Riding all Night they Sail'd next day toward the North and soon after turn'd Westward up the River of Zwatia where the Vice-Admiral had Cruised with six Sail the twenty eighth and twenty ninth of the last Moneth The Marks whereby Sea-men may know this River are towards the North a great white Shelf and on the Shore many Cliffs A little more to the Northward of it lie two Islands behind which is a safe Harbor About Noon the Fleet found themselves in twenty seven Degrees and thirty five Minutes Eastward from the South-Point of the River Zwatia from whence Sailing West-South-west into the River they had from six to twenty three Fathom Water being the shallowest gravelly Ground and with the same Course they came before Zwatia where they cast Anchor in seven Fathom Water about a Musquet-shot from the Shore on which the short-hair'd Chineses stood with Red Flags a sign of Peace by them as the White is with us in great companies expecting the Netherlanders without any offering to come to their Ships This continu'd a whole hour when the Admiral Bort Commanded the Guns to be fir'd upon the Town The Chineses thus rudely saluted immediately let flie their White Flag in sign of War and shooting with Musquets and Blunderbusses flourish'd their Faulchions and Scythes over their Heads yet betook themselves with all their Movables which they were able to carry out of the City to flight towards the Mountains others with their Vessels ran up the River whereupon the Admiral Bort Commanded the Vice-Admiral Van Campen to go ashore with eight Boats and seven Shallops well Man'd and Arm'd which Bort himself promis'd to follow Van Campen Landing without any resistance on the Shore found the City Re-built and the Houses furnish'd with Tables Chests Stools and Benches besides abundance of Thrash'd and Unthrash'd Rice call'd Bady Salt great store of dry'd and Salt Fish and also Nets There appear'd seven large Temples every one apart in a pleasant Grove Wall'd round about and within Pav'd with Blue Stone where stood many Humane Figures Cloth'd in all sorts of Stuffs Caps Coats Breeches Shoes and Stockings all as alive about Tables on Wax'd Benches or Stools Gilded on each Table stood two large square Vessels or Pots wherein the Priests burn Incense to their Idols with perfum'd Calambak Agar and Sandal-Wood which yield a most fragrant smell On the Tables also lay four pieces of Wood each a large half Foot long round on the top and flat at the bottom which to know future events they throw three times one after another before the Idols Towards Evening Van Campen leaving the Shore went aboard again with all his Men loaden with the best Plunder and many Images not spoil'd by the Tartars Here it is to be observ'd that many Native Chineses are to be understood by the Name of Tartars viz. those who by shaving off
small Garrison to take it in Possession for which purpose the Isle Kolong lies very convenient and likewise the Piscadore's but barren and unfertile where also a Fort might be erected for our better Guard Not to accept to take any other place in possession if you can get Tayowan again Endeavor to Conquer Formosa and Tayowan by force of Arms if it cannot be done by Peaceable means yet take not so much Ground in possession as formerly The lower Castle of Zelandia being a good Garrison would be a sufficient Defence against the Assaults of the Chineses The upper Castle shall be Dismantled and left ungarrison'd that afterwards on farther Order it may be pull'd down and build a strong Redoubt in its place To keep the Fort Provintia and Garrison it with a hundred Men as also that of Quelang To begin somewhat in more safety in Tayowan the Forces ought to be brought ashore through the Straights of Lakge Moey on the main Land and there first to Attaque and win the Fort Provincia and likewise endeavor to get the Inhabitants there to joyn with our People to which purpose it will be requisite for you to take flat bottom'd Vessels from the Chineses because our Boats cannot carry so many Men in those shallow Waters neither could the requir'd Forces be brought ashore together and if they wanted those Vessels it would not be convenient to attempt any thing on that side but be better behind Tonkoya about six Leagues Southward of Tayowan where in the Northern Mouson the Water is very smooth and a higher Shore to break off the Winds From thence they should March up in two or three days by Land to the Fort Provincia at Sakkam and besides the convenient Landing there the Inhabitants of the South might perhaps joyn with the Hollanders which if they should all the Chineses in Formosa would not be able to withstand them If the Tartars should deny the Trade and that those of the Isles Ay and Quemuy live apart from Formosa and Tayowan and are in friendship with the Tartars and also inclin'd to agree with you do you likewise seem willing to it nay seek to joyn with them provided they procure us those Articles demanded of the Tartars and use their assistance towards the regaining of Formosa and Tayowan nay to fall upon the Tartars themselves if occasion should require No time is limited you to come with the Fleet from the North to Batavia but is left to the Discretion of the Admiral and his Council After the Admiral Balthazar Bort had on Iune the 30. Anno 1663. been conducted by several Friends aboard his Ship he set Sail the next Morning three hours before Day with all the Fleet consisting in sixteen Men of War and four Merchants bound for Iapan out of the Haven of Batavia with a South East Wind and running between the Isles of Hoorn and Edam they stood to the North-East At Noon the Fleet had the Isle South-Wayter South West and by West three Leagues from them in five Degrees and thirty Minutes Southern Latitude in the Evening about Sun-set they had the Isle North-Wayter about West-North-West four Leagues distant The second at the usual Signal of a White Flag and firing of a Gun all the Commanders and Chief Officers of the Militia came aboard the Admiral who according to the Lord General and Indian Councils Order chose out of them all for his Privy Council the Persons under written which the rest were to follow in Order viz. next to the Admiral Balthazar Bort who is to be always Chief was Huybrecht de Lairesse Vice-Admiral William Volkersz made Commander of those Ships that were to go to Iapan and Rere-Admiral as long as he stay'd with the Fleet. Bartholomeus Verwei who at Volkersz departure was to carry the Rere-Admiral's Flag and in that Degree take place in the Council Peter Coker Master of the Admiral 's Ship Ernest Van Hogenhoek Merchant in the Kogge And the first Captain Christian Poolman Commander of the Nut-Tree These having taken their places the Fleet was by them order'd to be divided into three Squadrons as had already been consider'd by the Admiral and approv'd of by the Vice-Admiral and the Orders which the Fleet was to follow being read were also affirm'd and likewise the proportions of Diet was agreed on At Noon the Admiral was in four Degrees and five Minutes Southern Latitude and had the High Island with the Trees West-North-West about seven Leagues from him The third about day-break they spy'd the Coast of Banka at Noon they Sail'd Eastward of the Isle Lucipa and in the Evening past within two Leagues and a half by the first Point of Sumatra South and by East from them On Thursday being the fifth they saw the Mountain Monapyn and were within two Leagues of the Shore of Sumatra towards Evening they Sail'd by the River Palimboang and between Poele Tousjou and Poele Sayo The sixth they saw the Isles Tousjou and were at Noon in one Degree and sixteen Minutes South Latitude The seventh the Fleet found Poele Sayo North-West and by West about three Leagues and a half from them in nineteen Minutes Southern Latitude and in the Evening descry'd in the North the Isles which lay near Lingen On Sunday they discover'd Dominies Island West-South-West four Leagues from them and crossing the Line saw the High Isle of the Box-horns about seven Leagues distant The ninth at Noon the Admiral was in fifty four Minutes Northern Latitude and in sight of the Isle Pangang West and by North about three Leagues and a half from him On the tenth appear'd the Isles Tinghy North-West and by West and Laver North and by West from them in the Morning the Fleet being near Laver cast Anchor on the West side of it Tymon hath no Wood neither for Firing nor any other use with which Laver is plentifully supply'd This Isle is pretty high and hath two rising Promontories one on the South and the other at the North end which make a Plain in the middle The twelfth about Noon five Ships upon the Admiral 's Order set Sail from Laver to Poele Tymon to take in Water Fuel and other Wood and likewise to Barter for Provision according to their agreement of the eleventh The Bay on the South-East Point of this Island lies very convenient for the fetching and taking in of fresh Water Firing and other Wood which is to be had ashore in great plenty but Provision is somewhat scarce here because the People of this Countrey have their Habitations more towards the South-West side and also that which is to be had is much dearer than at Poele Laver. The nineteenth the Admiral about Sun-rising set Sail from Poele Tymon and came in the afternoon to an Anchor with the whole Fleet by those Ships that were sent out before from Laver. The Fleet thus furnish'd with all Necessaries Weigh'd Anchor on the twentieth about Day-break and in the Evening had the Isle
Ships may easily suffer But in Tayowan we have Sugar Deer-skins and other Merchandises which you desire in far greater abundance therefore if you will turn your Business to a friendly Commerce intimate your Intentions to Kimsia and he will provide a Place for your Merchants and a Harbor for your Ships I have with yours sent some of our Men to you to know further your Mind and if you desire to Treat with me about any thing send three of your Men to me and we will first consult we will send you aboard Valencine's Wife your Minister Leonard with his Wife and all the other Prisoners What we Write is plain but serious not ambiguous and free from all dissimulation The Hollander Assam was Interpreter two years since in Sakkam to Iacob Valencin therefore I have sent him with this Letter to declare to you all things and to acquaint you with the condition of our Affairs In the 17th Year of Yunlie the 10th Moon and the 9th Day The Commander Iacob Gommers-back sent in Writing by the same Champan which brought Maurice an Answer to the young Coxin That neither he nor his Officers could give any Answer upon it but that they must first acquaint their Admiral with it and have his Order therefore it would be requisite for his Highness to send a Coya with Oars to him to carry the Messenger by the Chineses call'd Assam and by the Netherlanders Maurice to receive his Answer on their Proposals This Maurice Ianzen Vis inform'd the Admiral and his Councel as well of his own accord as by Examination That the Enemy was five or six thousand strong in the Island Eymuy and that there were no other Castles or strong Holds but one round Stone Wall without Batteries or Guns That the Island Lissoe was inhabited onely by Rusticks and that the Enemy had no Fortifications there but on the Island Goutsoe was a small Castle That Anpontek Commandded in Formosa and Tayowan yet lived on Sakkam which was no way fortifi'd That in the Castle there were no Soldiers nor any but Coxin's Wives and Children That the Militia were Quarter'd all about the Countrey yet much decreased by divers running away and many cut off daily by the Formosan King Middag for neither he nor the People of the Mountains would submit to the Chinese Government but all the Villages did That before Eymuy and Quemuy lay about eighty great and twenty ordinary Jonks with Soldiers moreover above two hundred and sixty Jonks Unarm'd in which their Women and Children and Housholdstuff had their abodes Lastly that the Towns on Eymuy and Quemuy were most of them deserted and the Chineses preparing to flie to Formosa Upon this Intelligence the Admiral and his Councel conceiv'd that their dilatoriness about the Islands would strengthen Formosa all the rest flying thither which by all means ought to be prevented Hereupon it was thought convenient and concluded to send the Vice-Admiral and Captain Poleman as authoriz'd Persons to Tonganpek General of the Tartar Fleet lying at the Cape of Pathany to demand of him peremptorily If he did not intend with all his Jonks and Forces that very day to joyn and set Sail with them and so together fall upon the Enemy which if he refus'd then tell to him That they would undertake the Work themselves And that it might appear they dealt uprightly Maurice Ianzen was sent with the two Captains to acquaint him That they had Overtures of Peace from Summimpessiou yet they would not desist from their Intentions But they returning told the Admiral That he was very unwilling to Engage till he heard from Singlamong and Lipovi and therefore desir'd three or four days respite alledging that it was not according to the Agreement which was That they should assail the Enemy together but if they would go then to leave two or three Ships for their Convoy to follow them The fifteenth he sent a Mandarin with Letters to the Admiral persisting in his former Desire that he would please to tarry but two days longer But the Admiral suspecting delays and the change of their Councels and that the time expir'd they might have other Orders pitcht upon the next day to set forward with eight Ships to Quemuy and to leave seven small Frigats to conduct them of which they sent him word by his own Mandarin desiring also that for the more easie Landing of their Men they lend them twenty five of their Coya's or small Boats In the Evening the Hollanders espy'd fifty or sixty little Tartar Jonks and Coya's to stand directly for Quemuy to whom the Admiral immediately sent his Lieutenant Hendrick van Dalen with the Interpreter Iohn Melman to demand the reason thereof and why they Sail'd thither to which they return'd answer That the Tartars had that Night taken a Coya with three Men from the Enemy who inform'd them that there were many more at Quemuy therefore they had sent out those Coya's to watch their motion adding moreover that the next Morning they were to come again to the Fleet. The sixteenth about Day-break they saw the same Vessels according as they told them returning from Quemuy but seem'd to be a greater Fleet to meet whom upon a Signal many more Boats set out from the Tartars by fifteeen or sixteen in a Company which might easily be discern'd very much to decrease the Fleet and observing they went all of them thither full of People and return'd in a manner empty they were jealous that the Tartar either had or would privately agree with the Enemy whereupon they chang'd their intention and resolv'd to wait another day for the Tartar Fleet whilst they sent to them to be better satisfi'd concerning the former Passages This Design falling out so unfortunately the Admiral commanded all his Men aboard and the next day set Sail to meet the Tartars and the remainder of his Fleet according to Singlamong's Desire having sent Letters before him to that purpose Whilst the Admiral made these Dispatches and went with the Vice-Admiral went aboard the Ionker Frigat a Chinese Messenger arriv'd with a Letter from Somminpesiou in Coxin Kimpsia Coxinga's Son 's Name who had the chief Command over his Forces The Letter being interpreted was found to be of the same Contents as that of the tenth instant which we mention'd before Besides this was another written by a Dutch Prisoner Iohn Ianse of Bremen who also desir'd them to agree with the Chineses who if the Netherlanders were inclin'd to Trade were best able to serve them and to that end they might chuse a Place where they pleas'd and it should be given them and also that their King Kimsia did with the first opportunity expect the first Messenger Maurice who he hop'd would bring him news that they would agree with him in hopes of which they intended to send them their Prisoners from Tayowan Whereupon the Admiral sent word again to Tsioubontok That he had receiv'd his Letters too late because the Netherlanders
an Anchor before Eymuy to prevent the Eenemy from making an escape and in so doing you will oblige me At present I have little of fresh Provision to send you yet be pleas'd to accept this small Present viz. five Porkers fifty Capons fifty Ducks five Pots with Liquor some Crabs and ten Picols of Radishes To this Letter he answer'd That on Singlamong's Request to secure him and his Jonks from the Enemy he would command eight of his Ships to Sail to Lissoe and that they would not fail with the rest of their Fleet to come to the Tartars assistance No sooner was this Answer on Shore but Lipovi sent a second Request and that he need not trouble himself for he was sufficiently Guarded by Tonganpek with his Forces therefore if he would be pleas'd to come ashore he and his Mandarins would entertain him in the fairest House in the Island Upon which Invitation first chusing two Jonks for his own use out of those which he had taken he went ashore accompanied with the Vice-Admiral Huibert de Lairesse and Captain Poleman The General being assembled with his principal Mandarins in young Coxinga's House receiv'd the Admiral with great courtesie and real joy Lipovi also ascrib'd the honor of the Victory to the Netherlanders telling them That it was not themselves but they that had put the Enemy to the rout that he had seen the Engagement at Sea before Eymuy and sufficiently heard of that at Quemuy for which much rejoycing he highly extoll'd their Valor Whereupon he assur'd the Admiral That though he was not able to make satisfaction for the Service which they had done to his Countrey he would endeavor that the Emperor should Lipovy having ended his Discourse the Admiral return'd in like manner how glad he was for his Victory at Eymuy wishing him many more not doubting but he should scowre the Sea and clear the Port and Harbors from the Coxingans that Pyratick Rabble After this the Admiral made three Requests to the General First That he would be pleas'd to write a Letter to the Konbon in Hoksieu and give Order in it that the Goods which Captain Nobel and the Merchant Hogenhook had in Hoksieu might be sold off Secondly That they might not stay long there but prosecute the Enemy on Quemuy and the other Isles Thirdly That the Tartars should then go with the Netherlanders to Formosa and assist them in driving the Pirates from thence The first and second Request Lipovi absolutely granted the Admiral promising more That he would not fail to get them what they so much desir'd a free Trade through the Empire and that within two days they would Sail together to Quemuy But concerning the third Proposal of going with the Netherlanders to Tayowan he made no promise but said That perhaps would follow after the rest of their work was finish'd Then Lipovi recounted to him what purchase they had upon the Isle consisting only in a few Cattel and Sheep of which he sent forty Oxen and some of the Sheep aboard the Netherland Ships promising them the whole Plunder of the other Isles that his Men might not be discourag'd but might venture their Lives for something Whilst the Admiral was ashore three Champans with Chinese Rusticks came amongst the Fleet which dwelt on the Main Land near Goutsoe with Request to the Netherlanders to grant them a Pass to go to the Tartars and submit themselves to his Subjection by cutting their Hair like the Tartars and paying of Tribute which the Admiral so soon as he came aboard granted them in requital whereof they gave him four Hogs and five Pots of Chinese Beer The Rusticks being ask'd concerning the condition of the Chinese Enemies declar'd That they were all fled away from thence in the night none knowing whither they were gone The two and twentieth the Admiral receiv'd a Letter from his Highness and the Vice-Roy Singlamong in Thanks for his gotten Victories over the Chineses with Intreaties that he would Sail with the Fleet to the Isle of Goutsoe The same day Captain Poleman and the Secretary were sent ashore to deliver to the Vice-Roy and General what so long had slept and would not be at first receiv'd the Letter and Presents from Maetzuiker and the Council at Batavia and to request of Lipovi that he would be pleas'd according to his promise the day before to write to the Conbon and with it send a Letter which the Admiral had given to Poleman and the Secretary and directed to Constantine Nobel at Hoksieu The Agents having receiv'd their Orders went in two Sloops to the General whom they found on the Main Land opposite to Colongsoe and after a kind Salutation to him from Maetzuiker they deliver'd him the Letter which the General having perus'd declar'd that their Excellencies Letters were very acceptable yet it seem'd strange that they should send Presents when they knew it was not his Custom to receive any but if they were useful in War he would accept of them to which being soon perswaded he requir'd them as they were brought before him and commanded them without opening to be carry'd to his Tent only returning the Complement of Thanks promising also to unite to the Conbon in Hoksieu in the behalf of the Hollanders there After this the Agents having been nobly entertain'd by Lipovi took their leave and departed The three and twentieth the Fleet having fir'd three Guns set Sail to the Isle of Goutsoe accompany'd with the Tartars and about Noon they came to Anchor a League and half South-West from the Island not being able by reason of a calm and contrary Tide to double the North Fore-land while the Tartar Jonks Anchor'd before Lissoe from whence the Admiral was desir'd by Sietetok and Tonganpek to come ashore whither having resolv'd to go before he went with Lairesse Captain Poleman and three Companies of Soldiers to the Isle of Goutsoe from whence the Enemy was fled and they took possession of three new rais'd Forts which were deserted one of them with a Castle and though not very beautiful yet strong for the Walls and Breast-Works which were twenty three Foot high were made of firm Stones and the Curtain on the Walls six Foot broad the whole in Circumference as big as the Castle at Batavia but nothing was found in it except Stools Benches the Tartars having been there and Plunder'd all and thirty nine unserviceable Iron Guns which lay about of these the Hollanders making themselves Masters plac'd Centinels to look over them till they had opportunity of Shipping The next day there came Letters from Lipovi that he had given Order to dismantle the three Castles excusing it from the infertility of the Countrey as unfit for the Hollanders to make any thing of either to improve or Garrison and that Formosa was much better for them to resettle upon which they need not doubt but the Tartars should help them to regain and then they should possess it as formerly but the
and an Ensign slain Amongst the wounded was Captain Bitter who with an Arrow was shot into the Foot and also receiv'd two Cuts with a Sword through his Hat and Clothes but not into his Flesh. The Admiral by this time being also landed gave Order to all the Ships to send as many Sea-men ashore as they could spare each arm'd with a Pike and Sword Being now drawn up into Battalia he sent two Companies more to Captain Poleman and soon after a Company of Sea-men who had not been gone above half an Hour but a Serjeant sent from Poleman brought word that the Enemy was put to flight and fourteen of them slain The Admiral sent back the Serjeant with Orders to Captain Poleman to pursue the Enemy as far as was possible and prosecute the already gotten Victory yet not to go any farther than he would be able to come back in the Evening for the Admiral would wait his coming upon the Shore Whereupon the Serjeant with another Company of Soldiers and some Sea-men march'd away In the Evening Poleman return'd and inform'd That he had pursu'd the Enemy as soon as he had put his Men in Order again having seen much Blood along the way which he went and found four more lying dead but met no manner of Resistance nor saw so much as one Chinese afterwards Poleman also brought a Horse and an Ass with him but never an Ox nor Cow notwithstanding he saw several hundreds having no opportunity to fetch them The twenty eighth about Day-break six Companies of Soldiers and sixty Sea-men under Captain Poleman's Command were sent to the Church-Bay and two Companies of Soldiers and twenty Sea-men led by Captain Shimmelpewy to the Hollands Fort with Order That if they could not meet with any of the Enemy to fetch some Cattel aboard of the Ships In the Evening they return'd having not met with any Opposition but bringing with them about seventy Oxen and some Sheep and Goats which were distributed amongst the Ships and Soldiers The ninth in the Morning Captain Pooleman with seven Companies of Soldiers march'd towards the Church-Bay and several Places thereabouts to see for more Cattel with order to stay there all Night and return to the Fleet the next day The same day also the Admiral Vice-Admiral and several others march'd with two Companies into the Countrey and in the place where the Battel was they found the fourteen foremention'd dead Bodies which were stripp'd of all they had by the Tartars Soon after the Admiral return'd to the Place where they had incamped themselves In the Afternoon being the tenth the Eymuy Jonk and the three Boats came again from the Church-Bay to the Fleet and according to the Relation of the Secretary who the day before had march'd thither by Land and was now return'd again with the Jonk Captain Pooleman had given one whom he had taken Prisoner his Liberty on promise that he would furnish them with Cattel and bring the Rusticks to them which he endeavor'd though to little purpose for Pooleman got onely two Cows a Calf and a few Poultrey But Peter Coker who had been ashore with his three Boats full of Men before Captain Pooleman came thither had found fifteen Iron Guns twelve of which that carried from three to eight pound Bullets did formerly belong to the Hollanders but the other three were made by the Chineses Not long after Peter Coker came to the Admiral with some Prisoners and Chinese Rusticks of the Countrey as also twenty six Cows and Oxen. Lastly the Admiral sent the foremention'd Villagers and Prisoners home with Command as they priz'd his favor to bring more Cattel and then gave them a Sack of Rice and a Cup of Arak for which with their Heads bow'd to the Ground they cry'd Camsia Compagnia that is We thank the Company In the Evening the Admiral went aboard but came ashore again the next Morning In the Afternoon Captain Pooleman with his Soldiers having been a foraging brought some Chinese Peasants and twenty Cows to the Admiral who dismissed the Men upon promise of bringing in daily fresh Provisions The twelfth towards the Evening came about twenty five Countrey-men to the Netherlanders Camp with Goats and Poultrey for which the Admiral gave them two Bags of Rice restor'd them the Prisoners and granted them a free Pass which was to this effect SInce the People of this Countrey have submitted themselves and as an earnest of Subjection presented Us some Cattel Sheep and such as the Countrey affords therefore We have taken them into Our Protection and We charge and command all Persons and especially the Netherlanders not to do them the least harm when they of their own free Wills come with Provisions or anything else aboard of Our Ships Dated on the great Island Pehoe Balthasar Bort The thirteenth three Hours before day the Fleet set Sail and at four a Clock in the Afternoon dropp'd Anchor three quarters of a League North-East from the Castle Zelandia with their fifteen Ships besides the Jonk Eymuy and the two Tartar Jonks And now in regard the Netherlanders receiv'd no Tydings from the Shore much less Proffers as they expected of surrendring up the Countrey therefore the Admiral on the fifteenth proposed to his Council what it was best to do in carrying on their design of recovering it whether it were best first to Parly or begin with the Sword Hereupon they concluded that they had accepted of the Tartars Proposition about sending their Ambassadors with Letters from Singlamong and Lipovi to the Governors of Tayowan according to a Result taken the eighteenth of December in which the Chinese Commanders in Formosa and Tayowan were desir'd with their Soldiers to come to the Tartars and deliver up the Countrey to the Netherlanders as we have before related To which purpose the Agents were also among the Council there to desire their Order to let them go with their Jonks and two of the Netherland Ships to Tankoya and there to deliver their peculiar Letters and advise them to come over to the Tartars alledging That they could never do it in a better time whereupon after serious consideration the Council granted their Request and as Convoys sent two Frigats along with them Soon after the two Tartar Jonks conducted by the two Frigats took their Voyage to Tankoya The next Morning about two hours before Day the Admiral set Sail with six Frigats more to the Cape of Tankoya and two hours after Noon Rid by the Frigats that set Sail before and the two Tartar Jonks lying Westerly about a League from the Point The Tartar Agents being Landed with their Letters they immediately met with a great company of People who soon after ran all up into the Countrey so that they saw not one Man afterwards Towards the Evening the Rere-Admiral Verwei came aboard the Admiral with news That one of the Tartar Agents was return'd who told him that they had deliver'd all the Letters to which
information These Letters were carry'd to Lairesse by the Zierikzee Frigat with Orders moreover to him that the sending to redeem the Prisoners was come to effect and also that the Collonel Sautongsiong had already inform'd those at Tayowan concerning their Treating with him as they had perceiv'd by their Letters Upon the sending of these Letters ashore Lairesse was order'd to stay two days for an Answer but if then he receiv'd none to fire a Cannon with a Bullet on the Shore and set up a red Flag from all the Ships and then come together to the Admiral that they might consult together what was best to be done But if they should according to the Netherlanders Request send some of their Men to Treat with them and should desire that some of the Hollanders should go ashore again that Lairesse should send the Factor Philip Mey The twenty eighth the Ensign Christopher Iust came to tell the Admiral that the Enemy was that Morning come over the In-land Water on that Tract of Land where their Men lay Encamp'd with a considerable Army and being both Horse and Foot carry'd about seventy Colours which he himself had told and discover'd accidentally going with five Men more the last Night to shoot some Venison towards the South near the River of Tamsuy The Admiral immediately upon this Intelligence went ashore where he caus'd the convenientest Place about a Cannon-shot from the Hill where the Netherlanders pitched their Tents to be Entrench'd and some great Guns to be carry'd thither that therewith they might put a stop to the Enemy if he should march forward who about two Leagues from thence had Encamp'd himself and shown many Bravado's with his Horse but yet durst not set upon the Netherlanders who kept themselves in good Order at the fore-mention'd Entrenchment that they might not lose their advantage The next Morning being the twenty sixth the Enemy sent three Men with a Letter to the Admiral who gave them Audience and read it without the Works which were not then finish'd in a Tent. The Letter was to this effect Tathonling Totoksiau sends this Letter to the Dutch Admiral from an upright heart and good inclination to which I call the Heavens to witness THe Letter written by the Admiral I have receiv'd and understand your meaning Our Agents also have told us what you said to them by which I gather thâ—…t you Hollanders are a People of noble Minds and endu'd with Wisdom and Understanding therefore we desire to enter into a League with you My Intentions I have before declar'd to your Secretary and Interpreter Maurice I am now come hither with my Army for my pleasure According to a Letter sent to me from Sepoan at Tayowan I have order to make Peace with you To which purpose two Mandarins are sent to Tayowan to make an Agreement and surrender such Places as you desire so that I hope we shall be Friends To attain which I send you this Letter with Request that you will send Agents to go with me by Land to Tayowan that there they may make an inviolable League between us The twelfth Moon the nineteenth Day Underneath was his Seal Whereupon the Interpreter Maurice was sent with the two Tartar Agents to the Enemies Camp fully to know their Intentions and also to tell them the Netherlanders Resolutions The Tartars returning before were in the Evening follow'd by the Interpreter who was immediately sent back again with a Message that the Netherlanders granted his Request viz. To send two Persons of theirs to him so soon as the six Hostages which he had proffer'd should come into their Camp who that very Night came thither with the Interpreters At the same time a Rumor was spread and the Chinese General had also told it to the Interpreter Maurice That the young Coxinga was gone to the Coast of China to submit himself to the Tartars and accordingly had commanded his Soldiers in Formosa to come to him and surrender up the Countrey to the Netherlanders But this quickly appear'd nothing but a bare Report The twenty seventh in the Morning according to a Result taken by the Admiral and his Council the Hollanders Agents were sent to the Enemies Camp viz. the Lieutenant Hendrick Noorden and Factor Iohn Renaldus and Iohn Melman as Interpreter for their Assistant They were fetch'd in on Horseback and courteously receiv'd and entertain'd by the Chinese General who according to his Promise was ready with his whole Army consisting in two thousand Armed Men to break up that day and go with them by Land to Tayowan The Agents had these following Orders given them in writing to Read to the Chinese Governors at Tayowan I. That they should deliver and surrender the whole Countrey of Formosa to the Netherlanders that it might be possess'd and Govern'd by them as formerly II. Especially the Castle Zelandia in Tayowan and the Fort Provencia in Sakkam with all the Guns and other Ammunition and also Quelang III. To restore the Companies Goods Merchandizes Moneys and other things which at the surrender of Tayowan they took possession of and also satisfaction for the Charge which they had been at in coming two several years with a Fleet of Ships to their Coasts which had cost above sixty Tun of Gold IV. All Debtors to the Company whether their Servants or Free People shall satisfie their Creditors V. Our Prisoners shall immediately be redeem'd and sent with their Goods to our Ships VI. On the granting and allowing of these Articles there shall be an everlasting Peace betwixt them and us and all things past shall be forgotten and forgiven The Commissioners having Read the Articles severally to them said That the Netherlanders desir'd a speedy Answer what they were inclin'd to grant or not and also what they would have of the Netherlanders Three Sea-men which were sent along with the Agents to carry some Goods came back with two Chineses sent from the Enemy with two live Hogs and four Baskets of Potato's for a Present to the Netherlanders who gave the Bearers two Cangans and as much Meat as they would eat which they devour'd very greedily He also gave them a Pass to bring Provision into our Camp After the Enemy had broke up with his Army the Admiral according to a Resolution taken a little before also made himself ready to go with the Hostages from Tankoya to Tayowan to which purpose towards the Evening leaving the Shore he went aboard of the Vlaerding Frigat and left the chief Command to Captain Poleman the second to Schimmel Penny and to Bittar the third of the sixteen Companies then ashore viz. six under the first and five apiece under the other two The Camp was also in good Order their Sconces finish'd their Guns planted and a Breast-work rais'd with Planks that if occasion should require they might easily cast up Earth against it The Nut-tree Naerden Mars Flushing Buiksloot with the Quemuy Jonk remain'd there at an Anchor In the
to their Quarters The last being Saturday Hogenhoek was inform'd that the General Lipovi had shut up his great Gates because he would not grant any more Audience and also that he would not trouble himself any longer about business concerning his Office being resolv'd to go to Peking where his most pre-eminent Wife Aunt to the present Emperor resided she having writ to him several times to come up to her The Council of State as on the twenty fourth of April is related endeavor'd preferring the General to make him chief Governor of three Territories which he modesty refused being rather willing to give over all Offices of State because as he told Hogenhoek his Age requir'd case and that to Govern was a Work too great for him and to that purpose expected his Writ of Ease for which he had sent five or six Posts to his Majesty and the Council whose Answer he expected daily On Tuesday being the thirtieth of Iune Hogenhoek sent Factor Pedell to the Conbon or Governor telling him That he had not receiv'd any allowance of Money for his Table from the Mandarins in two Moneths and therefore desir'd that he would please to provide it for him The Governor to whom this seem'd very strange said That his Majesty had not yet forbid but that it should be continu'd But however on Thursday Morning early he with all his Company went to the Vice-Roy and General themselves complaining that they had not receiv'd their Table Pension these two Moneths whereat they were much dissatisfi'd and immediately sent Order to the two Mandarins not to fail to pay the Arrears next day and so at every Moneths end punctually at their peril and thence-forward On Friday being the sixth the Grand Mandarin Tziekautzia came from Sinchieu by Land to Hoksieu with a Guard of between four and five hundred Soldiers and the remainder of them were to come within a day or two after with his Jonks It was also reported that he should go to Iemping a Town about nine days Journey from Hoksieu to be Governor of it though the Townsmen oppos'd it On Wednesday being the eleventh Tziekautzia's Jonks arriv'd at Fort Minjazen and were expected in three or four days to come up to the Bridge On Friday the twentieth Hogenhoek went to the Vice-Roy and General Lipovi with Request in their General Maetzuikers Name for the delivery of some Holland Prisoners that were brought thither with Tziekautzia's Jonks whereupon they promis'd to enquire if it were so or not and would give Order that they should be sent to the General Lipovi he having the Command of the submitted Chineses The Netherlanders heard this day the news of the death of Tonganpek Zavja's Brother and one of the Admirals as also of the great Court Messenger On Tuesday the twenty fourth Zanzia chief Secretary to Lipovi came in his Masters Name to acquaint Hogenhoek that he had sent to Tziekautzia concerning the Prisoners who answer'd That they which came to him from the Castle Zelandia in Formosa had told him that they would rather chuse to be chopp'd in Pieces than return again to their Countrey-men and that the Negro Boys refus'd in like manner To which Hogenhoek made answer That it seem'd very strange to him since every day one or other spoke to him to procure their Liberty I hear that since I mov'd the General concerning their Freedom they have been in Fetters and harder restraint than before In brief I am confident he has falsly inform'd the General of which I desire you will please to acquaint him The twenty fifth and twenty sixth Hogenhoek sent a Letter to the General Lipovi but it was not receiv'd in regard of his Infirmity but on Friday the twenty eighth it was deliver'd and Answer sent That he had read the Letter and finding mention'd therein That unless the Prisoners were deliver'd some trouble would arise thereupon which he understood to be Threats therefore Hogenhoek must know that he was Lipovi and that it lay in his power to do the Hollanders good or hurt and desir'd to hear no more such calumnious words or else to forbear the Court. The Sunday following the Master of the Lodgings where the Agents lay desir'd him to take Tziekautzia's Goods and sell them for him promising to give him a good Reward for so doing The Cargo consisted in twenty four Pieces of colour'd Cloths ten Picols of Amber three hundred of Tin and Lead thirty Birds-nests fifty of Pepper three hundred of Iapan Wood twenty of Quicksilver twenty five of Cloves and one hundred Picols of Sandal Wood besides other Commodities But Hogenhoek refus'd it alledging they had not yet put off their own Goods wherefore he durst not undertake another Mans Business The same day Lepora the Vice-Roy Singlamong's Secretary lying near came to Visit the Agent as his custom was and discoursing with him concerning the Prisoners and Lipovi's rough Answer proffer'd his Service to acquaint the Vice-Roy with the Business well knowing that he had sent two or three days before to Lipovi to let Hogenhoek have them to which he assented After this through the interposition of the Vice-Roy Lipovi and Hogenhoek came to a better understanding and the distasteful Letters and harsh Repertees were meliorated into a Reconciliation The next day General Lipovi sent his chief Secretary to Hogenhoek's House with Orders to tell him That there had been five Holland Ships seen about the Islands Heyton by his Jonks which had brought Rice to Sinksieu which caus'd great joy amongst the Netherlanders The first of Iuly the Vice-Roy Singlamong sent his Physitian to the Dutch Agent who for three Moneths had been troubled with the Gripes and also desir'd him to send him two Chains of Blood-Coral which accordingly he did The sixth the Governor or Conbon went to the Castle Tiolo lying about three Leagues from Hoksieu to Besiege Ovatunge an old Soldier that held out against the Tartars from the time of Iquon Coxinga's Father being now of the age of seventy years and having under his Command three thousand Men. On Tuesday the eighth Tziekautsia went to Iemping to take the Government upon him having four or five hundred Soldiers and eighty Jonks with which upon the return of the Dutch Fleet they were to go to Tayowan as the Vice-Roy and General had inform'd Hogenhoek From the tenth to the eighteenth nothing hapned of any remark when the Merchants which came from Nanking out of the Territory Chekiang carry'd all their Silks to Sinksieu not coming to Hoksieu which was to the great prejudice of the Hollanders as well in the Goods which they Imported as those which they intended to Export Haytankon Governor of Sinksieu and also others might not publickly send any Jonks to Iapan the Manilla's and Tayowan but us'd this Invention which Hogenhoek makes mention of in his Annotations viz. those Jonks which they intended to send away they load in publick at the Keys and when ready to Lanch
belong to the Emperor of China but to certain Free Lords which they call'd the Min. The first that joyn'd it to the Empire of China was the chief of the Family Cheu yet the Inhabitants soon shook off that Yoke and kept themselves free till the fortunate and valiant Emperor Hiaou of the Family of Han reduced and added it to China with all the Southern Territories setling them in Peace and placed a Vice-Roy over it call'd Veuching who kept his Court in the Metropolis thereof Cyn the first King thereof call'd the chief City and the Tract of Land thereto belonging Cyngan the next King Sui nam'd the Countrey Mencheu but the Tangs of another Line Kiencheu and not long after Focheu which Name the Taimingian Race kept ever since This Countrey Focheufu contains eight Cities Focheu the Metropolis and chief of all the Countrey otherwise call'd Hoksieu or Hokzieuw Cutien Mincing Changlo Lienkiang Loquen Iangfo Focing The City Focheu by Paulus Venetus call'd Fugui lieth about fifteen Leagues Westerly from the Sea on the Southern Shore of the River Min which with a wide Mouth falls Easterly into the Sea and brings both great and small Vessels up to the City Walls The convenience of this River makes the Town very populous and of great Trade It is adorn'd with fair Buildings and hath large Suburbs call'd Nantai otherwise according to the pronunciation of the Inhabitants Lamthay for those in Fokien use in stead of N the Letter L. and often say Lamking in stead of Nanking There are also many Idol Temples Cross the Bay near Nantai lies a Stone Bridge a hundred and fifty Rods long and one and a half broad built all of white Free-stone resting on a hundred very high Arches on the top of each side are Rails and Benches adorn'd at an equal distance with Lyons neatly cut of Stone Next this Bridge at the South end stands a fair and large Pagode or Temple Another Bridge not unlike this being a hundred Rods long may be seen at the City Focing And many more are without and within the Walls of the chiefest Cities Three Leagues from Focheu stands a Temple call'd Kouzan the largest of all in the Nether Provinces The second Division Civencheufu borders from the East to the South-east and so to the South upon the Sea and from the South-west to the West touches Chancheufu and on the North verges with Ienpingfu This Countrey formerly belong'd to the Princes Min and hath seven Cities Civencheu the chief Nangan Hocigan Tehoa Ganki Tunygan and Iungehung The City Civencheu lies near the Sea in a delightful Plain and admits by a large Bay the greatest Ships to Ride close under the Walls not onely on one but both sides of the City for it is built on a Promontory encompass'd with Water except on the North and South-east sides On the opposite Shore are many populous and Trading Towns and chiefly on a Place towards the North-west call'd Loyang which may rather be look'd upon as great Cities There also is a Bridge which hath the same denomination with the Town the whole World not shewing the like for it consists of a black Stone like Touch-stone not supported with Arches but above three hundred square Columns sharp above Bridge and below the better to break the impetuous egress and regress of the Current These Pillars are Capp'd to walk upon with five Stones of an exact breadth each eighteen Paces long and two broad which successively touch one another at either Foot of the Bridge of which there are to the number of a hundred and forty it is certainly a Miracle of Workmanship not onely for its great number of Stones of such a bigness that rest on those Columns but most of all where so many large and equal Stones could be had on each side to make the Passage the safer are Rails of the same Stones adorn'd with Lyons standing on Pedestals and other Imagery It is worth our observation what is written of one part of this Bridge that is between a Village call'd Loyan and a Castle built on the Bridge for beyond the Village reaches another part not much less than the former and of one make A Chinese Writer saith thus concerning it This part of the Bridge Loyang and also call'd Vangan lying on the North-west side of the City cross the River Loyang was built by a Governor call'd Cayang it extends in length to about three hundred and sixty Rods and in breadth one and a half Before this Bridge was built they cross'd the River in Boats but because every year many Vessels were by Storm cast away Cayang resolv'd for the safety of Passengers to build a Bridge but seeing such a great piece of Work to be too much for Mankind to undertake and also the Water too deep to lay a Foundation in it he invok'd the Gods of the Sea as he says for some time to stop the Current of the Water which if you will believe he obtain'd After the Essluxes were stay'd and no Tydes swelling the River in one and twenty days the Foundation was laid and forty hundred thousand Tail spent in the building of it The third Province call'd Chancheufu being the most Southern of all this Territory borders in the North-East and East with Civenchufu on the East South-East and South with the Sea on the South-West touches the Countrey of Quantung on the West and North-West and North at Tingcheufu It contains ten Cities of which Chancheu is the chiefest the rest are Changpu Lugnien Nancing Changtai Changping Pingho Chaogang Huicing and Ningyang The Name of Chancheu was first given to this Metropolis and Countrey by the Family of the Tang from the River Chang on whose Western Shore situate and was then allow'd the priviledge of a small City but the Iuem made her afterwards a Metropolis and at the same time built the small City Nancing from whence Father Martin concludes that then all these Places were much frequented by Navigators and that Paulus Venetus his Zerte must needs be thereabouts On the South-side where the River also washes the City is a large Bridge of Hew'n-stone with thirty six high Arches and so broad that on each side are divers Tradesmen and Artificers Shops in which they sell every day all manner of rich and foreign Commodities which are brought thither from Hiamuen The fourth call'd Kienningfu a very wide and spacious piece of Land borders on the North and North-East upon Chekiang on the East with Foningfu on the South at Focheufu and Ienpingfu on the West at Xaonufu on the North West and North upon Kiangsi This Division belong'd antiently to the Princes Min after which the Family Tang gave it the Name of Kiencheu and Sung another Race that which it hath at present Here are seven Towns whereof Kienning is the chiefest the rest are Cungan Puchiang Chingo Sunghi and Xeuning The City Kienning lying on the Eastern Shore of the
esteem'd themselves happy by the Ambassadors grave counsel to be provided against the Chineses Treachery In the Trade nothing was to be done but to use care and prudence as in former times If they intended to effect any thing they must wait yet not depend too much upon it The Jonks which were should the Horses at Minjazen were judg'd to be unfit to go to Sothia therefore the Tartars desir'd that they might be brought into the Netherland Haven in one of the Ships from whence they would convey them up the River The Governors had lately chosen a place on the other side of the River where they intended to request of the Emperor that the Hollanders might build a Store-house but they knew not whether it was done out of their own inclination or by the Emperors Order which perhaps had long since granted it They were inform'd that about eight or ten days since a Mastless Vessel ran into the Storm-Bay and soon after went away again and that the Commanders of her said that they were sent from Batavia to Iapan and likewise that an Ambassador was come thither with nine Ships by which they suppos'd that it was the Newpoort because no other Ships knew of the Ambassadors coming There went also a rumor That some Portuguese Ships were arriv'd at Makaw and of an Ambassadors going to Peking that came over in them The single Letter from Nobel was to this purpose That Hopes and a good Heart was half their Business and he much rejoyc'd at what the Ambassador had been pleas'd to write but nothing more concern'd him than the promoting and making the Embassy more Honorable that it might be perform'd with all fitting Splendor and Magnificence of which there were fair appearances But because nothing could be assur'd from the Chineses looks therefore time must produce it They declar'd that all the Governors were exceedingly rejoyc'd at the Ambassadors coming and had never shown such great incouragements to their Design The nineteenth the great Jonk which went the same day to fetch the Horses return'd and brought a Letter from the Commander to this effect That that Morning he had receiv'd the Ambassadors Order for the sending of the Horses and Oxen according to which he had Shipt them in the Jonks with three Chests full of Saddles all in good condition and that at their putting off he had fir'd seven Guns in Honor of the Emperor and the Ambassador which he hop'd he would opprove off His Excellency Commanded Ruwenoort that so soon as it was Flood he should go up with the Horses to Hocksieu which was perform'd accordingly and the Ambassador writ a Letter to Nobel and Harthouwer advising them that he had receiv'd theirs by the Secretary and prepar'd himself to go in the expected Vessels to Hoksieu and in the mean while had sent the Horses and Oxen as also their Saddles and the Coach provided for the Emperor The twentieth nothing happen'd of remark The one and twentieth in the Morning two Pleasure-Boats came with three Mandarins two from the Vice-Roy and General and one from the Governor of Minjazen to attend and bring in the Ambassador who desir'd two days for the fitting and accommodating all things for his more convenient Landing The three and twentieth in the Morning the two Pleasure-Boats before-mention'd that came with the three Mandarins were ready to take in the Ambassador but prov'd much too little to carry him his Attendants and Goods up the River And because they proffer'd as many Jonks on the one and twentieth as he should need therefore they were desir'd to procure one more which they scrupling he said he had been told that they were a well Govern'd Nation and therefore wonder'd that they kept not their own promise that he should have as many as he needed therefore he would send one up to Hoksieu to fetch written Orders from the General according to which he would Govern himself Upon the news thereof without any more ado they sent a Jonk to carry his Goods or any thing else whereupon he gave Order for the Shipping of his Goods and Attendants At Noon the Ambassador Imbark'd himself to go up to Hoksieu and about three a Clock arriv'd at Minjazen of which place the Governor sent him a Complemental Letter informing him of his indispos'dness which prevented him from giving the civility of a meeting Moreover he caus'd the Ambassador and his Retinue to be Entertain'd with Bean-Broth and Bak'd Meats The Governor of Minjazen also sent to desire the Ambassador to stay some short time because he would send a Letter with him and soon after some Mandarins coming aboard said That they were sent from the Governor to search all Chests and Trunks which was so ill resented by the Ambassador that he said with a displeas'd Countenance the Mandarins had promis'd him That his Goods should without trouble or molestation be deliver'd and if they could not he would rather return aboar'd than suffer such affronts which words made them wave their receiv'd Orders yet he went away in the Evening without a Letter The Ambassador by reason of the Ebb meeting him was forc'd to Anchor at Lamthay and about Flood setting forward again about Day light arriv'd at the Bridge of Lamthay Here the Mandarins went to acquaint the General of the Ambassadors arrival and also to know if it pleas'd his Highness that he should first go into the Netherlanders Inn or come to his Highness The Ambassador also made his coming immediately known to Nobel and Harthouwer who came to welcome him of whom he demanding in what Postures Affairs stood They told him they had no present cause of dissatisfaction because the last Night Singlamong's Secretary had come and told them that seven hundred Bales of Silk lay in store which were to be exchang'd for the Netherland Commodities and also that Singlamong would have half a share in the Trade The General two third parts in the other half and the Conbon a third part The four and twentieth after several Houses shewn and deny'd a Mandarin came to ask if the Ambassador would be pleas'd to send one of his Servants to see the House which was chosen for him Whereupon he sent Nobel Putmans and Ruwenoort to the General to desire him to give Order for a House The Mandarins which had fetch'd the Ambassador and were that Morning gone to the General to make his coming known return'd with Horses to conduct him to the Vice-Roy Singlamong And Nobel Putmans and Ruwenoort came with the foremention'd Mandarins to tell the Ambassador that a House was making ready for him also that his Highness expected him at Court and before the Ambassador should have done his business with his Highness the House would be ready The General also said That if they had known of the Ambassadors coming from Batavia before hand the Emperor would have given Order for the building a new House And accordingly although it Rain'd very hard yet the Ambassador prepar'd himself
the Chineses with a general name call'd Che for there are several sorts of them and by the Indians Mambu which the Portuguese have turn'd to Bambu and the Netherlanders to Bamboes There also grows in most places all manner of Herbage and Grain and in the County of Kinhoafu many great Plums which they Transport to other parts In the seventh Shire being Chucheufu are many Woods and Wildernesses of Pine-Trees whence the Chineses have their Timber for the Building of Houses and Ships They say that near the City Sunghiang that is Earth of Pine there are such thick ones found that eighty Men cannot Fathom nay some whose hollow Wombs contain thirty or forty Men. In the County of Ninchufu their Hills produce store of Copper Mines In Kinhoafu they make the best Drink that is in all China of Rice and Water and in the same place are also the chiefest Gammons of Bacon which bear a great esteem through all the Empire There is likewise a sort of Gum in the Chinese Tongue call'd Cie or Cia and in the Portuguese Cairo which drops out of the Trees and is very like Turpentine the Chineses gather and colour it how they please the best bears a Gold colour and the next to that Black before it is quite dry it yields an infectious Smoak or Damp which causes a swelling in the Faces of those that are not us'd to it The curiosity and excellency of this shining Gum Europe hath long since been acquainted with by those Chests and Coffers brought thither out of Iapan and China for they both colour all their Wood-work over with it and also their Ships Houses Tables Bedsteds and other Houshold-stuff The Revenue which this Province pays yearly to the Emperor amounts to what may seem an incredible sum of Money viz. two hundred fifty one thousand two hundred ninety nine Bags of Rice three hundred and seventy thousand four hundred sixty six Pound of raw Silk two thousand five hundred seventy four Roles of Silk Stuffs seventy eight hundred thousand four hundred ninety one Bundles of Straw besides the ordinary Customs paid to the two Custom-Houses standing in the Metropolis Hangcheu First for the Merchandize in the North part of the City Secondly for the Wood in the South part for the Chineses use much Wood for the building of their Houses Ships Coffins and the like and the Wood-Merchants being vast rich People pay no small part of their gain to the Emperor Moreover this Province sends yearly four Imperial Ships call'd Lung-ychuen to the Emperors Court laden with Silk Clothes or Stuffs wrought after a peculiar manner These Silk Stuffs are interwove with Gold and Silver and also with the Pictures of the Bird call'd Funguang Dragons and the like None are permitted to wear these Stuffs but only the Emperor and those of Imperial Blood unless his Majesty out of a peculiar favor gives them leave and these badges of Clothes distinguish them from meaner People as much as our Badges of the Cross and Garter or the like be marks of Noble Orders There are those that reckon the yearly Revenue of this Province to amount to above fifteen Millions of Crowns fifteen hundred thousand Duckets or seven hundred and fifty thousand Pound Sterling BUt to return again to our Ambassador who proceeded on his Journey the twenty ninth of February travelling over the Mountains of Iakoling which because of their steep ascent make carriage difficult and dangerous On the tops and sides stood several Pagodes or Temples built after a strange manner and surrounded with Trees But at last leaving them behind they past through the Villages Sambathova Sagebatauw Longhia Longzango Poangtiou and Hachova where they were drawn upon a float of Canes over a River which divided Hachova into a Southern and Northern part in which last the Hollanders took their repose that Night having that day gained a League and a half to the North. The twenty fourth in the Morning leaving Hachova they travell'd the following part of the day through Kolontja Quanimg and Souzinhova and in the afternoon came to Pinhoea where Putmans Vander Does and the rest that travel'd before met the Ambassador and told him of their safe arrival there the day preceding and also that the Goods design'd for Presents were already Shipt in twenty seven Vessels and that others lay ready to take in him and the rest of the Goods Whereupon Van Hoorn was no sooner come into the Village before-mention'd but he gave order for all his Necessaries to be Shipt off immediately and likewise caus'd the Oxen to be Imbarqu'd that they might go forward on their Journey the next Morning The Horses were forc'd to go five Leagues further by Land because there wanted convenient Vessels to carry them The twenty sixth about Noon after all things were ready they set Sail from Puchoeu going North-East up the River Chang with a Fleet of about forty Vessels amongst which were ten that carry'd the Mandarins Guides About three a Clock they came to the City Tjanchia otherwise call'd Changxa and having Sunthia a pretty Village on their Larboard cast Anchor that Night about three quarters of a League from Tjanchia before a Sandy Plain having gain'd two Leagues that afternoon The twenty eighth in the Morning about Day-break they set Sail again and at nine a Clock Landed at the City Kitsjouw or Kutchieuw otherwise call'd Kiucheu here they chang'd their Vessels The first of March all the Goods were Ship'd again into other Vessels At Noon two private Persons of the City presented the Ambassador with some fresh Provisions in return for which they receiv'd six Ells of Gingerline colour'd Cloth which Putmans carry'd them for which they again in the Evening sent twelve Tail of ready Money and three Silver Cups but the Ambassadors modestly refus'd the Presents and thanking sent them back Kiucheu the sixth City of the Province Chekiang lying on the Eastern-Shore of the River Chang three days Journey by Land from the Territory Tiokien over steep and difficult Mountains seems pretty large yet but meanly Inhabited and of small Concourse and so having little or no Trade yet the Streets are handsomely Pav'd and all Provisions very cheap The second in the Morning they left Kiucheu and about nine a Clock pass'd by Sigajum a Village lying on the right side at the going up the River in a pleasant place surrounded with Arable Grounds The remaining part of the day they Sail'd by abundance of Villages standing along the River a little way up into the Countrey and in the Dusk of the Evening arriv'd at Loujujenne where they staid that Night having that Day gain'd five Leagues on several Courses From Loujujenne having gotten two Coelies to Tow every Barque they Weigh'd again the third in the Morning and coming a little way from the Village they saw a stately Tower built after the Chinese manner with jutting Stories The Countrey every where well Manur'd was also full of populous
Interpreters came aboard to tell the Ambassador That they could not speak with his Excellency that Evening he being gone to sleep before they came but they would go to him early the next Morning as accordingly they did desiring to know of the Ambassador what time he might wait upon him But returning they brought word That his Excellency durst not permit it because he had not yet had Audience from the Emperor Mean time his Highness Sail'd by the Netherlanders accompany'd with twenty great Barges The City Gioechioe is a Ruin'd place bury'd almost in heaps of Rubbish occasion'd by the last War After they had gotten Coelies they left that City though with slow advance because the River notwithstanding the Wind was good in many places as they had seen the day before was full of dry Sands yet at last passing by Sanghkiatwangh they could because of the Night coming on get no further than Wanghiapan where they came to an Anchor having notwithstanding they had a good Wind Sail'd but two Leagues and a little more The fifteenth in the Morning they Weigh'd again and with Sailing and Towing past by Ponsinghou and Googothien and in the Afternoon arriv'd at Goechin where they staid all Night having this day gain'd three Leagues About half a League from Goechin lies the City Goeycen North-West into the Countrey which appear'd but little to the Netherlanders for they did not put in to it but seem'd rather like a large Castle than a City A little before they arriv'd at Goechien a grand Mandarin a Tartar as it was said Nephew to the present Emperor came to Complement and Visit the Ambassador in his Barge where he was entertain'd with a Glass of Spanish Wine which having drank and seen the Horses he took his leave The sixteenth leaving Goechien they proceeded on their Journey and pass'd by many Houses built on both sides of the River and also by some Villages as Kongidieen t' Santan Nainaimeao Iaumeao and Xantiento the Suburb of Sangsinghwey and in the Evening arriv'd on the East side of the same City before a great Plain lying between the City Walls and the River having this day Sail'd three Leagues Here they were to lie because the River being in a manner dry they could get no higher till the Emperors Order came to unlade the Presents and go with them by Land to Peking which was four Leagues distance The seventeenth nothing happen'd of remark The eighteenth several Mandarins came to Visit and Welcom the Ambassador and likewise that Mandarin which was with him on the fifteenth which was said to be the Emperors Nephew who gave the Ambassador two Sheep for a Fire-Lock which he much desir'd Amongst other Discourses Van Hoorn ask'd this Lord If no other Ambassadors from any other place were in Peking To which he answer'd None but some from the Corean Isles which were shortly to return There happen'd little of note here only the Mandarin Guide came to acquaint the Ambassador that the next Morning Carts and Coelies would come to carry the Goods to Peking and that one of the Lipous would be at a Town call'd Tonghsieuw four Leagues from thence to receive the Ambassador in the Emperor's Name and conduct him to Peking The next Morning being the nineteenth many Carts Coelies and Horses came to fetch the Presents with all the Persons belonging to the Embassy and their Goods to Peking by Land whereupon the Ambassador gave immediate Order for the unlading of them in which they spent all the Morning The Ambassador gave the Barge-men though every one apart which came with him and his Retinue from Sucheu and Hoaigan eighty six Tail of Silver with which they were very well contented About Noon the Netherlanders set forward on their Journey to Tongsieuw with the Presents and their other Goods which were guarded by some Troopers and between a concourse of thousands of Townsmen Rusticks Women and Children About three a Clock coming to Tongsieuw all the Goods were put into an old decay'd House where the Netherlanders also Lodg'd but found small conveniencies The twentieth setting forth by Day-light and having Rid thorow Palikua Swango and Kapucheen they came within half a League of Peking where they were Welcom'd by one of the Lipous call'd Liu Lavja a Native Tartar who kindly receiv'd them and after some Complements conducted them to the City which they enter'd just about Noon in good order Coming within the Gates of Peking they thank'd God for his Mercy in bringing them so great a Journey all in good Health being a Way of many Leagues in which they had spent six Moneths Travelling both by Water and Land by and thorow thirty seven Cities three hundred thirty five Villages and thirty four Temples They were led by the Emperors Palace to the Tartars or Prime Chancellors Court standing behind the Emperors where all his Imperial Majesties Presents according to order were to be left and then the Hollanders to go to their Lodgings prepar'd for them The Streets through which they pass'd swarm'd with People thousands standing on each side of the way which made so great a Dust to which inconveniency the Streets in Peking are very subject that they could scarcely see wherefore they were bid to sit down under the Gate or entrance of the Court from amongst the croud of the People which by thousands stood before it there to stay for the Presents which were left somewhat behind in their Riding through the City Having staid about a quarter of an Hour under the Gate and drank a Cup of Tee the Goods came whereupon the Hollanders were led into a Chamber leaving Putmans and some of the Retinue to look to and separate the Emperors Presents from the other The Ambassador and Nobel with the rest coming into the Chamber they found some Secretaries sitting on a Table which pointed to Van Hoorn to sit on the Floor but he said he could better stand which they observing bid him sit on the same Table where they sat which he accordingly did Then the foremention'd Secretaries began to ask the Ambassador by Order of the Lipous the following Questions viz. Concerning his Quality From whence the Horses and Oxen came How old they were and how many Miles every Horse could go in a Day To all which Questions he gave them fitting answers They likewise ask'd who was the chief in Quality Whether the Ambassadors Son or Nobel because the General of Hoksieu had plac'd the Ambassadors Son first To which was answer'd That the Lord Van Hoorn's Son was according to the Lord Generals Order in Batavia to have the upper place besides many other frivolous Questions not worthy rehearsal Mean while the Lipou which had fetch'd in the Netherlanders came to bring them some Meat dress'd after the Chinese manner which they kindly accepted of having eaten nothing all that day before Putmans also came to tell the Ambassador that after the Netherlanders had taken nineteen Chests with
according to his pleasure the fairest and most beautiful are in greatest esteem not regarding Birth or Riches for they buy them for a hundred Ducats a piece and sometimes less The common People or the Poor buy Wives for a small Sum and sell them again when they please but the Emperor and his Family in their Marriages look onely upon the Beauty of a Person without regarding whether she be of Royal Extraction or not But Women of Quality shun this Choice partly because the Emperor's Women are of no authority for their life-times being lock'd up in the Palace and secluded from the Eyes of all Friends and Relations and partly because the Magistrates of Marriages chuse but few out of many to be the Emperor 's lawful Wives This is not onely usual with the Emperor and his Family but likewise customary through the whole Empire The prime Wife sits with her Husband at the Table and all the rest especially those that are not related to the Imperial Blood are Servants to the Husbands Father and Waiting-Maids to the lawful Wife not daring to sit in the presence of either The Sons acknowledge not their real Mother but the prime Matron and Mourn onely when she dies three whole years and follow no Employment during that time which they mind not at the Death of their Mother which bare them They strictly observe that no Man Marry a Woman that hath the same Sir-name which he hath though they are no way ally'd to one another not in the least minding how near they are a Kin to each other if their Names do but differ nay the Fathers Marry their Sons to their Mothers nearest Relations The Bride brings no Portion with her and though at that day when she is carry'd to the Bride-grooms House she takes so much Housholdstuff with her that whole Streets are stopt up with it yet all this is bought at the Bridegrooms Charge who some Moneths before sends her a Sum of Money to that purpose Thus far Trigaut The Houshold generally consists in Stools Benches Chests and Umbrella's Moreover the Bride must bring the Bridegroom a Horse and Bridle four Servant Maids and two Boys The Bridegroom also furnishes the Kitchin with all Provision presents the Bride with several Pieces of Silk-Stuffs Cotton-Cloth and a Garland of Flowers with a Gold Bodkin for which she as a sign of her constant Love gives him a Sute of Cloth of Gold or rich Silk The Bridegroom also gives to her Father a hundred and to her Mother fifty Tail of Silver which done the Wedding begins first Entertaining each other eight days in the Bridegrooms House and three days more at the Brides Their Weddings are very expensive being celebrated in great State and ended with Comedies Masques Musick and the like to the great admiration of Strangers The day after the Wedding the new Marry'd Woman is conducted in a stately manner attended by a great number of her Friends and nearest Relations to her Husbands House either by Water in a Pleasure boat or by Land in a Sedan or Chair Upon the side of the Shore walk several Musicians and Singers Playing on Instruments and Singing Upon the Brides approach the Priests hold up at a distance some Golden Half-Moons which they give to the Bride wishing she may not change like the Moon but embrace him with a pure and constant Affection A great assurance they have of these Half-Moons believing that as long as the Woman keeps them she will never change her Love to her Husband When China was Govern'd by several Kings and Lords they took one anothers Daughters to Wife as in Europe but since those Governments were united the Emperor hath been forc'd in his own Realm to take one or other of his Subjects Daughters it being contrary to their Law that the Emperor should Marry any Woman out of his own Dominions But though the Emperor be so bound up yet Persons of Quality do not willingly Marry their Daughters to him because upon trial and dislike he may send them home again Neither may he Betroth himself to a Maid of his Alliance therefore they search through the whole Empire for a Virgin of twelve or fourteen years of age beautiful and endu'd with all manner of Vertues and Breeding after the same manner as sacred Writ testifies they sought for Abishag the Shunamite for David and Hester for Ahasuerus When they have found such a one according to their liking she is put into the custody of two Ladies of Honor antient Matrons who search her to see if she hath no imperfections about her Body When those after all their Searchings have found her faultless she is conducted to the Court with a great Train and being accepted as a Person which from that time belongs to the Emperor she is shewn to his Majesty in his Palace The Emperor after the usual Ceremonies pass'd gives her as Wife to the young Prince his Son from which instant she is the true and lawful Queen In the Palace also they order some chaste and vertuous Women to attend her who being endu'd with all manner of Vertues instruct her in all Courtly Behavior that she may justly deserve the Name of a Queen which they call Chemu that is Mother of the Empire If we would speak of them according to their Historians all the Empresses thus brought up have been Women of great Merits charitable to the Poor very Prudent and of quick Apprehension Such a one was the Daughter of a Bricklayer who being brought to the Dignity of Empress always kept her Father's Trowel by her and when the Prince her Son began to grow too ambitious she shew'd him this Trowel which her Father had us'd whereby she brought him to Obedience The Maidens Relations are immediately advanc'd to high Dignity and Places of Honor and her House and Family afterwards accounted Rich and of great Quality and the more she wins upon the Emperor's Affection the higher their Friends are rais'd The Marrying of the Empero's younger Sons is much after the same manner only they use not so much care in the choyce of their Wives but the manner of bestowing their Daughters is several for they send for twelve young Men of seventeen or eighteen years old the tallest and handsomest that can be found to come to the Palace and set them in a Place where the Princess may see them whom having view'd she takes peculiar notice of two which being shewn to the Emperor he elects one of them for his Son-in-law When the Emperor Vanlie Grandfather to the Emperor Theumchin who Reign'd about Anno 40. having two Youths brought before him on the foremention'd account saw one of them very richly Habited and the other though comelier in poor Apparel ask'd him why he was not so well Habited as his Companion whereto he answer'd O Emperor the poor Estate of my Father will not permit me to appear in a better Condition The Emperor reply'd Because you are poor I
of Musick and use several Instruments on which account they are invited to Funerals and publick Solemnities and serve the Emperor and Mandarins in making their Offerings They boast themselves to be Soothsayers and promise to procure Rain and clear Houses haunted by Spirits All the Chineses are strangely inclin'd to Superstition but especially the Followers of this second Sect and give great credit to Sorcery and Predictions of future things The Emperor's Astronomers according to Semedo do not a little uphold this Superstition because they foreshew ensuing Events from the colour of the Heavens and tempestuous Weather Thunder out of Season by several aspects of the Sun which they reckon to be twenty two and from sixteen other Appearances with all which they acquaint the Emperor And they chiefly employ their time in foretelling either Peace or War as also Sicknesses Death Changes Insurrections and the like to which purpose they make Almanacks or yearly Prognostications which are divided into Moons and the Moons again into Days the Days into fortunate or unfortunate Hours either to undertake any thing or let it alone as to go a Journey remove out of a House Marry bury the Dead build Houses and the like By this manner of Cheating the Chineses are so deluded and so strictly do they follow these Observations that they govern themselves wholly thereby for if the Almanack commands to do any thing on such a Day though all the Elements were against it they will not neglect it These Astronomers according to a very ancient Custom are punish'd with Death if they through neglect do not foretell the Eclipse of the Sun and Moon or accidentally commit any mistakes in their Prognostication for the Chineses account it a deadly sin not to assist the Sun or Moon when they are darkned with Offerings and beating of Drums and other noise fearing else they would be devour'd by a Dog or Dragon wherefore the Emperor inform'd by People experienc'd in the Course of the Heavens of the approaching Darkness immediately sends Messengers Post through all the Cities of the Empire to give notice of the Day and Hour on which the Eclipse will happen whereupon the Magistrates and Citizens carefully watch for the time and prevent the threatning danger by beating on divers tinkling and Copper Basons They have Temples that are drawn or Carriages made for that purpose in which the Women deliver out their Almanacks wherein a Receipt is written how they may Conceive Trigaut saith that no superstitious Custom hath spread it self so far through the whole Empire as that in the observation of fortunate and unfortunate Days and Hours so that the Chineses in all their Actions observe the time exactly To which purpose two sorts of Almanacks are Printed every year which upon the Emperor's Command are dispersed through the whole Empire which makes the Fallacy the more believ'd These annual Prognostications are sold in such abundance that most Houses have them In them they find what they too punctually observe not onely the critical Days but the precise Hours and Minutes at what time they shall begin or desist in any Negotiation or Business whatsoever Besides these Writers of the annual Predictions go higher Composing for their profit Books more puzling and mysterious with large Comments on the good and evil Days with more accurate Directions especially concerning Buildings Marriages or Travel and the like Business of consequence and though it often happens that the Weather fall out tempestuous let it Thunder and Lighten Blow or Rain yet they will begin though they make never so little progress Nasirodin a Persian Author who flourish'd Anno 1265. tells us that the Chineses by him call'd Katayans have a Circle of twelve Days which according to the Instruction of the Astronomers they use in chusing the time to undertake or delay any Business of consequenc These twelve Days are by the Chineses call'd as followeth Ching that is Perfecting Xeu that is Receiving Cai that is Opening Pi that is Locking Ting that is Affirming Che that is Serving. Po that is Breaking Vi that is Running danger Kin that is Raising Chu that is Dividing Muen that is Exchanging Ping that is Making even Four of these twelve Days are call'd He that is Black and are accounted unfortunate four Hoang that is Yellow which are lucky and promise some good two Hoen that is Brown and Dark and esteem'd ominous The Romans and Greeks agreed herein with the Chineses and most of it is at this day us'd amongst them one thing there is which may properly be said to be the Chineses it consists in the chusing of Land to build private or publick Structures upon or bury the Dead in chusing it by the likeness of the Head Tail and Feet of several Dragons which they suppose to live under Ground and believe that on them the welfare not onely of Families but also of Cities Provinces and the whole Empire depends The Chineses account one Dragon whom they call Lung for the greatest fore-runner of good Luck Before the time of the Family of Hia nay the Emperor Fohi who began his Reign Anno 2952. before the Birth of Christ it is said That a Dragon was seen flying from a Pool and to make the Business seem of greater consequence and consideration they added That they had observ'd sixty four Marks or Characters on his Back which according to their Sages have mysterious significations The Chineses in a manner ascribe all things to a Dragon and believe that not onely all humane Fortune but also Rain Hail Thunder and Lightning are as that Monster orders They also affirm That there is a Dragon under the Earth but chiefly under the Mountains and this is the reason why with such great Care and Charge they observe the parts of the Dragon in the making of their Graves for according to the goodness of the Earth they value the Riches and Fortune of the whole Family just as the Astronomers from the Conjunction of several Planets prognosticate future Events For this reason also the Chinese Emperors bear a Dragon in their Arms as the Romans an Eagle nay the Emperor's Apparel is Embroider'd with Dragons and likewise on all the Furniture for his Table and whole House is Engraven the same nay the whole Court is every where full of painted Dragons But above all it is to be admir'd that the Chineses paint five Claws at the Feet of the Emperor's Dragons None but those who are of Imperial Blood or peculiar Favourites of the Emperor may bear a Dragon in his Coat of Arms yet if others do use this same Bearing they must on pain of Death not give above four Claws They say that the Foam of a Dragon impregnated one of the Emperor Ie's Concubines without the use of a Man which Fable the Chineses thus relate In the time of the Family of Hia say they a Dragon was seen which vanish'd on a sudden and left a Froth on the Earth This Froth being of
her Vomit would send them Rain whereupon the People force upon her more Liquor that they may have plenty of Rain If the Priestess chances to Urine thorow the Roof of the Church then the Spectators promise to themselves a fruitful year but if not great scarcity so that they often drink the more to satisfie the People then bidding the whole Congregation look up she Tabors on her private parts a considerable time which Taboring the Spectators observe with as much Zeal as in our Countrey the Auditors give ear to the Preaching of a Sermon Lastly coming down she falls flat on the ground and begins to roar and foam rolling too and again and spreading her Hands and Feet then lies still a while as in a Trance her associates come to lift her up but seem to have met with too weighty a burthen yet at last recovering after she hath made a small Speech to the People her Companions lead her into the Temple where she drinks her self dead Drunk all which impudent debaucheries as they say are done to the honor of their gods to grant them store of Rain and a plentiful Harvest All the Women must appear naked at this Feast except their Privacies which they cover with a Kagpay that is a little piece of Cloath so also must the Men When they have drunk out all their Liquor at the Temple the Congregation goes home where they Drink till the Morning and walk from house to house committing all manner of Villanies not fearing to lie with or vitiate their Sisters and Daughters The third Feast call'd Sickariariang they keep in Iune the manner thus After every one hath done their Private Devotions in their Houses and as they say spoke with the gods they make themselves ready to go to the general place of Sacrifice near the Sea The Men walk stark naked but the Women have a small Clout before them At their general Assembly the Priestess offers to the gods of whom they now request that they may be strengthen'd against their Enemies and the Women that the Corn be preserv'd from Tempests and Wild Beasts Amongst all other this is the most Celebrated because it is as one of Bacchus and Venus's Feasts so that it differs much and exceeds the rest in perpetrating unheard of Abominations both night and day The young Men are commanded by the Magistrates of the Town to go naked to this Feast and to exercise themselves with Running and Martial Discipline which they willingly perform The fourth nam'd Lingout begins in Harvest and kept also on the Sea shore near the mouth of a River Hither also both Men and Women going naked pray to the gods for Rain to keep the Corn in the Ears to banish Storms and Tempests which very frequently rise in that Moneth Great villanies are committed at this Feast The Youths are stuck and hung with green Boughs and Garlands and so adorn'd must run Races with Rattles in their Hands he that gets first to the River wins the Wager and by the Maidens is conducted and carry'd over where he enjoys the handsomest of them at his pleasure The fifth Feast call'd Piniang is kept in October at which time the Magistrates have a piece of Wood cut in the fashion of a Tortoise-shell ty'd to their Bodies whereupon in the Night with their whole Congregation they walk Drumming and Shouting up and down the Town At this Feast they come all clothed to their place of Offering to run about with the artificial Shell which is first perform'd by those whose Parents are yet living then by those that are Orphans This Feast is no less polluted by vicious performances than the other The sixth they name Itaoungang At this Feastival the old and young Men appear in peculiar Habits and have a pretty way of moving their Hands and Feet Capering and hitting their Feet one against another and likewise act several Postures with their Hands besides many other Ceremonies too long here to relate This continues two days meeting both Morning and Evening at the sound of the artificial Tortoise-shell after they have perform'd their several Offerings to their Deities they fall a Drinking in which they spend the whole Night The seventh Feast call'd Korouloutaen is kept in November with great Solemnity At the time of this Feast they adorn their Arms and Heads with white Feathers The Formosans except those by the Hollanders converted to Christianity believe not in God the Creator of Heaven and Earth but Worship thirteen Idols The first and chiefest is call'd Tamagisangak and resides in the West part of Heaven The other his Wife Takaroepada and dwells over against him in the East both these are by them accounted for their powerfullest gods and reverenc'd with great Devotion for if any War lay desolate their Cities or Sickness and Famine oppress the People they say all proceeds from the neglect of their duty in worshipping these gods The third God call'd Tamagisangak reigns in the South and shapes handsome People as the fourth his heavenly Consort Teckarupada in the East gives growth to Corn and Field-Fruits they say these Deities have the ordering of Mans Life wherefore the Women present them with Seeds and Plants They believe likewise that Thunder is the Goddess Teckarupada's voice chiding at her Husband for not sending Rain timely upon the Earth and he always when thus ratled up by his thundering Wife delays not to send Rain in abundance The fifth God call'd Tugittellaegh and his Queen Tagisikel the sixth have the cure of the Sick and are worshipp'd by them The seventh Deity being Tiwarakahoeloe and the eighth Tamakakamak are chiefly reverenc'd by such as frequent the Woods and Forest to hunt and kill wild Beasts The ninth call'd Tapaliat and the other Tatawoeli govern all Martial Affairs and are for the most part invok'd by Soldiers The eleventh nam'd Takarye and the twelfth Tamakading preside their annual Feasts and punish the omission of their long setled Customs The thirteenth Farikhe they say resides in the North they esteem him a cross-grain'd and ill natur'd God whose business is to deform what ever nature makes Comely and therefore onely worship him that he may not mis-shape them The Natives relate that this last God was formerly a Man living in Sinkam very fierce and of a stern Countenance with an exceeding long Nose which caus'd the People so to mock at him that growing impatient to bear such indignities any longer he desir'd of the Gods to take him amongst them which was immediately granted that after some stay there he descended again and gave his Countrey-men twenty seven Articles or Commandments charging to observe them strictly threatning that if they neglected he would send upon them many and great Plagues These Commandments they keep ten days together every Month beginning when the Moon enters Aries which time is by them call'd Karichang of which Laws more hereafter The Formosans are very slothful and Till but little although
they possess much fruitful and rich Land None dare be so bold to Sowe his Ground before he hath offer'd two Hogs at Tamacuwalo and Tamabal chief Houses belonging to the third and fourth Gods Teckarupada and Tamagisangak and this Oblation is requir'd by one of the Priests belonging to the same Houses In like manner the Oldest of the Village when it Rains bring a Hog and abundance of Masakhaw to the Priests that dwell in those two Houses to be offer'd to their Gods If at their going to Sowe their Fields they chance to meet a wild Beast and kill it they carry the Liver and Heart as a Victim to their Gods in the two Houses and when all the People are assembled the Priests of the two Houses must first Sowe a small spot of Ground and then all the rest may proceed having first laid between two Bundles of Straw by them call'd Tenguro a Pisang Leaf a little Siri and Lime to be offer'd to their Gods The Seed being put into the Ground a Rice Pot in their Language call'd Sangi is placed on the North side of the two Houses and left there till the Rice hath attain'd its full growth If the Corn near the Pots for close by them they Sowe a little grows well they take them away with great joy and freely believe that they shall have a kindly and plentiful Harvest They are not permitted to take Tobacco in the Seed-time lest as their Priestesses tell them all their Seed should turn into that stinking Vapor The are forbidden in that time to throw the Bones of Salt Fish or Peels of Onions on the Ground but must carry them in a Talangack or Pot into the Woods to prevent the devouring of their Corn by Poysonous Serpents They must keep no Fire lest the Corn should be burnt Sugar-Canes or Pomegranates they may eat onely in the Evening but they may not during that Season taste any Roast-meat for fear the Corn should be set on Fire by wild Swine nor any Mahall that is Powder'd Flesh lest it should be devour'd by Worms They must also abstain from Kanging and a Hay both Fishes because they believe if they should eat of them that the Corn would have no Ears They conceit That if they should sleep in the Field during their Seed-time their Corn would not grow upright but lodge on the Ground and if they drink any Water except mix'd with Masakhaw that the Grain would never ripen but be green and watery If the Dust or Sand happen to light in ones Eyes he may not endeavor to get it out by rubbing or otherwise till he has quit the Field they have sown They never cut their Corn before they have made Offerings to their Gods If a Thorn chances to get in any ones Foot he must not pull it out in the Field but must leave the Place No Woman may turn her back Parts to a Man nor go naked Many more ridiculous Customs they use during the Seed-time which are strictly observ'd by them as when the Corn is ready to be cut they thresh one Bundle and laying a Lump of Earth upon it implore the Gods to fill and make weighty the Ears of all the rest After they have brought in the Corn to their particular Houses they offer a Swine and use many Ceremonies in the killing of it amongst others they lay a great piece of Clay on a large black Pot which they firmly believe makes their Corn grow more full and weighty Their Hunting which is never less than twelve days together is perform'd sometimes by few and at other times with many People who for the most part use Snares and Canes and also Assagays Bowes and Arrows When they have appointed a great Match they build a House in the Fields which they call Cadelang wherein they hang all their Implements And as they have their third and fourth Gods that look over their Tillage so their seventh and eighth nam'd Tawarakakoeloe and Tamakakamak bear the sway in Hunting Before they go out they tell to one another the Dreams they had in the Preceding Night and also neglect not Augurial Observations insomuch that if the Bird Aydak meet them they count it a good Omen but if it flies either on the right or left side of them they put off their Venating Sport till some other time Others also go to a River side where they make a peculiar kind of Sacrifice to their Gods with these Words If the Devil or any other Evil Spirits follow us we beseech that you would drive and banish them from us From the first Quarry of every sort of Wild Creatures they take a snip from the Tail Mouth Heart and Kidneys which with a Pisang Leaf scalded Rice and Masakhaw they present to their Deities Coming back from their Recreation they return thanks to the Gods in the House which they built to put their Arms and Hunting-necessaries in praying That those which come after them may have no success nor kill any thing Lastly They pull down and burn the House having first sent for the Women to carry home the taken Venison who coming thither bring abundance of cheering Tope to make merry with They often kill at one of these great Hunting-Matches eight hundred a thousand nay sometimes two thousand Head of Deer so that the Netherlanders could buy there the best and fattest Hanch of Venison for a Shilling All the Formosans much differ from one another in their Speech so that you shall seldom find two or three Villages though but three or four Leagues distant from one another but their Dialects vary so much that they are forc'd to use Interpreters They have neither Letters Writings nor Books neither were willing to learn although both the Spaniards and Hollanders have offer'd to teach and instruct them The Islands Formosa and Tayowan lay very convenient for the Netherlanders Chinese Trade because at most Seasons of the Year they could sail to them from the Coast of China out of the River Chinch or Chinchieu The chiefest Merchandise which the Hollanders got at Formosa consisted in Sugar Goats and Deers Skins which they transported thence to Iapan The Companies Merchandise was carried in Chinese Jonks to the River Chinchieu and the City Eymuy to their Factors or Merchants residing there and also to other peculiar Chinese Merchants whose Credit was good to send them such Returns as were desired at Iapan India and the Netherlands which Trade was conniv'd at by the Koabon of the Territory Fokien There also came some peculiar Merchants out of China with their own Vessels to dispose of their private Merchandise though of small concern Therefore when the time approach'd that the Ships were to go Annually to Iapan or Batavia and that the Goods came but slowly from China they were necessitated to go themselves with two or three Vessels to China or Eymuy where the Goods were brought weigh'd and receiv'd aboard in several Parcels and were forc'd to give eight