we were by the same Island and had fiue degrées To the Easte of this Island Botton lye thrée other Islands from whence many corners and shoels stretch to seaward toward the South-east In sayling towards Amboyna the said three Islands must be left on the starboord and so running forward out by Botton there lye other two Islands to the Northward which must be left on the larboorde sayling forth betwéene both this is to be well obserued by reason of the sholes in that place stretching from those thrée Islands The 20. day wée passed thorowe the straight betwéene Anno 〈◊〉 the 20. of October Selebes and the Soles where two Islands lye right in the middest of the gap betwéene which we ran they lye a good league one from the other it seemed that there was a fire in one of them we might sée boates passe from one Island to another This gappe lyeth from Bantam some 30. leagues and as we returned homewards we left many Islands on our starboorde which lye in 5. degrées and 50. minutes The 21. day we had 5. degrées and 50. minutes to the Southward of Selebes sayling thorowe the straight This land stretcheth for the most part West and by North and East and by South here we made an ende of our last smoked fleshe and euery messe had a kan of Wine The 22. day we passed by the Island Selebes which stretcheth West and by North and East and by South from the straight it is some 20. leagues long Westward with lowe grounde lying before it and thereon very hye and hillie ground as it were doubled or indented the South end whereof lyeth in 5. degrées and 50. minutes and as a man passeth from the West ende forward in comming towards it sayling some eyght or ten leagues along by it there appeareth a round high hill like vnto a cocke of haie in the fieldes séeming to lye farre off from the rest outward but approaching néere thereunto it lyeth plainelie farre within the Land the ground before it being very lowe and stretching at least two degrées thorow the Line on the North side so that it is aboute some eyght degrées long South and North. The 23. day we sayled ouer a shallow of sixe fathome déepe wending West and by South in fiue degrées and sixe and fiftie minutes about some eyghtéene leagues from the Land the winde being Southeast at what time we had sight of a small Island from our Maine top lying to the Northwarde of vs. The same euening we sayled ouer the shallowe at 12. 13. 14. and 15. fathomes which continued thrée glasses wending West and West and by North. The 24. day at noone we had a dish of Rice and a Kan of Wine being the first day since the 30. of August that we sayled without view of Land The 25. day halfe the night time we sayled againe ouer the shallowes the winde West and West and by North at some twentie fathomes depth and as we gessed wee were about 90. leagues from the west ende of Selebes The 29. day wée sawe the Land of Madura as wée guessed where we had béen imprisoned hauing fortie and fiftie fathome with claye grounde The last day we were againe allowed a dish of Rice Anno 1599. the 29. of October we saw Mednra seeing euery day Land but could not haue any certaine knowledge what Land it was The 2 day of Nouember we had sight of the length of the maine Land of Madura to the Northwards wherof lyeth the Island Laybock some 18. leagues distant We ran betwéene them hauing sight of land euery day The 5. day we left the Island Carman Iava behinde vs lying some 20. leagues from Laybock most East and West a sunder finding sometimes 30. 35. 40. 45. and 50. fathome depth all good clay ground The 9. day we passed by another Island where eyght or ten trées stand in the water a little from the Island lying some 20. leagues from Karmen Iava most West and by North and East and by South from each other where we sayled about by the North. The 13. day we came before Saketra where we made some prouision of Rice and were God be thanked deliuered of our former penurie and hunger héere we heard that the Vizadmirall was departed from Bantam about thrée moneths past The 16. day we sayled from Saketra anchoring the same day before the fresh Ryuer where we furnished our selues with water the Chinans brought vnto vs Aracca and Rice in most plentifull sorte which we bought for some fiue pence the pound The 17. day wee sayled thence towards Bantam where two Dutch ships lay The 18. day we spoke with them they were the Long barke and the Sunne which had lyne eyght moneths and tenne dayes before Bantam and were departed from thence in the night time not refreshing themselues where they had so néerely bartered all that in the ende for want of money they trucked also the whistles from about their neckes and yet had not effected any great matter for both the ships had but 60. last of Pepper and Cloues together and farther were weakened 55. men The 19. day wée arriued before Bantam where wée We arriued before Bantam The price of Pepper Maces Cloues were much made of Iohn Martsson hauing taken in his first Pepper but the fifth of this moneth and bought the same by the bagge euery bagge waying fiftie pounde for the which they paide foure péeces of Ryals of 8. and an halfe but at the last foure Ryals of 8. for a bag The Maces and Cloues are bought by the Baer waying 500 pound the Maces for 80. and the Cloues for 65. péeces of Ryals of 8. The 15. of Ianuarie 1600 our Admirall went a shore to the Magistrates of Bantam bestowing on them sundrie presents and giftes and dealt with them about farther trade wherein they agréed very well with thankes and due salutations on both parts which done he tooke his leaue after he had giuen the boate vnto the Gouerner of Bantam wherein he came ashore hanged with Skarlet cloth and appoynted with two murthering péeces but those people haue small knowledge how to vse the same The 20. day we brought all our Marchants aboorde hauing almost solde all their wares The 21. daye one of our Marchants went againe ashore with a small parcell of Veluet and returned Veluet with twentie bagges of Pepper made of the sayde Veluet The discription of Bantam THE manners and policie vsed in Bantam are very strange for when a man dyeth leauing behinde him any goods whether he haue children or none the King seazeth vpon the widow children and goods appropriating all to himselfe making the Mother his slaue and if a man of China desire to buye the Mother or daughter he selleth them and if afterwards they chance to haue children betwéene them it happeneth to her againe as it did after her first husbands death if the King doe vnderstand of any goods left by the deceased such
The 27. day in the morning wee put out againe all our satles to make more way hauing a fine full gale from the West Northwest with faire weather and at afternoone we saw an Island called the Isle de Gano wherewith we were all greatly comforted and reioyced The same night wee had a very hard tempest with contrary winds which lasted two houres and then the winde was againe good and we shaped directly our course towards the maine land of Sumatra The 28. day in the morning wée sawe the mayne land 1598. The 28. December we saw the maine land of Sumatra of Sumatra which is a very high Countrey declining with a point towards the Strait All this day wee sayled for the most part East Southeast towards the shore In the euening wee spake with our Pinnase and demaunded if they knew the place and the Master answered vs that hee knew the place very well wherewith wee left off to demaund any farther but sayled forth Southeast and by East The 29. day in the morning wee had a shrewd gust of rayne and winde with very darke weather In the euening the Pinnase cast about to Lee-ward and stayed for the shippes to speake with vs whereupon wee tooke in our Wee came into the straight of Sunda sayles and ranne with our fore-course onely to the end we might by daylight be before the strayts The 30. day in the morning beeing come into the Straites of Sunda in the after-noone wee discryed fiue small sayle vnder the shore but they came not aboord vs by reason that the wind was very great blew a mightie storme we layled along the shore to wit the coast of Iaua The same day all the ships cléered all their ordinance in the euening we cast our Ankers a good mile from Bantam néere vnto two small Islands for we would not come before the towne in the night time The 31. day we wayed our Ankers and sailed towards We arriued at Bantam Bantam in the way came a small boate of our other ships aboord vs with foure mē declaring vnto vs that our Admirall the Hollandia and the smal Pinnase were at Bantam almost fully laden and that they had beene there a moneth and foure dayes with which good newes we were all maruailously reioyced and in the afternoone we came into the roade with exceeding ioy where our sayd other three ships lay at which time were but fifteene of our men dead since our comming from Holland Presently came many of the Countrey people aboord vs bringing vs Hennes Egges and many other sorts of fresh victuals fruits which seemed very strange vnto vs. The first day of Ianuarie many commodities were Ianuary brought aboord vs to barter and trucke as Hens Egges fruits and such like The second third dayes their Prawes or boats continued to come aboord vs so aboundantly with all kind of Marchandize which they offered vs in truck that we could hardly passe through them in our ships some with Hens some with Bonanas some with garlicke and other fruits The 4. day the Admirall came aboord all the ships giuing order to seperate the fléete namely that the 4. laden The ships seuer thē-selues ships should returne homewards the other 4. should saile to the Islands of Moluccas the Vice-Admirall in the ship called Amsterdam was made Admirall one of our Committees Iacob HemskerckVice-Admirall in the Gelderland of these sayd foure shippes appoynted to goe to the Moluccas and Iohn Ianssen Carel was appoynted to bee Vice-Admirall in the Hollandia in stead of Wybrandt Warwick Corneles Ianson Fortuiin was appoynted master in the great Pinnase Iohn Cornelisson was appointed master in Melcknaps place and Melcknap was put master into the Amsterdam and Woulter Willekins Committees in the Vtrecht was placed in the great Pinnase the Pilot of the Amsterdā was shipped into the great Pinnase and the master of the sayd Pinnase was againe appoynted to sayle in the Amsterdam which was Admirall of the fleete for the Moluccas The fift sixt seuenth dayes many Prawes or small boates continued to come aboord vs offering vs fresh victualles in trucke The eight day in the euening we hoysed our sayles and The 8. day of Ianuary the 4. ships departed from Bantam towards the Islands of Moluccas departed from Bantam with our foure ships towards the Moluccas to wit the new Admirall Wybrandt van Warwicke the Vice-Admirall Iacob Hemskerck the Zealand whereof Iohn Cornelisson was master and the Vtrecht whereof Iohn Martssen was master or shipper The 11. day we ankered before a riuer lying betwéene Bantam and Sakentra and is about some foure leagues from Sakentra two little Islands lying right ouer against it and fiue other Islands right before you about some halfe league from Sakentra The 12. day we made prouision of water with all possible diligence for two of our ships were appoynted to sayle before to make prouision of fresh victualles by noone wee had in all our water and then wee and Melcknap sayled together away and the next morning we cast our ankers before Sakentra about a league from the land The 13. day in the morning the Sambander or gouernour came aboord vs with one of their Prawes or little boates demaunding what wee came for because wée rode in that place with our shippes Our Vice-Admirall made answere that wee came to buy fresh victuals with which answere they were well pleased saying there was inough of all things to bee had and offered vs a present of a certaine fruit which they call Maugenus which our Vice-Admirall receiued remune rating him with a looking glasse and a couple of drinking-glasses of small valewe The afternoone following he departed again from whence he came with two of our Committees to make prouision of fresh victualles The same euening our Admirall with the Vtrecht came vnto vs. The 14. day in the morning one of our boates rowed ashore The king fendeth a Bull vnto the Admirall for a present to buy more fresh victualles who returned aboord towards the euening bringing much good victualles vnto the Admirall with a Bull sent vnto our Admiral by the king which was distributed among the foure shippes The 15. day in the morning so ne of our boates were sent againe to the shore for more fresh victualles who returned at noone and after dinner wee wayed our ankers and sayled from Iaketra The 16. day in the morning we let fall our ankers because the weather was very darke for wee could not passe the neck of the land which there stretcheth out about some three leagues from Sakentra at noone we sayled thence but towards the euening wee cast out our Ankers againe The seuenteenth day wee wayed our Ankers againe sayling forward with a Northwest wind and very faire weather The 20. day of the sayd moneth we saw the Island called Lybock and in the afternoone we saw that it lay Eastward of Iaua with three other small Islands
among them wearing in them commonly a Parradice bird in stead of a feather thinking themselues sure and safe enough when they haue such an helmet on their head Some of the Gentlemen haue Corslets or harnesse wherein they thinke they can take no hurt of their enemies Now when they enterprise any attempt with their Gallies they make a most hideous noyse with crying calling hooping hallowing playing on Drums and Bason as if they were all out of their wittes the Gentlemen standing aloft in the Gallie with their weapons in their hands make many crooked leapes springing this way that way he which can spring best thinkes himselfe the trimmest fellow and is not a little proud thereof On the sides of the Gallies are stages of Canes made to passe euen with the water whereon the slaues sit to row or rather skoope shouell the water for in stead of Oares they vse shouels made of wood 2. or 3. sitting together shouell vp the water casting the shouel ouer their heads poure out the water ouer the side of the Gallie in doing whereof they make a wonderfull noyse with singing after their manner others sitting by them which play vpon Drums somtimes vpon Basons also They are very subtill and The disposition inclination of the people stout men in their warres seeking and visiting their enemies with great courage and assurance as we saw our selues at what time they of Labbetacke came with foure Gallies before Nera euen right before our lodging offering skirmish most brauely to each other on the land wherin some were slaine some hurt This spited the inhabitants of Nera who in reuenge taking the opportunitie of The attempt of the people of Nera against their enemies of Waygar the time rowed out the next morning with 5. Gallies to a little Iland named Waygar the people whereof kept watch that night in Labbetacke for they are confederats hold with those of Labbetacke where they put to the sword most of the people that were in the said Iland bringing their heads from thence with them to Nera fastened one by another to a rope for their greater glory triumph which they hold with all their pompe of flags streamers banners pennons banderels shooting very lustily with their Baesses that lay in their Gallies They also brought with them a woman prisoner which the Sabander of the Iland kept for his slaue They also brought an other woman with them but they cut her in the midle in two peeces with a Sable or Curtlar in so much that they liued most beastly with the people whereby we might see that they were a most bloody tyranicall nation But not contented that they had thus butcherly prayed vpon their neighbours and murthered them 5. or 6. dayes after in despight of their enemies they went vp downe the streets bragging with their weapons yet red with the blood of their enemies for in such bloody actions they take a meruelous pride especially that they had so well effected this bloody stratagem yet not withstanding this their mortal hatred they buried the heads of their slayne enemies very honourably the order whereof was thus After that they were with their Gallies returned the heads being orderly placed on a staffe fastened thereunto as before is said with a rope they are brought before the house of the Sabander or Gouernour and laid vpon a great stone vnder a Tree to the view of all the people that they might see how valiantly they had behaued themselues against their common enemies whence after they had so lien the space of an houre they were taken and wrapped in Callicute or cloth made of Cotton and laid in a platter so carried to the place of buriall being put into the earth they burnt great store of franckensence ouer the graues according to the manner and custome of the Countrey Furthermore when a man dyeth the women that are Their ceremonies vsed ouer the dead alyed in friendship or kinred weeping and lamenting call and cry to the dead corps very loude thinking with such calling and mourning that the Course shall againe receiue life but seeing that it remayneth dead without mourning they prepare are a great Banquet inuiting all their friendes and such as accompaned the dead corps to the funerall which is carried vpon mens shoulders in such sort as is commonly vsed in our Countrey but that they lay a white peece of Callikute ouer the dead then is the corps followed to the Graue first by the men and the women after the dead being layd into the earth they burne Frankensence one whole day and night thereouer put into a vessel for that purpose and vnder a penthouse or such like which is made ouer the graue burneth a Lampe al night the next day in the morning after the buriall come thither all the common people Gentlemen and others making their prayers ouer the Graue which maner of ceremonie they keepe and obserue for many dayes These things we saw and behelde with our eyes and demaunded of them why they vsed such kind of ceremonies They answered interogatiuely demaunding of vs if we did not the like when any died in our Countrey We demaunded further what they prayed ouer the dead Their answere was that the dead might not rise againe which they steadfastly beleeue supposing that if they should not so pray ouer the Graue of the dead he would againe reuiue such is their lamentable misbeliefe In this Iland are many old folke for their great yeeres very lustie and well disposed for we How the women imploy them selues in their houses haue often times seene a man there of 130. yeeres old yea and many others of great yeeres They liue by the profit of their fruites The women do there the worke labour while the men walke idely vp and downe the streetes they neuer walke abroade with their husbandes but keepe at home at their worke and businesse as drying of Nutmegs and shaleing the same wherein and in other such like they imploy their time Hereafter foloweth the way of the Iland of Banda which lyeth about some 24. leages from Amboyna No. 6. The signification of certaine Pictures or Counterfaites according to the letters A. B. C. c. as followeth No. 7. SIgnifiyng the order vsed by the Admirall in his landing to make agreement with them for trade where he was very gladly and friendly entertained with great honour and reuerence bringing him into a Tent made of Sayles placed vnder the trees and fastned from one tree to an other vnder which they sate Is the Gouernour of the Land a very old man Is the King of Ternati his brother Is the Vice-Admirall with an Interpretor standing behinde him which interpreted all matters vnto them Are Gentlemen sitting in companie vnder the Tent. Is the Admirall of Sea there standing a part in the side of the Tent with his seruantes Is the Gouernour his house Is the common
south and haled in our sheats The 8. day we were in twenty degrees holding our course west south west the wind being East south east with a fine gale in the morning we cast a man ouer board who died of the bloody flixe his name was Daniell Kogher of Hamborgh In the euening we shaped our course one poynt lower running for the most part west and by south with a fine gale The 10 day we were in 21. degrees 14. minutes keepeing our course for the most part west and by south the wind being South east The 14. day the wind was contrary blowing from the South west with ill weather so that we were glad to take in our sailes The 15. day in the morning we sayled west north west with variable winds and as we iudged we were vnder Tropico Capricorno The 20. day we were in 26. degrees lacking 15. minutes shaping our course west and by south with still weather being 150. leagues from Saint Lawrence as we gessed The 24. day the wind was contrary blowing very hard from the North west and raynie weather The 26. day we had fairer weather shaping our course most West and by south the same day we were in the height of 29. degrees 15 munites The 30. day we had 28. degrees and an halfe holding our course North west and by west the wind westerly and we iudged our selues to be 100. leagues off Cape de Roman The first day of October the wind came faire towards the October euening holding our course West and by south The 2. day the wind continued good holding our course most West and by south the wind South east with very faire weather The 5. day we were in 30. degrees and an halfe shaping our course westerly the wind blowing from the South The 12. day we had the wind contrary from the North north-west with a great tempest so that we were forced to take in our topsailes and to beare onely our maine sayles The 14. day we were in 34. degrees and 20. minutes keeping our course West south-west with ill weather the wind blowing from the North west here we saw many Birds The 19. day a contrary wind out of the South-west and West south west with a great gale The 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. and 25. dayes the weather was very still and calme with a South-east wind keeping our course for the most part West and by North. The 29. day it blew a mighty storme out of the North and North-west so that we tooke in our sayles the same night it lightened and thundered mightily The 30. day we were in 33. degrees and an halfe gessing that we were 150. leagues off the Cape and as we iudged West and West and by North from vs toward noone the weather cleared vp We shaped our course most Northwest and by West the wind being South-west and West South-west The first day of Nouember we continued our course Nouember North-west and North west and by North the wind being Westerly and West south west The 2. day still weather but towards the euening blew a fine gale East north-east sayling most West and West by North. The 3. day continued a faire East and East north-east wind holding our course for the most part West with a fine gale and cleare weather but towards the Euening grew a great Storme so that wee were gladde to take in our sayles shaping our course West the wind being North-east In the night the winde came againe about to the West South-west with a stout gale The 4. day we fardelt vp our Maine-sayle holding our course most North-west and North-west and by North with a stoute gale The 5. day we tooke a Turtle Doue which came flying into our Ship whereby we presumed that we could not be farre from land The 10. day at noone tide we saw the land of Ethiopia in the height of 32. degrees and a halfe namely the neck land of Lahnera Towardes the euening the wind came about to the Eastward our course was South and by West and South South-west In the night time our sprit sayle was rent from the Yard The 11. day we shaped our crurse most part South South-west with a contrary wind from the East and East South-east with darke weather At this place was great store of fish whereof we caught some store The same night was a rousing storme from the East East South-east we kept our course most South-west and South-west and by South The 12. day it continued very blustering weather In the night we tooke the height and found 35. degrees as we gessed 15. leagues from the land The same euening we sayled south-west making hard way the wind being at south-east The 13. day in the morning the Zealand was as farre behind vs that we could hardly discerne her from our sterne wherevpon we tooke in our Maine-sayle making way with our fore-sayle keeping our course most South-west with darke weather a very ill wind blowing from the south east And in the morning after we had brooke our fast we shaped our course West south-west At noone we tooke the height and found 36. degrees and sailed West iudging the Cape de Anguillos to be some 5. leages off vs West and by North. The 15. day we had 37. degrees and 15. minutes holding our course west south west the wind being west north-west The 16. day about none the wind came about to the north-east we sayled West north west with very faire weather at after noone we had store of raine with lightning contrary and changable windes In the euening it cleered somewhat vp yet it blew very hard from the North east we shaped our course most West North-west sayling onely with our fore-course about which time many of our people began to fall sicke in so much that at this present 22 men lay sicke At noone we shaped our course Northwest the wind being East South-east with a fine gale The 18. day we were in 37 degrees 15. minuts our course north-west gessing the Cape Anguillos to lie northerly of vs. The 20. day we were in 34 degres 22. minutes holding our course North west the wind South east at East with a fine gale cleere weather The Cape de bona Esperançe lying East and East by South off vs some 28. leagues The 21. day and so to the last day of this moneth the wind continued South-east shaping our course most of the time North-west making good way having very faire weather The 30. day we were in 23 degrees and 15. minutes at noone we passed the Tropique of Capricorne holding our course yet North west the wind being South east The first day of December we had 22 degrees 20 minuts the same day we had the Sunne againe right ouer our heads December The 2. day we had 20. degrees and an halfe continuing our course North west the wind South east the same day we mounted and cleered our Ordnance The 6.
lying to the westwarde of Oba where manie other Islands are but we knew not their names for in the Pylots Cardes were found but two Islands in the place where all these Islands are this place is excellent good for anchoredge where we had 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. and 23. fathome faire sandie grounde the next morning we set sayle againe The 12. day we let fall our anchors againe vnder the same Island by reason that Iohn Martsson sayled from our companie to séeke way betwéene the Islands but the next day came againe to vs for the Admirall discharged a péece to the ende he should returne The 13. day Iohn Martsson returned to vs and then we sayled thence together but towards noone we cast out our anchors againe for that Iohn Martsson could not kéepe vs companie by reason of a great tempest that then blew but towards the euening he came to vs and then sayled thence together but could not goe farre by reason of the shoels wherefore we cast out our anchors againe and rode at 9. 10. 12. and 15. fathome The 14. day wée hoysed vp our sayles and went thence but at afternoone let fall our anchors againe at what time came a boate or Praw from the land vnto vs telling vs that the Island was called Bankore and the other next was Sabobe and warning vs of the great number of shoels in that place and moreouer shewed vs that to shun them we must sayle to the aforesaid Island Sabobe where we might prouide our selues of water and other fresh victuals Their King as he sayd dwelled behinde Sabobe in an Island called Mithare these Islands lye in two degrées southward the Lyne The 16. daye we sayled thence towards the Islands The 16. day we were compassed with Islands from whence we came at afternoone we let fall our anchors againe and within an houre after set sayle againe and in the euening cast out our anchors againe then some of our Saylers went vp to the maine top Mast from whence they discried and tolde some thirtie Islands lying round about vs within the compasse of fouretéene or fiftéene leagues but by no meanes wée could get out of them The 17. day in the morning we hoysed vp sayles againe with a South Southeast wind shaping our course South Southwest and Southwest and by South to seawards whereby with Gods helpe and prouidence wée got cléere of the Islands sayling thorow a very narrow channell or gappe leauing the necke of the land that lay out on our star boorde side where we found a little narrowe place to get out for on our larboorde lay thrée little Islands where many shoels were to the southward and as farre as we could discerne we might sée a fyre and at afternoone we saw another great fyre in the open Seaes some foure leagues from land which we left on our starboord hauing a very fine gale of winde The 18. daye in the morning wée sawe againe high land which stretched out a great length The 22. day we came néere to this aforesaid land meaning to sayle about that way to the Eastward but for want of winde could not in conclusion we agréed to shape our course along the coast Eastward and to goe about to the Westward and so put forth our foresailes The 23. day Iohn Martsson discharged a péece being very néere aground hauing but two fathome and a halfe water and was faine to towe the ship with their boate from the shoels the weather being very cléere and faire as God would and afterward came aboord vs declaring that he had séene sixe boates but not spoken with any of them neither could he learne what Island that the same was our Pylots supposed it to be Boere The same night Iohn Martsson came agrounde but wound himselfe off with a bowe anchor but lost a planke of his ship some fathome and an halfe long howbeit the ship God be praysed remained tight it was an vncertaine or vnéeuen ground for hauing cast his leade and finding 40. fathome before they could cast out the leade againe the ship sat fast aground but being now off we ran East Southeast of that place The 25. day Iohn Martssons folke were a shore where They goe ashore at Tabocke they spake with some of the people who tolde them that the land was called Taboke and that there was plentie of Rice Goates and Hennes This is a very great Land for by all iudgement we had sayled some 30. leagues along the coast thereof and now at last were come where was abundance of sholes and yet could sée no ende of the land insomuch that we were constrained to returne the same way we came The land lieth so bending with corners that it cannot be well described except it were explained corner by corner The first day of October 1599. The first day of October was allowed a kan of Wine to euery messe for toye that we had reached the East ende of Tabocke where we found many other small Islands The same night Iohn Martsson droue a ground on the East ende of the said Island the weather being very calme the ship sate before aground hauing behind twentie fathome water whereupon they cast out their bowe anchor behinde at the gallerie and so in winding her off she swayed to the sholeward but wound her off againe with the Capsten and pulling vp their anchor they found the same to be broken for the shanke was in two peeces but they got them vp into their ship by reason that the Buy rope was twisted about the Cable The 2. 3. and 4. dayes we lay at hull about some two degrees Southward of the Lyne by reason of extreame winde and tempestious weather the Sunne being for the most part ouer our heads The 5. day Salomon Dirikson of Harlyng dyed who was a quarter Master and before had béen the Stowers mate The 6. day our last Rice was spent in so much that the Cooke drest vs no more victuals our féeding was then bread and water with one Mutskin of Wine and A Mutskin is the eight part of a quarte one of Honie euery day to a messe The 9. day our allowance of bread was increased so that we had some fiue pounde of bread allowed for fiue dayes this day we made an end of our fishe The 10. day was a kanne of Wine allowed to euery messe because there was nothing else to eate but drie bread The 11. day William Hermanson Klock of Alckmer was appoynted quarter Master in place of Salomon Dirickson so that he was both quarter Master and Corporall The 12. day Wouter Egbertsson of Bréewolt was appoynted Gunner The 16. day our allowance was appoynted to be fiue poundes and one halfe of bread for seuen dayes The 17. day we sawe two Ioncken or boates but spake not with them being then at the East ende of Botton and hauing fiue degrées and sixe minutes now we knew where we were for outward bounde towardes Amboyna
Ioost Janson of Amsterdam looking ouer-boord to sée if any part of the sayle hung in the water suddenly as he was putting his head ouer the ships side the mayne yarde fell loose from the mast aboue and smote the said Ioost Ianson on his head starke dead which was a great mischance and he was the first man that dyed this voyage in that ship The 7. day in the morning we cast the said Ioost Ianson ouer-boord The 9. day his goods were sold before the maine mast which were well solde for that one Ryail of 8. was accounted for 8. Gildernes and a halfe The same day wee were put to our first allowance of Oyle to wit wéekely two Mutskins which maketh of our wine measure about halfe a pinte The 12. day the Vice-Admirall came aboord our ship to minister iustice which was the first execution of iustice that he did in these ships The same day we had sight of an Island and were in the night come néere to the land before we wist thereof for it was a very low land then we discharged a péece to warne the other ships thereof then wended and put roome-ward The 13 day we saw thrée other small Ilands wherevpon the little Pinnase sayled that euening before vs to see if we might saile on the farther side of one of the Ilands or not but the water was too shallow for there lay out a great necke or corner of the Island therefore wee cast about to seaward and the same euening we cast our sounding lead in the first quarter and had 20. faddome and casting the lead againe found but 15. faddome the third time 11. faddome and the fourth time 9. faddome insomuch that we were in great danger of the sholes but God preuented the same for we held our ship turning and suddenly came into the deepe escaping the great danger wee were in to lose our ship and our liues for doubting greatly that we should méet with great stormes and tempests betwéene the Islands we were drawne out of the right way and brought into this error The 15. day wee had againe shallowe water at 13. faddome but wee were out of sight of any land which was a great wonder to finde such a shallow in the Sea so farre from any shore for we could not sée any land at all The same day we had againe a faire winde so that we must hale in our sheates and set our course East and by South and East Southeast the same day we shot a great Toonny whereof there were in that place very many wherewith we made good chéere The 16. day of the saide moneth in the morning wée had sight of another Island so that we let slip our sheates to sayle beyond it This Iland stretcheth to the South and North and lyeth very low and pleasantly to sée to in the euening we were past this Island and pulled in again our sheates we held our course most East and by South and East Southeast The 22. day in the afternoone wee had much rayne with a stouts gale of winde so that wée were constrayned to take in our top-sailes the same night it lightened wonderfully The 24. day the Vice-Admiral gaue signe by putting out his streamer or banderoll that all the Pilots should come aboord him to take counsell together what course were best to be kept The 25. 26. and 27. dayes wee had very still and calme weather but towards the euening the wind came South southwest and wee helde our course most East southeast The 28. day in the morning the wind slacked and we directed our course East and East and by North wee turned by the wind the weather being very faire in the night the winde came Westerly so that we shaped our course East southeast and Southeast and by East The 30. day the Vice-Admirals preacher came aboord our shippe where hee made vnto vs a godly and learned Sermon The first day of December we had the wind faire and December the same day wee began first to eate of our smoaked or dryed flesh which remained as yet very good and swéete The 2. 4. 5. 6. and 7. dayes we had calme and still weather with variable winds and some while a pretie little gale and sometimes small showres of rayne this day we might beholde squales and snakes driuing in the water whereby we knew that we were néere vnto the land The 8. day wee had also mutable windes with some small showres and gusts of rayne with thunder the weather being very still and calme and towards the euening it began to blow a fine swéete gale from the West northwest so that we haled in our sheates and held our course East southeast the same night a flying fish came flying into our ship The 9. day it blew a fine gale the wind westerly and we held our course for the most part East Southeast about noonetide one of our company fell from the sprit-saile yard and was drowned for before we could hoyse out our boat he sunke his name was Gerbrand Iacobszen of Alckmar and a common marriner There fell another ouer-boord also who was one of the vnder Shipwrights and was browned with the other His name was Tymon Ianszen of Amsterdam so that this day we lost two of our company The same day also dyed one aboord the Vice-Admirall and one aboord the Pinnase Thus in this one day we lost foure men in in our fléete of fiue ships The 10. day the wind continued fayre shaping our course most East Southeast the weather faire at noone we tooke the height and found we were eight degrées to the South of the Equinoctiall line The 12. 13. and 14. dayes continued faire weather except new then a little missing raine and the same day we saw multitudes of birds and scum of the sea driuing vpon the water which caused vs to iudge that wee were not far from the land The 21. day our Vice-Admirals boate came aboord vs at which time happened an extreme storme of winde and rayne so that wee were constrained to take in our top sailes and because the storme continued long it was thought good to take in the Vice-Admirals boate aforesaid fearing least our boat should haue drawne her vnder water wherfore we cast about to Lée-ward to take in the boat but in hoysing it ouer the rope which was fastened before to the boat brake and therewith one of the quarter masters fell ouer boord but we help him presently and saued his life The 25. day in the night about thrée houres before day-light we had a shrewd gust of raine and wind so that we were glad to take in our sailes The 26. day in the morning wee could sée but 2. of our 15 shippes but in the euening we came againe together and with our fore-sailes euery one of vs put loofe fearing wee should come too néere the sholes and the Moone was so barke that we could hardly discerne the length of a ship from vs.
day we were in 17. degrees 8. minutes and continued our course North west The 7. day in the morning after breakfast we had sight of the Iland of S. Helena lying off vs West North west towards the euening we tooke in our sayles letting the Ships driue for we were not able to reach the Iland this day The 8. day about noone we let fall our Anchors in the Roade at 30. fadome some two shot length from the shore our Maister and vnder Comissarie presently rowed a shore to looke for freshe Water And the same euening they brought a boord Goates and Hogges which were caught on the land The 9. day we carried all our sicke people to the shore and afterwards filled fresh water some of our people running vp into the land to seeke after Cattell brought some a boord our Shippes with them which made our Marriners very gladde but wee founde no Orenges whereof we had most neede for those that were trubled with the scuruie disease The 14. day out people raunging about to seeke for Goates and Swyne as God would came to a very faire pleasant valley of Orenge trees whereof they plucked some 4000. and brought them aboord which meruelously refreshed and cheered vs all The 31. day wee brought out sicke againe a boord the Shippes The first day of Ianuary we departed from S. Helena Anno. 1600 First day of Ianuarie homewards shapeing our course most North-west with a very fine gale blowing from the South-east The 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. and 8. dayes we continued our course North west with faire and cleare weather the wind being South-east and East South-east Here we saw many flying Fishes The 14. day we began to haue small shewers of rayne the wind at South-east we continued our course North-west makeing faire way The 18. day at noone wee crossed the Aequinoctiall line with a fine South-east gale This day we saw plenty of Fishe swimming called Dorados whereof wee tooke some store The 22. day maruelous calme with rayne lightning and thunder The 23. 24. 25. 26. and 27. dayes still weather with some small showers and little gales of wind now and then the wind very mutable in the meane while we made good cheere with Dorados where of we caught plenty The eight and twentie day continued still weather vntill the first quarter in the night the wind comming to the East South-east with a full gale we held out course North west The thirteth day in the morning the Moone has eclipsed being in 5. degrees in the foote of the Crosse wee helde our course North-west the winde being at North North-east The first day of February to the 5. day we continued our Februarie course West north-west the wind being North and by East with a fine gale in our top sayles at what time we began first to haue sight of the North Pole which we had not seene in long time before The 6. day at noone we had 8. degrees we sayled North-west the wind blowing North north-east with a fine gale running close by the wind towards the euening we held our course North north west the wind being East and by North. The 7. day we were in 9. degrees houlding our course North west and North west and by north with a North east wind The 10. day we were in 12. degrees continuing our course North west and by north the wind North east The 13. day we had 15. degrees iudging the Ile de Mayo 150. leagues east off vs. The 14. day in the morning the wind came againe to the South east and East South east but very calme weather our course most Northerly The 22. day 23. degrees and an halfe iudging our selues then vnder Tropuo Cancri holding our course North northwest The 25. day we saw great store of Saragassa driuing on the Seas with a great gale out of the North east our course was North North west The 26. day in 28. degrees holding our course North North east with a fine gale We iudged the I le of Palme 300. leagues East off vs. The 11. day of March 41. degrees our course North east March and by East In the euening the wind contrary blowing from the North east with much raine and wind The 12. day the wind continued very high so that we were faigne to take in our toppe Sailes and the weather so darke that we could not take the height The 13. day we tooke in our Sayles letting our Ships lie at hull for it blew a mightie storme from North east The 14. day some two howers before day the tempest began to ceasse we put out our Sayles shaping our course North and by East being in 42. degrees The 15. day blew againe a very hard storme from the East South-east so that we sayled onely with our courses sayling North-east and by East The 16. day the storme continued so that we were faigne to strike our top Mastes and runne with our courses Southerly The same day our alowance of wine was lessened and made but two Mutskins for a messe The 24. day we were in 48. degrees our course East North-east The same euening we sounded but founde no ground We iudged that we were too farre about the West The 25. day we were in 48. degrees and an halfe shaping our course Easterly to th ende we might reach the length of the Channell for we were shot too farre Westward the wind scant in the euening we cast our Lead but found no ground The 29. day mistie weather so that the Zealand discharged a peece supposing they had seene land but it was a banke of mist The 30. day in the euening we had sight of England supposing that we were some 6. leagues from land The same night blew a mightie storme out of the North North-west In the second watch of the nyght we saw two Shippes but we spake not with them The 31. day in the after noone we turned Westward the storme continuing very hard The same night we saw an other sayle but spake not with them The second day of Aprill the Zealand made a signe to vs Aprill to send our Boate aboord them about some conference and counsayle that was to be taken for their Bolt-sprite was broken so that they could put no Sayle therevnto At after noone the wind was againe contrary The 3. day it blew a very stoute gale from the North-east Our alowance of Oyle was deminished to two Mutskins a day The 6. day we spake with two French-men These were the first Shippes we had spoken with the wind being Northeast The 10. day we spake with a smal Shippe that came from Calis Malis laden with Wine whereof we had two Pipes The same was bound for Callice in Fraunce The Shippe and Maister were of Euckhusen the Maisters name was Iohn Frantslen but the company were all French-men The 11. day we passed by the Kaskets The same morning Anno 1600 the 11. day of Aprill the small Shippe
as haue any wealth haue no other meanes to preuent this mischiefe but onely to marrie their children while they are young whereby they may inherite their Parents goods wherefore they are married when they are but twelue or thirtéene yeares of age and younger if they be of very rich Parents and which is more strange sometimes such rich children haue two or thrée Wiues according as they abounde in wealth and this is done to preuent the King of the possessions of their goods after they are dead In their trade and traffike they are meruailous théeuish both the people of China and lava in so much that they let not to helpe themselues with false waights falsefying and mingling their Pepper with blacke sand and small stones to make it weigh heauie they are also false of their word or promise and giuen to man-slaughter for if it so chaunce that two fight and the one killeth the other he which liueth knowing that he must dye will stab and kill euery one where he can or may sparing netther man woman nor childe no not the children sucking the Mothers breast so long vntill he be ouercome by force and multitude of people then is he brought before the Gouernour who pronounceth sentence vpon him and after such iudgement giuen hee is thrust into the breast with a dagger that he falleth to the ground but it chaunceth seldome that such an one is apprehended alsue for commonly they are slaine before they be taken The 21. day of Ianuarie we set sayle from Bantam towards Holland but at afternoone we lay still by reason of the calme yet towards the euening we hoysed vp our sayles againe The 26. day we were put to our allowance to wit euery day sixe Mutskins of Atack at which time we were not passed the Islands of Iava The 28. day we were in the height of 8. degrées the euening still and calme the wind Westerlie The 3. day of Februarie we had the winde at Southwest so that we sayled Southeast and South Southeast with a fine gale The 4. day of Februarie we were in the height of 10. degrées and could not sayle higher then South and by East and South Southeast with a reasonable gale the winde being Westerlie The 12. day our chiefe Barber master Christopher an Easterling dyed The 14. day the Sunne passed ouer our heads in the height of 13. degrées and 12. minutes The 16. day our Corporall Iohn Peerson being an Englishman borne dyed in Iohn Martssons ship The 26. day we were in the height of 19. degrées with a fine gale shaping our course for the most part West Southwest with a full gale The 27. day a flying fish flew into the Amsterdam at the hause The 3. day of March we were in the height of 23. degrées 50. minutes we sailed with a forewinde according to our hearts desire The 16. day we were in the height of 35. degrées holding our course West and by North. The 18. day was a Mutskin of Aracks bestowed on the most of the chiefe officers to the number of sixtéene persons after the second watch according to the Admirals direction the winde being then Northerly so that we could not saile neerer than West Northwest The 19. day the common Marriners made request to haue one Mutskin of Arack in the night as the officers had which was denied except they would content themselues with one lesse of their allowance in the day and drinke the same in the night so that the officers had soure Mutskins and the rest thrée at euery meale the winde as before The 22. day in the night we had the winde againe at Southest with a fine gale setting out course Northwest and West Northwest The 23. day Iohn Iacob sonne of Medenblick dyed in the Amsterdam The 26. day wee had the winde contrarie at West Northwest which blew very hard The 29. day in the night the winde came faire againe from the North and then wée kept our course West and by North and West Northwest all these dayes the winde was so variable as it might possible be in our owne countrie and as the Pilots sayd wee were two hundred leagues Estwards of Capo de Bonna Esperance The first day of Aprill wee turned by the winde hauing a storme from the West The second day being Easter day we were allowed to our Easter egges a dish of small beanes with a dish of dried fish and a kan of Sacke in liew of Arack The third day Iohn Ianson of Ossenbrugh Cooper in the ship of Iohn Martssen dyed The 6. day of the sayd moneth the winde was againe faire at Northest but it lasted not long for here the windes are marueilous variable with very many durable stormes The 13. day wee had sight of land about some 70. leagues Estward of the Cape in the height of 34. degrées and an halfe and found ground at 80. fathomes or thereabouts being yet as wee gessed fiue leagues from the land we turned again by the winde being West Southwest with a storme The 17. day wee had the winde faire againe at Est Southest the Pilots held a parley and iudged the Capo de bonna Esperance to be from vs 68. leagues Northwest and by West The 19. day the winde was contrarie from the West The 22. day wée were in the height of 37. degrees and 40. minutes wee wended to passe the Cape and then for the most part wee sailed North Northwest and Northwest and by North. The 24. day wee saw land againe wherefore wee put someward yet we could not saile higher than South and by West The 25. day wee had againe faire weather the winde first South afterwards Southest and so Esterly The 27. day we were in the height of 34. degrees and 40. minutes Westward of the Cape and as the Pilots sayd 16. leagues from the land the winde as before The first day of May wee had a fine gale from the South and were in 32. degrées The 9. day of the sayd moneth we were in the height of 22. degrées fiue minutes we saw euery day Trombus or Reedes driuing which as men report driue néere about the Cape the winde Northwest The sixtéenth day about noone wee had sight of the Island of S. Helena wherewith wee were all greatly comforted The 17. day in the morning we had sight of a Carrack néere vnto the land being the Admirall of the Portugals Fléete sayling into the roade of S. Helena where lay at anchor thrée other Carracks whereby wee were forced to put into the old Roade which is the first valley that you come vnto after you are passed the Northwest corner or necke of the land and the Roade where the Carracks lay is the third valley beyond the sayd necke of the land so that we lay within Sakar or Minion shot of each other wee sent vnto them foure men to parley with them but I cannot write what communication passed The same euening came another Carrack making towards the Roade sailing