HAving been now four months in this little Fort, an Order came to me to remove from this place, to take the care of the Men that lay ſick in the City, and the Hoſpital, which was very welcome to me; not but that the Poſt I was in was profitable enough, and very genteel, and the place extraordinary pleaſantly ſcituated: But it being a token of the reſpect the Eaſt-India Company had for me, and withal more advantageous, I accepted of the Invitation with much ſatisfaction.

About a Fortnight after there came a general Order for all that were in the Company's Service, to make their Rendezvous in the Execution-field; ſo that you might ſee there all their Forces drawn up together; excepting thoſe only, that were abſolutely neceſſary to ſtand Centinels at the Gates and Redoubts. And indeed a finer ſight of that kind could no where be ſeen; for there were ſome thouſands of Europeans, which were all very luſty, tall, proper, well-choſen Men; and almoſt as many of other different Nations; as Amboineeſes, Malabars, Malayers, Mardikers and Balingers. Theſe were all mixt into ſeveral Companies, which had their own reſpective Officers; and after they had all paſs'd Muſter, they took the Oath of Fidelity in the preſence of the General, and the Council. After which the General made a very Eloquent Speech to 'em, in order to encourage them valiantly to prepare themſelves for the Action, which was then in hand; and to make his Speech more truly Rhetorical and perſwading, he gave to every Man a month's pay gratis. Then one half of theſe Men were order'd to march toward Bantam, and to Dangerang, which is a Paſs to it, which they found very well fortified. The other half march'd thro' the Caſtle to the Water-Gate, whence they were carried off in little Praw's, or ſmall Boats, on Board the Men of War, that lay in the Road, about half a League from thence, and ſo they were immediately embarkt. And the Wind blowing then juſt full Eaſt, as fair as they could have wiſh'd, they ſtraight weighed Anchor, and ſteered directly to the Royal City of Bantam. But

It will be proper to give you ſome account of that place, before I go any further, and to acquaint you with the cauſes and motives of this Undertaking.

Firſt, Then you muſt know, that this large Kingdom of Bantam, being in it ſelf of great ſtrength, hath of late much improved it ſelf, by the numbers of Foreigners that are come thither from all Nations; and among them conſiderable numbers too of Engliſh, Danes, Spaniards, Portugueſes and Dutch, which hath made it a very troubleſome and dangerous Neighbour to the Dutch Eaſt-India Company; inſomuch that their Ships that came from Europe, or any other places thither, did not dare to come by the Road of Bantam; but were forced to take a vaſt compaſs of three or four hundred Miles; keeping to the Northward.

Moreover, the King of Bantam had made ſeveral Attempts upon Batavia, both by Sea and Land. Tho' he was always forced to retire with great loſs, and without doing us any great damage. But tho' he could not accompliſh his deſire, and the Company could not fear a total overthrow; yet they were ſtill apprehenſive, that he being ſo much more powerful than they were, would prove very fatal to them in the end, and by little and little bring his deſigns to perfection. Thus they were always very uneaſie, by reaſon of their troubleſome Neighbour: But not finding themſelves able to declare open War againſt him, they endeavoured to gain him by Preſents, and a ſpecious ſhew of Friendſhip. Theſe means did not prove altogether unſucceſsful, but they were never at good underſtanding with each other long together. For the King of Bantam, beſides that he was very fickle and unconſtant in his Nature, having ſo many Foreigners about him, who were no Friends to the Dutch Intereſt, he was eaſily perſwaded by them, to break Friendſhip with the Dutch upon the leaſt occaſion. And this the Engliſh and Danes were the chief Inſtruments of, who made there a conſiderable Body, were rich, and enioyed great freedom, and a moſt flouriſhing Trade; ſo that they with eaſe ſet the King upon us, in hopes of rooting the Dutch out of their holds.

The Dutch therefore were always forced to be upon their Guard; even while there was the greateſt appearance of a ſettled Friendſhip; for they were ſufficiently informed, that he was always contriving how he might at once fall foul on them, and drive them out of Batavia: Upon which, they on the other ſide, reſolved to countermine his deſigns, and thought it the beſt Expedient to divert him from that Undertaking, by finding him ſome Employment with ſome other Neighbours; and accordingly made it their buſineſs to create an ill underſtanding betwixt him and the King of Japara, hoping that the ſilent Fire might in time break out into an open Flame. This they effected at length; but it proved little or no advantage to them; for they lay ſo far aſunder, that it never came but to a few little Skirmiſhes; which did not damage him much, nor profit them: So that they fell very ſhort of what they had promiſed themſelves; for they were fully perſwaded that the Emperour of Japara would have ſoon been induced to purſue the King of Bantam, with the utmoſt vigour; eſpecially, when there was ſo great a motive to ſpur him on, as the rejoyning of that Kingdom to his Empire, from which it had been divided. The Iſland of Great Java, of which I have already made mention, did likewiſe belong to him once, and altogether made but one Empire, under the Dominion of the Great Mataran, but now it is divided into three Kingdoms, to wit, Japard, Bantam and Jacatra, or Kartiri; of which (i. e. Jacatra) the preſent Batavia is a part, and did heretofore belong to the King of Jacatra; from whom the Portugueezes took it. After that, the Spaniards got it from them: And laſtly the Dutch from the Spaniards.

Now the Dutch, having all this while made ſeveral Attempts upon the King of Jacatra, which had proved very advantageous to them; they at length ſubdued him: Having firſt made the Emperour of Japara unable to reſiſt them, or to ſtand up in the defence of his Neighbour; over whom they carried a total Victory a little before I came to Batavia. And having all this while received freſh ſupplies yearly from Holland, which, together with Germany, enjoyed a profound Peace, and therefore could, and did conſtantly furniſh them with large Recruits of choice good Soldiers: The Duth Eaſt-India Company thought they might be able to cope with Bantam, and accordingly made preparations againſt it.

Now while theſe things were in agitation, and they big with the deſign and hopes of infallible ſucceſs, the faireſt opportunity, that could be wiſh'd for, offered it ſelf to them unexpected, and therefore ſo much the more welcome, which was a ſudden falling out between the old, and the two young Kings of Bantam. The occaſion whereof was this: The old King being weary with the Burden of the Government, and deſirous to ſpend his remaining days in eaſe and tranquility, made over his Kingdom to his younger Son; the eldeſt having dedicated himſelf to a ſpiritual life, was a Bangerang Babay, ſomething like an Archbiſhop with us; and having thus inveſted his younger Son with the Regal Power, he retired to an Old Caſtle called Dortjaſſe, the old place of his reſidence, about four Miles from Bantam.

The young King having Reigned ſome years, his People began to grow weary of him, ſpecially the Nobles, the Bourgerang and Kirria; and they made their Complaints to the old King, that he oppreſſed his Subjects; and that he overburden'd them with his Recreations, and his conſtant Hunting; and by his requiring ſo much Attendance and Service to be done him; ſo that they were no longer able to bear the Yoke. He did not Govern as other Heathen Kings uſe for the moſt part to do, but after the Model he had taken from the European Countries; ſome of which he had been in, as Conſtantinople, and would have gone to France, England, Spain and Portugal, if his Law had permitted him; and as far as that had given him leave he had Travelled, viz. in Muſcovy, Schiras, Iſpahan, Japan, Siam; from which ſeveral places he had taken thoſe Methods of Government, which he thought moſt convenient to introduce into his own Dominions. But his Subjects being diſſatiſfied with theſe Innovations, conſpired at laſt together, and Depoſed him; and ſet his Brother the Bangarang Babay in his ſtead.

Upon this the Old King came with a conſiderable Retinue, and his Main Guard, before the Caſtle; which is in the middle of Bantam. The young King, having notice of this, commanded the Gates to be ſhut againſt him, and ſent to know what he wanted. The old King ſent him an Anſwer, which did not pleaſe him: Upon which, without more ado, he gives Orders to Fire the Great Guns from the Caſtle upon the City, and particularly, that ſome of them ſhould play upon his Fathers Quarters; againſt which ſixteen Pieces of Demi-Cannon were planted, which were fired briskly upon him by his poſitive Orders, and ſome of them too by his own hand.

Being thus ſatisfied, that his Fathers Intentions were to Depoſe him, he wholly forgot all Duty, and ſent him word by one of his Concubines, that he did not reckon himſelf now bound to him in any Bond of Duty; and that he would pay him no other Homage, but Powder and Ball, which he would not ſpare, for he had enough of it, and that ſhould be at his ſervice. Beſides the Meſſage that had made him ſo deſperate, he relied much upon the ſtrength of the Caſtle, which was very well fortified with very good Walls, lined with Earth, like thoſe of Batavia, and very ſtrong Baſtions upon them, beſides very large Canals round them, with Draw-Bridges. Neither did he want Proviſions or Ammunitions; and the Baſtions were provided with very good heavy Cannon. But the number of his Men was not above three hundred; yet with them he had reſolved to ſtand it out to the laſt. So that his Garriſon was not ſo conſiderable as his Court, which, as it chiefly conſiſts of Women, according to the general Cuſtom of Heathen Princes; ſo he had of them no leſs than one thouſand two hundred that were his Concubines.

With this continual Firing, the City was miſerably ſhatter'd, and lookt like a Wilderneſs; for every Man had got away that could, and all the Engliſh and Danes, together with the Nobility, and the moſt conſiderable Inhabitants, went over to the old King. And having formed a conſiderable Body, they went and beſieged the Caſtle; raiſed ſeveral Batteries, and planted their beſt Cannon upon them; and then fired briskly in their turn upon the Caſtle. Notwithſtanding all theſe preparations, the young King remained undaunted, and only applied himſelf to get ſupplies and ſupport abroad; and by Advice of two Dutchmen, who were of his Party, and who had formerly run away from Batavia, to ſhelter themſelves from Juſtice, he reſolves to ſend to the Company of Batavia, for Aſſiſtance. One of theſe Dutch-men was appointed for the Negotiation; and immediately was let down from the Wall of the Caſtle; and having paſs'd the Canals in a little Boat, that uſed to lye there, he came to the Enemies Army, thro' which he was unavoidably to paſs; but he being very ready in the Javan and Malleiſh Languages, having been fifteen years in thoſe Countries, and having been Circumciſed at his Abjuration of the Chriſtian Religion, he eaſily paſs'd thro' all difficulties, and came to the General at Batavia; and by word of mouth, without any further Credentials, delivered his Meſſage to him in the young King's name.

This was an opportunity which the Dutch had long wiſh'd for; ſo that the Meſſenger needed no great Rhetorick or Art to induce them to take it by the forelock. But immediately Orders were diſpatched; and the Forces had their Rendezvous appointed. I my ſelf had Orders to attend the Major General St. Martini's own perſon; and was in the whole Expedition, ſo that I may juſtly ſpeak of the matter, and be the more particular in the relation of it.

The Major General above mentioned, commanded the whole Fleet; and one Captain Harzing of Caſſel had the whole command of the Land-Forces. Both ſet out at one time, as I ſaid before; the one march'd out ſtraight upon Dangerang. The Fleet went directly to Bantam. Captain Hartzing was forced firſt to Attack Dangerang; by which means he reckon'd he ſhould have drawn off the old King and his Army from Bantam; but found himſelf very much miſtaken: For the place made ſuch a vigorous Reſiſtance, that it appeared they neither wanted neceſſary Aſſiſtance, nor Courage. We loſt there a great many of our beſt Men, inſomuch that we found our ſelves forced to Intrench, left they ſhould have routed us quite; ſo we made our Lines of Approach, which we fortified with as good Palliſado's as we could, and ſo ſecured our ſelves, that the Enemy could not come at us.

In the mean while we continued our Approaches with all the diligence that might be, till we came within Musket-ſhot of the Fort. There we made uſe of a cover'd way, with which we came up cloſe to the Enemies works, and in ſome meaſure within them: And having finiſhed our Mines, we ſet them on fire, with a reſolution, that as ſoon as they ſhould blow up to any purpoſe, we would aſſault them. One of our Mines made a breach that three or four Waggons might ſtand abreaſt in. Upon which it was order'd we ſhould immediately enter: And ſo we did, but ſo with much ado, that we had reaſon to fear, we muſt have retired; but after a little reſiſtance, they ſeeing us pour in ſo thick upon them, took their heels, and moſt of them threw down their Arms. All this while we purſued them, and made the moſt heavy ſlaughter amongſt them that ever any Hiſtory can ſhew. For, the Gates of their Caſtle, or rather their Doors being ſo little, that one could not go under them without ſtooping; they were all forced, almoſt, to creep thro' them one by one; and as they were all in a cluſter, and unarm'd, to the number of near five thouſand, we fired continually upon them, ſo that they lay like heaps of Stones one on another, which made the moſt diſmal fight in the World: And to prevent the Air being infected with them, we made our Blacks to carry them off, and throw them in the River Dangerang.

Having gotten this Poſt, we fortified our ſelves in the beſt manner we could; for we were ſure that we ſhould not enjoy our reſt there long; and that we were to be upon our Guard.

In this ſix weeks time that we had beſieged this place, we had loſt a great many Men, and a great many were fallen ſick by reaſon of the bad Water, which had much of the taſt of Salt-peter in it; which made Captain Hartzing at a ſtand, whether we ſhould go on or not. At laſt he thought it beſt for us to ſtay there, till we could hear of the ſafe Arrival and Landing of our Fleet before Bantam, which we did in a few days after.

Major General St. Martini being come before Bantam with twenty ſtout Men of War, each of which carried between four and five hundred Men, beſides a hundred Fire-ſhips, Tenders, &c. gave Orders for their Landing about two a Clock the next Morning: But firſt he took a general Review of the Men, and a Gill of Brandy was given to every one of the Soldiers; and after that ſix and thirty of the luſtieſt Soldiers were provided with a good quantity of Powder; and ſome hundreds of Sea-men were ſet out with Pole-Axes, or Hatchets, and eight or nine Hand-Granado's to each Man; all which were to Land with the Army.

We lay within Cannot-ſhot of the Town, and we could both hear, and ſee, the old King, who kept continually firing upon the Caſtle; and he had raiſed his Batteries above the tops of the houſes that were in the City, ſo that the Enemy might ſee us with eaſe; ſo they immediately prepared to prevent our Landing, and for that purpoſe order'd the Main Body to march to the Sea-ſhore; and there raiſed Batteries to hinder our coming any nearer. In the mean while it was not a little ſatisfaction to the young King, to ſee our Fleet ſo near at hand, as well as to hear of our Forces by Land. And beſides, it gave him ſome time to take breath, and freed him from the danger he was in continually of a Storm, for the Walls being almoſt all down. But now the Enemy could not go on with that Deſign, having enough to do to look after us. They took moſt care of a certain place, where they thought we deſigned to Land, as indeed we did: But in the night time we weighed Anchor, with all the ſtilneſs that might be, and ſaild on about a League higher; and drawing as near to the Shore as we could poſſibly, we let fall our Anchors again. Our Cannon on Board was all loaden, and all things were order'd ſo, that where-ever we Landed, we might fire them upon the Enemy, and upon the City. The Tenders, and other ſmall Veſſels were all Mann'd immediately for Landing; ſome with a hundred Men, ſome more, ſome leſs; all which went with all ſpeed to Shore. The Enemy having notice of this, were ready as ſoon as we, but had not time to raiſe any Batteries there againſt us, or to fortifie themſelves; for 'ere the day begun to peep, we had got all things ready for our Landing.

Major General St. Martini, with his Life-guard, which conſiſted of ſixty Men, and the Surgeons, came into my Schappon, and ſtood ready to give Order for the Signal, by Drums and Trumpets, for the whole Body of our Army to Land all together: But the Enemy made a very vigorous Defence; and being advantageouſly Poſted in a Wood that was there, they charged us after ſo terrible a manner, that what with their Fire, and what with our Great Guns, that played all this while croſswiſe upon the City, there was need of more than ordinary Courage to ſtand it out: Beſides that, we all this while being ſtill up to the knees in Water, had a very great diſadvantage.

In this condition we Charged them for three hours, and could not come to Land all that while; at laſt five of our Companies were quite routed, and of the twelve Surgeons that we brought with us, there were but five left; and we that did remain, were not able to do any great feats, by reaſon that we all this while ſtood in the Water. When we ſaw that we could not get any ground, we got ſome ſmall Veſſels, which fetch'd us ſome Haubitzes, (which is a kind of Field-Piece to load with ſmall Shot,) with which we rattled ſo upon the Javans, that we obliged them to give ground enough for us to get on upon dry Land; and at laſt we forced them to quit the Wood, and to to retire to their Breaſt-works; ſo we remained Maſters of the Field that night: And the next morning at break of day, we marched to Attack them in their Intrenchments.

The Major General, conſidering that the Dutch Companies were mightily weakned, commanded Captain Jochem, who led the Blacks, to march in the Front; and he ſell upon them ſtraightway with admirable Courage and Conduct. The Major General behaved himſelf like a true Soldier, and gave ſuch tokens of his Invincible Valour, Wiſe Conduct, and Indefatigable Diligence, as cannot be well deſcribed. And tho' he had the miſ-fortune to have two of his Fingers ſhot off from his right hand, as he was Riding to and fro to give Orders, he could hardly afford himſelf time to have his hand dreſt; and I had no ſooner done, but he ſtraight mounted again.

The beſt of this Engagement was, that moſt of the Enemies Bullets flew over our heads. But I found that they did not all of them take the ſame courſe, and was a little ſurprized, when talking with the Sergeant of our Company, and jeering them for not being good Marks-men, a Bullet came and laid him dead at my foot.

In the mean while our Men made but little on't: And the Captain was not able to do any thing more, than juſt to keep his ground againſt the Enemy. Wherefore the Major General, having given ſome new Orders, and briskly encouraged the Soldiers, by telling them, that the beating the Enemy out of that place, would be the chief part of their work, and the ſure fore-runner of a total Victory, promiſing to the three firſt that ſhould break into the Enemies Camp, an hundred Gilders, two Slaves, and a Pipe of Sack for a Reward; and having by ſuch like Speeches and Promiſes, infuſed, as it were, new Spirits into them, he took upon him the Management of the Front himſelf, and drawing out Captain Bleutner and Captain Winkler's Companies, together with ſome others, he led them in Perſon; fell upon the Enemy with ſuch fury, that we ſoon carried the day; for he had ſo animated the Soldiers, that every Man was worth two. Our Men being now come too near to uſe their Muskets, took their Cutlaces in one hand, and their Hand Granado's in the other; and when the Blacks ſaw the Dutch drive ſo hard upon the Enemy, they took ſuch heart too, that with their Sword and Buckler they poured in upon the Enemy, and drove all before them: So that the Slaughter we made of the King's Army in this place, was nothing leſs than that of Dangerang.

The Enemy was wholly put to flight, and left moſt of their Arms behind them. And we having gained that Poſt, the Admirable gave Orders that the Ships ſhould no longer Fire upon the City, leſt we our ſelves might receive ſome of their Shot amongſt us.

All this while we puſh'd on forward to their Palliſado's, and came to the Forr which they called Speelwick, where we found a great many of the King's Men; but yet moſt of our Officers found that we ſhould quickly become Maſters of it. We ſent for ſome heavy Cannon from our Ships, and batter'd it down in a very little time. The Seamen forced open the Gate with Hammers and Axes, and ſo enter'd, throwing of Granado's: But all the Javaus being fled, we became Maſters of it, without any further oppoſition.

This ſerved our purpoſe mighty well, and ſaved us the trouble of any further Entrenchments, except a few Gaps that we made up with Wood, which our Blacks cut down and brought to us.

Here we took a little breath, and reſted that night, and the following day; and a portion of Biſcuit, Sack, and Brandy, was diſtributed to each Soldier in the Army. After this fine Refreſhment, the Army was put into a new Order, and the Right and Left Wings formed anew, and provided with Field Pieces, loaden with ſmall Shot. Then we march'd againſt the Enemy, who lookt at firſt as if they were able to have eaten us all up for a Breakfaſt, they being above thirty thouſand of them. But our Officers were not in the leaſt diſmayed at their numbers, but very couragiouſly Attack'd them on the two ſides of 'em; yet taking ſuch meaſures, that we could joyn together again at any time. I muſt own, I never expected the Dutch ſhould have eſcaped a total overthrow, conſidering the vaſt diſproportion of Men; and while I was in this contemplation, on a ſudden the Javans ſallied out upon us with ſuch a terrible and horrid Outcry, as their Cuſtom is, that one would have thought it had been a Hurricane, rather than a Body of Men: But for all that our Men ſtood their ground bravely, and gave Fire continually upon them. We had ſo order'd our Army, that behind each Rank of Muſquetiers we had a Rank of Pikes, leſt they ſhould break in upon us: And all the while we played ſo thick upon them, with ten or twelve Field-Pieces, that they fell like Bees before us. Our other Wing obſerved the ſame Order; and we at laſt joyned together again into a Body. Having ſuſtained this for near 3hours they ſent ſome of their Muck Speelers amongſt us, which are a ſort of giddy, reſolute Fellows, that are ready to be hired upon any kind of Exploit, how raſh and miſchievous ſoever it be; be it to ſtabb a Man for any private Affront, or any thing elſe of that kind: And the more famous Cut-throats they be, the more they value themſelves on their Reputation of being ſuch. Before they go upon any ſuch ſort of undertaking, they eat of a ſort of Herb which they call Avion, which for a time makes them giddy, and altogether unſenſible of any danger; ſo that they are as fool-hardy, as they are dangerous. They rnſht in upon us with an incredible Fury, and being incapable of conſulting their own ſafety, they came running head-long againſt our Men, and ſpitted themſelves upon our Pikes, and deſtroyed themſelves without doing us any hurt. And in a little time after, having killed ſeveral thouſands of the King's Party, we utterly routed them, and made them leave all their Arms behind them. Upon which we fell from fighting to plundering.

After this, the Major General went, accompanied with his Life-guard, and others, to the Caſtle, where the young King was; who immediately upon his approach, opened the Gates, came to meet him, and with all the humble acknowledgment fell down at his feet, and afterward embraced him, with all the demonſtration of a grateful and ſincere Affection.

Before this, the Admiral had given Orders for the Army to Encamp all round the Caſtle, and the Gunners to be ready in their Poſts with the Artillery, which conſiſted of above three hundred Pieces of Cannon.

After this the Army having had 3 days reſt, and all the refreſhment that might be, was order'd to march into the City, and there they had the chief Poſts in their hands, as the Boom, the Speelwick, and other Baſtions, and the reſt were quartered in the Engliſh, Daniſh, and French Quarters. Some were order'd likewiſe to keep Garriſon in the Caſtle; ſo that all places of conſequence were ſufficiently ſecured, in order to make the whole our own, when time ſhould ſerve a little more commodiouſly.

Here I received Orders to repair to the Hoſpital, where I had five Surgeons under me. But there being ſo many ſick and wounded, that we could not well look after them; the beſt part of them we ſent to Batavia.

The old King, after this Overthrow, retired with his ſhatter'd Army, to his 'Fort Dorjaſſe, where having made ready ſome hundreds of Prawen, and ſmall Veſſels, he reſolved to be revenged on us: And having the conveniency of the two Rivers, Dorjaſſe and Bantam, which run from that Fort into the Sea; he Mann'd them in order to go as far as Batavia, and to do us ſome miſchief, which accordingly he did. For being come into the Road of Batavia, they ſet fire on ſome of our Ships; and either kill'd the Men, or took them Priſoners, and went on Shore on the little Iſland call'd Onruſt, and made ſad Havock of the few Inhabitants that were there. To prevent their doing any further miſchief, ſome of the largeſt of our Men of War were ſtraight got ready, beſides a conſiderable number of Prawen, and ſmall Veſſels; all which were as well Mann'd as we could wiſh: And with theſe we went in ſearch of the Javians. In this Expedition I was made Captain of the Ship call'd the Europa; which had eight hundred. Men and three Surgeons; and one Captain De Ruiter commanded the whole Fleet. We ſtraight put to Sea, and with our whole Fleet we made directly to Bantam, and Dorjaſſe, the two Rivers, which I told you, lay ſo conveniently for the Javians to run in and out at; and there we lay, to cut off their Paſs, when-ever they ſhould attempt to come in there for ſhelter.

Being come there, one half of the Fleet was order'd to ſtay there, and the other half of which number I was, went in ſearch of the Enemy. The next morning, as we were come about the Iſland call'd the Toppers Hoadie, we ſaw them about a League off of us, with more than a hundred Prawen, &c. cruiſing to and fro. Our Admiral De Ruyter judged himſelf ſtrong enough to Engage them; ſo having call'd a Council, it was reſolved to fall upon them. Upon this a Gill of Brandy, (the beſt thing in the World to inſpire Courage into a Dutch-man) was given to every one of them: And we were divided into two parts, with Inſtructions, that upon the Signal given, we ſhould fall upon them all together. All that day we lay ſtill; but on the Evening we did ſo ſurround our Enemy, that they had no way left them by the next Morning, but to fight their way thro' us, or elſe be forced to ſhelter themſelves on a little Iſland call'd Schlepſe; but that being not above a League in compaſs, and beſides, ſo barren, that it would not afford them any Proviſion or Relief; they were neceſſitated to Attack us; and indeed they were not long reſolving upon it, having four times at leaſt the number of Men that we had. They ſtood to the Windward off us; ſo that having that advantage too over us, they came very briskly upon us with twenty Prawen well Mann'd, and with forty Double Haekken, hoping with them to lay faſt hold of our greateſt Ships firſt, and ſo to board them, and then the ſmaller would eaſily be diſpatched. The Admiral all this while did not let us fire one Shot, and had order'd a kind of Breaſt-works to be got ready upon the Deck by the Main Maſt, and under Deck in the Fore-caſtle. Our Prawen and ſmall Veſſels kept behind us, ready to fall upon the Enemy, when-ever he ſhould Attack us. We had planted ſome of thoſe Haubitzen I made mention of before, behind thoſe Breaſt-works, which we had made, which were to pour ſmall Shot upon them; and there were Men ready beſides theſe with their Granado's, Fire-Pikes, &c. to give them a welcome at their entrance. All this while the Javians continually fired upon us, but did little Execution: And being come up cloſe to us, they ſcaled us, and in an inſtant our large Ships were filled with Javans, who upon their Boarding of us, ſet up ſuch a Huzza, or rather an Out-cry after their manner, that it made the Air to tremble. But we ſtraightway falling to our works, opened our Breaſt-works, and fired our ſmall Shot upon them, together with our Granado's; ſo that never were Men deſtroyed after that rate. Thoſe that were ſtill coming up, and thoſe that were in the Prawen, we ſwept down like a ſwarm of Bees, with our Fire-Pikes, and other Fire-arms, and Hand-Granado's, into the Sea; all that remained begun then to Provide for running off. But out Prawen and light Veſſels followed them ſo cloſe, that they killed infinite numbers of them, and took up ſome that were fallen into the Sea, and made them Priſoners; who we immediately hang'd up altogether upon the ſaid Iſland. The Sea all about us was pure Blood, and we were all in a Cloud of Smoke, tho' we had not fired one Great Gun. There was no leſs than two hundred and ſixty of the Enemy lay dead Aboard my Ship the Europa. The dead and wounded we threw one with another over-board; which cauſed a bitter Out-cry among thoſe who were yet ſenſible, or but ſlightly wounded. After this great Victory our Ships came all together again, and upon a Review, we found our loſs to be two Maſters of Ships, ſeven Steers-men, eight Officers, and about three hundred and eighty private Soldiers, and ſeven hundred of our Blacks. We loſt two Ships, the Victor and the Ameland, beſides eighteen Prawen, three Galliots, and ſeven Fire Ships; all which were burnt. But of the Enemies Ships, which were a hundred and twenty in number, there did not one ſingle one eſcape; their Men were computed to have been 24000.

HAving put our ſelves into a pretty good poſture again, our Men had all the Refreſhment that could be, with great plenty of Brandy, Sack, Biſcuit, and ſuch like. The next thing we did, was to diſpatch a Ship to Batavia, to carry the news of our Victory to the General.

After this we went to joyn the reſt of our Fleet again. The Javians all this while made ſeveral offers to come out of the River Dorjaſſe: But, our Fleet lying juſt in the mouth of it, they could not attempt it with ſafety; but were forced to make their way out at ſome other ſmall Rivers; ſo that ſome of them came in ſight of us; but we no ſooner made towards them, but they retired. Yet were we obliged to keep Cruiſing between that place and Batavia, to prevent their doing us any miſchief. So that there was continually ſome little Skirmiſh with them; but never any Engagement worth ſpeaking of. In a matter of two months, the greateſt part of our Ships, and the beſt of our Men, were ſent again to Bantam, the reſt of 'em kept ſtill Cruiſing before Dorjaſſe.

Being come to Bantam, under the Command of Captain Jochem, the Men were put on Shore, and Quarter'd amongſt the others that were in the Fort. It fell to my ſhare to be of the number too. So I took my Lodging in the Chineeſen Straet, where I was very commodiouſly ſeated for my buſineſs. There were alſo two Aſſiſtants with me, and three Under-Surgeons, who were Lodged in their ſeveral Quarters, for the better looking after their Patients. Thoſe were obliged to come to me ever and anon to give me an account of thoſe they had under their hands, and to fetch the Remedies, which were all in my cuſtody, and to take my directions. Only thoſe other neceſſaries, as Linnen for Plaiſters, Arack, Sack, Salad Oyl, and ſuch like, were to be fetched from the Steward, who had them in keeping; but they were never delivered without I ſent an eſpecial Order under my hand. The number of our Sick and Wounded was great, and that of the former increaſed, by reaſon of the Flux, which was very rief among them: And ſome were ſeized with a Lameneſs in all their Limbs; ſo that we had enough to keep us in employment.

All this while we were making all preparations for carrying on the War with utmoſt vigour, both by Sea, and Land: But we wanted Men; wherefore we were forced to ſtay till our Recruits came from Batavia. We had an eſpecial Eye upon the Royal Fort Dorjaſſe; for we ſaw very well that we laboured in vain, while that ſtood; and we had reaſon to think, that if we did but once ferret them out of their ſtrong hold, we ſhould not find it difficult to give them a total Overthrow.

I muſt confeſs, that beſides the pleaſure I had out of a publick love for my Country, to ſee them in a fair way of overcoming their Enemies, and enlarging their Territories: I had alſo a ſecret ſatisfaction to ſee that they were the Javians that were the Object of our Conqueſts; they being the moſt faithleſs, treacherous and baſe of all the Indians. They are fit for all manner of miſchief; but never fit to be employed in any action that's noble or generous. In ſhort, they are skill'd in nothing, but in cheating, filching, and all manner of knavery. I have often found it to my coſt, but that which was moſt notorious, tho' of no great moment, was the trick they put upon me at my firſt coming, which was this. When our Ship was juſt arrived from Europe, ſome of theſe Javians came to meet us, as it is their uſual manner to come and meet all Ships, that are newly come in, to welcome them, and to ſell them fruits, freſh meat, and other refreſhments. I, who was very much fatigued with my long Voyage, and quite tired with our S •• Proviſions, was not long a fixing upon ſome of their things; and amongſt others, I was ſo ſet upon ſome fine freſh Fiſh, that they h • d brought with them, that I was reſolved I would have it at any rate.

Their way is to Truck for ſome of our Commodities; ſo I agreed to what they ask'd me for the Fiſh, which was ſome Nails, Thread and Tobacco-Pipes; which I immediately fetch'd for 'em, and gave to the Javian, who was then buſie about ſomething that others had bought likewiſe. I was ſo pleaſed with the thoughts of the rare Feaſt I was to have, and withal in ſuch haſte to be at it, that I could not ſtay any longer; but bidding the Fellow leave my Fiſh, with any of our Men, I ran down in the mean while into the Cook's Room, to get me ſome Water hung on ready, and I think never went ſo chearfully about any buſineſs in my life. But no ſooner had I turned my back, but the Dog puſh'd off his Boat, and went off with my Diſh of Fiſh, and left me to Dine on my Water; and I muſt confeſs, that from that time I could never have a hearty love for one of the Nation. It was a ſort of a ſatiſfaction to me, that in three or four days after we were Landed, I had an opportunity to be revenged on a Javian, which I never let ſlip, for his ſake, when ever it offer'd it ſelf. They are generally very great lovers of Shooting, tho' they are ſo ſtupid, as never to underſtand it as they ſhould do: And as I was one day Shooting at a Mark, one of them comes up to me, and wanted mightily to have a Shoot. I told him he ſhould: So I ſhot, and loaded again with a double Charge of Powder, and a vaſt deal of Paper, which I took care to ram down as hard as ever I was able, and then offer'd it him: He very joyfully received it, and went to fire it: But the Piece recoiled ſo furiouſly, and gave him ſuch a knock on the ſhoulder, that down fell my Booby, and could hardly ſtir his Arm for a fortnight, or three weeks after it.

But to return to our purpoſe, all our Affairs were in a very good poſture at Bantam: And there was a very good underſtanding between the young King, and our Major General St. Martin. But the Javans were ever and anon upon us in ſmall Bodies, and came quite up to our Rampiers: So that we had many Skirmiſhes with them; but ſo inconſiderable, that they were not worth the ſpeaking of.

One would admire how quickly our Recruits were made at Batavia; for in a few months we had again a conſiderable Army on foot, and they had got together Men from all parts of the Indies, which were all ſent to us with ſpeed. And as ſoon as they were got together, it was reſolved to go directly againſt the Royal Fort of Dorjaſſe.

Our Major General St. Martin left Captain De Ruyter to Command Bantam, in his abſence, and himſelf went ſtraightway with ſome of the beſt Ships thither; and in ſome days after ſent Orders for the reſt of the Fleet, and moſt of the Men to follow him, leaving only what was neceſſary in Bantam for the ſecurity of the Place, which had little to fear from the Enemy without, and leſs to ſuſpect from the young King within, who had but a very inconſiderable number of Men of his own with him. So three thouſand Men were order'd to be imbark'd and of that Squadron I was, and had that time the Command of the Ship call'd the Middleburgh.

When we had joyned the Major General, we made together a very fine Fleet; and indeed ſuch a one, as had never been ſeen before in thoſe parts of the World. For we had there fifty two fine large Men of War, beſides ſome hundreds of Prawen Fire-Ships, Tenders, ſmall Boats, &c. Major General St. Martin, ſoon after theſe were all come together, went back to Batavia; and we continued our way under the Command of the General and Admiral, whoſe name was Tack.

As ſoon as we came to caſt Anchor before Dorjaſſe, the Javians got together in prodigious numbers to the Sea Shore, and covered the ground for ſeveral Miles, which was all level from the Sea to the Fort, and all Fields of Rice. Juſt by the Shore were ſeveral Sconces at ſome diſtance from each other: Some big, ſome little, but all vaſtly ſtrong, being all made with a double Row of Trunks of Coco-Trees, that were ſet very deep into the ground, and the ſpace fill'd up with Earth ram'd down very hard. The ſpace between each of theſe Sconces, was all Ditches and Rampiers, with Palliſado's. The Sconces were ſo broad, that two or three Waggons might drive abreaſt upon them. In the middle of them within, were the dwellings for the Soldiers: Some of them were built up ſquare, and flat at top; for the Soldiers to ſtand there and fight. From all theſe places the Javians were continually firing upon us, but to little purpoſe, becauſe we were far enough out at Sea; yet were we near enough to hear them make many hideous Out-crys, and to ſee their Troops hurry from one place to another.

In the mean time we made all ready to Land. Admiral Tack going all the while from one Ship to another, to give Orders to the ſeveral Captains. Which done, we went to Prayers, and then the uſual portions of Brandy, Sack, &c. were diſtributed with ſtrict Injunctions to be all ready. Preſently after they brought us ſome Schappons or Pontons, which is a flat ſort of Boat like a Horſe-Ferry-Boat, which were fenced with a kind of Breaſt-work; and four Pieces for Small Shot to each, and to theſe, Gunners a ſufficient number, with ſome Sea-men, with Hand-Granado's. Then went in the Soldiers. After this manner we kept our Eaſter, which was now come, but was none of the merrieſt for us. The third day after Eaſter, we unladed ſeven large Ships, and ſunk them in the place where we had a mind to Land at: And upon them we raiſed Batteries, upon which we planted above forty heavy Pieces of Cannon, to ſhelter us when we Landed, and to annoy the Enemy and their Sconces.

The next day after, about two of the Clock in the Morning, the Signal being given, we all in general left the Ships; upon which I went down into the Boat with the other Surgeons, which were above ſeventy in number, upon our Veſſel, which was attended always by two or three ſmall Boats, that were ready in caſe of any wounded, that they might carry them off to any place, and upon ever ſo ſhallow a Water.

All this while we kept a hideous Shooting with our great Cannon, which was all we fired; under the ſhelter of which we drew all the while ſtill nearer and nearer to Land, from whence the Enemy kept firing very hotly upon us. When we came to have no more than knee-deep of Water, we got out; and then our Gunners played the more freely from their Schappons, upon the Enemy, and the Sea-men could then make the better uſe of their Hand-ſhells.

In this manner we Charged for above two hours, and loſt a great many of our Men: Their Sconces lying ſo high, that they had a great command of us; and we on the other ſide could hardly reach them. Seeing that we could make but ſlow progreſs this way, the Council of War met and reſolved to fall upon their Works altogether.

Upon this the Front marched forward directly towards the Enemy, and the Sea-men ſucceeded in our place, landing, and taking poſſeſſion of the ground, which the Army occupied before. We carried ſome of their Forts by Storm in a few hours time, tho' with the loſs of a great many of our Men. As ſoon as the Javians ſaw that they had loſt ſome of their Holds, they ſet fire in moſt of the others, and betook themſelves to their heels, but did not quite run away from us neither; for they kept moving in the Rice-fields on the ſides of us, with a reſolution to charge us all in a Body. We had yet a very conſiderable Army, tho' nothing in compariſon to theirs; but we having by this time got together our Artillery, and planted it very advantagiouſly, we were ready for 'em.

The Admiral gave Orders we ſhould play upon them with our Artillery, without intermiſſion, which we did. The Armies being now come in reach of each other, the Javians fell upon us with the greateſt fury imaginable; the manner of which I could not ſee, being then in the midſt of our Men; but I heard their uſual Out-cry at their falling on.

Our Army opened it ſelf to the right, and left; and then our Artillery, which was ready for 'em, was all at once diſcharged upon them, which made a hideous Slaughter amongſt them. After which our Men cloſed in again, while it was charging again: Our Front moving always with movable Palliſado's before them, which was a very great defence to our Men, and enabled them to keep their Order the better.

All this while, tho' thouſands of their Men dropt, they would not give ground an Inch, nor did we. And the day was now ſo far ſpent, that we were both forced to give over; yet were we wholly ſet upon purſuing the Stroke, and hoped that the night ſhould prove rather more commodious and ſucceſsful, than the day had done. As ſoon as the night drew on, we begun to play upon them with our Mortars, and ſent ſuch a quantity of Bombs among them, and at the ſame time fell on one of their Wings ſo furiouſly, that we gain'd ground; and pouring our Shot ſo thick upon them, we put them into ſuch a conſternation, that they were not able to defend themſelves, ſo that we thought of nothing more, but to prepare to purſue them; but they did not deſign to put us to that trouble; for we could hear ſome of them in the front of their Army cry, Dida mou boggel ada orang Hollando; which is as much as to ſay, I will fight no longer againſt the Hollanders. This was made known to Admiral Tack, and further confirmed by ſome of the chief Officers of the Enemies Army, which the Admiral had permitted to come to him, and were ſent to parley, and to beg him to grant a Truce, or rather make a Peace. The Admiral durſt not do any thing in this matter of his own accord; but was obliged to ſend to the General at Batavia, who ſent him word again that he ſhould be ſure not to hearken to any Propoſals of Peace.

During this Suſpenſion of Arms, I converſed much with thoſe Javian Deputies, and I found them very inquiſitive, and curious to know what our Army was compoſed of; whether of real Men, or of Devils in humane ſhapes: We told them, they were only Men, but brave Men, and moſt Germans; and indeed they behaved themſelves with ſuch inexpreſſible Bravery, that it might have amazed a polite, and well-diſciplin'd Nation, and much more might it do ſo, with a Barbarous, and Heatheniſh People.

When the Admiral had received his Anſwer from the General at Batavia, he told the Deputies that the Dutch would not hear talk of a Peace, and ſo ſent them away; and bid them tell the old King, that they would now have as little regard for him, as he had formerly ſhewed for Batavia.

Upon which our Artillery was fired again, and we charged them with greater fury than before; ſo that we put their whole Army to flight, which they took directly towards Dorjaſſe, and there we put them all in confuſion, totally routed them, and made a moſt dreadful Slaughter amongſt them. We did not purſue them as we might have done; for we thought beſt to keep together, and to continue in our Entrenchments, while we made all the preparations requiſite for a more effectual purſuit of 'em, and in order to Attack the ſaid Town of Dorjaſſe.

Here our Men reſted three days, and had all the uſual Refreſhments; and in that time our Dead were buried. But in the third night, about twelve of the Clock, we ſaw the City of Dorjaſſe in a blaze, and heard the blowing up of ſome of their Building and Fortification, great pieces of which fell into our Camp, which was half a Mile from thence; all which was very agreeable to our Admiral, and to our Army too, becauſe it would have coſt us a great many brave Men's Lives, if we had been put to fighting for it.

We ſent immediately a Party towards the place, to ſee what they were doing there, and in what condition they were. But when they came near to the place, the old King withdrew with all ſpeed, and paſſed over the River Dorjaſſe, with all his remaining Forces; and fled to the Blawe Peperbergh, which was about four Leagues from thence; ſo that our Men found Dorjaſſe quite empty, and the Coaſts all clear. As ſoon as the Admiral had Advice of it, he march'd thither with the greateſt part of the Army. We found nothing there, but Houſes ruinated; moſt of them ſtill ſmoaking, and no Inhabitants, but a vaſt parcel of Ducks and Hens, flying about the Streets to ſeek a habitation; which our Soldiers were very glad to ſee, and regaled themſelves bravely with. I went to take my Rounds in the City, and as I came near to a parcel of Ducks, I fired amongſt 'em, and ſhot a good many of 'em, and the reſt ran into a Houſe there hard by: So I followed them with my Fuſil in my hand, deſigning to knock them down with the Butt end of it; But as ſoon as I came within the doors, I ſaw an old Woman ſitting on a Bedſtead with a naked Kriz in her hand. But ſhe ſeeing me come with a Gun in my hand, fell down dead for fear.

Our Men found a great many Javians, that were hid in corners and holes, who could not flee away with the reſt, being exceeding old, or otherwiſe diſabled. Our Soldiers were Quartered upon the Baſtions. The Admiral took his Quarters in the middle of the City, in the Court of the Old Palace, which before was the greateſt place for Trade.

The chief of my care was, to ſee if I could not get ſome Plunder, which, while I was looking for, about the Old Palace, I diſcovered a place in a dark Entry, which was not Paved firm, but the Stones only laid looſe; and knowing it to be their cuſtom to bury their Treaſures in time of danger, I went to examine the place more narrowly, and made ſhift to dig down a matter of two foot; but finding nothing but a few Staefiens or Stiftiens, which were about a quarter of a Yard long, I grew weary of my work, not knowing the value of 'em. Thoſe I got I gave away to a Free-man, who went privately among the Free-men, and ſold them for a Crown. As ſoon as ever I knew the worth of 'em, I went in all haſte to the place again, and got a pretty good parcel of them: But as ill luck would have it, 'ere I could carry them off, the Admiral, who was come to take a view of the Ruines of the Palace, came juſt that way, and finding what it was, engroſſed it to himſelf, and ſent for Men immediately to dig there; and there they found as many of them as filled eight Waggons, which were ſold for 700000 Gilders: All which went into the Admiral's Pocket. However he preſented me with a hundred Gilders for being the diſcoverer.

In the mean while, others got ſeveral good Booties, as Perſian Quilts, and Perſian & China Silks, with many other rich Furniture and coſtly Garments, that were left in the Palace. And I who had found the greateſt Booty, came off with the leaſt ſhare.

By what I could ſee of the ſtrength of this place, it is certain the Javians wanted nothing but Courage to keep us out; for if that had not been wanting, they might have defied double our number: For tho' the Town was four or five Miles in compaſs, yet there was but two Avenues into it, which was hardly wide enough for two Carts to go abreaſt, the reſt being all Mooriſh grounds, where Rice grew, but where no Army could have come: And inſtead of a Wall, the Town was fenced with a Line of Coco-Trees ſet cloſe to one another, and filled up with Earth; ſo that our Cannon would never have been able to batter it down, or ſo much as to make a breach in any part of it. The Buildings within were all built with Bamboo-Canes, except the Palace, and the Noble-Mens Houſes, which were of Stone.

Upon the twenty eight Baſtions of this place, we found three hundred and odd large heavy Pieces of Cannon, tho' moſt of 'em Iron; but no Powder or Bullets; which gave us occaſion to think, that thro' ſome careleſneſs the Magazine took fire, and ſo ſet fire on the whole Town, as indeed we found it true afterwards, by the account which ſome of the Inhabitantss gave us.

The Fortification of this place, was ſo ſtrong, that all the Canonading in the World could never make a breach in it; for the outſide of it was all of Coco-Trees, ſet as cloſe together as might be, and behind them was all Earth thrown up: And it is impoſſible for a Bullet to batter any of thoſe Trunks of Coco-Trees, being of ſo ſpungy a nature, that a Bullet will ſtick in them, and go no further.

In this place was a high Hill caſt up by the King's Order, and a few Hutts built at top of it; from whence he uſed to go, and ſpy the Army when it lay before Bantam, and take a proſpect of the Fleet, the Country lying all level between thoſe two places.

Two Rivers run thro' the Town, the little, and great, Dorjaſſe; which unite their Streams a little below the Town, and make up a fine River. It runs thence thro' the pleaſant Vales of the Blawen Peper Bergh into the Sea, and divides the Kingdom of Bantam, from that of Batavia, or Jacatra, all along in its courſe.

When we had laid ſtill here ſome few days, our Admiral went out with ſome Companies to viſit ſome of their Negeryen, or Villages. We plunder'd all as far as the Plain of Banta, which is juſt by the River Bantam, and leads towards Tangburang, a Province belonging to the Kingdom of Bantam.

Here we ſaw ſome Naekens or ſmall Boats lying on the other ſide of the River; but neither ſaw or heard any body therebouts. The Admiral had a mighty fancy to go over, and ſo had ſome others of the chief Officers: Wherefore he offer'd ſix Rixdollers to any that would venture to ſwim over and fetch ſome of thoſe Naekens over. Tho' the River was about a mile wide, yet there were four Seamen that proffered themſelves immediately, and ſeveral Blacks, who are generally excellent ſwimmers; but it was thought ſufficient to ſend the Seamen only, and two of the Blacks, who brought over ſix Naekens; and having got ſome Oars to 'em, they went with them, and fetch'd all the others, which were twenty and odd. When they were all come, the Admiral went into one of 'em, and all the Boats were filled with Men. When we were got over, we found nothing but whole flocks of Hens, and Ducks; ſo that our Men divided themſelves, ſome one way, and ſome another, to ſee if they could find any Body. One of theſe Parties met, by misfortune, with a parcel of Amboineeſes, who were come out to get ſome Coco-nuts; and theſe going dreſt like Javians, our Men took them for ſuch, and falling upon them, kill'd ſome of 'em, and would certainly have kill'd more, had not another party of ours come in of a ſudden upon the back of theſe poor Amboineeſes, who hearing them cry out for quarter, and diſcovering them to be Amboineeſes, put a ſtop to the ſlaughter, and prevented further miſchief being done.

We were all well provided with Powder and Ball, and kept on to the end of the Plain; where we found ſome little Works, Redoubts, &c. but all abandoned. In one of them were four or five pieces of Cannon, which we took, and carried over the River, and from thence drew them to Dorjaſſe.

Our Admiral was now thinking to get over the River again, and yet deſirous to know what was become of the Enemy; but truly his curioſity coſt us very dear; for we had not yet reach'd our Boats, when we perceived a great number of Prawen, full of Javians, making towards us, with ſuch ſpeed, that we could hardly get our Arms ready. All we could do was to fire upon them, and hinder them from landing juſt in that place. But they paſt by us quickly, and came to another landing-place, that was more convenient. As ſoon as they had got hold of the Shore, they came upon us in a trice, and ſo encompaſſed us, that we had no way left but to yield, or throw our ſelves into the River. The firſt of theſe could not pleaſe us, and the latter was almoſt as dangerous, for thoſe who could not ſwim very well, ſo that they who had little or no hopes of ſwiming over, reſolved to ſtand it out, and to ſight to the laſt drop of Blood. Our Admiral eſcaped with five Boats, and ſome others followed them as faſt as they could, and ſwam over after them. I, for my part, finding I could not eſcape death, if I ſtaid there, threw away my Arms, and my Surgeons Box, and leapt into the River, tho' with little hopes of getting over; however it gave me a chance for my Life, and it pleaſed God to carry me over ſafe to Shore, where our Men were got, and ſtood ſpectators of the dreadful ſlaughter, the Javians were making among the poor Dutchmen, that were left among them on the other ſide. There was no leſs than two hundred of 'em, who were all cut in pieces, but behaved themſelves with an unparallel'd bravery, as Men in ſuch deſperate conditions uſe to out-do themſelves; and as they held it out a long while, ſo they ſold their Lives at the deareſt rate that ever men did.

The Admiral exceedingly concern'd at this ſad misfortune, and deſirous to revenge the loſs of ſo many brave Men, took the reſt who had made their eſcapes, and marched with them in all haſte to Dorjaſſe, with a deſign to go over with a Body of Men, and purſue the Enemy. It was upon conſideration found impracticable, being we had no way of paſſing the River, for it was very broad every where, and we had not above three or four ſmall Boats: So that we were forced to quit our deſigns; but that we might not go altogether unrevenged, we ſet fire to all that remained ſtanding in Dorjaſſe, after we had ſtaid three or four days in it. The main Body of our Army continued along the Sea Coaſt, very well entrenched, under the Command of Captain Harzing; while the Admiral went, with ſome ſmall Ships, and ſome Men, down the River Dorjaſſe, and ſo to Bantam by Sea.

AS ſoon as we were come upon the Road of Bantam, the Young King came to meet our Admiral, and to thank him for his Signal Services; and after ſome Complements paſſed between them, they went both of them on Shore in the ſame Boat; and all the Men got ready, and landed ſoon after them; and were divided among the reſt of the Soldiers that were in the place. I was order'd to go to my old Poſt in the Hoſpital: But another Order came, not long after, to me, to get ready to go to Captain Ruiter, to view the Country along the River Tangburang, which runs thro' the Province of that Name, and comes by Bantam.

In our march we ſaw very pleaſant Negeryen on both ſides the River, tho' all without Inhabitants. But one Night as we were very ſilent in our march, we were ſurprized with a ſudden alarm, and outcry in one of the neighbouring Villages. We were not very much corncerned at it, becauſe we were 400 of us; however we ſtood all to our Arms, and moved, according to our Captains Orders, towards the Village, and there we met with 'em upon the march, but it was not intended againſt us. Some of our Front only could fire upon them, yet that ſerved to bring down ſeveral of the Javians; but the Blacks or Amboineeſes, of which we had a Company with us, purſued them ſo long, that they brought us ſeventy Heads of 'em, when they came back to us the next Morning; according to the Cuſtom of all thoſe Nations, whether they fight for us, or againſt us; which is always to cut off the Heads of as many of their Enemies, as they kill, and to bring them to their Commanders, as tokens of their Valour.

Having had good ſucceſs thus far, our Captain was for moving forwards, and purſuing our good Fortune; which we did, till we came to a ſmall River that runs into Tangburang: There we found ſome Forts, and ſome Negeryen, well provided with Men. We were about going over to them, and we could have done it, the River not being very deep; but our Captain did not think it ſafe; becauſe we did not know what Numbers there might be of the Enemy, or whether they might not lie there in ambuſcade. He immediately diſpatch'd ſome of our Men to Bantam, to Admiral Tack for Recruits; and according to his deſire he had the very next day three Companies of Dutch ſent him, and two of Blacks, that were Bandaneeſes.

With this Reinforcement we croſſed the River briskly, and marched directly towards their Villages and Forts: But we had not marcht long, before our Front, (which was hardly got in rightorder, after paſſing through the River,) but a parcel of about a hundred and fifty of our Men fell in with a Party of near four hundred of the Enemy; they would at firſt have been glad to have been a little farther off, but there being no retreat, they engaged them ſo vigorouſly, that they killed above an hundred and ſeventy of 'em, and wounded ſeveral, and made the reſt retire to Tangburang. As we purſued them, we took ſome of them, who had deſerted the others, and hid themſelves in the Woods; who all told us, that all the Enemies Force was within three or four miles of us, and more than eight thouſand ſtrong. That it was the ſame Army which had continually been commanded by the Old King, and that they lay there in order to hinder our coming over that River.

Upon this information, our Captain ſent ſome Expreſſes with all ſpeed to Bantam, to give an account of it to the Admiral, who, without delay, ſent ſome hundreds of Men more, and ſome Field-Pieces likewiſe. Then were all the Officers commanded to take eſpecial care, that all their Men might be well provided with Powder and Ball. All our Body was divided into five Parties, each conſiſting of four Companies, and all the neceſſary Orders were given; then all our Army went to Prayers, after which we marched ſtraight upon the Enemy.

A Lieutenant with fifty Men was ſent out before, to ſec what he could diſcover of the Enemy, and ſo to give us information. We had not moved half an hour, e're we had an account that the Javians were coming to give us battle, and that they were eight thouſand ſtrong. All our Parties put together, made but four thouſand; yet were we in hopes that we might encompaſs them, as indeed we did in a very little while, and made the place ſo hot for 'em, and ſowed the ground ſo thick with their dead Bodies, that they betook themſelves to their Heels, and fled in all haſte to Anier, which is a ſtrong and well-forfied place, about two miles from thence, and is the chief Paſs into the Province of Tangburang. Wherefore we provided our ſelves immediately with Breaſt-works, to ſecure us ſelves from the Enemies ſallies. Every one that work at the caſting them up, had a Rix Doller as a preſent.

The next day, when we had hardly finiſh'd them, the Enemy made a ſally upon us, which turned much to our advantage; for being pretty well prepared for 'em, we made ſhift to cut off ſeven hundred of 'em, and took ſome of 'em priſoners, whom we gave quarter to for ſix or ſeven days; and then took them into a Wood, and cut them in pieces. The next night we raiſed three Batteries, upon one of which we planted four large Pieces of Cannon, that were ſent us from Bantam, together with two thouſand Men. Theſe were loaden immediately with Small Shot, in caſe of their ſallies in the night time; and in the day time we drew 'em out again, and loaded with Bullets, to ſend into the Enemy's Works.

When we had lain here about ſix days before the Town, we began to make our Lines of Approach; and a General Aſſault was agreed upon. In three days time we put it in execution: We had a Water to go over, which we paſſed with great eaſe, by means of ſome Faſcines which our Blacks cut and laid for us; but we found ſo brisk a reception, that we were forced to retire with a conſiderable loſs of Men on our ſide. If the Enemy had made the beſt of their opportunity at that time, they might, with the greateſt eaſe imaginable, have cut moſt of us off, and raiſed the Siege; but it pleaſed God they did not purſue us any further than their Works: And this was owing chiefly to ſome Engliſh, who were amongſt them, and who perſuaded them, that this was but a Sham-Aſſault of ours, and not the Body of our Army, and that that lay in the Trenches to cut off thoſe that ſhould ſally out; which if they had done, they would have utterly routed us, for we were at firſt but five thouſand ſtrong, (reckoning the two thouſand Men ſent us with the Cannon) and of them we had above an hundred killed, and an hundred and twenty wounded. Notwithſtanding this repulſe and diſadvantage, we ſtill continued in our Reſolution of carrying on the Siege.

In the mean while our wounded Men were carried to a place about a mile diſtant from us, where there were ten Surgeons to look after them; and thoſe that were not dangerouſly ill, were ſent to the Hoſpital at Bantam, and with them Captain Ruyter ſent a Letter to the Admiral, to deſire him to ſend him a recruit of about a thouſand Men; telling him, that with that he did not doubt but he ſhould get maſter of the Town in a ſhort time.

Three days after our Aſſault we begun ſtill to make good our Approaches to the Town, being our number of Men increaſed; and being come pretty near to it, the Blacks came over to us in in abundance out of the Town. We did not receive them into our Army, but poſted them between our Lines and the Town: However, this gave us hopes, that the beſieged were weary of us. Wherefore we begun to make ready ſome Mines, which being finiſhed, we again reſolved to make another Aſſault.

While we were deliberating on theſe matters, an Engliſh Man, with his Arms, came over to us out of the Garriſon, and gave us a good account of their condition, and withal told the Captain, that the Beſieged ſeem'd now to wiſh for nothing more than that we would attempt another Aſſault; and that in order to receive us, they had pulled down the Houſes in the Streets, and levell'd that part of the Town; that they had guarded all Avenues and Streets with double Palliſadoes, and that behind them they had planted ſeveral Pieces of Small Shot to receive us: And likewiſe that they had laid ſeveral Mines ready to blow us up. We on the other ſide were in hopes that we ſhould ſurmount all theſe difficulties. We mounted Mortars upon our Batteries, and ſent ſuch a number of Bombs and Granadoes into the Town, that we thought it impoſſible they ſhould keep within it long, and ſo it proved; for by and by we heard a ſudden Alarm, the Beſieged having a mind to try the ſucceſs of a ſecond Sally upon us. But we, who were well prepared for 'em upon all accounts, did ſend ſuch ſhoals of Hand Granado's amongſt them, that we forced them to retire with very great loſs, and all the while we purſued them to the very Town.

This being done, and our two Mines being finiſhed, and having laid ſeveral hundred weight of Gun-powder in each of them: Orders were given to ſet fire to 'em, which was accordingly done: And in an inſtant, the Mines, having been dug very deep in under the Town, (as we might do eaſily, the Town being ſcituated pretty high,) we ſaw half the Town in the Air, and ſome part of it, and of the Men came tumbling into our Camp; and within ſome thouſands loſt their Lives at that one blow.

No ſooner was this done, but we, who ſtood all ready, and in expectation of this, ruſht in furiouſly upon them, while they were in this confuſion and diſorder, and put all to the Sword that came in our way, except thoſe that we ſaw were Europeans. Two of them we took, who were Dutchmen, that had deſerted the Dutch Company, but theſe we immediately hung up without any further examination, as it is the conſtant cuſtom, which the Dutch obſerve when-ever they catch any of their Deſerters. But beſides that they deſerved this death by Law, they doubly merited this from us; for knowing that there was no pardon to be expected from the Company, they had been great inſtruments of the obſtinate reſiſtance we met with here; for their condition being deſperate, ſo was the advice they gave to our Enemies, to hold out longer than they would have done. I could not but be exceedingly ſorry at the fate of one of'em in particular, being one of my intimate acquaintance, and who came over with me from Holland. He was of a very good Family, his Father was an eminent Merchant at Bergen in Norway.

Being now Maſters of this Paſs, we fortified our ſelves with the greateſt diligence, it being the ſtrongeſt In-land fortification, and the direct Paſs from Bantam to Batavia by Land. We had already got all the Sea-port Towns and Forts in our Hands; and having likewiſe poſſeſſed our ſelves of this, we did not doubt but the Javians would be obliged to come and ſurrender themſelves, ſeeing they could not come at the Sea. Yet in caſe there ſhould be ſome ſmall deſperate Parties abroad, Captain Ruyter commanded fifty Men to go and ſtroul a little about the Country, and I deſired I might be one with 'em.

We marched about for a matter of an hour or or two, thro' nothing but Woods and Coco-Trees, and then we came to a River, but we could not paſs it; ſo we continued moving along the ſide of it till night; and then not meeting with a conveniency of paſſing the River, we took up our lodging there that night; but for fear of the Enemy, we hardly durſt ſpeak or ſtir all that night.

The next morning early we heard a noiſe not very far from us, and we began to fancy, that we might inſenſibly be got round upon our Army again; but when we were got a little further, we diſcovered the Enemy on the other ſide of the River, as buſie as might be, cutting of Coco-Trees, with a deſign to go and raiſe ſome new Bachers, as they call 'em, that is, Fortifications. The River was very narrow, but very deep; and ſeeing they could not come at us, and that we could eaſily retire (if need was) to our Army, which was but a mile from us; we took a reſolution, and fired ſo briskly amongſt them, that we fetch'd ſeveral of 'em down off the Trees.

They, on the other ſide, did not fail tomake good uſe of their Engliſh Firelocks, and to give fire upon us; ſo that four of our Men fell. Two of them that were only wounded, I brought away, and appli'd what was requiſite to their wounds; and having done that, I went forward to overtake the reſt of our Men; but I was no ſooner come up to them, but I my ſelf received a wound in my Thigh, from a Black, that was upon a Coco-Tree, and the Ball lodged within me. The ſmall Skirmiſh being over, ſome of our Men took me up, and carried me to Anier, where the Army was; and from thence I was carried to the Hoſpital at Bantam. There I was the daily care of the chief Surgeon of that place, who was a very able Man, named John Hanſs a Leydener.

He uſed his utmoſt endeavours to get the Bullet out of the wound, but all in vain: And after I had undergone a long and grievous pain, and had all the Splinters clear'd out, we were forced to leave the Bullet in, and to let the wound heal over it.

In two months time I was fully recover'd, and found no pain; nor did my Bullet ever trouble me, till I came into Holland again.

I was now got again to my Employment, in the Hoſpital that was committed to my care, where we enjoy'd our ſelves with great ſecurity: Only for fear of the worſt, we took care to man our outward Garriſons, and to fortifie our Frontier Places. But e're three Months were at an end, we were ſufficiently ſatisfied that there was no great need of fortifying our ſelves any more; for the Javians came over to us in mighty numbers: And to convince us of their ſincerity, and entire ſubmiſſion to us, they ſent us ſome hundreds of Carts full of Muſquets, Lances, Pikes, Bows and Arrows, and other Warlike Inſtruments.

After this, ſome of their Nobility, and ſome Perſons of greateſt Note, who had great Eſtates in thoſe parts, came to ſurrender themſelves, and to beg for Pardon of the Dutch Company. But for that time the Company thought fit to leave that to the diſcretion of the Young King, who pretended himſelf willing to receive them graciouſly, and to pardon all that was paſt. But he having got ſome of 'em into his power, he forgot his Royal Word, and commanded ſome of them to be caſt to Tygers, ſome to Venemous Serpents, ſome to be 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 ſtrangled, others were drown'd, others had their Throats cut by his eſpecial Command; and all variouſly and miſerably put to death. Things being come to this paſs, the Company thought it was high time to put a ſtop to ſuch Barbarity: And therefore they acquainted him with their reſentment of this his baſe dealing, and made him ſenſible of the great imprudence, as well as baſeneſs he had been guilty of; ſeeing he ought to have been glad, to have ſeen theſe Perſons come to ſubmit themſelves to him, and furniſh him with Subjects which he was now like to want; and that ſo he might have his Towns and Cities once again raiſed, and filled with Inhabitants. The reſt of them that came in, being hereupon more civilly uſed, and kindly treated; inſomuch that in the eighteen Months time that I was there, all the Places were rebuilt, and made finer than they were before. For then the Chineeſes, who are willing to be under the Dutch Government, came and ſettled there in greater numbers than ever. For as they love to live among the Dutch, becauſe of the Priviledges they give them; ſo the Dutch are very glad of their company, becauſe where-ever they are among them, they cauſe a brisk Trade, which turns to the advantage of the Dutch, as well as of the Chineeſes themſelves.

The Country being now again pretty well Peopled with Neighbours and Forreigners, and by the coming in of the Javians; I thought it high time to look about me, and to try to recruit my Pockets, which were now very low, all Proviſions being exceeding dear; and I had had no opportunity in a great while to get a Farthing by my Profeſſion, any other than what my Salary brought me in. So I applied my ſelf to the Javians, among whom I thought there might be a great many wounded, and accordingly I found pretty much practice amongſt 'em. With all this help I made ſhift to live handſomly enough, but truly it was as much as I could do: For conſidering the ſcarcity there was, and the great fatigues I had born, as well as the reſt, I thought it the prudenteſt way to look after my Health, and to afford my ſelf what my Conſtitution required, rather than pinch my ſelf, and contract a fit of Sickneſs, as ſeveral, and indeed moſt People do, who go over to the Indies with no other deſign but to enrich themſelves at any rate. Tho', by the by, after all the pinching, ſaving and ſcraping together, that is not ſo eaſily done, as People imagine: For nothing is more common than the vulgar opinion, that there's no more to be done to get an Eſtate, than juſt to go to the Indies; from whence they reckon they may come home with a burden of Gold, Pearls and Diamonds, as if it was but picking them up and come away. But it may be worth the while, ſeeing we are ſpeaking of this Vulgar Error, to ſhew that theſe pretious things are ſo far from being thus eaſie to come at, that it is even a very dangerous thing to attempt to carry off any of thoſe things, if a Man hath got any of them in his poſſeſſion.

I my ſelf went once to Amboyna, and got intimately acquainted there with a Sergeant, that had lived about nineteen years in that Country, and was an Overſeer over ſeveral Blacks, that work in Preſs-Mills. We came to trucking at laſt, and I exchanged ſome of my Cheeſe, Tobacco, &c. for for ſome Oyl of Cloves; of which I purchaſed ſeven Bottles of near two Quarts a piece. This exchange of ours was to be kept as ſecret as any Robbery one ſhould commit in Europe, for both our Lives lay at ſtake. Fortune favour'd me ſo far, that I came away undiſcover'd, and brought 'em ſafe into the Road of Batavia; where I began to have ſome hopes of running it aſhoar, and pleaſed my ſelf with the thoughts of what it would yeild me among the Chineeſes, and the Engliſh. But I reckon'd without my Hoſt there; for no ſooner was I got into the Boat, in order to get to Shoar, with one of our Seamen, whom I had made privy to the buſineſs, and who underſtood that Trade, but the Fiſcael made towards us with his Caffers. The Seaman had ſo contrived the buſineſs, that the Bottles were under water well ſtopt, and tied to a Cord; but when we found the Caffers came directly to us, the Seaman who ſtood ready with a Knife in his hand, cut the Cord, and dropt the Bottles into the Sea. The Caffers were immediately with us, who ſearched our Boat very narrowly, and then with their Hooks groped all round the outſide: They found nothing but the end of a Cord, which made them give us an Ugly Look, but it was not ſufficient to bring us into any further trouble. But immediately upon this a poor Gentleman had much harder fortune than I had; for theſe Caffars going from us to a Ship, that was come along with us from the Weſtern Coaſt, they caught a Lieutenant there, that had got a piece of Gold of ſome pounds weight: And the Fiſcael carried him ſtrait away to Batavia, and in two days time he was hang'd up in the Galgeveld. This poor Man's hard Lot made me not regret my loſs ſo much, I rather hug'd my ſelf that I had let my Tartar go. But it cured me from ever attempting any thing of that nature. This may ſerve to let you ſee, how dangerous ſuch undertakings are; and that ſuch Counterband-Goods are not ſo eaſily brought off. So that if Men have no other end in going to the Indies, I adviſe them as a Friend, to ſtay at home while they are well.

But now to return again to where I was: I ought not to omit giving the Reader an account, which will not be unacceptable, tho' the action will rather amaze than delight, and muſt needs fill the Reader with horror: For of all the Cruelty I ever heard of there, I never met with any that could compare with this, which was committed in my time, tho' I muſt confeſs I think the Puniſhment that was inflicted on the Malef • ctors did in ſome meaſure out-do it.

Some of our Men went one day a little way up into the Country, rather out of neceſſity than for pleaſure, deſigning to ſhoot ſome Birds, &c. notwithſtanding they might know well enough, that it was not very ſafe, being we were not altogether reconciled with the Javians. They were expected back at night, but three days paſt, and no news of 'em, which occaſioned many conjectures; but moſt were of opinion, that ſome Javians had faln upon them, and murdered them. Upon which Minheer Tack commanded a Lieutenant, with ſome Men, to go in ſearch after 'em. Having wander'd a matter of two hours, they came to a loneſome place, whereas they were thinking to go back, and take ſome other Road. They heard a piteous out-cry, which made them go forward to ſee what it was, and there they found 'em all ſix, and diſcovered the moſt diſmal Spectacle that ever was.

One of them was ſtretch'd out between two Trees, with his Arms tied to the one, and his Legs to the other, about three or four yards high from the ground, with a great Fire ſtill burning under him; but he was quite roaſted when we came.

Another hung by his Privities upon another Tree, with his Arms and Legs tied together under his Back; this was dead alſo.

The third was ſpitted upon a Bamboo-cane, in at his Fundament and out at his Mouth; he was dead too.

The fourth was buried up to the Neck, his Eyes put out, and his Noſe and Ears cut off; this was not quite dead.

The fifth and ſixth were tied faſt Back to Back, each of them had their Right Eyes put out, and their Privities thruſt into the holes; both theſe were ſtill alive.

Our Men were ſo ſurpriſed at this ſight, that they were ready to ſink down; and finding no other remedy, they came with all ſpeed to Minheer Tack, to give him this tragical account, who ſent ſtraight ſome Blacks with a Barrow to fetch theſe poor Creatures, and bring them to Bantam.

We were not a little concerned at this ſtrange accident, but what was an addition to our trouble was, that we could not learn from theſe Men how they came to be thus ſerved, becauſe they were deprived of their Inſtrument of Speech.

Admiral Tack ſent immediately ſome Meſſengers to the Young King to acquaint him with all this, and to deſire him to have a ſearch made among his people, and to uſe all means poſſible to diſcover the Authors of this Fact. This he did, and with ſuch good ſucceſs, that in leſs than a fortnights time, we found the Rogues out; and all of 'em (being ſixteen in number) were apprehended, and eight of them were forthwith condemn'd to be thrown to Serpents.

The manner of theſe Serpents deſtroying of Men is thus. They catch hold of a Man, and ſwallow him near half up, and then ſuck all the Blood out of his Body, then they tear him peace-meal, and eat him up.

The other eight were confined to one Room, where they had very good Diet afforded them, but that was only in order to prolong their Pain; for there were Men always attending them with Scourges; and as ſoon as ever theſe Criminals begun to nod, they laſhed them ſeverely, and this continued for a fortnight; and then they begg'd that we would knock them on the Head, or put 'em to any ſpeedy death they pleaſed, tho' it were the moſt cruel they could invent.

But all their begging was in vain, for the Young King was wonderfully pleaſed, that he had found out ſuch a Puniſhment, as would probably terrifie the reſt from committing ſuch frequent Murders as they uſed to do.

Thus they continued in that miſery, and lived till the fifth Week; then they fell aſleep in ſpight of all their Whipping; and continued ſo notwithſtanding they were pincht with red hot Tongs, and ſo they ended their miſerable Lives. So, that how barbarous ſoever their Fact was, yet it met with a Puniſhment, which, I think, did rather out-do the Fact it ſelf in Barbarity.

THE Javians could hardly bear the Hollanders for a great while, and truly their antipathy againſt us was not altogether without ſome grounds, ſeeing that we, being Forreigners, had invaded their Territories, and taken poſſeſſion of all they had, and then lorded it over them. They being a very ſilly ſort of People, had no other way to ſhew their Spight and Reſentment, than by making Mouths at the Dutch as they paſſed by, and ſometimes Spitting upon them. To break them of that ungainly Cuſtom, we made a reſolution amongſt us, never to let any paſs by that did ſo, whether Old or Young, Man or Woman, without giving them a good Box on the Ear. This cured them of their incivility ſo effectually, that you'ld have wonder'd to ſee how courteouſly they behaved themſelves towards us; for all of a ſudden there was ſo great an alteration, that there was no paſſing by 'em, but they would greet you very civilly, give you good morrow, (in their Language, Dobidis Sinior) clapping their Hands together, and holding them up to their Forehead; and when they were willing to ſhew themſelves more courteous and officious, they would add, Manna Bigi Sinior, that is, where are you going Sir? which was as much as offering their ſervice and aſſiſtance, which we frequently made uſe of.

Admiral Tack was all this while lodg'd in the Apartment which belonged before to the Engliſh, where the Young King uſed to come to viſit him almoſt every day, and maintain'd a faithful Friendſhip with him. In a little time, things being ſettled, a Propoſal was made to the Young King by the Dutch, that if he would reſign intirely all claim of Power and Juriſdiction over his People, cuſtom, &c. and turn over the whole Government into their Hands, they would allow him ſuch a Sum as would enable him to keep up his Grandeur, and live like a King, (a titular one, that is,) and would be obliged to pay him ſome thouſands of Gilders every Month. To this he condeſcended; whether thro' fear, or thro' indifference, I cannot well ſay; and a certain Penſion was likewiſe ſettled upon his two Young Princes, all which was duly paid according to agreement. The reſt of the Nobility, and Chief of the Land, remained in the poſſeſſion of their Goods and Lands, as before, only that they were now ſubject to the Dutch Government. Thus the Dutch compaſſed their whole deſign by force and policy; and by fair means became Maſters of that Kingdom, which was, and had been ſo long flouriſhing, and famous for its vaſt Trade and traffick; and that in ſo little time, as from 1682 to 1685, that I believe Hiſtory will hardly afford an inſtance of a more ſudden change of Affairs in ſo great a Kingdom.

The Old King all this while having wander'd up and down on the Blawen Peper Bergh, whither he had been forced to retire when he was defeated; and being there forſaken by moſt of his People, reſolved alſo to come, and ſubmit himſelf to the Dutch Company; and accordingly, after near two years, he came and ſurrendred himſelf, having firſt ſent ſome of his Servants to Admiral Tack for his Pardon, which was granted him. Upon which he appeared in Perſon, and came to Bantam, with a very ſmall Retinue; there they aſſigned him a Lodging, and ſet Guard upon him, and in a little time after ſent him to a ſmall Iſland, where he ended his days.

Thus all being quiet, all Hoſtilities ceaſed, and all reduced to one Government, Bantam flouriſhed again in a more perfect manner than it had ever done; and did, like a Phoenix, ſpring up out of its own Aſhes, but more beautiful and ſtrong than it was before. Its Borders were now vaſtly enlarged, by reaſon of the vaſt number of Foreigners, which daily flocked thither, and were all indifferently received, except the Engliſh, French and Danes, which were not admitted, but were ſent with their Ships to Batavia, where they were permitted to trade, and to take Houſes and Ware-houſes, &c.

The chief Traffick of Bantam conſiſts in Pepper, Salt-Peter, Salt, Ginger, Cotten-Cloth plain, and wrought with Silver and Gold; alſo Fine Linnen, and Flowerd Stuffs, which are the common wear of the Inhabitants.

The Country about it is exceeding pleaſant, and produces all manner of neceſſary Proviſions. There are all manner of tame Fowls, Hens, &c. and their Eggs very cheap. All ſorts of Fiſh. Great ſtore of Cows and Buffels, but the Fat of theſe laſt is not much eaten, becauſe it taſts ſo much like Tallow. Many Wild Boars there are alſo, but the Tameſt of that kind that ever was, becauſe that the Javians never hunted them, by reaſon that their Law doth not permit them to eat the Fleſh of 'em; ſo that they uſed to come ſo cloſe up to our Works, that I have ſhot three or four of 'em in one day, and ſold them for little or nothing.

But the worſt Cattle thereabouts is the Tygers, which are in great numbers near Bantam, which the Javians uſed to be frequently ſent out to catch or kill: And they did it after this manner.

Thouſands of Javians go together to the place where the Tygers lie; and there they ſpread themſelves round the place in about three miles compaſs, and ſo march gradually to center and meet upon the Tyger, keeping ſtill their Naſſingayen before them; ſo that if the Tygers come out towards the circumference they make, they are ſo frighted, that they run back again; and ſo they keep them running to and fro, and retiring, till at laſt they are ſo cloſely encompaſſed, that they muſt of neceſſity be forced to throw themſelves into ſome of their Traps, which are ſomething after the manner of our Wheel-nets, but incomparably ſtronger and bigger; for they are of ſtrong Wood, made leſs and leſs, and ſeveral Partitions; and in each Partition a Trap-door that ſhuts upon 'em, till at laſt they come into the narroweſt of all. There they let him alone a good while without Meat, then they get a Rope about his Neck, and put him into a ſmall Coop, upon a Cart drawn by Buffels; and theſe are always brought to the King, who keeps always ſome of 'em in his Palace, and looks upon that as a piece of great State. And when one of them brings forth a young one, it is ſo much taken notice of, that all the Cannon round the Caſtle are diſcharged, and great Rejoycings and Paſtimes are made upon the occaſion.

They do breed very often, but tho' one might expect to bring the young ones to be perfectly Tame, as indeed ſome do pretty well come to it, yet it is never ſafe to truſt them too far; for while I was there, two of 'em, which they thought as tame as they could wiſh, broke looſe and run thro' the Town, and tore ſeveral People to pieces, and would have deſtroyed ſeveral more, had not ſome Javians come upon them, arm'd with their Naſſingays, who killed one of them, and took the other.

There is another way of catching them in Traps, laying a Bait for 'em, but then you can't have them alive; ſo there is ſhooting of 'em, but not without very great danger.

In Ceylon, Pegu and Aracan they uſe to catch Elephants much after the ſame manner. It is worth while, upon this occaſion, to undeceive thoſe ſimple and credulous People, who believe that the way to catch them is, to ſaw ſome Trees almoſt thro', againſt which the Elephants come to lean to take their reſt; and ſo the Tree falling, they likewiſe fall, and are not able to get up again, being very clumſie, and without Joynts in their Legs. Whoever gives credit to this Fable, is eaſily impoſed upon, for conſidering the Bulk of 'em, there is not a more nimble and active Creature than they are; and nothing is more ſure, than that when they are uſed in War, there are never any Ladders made uſe of, to help up the three or four Soldiers, which they carry; but they are taught to kneel, or rather couch down, while they get upon their Backs. But their Agility is ſo obſervable from what we have ſeen ſome of 'em do in Europe, that I will not go about to deſcribe them any further. But for one inſtance of their Nimbleneſs, and Aptneſs to be taught any thing, I cannot but ſet down here what I was an Eye-witneſs of my ſelf, done by an Elephant which one of the chief Merchants of the Company kept of his own, that had abundance of Tricks. And when he had a mind to divert himſelf, or ſome ſpecial Company, he would have him brought out by the Men that lookt after him, and knew how to manage him. This Elephant once was brought out upon a Bridge, which was over a very deep River, and a great Loaf was given him in his Mouth. The keeper gave him a ſign, and fell a beating upon a Copper Inſtrument; upon which the Elephant went back, as in a fright, and tumbled down backwards into the River, with a moſt hidious plunge, and kept ſo long under water, that he eat up his Loaf there, and he ſtaid ſo very long under the water, that no body expected ever to have ſeen him come up again, except thoſe that were uſed to this trick; at laſt up he came and ſwam to Shore, and having paid his reſpects to his Maſter, he threw up the Bread he had eaten, and near a Barrel full of water. Many other Tricks he ſhewed, but this is the only one that I thought worth relating, as being ſomewhat ſtrange and uncommon.

I uſed to frequent many Javians of my acquaintance, to paſs away the time, and to obſerve ſome of their moſt particular Cuſtoms and Humours, and to ſhare of their Diverſions. Of th' latter none pleaſed me more, than to ſee their Balliar Dances, performed by Women who were kept for that purpoſe, by Perſons of the greateſt Quality. Theſe Women are of an extraordinary ſmall ſize, but of the moſt exquiſite Form and perfect Shape that ever was ſeen: Their height is but between five and ſix Spans, their Skin as white as the driven Snow; and taking them all together, one would ſooner take 'em for Angels, in the likeneſs of Women, than for Women themſelves; for beſides their natural Beauty, there is all the artificial Dreſs that can be contrived. Their Garments are of the ſineſt Silks, wrought with Silver and Gold, and their Treſſes neatly adorn'd with the rareſt Orient Pearls, all which doth ſtill add to their luſtre. Their manner of dancing is in Maſquerade; they have in their Hands ſome Ebbony Balls ſtrung upon a String, with which they keep time very exactly with the Muſick, inſtead of our Caſtanets; and ſometimes they ſing with their dancing, which is yet more charming than the reſt, their Voice being wonderful ſweet. One of theſe Women coſts generally two or three thouſand Gilders, they are fetch'd out of the Province of Babylon, about forty miles from Jerico the leſs; and no other Women are fit for theſe kind of Paſtimes and Dances but they: So they are much made of by the Indian Kings, and Nobility, who ſpare no pains nor charge to get 'em. Some of theſe I have ſeen alſo at Surat and in Perſia, when I lay before Wond Artz, with the Ship called the Gelderland, where we took in Silks in lieu of our Pepper and Spices.

Another ſort of Sport they have is Cockfighting, which being ſo common here, needs no further deſcription.

Theſe Sports and Paſtimes are frequently ſeen amongſt 'em, but eſpecially at their Weddings, which are never held without them, together with ſeveral other Recreations, and ſtrange Ceremonies, of which I will give you ſome account.

In the time that I was there, a young Gentleman, Son to one of the Principal amongſt 'em, was married; and being intimately acquainted with him, I was invited to that Wedding. His Wife's Portion was conſiderable, and proportioned to the Young Gentleman's Fortune. The Father gave with his Daughter, thirty Men, forty Women, and twenty Young Maids, all Slaves, beſides two hundred thouſand Cujax, which amounteth to about ſixteen Rixdollers, for twelve thouſand Cujax are only the value of a piece of eight. All theſe Women-ſlaves, the Man may lie with if he pleaſeth, but the Children that are thus born, are not at his diſpoſal, but at his Wives, who may ſell them, or diſpoſe of them as ſhe thinks fit. But thoſe Slaves Children, which are given in Dowry to the Wife, are in the power of the Husband to order as he will.

When a Marriage is on foot among them, both the Young People confine themſelves within, for about ſix Weeks or two Months: The Parents in that time ſet out their Servants and Slaves, and make 'em as fine as they can againſt the Wedding. The Bridegrooms Apartment is all ſtrewed with Flowers. Then on the Wedding day he mounts on a Fine Horſe, which is ſet out in the fineſt manner, and thus goes to his Bride, where all her Friends meet him, attended with the Slaves, Preſents and Houſhold-ſtuff, &c. Then a great Dinner is prepared, where each of the Young Peoples Parents are to be preſent, and to make merry. In the mean while the Young Couple are lead to a Room with a fine Bed in it; where they are ſhut in, and left to their liberty, after which the Bridegroom comes out to the Gueſts, but the Bride is not ſeen of any Man after that time.

Theſe Rejoycings uſually laſt four days, during which there are ſome Comedies acted after the Chineeſe manner.

Among all their Sports, there is their baiting of a Buffle, which pleaſed me very well, but that it ſo frequently occaſions much miſchief; becauſe their way is to leave them looſe, and to ſet ſeveral Engliſh Dogs upon them. I ſaw my ſelf once two Buffels let looſe in a ſmall incloſed piece of ground, with five Dogs againſt 'em. One of the Buffels deſended himſelf very well of the firſt Dog that came at him, and toſſed him up a vaſt height; but a ſecond coming upon him, before he had well rid himſelf of the firſt, and ſeizing him faſt by the Teſticles, it ſo enraged the Buffel, that he run directly to a little Shed, that ſtood there in a Corner, upon which three Blacks and two Dutchmen had got, the better to ſee the Sport; and throwing all down before him, and the Dogs ſtill holding him faſt, three of them, viz. two Javians, and a Dutch Carpenter, were trampled to death, and indeed almoſt all to pieces: And the other Javian, with the Admiral's Baker, came off luckily with no other wound, than what they got by their fall: They had no other way to put an end to this, or to part 'em, but by firing upon them altogether; for now the other Buffel was deeply engaged too: So that with their Muſquets they killed the two Buffels, and two of the Dogs, and unfortunately another Javian. So that this Sport ended very tragically, and it generally proves ſo, thro' their want of management.

The next day another ill accident happen'd; for as there was in that place a great Maſt, which the Engliſh had taken formerly out of a Ship, and ſet up there, in order to get up, and ſpy the Ships a-far off at Sea. One of our Seamen would needs go up for a frolick, and being come almoſt to the top, one of his holds broke, and let him down, and was (as you may well imagine) killed with the fall. Upon which Admiral Tack immediately ordered this Maſt to be cut down, and another to be ſet up upon the Speelwick Baſtion, which was much leſs than the other, and not near ſo high, but commanded a farther proſpect, the Baſtion it ſelf being very high, and upon a much higher ground.

While I reſided in the Hoſpital at Bantam, which was ſome Months, ſeveral of our Company, which we had left at Dorjaſſe, dropt in by degrees, having deſtroyed all in their way; and being all come in, they were almoſt all ſent back again to Batavia, eſpecially all the Blacks; ſo that there were not left, both within, and without the Caſtle, above five thouſand Men to keep the Garriſon; which was little enough for ſo great a place, it being as far as I can judge fourteen or. fifteen miles in circuit: and the number of its Inhabitants was computed to be 700000, beſides the Foreigners, which might amount to half the number more.

Towards Land the City lies open, but to the Sea it is guarded by a very ſtrong Wall ſix yards broad; beſides ſome hundreds of Baſtions, little Forts, Redoubts, &c. all which are very well provided with Cannon.

All things were now in good order, and the Government very prudently managed, ſo that all thoſe that were in the Companies Service, even the Soldiers themſelves, had no reaſon to complain. But their Condition was much mended, their Proviſions were cheap, and their Uſage and Treatment very civil; and I muſt confeſs, that I had all the enjoyment I could well wiſh: But notwithſtanding all this, I was ſtill diſſatisfied and reſtleſs, and wanted to be going to viſit ſome other parts of the Indies. But it was in vain to wiſh, for I was under Obligations not to move yet.

The time now drawing near, that our Captain was to return to Batavia; a Council of War was held, where it was reſolved, that a general Muſter ſhould be made, and that thoſe who had ſerved out their time, ſhould come out and claim their liberty: But withal notice was given them, that if they would engage themſelves afreſh, they ſhould not only be kindly received, but ſhould have their Pay raiſed by four Gilders.

Then our Captain Tack went back to Batavia, to be Preſident of that City, and Captain Harzing ſucceeded him in his place of Governour of Bantam.

About this time the Muck Speelers were very troubleſom about the City, and daily committing great diſorders. Their way is to make themſelves mad by eating of the Herb they call Avion, i. e. Opium: Then ye ſhall ſee 'em run about the Streets, like Men diſtracted, and kill all they meet. But our cuſtom was, as ſoon as we ſpied them a coming, to cry out Amuck, Amuck, upon which every body ſtood ready with his Weapon in his hand; and theſe Blockheads would run themſelves upon a Pike, or upon a Muſquet, and be ſhot through, and in the heat of the Fury, run it may be an hundred or two hundred paces before they dropt. And theſe Diſorders could not by any means be prevented, tho' the Company had made it death for any one to be found with any of that Herb about him, in any part of the Eaſt-Indies.

There being now no more Action here, nor any Novelty that this Place afforded me, I was very deſirous to be gone. But I found the only way to attain my wiſh, was to get ſome Sea-Surgeon in the mind to exchange Places with me. Wherefore I waited impatiently for the coming in of any Ships that were to go to Batavia: And in a little time the Tidor, from Bali, came into the Road of Bantam. She had no ſooner caſt Anchor, but I was with her to welcome her, and to feel the Pulſes of her Surgeons; but I found their Deſigns were much the ſame as mine, and they were all diſpos'd for a longer Courſe; ſo that I found no hopes there of ſucceſs: But being told that they expected another Ship in toward night, if the Wind did not croſs 'em, wherein were four Maſter Surgeons; my hopes quickly revived, and I reſolved to ſtay there that Night; in the Evening the Ship came in according to their expectation, and the next Morning early I went on board of it; and after the uſual ſalutations, I applied my ſelf to the Maſter Surgeons, and freely declared to 'em my Intentions. One of 'em, a Gentleman of Delf, at firſt liked my Propoſal, and after ſome further diſcourſe, was fully in the reſolution of changing with me, which did not a little rejoyce me. The thing being thus agreed upon, he asked leave of the Captain, after having acquainted him with his deſign; and having got his leave, he came away with me to Shore My buſineſs now was to have leave my ſelf, which indeed I had moved for at a diſtance before, but not doubting of having leave given me when-ever I ſhould deſire it, becauſe I had behaved my ſelf well; and what made more yet on my ſide, I had now and then greaſed the Chief Surgeons Fiſt: I deferr'd ſpeaking for it directly, till I had met with one that would change with me. No ſooner had I declared my Mind to the Chief Surgeon, but he gave me an ample and honourable Teſtimonium to carry to the Governour, who with a Complement of Thanks, gave me a Paſs, and entred the other in my Place. So I took my leave of 'em all; and having got my Cheſt and Hammock ready, I got me a-board my new Ship, called the Enckhuyſen, it was laden with nothing but Rice, and had but twenty eight Seamen, beſides the Officers, and us four Maſter-Surgeons.

I parted very chearfully from Bantam, the only thing that I was loath to part with was, a little Summer-Houſe I had order'd to be made in the Garden of the Hoſpital, which was very delightful. It was made of Bamboos, and ſo contrived, that I might have removed it very well; but being I could not move that with it, which made it ſo extream pleaſant, I left the whole ſtanding for my Succeſſor to enjoy, but not without grudging it him heartily. The Top of it was cover'd very neatly with Fig-leaves, and the Sides were ſweetly ſhaded with Pepper-planks, which hung like a Vine over the Windows, and made it extreamly agreeable. But now that I am ſpeaking of this Pepper, it will not be amiſs to give you a deſcription of its growth, &c. This part of Java is the moſt famous for it, and the great Blauwe Peper Bergh, which I have ſo often mentioned, hath its denomination from it, and ſignifies Blew-Pepper-Mountain, it being full of it; there the beſt of all grows. Indeed Malabar, Malacca and Sumatra do produce vaſt quantities of it too, but it is all white and long, like the Canary Pepper, and is not to compare with the Javian Pepper for goodneſs; and for that reaſon hardly any but the latter is tranſported into Europe.

They plant it at the bottom of other Trees, to which it clings in the nature of our Hops, and winds round as that does, but higher. Its Leaf is like that of the Orange-Trees, but leſs, and of a more pleaſant Green, and taſts pretty ſharp if one bites 'em. The Fruit grows much like Grapes, tho' (every one knows) much ſmaller, and cloſer to one another▪ They are ever green till they dry, which is in November, December and January, at which time they gather 'em, and ſpread them upon Mats in the Sun to dry; then they run 'em thro' a Sieve, and pack 'em up ready for the Merchants to take away.

Now, tho' Pepper is as plenty in India as Stones in the Streets, and only ſerves for Ballaſt very often, and to pack up other Goods tire; and altho' ſometimes ſeveral whole Shiploads of it be thrown into the Sea, and many hundred thouſand pound weight of it burnt; yet dares no Man in the ſervice of the Company take one ſingle Corn of it, but every one is obliged to buy it of the Indians, who deal with the Company for it: And the ſame rule is obſervable in reſpect to other Spices. But now the Enckhuyſen lay ſtill but one day, ſo that the next morning after I had boarded her, we weighed Anchor and ſailed to Batavia, with a half wind. It lies but ſix Leagues from Bantam, yet were we ſeven days before we could reach it, for we were ever and anon forced to caſt Anchor and weigh it again, which fatigued our Men mightily.

Being now come before Batavia, our Maſter went immediately on Shore, and the next day our Ship was unlading. I went to Shore too with all ſpeed in a Chineeſe Praw, and went to wait upon the Head Surgeon there, one Mr. John Streckelberger, who was my old Acquaintance; but I found him now raiſed to the higheſt pitch of Preferment the Profeſſion is capable of there, which was the place of Overſeer General over all the Surgeons in the whole Indies, in the place of Dr. Kleyer. I told him upon what deſign I had left Bantam to come to Batavia, which was in order to get me a Deputation to ſome other part of India, that I might travel farther ſtill. He ſeemed very ready at the firſt, but afterwards he deſired me to come again in three or four days time.

In the mean while I went to viſit all my old Acquaintance in the Fort where I once lived, and to divert my ſelf with 'em. But unhappily I took out an old Gentleman with me, one day, to go to a ſmall Iſland hard by, where there were a great many Oyſters; we had got a good many, but as we were coming back, it blew at ſo exceſſive a rate, that our Boat was turned over. The poor old Gentleman could not reach the Shore, meerly for want of ſtrength, and ſo loſt his Life within a hundred yards of the Land, but the old Chineeſe and I c • me ſafe to Shore, and the Boat was driven quickly after us, ſo that we took that up. Inſtead of paying the Chineeſe, I beat him ſoundly for being the main cauſe of all this. And from that time I never ſaw him more; without doubt he run away for fear the Fiſcael ſhould call him to an account for the death of my Companion.

This was the fourth time, that God in his infinite goodneſs delivered me out of that Element of Water, once in my own Country, once in Africa, once in the River of Bantam, and this time at Batavia.

It was now time to go and wait upon the Surgeon General, to know what was determined as to my affair. When I came there, I was ſurpriz'd to find a Deputation to go and Board the Phoenix for Banda and Amboina, for beſides that it croſſed my deſign, which was to go to Japan; I knew that thoſe two Countries were the moſt unhealthful of all India. However, after a little pauſe I reſolved to go thither or any where, rather than to ſtay there. So taking my Orders with me, I went aboard the Enckhuyſen, and told by Brother Surgeons how I was ſerv'd, who inſtead of condoling with me, laught at me very heartily.

I was now to be gone in two days time; ſo I made haſte and provided my ſelf with Arac, Tobacco, and Long-Pepper preſerved; all which are found to be of greater uſe in thoſe unhealthy parts than in any other: And having made all other neceſſary Proviſion, I went on board the Phoenix.

The next day we weighed Anchor, and ſailed from Batavia, the wind N. E. paſſed the Streights of Sunday, and in three Weeks time we arrived before Banda, which is reckon'd to be three hundred Miles from Batavia. There fell nothing out worth any notice in our paſſage thither, but that a poor Seaman was blown down by a ſudden puff of Wind from the Fore-Maſt upon the Anchor, which tore his very Guts out of his Belly.

AS ſoon as we were come into the Road of Banda, our Maſter went aſhore; my Legs which had been ſwell'd for three or four days, were now ſo ſore, that I could not ſtir, elſe I would have gone with him with all my heart; but my Indiſpoſition augmenting, I was forced to be carried aſhore. There my Swelling increaſed, all upward, and my Belly was now ſwell'd to the higheſt degree that could be, ready to break: And in this condition I continued the ſpace of three weeks, (ſo that I was left here very comfortleſs, for the Phoenix was obliged to be gone) and after that the Diſtemper ſeized me ſo in all my Limbs, that I wholly loſt the uſe of them; and during a quarter of a Year I could not bring my Finger to my Mouth; ſo that truly I deſpair'd of ever recovering the uſe of my Limbs, (altho' I was not ſick inwardly) and therefore I often prayed to God to take me to himſelf. I was carried every day to the Bagnio, where ſeveral other Patients with me were ſet upon Seats, all in a ring, with Blankets wrapt round about us ſo cloſe, that nothing but our Heads ſtuck out; there was a great Fire of each ſide of us, which made the heat intolerable, and then we were held over the ſteem of ſome medicinal Herbs, which were boyl'd for the purpoſe; into which infuſion they threw thirty or forty red hot Cannon Bullets, which raiſed ſuch a ſteem, and made ſuch a ſmother, that not one in a hundred was able to bear it, but they were forced to be taken out, and carried away upon Quilts made for that purpoſe. I was taken out thus in the beginning, but when I came to be uſed to it a little more, I bore it out bravely, and found it very helpful. So keeping to this for ſome weeks, I recover'd apace, and then they begun to anoint my Feet with Oleum Terrae, and preſcribed me to drink frequently a ſmall Glaſs of Bitter Brandy, or Arac infuſed in Bitter Herbs; by which method, with the help of God, I perfectly recover'd.

After this I went to ſatisfie my curioſity, (which was the occaſion of my coming) and to ſee the Country. But I ſhall decline giving any deſcription of it, becauſe it hath been done already ſufficiently by others, eſpecially by Johan Hugen Van Linſchooten. Only I wil give you a ſhort account of the Noble Fruit which this Iſland is famous for, viz. the Nutmeg and Mace, which the Inhabitants, whether Dutch, or Freemen, or Slaves, are obliged to deliver yearly to the Governour, and is ſent afterwards to Holland, and other parts of Europe, and to Perſia, and other places of India.

The Tree on which the Nutmeg grows, is almoſt like the Pear-tree, but doth not ſpread ſo much, and its Leaf is ſomewhat rounder. The Fruit is much like a Peach in bigneſs and looks, of an extraordinary fine taſte, and delicate ſmell, when it is ripe: On the out-ſide is a thick hard Shell, like the Bark of a Tree, over which the Flower grows. When the Nut begins to be ripe, it ſwells ſo much, that the firſt Shell burſts open. The Flower is of fine Red, and very agreeable to look on, eſpecially when the Tree is pretty full of Fruit. Sometimes the Mace comes off of it ſelf, and when it ſticks to the Fruit, they gather all together; and in the drying of the Nutmeg, the Mace drys and falls off, and changes its lively Red into that brown Yellow, which we find it hath here in Europe. The whole Fruit is very proper to preſerve, and is an excellent Confite.

While I was at Banda, a couple of Fellows were executed for having killed their Mother; the death they were put to was very terrible; they were faſten'd upon a Wooden Croſs, and their Limbs were broke with an Iron Bar, and there they were left to expire.

After I had ſpent three Months here, in pretty good health, the Ship called the America came to Banda; ſo that having now the opportunity of compleating my Voyage, which my ſickneſs prevented me to do with the Phoenix, I embraced it readily, and went in her for Amboina. I was glad to leave that unhealthy Country; and tho' I had, and ſhall ever carry with me ſevere tokens of the Plague of that Country, I was glad to come off ſo well as I did. In four days time we came before Amboina, where our Ship was ſtraight loaden with Cloves. I went there on ſhore to look about me; and while the Ship was lading, I had time to examine how they grew, and what I could not be an Eye-witneſs of, I had from my old Friend the Serjeant, whom I made mention of before, from whom I got thoſe Bottles of Oyl of Cloves, which coſt me ſo much care and trouble, and at the laſt I was forced to drop them into the Sea.

The Clove-Tree is much like the Laurel-Tree, the Bloſſom is White at firſt, then it turns Green, and after that Red. While it is green it ſmells ſo fine and ſweet, that nothing can be compared to it. Theſe grow mighty cloſe to one another, and many of 'em together, all within the Bloſſom; when they are ripe they gather 'em, and dry them; then they are of a brown Yellow. Thoſe Cloves which they do not gather, as not being ripe, hang on till the year following; and thoſe they call then Moeder Nagelen, i. e. Mother Cloves. Where theſe Trees grow, there grows no kind of Graſs, or any green thing nigh; their nature being ſuch, that they draw all the moiſture about them to themſelves, and ſo do the Cloves likewiſe, as I have often ſeen my ſelf, that a Tub of Water being ſet in a Ware-houſe that had ſtore of Cloves laid up in it, after they were pickt and cleans'd, in three or four days time the Water would be all gone out of the Tub. The ſmell of 'em is ſo ſtrong, that ſome People have been ſuffocated with it when they have been buſie with too great quantities of 'em, and in too cloſe a place.

Our Ship having taken in all her Lading, we left this place, and made directly for Batavia, and arrived there happily in a Fortnights time; where our Ship was immediately unladen, and all the Cloves put aboard the Weſt-Friezland, in order to go for Holland.

Here an Order was ſent me to change my Ship, and go in the Old Europe, the ſame Ship that brought me from the Cape to the Indies. I went with her to the Iſland Onruſt, which is a place fit for careening of Ships; where ſhe was to be fitted up, being very old. The Iſland hath its name very juſtly, Onruſt, ſignifying no reſt, by reaſon of the continual diſturbance, which the Sea cauſes to the Inhabitants, who are only Carpenters, Smiths, and other ſuch Artificers for Shipping. For the Iſland being very low, and the Sea Ebbing and Flowing every two hours, at very uncertain heights, gives the Inhabitants no reſt or ſecurity: And every new and full Moon, the Sea drives 'em up a vaſt way; but ſo unſixt are its Bounds, that they are forced to be continually upon their Guard: Which beſides the great labour, and great quantity of work that lies upon their hands, makes it truly very reſtleſs for them.

There were two Maſter Surgeons beſides me belonging to the ſame Ship, and we had all our Patients aſhore: The only paſtime we could have, was catching of Tortoiſes, of which there are vaſt numbers there. When it is fair, and the Sun ſhines bright, they come out of the Water, and lie in the hot Sand. So when they were all very quiet and ſettled, we came upon them of a ſudden with Sticks and Iron Bars, and turned them upon their Backs, as faſt as we could, for then they cannot ſtir. When we had done catching 'em ſo, we took them out of their ſhells, and put them in Pickle, and kept them in Barrels or Pots, with Salt and Vineger. This was our daily Food, and very good, but ſome of 'em are far better than other ſome. The biggeſt we caught was more than three Men could compaſs, and a loaded Wagon might ſafely have gone over it without breaking it.

Beſides theſe, there are alſo a great many Sharks, which do much miſchief; of which I gave you an inſtance before in the poor Chineeſe, that was diving for Iron, and was devoured by 'em. There is much fiſhing for 'em. And the manner of catching them is, by baiting ſeveral very large ſtrong Hooks, with the whole Liver of ſome other Fiſh, which the Sharks will not fail to ſwallow Hook and all, being extream greedy, and ſo they are taken. The Tail is all that is eaten of this Fiſh, and that is not very palatable neither; but the whole is eaten ſometimes by Seamen, in caſe of neceſſity, for want of other meat: But its Liver is very uſeful for many things in Surgery.

Our Ship being now thoroughly refitted, we returned to our old Anchoring Place at Batavia; where we found a Ship newly come from Holland, that had not yet caſt all her Anchors. I took in all haſt a Chineeſe Praw, and went on board of her to ſee if I could not meet with any old Acquaintance there, and to hear ſome News from our Country: And there I heard the firſt account of Stransbourgh being taken by the French, which was a very great ſurprize to us.

As ſoon as our Ship had taken in all Neceſſaries here, ſhe was ordered to ſail for Ceylon, at which I was mighty joyful, and accordingly I recruited my ſelf with Proviſions, and went on board: Then we left Batavia with the firſt fair Wind, and in five Weeks time we happily arrived before Columbo, which is the Chief City of the Dutch in Ceylon. It is one of the moſt commodious Ports of any in the Indies, where Ships may lie ſafe many years, and come in at will, with the Sea-wind, and run out when they pleaſe, with a Land-wind. Yet there are a great many Rocks there, but they are only dangerous to Strangers; for which reaſon, when a Ship comes thither, that hath never been there before, ſhe is obliged to fire three Guns; whereas if he is acquainted with the place, he need fire but one. This is ſtraight anſwer'd by a Gun from a Watch-Tower, that is on one of the higheſt Rocks, about two miles diſtance from the City, where there is always a Pilot, and his Men ready, who as ſoon as they ſpy a Ship coming, diſplay a Flag in token that they muſt come no further, and then they go and bring the Ship in.

At the Mouth of the Haven lies a Fort or Caſtle, called 't Swart, i. e. the Black Fort. It was firſt built by the Portugueze, but under a ſpecious pretence of building a thing of a very different nature. For when the King of Candy, who could at that time have prevented their work, ſent to know what they were about; they told him they were only building a Play-houſe, and under that colour carried on their work, and provided it with large pieces of Cannon, which they brought to Shore in great Hogſheads; and ſo became able to maintain themſelves there.

I do not deſign to enter upon a deſcription of this Iſland, becauſe it hath been done very particularly by others, and eſpecially by Chr. Schwitzor, whoſe Relation is now publiſhed with mine, to which I refer you.

While our Ship was lading with Cinnamon, and ſeveral other Rich Commodities, I went on Shore moſt of the time; where I took my diet at a Freemans Houſe, where I had it extream good, and well ordered, and for a very ſmall price.

The great Commodity of this Iſland is Cinnamon, which is the Bark of a Tree, much of the bigneſs of an Olive Tree; the Leaves are much like the Laurel, but ſomewhat ſmaller; the Flower it bears is white, and the Fruit is like the Black Olives of Portugal. The Tree hath two Barks, the Cinnamon is the inner one of them, which is peeled off the Tree, and cut in ſquare pieces; then laid in the Sun to dry, which makes it rowl up together, as we ſee it in Europe, and changes its colour, which is at firſt near upon Aſh-colour, into what we find it of here.

When the Trees are peeled in this manner, they are let alone for three years, in which time they have regained their Coats as before. The Trees grow wild, without planting and cultivating, and make a ſort of Coppice of themſelves; and require no other hand than that of Nature to make them beneficial to Man.

There is beſides this, a ſort of Cinnamon, that grows in Malabar, and is called Canella de Matte, but it is a baſtard kind, and nothing near ſo good.

None of the Spices, neither the Cinnamon I have been ſpeaking of, nor the Cloves, Mace, Nutmegs, Saffron, &c. may be carried away by any private Perſon upon pain of death: And it hath coſt ſome Men their Lives for attempting to bring them over; as I ſaw an inſtance of one who had got a ſmall parcel of Borrobone, in order to take with him home, and was executed for the fact. This Borrobone is a Root growing in great plenty in Iava, and is made uſe of inſtead of Saffron by all the Inhabitants; and it hath all the Vertues of the beſt Oriental Saffron; it is cut and dried, and looks like Ginger.

The other Great and Rich Commodity of this Place is Pearls, which they fiſh for after this manner, The Company hath ſome thouſands of Divers for that purpoſe, which are divided into ſo many Companies, and to each of them there is an Overſeer. Theſe Men are all divided, ſo many to each Boat, and ſo they go to the Oyſter. Banks; where ſtripping themſelves, every one of them tie a ſmall Basket round their middle: Then they bind a piece of a certain Root they have, that is very hollow, and of an Oyly ſubſtance before their Mouths, ſo that it reſiſts the water a good while, and gives them ſome time to breath. In this manner you ſhall ſee 'em all go down with wonderful quickneſs to the very bottom; where they fill their little Baskets with Oyſters, then come up again as nimbly as may be; and when they have a good quantity of 'em, they carry them to Shore, where they lay 'em out in the Sun; there they open of themſelves, and in them are found ſometimes many Pearls, ſometimes none at all.

Some of theſe Divers, more skilful than the reſt, will, without the help of thoſe Roots, keep under water almoſt as long as they that uſe them.

When their days work is over, they come to Shore all together in good order, delivering faithfully all the Pearls they have got to the Officers that are appointed by the Company, which finds all theſe Men with Proviſions, and other Neceſſaries, and allows ſome of them pretty good Salaries beſides.

In the whole fiſhing Seaſon it cannot be but, there muſt happen ſeveral accidents, and that many Men loſe their Lives in the Sea among the Rocks; you hear almoſt daily of ſome ſuch miſfortune, and every day gives ſubject of lamentation and complaint to ſome new made Widow or Orphan. Yet notwithſtanding all this, there is no want of Men, ready to take to ſerve in this dangerous employment, ſome being forced into it by the Dutch, and others by their neceſſities.

The Oyſters in which the Pearls are found, are fine, white and ſmooth; I have known 'em find three hundred and odd of Pearls in one of 'em. When they have a mind to give them a fine colour, they take Rice, and beat it to duſt with Salt, and rub them with that, and it makes them as bright as Chriſtal, and ſo they will continue.

There is another ſort of Oyſter in Ceylon, which is called by the Inhabitants Changa, by us Mother of Pearl; this they poliſh very fine, and make fine drinking Cups of it. It is alſo of great uſe for many Ornaments, eſpecially that which comes out of China, Bengal, Ormus, Gammaron, &c. as we ſee moſt frequently on thoſe pieces of work, that come from thence into theſe parts of Europe.

There is likewiſe another manner of fiſhing, which is more tedious, and therefore leſs uſed. Yet I have ſeen it practiſed in a River that was thirty or forty Fathoms deep. Two Ships were laid aſide of one another, at about eight or ten yards diſtance; and a Beam being laid acroſs them, whereon there is a large Pully fix'd; they hang a large Bell thereon, in which the Man ſits, (upon a croſs Seat fix'd within the Bell) and ſo the Bell is let down; there is a little ringing Bell fixt upon the top of the Beam, and the Man hath a Cord with him faſten'd to that, and to his Body; as ſoon as he finds the Air begins to fail him, he pulls that little Bell, which is a token to the reſt to pull him up; and when he hath clear'd that place, they move a little further, and fix there again till they have got all they can.

Having ſpent my time aſhore, I went on board again, and then the other Maſter-Surgeon took his turn, and I went no more on ſhore, but only once, when my Comrade ſent me word, that there was an Elephant of the Governor's was to ſhew a great many Tricks, of which I have given you a relation before.

In a matter of five Weeks time, all our buſineſs being done in Ceylon, we all got aboard, and ſet ſail for Batavia again, where under the Almighty's Protection we arrived ſafe, after a kind Voyage of three Weeks. But we were no ſooner arrived, and caſt our Anchors, but we fell into an extream danger. Our Butler, according to cuſtom, and by the Skipper's Order, went down to fetch ſome Arack for the Seamen, and as he was drawing it out of the Bunghole, with a ſort of ſmall Pump, which they had for that purpoſe, either by a Snuff of the Candle, or by the Candle it ſelf, the Arack took fire; and that ſpreading like Lightning, ſet the whole on ſire; for the European Brandy doth not burn near ſo violently as Arack doth. All our Men were immediately at work to put it out, but all in vain: It got a head after ſo furious a manner, that it ſet fire on the Ship it ſelf, and it was not long e're that was all in a flame. We had then nothing more to do, but to look after our ſelves, and to endeavour to ſave our own lives; and it was a great mercy we could do that, for we could not ſave the leaſt parcel of our Goods, nor one of our Cheſts, much leſs any of the Company's Goods. This was a mighty loſs to the Company, who had abundance of Cinnamon, and rich Cinnamon-Oyl on board, all which helpt its own deſtruction, and increaſed the Fire: For no ſooner had we left the Ship our ſelves, but the fire took in the Powder-room, where there was ſome Tuns of Powder, which blew up the Ship and tore it all to pieces, and threw ſome of its Cannon above a quarter of a mile up into the Air. Thus, when we thought our ſelves ſecure, and paſt all danger, and pleaſed our ſelves with the thoughts of our ſucceſs, we were all on a ſudden mortified with this great accident, and all our Joys deſtroyed, with the utmoſt peril of all our Lives. But God be praiſed, that no Man got any harm, but every one of 'em were ſaved by means of a good number of Small Boats that were ſent to our Relief. The Butler, who had been the occaſion of this, was ſeized by the Judge Advocate, and for ought I know, was forced to ſerve the Company all his life long for nothing.

After this I had Orders ſent me to go upon the Fort, called the Hollandia, which is by the New Gate. There I had the care of the Sick and Wounded; and was ſet over a Young Man, whom I had formerly known at Dantzick, and was here married to a Daughter of one of the Kaſtizen.

Theſe Kaſtizens are thoſe that had a Dutch Father, and an Indian Mother. When an European marries one of theſe Kaſtizees, and hath any Children by her, they are called Maſtizees; and theſe may wear the ſame Garb that the Dutch uſe. Of this latter ſort, there are many thouſands in and about Batavia.

An Old Freeman, whom I uſed to converſe with frequently, and was very intimate with, undertook once in friendſhip to adviſe me to marry one of thoſe Maſtizins; who, as he told me, was worth above forty thouſand Gilders. This proffer did not much diſpleaſe me, but it was an Old Woman, he told me, and the Widow of an European Officer, who had ſerved the Company. Hearing of her Age, made me not ſo eager to ſee her as I was at firſt, when he proffered to carry me to her. But the very ſeeing of her diſguſted me ſo much from Matrimony, and my Friend, that I never had a charitable thought of him ever after. I thought at the firſt of her, that it was an Ape of the larger ſize, that had been the wonder and paſtime of Mankind for ſome hundred years: And asking him, whether he thought me fit for nothing but the procreation of Baboons, I left him in a mighty paſſion, and would not ſo much as ſpeak a word more about the matter.

When an European deſigns to marry any of thoſe People, He and the Woman muſt appear before the Preſident of the Council, and bring their Contracts, (which are to be drawn up and ſigned by a Publick Notary) to him, to have his conſent to the conſummation of the Marriage; likewiſe a Memorial of the Goods of each of them muſt be ſhewed him, and regiſtred: And when they have obtained leave, the Wedding is generally kept about a fortnight after.

Beſides, that this baulk had turned my Stomach for ſome time againſt Matrimony, I was not very much inclined to it, becauſe a Man is obliged to ſettle, and ſpend his life in India. For I had a deſign to be going further ſtill; and by the means of ſome Preſents, now and then, to obtain leave to go to Japan. For which purpoſe having made ſome cloſe applications, and uſed the means I mentioned juſt now, I after ſome time had orders to get me ready to go thither, on board the Ship called the Aſia, which was to go in a fortnight to Formoſa, and from thence to Japan. So I went and provided my ſelf with all neceſſaries for that Voyage, it being no ſmall one.

According to the Orders given, we ſet ſail in the Name of God, on St. Steven's day, with ſo fair a South-wind, that by the next morning we were got three miles beyond the great Iſland Java, and paſſed by the ſmall Iſland Carouſing.

The next day we ſaw the famous Coaſt of the Iſland Borneo, and leaving that on the right and Temabo, Tumbolan and Ananibo on the left, we ſteerd our Courſe between them, till we came into the open Sea of Paragoa; where leaving China on the left of us, we ſailed directly upon Formoſa. But e're we could reach it, we had very bad weather for ſome days, and were in extream danger; for beſides that, the Sea it ſelf is one of the moſt dangerous by reaſon of the many Rocks there; we went thro' one of the dreadfulleſts Storms that was almoſt ever known; inſomuch that we loſt both Bolt-Sprit, and Sprit-ſail, and one other Sail. As we were drove to this extremity, our Maſter and Steerſman adviſed together, whether they ſhould not make what way they could to an Iſland that lay on the right Hand, and within ſight of us, to ſee if by that means we might not ſave the Men and Cargo. So it was agreed upon, that we ſhould make thither with only our Mainſail, But the night coming upon us, before we could come near it, we loſt all hopes of ſafety; for the Tempeſt increaſed with the darkneſs of the night, and we were moſt of us in deſpair of our Lives, and for my part I never was leſs fond of Travelling, than at that time.

Yet my hope was, that as God had often preſerved me from Eminent dangers before, ſo he would not forſake me then in this Condition; Thus we Continued till near Morning, when our Seamen conceived ſome hopes of attaining to Land, and accordingly by break of day, we diſcovered the Iſland Manilba within two Miles of us, and by the help of the Light we made ſhift to weather the Gulf of Manilba, which as ſoon as we were got into, we gave God Almighty thanks for his great Preſervation.

Here we reſitted our Ship as well as we could expect, and got a new Maſt, and in Eight days time we ſet Sail again with a fair wind Early in the morning, ſo that by next day we left China on the left, and the next Morning were in ſight of Formoſa, whither we came on ſafe, and caſt our Anchors before the Fort, called the Zealand.

Our Maſter went aſhore, and did all his buſineſs in a fortnights time; during which time I was moſt upon Land, but it being needleſs for me to give any Account of that place, which hath been ſo Amply deſcribed by others; I will wave it, and purſue our Journey.

We ſet Sail again with a fair wind, and ſail'd for Three days along the vaſt Coaſt of China, which we had ſtill on the left of us, and when we came before Cucheu we caſt our Anchors, and lay ſtill Two days there.

And then continued our Courſe, ſo that the next day we paſſed by the Iſland of Chanquoiſh, and Steering between the Iſland of Fuego, &c. We in few days came before the City of Nangato, where we again returned God thanks, for having brought us thro' that dangerous Voyage. Notwithſtanding that our ſhip was ſo tattered, and that we had loſt 14 of our Men; and had 20 ſick, among thoſe of us that were left.

We were forced to leave our Chaplain behind us at Batavia, for the Javians will not ſuffer any Nation to bring any of their Teachers along with them into their Territorys. So that we were forced to make uſe of one of the graveſt of our Company, who was Aſſigned to read Prayers daily in the Ship, and aſſoon as we came to caſt our Anchors, we had ſtrict Orders given by the Maſter to hide the Book very carefully, that had been uſed in the Voyage; and to keep all other Religious Books cloſe out of ſight, leſt we ſhould go in danger of our Lives, if they ſhould diſcover any of 'em about us.

VVE had ſcarcely dropt our Anchors before Nangato, but we had ſome Japonneeſes Boarding us with their Canows. They viſited our Ship from Top to Bottom, by Order of the Emperor; and according to their Cuſtom, ſecured all our Sails, and all our Powder and Bullets; diſmounted our Cannon, and took off ſome of the Principal Tackle of our Ship, and carried them on Shore with them. Thus they ſerve all the Ships that come thither, and thus they had done to 3 or 4 Engliſh and French Ships, that lay there: But every bit they take away is faithfully returned, when they are ready to go off again.

When we had begun to unlade, a parcel of Japonneeſes came to us to offer us ſome Women, and askt us, if we would not have ſome of 'em while we ſtay'd there: But no body hearkned to their Propoſal but the Maſter, and the Book-keeper.

The goods were unladen by the Japonneeſes, of which a certain number is allotted to each Ship: So that our Men had little or nothing to do. The Maſter went on Shore, as ſoon as the Ship was come nearer to the Town, and lay'd up there: But he came back every day an Hour at leaſt, or Two, before night: For all the while that we lay here, the Japonneeſes held a continual Watch aboard all the Ships that were in the Port. I cannot undertake to give you a large Account of Japan, becauſe it would require a larger Volume then I intend; nor do I think it neceſſary, becauſe ſo many have done it before me; but what I obſerved moſt particularly amongſt 'em, will, I hope, be ſufficient to ſatisfy the Readers Curioſity.

When I came on Shore, the firſt place I entred into, was a publick houſe, where they drunk Tea, and that very plentifully; having reſted there a while with my Companions, we went to take a view of the Town; where we ſaw abundance of Joyners, and Japanners Shops, ſet out with Wonderful variety of rich and Exquiſite work, as Scrutores Cabinets &c. inlay'd with ſilver and gold, and moſt admirably lackerd, all which made as fine a Show, as ever I ſaw. Some of theſe pieces of Work were valued at ſome Thouſands of Gilders. In that kind of Work they out-do all Indians whatever, and indeed in all manner of Ingenuity and Cunning, inſomuch that it was a Proverb among the Dutch, that tho' a Dutch Man was Cunning, be might go to School to a Japoneeſe.

They do not trouble themſelves with Linnen or Silk Manufactures; by reaſon that they are brought over to them in ſuch abundance from other Countreys, that they have 'em as Cheap, as in the places where they are made.

Our Ship the Aſia, was laden with ſuch kind of things, and took in Exchange, what Japan affords, as Copper Stafetiens, Silver, Gold &c.

Their Manner of Saluting us ſeemed very ſtrange to me at firſt; for whereas the Chineeſes, and other Eaſt-Indians uſed to ſhew their reſpect by clapping their hands together againſt their Breaſt or Fore-head, theſe People pull'd off their Shoes, and ſet themſelves down on the Ground, for they look upon it as the greateſt piece of Incivility to receive any Perſon Standing.

Whereas other Nations think fair Hair, and white Teeth great Ornaments; theſe are of a quite different Opinion, and think none agreable, but thoſe who have the Blackeſt Hair and Teeth: and they uſe all the Art they can to make them ſo; their Notion in this being directly oppoſite to ours, takeing Black to be the Livery of Mirth and Pleaſantneſs, and white of Grief and Mourning. They have but very little Hair on their Heads, being always carefull to pluck it out by the Roots from their Youth. In ſhort, all their Cuſtoms, Language, Dreſs &c. is as different as can be from all other People.

There is a certain Antipathy between them and the Chineeſes, they cannot bear with one another; when they go to War againſt the Tartars or the Chineeſes, they never give Ground, and will ſooner be Cut into a Thouſand pieces than Fly: and if Thouſands, 10 or 100000 are Cut down, they are immediately Recruited: For their Law forbids them to yield to, or Flee from, any Enemy. Their Countrey is ſo Populous, that one who hath not ſeen it cannot hardly believe it

The Sea Port of Nangato, was at our firſt coming ſo full of Birds, that it was almoſt covered with 'em, and all the Ships that lay there as it were Blockt up with them; they were very Tame, inſomuch that as our Boats went to and fro to Land, they would but juſt give us way: the Reaſon of that vaſt Quantity is, becauſe they never kill any of 'em to Eat, for their Law forbids them ſtrictly to Eat any thing that is Tame, as Oxen, Cows, Hens, &c. But any thing that is Wild, they may and do Eat. So that theſe Fowls being harmleſs, as well as Tame, they do not ſo much as diſturb them; which makes 'em Increaſe to that prodigious number. They are in Shape and Colour much like our wild Pigeons, and have the ſame feet with Ducks.

The night before I was reſolved to go on Board again, there fell out an unlucky Accident in our Ship. Some of the Seamen had ſaved their Portions of Arack for ſome days, deſigning to have a good Quantity together for Punch, and the place where they went to drink it being very dark, they got themſelves a Lamp, which they lighted, and Imprudently hung up upon one of their Hammocks; One of them being a little Intoxicated, and lazy, lay'd himſelf down in that Hammock, and the reſt of the Company preſſing him to drink in his Turn, he did now and then take his Cup, but at laſt his hand growing more and more unſteady, he ſpilt part of his Cup over the Lamp; which by Misfortune hung over their Bowl. So that the whole taking Fire, and they not in a Capacity to look carefully about them, the Fire took hold of the Hammocks, and burnt ſeveral of them. But by the Aſſiſtance of the other Seamen it was happily ſtopt from doing any further Damage.

The men who had occaſioned this were immediately clapt up in Irons: And ſome days after they were brought to publick Puniſhment, according to the Cuſtom of the Sea: Which was to receive from every Perſon of the Ship 90 Blows on the Breech, with an Anchor Rope.

And had the Maſter not been very favourable, it would have fared much harder with them. However, as mild as the puniſhment was, it made them in ſuch a Condition, that they were forced to keep their Beds for ſeveral Weeks; and moſt like to Die: Neither could any of 'em eaſe Nature, or make Water, for ſeveral days.

While we lay here, I was Invited on Board an Engliſh Merchant-Man, and there had great proffers made me if I would have gone along with them; the proffer was the more Advantagious, becauſe they had loſt their Surgeon in the Voyage, and had but a Young raw Boy with them that could hardly ſpread a Plaiſter. But I would by no means hearken to their Propoſal, becauſe it was as much as my Life was worth, and what was yet more, I ſhould have been Perjured if I had accepted of it, and forſook the Company.

In this Port dyed three of our Men, and a Carpenters Boy. Some Japonneeſes carried them out of the Harbour in a ſmall Boat, into open Sea, where they threw 'em over: For they are ſo far from ſuffering any Forreigners to be Buried among them, that they will not permit them to be thrown ſo much as in the Water that is near them. We had here ſuch a Terrible Storm all on a ſudden, that if our Ship had not been well provided with Anchors, and the Tempeſts laſted but a very little while; it had certainly been loſt. For in that little while, of four Anchors that we had, we loſt Two.

The Engliſh Ship I was juſt now ſpeaking of, foundered, at that time 7 of her Men were drowned, and the reſt very hardly eſcaped. The next day they refitted our Ship again; during which time, I had an opportunity of going on Shore again for three or Four days.

In that time there happened to come ſome Juglers to Nangato, who ſhewed the fineſt and the moſt dexterous Tricks that I ever ſaw, both of Legerdemain, and of Activity of Body; but of what they Showed of the latter an Inſtance or two, will not be unacceptable. One of theſe Fellows had a Bamboo Cane, of about 6 foot length tied to his Middle, and as he was Standing ſtill, another Fellow leaping on a ſudden with his feet upon his Shoulders, climbed up to the Top of the Cane; and there lay'd himſelf out at length upon the Knob, which was on the top of the Cane, of about the bigneſs of a Gooſe's Egg, ſtretching out his Arms and Leggs, and whiring round 3 or 4 times. The Man upon whom the Cane was tied faſt, walking all the while to and fro, and never offering to touch the Cane with his hand.

After this there came a ſecond who ſtood upon his head, with his feet directly up in the Air, and then a third came and got up and ſtood upon the Soles of his feet.

Then another ſet himſelf firm upon his Leggs, and there came one of them and ſtood upon his head, with his feet up in the Air.

Laſtly, they took a Board all ſtuck with ſharp Nails about two ſpans length; over which a Fellow raiſed himſelf upon his hands ſo neatly, that his head did not touch one of the Spikes. Theſe Tricks being ſomewhat extraordinary, and far more ſurpriſing than what I have yet ſeen in Europe, I thought it might not be amiſs to give you an Account of them, tho' I am ſenſible that ſome who think all Impoſſible which they have not ſeen, will be apt to cenſure it, rather than believe it.

This laſt time of my being aſhore, I chanced to come by one of their Religious Aſſemblys, into which my Curioſity led me to go, in hopes of ſeeing ſome ſtrange Cuſtom: But there was nothing very peculiar. There only came in one of their Prieſts, who ſet himſelf down in the midſt of the place, and a great many People being gathered about him, he made a kind of Sermon or Oration to them, which I hearkned to very diligently; but could not underſtand a word of what he ſaid. Nor would any one of that Aſſembly give me any anſwer when I asked them what it was that he had been ſaying to them, but all went off like Mutes; they do not at all care to enter into any diſcourſe with Chriſtians concerning Religion, which I often attempted to bring them upon: And indeed it is not ſafe for Chriſtians to talk to them on that Subject, as we had all ſufficiently been Informed 'ere we came to Land here. Yet I could not forbear to touch a little a upon't ſometimes, with one particular Acquaintance I had got there, who was a grave, ſober, underſtanding Man: And he would often expreſs very favourable Sentiments of the Chriſtian Religion, and did not ſtick to tell me once (fetching a deep ſigh) that he wiſhed he could be at liberty to Embrace it, but withal conjuring me not to diſcover him; becauſe it would coſt him his Life, if it was known that he had ſuch a deſire.

My time now grew ſhort; and I made haſte to buy what I wanted; but when I came to look about in their Shops and Ware-houſes, I was ſo Tempted with the ſight of their Fine-works that I bought a great deal more than I at firſt deſigned to do. What I bought, tho' of the Fineſt-work, I had exceeding Cheap: Which was another Encouragement to me to lay out my Money. Theſe Work-men are but very poor, as indeed all the Trades-men in the Country are. Some of 'em do not live better than Beggers, and a little Charity Tranſports them into ſuch humble Acknowledgments, that if at any time I gave any of 'em the value of Two-pence of our money, I could hardly keep them from falling upon their knees before me to thank me. There is no middle Rank of Men among them, of any value, even the Merchants being not lookt upon: But on the other ſide, their Gentry or Nobility are valued and Reſpected at a more than ordinary Rate: And in their gate and behaviour one may obſerve ſuch a Grandeur, or rather Haughtineſs, as is ſcarce to be ſeen any where elſe.

Our Ship being now full laden with Copper, Lacker'd work, Jappan-money, and other Commoditys, the Japponeeſes came again to us, firſt to viſit the Ship, and then reſtored us all our Cannon, Powder and Bullets, and our Sails; all which they brought us on Board again, and the next day, we ſet ſail out of the Port, tho' it ſnowed hard, and the Wind was ſomewhat Rough.

The next Morning we ſaw three Suns in the Heavens; but the Brightneſs of the two unuſual Phoenomenas the two ſeeming Suns was not comparable to that of the real Sun; all three of them were ſeen within a large Rainbow.

The 2d. 3d. and 4th day we failed by the Iſland Ximo, and coming to a ſmall Iſland of about 6 miles compaſs, we caſt Anchor, to wait there for a Wind. Some our Men went on Shore, and brought back ſome Eggs with 'em, which Water-fowls lay uſually about the Shore. They were as large as Geeſe eggs, and we found 'em extraordinary good.

The next day we went off with a good Wind; 2 or 3 days after, we were all of us Surprized to ſee ſomething Floating, and hundreds of Fowl upon it; but coming nearer to it, we found it was a vaſt big Fiſh, cover'd with thoſe Birds.

We found here but 18 or 20 fathoms Water; ſo that we were dayly and continually forced to uſe the Plummet: Till a freſh Storm came upon us which obliged us with all ſpeed to hand all our ſails.

The Tempeſt was ſo furious for a time, that we thought no otherwiſe but we ſhould have been ſwallowed up: But God Almighty, whoſe Compaſſions never fail towards them that call upon him faithfully, was pleaſed to deliver us out of our diſtreſs, by ſtilling the Winds, and after ſome time we came to a ſmall low ſandy Iſland, called Kruys Iſland, where we dropt 2 of our Anchors.

In this ſtreſs of Weather we loſt one Man, who was Toſſed off the Maintop Maſt into the Sea. The Billows carried him quite out of our ſight, elſe we had been obliged by our Sea Articles to have put out the long Boat and to have gone after him, tho' we run the risk of looſing all the Men of the Ship. But being we could not ſee him, we were not obliged to ſeek after him; and it was more prudent to give him over for loſt, than to venture 7 or 8 Men more when there was no Proſpect of doing any good.

It Snowed very hard: ſo that we lay ſtill here 2 days, and on the 3d. day, we ſet ſail directing our Courſe towards Formoſa. In our way thither we came by a large Rock almoſt cover'd o're with Fowl, we went up to it with our long Boat, and caught above a hundred of 'em: if we would have ſtayed a while, we might have caught thouſands, for they hardly fled away from us: But moſt of 'em crept into their neſts, which were nothing, but the natural Cavitys of the Rock, without any ſtraw or any kind of Lining in them; they being ſo eaſy to come at, made us conclude, that they had hardly ever been diſturbed by any Man.

At Noon our Steers-man took the Suns altitude, by which we found that we were within 40 Leagues of the Iſland Formoſa, whither we were Steering. It was as fine Weather, as we could wiſh; but the Wind being againſt us, we were forced to clap upon the Wind to make the beſt of it, and get a little forward, till we came to have the Wind upon the beam, which in 3 days time brought us before the Road of Zealand. There we put ſome Rice aſhore, and ſtayed but a day and a half, and at night we put out of the Bay, Firing 3 Guns to take our leave. While our Gunner was doing this, he had left a meaſure of Powder in the Boys hands who ſtood behind him, and a Seaman coming by with a Pipe of Tabacco in his Mouth, going to peep into the Powder caſe, let fall ſome of his Tobacco amongſt it, which burnt him dreadfully, and threw the Boy backwards to the ground. It was well this did not happen in a greater parcel, and that there was no more harm done. But for this the Seaman was taken, and was ſeverely puſs'd: That is done by laying 'em flat on their Belly, and ſtricking them with a Rope acroſs the Breech.

The next day we Steer'd between two high Rocks, that were about half a League aſunder: The Wind from that time continued fair for us during the ſpace of 8 days, in which we paſſed by the Iſland Manilha, then we came into a Wind, which was very troubleſome to us; for it filled the Air with naſty ſtuff as thick as Snow, this Wind came over ſome ſmall Iſlands that lay 2 Miles on the South of us, which are called the Stof Elyanden. When the Wind is pretty high, and ſits in that corner, if a Ship goes too near them, it is almoſt enough to Smother Men. But God be thanked we came ſafe thro' it, and with a favourable Wind came into the Sea of Paragua; we kept on our Courſe to Borneo, and from thence to Great Java, whence we quickly reach'd Batavia; which happily compleated our Voyage in 5 Months.

Being Arrived, our Ship was unladen: Our ſick Men carried to the Hoſpital, and I at the ſame time went on Shore, and took all my Medicaments with me, but we had not been here above a fortnight, but an opportunity offerd it ſelf to me, either to go along with a ſmall Fleet to the Straight of Sunda, or elſe with another which was to cruiſe between Malacca and Sumatra. I had my choice, and having declared my deſire rather to go with the latter, I received my Commiſſion. The reaſon why theſe two ſmall Squadrons were ſent thither was, becauſe we were informed, that the French and Engliſh being diſguiſed at the diſturbance we had given them in Bantam, were coming out againſt us.

After we had been ſome Weeks a Cruiſing there, now toward Sumatra, then towards Mallaca, ſometime to the Iſland St. Maurice and Madagaſcar, without Meeting with any either French or Engliſh, Captain Vander Bors, who was our Commadore or Admiral, reſolved to go with the Fleet to Achem, and to lye ſtill there, only he orderd that one Ship ſhould be Cruiſing about, and bring Intelligence, and the whole Squadron which conſiſted of 11 Ships ſhould take it by turns.

While we lay here we had a moſt dreadful Storm for the ſpace of 6 whole days. The Sciam was caſt away, Men and all, except a few of 'em. The Zealand having loſt all her Anchors, was drove upon a Shelf, where ſhe ſtuck. We went in haſte to help her Men, and we did ſave ſome of 'em: But at laſt the two long Boats which we had ſent to their Relief being Toſſed violently againſt each other, Split in pieces, and all the Men in them were drowned, which were about 130.

As for our Ship, we were forced to Swaddle it with a four double Cable Rope, leſt it ſhould have Split, by the violence of the Waves, and to keep conſtantly Pumping, ſix and ſix at a time, changing Men every quarter of an hour. And whereas one Man uſed to ſuffice at the helm, we were forced to have 10 to keep our Anchors from twiſting altogegether and breaking. The worſt of this was, that we were not far from Land, and we were juſt of the Windward of'm: For we had been much ſafer if we had been in open Sea. But that is ſafe enough every where which God takes into his keeping, and it pleaſed him at the end of 6 days to ſend us a fine Calm again, wherefore we went immediately to Prayers, and gave God thanks that he had thus deliverd us.

The next thing we did was to give the Men ſome Refreſhment, one chief part of which is always a good portion of Arack, and that being done we ſent word to Batavia, what a poor condition we were in, to which we had for anſwer, that we might come away for Java again: For that two Ships were lately come thither from Holland, which had brought information, that there was no report there of any likely-hood of War, and that we needed not to fear it in thoſe Parts: But only that England required ſome Millions of Money from Holland, for the damage the Engliſh had ſuſtained by their means in Bantam; and that in caſe the Dutch did not come to a Compoſition, a War would moſt certainly follow.

While we lay ſtill before Achem, I went often to Shore to refreſh my ſelf with the excellent Fruits of that Country. The Religion, Manners Cuſtoms, &c. of that People are much the ſame with the Javians.

In a Village not far from thence, where none but Fiſher-men live, I ſaw Men that had one of their Leggs as big as moſt Mens middles; when they uſed to hold them up, it would Shade their whole Body from the Sun, and yet would theſe Men run as faſt as Horſes. I ſometimes layd my hand on thoſe Leggs of theirs, and they felt juſt like a Spunge.

By that Village runs a very fair and pleaſant River, which empties it ſelf into the Sea, near the place where we lay at Anchor, along the ſides of which are a great many ſtrange Tree, which bear a Fruit they call Wild Ananas 3 times a year, when the Fruit is ripe it is extream pleaſant.

Our Fleet, which conſiſted now of no more than 9 Ships, ſet ſail for Batavia, where we Arrived in a fortnight: And found the other Fleet come three days before us. I had changed my Ship, and was in Buſineſs in the Hollandia, where I had a great deal of work, and moſt of my patients Afflicted with ſore Leggs. The Surgeon that did belong to it dyed in this Voyage, and I the rather choſe that Ship, becauſe it had already received Orders to go to the Iſle of Bali.

Before it went off I went to Shore to take my leave of my old Acquaintance; and there met with one that was lately come out of Europe, a Native of Ulm, a place I was well acquainted with; and it being a day which was kept there as a Feſtival, we kept it here alſo amongſt our ſelves, and diverted our ſelves very well: Among other news he brought over with him, the moſt conſiderable was, that the Turks were beaten from before Vienna; which did not a little contribute to our Joy and Satisfaction.

AFter our Ship had got in her Complement of Sugar, Salt-peter, and Opium, we ſet Sail and went from Bengal to Maſulipatam, belonging to the King of Galconda, whoſe Son keeps his reſidence at Pentipoli, lying not far from thence.

The Inhabitants are moſt of the Mahometan Religion. The Air is very healthy one half of the year, when the Northern winds blow conſtant: But the Southern winds, which blow the other half of the year, fill the Country with diſtempers. We were theré during this latter Seaſon, and felt the diſmal Effects of it. We had already loſt nine of our Men, and the reſt were moſt of'em ill of Agues or Dropſies. But bleſſed be God, I was not at all indiſpofed. The ill State we were in, made us make all the haſte we could to be gone, and hoyſting Sail, we departed, and came in four days time before the Iſland Nicoparas, here we ſailed in very great danger; for all the Sea there abouts is full of Rocks that lyc three or four fathoms under Water, and little ſmall Iſlands, ſome of which are almoſt cover'd with Water. A little before we came by there, the Lion, a Ship of 470 Tun, run upon one of them, and was Split in pieces: But we paſt them all ſafe, and Steerd between Sumatra and Malacca, and thus got to Batavia; where I return'd to my former poſt. I uſed to go and viſit the other Surgeons that had the care of ſome ſmall Forts about us, and when they had any Patients that were dangerouſly ill, and their caſe deſperate; they were ſent to the Hoſpital at Batavia by vertue of a warrant from the Governour, which they uſed to get for that Purpoſe.

Near the Fort Jacatra, where I uſed to go often, is a piece of ground which the Chineeſes bought of the Dutch, and coſt them abundance of Money, in which they bury their Corpſes: It was called the Chineeſe's Church-yard. I remember there to have ſeen a Grave made for one of the Richer ſort of 'em, that amounted to three or 4000 Gilders, neither are they raiſed high, or coſtly in the Ornaments they beſtow on 'em, but only they dig them of ſuch a vaſt depth, and line the Grave from the very Bottom with fine ſquare Stone cut for the purpoſe, and ſo ſtrong is the Work, as well as neat, that it is as if they did deſign never to move from thence. I omit the other particulars of their Ceremonies, &c. Becauſe others have done it before me.

All the way from that Fort to Batavia, is ſo pleaſant and diverting by reaſon of the continual variety of ſweet Walks, Curious Gardens &c. that it is a perfect earthly Paradiſe, and there is none comes to Batavia but goes to ſee it, and is exceedingly Charm'd with the ſight of it.

A pleaſant accident beſell me there once. An Officer, who was at that time a Patient of mine, a looſe debauched Fellow, who followed no preſcriptions, and therefore made all my remedies ineffectual to him, being at the head of a Company exerciſing the Men, and having got I ſuppoſe a cup in his head, ſeeing me come towards him to be a Spectator among the reſt, Saluted me at firſt ſight after a kind of an inſolent manner, and then gave me ſome Scurrilous Language, and told me, he thought I underſtood my buſineſs but very indifferently, ſince I kept him ſo long under my hands. I told him he talkt like an Impertinent Fellow, and that all the means of the moſt skilfull Surgeons in the World would be in vain to him, while he was always drunk and lived ſuch an intemperate life, and obſerved no rule. In ſhort, I told him that my Art was to cure Men, and not Beaſts, and that he might ſeek a cure elſewhere; this enraged him ſo, being ſpoken at the head of his Company, that he came and ſtruck at me with his Cane with all the eagerneſs that might be, but 'ere the blow fell upon me, I cloſed in with him; and having no VVeapon in my hand, I wreſted the Cane out of his, and flung him upon his back, as he was getting up again, the ſtanders by parted us, and there was no more heard of it for that time.

This ſpread about among all the Officers, and the Account of it being little to his advantage, and giving ſometimes occaſion to ſome to jeer him with his adventure, it made him ſtark mad; and ſet him upon thinking of revenge. I expected it, and therefore avoided him, whenever I could hanſomely do it. But one day we chanced to meet in a Chineeſes houſe, where we dined; nor did I ſee any tokens of his Reſentment all the while we ſat together, ſo that I was apt to think he deſigned to paſs it by. But when he had drunk a little largely, and the ill humours were ſet a Floating, he begun to make little inſolent Reflections upon me, which turned at laſt to down right abuſes. This did not ſuffice, but he muſt needs urge me to come out to him in the Street, and going out firſt into it himſelf, with his drawn Sword in his hand, he vapourd and call'd me all the Cowards he could think of, who durſt not come out to meet him. I wore no Sword, as indeed none of our profeſſion did: But I had a tuck Cane in my hand, which I uſed to wear; but eſpecially ſince my firſt quarrel with him: And being forced to it, at length I came out to him, and with my unwildy weapon after ſome paſſes on both ſides, I ſtruck him into the left ſide, but glancing againſt his ribs, I juſt larded him, and that was all; but he keeping his ground, I made another paſs at him, and fortunately run him into the Shoulder, and diſarm'd him; upon which he was carried into the Chineeſes houſe.

Aſſoon as this was made known at Batavia, we were both of us taken and brought bound into Batavia, and there had before the Judge Advocate, who, having examined us and our Evidences, paſſed Sentence upon my Adverſary in an inſtant, which was, that he was to be kept in Chains for three years, and to work among the Slaves; and to forfeit his Salary for the time, which was to be diſtributed among his Company, which was accordingly put in Execution, as ſoon as he was perfectly recovered, and that was in a few VVeeks time.

My cauſe being much more juſt than his, and my Sentence being ſuſpended for a while, I thought I might come off Tolerably well; but when I conſider'd with what ſeverity they had dealt with him, I could not but expect ſomething proportionable would fall to my ſhare. But it was not long 'ere I was put out of doubt, and my Sentence was pronounced. I was to ſtand before the Corps de Guarde at Jacatra three days after one another, with ſix Muſquets hung about me, and to forfeit three months Salary to the Judge-Advocate, and to do for that time the Duty of a private Centinel, ſtanding ſuch hours as were allotted me, with a Muſquet in my Hand.

This was tolerable, and better than I expected; but it ſeems it was rather contrived for me, that I might not go altogether unpuniſhed, than as a puniſhment deſerved by, and ſuitable to what I had done. One may ſee by this puniſhment that was inflicted on me, that a Martial Genius reigns there; and that they are much given to a Military Diſcipline; for there was no manner of relation between the Muſquet and me, nor indeed did it agree with me at all. But ſome of my Friends gave me hopes, that they would ſoon get me releaſed; and by their means, orders were ſent me to return to my Poſt, after I had exerciſed the Muſquet during two Months; by which a Month of my Sentence was remitted me.

A little while after I was reſtored, Orders were ſent to the Sumatra, the Ship I was laſt in, to get ready in eight days to go to Bantam. I put my ſelf in a readineſs to go with her, being deſirous to ſee how the Place ſtood ſince its great diſorder. The laſt day we were to be in Town, being Sunday, I went to Church, and heard a moſt admirable Sermon preach'd by the worthy Mr. John Conradus; after which I took my leave of my Friends, and then took a Praw to carry me aboard the Sumatra, which had her full Lading in, which was all Proviſions, and moſt of that Rice. The next Morning the Wind being very fair for us, we ſet ſail, and came that very Night into the Road before Bantam. I went to Shore with the firſt Boat, and was much pleaſed to ſee all the Parts of that City ſo neat, and in ſo good an order, that there was not the leaſt ſign of its late Misfortunes to be ſeen. I ſtaid there that night, being told that the next day eight Javians were to be executed for killing ſome Dutchmen in the Country; and accordingly four of them were broke upon the Wheel; the other four were tied faſt together, and turned down headlong off the Caſtle-Bridge into the Water.

While this was doing, there was a vaſt out-cry of a ſudden of Fire: The Houſes being all of Cane, the firſt Houſe had in an inſtant ſet ſire to ſeveral others; ſo that the Uproar increaſing, the Magiſtrate ſet double guard upon all the Convenient Poſts and Gates of the City, to prevent further harm; and leſt this might be intended to ſerve for an Inſurrection: But both the Fire and Noiſe ceaſed quickly after.

I went on board again, and hearing that the Young King was in a few days to make a Viſit to the Governour, I deſired a Friend to give me notice the night before the day on which it was to be; and notice being given me accordingly by my Friend, I went to Shore.

The manner of his Pomp and Magnificence was, I thought, very well worth my ſight; and it may not be diſagreeable to the Reader to have a ſhort account oſ it. As ſoon as ever the King had ſet his Foot out of the Caſtle, all the Cannon were diſcharged, great and ſmall, all round the place.

The firſt that walked before him were four Amboineeſes, carrying Bucklers and Swords in their Hands; next to them went a Company of Javians, then a Company of Balingers, with Aſſagyen; after theſe came ſix Javians, who carried a Chair finely wrought and gilt: then followed ſix Perſian Horſes, with Trappings richly covered with Gold and Silver; after them four Amboineeſes, with Eſcutcheons and Swords in their Hands; then the Young Prince; or King's Son, of about eight Years of Age, on Horſeback; his Horſe was ſet out after the nobleſt manner I ever ſaw: He was attended by ſome hundreds of Women, each of which had ſomething in their Hands; ſome, Golden Cups; ſome, Flowers; others, ſeveral Fruits of the Country; theſe were followed by the Company of Dutch. Then came the King himſelf, riding on a very fine Perſian Horſe, ſumptuouſly accoutred, and ſitting with that Majeſty, that one would have thought him Lord of the Univerſe. Next to him went a great Company of Women; then another Company of Dutch; and a Company of Javians, with their Krizzen and Aſſagyen, which ended the Proceſſion. All this mighty Shew and Formality, was a very great ſurprize to me, conſidering that King's Station, and that his Dignity was meerly titular. But that Pomp and Grandeur did not give him ſo much luſtre, as it did thoſe under whoſe ſubjection he was forced to live: And in that conſideration, I ſuppoſe, the Dutch were willing enough to amuſe him, with this vain ſhew of Power and Greatneſs. When the Guns were fired, one of the Men, not being ſo careful as he ſhould have been, had one of his Arms ſhot off, as he was raming in the Powder. As ſoon as the young King heard of it, he came into the Hoſpital himſelf to ſee the Man dreſt, and to charge the Surgeon to take great care of him, and ordered an hundred pieces of Eight to be given him; promiſing withal, that if he cured him, he would give him a Penſion of two hundred pieces of Eight yearly; which was an argument of a good tender Nature and Generoſity, notwithſtanding ſome of his Actions, before-related, might repreſent him as one of a cruel and barbarous Diſpoſition.

It was not without Wonder, as well as Pleaſure, that I beheld the great Reſtauration and Improvement of this Famous City, which once lay in ſo ruinous a condition; and to ſee ſuch plenty and abundance there, where ſome time before there was ſuch a ſcarcity of neceſſaries, that many Men were ee'n famiſh'd. And certainly of all the hardſhips of that War, none was to be compared to that which we underwent for want of Water. I was once forced to give as much Mony for one ſingle draught of it, as would have bought a Butt of Wine in ſome places. And ſuch was our lamentable condition, that a Man would have given his Life the next hour for a draught of Cold Water to prolong it till then. So that when Water could be got at any rate, thoſe who had the greateſt ſhare of Plunder, would give all they had for one ſingle Cup of it; and thought themſelves happy they could purchaſe it upon ſuch eaſie terms: And thus after all their labour, they were but little the better for all that Booty they had gotten.

But what was the moſt diſmal of all was, that it was not to be gotten ſometimes, tho' one had had the World to give for it: And in thoſe extremities, many of our Men drinking out of ſome Pools that were not wholeſom, ſome being Nitrous or Saltpeteriſh, and others being poiſonous Water, it threw them into ſuch Diſtempers, and put 'em into ſuch Tortures, that it would have grieved any one to have ſeen the miſerable condition they were in.

In the Wars with Kartiri, which were a little before my coming to the Indies, the poor Soldiers were in as bad a condition to the full. So that a Man would wonder, that the ſame Perſons ſhould willingly expoſe themſelves to ſuch difficulties a ſecond time; as moſt of our Men did, who were in both Expeditions. But what will not neceſſity put a Man upon, eſpecially when it is a little enliven'd by the hopes of ſome fortunate Succeſs? And I believe, that the good Fortune of a certain Drummer in thoſe late Wars, ſerved in a great meaſure to animate the whole Body of our Army. For this Drummer lighted fortunately of the King of Kartiri's Crown, for which the General at Batavia gave him thirty thouſand Gilders of Dutch Mony; and gave him his Freedom, and a Paſs to go into Holland, where he was to have his Mony paid, tho' the Poor Man ne're liv'd to enjoy it, for he died in the Voyages; but the Mony was duly paid to his Siſters, who lived at Middleburgh, according to the agreement made with the Deceaſed. And I make no doubt but every one of our Men, that knew this, were in hopes of getting at leaſt a Crown for their ſhare too.

I was one of four who had almoſt got as conſiderable a Booty, but we loſt all by our want of curioſity; for three of the Admiral's chief Attendants, and I, being juſt come into Bantam, after a little fatigue, we went to take a Nap in a Warehouſe that ſtood open, we laid us down upon a great Cheſt that ſtood there, and never dreamt that there was any thing of value within it; but we had not been there above half an hour, when an Officer was ſent from the Admiral to demand our Bed from under us, which we readily yielded. We were ſtrangely ſurpriſed when we ſaw a Party of Men ready to convoy it to the Admiral, before whom it was open'd; and out of it came ſeven hundred Leathern Bags full of Cubangs, which (as I told you before) are pieces of Gold, worth ten Rixdollers apiece. You may imagine then how ſilly we lookt upon one another, when we heard this; and how angry we were with our ſelves, that we could complain of the hardneſs of our Bed, and were not ſo wiſe as to ſhake up the Feathers. But to be ſhort, we loſt very ſimply a Treaſure which we might have had very fairly, and without oppoſition, if we had but been ſo prudent as to ſearch into it at firſt.

But it is time to return to the Sumatra, which was now ready to go off; ſo that with the firſt fair Wind we ſet ſail, and got ſafe to Batavia again, where we found a Fleet of ſeven Ships in a readineſs to go home, i. e. to Holland. (as the cuſtom is to ſend ſome ſuch number of Ships home every Year, ſometimes more, ſometimes leſs at a time.) I was glad to have the opportunity to ſend ſome Letters by 'em, and I did ſo; but charging only one Friend with 'em, my Friends in Holland never received any of 'em. But what made me the more negligent was, that I was near the time of my freedom, and in full deſign of going over my ſelf in a very little while. As ſoon as that Fleet had hoiſted ſail, I went to Church to join with the Prayers of the Congregation for the Fleets Proſperity and good Voyage, as there is always on thoſe occaſions.

Our Ship lay ſtill at Anchor here for three Weeks, which made me very weary of it; at laſt we had Orders to go with a ſmaller Veſſel, call'd the Bali, to a ſmall Iſland, about four Leagues from Batavia, to fetch Timber to repair the Ships that lay at the Iſland Onruſt, and to carry it thither. This Iſle hath nothing but Timber upon it: Here we ſpent our time in catching of Tortoiſes, with which we feaſted our ſelves rarely; and having carried what was requiſite to the Iſle of Onruſt, we return'd to Batavia. The Bali being but a ſmall Veſſel, we ran up the River, with eaſe, to the very Gate of the Caſtle. The Chief Surgeon of India's Lodging being very near to us, I took the opportunity to wait upon him, and deſired him to take care I might be appointed to go with the next that ſhould be ſent to any diſtant part of the Indies, where I had not been; which he promiſed to do, ſeeing it was my deſire.

He repreſented to me ſufficiently, and I knew it well enough, that I had a better Poſt already, and that any Poſt at Land was more conſiderable than the beſt at Sea; and that thoſe who had a ſettled Charge there, were more regarded, and better eſteemed. But I was for ſeeing of ſtrange Countries, and variety of Things; and beſides, a continuance upon Land, required a continual expence, which the Sea doth not give ſuch opportunity for. But, in a word, I would not have been penn'd up in one Town only, as ſome are there, for all the Credit and Advantage they can propoſe to themſelves, or attain to; and indeed except in Bengal, Surat, Camron in Perſia, Japan, or ſome few other places, it is hardly worth a Man's while to reſt in hopes of being advanced; for Preferment goes there by Favour, as well as in theſe parts of the World: And when it doth ſo, I think no wiſe Man will depend upon it.

Thus I continued upon the Bali, and as ſoon as ſhe had taken in her lading of Linnen and Striped Stuffs, together with ſome Cheſts of Mony; we fell down the River and ſet ſail for Bantam; whither ſhe was bound. We were above two hours ſail; but we were forced back by a contrary Wind, which blew ſo exceſſive hard for the ſpace of two days, that we were very happy, that we ridded our ſelves out of it ſo luckily. As ſoon as it was over, we ſet ſail again, and in forty eight hours we reached the Road of Bantam, where we immediately unladed.

When we went to Shore there, we ſaw ſome thouſands of Javians got together at the Mouth of the River: We were a little ſurprized at firſt, not knowing what the meaning of it ſhould be; but coming nearer, and ſeeing ſeveral Hollanders amongſt 'em, and then diſcovering their Nets, Hooks and other Inſtruments, we found they were only catching of Crocodiles. When we landed, we ſaw ſeveral they had caught and knock'd in the Head already; their King was amongſt 'em to ſee the Sport. No body can think what a ſtrange kind of a Noiſe theſe ſilly Javians made, and how they rent their Throats at it. Whereas my Comrade and I had caught almoſt as many without any kind of Noiſe, and not half that Trouble.

The Bali was only to unlade here, which being done, we ſet out fot Batavia again; and as we came by the Iſland Onruſt, we heard all the Cannon fire, both in the Caſtle, and in the City; we could not tell then what it was for, but we kept going on; and not long after, when we came to caſt Anchor, we heard that the Fleet from Cameron in Perſia was ſafe arrived, and had brought the good news with 'em, that all the Old Differences between the Viceroy there, and us, were perfectly adjuſted; and that there was a Good Correſpondence ſettled between us. And another Ship was come in from Holland, which had alſo brought the good news of the quarrel being made up between the Engliſh, Danes and French, and ourſelves concerning the Injury done to them at Bantam: Which good news coming together, could not but make us all exceeding joyful. So that all the Streets of Batavia were all illuminated with Bon-fires, and Fire-works. The latter were chiefly the work of the Chineeſes, who delight much in them, and are ſo ingenious at 'em, that one would wonder, eſpecially being a People who never have any Inſtruments of War, where Powder is uſed. They likewiſe entertained us with their Comedies, which are very diverting, if ſeen but ſeldom. We Germans had over and above theſe good news, that which more nearly concerned us, which was, that of the good ſucceſs of the Emperors Arms againſt the Turks; ſo that ſome of my Countrymen and I joined ſo much the more chearfully in the common Rejoicings, which continued all that Night. The next Morning the General Camphuyſen went to the Maleyſh Church, where publick thanks were return'd to God for our Proſperity; then the Service being over, the Guns were again fired round the City and Caſtle.

Three or four days after, as I was returning to ſee my Patients on board the Bali, I met with a Company of Soldiers that were going on board the Fleſſingen. Theſe were very prettily accoutred with Silk-Stockings on their Legs, and Shoos made of Sail-Cloath: Theſe Men were deſigned for Camron, Surat and Macaran, to fill up the vacancies there of ſuch as keep Guard before the Houſes of the Company. But I would not have a private Soldier to fancy by this, that they are all to meet with ſuch treatment there; for this good uſage is only to a few, that are to credit the Factories in thoſe places; and thoſe are ſome of thoſe that have a great many Friends, and great Recommendations: Whereas many a brave Soldier is forced to ſpend his time in Bantam, Amboina, Banda, and other unhealthy Iſlands, where they muſt trudge it without either Shoos or Stockings, and it may be periſh miſerably.

Our Ship was once again order'd to go to Onruſt to carry Rice, and other Proviſions; which we did, and returned in four or five days.

As we were come back, it was my fortune to fall once more into the Sea; for as I went to eaſe Nature on the outſide of the Ship, according to the uſual way, I held faſt by the Rope, which broke, ſo in I dropt. The Ships Crew was more ready to laugh at me, than to lend me their Hand; and I was doubly put to't, to ſwim with my Breeches down; but at laſt my Comrade threw me out a Rope, by which I got up, and praiſed God for my ſafety. This made me more careful for ever after; and that the Boatſwane might be more diligent to ſee for the future that ſuch things were firm and ſtrong, the Maſter gave him a ſevere reprimand, and laid a Fine on him.

After this I went to pay another viſit to the upper Surgeon; and from thence went to Sup with an Acquaintance of mine in the Caſtle, and took a Friend with me. I was to go into the Town to lie; ſo my Friend and I took a Praw to carry us thither up the River. In the way we came thro' the Boom, which is a String of Trunks of Trees chained together, which block up the River from one ſide to the other, ſo that there is no paſſing thro' without an Officer, who ſtands there to let you thro', who firſt viſits and ſearches you, and then too you muſt pay ſo much, according to the bigneſs of the Veſſel; and this goes to the Company, who make ſome thouſands of Gilders yearly out of it.

The next day we went to the Lottery, to ſee what Gaming there was; that was moſt full of Chineeſes, who, as I ſaid before, are the greateſt Gemeſters in the World. Whoever is a loſer there, the Company is ſure to be the winner; for there is a Mony-Changer appointed by them, who ſits to keep order amongſt 'em, a kind of Groom-Porter; and every throw that is thrown with the Dice, there is two pence paid to him for the Company. And notwithſtanding that ſome of thoſe who ruin themſelves at play there, might be ſuppoſed to fall into a paſſion, and cauſe ſome diſorder, yet there is never any diſturbance heard of; it being no leſs than Death to make any in that place: For without that ſeverity it would never be free from it, eſpecially when poor Soldiers loſe ſometimes their whole Pay in one Night, which they have done very hard ſervice for a Month or two, or may be more; or when a Chineeſe loſes all that he is worth, even his Wife and Children, nay his very Beard; nothing being more natural, than for Men in that condition to fall into exceſſive Paſſion. But they dare not give it any vent there, nor make the leaſt noiſe.

I could not refrain neither, but ventured ſix or ſeven Ducatoons, which were gone in the twinkling of an Eye; but I preſently gave over, and took my leave of it for ever.

Thence I went to reſide for a few days at a Friends houſe, and a Countrymans of mine, one Mr. Buſchbach, who had got his Freedom, having compleated his time in the Company's Service, and was in very good Circumſtances. He was a Man of an exceeding kind and generous Temper, and a conſtant Patron of all the Germans that came to Batavia, and never weary of doing them all the ſervice that lay in his power. I was a little indiſpoſed at his Houſe, ſo that I ſent word to the Ship, that if they were ordered to go any Voyage before I got better, they ſhould give me notice of it, that they might be ſupplied with ſome other Perſon to go in my ſtead. But bleſſed be God I recovered in a few days, which I think verily was in ſome meaſure owing to my Friend's care, and his facetious diverting Company; for I never met with more agreeable Company in my life.

His Houſe ſtood upon the Vierkant, a place ſo called from its being a Square, where the Rice Market was kept, and feveral other Proviſions, being juſt at the Mouth of the River, and therefore moſt commodious for all Country People to bring their Fruits by water, as well as for the Fiſher-boats to bring their Fiſh thither. There is alſo a ſmall Dock for building of little Veſſels. And all Veſſels whatſoever that come by here, muſt come to Shore, and be viſited by a Centinel that ſtands there for that purpoſe, and is relieved every hour; and in caſe any of 'em ſhould attempt to ſlip by, his Orders is to fire upon them.

BEing pretty well recover'd, tho' as yet ſomewhat weak, I return'd on board, where I ſpent my time but after a melancholly manner, and moſt of it lying in my Hamock; yet I gathered ſtrength apace, and in ſome days got perfectly well.

There an Order came to me to remove on board the Tyger, which was to go to Macaſſar; this I received with a great deal of ſatisfaction, and accordingly went out with her. We had not been three hours under ſail, but ſuch a violent Storm came upon us as brought our Main-Maſt by the Board with ſuch a force, that we thought our Ship was daſh'd in pieces; and this continuing for ſome time, we were obliged to cut our Gears, and hand in what we could of our Sails.

Our Maſter was not for going further, ſo we went back to Batavia; and being there refitted, we ſet Sail out again; and in three days came before Japara, which lies likewiſe in great Java, ſeventy Leagues eaſtward of Batavia.

This Place, which was once the Reſidence of the mighty Emperor of that Empire, is as much under the Dominion of the Dutch, as Bantam is. And that Emperor likewiſe is no more ſuch, than meerly in Name and Title; and is as ſubject to the Dutch Government as the King of Bantam is, of whom I have given you an account. So that this whole Iſland, which is above five hundred miles compaſs, is almoſt all in ſubjection to the Dutch Company. The Religion, Manners, Cuſtoms, &c. of the Inhabitants of Japara are much the ſame as of thoſe of Bantam.

Here we provided our ſelves with Water, and Wood for Fuel; which being done, we wound up our Anchors, and ſet ſail: The next day we paſſed by the ſix Iſlands of Luboce, leaving them on our left, and Java on the right; and arrived to the Iſland of Madura, which is about ten Leagues from Java. There we ſtaid a while, and then we ſet forward again with the firſt Gale of Wind, and paſſed by ſome hundreds of little Iſlands and Rocks, which are called Pater noſter, ſome of which we went over, whilſt the Sea beat moſt terribly againſt thoſe Rocks which ſtood a little above the Water, and made us very much affraid, we having no other way, but thro' them: So that we were continually ſounding with the Plummet. We fell foul of the Rocks four times notwithſtanding all our care; but God be thanked, without any damage. The beſt of that courſe is, that there is ſcarcely ever any ſtormy Winds there, by reaſon of the great heat the Sun gives. A few days after we got before Macaſſar.

Macaſſar is a conſiderable Kingdom, and well govern'd. The Dutch, Engliſh and Danes have all freedom of Traffick there, as well as the Indians of all parts. It lies on the Iſland Cebebes to the South, and reaches about an hundred Leagues; under the Line, it hath Borneo on the one ſide, and the Molucca Iſlands on the other.

Here lay an Engliſh Ship, which had loſt both her Surgeons in the Voyage, and were in great want of one to take care of their Men; they applied themſelves not only to me, but to the Reſident, to permit me to leave my Ship, to go with them, but it did not lie in the Governours power to free me from my Engagement in the Dutch Company. However they being drove to ſuch neceſſity, I went and lookt after their Patients, and I left all that was proper for 'em with one of the Ship, together with written Inſtructions, how, and when to make uſe of 'em; for which they thanked me heartily, and gratified me very generouſly.

There happen'd a Fire one Night in one of their Negerys, which was all conſumed in an inſtant, being built with nothing but Bamboos, and gave ſo great a light, that we thought it was the Day breaking upon us again, and put us into a kind of Conſternation, till we knew what it was.

The People, Natives of this Iſland, are ſcatter'd thro' all parts of the Indies; and all Nations are deſirous of 'em for their Slaves, becuaſe they are exceeding faithful, diligent, and good natur'd, and make the braveſt Soldiers, as I have ſeen it my ſelf in the whole time of the War of Bantam, where they daily ſignaliz'd themſelves, both by their Courage and Conduct. They are likewiſe the moſt profitable ſort of Servants. I have had two of them, who have got me half a Ducate on a day; ſo that theſe are lookt upon as the moſt valuable of all the Indians; and therefore are uſed with the greateſt care and humanity that may be. The hardeſt and moſt ſlaviſh part of their Work, is generally put upon the Malabarians, who are an ill-lookt ſort of People, like the Caffers. They are ſo black too, that they are often taken for Moors: Whereas it is a Nation of Aſia, but diſperſed here and there over all the Indies, as the Jews are in Europe.

The right Moors are thoſe of the great Mogul's Country, and the places adjacent, as Bengal, Surat, Golconda, &c. but they very ſeldom or never go out of their own Country; nor doth any body dare to take them for Slaves. As there is ſome of 'em as black as a Coal, ſo there is ſome as white as any European whatever. They are moſt of 'em very civil, handſom and well ſhaped, courteous and genteel in their Behaviour. They are great Merchants, and very ſincere in their Dealings; and thoſe I have had to do with, I have always found very generous and grateful. I had once the Son of a rich Moor under my hands, while I was at the Hoſpital of Bantam: He had broke his Leg, and had been left to the care of ſome Surgeons of that Nation, who had done him no good. The Father at length deſpairing of the skill of his Countrymen, ſent for me, and ſhew'd a great deal of rational concern for his Son's condition. I went to the Boy, and having examined the Fraction, and found it to be better than I imagined; I told the Father he might take Courage, and that I did not doubt but I ſhould in a little while ſet his Son upon his Legs again, with the help of the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth; (making uſe of thoſe Terms, becauſe it is in that Idea eſpecially, that the Moors worſhip God:) Upon which he bowed and lift up his Eyes towards Heaven. I ſent for my Boy, and with the aſſiſtance of a Moor, I ſet the Bone of the Boy's Leg; and having done all that was neceſſary for the preſent, my Young Patient found eaſe immediately. This gave the Father much ſatisfaction, and he immediately preſented me with twenty Spaniſh Matten, telling me that was nothing of my pay, but to encourage me to take what carel could of his Child. Thus, with God's aſſiſtance, I cured his Boy entirely in ſix Weeks time; and without asking me, what I expected, he gave me thirty Cubanz into my hands, which amounted to three hundred Rixdollers, and ask'd me whether that ſatisfi'd me. I told him it did extreamly well; and truly well it might, for in our Country we knew nothing of ſuch large Fees as thoſe are. If we had but a few ſuch Patients there, it would keep a great many at home, who are now forced to ramble abroad, meerly to get their livelihood.

But I return now to my Ship, which was ready to ſet ſail again for Batavia, and waiting only for a Wind. Therefore with the firſt Eaſterly Wind, we ſet out of the Port of Macaſſar, and running happily thro' the Pater-noſter Iſlands, we came to Anchor before Japara, where we found three Ships come from Batavia, three days before us; and had brought ſome Soldiers from thence, to quel an uproar that had been made at Japara, in which above twenty Dutch had been killed by the Inhabitants, who attempted to throw themſelves into the Fort Sambura. But by the means of the Governor, and this Auxiliary Force, all was quieted, and the Ringleaders ſent away to Batavia, where they receiv'd their due reward. Some of them were broken upon the Wheel, ſome had their Ears and Noſes cut off; and were ſent chained altogether to ſome Iſlands to ſpend all their Life in burning of Lime, and there to remain perpetual Slaves.

I Landed before theſe Wretches were ſent away, ſo that I ſaw 'em go along Chain'd together: But that which was the moſt diſmal to ſee, was the Lamentation and ſad Out-cries of theſe poor Fellow's Wives and Children, who conducted them to the Water-ſide.

All being thus ſettled again, the Company augmented the Garriſon, and fortified thoſePlaces which needed it moſt, to prevent any ſuch Diſorders for the future. It is a wonderful Thing, that ſuch are not more frequent; and that whenever they happen, they are ſo ſoon Calm'd, conſidering the vaſtneſs of the Dutch Dominions, which are ſo ſcatter'd here and there, and ſo far aſunder; but it is to be aſcrib'd to their vigilant, and wiſely Model'd Government; without which, they could not ſupport the weight of their ſeveral Dominions, which contain ſeveral Empires, Kingdoms, and large Provinces, (all which would be too tedious to ſetdown) and it would amaze one to think, what a vaſt number of Deputies, Preſidents, Governours, and Officers, they are forced to maintain for the Preſervation of their Power; beſides ſome Hundreds of Ships: And, I dare ſay, by good Computation, they have above a Hundred thouſand Men by Sea and Land. But as their Expence is great, ſo their Wealth is unaccountable; for where-ever you go, you ſhall not ſee one Thing in a thouſand, little or great, but if you ask whoſe that is, all the anſwer is, the Company's.

We departed from Japara, and came the next day into the Road before Batavia, and an hour or two after us, came in the Ship that had thoſe Rebels on board: ſo that there we ſaw them Executed, and diſpoſed of as I have ſaid already.

Before our Ship was quite Unladen, here aroſe a moſt terrible Hurricane, which tore moſt of the Ships off their Anchors, and drove two of them upon ſome of the little Iſlands, that lie near there; one of which being old and decayed, was daſht into pieces. It laſted but half an hour, and ſo the Damage was the leſs, elſe there would hardly a Ship have eſcaped: Ours had caſt out five Anchors, two of which we loſt; and two of our Men being in the Long-Boat, the Storm coming upon them ſo ſuddenly, could not make to the Ship, but the Rope breaking, were torn off from us. When the Wind ceaſed, we went to ſee after'em, and found our poor Seamen ſtill alive, but that was all, tied faſt by Cords to the Boat which floated with the bottom upwards; So that all were recover'd: But it was a Miracle, that being ſo far ſpent as they were, and not able to help themſelves, their Brains were not knockt out againſt the Boat; or that they were not devoured by Sharks. Beſides all this, abundance of ſmall Veſſels, Prawen, &c. were caſt away; and many Perſons drown'd.

The next day I went to ſhore with the Maſter and the Factors, who deſign'd to ſtay there all Night, and ordered the Seamen to go back to their Ship. I deſired they might ſtay till the Evening, becauſe I had a mind to go with 'em. But it being pretty dark, and the Wind very high, our Seamen keeping up the Sail without Fear or Wit, we were all over-turn'd, within a Stone's throw of the Ship; but by the Bleſſing of God, and the ſpeedy Aſſiſtance of the Ship's Crew, we were all took up Safe.

The next Morning I return'd to Land, where I was no ſooner come, but a Muck Speeler, who had done a great deal of Miſchief, and put the People in an Uproar, came running by me, and by good Fortune did me no harm; but kill'd a Boy within 20 Steps of me, and was preſently Shot himſelf in the Head, and dropt down; but it was after he had kill'd five or ſix People: Nothing ſaved me but the corner of the Street, by means of which, as he run ſo furiouſly, he over-ſhot me, and got paſt me before I could get aware of him; and ſo, God be prais'd, I was ſafe, but ever ſince I was always upon my guard at Turnings and Croſſings of Streets.

Here I ſpent my time with a great deal of variety of Diverſions, as Fiſhing, Walking, Shooting, going by Water, and chiefly ſeeing my Friends: Moſt days I took a Praw, and went to ſome ſmall Iſlands that lie hard by there, where the chief Fiſhing is to be ſeen. Upon one of theſe Iſlands lived a rich Chineſe near to the Chineſe's Temple. He having a numerous Family of Children and Servants, I had frequent Buſineſs in his Houſe, and got a great deal of Money by him. One Night, as I had taken my leave of him, and was going home, I ſaw a bright Flame at a mighty diſtance, and heard ſome Shooting: Being Landed, I took ſome of my Friends with me to a high part of the Shore to ſee it. We were all amazed to think what it ſhould be, and in giving our ſeveral Opinions, we ſpent all the Night looking upon it. In the Morning the Flame could no longer be ſeen; but we hearing ſtill a Gun go off now and then, we went and acquainted the General with it, who order'd a Boat to be ſet out with 20 Men and an Officer, ready to go at Night, in caſe the Flame appeared again, and the Shooting continued. As the Day ſhut in, the Flame begun to be ſeen more and more, and ſomewhat nearer than the Night before. I deſired the Officer that I might go with him, which he readily granting, we ſet forward, and made directly up to the Fire: Coming nearer, we ſaw it was a ſmall Bark and People in it, we Hail'd them, upon which they gave over Shooting, but made us no Anſwer. This made us the more Earneſt to get up to 'em, and to Board 'em, which we did: And there we ſaw a moſt lamentable Sight, eight poor Engliſhmen, three of 'em Dead, and the five others little better, not able to ſpeak one Word, but endeavouring to mutter. We took them into our Boat with us, together with ſome Cheſts of Tanges and Larines, (which is a certain Money of that Country) which they had in their Boat with them; we uſed them as gently as we could, and made all ſpeed poſſible to the Place from whence we came, and there gave them all Kind of Refreſhment. It was five or ſix hours e'er they came to themſelves, ſo as to ſpeak: At length they gave us an Account of themſelves; and told us, they belong'd to an Engliſh Ship that came from Bengal richly laden, and was Bound for Batavia to joyn the Engliſh Merchant-men that lay there; but coming by the Iſland Engano, it being hard Weather, they were thrown upon a Shelf, where their Ship was ſunk, ſo that of 78 Men they had on Board, but 15 got into that little tatter'd Boat, and that of them there was but thoſe we ſaw left; the reſt having periſhed one after another for want of Water, which they had not had a Drop of in 15 or 16 days time.

When we had this Account from them, we took them to Batavia, and carried them to the Engliſh Houſe, where we were heartily Thank'd, and treated with great Civility: Beſides all which, the next Morning a Reward was ſent to every one of the Soldiers, and to the Officer: And as for me, Having been very Helpful to them, and managed them with ſome Cordials, and taking Care leſt their ſudden Refreſhment ſhould do them an Injury, I had 20 Ducatoons ſent me as a Preſent.

While I remain'd here, there happen'd nothing more worth taking Notice of: And now Orders were ſent me to repair on Board the Bergen in Norweegen, which was to go Commadore, with two other Ships bound for Odia, the capital City of Siam; ſo that I went and provided my ſelf with all that was neceſſary for the Voyage: Which being done, I went on Board my Ship, the Fleet being ready to go off, and we ſhould have ſet Sail the very nextday, had not the Ekerſloo, one of our three Ships, ſprung a Leak, which obliged us to ſtay while they took all the Goods out of her again, and mended her, which was a whole fortnight.

This done, ſhe had her Lading put in again; and then we went under Sail with a favourable Wind, and next day paſs'd by the Iſle of Lucapara; and thus we continued our Courſe with good Succeſs for about eight days: But as it is almoſt impoſſible for two or three Ships to make ſo conſiderable a Voyage without ſome Lett or Misfortune; the Ekerſloo ſtruck upon a Bank of Sand, which frighted us all very much. As ſoon as ſhe gave us notice of it by firing a Gun, for we were a good way before her, but had happily Steer'd aſide and miſs'd the Bank, we immediately ſet out our Shallops, and went to her, and found there was no Remedy but Unlading her; which we did with all ſpeed, and beſtowed the Goods, partly on Board of our Ship, and partly on the other: It was a great happineſs that the Wind was not very high, elſe we could never have done this. When all the Goods were out, we made ſhift, by means of caſting Anchors, to get her off the Bank; and having examined her within, and found ſhe had no Damage done to her Keel, we put the Goods on Board of her again, and continued our Courſe, thanking God we had eſcaped ſuch a great Danger, by the favour of the Wind, which ſtill continued good for us.

This happen'd to us in our Courſe to Tumbolan and Ananibo as we ſailed between Borneo and Malacca, from which in three days we reach'd the Iſland Matuna. As we paſs'd by it, we ſaw ſome Ships before us, which we concluded were Chineſe Jonckers; About night they paſs'd by us directing their Courſe towards Borneo, which made us think they came from Cambodia. At break of day we ſaw five more, who likewiſe paſt by us about Noon, and ſteer'd their Courſe towards Malacca.

When we were come up to the corner of that Iſland, we took the Elevation of the Pole, and found we were to Sail more to the Northward; and in a ſhort time we came to the River, which runs through the Kingdom of Siam, up which we ſailed as far as the Town Bontempia, and there we caſt Anchor. Our Maſter and the Factor went ſtraightway in the Long-Boat to the Chief City Odia; which is 30 Leagues up the River; as ſoon as they were come back they went to Unlading.

I then went on Shore too, and viſited the Dutch Factory there. The Houſe which the Dutch Factors have there, is amazing both for its Largeneſs Beauty, and Strength. Above, are all the Lodgings, which are wonderful Stately both without and within: Under, are the Warehouſes, which are of a vaſt bigneſs, and richly ſtored with all manner of Commodities.

The City of Odia is very large; but moſt of the Houſes are very low: So that all the Towers of their Temples (which are computed to be above Five thouſand) being rais'd much higher, and being all eaſily ſeen by reaſon of the other Buildings being ſo low, ſeem altogether like a Foreſt in Winter. It is impoſſible for any one to conceive what vaſt numbers of People is continually moving about in that City, inſomuch, that a Man who is newly come, would be apt to ask what's the matter, and take that for a gathering of the Mob, or an unuſual Croud, which is but the uſual Concourſe of the Town. It is ſeated upon the River Menan, which is likewiſe fill'd with Ships, Praws, &c. This River is of the ſame Nature with the Nile, the Niger, and the Ganges, and like them, overflows all the Fields about Odia, and makes them very fruitful; ſpreading it ſelf over great part of the Country, by means of ſeveral Arms or Creeks which Providence hath ordered for that purpoſe. And beſides this Advantage which this Inundation affords to the Country, it is a mighty Fence to the City Odia; becauſe the River over-flowing at certain Seaſons, no Enemy can Beſiege it but for ſome Months, during which the City is always able to defend it ſelf, being extraordinary well Situated and Fortified.

Through moſt of the Streets run fine Channels, as at Rotterdam, ſo that one may go with a Boat from one part of the Town to the other, which renders it mighty Commodious for Trade; I may ſay, that conſidering all things, there is not a finer City in all India.

Our Ships having now in little more than a Fortnights time unladen, and taken in their full Lading, which conſiſted of ſeveral Commodities, as Buck and Roe-Skins, Jappan-Wood, &c. we fell down the River, and with a fair Northerly Wind ſet Sail homewards again.

The next day it Snowed ſo hard, and the Wind was ſo high, that we were drove almoſt upon Land 'ere we could be aware of it; but by good Providence we came off without any hurt, and in 11 days came up with the Iſland Puloaura; where we lay ſtill three days refreſhing our ſelves, and then continued our Courſe. We arrived at Batavia in three Weeks: We were hardly come into Harbour when we ſaw the moſt diſmal Spectacle that can be. The Ship the Elephant, which rode at Anchor hard by us, laden with Powder and other Ammunition deſign'd for Bantam, by ſome Accident took Fire; and in an inſtant blew up into a thouſand pieces; ſo that of above 80 Men that were on Board her, there was not one left alive to tell how it came. It was the moſt diſmal ſight methoughts I ever had ſeen, to behold ſo many humane Bodies toſs'd at ſuch a vaſt diſtance into the Air, for ſome of them went over our Ship, and ſo did ſeveral large pieces of the Ship likewiſe; and what made it the more diſmal, was, that no manner of help could be afforded them.

Inſtead of going aſhore with the reſt, I went on Board a Ship that was come hither ſome days before us from Cameron in Perſia, becauſe the Chirurgeon which belonged to that Ship was a Countryman and intimate Acquaintance of mine, and we had been together in ſeveral Expeditions in the Wars of Bantam. He was over-joyed to ſee me, and I was no leſs pleaſed to find him well. After many Queſtions paſt on both ſides, we came to give one another an Account of our Adventures ſince we parted, which gave him occaſion to tell me, that he had had pretty good Fortune in all his Voyages, but that he had narrowly eſcaped Death in a place where he thought himſelf moſt ſecure: For, ſaith he, When I firſt went to Shore at Cameron, I went with ſome of my Companions to the Factor's Houſe, and having ſpoken with them I had Buſineſs with, we went into a Cabaret or publick-Houſe; whence, after we had ſtaid an hour or little more, we thought to go back to our Ships; but ere we could get to our Boats the Night catcht us, and we were ſet upon by a company of Cutthroats. They out-did us in number, and were well Arm'd, whereas none of us had any Weapon about us, ſo that we could make but a fruitleſs Reſiſtance. Flight being the beſt Remedy, I preſume we all attempted it; but three of us only eſcaped their Hands, yet not altogether neither; for I had ſeveral Blows from 'em, and was run through in two places; the two others had their ſhare too; but neither of us three got any further hurt, and we have great reaſon to thank the Almighty God who delivered us out of their Hands; for whatever they did with the reſt of our Company, which were five more, we never yet could learn what became of 'em.

He likewiſe ſpeaking of Cameron, told me, That while he was there, there had been ſuch an Earthquake as had thrown down ſeveral Houſes, and kill'd ſeveral hundreds of People.

Our next talk was about our own Country, to which we having both of us an Inclination to return, we agreed there in an inſtant to take our Meaſures about it; for both of us had ſerved the Company our due time, and ſome Months over. So we went together on Board my Ship, and from thence we took a Boat to Shore, and went together to wait upon the Head Chirurgion, to acquaint him with our Deſign, and to deſire him to Employ us now on Land till the Fleet went off for Holland. He received us with great Civility, and did what we requeſted of him; and gave us part of the Hoſpital in Charge, as I had had before. This being done, We went each of us to our reſpective Ships to take our leave of 'em, and to fetch our Things, and return'd in the ſame Praw to Batavia, where we repair'd to our Poſt, and propoſed to our ſelves to take ſuch Care, that there might be no Cauſe of Complaints, leaſt they ſhould prove an obſtacle to our Deſigns, as it frequently happens.

We had not been long here, but a Ship arrived from Holland. All the People that came in her, which were above 200 Soldiers, beſides Seamen, were preſently landed, and drawn up before the Caſtle-Gate, till an Order came from the General for them to march up to his Apartment in the Caſtle. I went to ſee them, for as the Reader may well ſuppoſe, every Body is deſirous to hear how Matters ſtand at home, and is in Expectation to meet with ſome Acquaintance. I found one there whom I had ſome Knowledge of, a Merchant's Son of Suabia, but had lived a long time at Amſterdam, where I had ſeen him.

When I had given him the Welcome, and he me an Account of his Voyage, he rejoyced me with the good News of our Victories over the Ottomans.

While we were Talking, the Order came from the General to let them march into the Caſtle; where they had each of them their ſeveral Poſts and Stations aſſign'd. But as all New-Comers have three ſeveral Days liberty to refreſh themſelves, I took my Acquaintance with me, to ſhew him the Civility of the place, (which is commonly ſpeaking, not very great). I took him out deſigning to go to a Negery, about two miles from Batavia: But as we were going up the River in a Praw we had taken, we met ſome Javians coming down in a ſmall Boat, making a mighty noiſe with ſome little Bells. We ask'd them the meaning of it; they told us that it was a Wedding, and that that was their Muſick. So we reſolved to go back with them, and ſee the manner of 'em: They went to an Houſe about a quarter of a Mile out of the City. We were invited to come in. The Houſe was all ſet out and ſtrewed with Flowers, and ſeveral Mats made of Rice-Straw were laid upon the Ground, on which they were to have their Dinner.

After a great many Ceremonies were paſt, which I have given an Account of already, a Buffle was brought, which the Bridegroom knockt down, and the Bride took a Knife and cut his Throat. Then they by turns cut pieces of the Fleſh, which they gave to the Cook to Dreſs, giving him at the ſame time Inſtructions how they would have it done, and Herbs to do it with. Some of it was ordered upon our Account, but we neither of us cared to be Sharers of ſuch a tough Entertainment, and they being but a meaner ſort of People, we thank'd them for the Civility they had ſhewn us, and ſo left 'em.

From thence we return'd to Batavia, for the day was ſhutting in; and no New-Comer may abſent himſelf from his Poſt the firſt Night, wherefore we deferr'd our deſigned Walk till the next day.

That night one of the Caſtle-Gates was open'd, (which is a thing ſeldom known) to let out the Preſident of the City; who, together with ſome others of the Council, had been at Supper with the General.

THE next day we took a Chineſe Praw to purſue our Deſign, and went up the River to the Negery. In our way, we came to a ſtrong Current, which being very ſhallow, the Head of our Boat ſtruck upon a Rock and turn'd us over. We were in no danger of our Lives becauſe it was not deep, but we were Duck'd over Head and Ears; but we got up and drew our Praw to Land, and ſo got in again, and went forwards.

We went there into a publick Houſe that ſtood not far from the Water-ſide upon an Eminence, which afforded us a very agreeable Proſpect, and ſat us down in a very pleaſant Arbour, with Cedar-Trees, Limon-Trees, and other Green-Trees of that kind all about us. We cauſed a Dinner to be got ready for us of what the Country afforded; which was Fiſh and Fowl, Eggs, Herbs, &c. Our Liquor was Suri, which is a Juice drawn from the Coco-Trees; with that, we made very good Maſſack and Lemonade, by the help of ſome Sugar, Spices, Limons, and Oranges, which we had in good plenty.

I having a mind to make my Friend merry, and to divert him with variety, I ſent for ſome Gomgomers, (the Muſicians of that Country) and ſome Javian Baliar Dancers, who made us a great deal of Paſtime. The Baliar Dancers, which come from Babylon, I have ſpoken of before; but theſe were Javians, which are a ſort far inferiour to them, and differ from them much in the ſame manner as there is between a Dance performed by a Dancing-Maſter and one danced by a Ruſtick: But what was moſt Diverting to us, eſpecially to my Friend, was, ſome Tumblers and Jugglers that were amongſt 'em, who ſhew'd us ſeveral Tricks, which do uſually ſo much ſurprize, even thoſe that ſee them, that I know a Man runs ſome risk in relating of them. However, ſome of their moſt conſiderable Tricks of Activity I cannot wholly paſs paſs by.

They were five in number: One of 'em laid himſelf flat down upon his Belly, upon a Mat they had ſpread on the Ground, and in the twinkling of an Eye, raiſed himſelf upon his Legs; then laying himſelf down again as before, he rais'd himſelf after the ſame manner, and ſtood upon his Head only: After this he laid himſelf upon his Back, and gave ſeveral Leaps in the Air like a Fiſh. The other four did the ſame Tricks over, one after the other, and ſtill better and better. After this they took a Ladder of about 12 Rounds, and ſet it againſt one of 'em; one of the other four got up to the top of it, and laid himſelf a croſs it; the ſecond went up, and ſat a-croſs theother's Shoulders; the third climb'd up and pitch'd himſelf on his Head, upon the Head of the ſecond, and there ſtood with his Feet directly upwards; upon which, the fourth came, and ſtood upright on the Feet of the third; And after playing ſeveral Tricks there, he leapt down on the Ground, and ſtood ſtill; the next Fellow, that was ſtill ſtanding on his Head, gave a ſpring upwards, and falling down, lighted on the Shoulders of him that ſtood below; the next, who was on the Ladder came down likewiſe with a Leap, and fell a-croſs the Shoulders of him; and ſo did the fourth and laſt, who had been the firſt on the Ladder: He that had ſtood all this while, and held the foot of the Ladder, took it and climb'd up with it to the top of the other four, and there made a ſort of Harangue to us in Japponneſe, which concluded the Sight. There was a great many other Tricks intermixt with theſe, which were well worth the taking notice of; but I thought theſe would ſuffice to ſhew you, how far theſe Men out-do any thing we commonly ſee in Europe.

This being over, we call'd for our Reckoning in, which came to no more than Two thouſand Butgis. An European at firſt is frightned at ſuch a reckoning as this, and thinks that ſuch a Sum of Money ſhould be enough to Treat a King and all the Nobility, or to defray the Charges of a Lord Mayor's Feaſt; but he muſt underſtand, that theſe Butgis are but little thin pieces of Lead, with holes in the middle of 'em, a certain number of them is put upon a String to ſave the trouble of telling them over upon every occaſion, and three Hundred of 'em are worth but Two Pence of Dutch Money; ſo that our Dinner amounted but to 13 or 14 d. Beſides this, our Muſick and Dancers coſt us a Shilling, and we gave a Ducatoon to the Juglers and Tumblers; having paid all, we went back again down the River to Batavia.

At this very time the Streight of Sunda was very much infeſted with Pickaroons; They had only Praws or ſmall Boats of their own, with which they run with eaſe in and out of ſeveral Rivers of the Kingdom of Bantam, and did a great deal of miſchief about the Iſlands of Toppers-hoedie, Dwarſin-de-zee, and others. They uſed to wait there for their Prey, and when they had gotten their Booty, they made immediately to their lurking holes, where finding ſafety for a great while, they were at laſt ſo bold, that not a Ship could ſcape them; and the more, becauſe the Company never concerned themſelves about it, nor took any Meaſures to ſuppreſs them. But at length, the Bali, (the Ship in which I had been ſome time before) coming that way, bound for Jambi on the Coaſt of Sumatra; and being obliged to caſt Anchor near the aforeſaid Iſlands, theſe Pyrates joyning their Forces together, came and ſurrounded her, and notwithſtanding a ſtout Defence made on Board the Bali for ſome hours, they made themſelves Maſters of her, killed all the Men they could come at; and having taken what they could conveniently carry away, ſet it on Fire.

While the Ship was all in Flames, a Ship from Malabar coming luckily by, made towards the Fire to ſee what it was. Two Men, who in the Engagement had hid themſelves below Deck, and were now got out, but knew not how to diſpoſe of themſelves, ſtood upon the Fore-Caſtle ready to throw themſelves into the Sea to avoid being burnt: But they ſent them a Boat, by which means theſe poor Creatures were preſerved; and being brought on Board the Ship, they continued their Courſe to Batavia, where they gave the General an Account of what had happen'd.

The Company now being Sufferers by this, thought fit to ſend after theſe Pyrates, which they never minded before, while they came by no loſs themſelves, and while the Fiſhermen only, &c. were in danger. Immediately two Men of War were ordered to go after 'em, together with eight ſmall Boats well Mann'd, to give them Chace. It being requiſite there ſhould be Chirurgions more than ordinary in thoſe Ships, and this being like to be a ſhort Expedition, and near home, my Friend and I, who could not be employed in a long Voyage, were appointed to go with them. We were very well pleas'd with our Commiſſion, and accordingly we got ready our Cheſts, and went on Board the Ceylon, which carried 300 Men, and 48 Guns: The other Ship was about the ſame Rate. The Boats had each of them from 60 to 70 Men, and about 16 Patterero's.

When we were got paſt the Iſland Onruſt, we kept along the Sea-ſhore till we came beyond Bantam, and there we lay before the Mouth of ſome Rivers, as cloſe to the Land as we could: And ſo as to lye to the Windward. At Night we divided our Fleet, and ſent two of our Boats out to Sea to entice the Pirates out after them, if they ſhould chance to ſee them, and we ſtood ready to clap in between them, and the River; ſo to cut off their Paſs, and hedge them in. We lay two days cloſe to the Shore, within a Stone's throw of Land, but very ſafe, with no leſs than 60 Fathom Water. Atlength, about Sun-ſet, we ſaw five Boats making Sail towards our two Boats, at about two Leagues diſtance from us; upon which we moved altogether forwards, along the Shore; and by that time it was quite dark, we made directly towards 'em, taking ſtill care to be between the Shore and them.

The next morning we ſaw them by break of day ſailing by a ſmall Iſland. They having found out our Deſign, were endeavouring to make their eſcape, for the two Boats we had ſent after 'em were farther from 'em than we were with the whole Fleet: So we joyned together again, and our eight Boats ſailing much faſter than the Men of War could, purſued them ſo tightly, that notwithſtanding theſe Rovers had ſeveral Oars with them, (which they uſe to make uſe of in a Calm or in caſe of purſuit) yet by Noon our Boats were all got within a quarter of a League of 'em; ſo that the laſt of 'em were forced to yield or fight. We with our great Ships were within a League of 'em all, and turn'd round a ſmall Iſland, during which we loſt ſight of them: But our Boats all this while having got ground, they begun to thunder amongſt 'em; ſo that in a little time, two of the Pyrates Boats were ſeized. Then we came in ſight again, and took theſe two Boats into our Charge, and brought the Men on Board of us. Our Boats having made ſome ſtay, while they engaged theſe two, the other three were got away again pretty far. However, ours were not long 'ere they came within ſhot of 'em, and ſo purſued them that they came to a cloſe Engagement, and after a ſharp reſiſtance, at length became Maſters of them.

We loſt in all 28 Men, and had 30 wounded; but we kill'd 200, and wounded above 50 of theirs. The reſt we carried to Batavia.

There was at firſt near 900 of 'em; of which nine were Dutchmen, and two Danes; one of whom had been a Captain of a Man of War. We caught both the Danes, but we had but three Dutchmen, the ſix others were killed in the ſight.

Being come to Batavia, they were all put into Priſon, and Examin'd. They confeſs'd, that they had their Habitations in ſome Negery's, about the Blaw Peper-bergh, and diſcover'd ſeveral of their Companions thereabouts: Upon which they ſent Soldiers both by Sea and Land towards thoſe places; and in three Week's time they brought back with 'em ſome thouſands of 'em, moſt of 'em being Javians.

Of the whole, one part was broke upon the Wheel, ſome were Quarter'd, ſome were Whipt, ſome had their Ears and Noſes cut off, and ſome were burnt in the Forehead. The three Hollanders were Hang'd: The two Danes Beheaded: and a great number of others were ſent to ſeveralIſlands; to Burn Lime, Hew Stone, &c. and there to remain Slaves all their Lives. Their Wives and Children were ſerved after the ſame manner, that it might more effectually prove a terrour to others.

About this time came into the Road of Batavia a Ship from Madagaſcar, which brought with her two and twenty Savages from the Iſland St. Galle. They were much uglier and much more brutiſh than the Hottentots at the Cape of Good Hope; their Speech was hardly articulate, but confuſed like that of Children, and as if they Sung. They had no Hair on their Heads, only a rough ſcabby Skin. They were ſtrong, tho' exceſſive Lean, and had ſcarce any thing but Skin and Bones. Before their Privy-Parts they had a Wild-Cat's Skin, which reach'd down to their Knees; for in St. Galle there are multitudes of Wild-Cats.

They were ſhut up all together, like Beaſts in a Stable, and were fed with nothing but raw Rice and Water, which it ſeems was too good for 'em; for in a little while they all died. A naſtier ſort of Men I never ſaw; for as I ſaid, except their Head, they were Hairy all over to their very Hands and Feet. Their Face was very red; but their Teeth were very fine and white: Their Eyes were very large; and their large Ears ſlit in five or ſix places. About their Neck and Feet they had ſome Twiſts of Sea-Ruſhes; which their Women made uſe of likewiſe to bear up their long ſwagging Breaſts. I believe the World doth not afford a more Savage Wild ſort of Men. St. Galle, from which they came, lies about 1300 miles from Batavia, and about 300 from the Cape, on the ſide of the Iſland Madagaſcar.

Some time after this, a Javian Hermit, who lived in a Cave on the Blaw Peper-bergh, came to Batavia to ſpeak with the General; and refuſing to deliver his Meſſage to any of his Attendants, he was admitted and brought before the General, with whom he ſpent ſome time alone. His Buſineſs with him, was to make a diſcovery of a Plot, which ſeveral Javians had laid to ſurprize the City of Bantam, and to put all the Dutch Garriſon to the Sword: Upon which the General diſpatch'd an Expreſs to the Governor of Bantam, to Command him to be upon his Guard, and to let him know that he ſhould have a Reinforcement ſent him ſpeedily by Sea and Land.

The Company upon this conceived a great Suſpicion, that the young King might be in this Conſpiracy; But it was upon a cloſe Enquiry, found to be a meer ſurmize; and all his Actions ſhewing ſo much the contrary all along, they continued to treat him with the ſame Reſpect as before: For all the Ring-leaders of this Plot were detected, taken, and puniſhed according to their Deſerts; but not the leaſt thing could be found that might any way reflect on the young King.

The Hermit did not Care to return to his Cottage again: So the Company promiſed him, that he ſhould never want if he would continue with them; which he accepted of readily.

He ſpake ſeven Languages; to wit, Turkiſh, Arabic, Perſian, Mooriſh, Chineſe, Maleiſh, and Javian; and had Travell'd over moſt parts of Aſia and Africa. He had lived 15 years in that Cell; and it was a wonder how a Man ſhould continue there ſo long with any thing of ſafety; conſidering the many Tygers, Leopards, Serpents, and other devouring Creatures that are in great numbers all about that Mountain.

His Dreſs was very much like that of the Armenian Women; ſo that one would not have taken him for a Man; and beſides that, one might have miſtaken him, even tho' one was near him, becauſe he had pull'd his Beard out by the Roots: He was very thoughtful, ſpake but ſeldom, and very gravely. He had above twenty pair of Shooes made of Paſtboard, hung about his Girdle. Inſtead of a Hat, he had a ſort of a Turbant wrapt about his Head made of ſtrip'd Cotton, about twelve Ells long, as the Moors uſually wear.

As to his Diet, he Eat moderately, but loved to have all very good. Whatever he Drank, he poured part of it upon his Head, which was as bare as the Palm of a Man's Head, which was as bare as the Palm of a Man's Hand. The Lodging that was appointed for him was over againſt mine, ſo that I had ſome Converſation with him in the Maleiſh Language. But he was not free of his Diſcourſe, except ſometimes in the Relation of his Voyages, and the Deſcription of the Countries he had ſeen; as to the reſt he ſeemed reſerved. I ask'd him one day, how he came to be an Hermit; to which he replied, juſt as you come to be a Surgeon. But to have done with my capricious Gentleman.

I was ſent for to one of the General's Servants, ſo that I had once more an opportunity of ſeeing the General's Garden, which was one of the fineſt that ever was ſeen; for all kind of Aſiatic or Indian Trees and Flowers, in which were two Parts ſet aſide, the one for all manner of Wild-Beaſts; the other for all ſorts of Birds, of all which, an account would be too tedious: In ſhort, I can hardly think of any rare Creature that was not there to be ſeen.

Two days after this, my Companion and I, and two more, went a ſhooting, about two or three Leagues into the Country, along by the Powder-Mills, upon the River Jacatra: And as we had pretty good ſport, and kill'd a good quantity of Pigeons, Rabbets, &c. we were going to a Negery to refreſh our ſelves, and make Merry with our Proviſions, we ſpying a Rabbet making towards a little Wood; two of us went after him, while the others went forward to get that Dreſs'd which we had kill'd. As we were in purſuit of our Game, my Friend one way, and I the other, I came to a narrow River's ſide, where I ſaw a Man ſitting in a Melancholly poſture, with his Eyes on the Ground. Hearing him groan and ſigh, put me to a ſtand, and ask him what he was; to which he anſwer'd me with a deep ſigh, that he was a poor Hollander. I askt him what he did there, and whither he deſign'd to go. Ah! Sir, ſays he, I know not where I am, nor which way I am to take, but ſurely Providence hath ſent you to my Relief; and ſeeing I have the Happineſs once more to meet with a Chriſtian, I beſeech you to direct me, (if there's any way for't) how I may come to you: Saying this, he fell upon his Knees; ſo I told him, I would get him over, and bid him ſtay there. My Companion had made his ſhoot, and was gone to the reſt: So I went up to the Village, and got a Praw, which I ſent to bring him over to me; and as ſoon as he came over, he guſht out in Tears, and Embracing me, thank'd me moſt paſſionately for my ſeaſonable Aſſiſtance. I deſired him to go along with me to ſome Company I had, which he did; and gave me a ſhort account of himſelf by the way. My Company wondred who I had got with me, but when they were informed what he was, we all help'd to Comfort him, and treated him as we did our ſelves. In that while he inform'd us of the particulars of his Misfortunes: The ſum of which was, That being come over from Delſt, in the Company's Service, as Carpenter, he had been employed in the Kartirian Wars; and as he, with three more, were ſent out to take a View of ſome part of the chief City of that Kingdom, they had the ill Fortune to fall into the Hands of the Enemy, who carried them away Priſoners to Tuban, and there Sold them to a rich Chineſe, who was juſt come thither in a Ship of his own: That Chineſe carried them all four to China, to the Sea-Port Town call'd Quancheu; where after ſeven years of hard Slavery, they found an opportunity, and made their eſcape from thence in a ſmall Boat to the Iſland of Manilha; where they luckily met with a Ship that was coming to Batavia, but as they were got almoſt within reach of it, and within four miles of Land, their Ship ſtruck upon a Shelf, and there ſunk; and he knew of none that had ſaved themſelves but he alone. The Relation of this diſmal Story did affect us ſo, that we were as Melancholly as himſelf.

Our Dinner being over, we return'd to Batavia, and took this poor Man with us, and preſented him to the General, who appointed him a Poſt under the Gunner of the Caſtle, till further Orders.

I need not give the Reader the particular Account which he gave us of his Slavery, it being much the ſame with what we uſe to hear concerning that Condition, and may be found in moſt Books of Travels, eſpecially in thoſe of Ferdinandus Mendez Pinto, who gives an Experimental Account of all ſorts of Slavery, having been himſelf, taken 13 times, and 17 times ſold, in the ſpace of 21 years.

About this time three Ships were getting ready, to go and make a diſcovery of a certain Iſland which lies Northward of Japan. There had been ſome Ships ſent thither ſome years before, but they had all miſcarried; ſome by the way; others (as it was reported) by the attractive power of the Magnetic Mountains were drawn violently to Shore; ſo that to avoid that danger, they contrived the Building of theſe Ships, without Nails or Iron Work. When they were ready, they Beat up for Volunteer Seamen, promiſing them for an Encouragement a Twelve Month's Pay over and above their Wages; half of it to be paid preſently, the other half when they came back. This raiſed Men in abundance, and as faſt as they could wiſh; and in three weeks time, the Ships being ready, went under ſail with 220 Men on Board of 'em.

It is ſaid that Iſland was firſt found out by the Portugueſes, but that they were forced to abandon it by reaſon of the exceſſive Cold and multitude of Wild-Beaſts; for it lies Northward of Tartary. But the Gold, which as it is reported, comes in great ſtore down ſeveral Rivers of that Country, was (I preſume) the only Motive which ſet the Dutch upon making theſe dangerous Attempts, and upon ventring a ſecond time, after ſuch bad Succeſs. What became of this laſt Expedition I never heard; for there came no News of it to Batavia before I came away from thence.

Soon after this, a great piece of Roguery was carried on at Bantam, which unhappily proved ſucceſsful. The Dutch had there under one of the Baſtions, a great Magazine of Powder, and they had unfortunately at that time above 100 Tun of it in the Magazine. A Javian undertook to get in by breaking of the Wall, which he was forced to do by digging a way under Ground quite to the ſide of it. Every day he cloſed up the entrance into his Hole with Earth, ſo artificially and ſo ſoftly, that no body perceived it, and that neither of the two Sentinels that ſtood on the Baſtion heard the leaſt Noiſe at any time. When he was got in, he took a Bamboo-Cane that was hollow, and filling that with Gun-powder, lighted it at one end, and the Fire coming to the Powder in the Cane, gave a great Blow, with ſome Flame, without doing any further harm for the preſent. This alarm'd all the People, who preſently went to ſearch every corner of the Baſtion, to ſee what the matter was, and there the Bamboo-Cane was found, and the Powder that was in it was conſumed: But no ſooner had they open'd the Vault-Door, but the Wind finding a free paſſage, took ſome ſparks of Fire along with it, which lighted among the Powder, and in an inſtant ſet that on Fire, and blew up the whole Baſtion with 16 pieces of Cannon, and above 200 Perſons.

An Account of this Accident was quickly ſent to the General at Batavia, who preſently ſent Men thither; together with Orders to the Governor, and to the young King, to make a diligent Enquiry after the Author's of this Villany: And in a ſhort time, three Javians were diſcovered to be the Men; who were brought bound to Batavia, and confeſs'd, That they were the only Contrivers of that Action; upon which they were all three Condemned to Die. He that had ſet Fire to the Cane, was brought upon a Scaffold erected for that purpoſe, and there Pinch'd with red-hot Tongs from the morning till towards the evening, at which time he was cut into Quarters; ſo that that day was ſpent in Torturing of that Fellow only. The next day the ſecond was ſerved in like manner; The third was Broke upon the Wheel.

We thought the time long now 'ere the Ships went off to Holland, or at leaſt till the time was fixt for their going; which we expected daily ſhould be done: However, we had got our Names upon the Roll, and having time enough, we ventured to take a ſmall Journey together to viſit the Hermits Cells; for which purpoſe we took ſome Javian Guides with us. The Road, we found as it was told us, very commodious, having a great many Inns, and good Accommodation, till we came to the Wilderneſs where theſe Hermits dwell. Within ſix or ſeven miles of which, we came to two Villages, one on one ſide, the other on the other ſide of the River; in the middle of which was a very high Rock, upon which was a Javian Temple. We went to ſee it, and found there only one Reverend Bard, who reſided there all the Year round. That Temple was uſed only two days in the Year, viz. Their New-Year's Day, and the Feaſt of Mahomet, whoſe Sect they follow: And on thoſe Days, there is much Praying and Worſhiping, and great Proceſſions made.

Having taken a View of this, we went on, and came to a Village that is near the Blawen Pepper-bergh, from which we had not above 2 or 3 miles to the place where the Cells are. In that Village we ſtaid the latter part of that Day, and all that Night, in order to ſpend all the next day in ſatisfying our Curioſity; and accordingly we got thither early the next morning. There we ſaw a great many pretty Caves, cut out of the Natural Rocks, and very Artificially contrived. We had been told, that they were poor little miſerable Holes that were not worth the ſeeing; but we were not a little ſurprized to find them ſo neat and delightful, nor leſs pleaſed to ſee how ſucceſsfully they had imitated Nature; inſomuch, that it was hard to judge, whether Nature or Art had had the chiefeſt hand in the ordering of 'em. Theſe Cells were moſt inhabited by a ſort of Men, who in imitation of their Founder, Devote themſelves to a perpetual Auſterity, Mortification, and Self-Denial, as he himſelf had ſet them an Example; aſſuring them, That the Chaſtizing of the Body, would conduce very much to Felicity, and would infallibly draw down God's Bleſſing upon them; ſo that he was look'd upon as a great Saint; and his Followers are valued at no leſs rate all over that Country.

They wore long Gowns after the manner of the Armenian Prieſts, or the Bonzen in Japan. They ſpend all Day and Night in lifting up their Eyes and Hands to Heaven, intimating, That they Deſire nothing here below. The Javians that were our Guides, told us, That they uſed to Eat nothing but Boil'd Herbs, Beans, Roots, and ſuch like Fruits: And that on ſome Days, which they call their Feaſt-Days, they eat Flies, Mice, Scorpions, and Spiders, dreſt with a Juice preſt out of a certain Herb that grows there in abundance, which looks very much like our Sorrel. In this poor Condition they live and die; but in the higheſt Eſteem and Veneration among all the Javians: So that they never fail to be Canonized after their Death, and their Bodies are burnt with great Solemnity, and with all the reſpect imaginable; every one thinking himſelf happy, that can but come and throw in a Bundle of Sweet-Herbs upon the Corps.

Some of thoſe Hermits, thinking that the more they mortiſie the more they are acceptable to their God, Eat nothing but green Herbs and Roots, and that very ſparingly; which makes them look ſo naſtily, that it frightens one to look upon them, and kills them quickly too.

When we had ſeen all we could ſee, we came away time enough to reach the two Villages again before Night; where we ſtaid that night; and the next morning we ſet out early, to get into Batavia as ſoon as we could; becauſe we had a mind to ſhare in the Rejoycing that was to be that day, it being the General's Birth-Day; wherefore we took a Praw, ſeeing the Wind and Tide was for us, and with a very quick paſſage down the River, came to Batavia juſt as the People began to move. All the Burghers and Freemen were in Arms, and drew up before the General's Lodgings in the Caſtle, where after the Diſcharge of all the Cannon about the Caſtle and City, they ſaluted his Excellency with ſeveral Vollies of Shot. Each Nation then came in a diſtinct Body with Preſents to the General; as firſt, the Chineſes, Siamers, Japonneſes, Macaſſars, Amboineſes, Bandaneſes, &c. and even the Javians, who are not permitted to ſet a foot in the Caſtle on any other time, were then let in; but all theſe come but after the Company of Burghers and Freemen, which is compoſed of Dutch, Germans, Engliſh, Danes, French, Portugueſe, and other Chriſtians, born in the Indies, who altogether make one Body. Theſe Preſents are Magniſicent, and one may judge they muſt needs be very conſiderable, when the very Soldiers who ſtood to their Arms under the Caſtle-Gate, had ſome Hundreds of Guildens given them.

Beſides this, all the Streets were full of Lights, Boneſires, and Fireworks; wherein the Chineſes employed their utmoſt Art and Skill: And for three or four days there was nothing but Feaſting and Treating one another.

The time now being come that the Fleet was to go to Holland, and the day fixt, viz. the 12th of February, (in caſe the Weather ſhould permit it) my Friend and I made our Applications to be ordered on Board of one Ship, if it might be thought convenient: And according to our Requeſt, we were aſſign'd on Board the Ship called the Ex-change; which did not as yet lie before Batavia, but was reſitting in the Iſland Onruſt, and was ordered to get-ready to go Commadore of this Fleet, as ſhe was to have gone with the laſt Fleet which went on the 22d of November 1684. but that ſhe was diſabled. Thus we had time enough to make Proviſion for our Voyage.

The Ships being come into the Road before Batavia, ſome days were appointed to Addreſs our Prayers in the moſt ſolemn manner to the Almighty for his Protection, and to Beg of him that he would preſerve us from all Dangers; which was Religiouſly obſerved in the Dutch and Maleiſh Churches.

After this, the General gave Order that the Liſt of thoſe who had ſerved out their time, ſhould be called over; and publick notice of it being given by the Clerk of the Muſters, thoſe who were to go, appeared all with their Arms in good Order, and by Beat of Drum were led into the Caſtle, where they deliver'd their Arms into the Hands of the Armourer: Upon which every Man of 'em was preſented with four Rixdollers, as a Gratuity over and above each Man his Half-year's Pay. Thoſe that wanted more Money, and deſired to have it might be furniſht with it, ſo it was leſs or not more than what the Company owed them, abating or allowing 20 per Cent. and giving an Acquittance of his Money ſo received aforehand, made and ſigned before a Notary Publick.

I Had made Proviſions of all things neceſſary for my Voyage, but eſpecially of preſerved Pepper, Arack, and Tobacco, which are the chief Things for ſuch a long Voyage as that is. I took with me a good quantity of China-Ware, ſome pounds of Tea, and ſome Murus and Parcallen, (which are a ſort of very ſine Linnen) off the Company, upon my own Account, which amounted to a great deal of Money. After this, I went to take my leave of all my Friends, and amongſt others, of our Countryman, of whom I made mention before, who entertain'd my Friend and me with all the Expreſſions of Love and Friendſhip that could be imagined. He gave me a Seal-Ring and a Letter, deſiring me to deliver them to his Wife at Ʋlm, in caſe I got ſafe thither; ſo we parted with Tears in our Eyes all three of us. He conducted us two to the Vierkant or Square, from whence we took a Praw, and went on Board the Exchange; where a Review was made the next day, to ſee if there were no body wanting. All being found there, Orders came the next day, that we ſhould weigh Anchor, and go a Quarter of a League into Sea, and there caſt Anchor again.

Then was there again a Day appointed to Implore the Bleſſing of the Almighty; which was duly obſerved, both at Land, and on Board our Ships. Then the Maſters of the Ships and the Factors were invited a Shore to take their Farewel Dinner with the General, and to receive his Orders for Sailing, and to take their Oaths of Fidelity: After which, they repaired every one to their ſeveral Ships, with Orders to ſet Sail with the firſt fair Wind; but the Wind was ſo changeable for three or four days, that it made us weigh our Anchors, and drop them again four or five times. Some of our more debauch'd Seamen, and others, did ſo fret and fume at theſe frequent Diſappointments, and grew ſo very impatient, that they could not forbear venting their Rage in very undecent and prophane Expreſſions; for which, the Maſter, a good old Man of near 90 years of Age, reproved them very ſharply, and threatned them ſeverely if they did not refrain from ſuch Words; telling them, that this was not the way to obtain their Deſires, but that they ought rather to Pray to God to ſend us a favourable Wind, and patiently wait his Will and Pleaſure.

About 12 of the Clock, in the 5th Night, the Wind came good for us; whereupon, our Maſter as Commadore, ordered a Gun to be fired as a ſignal for the two other Ships to weigh Anchor with us. So we all went under Sail together, for in the Voyages homeward, the Ships are always obliged to go together; and tho' the one may be a quicker Sailer than the other, yet ſhe muſt not run away before the reſt; but ſhe is forced to Furl ſome of her Sails, ſo as the ſloweſt of 'em may keep pace with her; and nothing excuſes their parting from each other but a Storm, or hard Weather; after which they are to rejoyn as ſoon as poſſible.

The next day we came and Anchor'd before Bantam, about a League from Shore near the place where we lay when we went in purſuit of the Pyrates. Our Boat went on Shore, and I went with it, to ſee ſome of my Acquaintance there, and to take my leave of them. Notwithſtanding that the Steward had given me very ſtrict charge not to ſtay, and told me two or three times he was juſt going, I could not part from my Friends readily, and when I came to go, I found my Spark gone; and was told he was gone off half an Hour before, with eight Cows, and other Proviſions that he was come for. When I heard this, I was ready to die with Fear and Grief; and had no other Remedy, but immediately to Hire a light Praw with 16 Oars; When we came out of the River of Bantam into Sea, we ſaw our Ships juſt ready to Sail; for the Wind was very good, and then they looſe no time: However, I pluckt up a good Heart when I ſaw 'em, and encouraged the Javians to pull ſtoutly, and promiſed them ſix Rixdollers amongſt 'em over and above the Bargain, in caſe they overtook our Ship. This made them Row like Tygers, and by that time it was Night, as the Ship was got up to the Iſland Dwars in the Zee, we came in reach of her, at which the Javians ſet up a full Huzza, and I was ſo tranſported with Joy, that I could not but joyn with them very heartily. As ſoon as we could come to faſten by her ſide, I went to get up; but unfortunately made a falſe ſtep, and tumbled down again into the Boat, and ſo Sprain'd my Leg, that I was forced to be drawn up into the Ship, and lie ſtill for ſome days.

The next day, three of the Cows were kill'd and diſtributed among the Ship's Crew. Some days after we paſſed the Streights of Sunda, and came to the Prince's Iſland, where we parted with our Convoy Ships, and ſent them back to Batavia.

As we came by the Prince's Iſland, which lies at the furtheſt corner of Great Java, we came into open Sea, and the Wind being right good for us, we continued our Courſe forward, not being willing to looſe ſo fair a Wind as we had then; ſo that we did not put in there, nor would we ſtay to ſend in our Boats for a Recruit of freſh Water, as it is Cuſtomary; but made the beſt of our way, and fired three Guns to wiſh each other a good Voyage.

We ſteer'd our Courſe now directly towards Cape de Bon Eſperance, Hall'd in our Long-Boat and Shallop, and took in our Anchors, and fitted our ſelves for the Voyage.

When we were got out of ſight of Great Java, a ſecond Review was made of all our Ship's Crew, which amounted to Eighty eight Perſons in all, viz. the Maſter, the Upper Steerſman, two Under Steerſmen, and two Mates, to relieve them from Duty; two Quarter-Maſters, to Order the Watches, which I have given an Account of in the beginning of this Book; a Factor; a Book-keeper; and a Clerk or Aſſiſtant; An Upper Chirurgion, (my ſelf) and an Under Maſter-Chirurgion; a Steward, who diſtributed the Allowances of Meat and Drink to every Perſon according to the Maſter's Orders; a Cook and a Scullion; a Gunner with four Men and Boys, who were likewiſe to help the Steward; a Serjeant; two Maſter Carpenters, and three Mates, a Boatſwain, and his Boy, a Schieman and his Boy; a Provoſt; four Boys; the eight Soldiers, and 32 Mariners; We had no Chaplain, but we had Prayers duly Read by the Book-keeper: There was another Maſter of a Ship, and a Maſter Chirurgion; but neither of them had any Poſt in our Ship, they were only Paſſengers.

We came ſafe with all theſe People, till we got paſt the Iſland, called St. Paul of Amſterdam: After which our greateſt concern was, to paſs ſafe through the Latitude of Madagaſcar, or St. Maurice; which, as I have already told you, is very ſubject to dreadful Storms and Hurricanes, moſt Seaſons of the year; inſomuch, that more Ships are loſt thereabouts, than any where again.

Having eſcaped this place likewiſe, tho' we met with hard weather, we came at laſt, after nine weeks Sail, in ſight of the great Promontory of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, which rejoyced us much. One of the Carpenter's Men had the good fortune to ſpy Land the firſt of any; for which good Tydings, the Maſter preſented him with two Ducatoons and a Quart of Canary, as it was ever the Cuſtom on Board our Ships, to gratifie thoſe that firſt diſcover Land. We immediately looſned our Anchors, and faſten'd them to their Cables, and made directly towards Tafel-Bay, which lay about 20 miles from us. The next day we were within two Leagues of it, it being a very great Snow, and the Weather being very Calm, which was very extraordinary, it being for the moſt part very Bluſtring there all the year round. We hall'd out our Boat, and Long-Boat, into which having ſent ſome of our Men with Oars, they hall'd our Ship into the Haven. This took up half a day, and when we were come to a place where we could caſt Anchor, we did ſo; and hoiſted up our Flags, after which they at Land did the ſame likewiſe upon the Tower of the Caſtle.

Then our Maſter went to Shore, and gave the Governor of the place an account of our Succeſs thus far on our Voyage. Here we found three Ships from Holland, and one Engliſh Fly-boat, riding at Anchor. We were immediately ſupplied with ſome Sheep, Fruits, and Herbs, which were very welcome Refreſhments, and many Hottentots came on Board of us; ſome of which, our Men made ſeveral little Preſents to. Our Men were likewiſe permitted to go on Shore by turns, to refreſh themſelves: Some of our Crew were ſent on purpoſe, that they might go into the Wood to fetch ſome Fuel, and others were ſent for a Recruit of freſh Water.

When I went aſhore, I found the place extraordinary full of People, but moſtly of thoſe Soldiers, which belong'd to the Dutch Ships that lay there. They were brave luſty Men, and very brisk, having met with nothing but good Succeſs in their Voyage thither. Some of their Men were Sick, and carried into the Hoſpital, which was pretty full. I went to ſee it, and told near 200 of them there; moſt of which were forced to be left behind, not being recover'd before the Fleet was obliged to go on, on their Voyage. Theſe Ships being gone off, the Town was left as thin as might be, and every thing was as cheap again; ſo that we had more conveniency of making our ſelves Merry. I ſpent here ſome time very pleaſantly, my Landlord being a very honeſt Fellow, and extraordinary obliging. He was of Newrenberg, and by Employment a Brewer. He having ſome Knowledge of me before this, ſeem'd daily to increaſe his good Opinion and Eſteem for me; and his Daughter, I obſerved likewiſe, to become every day more and more obliging, which I look'd upon as a deſign between them of ſtaying me there: But I was ſo heartily ſet upon my Return home, that I might once again Enjoy the free Liberty of my Religion, that I could not be gain'd upon to alter my Mind upon any kind of Conſideration whatever. A few days after, I found, that what I had ſurmiz'd was true enough; and the Father very kindly made me an Offer of his Daughter, and told me what he was ready to do for me if I would ſtay there; and withal, that he had a great Inclination to go into his own Country, which he was loath to do, unleſs he could by ſuch a means as this, make over his Lands to his Daughter, and put her into Poſſeſſion of them: For a Freeman cannot otherwiſe diſpoſe of what he hath; and if he is deſirous to leave the Country, he cannot Sell his Eſtate, but it muſt fall of Courſe to the Company; ſo that he can take nothing over with him but his Perſonal Eſtate. But neither the Daughter's Beauty, nor the Sweetneſs of his Habitation, could have ſuch an Influence upon me as to make me break my Reſolution. So that without hearkening to him any further than juſt to thank him, I made all neceſſary Preparation, and made me ready to go back to my Ship. But I wonder'd that my Landlord could ever have the Heart to part from ſo pleaſant a place as his was to return home, ſeeing he had that only thing which I wanted, the opportunity of Exerciſing my Religion publickly.

One day I went out by my ſelf to fetch a walk, and as I went muſing along, I found my ſelf before I was aware of it, within a quarter of a Mile of the Lewen-bergh, between which and the Sea, I ſaw ſome of thoſe Hutts which the Hottentots dwell in. Upon ſight of which, my Curioſity led me to go and ſee what kind of life thoſe People led. I went into one of 'em, and there I ſaw a parcel of 'em lying upon the Ground like ſo many Hogs, and faſt aſleep: But as ſoon as they awaked and ſaw me, they ſprung up and came up to me, making a noiſe like Turkies. I was not a little concerned; yet ſeeing they d • d not go about to do me any harm, I pull'd out a piece of Tobacco and gave it them: They were mightily pleaſed with that Preſent, but the way they took to ſhew their Gratitude, and to thank me, was ſo odious to me, that I wiſh'd I had not given them any occaſion of returning me Thanks. For no ſooner had I given them this, but they all lifted up thoſe Flaps of Sheep-Skin which hang before their Privy-Parts to give me a ſight of 'em. What with this beaſtly Behaviour, and what with the naſty ſtench of their Kennels, (as I think I may properly call 'em) I made all haſte to be gone. Some of 'em I found at their Dinner, or rather, Eating, (for that is a word of too much Order and Decency for them.) They had only a piece of Cow-Hide, laid out upon the Coals a Broyling, and to make the Carbonnade more pleaſant, they had ſqueezed the Dung out of the Guts, and ſpread it finely on the Hide to moiſten it, and to give it a reliſh; and this they take when it is broyl'd, and chop it, and ſo Eat it. The very ordering of it in this manner, turn'd my Stomach ſo, that I could not ſtay to ſee the Eating of it: But I made all the haſte I could to be gone. I went from thence directly to the Lewen-bergh, which is a fine pleaſant Hill, not at all Rocky, but cover'd over with Graſs, and affording a moſt pleaſant Proſpect. Here I ſat me down, and took a view of the Country all round me. After I had been there a while, I eſpied at Sea a Ship making to the Port with full Sails; and preſently after I ſaw the Flag hoiſted up in the Caſtle. Upon this I came down to go towards the Fort, and as I was going along the Shore, there ſtood a Servant Maid, who was come to fill a little Tub with Sand: As ſoon as ſhe ſaw me, ſhe cry'd out to me as loud as ſhe could, Maridi ſini Senior: Oh Sir! Pray come and helpme. I ran full ſpeed towards her to help her, and when I came up to her, ſhe ſhewed me a dreadful long Serpent, that had juſt then been devouring a young Hottentot, and had ſwallowed him all up but the Legs, which ſtill ſtuck out of his Mouth. This had put the Maid into a great Conſternation, and made her afraid that ſhe ſhould be his next Prey: And truly being much in the ſame Apprehenſions my ſelf, I betook my ſelf to my Heels, which the Maid ſeeing, ſhe gave a dreadful Shriek, and began to run too. That great Shriek ſhe gave brought out ſome Hottentots that were thereabouts, who came running towards us. As ſoon as they ſaw what was the matter, they got themſelves ready to catch the Serpent; and having brought out ſome long Ropes, they threw them with wonderful Dexterity about its middle, and drawing the Ropes, ſome at one end, ſome at another, as hard as they were able; they held him ſo faſt, that I expected they would have cut him in two. All the while the Serpent Hiſs'd in a fearful manner, and Twiſted it ſelf ſtrangely, but could not ſlip away. At laſt came ſome of the Men with great Poles, with which they knock'd him on the Head. This dreadful Creature was very near 16 Foot long. They faſtned it to a Stick, and let it dry.

This being done, I return'd to the place from whence I came.

In my return I met with ſome Wild Hottentots, who come down thither from the Cafre's Country, about 100 Leagues from thence. They, as I obſerved, are almoſt Blind in the day time, at leaſt extream Dim-ſighted; ſo that they do moſt of their Buſineſs by Night. In the time that I ſtaid in the Cape, I ſaw once one of theſe Wild Prople executed for Theft: He had ſome time before ſtolen ſome Cows and Sheep from ſome of the Freemen, without the Approbation of their King, (which is a Dignity they confer upon ſome one amongſt 'em; and whereever they are, tho' but to the number of five or ſix together, they always make them a King or Captain to Rule over them, without whoſe Conſent no kind of thing is to be done; and in this the Company doth not at all interpoſe, but leaves them to their own Cuſtoms). The Criminal was tied Hand and Foot, and ſtretched out betwixt two Poſts, about half a Man's height from the Ground; after which ſome Men came with great Sticks, and beat him to Death. If they hit him on the Head or Breaſt he is ſoon diſpatcht; but they never give over as long as they find any Breath in him. When he is expired, they carry him to the Wood, and there faſten him to a Bough, and leave him for a Prey to Wild Beaſts.

The Ship that I eſpied coming from the top of the Hill, was an Engliſh Fly-boat, which came and caſt Anchor by the other Engliſh Ship that lay there before. The Maſter gave us an Account of his Voyage, which had been thus far very proſperous. He was bound for Jappan, but was to call at ſeveral Places by the way. He put in here to Treat with the Governour, but about what, I could not be informed.

After we had ſtaid herefull three Weeks, which is more by a Week than Ships generally do, every body was ordered on Board in a readineſs to be going. Our Maſter being Commadore, call'd a Council to ſettle the Orders of their Voyage. The next day a Review was made, where all were found in very good Order, except two that were very ſick; but yet, as ill as they were, they would not ſtay there, but would venture on their Voyage.

The next day, after the Review was made, our Maſter and Factor, together with the other Maſters of Ships, went once more a Shore to wait on the Governor to take their Leave of him; They came back that ſame night in order to go out of the Bay with the firſt fair Wind; which happen'd that very night, being the 23th of May; and then we ſteer'd our Courſe North-Weſt.

All the next day we had the African Coaſts in ſight. Our Water Veſſels were ſhut up again, and dealt out by Portions; which was, a Can to each Perſon once in 24 hours; and half a Quartern of Brandy, or Arack. When we had been a while under Sail, out came a Seaman from under the Hatches, who had hid himſelf there till we were got out in full Sea. He was but juſt come to the Cape with an Engliſh Ship; and being ſent aſhore to fetch in freſh Water, he ſo contrived his Buſineſs as to get in with our Men, being reſolved never to go with the Engliſh again. He was an Hamburgher, a brisk active Fellow: In the hardeſt of Weather, he was firſt and laſt on the Maſt, and extreamly ſerviceable. So that he got the love of every body, and generally had a larger ſhare of the Diſtributions than any of the reſt.

Having now ſailed about 10 days, we came up to St. Hellens, where the Ships that are homeward bound from India ſeldom fail to call; but our Maſter did not think fit to put in there, partly becauſe we had already made great ſtays, and partly becauſe we needed no Proviſions.

In 14 days we found our ſelves under the Line, and the Sun ſtood Perpendicular over our Heads. This was the twelfth time that I paſſed under it in my Voyages to and fro. As ſoon as we came there, our Maſter commanded a White Flag to be hung out; which was the uſual Token for all the Maſters and Steerſmen in the Fleet to come on Board of him. When they were all come together, he open'd their Inſtructions to them, which were, That contrary to the Cuſtom of the Eaſt-India homeward bound Ships, (which was to Steer their Courſe betwixt Scotland and Hitland, in their return to Holland) they ſhould now go round Hitland, and paſs betwixt Fero and Filo, and ſo keep along the Coaſts of Norway, where they ſhould meet with a Squadron of Men of War for their Convoy. And this was accordingly done. But now being our Voyage was made ſo much the longer by theſe Orders than otherwiſe it would have been, they began to ſhorten each Man's Allowance to make it hold out the better.

All this while we got, (Bleſſed be God) all ſafe from under the Line, and were not above ſeven days a paſſing of it. Whereas it is common for Ships to lie there two or three Months, and cannot ſtir for want of a Wind, ſo that what with the Calm, and the exceſſive Heat, they looſe abundance of their Men: But we had but five Men ſick all that time.

From thence we paſs'd to the Gras-Zee, or Graſs-Sea, ſo called from the Graſs which grows there, ſo that the Sea appears juſt like a Meadow, and it lookt to us as if we were already with one Foot upon Land. This held for near 100 Leagues together. We paſs'd through it with a very good Wind, and were very glad to get out of it, notwithſtanding it was a pretty Sight enough. When we pull'd up any of that Graſs, we found it had very long ſmall Roots.

Soon after this we came in ſight of the Iſlands Corvo and Flores, and at the ſame time of the North-Star. Being got thus far, each Seaman's Allowance began to increaſe again. But before this Order was given, the Maſter ſent to Examine all the Proviſions, and had an Account brought him of what quantity there was left of each particular. He finding there was good ſtore of Arack left, and that we had had a very quick Paſſage ſo far, and the Wind continued ſo very fair for us, that it gave us hopes of being quickly at the end of our Voyage, was willing to let the Men enjoy themſelves a little more, and ſo order'd that a pretty good ſhare of Arack ſhould be dealt out to every one of 'em. But there being ſeveral that were ſick, and could not uſe their Arack themſelves, diſpoſed of it to thoſe that were well, who having then too much of that ſtrong Liquor, made themſelves exceeding Drunk, and committed a great deal of Diſorder: For tho' there is very ſevere Laws on Shipboard, and thoſe are generally Executed with Rigour, yet ſuch is the Seamen's Temper, that they ever grow more diſorderly and ungovernable as they come nearer home. Wherefore our Maſter being a very good honeſt old Man, reſolved to let none have any more, but thoſe that were in a fit Condition to Drink it themſelves; And that this might be obſerved punctually, he order'd the Under Steerſman to ſtand by every day, and to ſee every body Drink their own Portion: By this means he put a ſtop to thoſe Diſorders, and prevented a great deal of Miſchief.

When we came more and more in ſight of the North-Star, we began to be very chearful, and fell a Singing of the Hymn,

Hoe Schoon light ons de Morgen-Star.

But by that time we got a little beyond the Iſland Fero, the Weather began to ſeem very Cold to us, tho' it was in the very middle of the Summer, that we could not bear to ſit above Deck, till we had got ſome more Cloaths on. What made us ſo very ſenſible of Cold was, that we came from ſo Hot a Country as the Indies is. Here we obſerved, That the day was 20 hours long, and that in the four hours that the Sun was below our Horizon, it ſtill gave ſo much light on the one ſide, or the other of us, that a Man might make ſhift to Read any Book of a fair Character any time of the Night, by the help only of that refracted light.

The next day our Maſter, and Steerſmen, judged that we were not far from Hitland. Then we ſaw continually great Flocks of Birds and flying Fiſh, which fell down in great numbers in our Ship. So Orders were given to watch on the Main-top-Maſt-Head, and about the Evening one cry'd out Land. The Mountains aſſured us ſufficiently that it was Hitland; therefore we bore directly upon it with a brisk Gale, and no ſmall Joy it was to us, that we were thus happily drawing apace towards our Country.

Thus we kept ſailing all the next day along that Coaſt, within about a League from it, and ſo paſt it. Quickly after that we ſpied four Men of War, which we concluded were our Convoy; and being come ſomthing nearer, we perceived them to be ſo by their Colours: Upon which, we hung out ours, and fired ſome Guns for a Signal. We likewiſe Hall'd out our Boats to go on Board them, but the Wind hindred us from doing it. All the while we came nearer and nearer, and the Convoy having a ſmall Tender with them, they loaded it with Proviſions, and ſent it towards us; as it is always the Cuſtom to meet the homeward bound Ships, and to bring them freſh Victuals, &c. to refreſh them after ſuch a long Voyage. They brought ſome Veſſels of Beer, Sack, Butter, Cheeſe, Tobacco, Pipes, and Brandy.

When theſe things were brought on Board of us; one Veſſel of Beer was put on the one ſide of the Main-Maſt, and another on the other ſide; and thoſe were free for any body to go to, and Drink at Diſcretion.

But we did not long Enjoy our ſelves thus; For as we were juſt coming to a pitch of Mirth and Jollity, ſuch a dreadful Wind aroſe, as we had not met with any thing like it in our Voyage; and it terrified us ſo much the more, becauſe we were near home, where we thought our ſelves ſecure, not dreaming of any farther danger. The night came upon us, and our Ship being very old and crazy, began to ſpring ſeveral Leaks, ſo that we were forced to keep continually a Pumping. The Weather was ſo cold, the night ſo dark, and the Wind ſo very boiſterous, that we were paſt all hopes, except what we had in God's Gracious Providence, and to that alone we committed our ſelves. The morning came, but gave us but a ſmall Relief, for the Wind was as terrible as before; and ſo it pleaſed God to hold on for four days together without Intermiſſion; at the end of which, God was pleaſed to Calm the Wind and Seas, and reſtore us to our former Peace and favourable Gales; for which we all heartily offer'd up our Thanks to the Almighty.

Here we loſt our Upper Steerſman, who had been ſick moſt of the Voyage, and we threw him overboard.

We had after this hard Weather, a pretty good Gale of Wind which brought us quickly in ſight of the Northern Coaſts. We ſail'd then all along by them, and ſteer'd our Courſe directly upon Holland, reckoning to reach the Maes in three or four days more. In our Courſe we met with ſome Fiſhermen, who came a-board of us, and ſold us ſome freſh Herrings. This was to me the greateſt Feaſt I had had a great while, and I think I never liked any thing better in my life. Among thoſe Fiſhermen, there was one, that was as he ſaid, 142 years old; and becauſe we ſcrupled to believe him, he ſhew'd us an Extract of his Birth out of the Regiſter-Book: He was as Active at his Buſineſs as any of his Fellows.

Shortly after this came a Pilot on Board of us, and by Orders from the Company, took the Government of the Ship on himſelf, and diſmiſt the Maſter: So we came to caſt Anchor before the Briel. As ſoon as we had caſt Anchor here, the Deputies of the Company came on Board of us: They are generally two of the oldeſt that are Deputed for that purpoſe. Theſe Gentlemen call'd all the Ship's Crew together, and thank'd them in the name of all the Company for their Faithfulneſs and Diligence in their Service; from which they immediately freed them, and promiſed them that they ſhould be paid with ſpeed: After which, every one was at liberty, and was carried to Shore in ſome ſmall Ketches that came for that purpoſe.

Immediately upon this, came other Seamen on Board the Ship, which they call Sjouwers. Theſe Furl'd in all the Sails, and took them down; fired all the Guns and charged them again. All the Proviſions they found remaining was theirs. Every one of us was forced to leave his Cheſt on Board, they being all to be brought to the Eaſt-India Houſe, and there to be Search'd.

The Wound I had received in the Wars of Bantam had of late been a little uneaſie to me; and the two Bullets which were ever ſince that time in my Leg, began to be a little troubleſome: But now my Pain increaſed ſo faſt upon me, that in a very little while after we came to the Briel, I was no more able to walk at all by my ſelf; but was forced to be carried into a Houſe by a Couple of our Men. I was ſorry I had not a little more time to Eaſe my ſelf here; but the reſt being ready to go for Rotterdam, I was obliged to be gone along with them.

Being come to Rotterdam, and having within 3 days time received my Cheſt back again, as all the reſt likewiſe had. I was forced to go from thence to Amsterdam, that being the Chamber where I had engaged my ſelf; and from which I was to receive my Money. Thither I went partly by Land, and partly by Water; but either way with ſo much pain and uneaſineſs, that all the Hardſhips I had undergone in all my Voyages were not to be compared to that: Yet was I full of Acknowledgement to Almighty God, who had deliver'd me out of ſo many Extream Dangers to which I had been expoſed, from the mercileſs Sea, fierce and cruel Serpents and Beaſts; and from ſeveral Heathens of many Nations more Barbarous than them all, and had brought me again into a Chriſtian Country. And though I was not in Health of Body, yet it was an exceeding Comfort to me, to have ſo good Opportunities again of making better Proviſion for my Soul, and to participate of that Holy Sacrament from which I had been abſent during ſeven years. Wherefore being in this weak Condition, the chief thing I deſired was to have a Miniſter, and to receive the Communion. My Landlady help'd me to one who was the Miniſter of the German Lutheran Church at Amsterdam, from whoſe Pious Diſcourſe, and Abſolution, together with the Bleſſed Sacrament, I received an exceeding great Comfort, and then very chearfully reſign'd my ſelf up to the Almighty's Pleaſure. I thank'd my Ghoſtly Father for his Kindneſs, and made him a Preſent of ſix Ducatoons, ſome Roſes of Jericho, and ſome China Ware.

My Pain encreaſing rather than diminiſhing, and I growing daily worſe and worſe, I ſent for a Doctor and two Chirurgions, not willing to truſt to my own Skill only. And being I was not able to go and receive my Money my ſelf, I was obliged to ſend a Perſon to the East-India Chamber to receive my Money and Goods, by Virtue of a Letter of Attorney which I gave him. The Money that was Due to me from the Company did not amount to more than 4 or 500 Ducatoons, which was all the Fruit of my Labours; except ſome conſiderable Eaſt-India Goods I had brought over on my own Account, which I had to Sell: But by that time I had ſatisfied my Attorney, my Doctor, and the two Chirurgions, and defray'd the reſt of my Charges, I found my Bag very light. My Doctor did not coſt me above Forty Dutch Gilders: The two Chirurgions, who were two of the moſt famous Artiſts in the whole City of Amſterdam, had Eighty Rixdollars; They had taken out my two Bullets, and cleared the Bone of above Twenty Splinters, great and ſmall: For my Lodging, I paid TWO Rixdollars a Week, and had but a very poor Accommodation neither. The Apothecary too came in with a hideous Bill. In ſhort, I ſhould have been but in a miſerable Condition if I had not had Money: And that went after ſuch a Rate, that in leſs than Three Months time I had ſpent above 300 Ducatoons. However, I began to recover a little, and my pain was not ſharp as before; tho' I could not go or ſtand as yet: But as ſoon as I was able to ſtir, I was reſolved to continue my Journey, and ſet out of this place, and endeavour to get home, whatever befel me. And in order thereunto I took a Coach to carry me to the Ʋtrecht-Poort, where I took Boat for Ʋtrecht, and from thence went to Nimeguen, and ſo paſſed through Cleveland to Cologne. By that time I was got hither, I was ſo fatigued, that I was not in a capacity of moving any further; and therefore I was forced to lie ſtill here for near three Weeks; during which time, I ſpent a great deal of Money again, and was ſo weak that I had hardly any hopes of ever reaching ſo far as home; nor did any Body think I ſhould ever have recover'd. But it pleaſed God to Bleſs human Endeavours, ſo that I recovered a little again; upon which I immediately got my ſelf carried to the Rhine, and there went on Board a Ship which carried me to Mentz, and thence to Franckfort. Some Relations and Gentlemen of my Acquaintance were ſo kind as to come to meet me before I got Embark'd on the Rhine; but I was not in a Condition to take notice of them. However, they were ſo Civil, as to Convoy me along the Shore. When I was come to Franckfort, I was forced to ſtay without the City two days before they would permit me to enter, and the Weather being very Cold, I made but a poor ſhift in the Ship all that while: till at length, the Chirurgions came to me, and went themſelves to the Burgher-Maſter; upon which I was let in to the City that very night, tho' late. It being hard to get a Lodging in an Inn at that time of night, ſome good Friends of mine carried me to a private Houſe, where ſome of my Acquaintance came to Viſit me. One of them got me a Coach, which in ſeven days time brought me to the place where I ſo earneſtly deſired to be, the City where I was Born. There I found all my Dear Siſters alive and well, who received me with all the Demonſtrations of that ſincere Love and Affection they had for me, and were extreamly Serviceable to me.

Thus I finiſh'd my Travels, which had taken up Nine whole years: And by the Faithful Relation which I here give thee of them: Thou mayſt not only ſee, what Dangers and Difficulties I have been expoſed to in ſo many various Adventures, but alſo thou oughteſt to Admire the wonderful Goodneſs of God, who ſo wonderfully delivers Men, and never forſakes thoſe that put their Truſt in him. And not being able to Praiſe him ſufficiently my ſelf for his great and ſignal Mercies to me, I heartily deſire that every thing that hath Breath may Praiſe the Lord.