Sea which is almost 2000 Leagues in Circumference includes that of the Kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark the Countries of Mecklenberg Pomerania Prussia Courland and Livonia most of which supply the Dutch with a prodigious Quantity of all sorts of Grain abundance of Copper Iron Steel Arms of all sorts Wood and Timber Hemp Flax Pitch Tar and several other Commodities They carry a much greater Quantity of Goods from the Baltick than they bring to it the Consumption being very inconsiderable in those Parts unless it be at Dantzick which is the common Magazine or Store-house of Poland the Discount or Overplus they pay in Rixdollars which they bring along with them As most of the Commodities that come from the Baltick Sea are bulky and very heavy that Trade employs a great Number of Ships and the Dutch send thither every Year 1000 or 1200. Denmark yields but few Commodities to Strangers and the Trade of that Kingdom is nothing near so considerable as that of Norway the Dutch bring a pretty good Quantity of Wheat from the sinall Island of Laland which is very fruitful in all sorts of Grain especially Wheat About forty Years ago they used to lade about twelve Ships with Rye from the Isle of Zeland but the Boors now a-days scarce Sow more than what suffices for their Subsistance The Dutch bring also every Year vast Numbers of lean Horn'd Cattle from Jutland which they turn into the Meadows in Holland to fatten and this is none of the least profitable Articles in the Dutch Trade Denmark has no considerable Port but that of Copenhagen which in reality is one of the finest in the World Sweden supplies the Dutch with more Commodities than Denmark and its Trade is much more considerable The principal Goods they bring from this Country are Copper the best in Europe Iron Steel great Quantities of all sorts of Arms made of those Mettals as Muskets Pistols Cannons for Ships Bullets Pikes Helmets Breast-Plates and Brass Wire not to mention vast Quantities of other Goods and Commodities as Lead Copper Pitch Tar Masts Planks and Barks made of Deal the best in the North. The Dutch on their Part furnish Sweden with the same Commodities as they do Denmark and much about the same Quantity viz. Spices and Drugs of all sorts Salt Sugar Wines Brandies Linnen Silks and Woollen Stuffs and such other Manufactures as those two Northern Kingdoms stand most in need of The Dutch may be said to be in some sort the Masters of the greatest Part of the Swedish Trade since they are of the Copper The Farmers of these Mines having always Occasion for Money sell this Commodity to the Merchants of Amsterdam who advance them whatever Sums they want 'Tis just the same with their Pitch and Tar the same Merchants buying most of these Goods from the King's Farmers and making them besides very considerable Advances This is the Reason why these and other Swedish Goods are sold as cheap at Amsterdam as in Sweden itself The chief Trade this Kingdom has with Foreigners is at Stockholm the Capital City and some other Ports of the ancient Dominions of Sweden as well as those of its Conquests in Germany and Poland of which I shall discourse hereafter Pomerania in the Year 1648 was divided by the Treaty of Osnabrugh between the Swedes and Brandenburghers that Part of it which is washed by the Oder and the Ports of Stralsund Wolgast and Stetin belong to the King of Sweden and the other Part where Colberg a Place of great Commerce is situated belongs to the Elector of Brandenburg Pomerania abounds in great Quantities of Corn vast Numbers of Cattel Skins Leather Wool Timber c. the Isle of Rugen which is one of its Dependencies produces a great deal of Wheat Stetin the Capital of Pomerania situated on the Oder is a Place of the greatest Trade with Strangers in that Province that of Silesia are of the richest and most fruitful Provinces in Germany in Corn Honey Butter Wax Lead Iron Wooll Tin Flax Linnen and Woollen Cloths is also carried on in Stetin which likewise shares great Part of the Trade of the Marquisate of Brandenburg the River Oder runing thro' both Provinces The Dutch among other Things export from Pomerania all sorts of Corn vast Quantities of coarse Wooll Silesia Linnen Timber Masts and other Commodities Prussia is divided into two Parts viz. the Royal Prussia belonging to the Crown of Poland and the Ducal Prussia in subjection to the Marquis of Brandenburg now King of Prussia which Title was conferr'd on him by this Emperor's Father about 10 or 12 Years since This Kingdom or rather demy-Demy-Province is very fruitful in Wheat which is look'd upon to be better than that any in Poland it has several very good Sea-Ports amongst which Dantzick Koningsberg and Memel are the most considerable The two last are in the Ducal and the first in the Royal Prussia and almost all the Polish Trade is carried on in that Port But before I treat of this Branch of Trade I shall speak a few Wordsin relation to that of the Ducal Prussia part of which is carried on at Koningsburg a Town situated at the Mouth of the Pregel this Port is much frequented by the English as well as Dutch the large Vessels commonly unlade at Pil'aw a Port formerly a Fortress only on the Mouth of the Friscknaff that they may the more easily go up to Koningsberg besides the Commodities of the Country that abound here Lithuania and Poland send to this Place by the Way of Pregel great Quantities of Oak for Coopers Work abundance of Ashes Wheat Leather Furrs Rice Honey Wax Barley Millet and Hemp. The Dutch bring likewise to Koningsberg Cloths Wines Cheese Salt Tobacco Spices Iron Lead Tin and old Dutch Dollers Poland is the most fruitful Country in the World in all sorts of Grain good Pasturage Cattle Wax and Honey besides Mines of Salt Iron Lead Copper Quicksilver Vitriol Salt-Petre and Sulphur All the Commerce of this great Kingdom is chiefly carried on at Dantzick some small Part excepted at the other Ports of Prussia and Livonia The Situation of Dantzick on the Mouth of the Vistula is wonderfully commodious for Trade for that River which is one of the most famous in Europe from South to North runs thorough the greatest Part of the fertile Plains of Poland and is almost Navigable all along its Course which is more than 300 Leagues This makes Dantzick one of the chief Towns in Europe as well on Account of its great Trade as its vast Extent and Riches The great Magazines of Wheat in this Place make it be taken Notice of by all Europe and for that Reason Dantzick is commonly call'd the Granary of the Northern Kingdoms and the United Provinces Besides Dantzick properly speaking is a Republic governed by its own Laws under the Protection of the Crown of Poland The Inhabitants have this Privilege that none but they can buy any Polish Corn if
Baltick which made Ferdinand II. endeavour with all his Power to make himself Lord of that Sea That House has since made frequent Attempts to trouble their Commerce but with very little Success I design one time or other more fully to set forth what the Dutch have done in relation to their Trade either by private Negociations or open Force But in the mean while I shall say this in short that one of the Fundamental Maxims of their Government is by all means possible to hinder the Merchants of the North to Trade in too great Numbers to the Southern and Western Parts of Europe and these on the other hand from trading in too great Numbers to the North. This Republick being so advantagiously situated in the middle of both will always with her utmost Power endeavour that the Trade of Europe should not be carried on but through her hands by which means she will always have that good Fortune of knowing the Secret how to sell all sorts of Merchandize cheaper than any other Country and almost as cheap as where they were first made and produc'd CHAP. VI. Of the Trade of the Elbe Wezer Rhine and the Maese THE Dutch carry on good part of the German Trade by way of these Rivers the three last of which disembogue themselves into their Estates This Trade is very advantageous on account of the Provisions and Merchandize that are convey'd to them by these ways as by the great Consumption that is made by what is sent back in Return The Elbe takes its Source in Bohemia and after having travers'd that Kingdom and the Electorates of Saxony Brandenburg and Hanover falls into the Ocean about 20 Leagues below Hamburgh 'Tis in this City the most rich and flourishing in all Germany for Trade that the Dutch secure to themselves that of the Elbe that is the Trade of the best part of the Provinces of the Lower Germany The Dutch carry to Hamburgh such Commodities as arise from their own Manufactures of Silk and Wool small Wares Spices Drugs and other Necessaries Hence they have their Brass Wire White Iron as they call it or Tin'd Plates made in Saxony Corn Timber for Shipping and for the most part all other Commodities of the North. The Dutch sometimes go up the Elbe as far as Harburgh and Madgeburgh where they lade great Quantities of Wood and Wine which they buy there and sometimes hew down whole Forests and take away the Wood as they have Occasion The People of Hamburgh in short have such a considerable Trade to all the Ports of Europe that their City has gain'd the Name of little Amsterdam The Wezer like the Elbe runs thro' a good part of the fertile Provinces oâ— the Lower Germany The City of Bremen which is situated on this River 15 Leagues before its falling into the Sea is a Place of great Trade both active and passive and I am very well inform'd it has the right of Staple The Provinces bordering on the Wezer and the Rivers that fall into it all along its vast Course furnish Bremen with excellent Timber of greater Esteem and Value and much dearer than that of Norway and the Baltick as also Wheat Wool several sorts of Mettals and Beer that of Brunswick call'd Mum is the best and most esteem'd a great deal of which as well as that of Bremen is sent to the East Indies The Dutch buy these with their Silk and Woollen Stuffs and sometimes with their small Wares and Wood for Dying as Logwood c. The whole Trade of the River Ems that runs thro' all Westphalia is at Emden a Town of vast Trade well affected to the United Provinces Besides the Horses and Oxen the Dutch bring from East Friezland Hams Timber Woollen Cloth Linnen of several sorts made by the Inhabitants of the Bishopricks of Munster and Paderborn come down the River of Ems to Emden The Trade of the Rhine is one of the most Important the Dutch have for besides that this River is Navigable almost every where from Switzerland where it has its Source to its falling into the Holland Seas it takes along with its Stream which is almost 300 Leagues in length many large Rivers of which the Moselle and Mein are the most considerable The many rich and fruitful Provinces that it washes furnish Holland with a vast Quantity of rich Merchandize with which she again supplies other Countries Cologne the most considerable of all the Towns on the Rhine and long since celebrated for Commerce is a Place of the principal Trade of that River as well as of the Moselle 'tis the great Mart for Rhenish Wines which are there bought up for the United Provinces where there is a prodigious Consumption of them The Moselle which runs thro' all Loraine and the whole Electorate of Triers falls into the Rhine at Coblentz and unlades there vast Quantities of its Wines There comes down to Cologne by these two Rivers a great deal of excellent Oak Besides Wine and Timber the Dutch bring thence Iron Cannons and Bullets and fond thither from Holland then own Manufactures of Silk and Woollen Stuffs Spices Sugar Cheese Herrings and other Necessaries These Goods are likewise disposed of to all the other Towns on the Rhine and Moselle from whence come the same sort of Merchandize in Return as from Cologne tho' not in that abundance or with so much conveniency The Mâ—… that looses itself in the Rhine near Mentz after having travers'd all Pranconiâ—… one of the finest and most fertile Countries of all Germany has open'd a Way for a vast Trade in Frankfort its Capital City where there are two noted Fairs kept every Year the Dutch come thither to buy Iron and Cutlers Ware made at Nuremberg Copper and great Quantities of other Merchandize and bring thither from their own Country Silk Cloth small Wares Ribands Spices Drugs and all sorts of Wood for dying In short there is not a Town near the Rhine and the Rivers that flow into it but consumes a World of Goods of the growth and Manufactury of Holland in exchange of their own The Dutchies of Juliers and Berghs belonging to the Elector Palatine furnish Flax Thread and Linnen as do all the other Countries thereabout By the Maese the Dutch carry on a great Trade particularly with the Towns of Liege and Aix la Chapelle the first is situated on that River and the other not far off but almost all the Trade of the Meuse is at Liege where are sold Serges Slate Pit Coal Iron and Steel Work Bullets Bombs Granadoes Arms Lead Brazier's Ware made at Aix la Chapelle which has its Brass and Copper from Holland and Liege Into this last Town the Dutch bring all sorts of Merchandize made of Silk and Wool Spices and Drugs for the Surgeon and Apothecary The Dutch ever had a watchful Eye to preserve the Liberties of Cologne and the Navigation of the Rhine They have in like manner frequently protected the Liberties of
Cloths c. The Coast from Suratte to Cape Comorin and which comprehends that of Malabar furnishes them chiefly with Pepper the Company who possess'd there a great many considerable Places in the Year 1664 entered into several Treaties with the Kings of those Cantons whereby they engaged to sell them all their Pepper They bring from the Coast of Coromandel in which I include the Kingdom of Golconda great Quantities of Cotton and Callicoe of all sorts that which they call Chints which is painted with several Colours is most valuable of any that is made in the Indies for the Colours never wear out but last as long as the Cloth it self The Kingdom of Golconda also yields Indigo Bezoar Stones and yellow Diamonds The Coast of Coromandel is the most important to the Company in the Year 1663 they brought thence as many Goods as cost two Millions and four hundred Thousand Florins or Guiders and which consisted chiefly in Callicoes part of which was sent to Holland and the rest to Persia and Turkey The Dutch to secure themselves the Commodities of the Coast of Coromandel carry thither Spices Copper of Japan Malacca Tin and Gold Oar from Sumatra Quicksilver Vermillion Camphire Elephants Teeth Siampan and Sandal Wood. The Kingdom of Bengal which belongs to the Great Mogul is one of the largest and most fruitful Provinces of Asia Silk Salt-Peter and Sugar are produced here in great Plenty the Silk is look'd upon to be the best in all India the Village of Cazambazar and the Neighbouring Villages can furnish 32000 Bales 100 Pound Weight each the Dutch generally take six or 7000 Bales and would more were they permitted part they send into Europe the rest they trade with to Japan The Saltpeter Trade is very considerable for that Commodity is here produc'd in great Plenty and there is no better in the World The Dutch have a Magazine or Place for Stores at Choupar four Leagues below Patua where they refine Saltpeter for if it be not refined and made transparent 'tis of little Value and when it is refined 'tis three times dearer than before But besides this the Dutch bring from Bengal several sorts of woven Silks and other Silk works Callicoes Musk and fine Rhubarb these two last come from the Kingdom of Boutan lying on the North of Bengal The Dutch bring hither Spices Copper Tin Lead Quicksilver Vermillion Elephants Teeth Siampan and Sandal Wood Cloth Coral and Amber All these Commodities are very gainful The Company the better to carry on this important Commerce have several Store-houses in Bengal Ongly which is the chief Port has a Magazine built all of Free-stone defended by 4 Bastions and a Fort with good Ditches mounted with 12 Pieces of Cannon and tho' this Place is 30 Leagues distant from the Mouth of the River Ganges Ships nevertheless sail thither by the Care they have taken to facilitate that Navigation The Trade of the Kingdoms of Pegu Siam and the Point of Malacca is likewise very considerable The first of which yields Lacca Gold Silver Rubies and Sapphires They bring to these Places Spices Pepper Sandal-Wood Callicoes from Golconda and Bengal Siam is a large Kingdom well peopled and produces abundance of Rice Elephants Teeth Tin Lead Siampan Wood which is a good Commodity in all Parts of India as well as Deer-skins which they trade with to Japan Here is also a great Quantity of Gold and the finest and most beautiful Porcelain The Dutch take these Goods and in return bring to Siam Spices Pepper Amber Red Coral Quicksilver Sandal Wood Cloves c. The Company by a particular Priviledge they have exclusive of all other Nations bring hence Ligor Tin which they sell to several Parts of the Indies and Europe at a good Price The King of Siam as powerful as he is trades very much and sends out Merchant Ships to several Parts of the Indies and even to Japan which makes Siam his Capital City very Famous for Traffick The Trade of the Point of Malacca is very considerable the Company by means of this important Place do what they please in the Streights of Malacca and the neighbouring Places viz. Jor Ligor Jambi Queda Pera Sumatra c. in which there is a great vent for the rich Carpets of Bengal and several sorts of Callicoes of the Coast of Coromandel They bring thither also Pieces of Eight and have in return especially at Queda Pera and Ligor good Quantities of Lead and Tin two very necessary Commodities and very profitable in the Company's Trade especially at Bengal and Persia The chief Riches of the Kingdom of Tonquin consist in Silks which is highly esteemed and very beautiful Musk Lignum Aloes c. and by these the Traders of the Country and the Dutch gain a great deal of Gold from China and Silver from Japan The Dutch take off great Quantities of all these Commodities in Exchange of their Spices Quicksilver Vermillion Amber and Cloth c. The China Trade was always looked on to be the richest of all Asia on Account of the Value and great Quantites of Merchandize transported thence The Portugueze are the only Nation of Europe that have been permitted to settle at Macar and trade openly in China In the Year 1686 they were still the only People that enjoy'd that Priviledge I have been informed by Persons that seem'd to be well vers'd in these Affairs that the English and Dutch come into certain Ports of China where they trade by the Authority of the Governour of the Province neither of them having any Interest or Access to the Emperor's Court as the Portugueze have From the very first time that the Dutch came into the Indies they try'd all they could to establish their Commerce in China but have ever been unsucceessful in their Attempts They conceiv'd in the Year 1685 great Hopes to bring it to pass there flew about a Report that the Emperor being in peaceful Possession of all China in the Design he had to make Trade flourish was willing to permit all Foreign Traders to come and settle in all Maritime Places in his Dominions Upon which the Dutch Company sent an Ambassador to that Monarch to desire Liberty of Commerce In November 1686 News came to Batavia that the Ambassador was arrived in China and 'twas not doubted but he would accomplish his Designs Here follows an exact Account of all the Commodities that are commonly brought from China viz. Woven and Raw Silks of all sorts in great Quantities Tin Copper Steel Iron and several sorts of Tools and Instruments of different Metals curiously wrought Cotton Callicoes and Fine Camblets Hemp and Hempen Cloth Great Quantities of very fine Gold Precious Stones Lapis Lazuli and delicate Marble Wood of Aquila Brazil and Ebony Tea Sugar Musk and candied Ginger Quicksilver China-Roots and Rhubarb Pale and High-colour'd Amber Porcelain or China-Wine and other Vessels of fine Earth Cabinets and an infinity of other Wares finely varnished not to be
Company is obliged to take all that the Amboiners bring them for which they are to allow them 8. d. a Pound Nutmegs and Mace grow only in the Isle of Banda of which the Dutch are likewise Masters and they take great care to hinder the increase of these Trees and have used the same precautions to secure to themselves this rich Commerce as well as that of Cinnamon and Cloves They were not Masters of the Cloves and Nutmegs till they had conquered the King of Macassar and to rid themselves of all Apprehensions for the future they obliged him to drive all the Portugueze out of his Country and shut out of his Sea-ports all Ships that should come from Europe except those belonging to the Dutch Company which has effectually made them absolute Masters of that rich Trade For the People of the Isle of Macassar being near Neighbours to those of the Molucca Islands used to take under Hand vast Quantities of Cloves and Nutmegs and sell them to the Portugueze and English at a lower Price than the Company which di not a little prejudice their Commerce In short the Dutch have spared no Pains to secure to themselves only the Spice Trade Spices being Commodities much esteemed and sought after all over the World and wholly possessed by the Dutch have put them in a Condition to dispose of all other Commodities in the Universe In a Word the Spices are the Basis of their great Commerce and go as ready Money in a great many Countries How great soever the Quantities of Cloves brought into Europe may be they sell yet much more in the Indies where the Company have fixed the Price of Cloves to 75 Stivers a Pound and Nutmegs after the rate of 60 Stivers when they give them in Payment An English Memorial made in the Year 1663 says that the Dutch with the Spices that they sell in the Great Mogul's Country Persia Bengal and Coromandel and all along the Coasts of the Red-Sea both in Arabia and Egypt c. buy the Provisions and other Commodities of these vast Kingdoms proper for Europe and other Parts of the World To the Spices I may add Pepper and Ginger Pepper grows chiefly on the Coast of Malabar and in the Island of Sumatra and Java of which there are two sorts the large and small most part of the large sort comes from Malabar and is what generally is sent into Europe the small comes from Bantam Achem c. very little of this sort comes to us for the Mahometans consume almost all of it Pepper is a Commodity that abounds very much in those Parts and costs the Dutch but little in the Indies It sells so well in Persia Arabia China and Japan that those Empires produce nothing but what may be purchased by Pepper which is the only Commodity that goes as ready Money and by which they get Cent per Cent at least It is very true that there is greater Consumption of Pepper in the Indies than in Europe and I have been assured by Persons of good Credit and Capacity that it is more wholsome in those hot Countries than in cold and temperate Climates The Indians put it whole into their Dishes or at most but bruised and never ground as we do and so do the Mahometans The English have often complained and not without Reason that the Dutch do all they can to make themselves Masters of the Pepper as they now are of the Spice Trade and particularly in the Parliament which was held in the Year 1669 after this Manner viz. We are very well assured that the Dutch have long since had a Design to force the Princes and Governours along the Coasts of Malabar Achem the Western Coast of Sumatra and Java c. and those Princes and Governours have often reported that they have force them not only to enter into Treaties with them in Relation to their Pepper and other Commodities of the growth of their Country but in their Treaties of Peace have ty'd them up to hinder all other Nations from trading with them and have actually made War against those who would not accept of such Conditions they have even block'd up their Ports and forbid Entrance to other People And by these Means have taken from them all liberty of Trade till such Times as they have made them comply with their Demands which practices tend to the Ruin of the English Trade in the East-Indies Ginger is the Root of a Tree somewhat like a Rose-Tree growing about Malabar a Town in the Great Mogul's Country and which yields the greatest Quantities and supplies all foreign Parts The Indians English Dutch and all the People of the North use a great deal of candied Ginger to warm the Stomach and help Digestion Amongst the Drugs I may reckon Indigo Saltpetre Sugar Lacca Ambergreece Musk Tea Rhubarb Borax Benzoin Bezoar c. Indigo is made of an Herb much resembling our Hemp they rot the leaves in little Ponds made for that Purpose which reduce them to a Kind of Clay and then a little afterwards it becomes Indigo all that which comes from the East-Indies for there is some that comes likewise from the West-Indies is made only in the Mogul's Country except a small Quantity that comes from the Kingdom of Golconda that which is made in the Province of Agra is esteemed the best It is believed the Dutch every Year bring into Europe 50 or 60 Thousand Weight of Indigo from Agra good part of which is sent into Germany and Muscovy where they use it as as they do in other Countrys for dying Blue Saltpetre as well as Indigo comes from the Mogul's Country Agra and Pattua two Towns in the Kingdom of Bengal yield the most This is a very considerable Article in the Dutch Trade and from thence they bring vast Quantities and as good as any in the World The last Fleet that came from the Indies on the Companies Account brought 28170 Quintals which was all consumed in Holland in making Gun-powder for the Republick There is also in the said Kingdom of Bengal much coarse Sugar which the Dutch buy in great Quantities to refine in Holland and sell afterwards with great Profit Lacca is particularly to be had in the Kingdoms of Pegu and Azen and in the Province of Bengal and Guzoratte It is a Kind of Gum which exquisite Production is made by a Sort of Indian Ant or Pismire much after the same Manner as the Bees make their Honey There is red Lacca and black but there is nothing the Quantity of the black as the red Sort out of the red the Indians have the Secret to extract that beautiful Scarlet Colour with which they dye their Silks and Callicoes and they make it serve for any other Colour they please they also use it to lacquer their fine Cabinets and other Indian Works and to make a Kind of Sealing-Wax 'Tis a good Commodity for the Dutch for it costs in India generally Ten Stivers a Pound
thing and it may be truly said that without their Assistance they would never have been able to put so glorious an End to the War as they did We see by this what Advantage Commerce is to a State when it is regulated with Prudence and by able Merchants who have all Protection and no Constraint But what need we go out of France for Examples to show how important Commerce is to a Nation We need only consider the great Things that have been done under the glorious Reign of our Great Monarch and the almost infinite Sums which have been disbursed as well to support the War against all the Powers of Europe for above 30 Years as during the Peace Could one ever have imagined this could have been done without that prodigious Quantity of Money which Trade especially that with Spain brought into France For we have no Mines to supply us What then would have been the Consequence had Commerce been protected and encouraged in France as it ought to have been I doubt not but in such Case we might have said of France what the Holy Scripture said of Jerusalem that in the Days of Solomon Gold and Silver were as common as Stones If England by means of the Woollen Manufactures and by the vent of her Tin Lead and Sea-Coal has amassed such Riches what might one not have believed France would have gained which besides her Manufactures of Wool Silk Linnen Hats Paper and many other Things which are eagerly sought after by all the World supplies other Countries with Wines Brandies Wheat Salt Oil and Fruits of all sorts for immense Sums This Abundance and great Plenty of our Merchandize so necessary and useful to our Neighbours made my Lord Bellasis say That if God should one Day make the Turks know what they could do at Sea and the French how far they might extend their Commerce all Europe would soon fall a Conquest to those Powers I shall only give one Instance more to shew how nothing but Commerce can enrich a Kingdom let us therefore turn our Eyes to Spain and it is certain that there is no Nation in the World has so little Gold and Silver as the Spaniards tho' those two Metals grow in such prodigious Quantities in their Dominions other Nations notwithstanding are better provided therewith on account of the great Vent their Commodities have in Spain and the dependent Kingdoms which have Occasion for them and in short that great Monarchy has fallen to Decay purely for having neglected Commerce and establishing several Manufactures in Dominions of so vast and large extent It was this Negligence which was one of the principal Springs of the Riches of France and while France traded with Spain she never wanted Gold or Silver not even during those long and difficult Wars Let us only look back and consider what Condition France was in by the Pyrenean Treaty notwithstanding a long War of above twenty five Years and all those she has since sustained even to our Days It is much to be wished we would open our Eyes soon enough and take Notice of a Matter of so much Importance and so necessary as Commerce and endeavour to know how to take such Measures as may bring to a good Issue that on which in some manner depends the Happiness of all his Majesty's Subjects and the Grandeur of the Nation We Frenchmen have been reproached and perhaps not without some reason that the Genius of our Nation was not proper for a foreign Commerce being quickly weary of all Undertakings that require a solid and continued Application But without deciding this Matter I shall content my self to say that there have been and yet are in France Persons of very good Abilities and Experience necessary for carrying on a vast Trade Out of several I shall only mention Jaques Couer Superintendent of the Finances or in the Language of those Times Moneyer to King Charles the Seventh This Man who was born at Bourges being entirely addicted to Foreign Trade in a time when scarce any one meddled with it in France got prodigious Wealth which he employ'd to the best Advantage in the Service of the King his Master and the Support of the State Matthew Coucy an Historian his Contemporary speaks of him after this manner The King says he had in his Kingdom a Man of mean Extraction whose Name was Jaques Couer who by his Sense Vigilance and good Conduct so ordered it as to undertake trading in Commodities of the hightest Value which he still continued to do notwithstanding his being made Moneyer to King Charles in which Office he continued a long while in great Power and Prosperity He had under him many Clerks and Factors who had the Care of these Commodities to distribute them thro' all Christian States and Kingdoms He had at Sea a great many large Vessels maintained at his own Expence and Charge which traded to the Levant Egypt and Barbary to freight themselves with all sorts of rich and fine Commodities and Merchandize by Leave of the Sultan and Turks paying them some little Duty as an Acknowledgment He caused to be brought from those Countries Gold and Silver Stuffs Silks of all Sorts and Colours Furs for Men and Women of several Kinds as Martins and Sables c. and other excellent Curiosities which Goods he sold by his Commissaries and Factors at the Hotel Royalle in all the principal Cities of the Kingdom and in foreign Courts where the People surprized with Admiration soon bought them up at a good Price He had at least three or four Hundred Commissaries or Factors at his Command and gained himself more in one Year than all the Merchants of the Kingdom He was in Possession of the Office of Superintendant of the Finances when King Charles undertook the Conquest of Normandy in the Year 1449 of which Conquest this famous Merchant was the chief Cause for he was the first that encouraged the King to that great Undertaking and furnished him with an Army by offering him several Milions which was executed after the Manners as the King best liked and for which he was highly applauded and complimented by all the Princes and Lords of the Court and yet for all that Expence his Wealth was almost invaluable Heaven could once have given us and yet might have given us another Jaquez Couer and then we should have entertained greater Hopes than ever to bring the Trade of France to its highest Pitch and make our Nation the most flourishng in the World The Merchants of France to accomplish this want only an experienced Leader a Person of much Knowledge one that has a great Foresight an enterprizing Genius and continual Application and Perseverance a Person of great Credit and Power that he may protect those who traffick under him and are his Commissioners in whatever Place of the World It was by such Means as these that the Dutch have carried Commerce to the highest Degree as may be seen in the following
of the World These Busses sail generally from Dort Rotterdam Delft Schiedam Vlaerdinguen the Brill Maeslandshies Enchuisen and some other Places of less Note This Art of Pickling and Barrelling Herring as I said before was found out by a Heming of Bierulem whose Name was William Buerem He died in the Year 1347 and was buried at Bierulem Charles the Fifth coming to that Town caused a Tomb to be erected to honour the Memory of that Man who had procured so great an Advantage to his Country To the Fishery in general may be added that of the Whale the Oil and Fins of which serve for several Uses They fish for the Whales on the Coasts of Greenland and Spitsburg which is but seven or eight Days Voyage with a South Wind a thing very frequent in Holland Whale Fishing is only once a Year There sails from Amsterdam and the neighbouring Towns from the Maose and Winde above 200 Ships from 200 to 250 Tuns Burthen having each 35 or 40 Men aboard to be employed in the Fishery The largest Whales yield about 7 or 8 Tun of Oil This Oil thickens like Hogs-Lard and they use great Quantities of it in the United Provinces especially the poor and labouring People to burn in Lamps and in making green Soap a thing only in Use in the Low Countries Artois and Picardy Those that make Shammy Leather of Bucks Goats Sheeps and Elks Skins consume great Quantities of this Oil which is the most proper for this Son of Dressing Leather of any Oil whatsoever and therefore they cannot well be without it The Manufactures in the United Provinces employ as many People as the Fishery It is incredible how many get their Livelihood by both I have before observed that some Manufactures were established before the Fishery but those Manufactures were then very inconsiderable to what they were afterwards The Herring Fishery in particular was so advantageous to the Dutch that the Sale of their Fish brought into their Country from the Places where they used to dispose of them several unwrought Goods which they got finished at Home by those vast Numbers of Workmen of all Sorts who had fled hither from Flanders Brabant France Germany and several other Countries on the Account of Persecution I do not pretend to give an exact Particular of all the Manufactures of the United Provinces it would be too prolix for the Brevity of this Treatise I shall only say that it is certain that in no Kingdom State or Country in the World they are so numerous and flourishing as in Holland I shall take Notice only of some of the most considerable and such as sell best in other Countries Tho' there are Manufactures in several Places of the United Provinces yet they flourish most in the Towns of Amsterdam Leyden and Harlem but Amsterdam for Number far exceeds the other two In this last Town they make Cloths Camlets and all Sorts of Woollen and Hair Stuffs as also all Sorts of Silks Gold and Silver Stuffs and Ribbons and are the best made in this Town of any in all the Provinces Besides gilt Leather they work here all other Sorts as Morocco Shammy and many other Sorts and it may likewise be said that Dying which is settled in several other Towns and Places of these Provinces is one of the most considerable Manufactures of this Republick There are also at Amsterdam several Houses for Refining Sugar Borax Camphire Cinnaber and Sulphur several for whitening yellow Wax a great many Saw-Mills for all Sorts of Woods Powder-Mills Snuff-Mills Mills to polish Marble and Mills to draw Oil from several Sorts of Seeds In short one may say of Amsterdam what Vopiscus said of Alexandria who after he had given an Account of its Manufactures added That all its Inhabitants followed some Trade that the lame and the gouty were employed and even those that had the Gout in their Hands did not sit idle The Town of Leyden without Dispute is preferable to all others for all Sorts of Woollen Manufactures especially the finest Sort as Serges Camlets and the like They tell you that these Manufactures after the Year 1400 began to grow in some Esteem and the Workmen of Ipres that fled from their own Country settled themselves there But be that as it will every Body agrees they had not then that Esteem till after the Persecutions for Religion began which effectually drove great Numbers of Workmen from the Provinces of Flanders Hainault and Artois c. They make also good Woollen Stuffs at Harlem but they are much inferior to those of Leyden which latter may undoubtedly pass for the best of Europe in their Kind The Dutch have their Wooll from Spain and England Germany Poland and the Levant that Sort of Wooll called Vigogue from Peru and that of Coramania from Persia The best Silks are made at Harlem and this Manufacture in its Kind is not inferior to the Cloth Manuufacture of Leyden They make in this Place coarse flowered Velvets Linnens Silks Gauzes and in general all Sorts of slight Silks of which there is a great Consumption in Germany and all over the North Portugal and other Places where they prefer these Silks and the Gold and Silver Brocades made here to those of France Besides they are 15 or 20 per Cent cheaper These Manufactures in Reality are not so beautiful nor so good as those of Lyons and Tours but the Difference in the Piece makes amends for that and makes them go off better And tho' their Workmen want a Genius for Design and Invention yet they no sooner come from France but they imitate them to Perfection They know how to work and finish them with all possible Dexterity and Neatness This added to their Cheapness makes other Countries rather make use of them Besides the Dutch import Silks from Italy the Levant Persia Bengal Tonquin and China The Town of Delft is a Place famous for fine earthen Ware in Imitation of China Horne is for dealing in Cheese which is made in the North of Holland as also for large Earthen or Stone Ware In Dort and some other Places there are Houses for refining Salt and if I mistake not Places for Spinning and Bleaching Thread Sardam not far from Amsterdam is certainly the only Place in the World where all Sorts of Ships are built for the Use of Merchants not only of the United Provinces but of other Countries which causes a prodigious Consumption of Wood Cordage Masts Sails and other Necessaries for Shipping of which great Numbers are daily sold to Strangers ready built and fit for Launching The Dutch have their Timber from Muscovy Norway the Lower Germany Pomerania and the Provinces bordering on the Baltick Most of this Timber is brought to Sardam which is a Village somewhat more than two Leagues long whose Inhabitants are all Carpenters and they are so skilful in their Business that as it is credibly reported if they have three Months Notice before-hand they can every Day
great Advantage in the Northern Trade and accordingly on the 22d of May 1631 sign'd a Treaty of Confederacy with Lubeck then Chief of the Teutonick Hanse Towns for a free and safe Trade to the Baltick In the Year following the most considerable of the other Hanse Towns follow'd the Example of Lubeck and the Dutch made so good use of these Treaties and several other Advantages they got in the North that they have almost entirely stript all the Hanse Towns Hamburgh only excepted of the little Trade there was left them and if we may be allow'd to say so made themselves Sole Masters of all the Commerce of the North. I shall in a few Words give you an Account of their Trade to Muscovy The Trade that Europe drove with that vast Empire was carried on constantly by the way of Revel and Narva two Towns in Livonia situated on the extream Parts of the Baltick till the Year 1653 but the English who first attempted the North-Passage to China discover'd Archangel one of the best Ports the Muscovites have upon the White Sea and the most proper and commodious for a great Trade being but seven or eight Leagues distant from the famous River Duina which runs thro' the greatest Part of Muscovy and the Czar granted them great Privileges to engage them to settle a Trade at Archangel The Dutch soon follow'd the same Route and in spite of all the Obstacles the English put in their Way they obtain'd of the Czar the same Permission to Trade to Archangel as the English Every Year since that Grant they have sent thither 36 or 40 Sail of Ships from 200 to 400 Tuns which go always from Holland in two Squadrons the first consisting only of 5 or 6 Ships goes off usually in the Month of June and returns in September and the second consisting of 30 or 34 Ships fails in July and returns not from Archangel till the end of October These two Fleets which vary sometimes as to their Number have always a Convoy allow'd them by the City of Amsterdam which City engrosses almost all that Trade The Principal Time of Traffick is during the Fan of Archangel which begins the 20th of August and ends the last Day of that Month. I shall give you here a short Account of the Principal Commodities the Dutch import to Muscovy and what they bring thence viz. Silk Linnen and Woollen Stuffs Beaver's Skins from Canada Paper Small-Ware of all sorts and Iron-work Cannon and Small Arms Gun-powder Sulphur Copper 〈◊〉 Tin Wines Brandies Oils and Vinegar Confections and dry Fruits Saffron Sugar Spices Pepper and Pickled Herrings of the first Season Frankincense Copperas Ceruse or White-Lead Indigo and all sorts of Woods for dying Red Galloons and Laces of all sorts Gold and Silver-Thread and all sorts of Silver Coin I shall before I conclude this Treatise make some Remarks on the Commodities sent to and exported from Muscovy However by this Account one may easily see how considerable the Dutch Trade to Muscovy is not only in relation to its Convoys and Returns but also on Account of the Number of Ships it continually maintains One would have imagin'd the English who first enjoy'd the Privileges of paying no manner of Custom should have made themselves entirely Masters of the Muscovite Trade however it is certain they send now a-days no more than 4 or 5 Vessels thither while the Dutch commonly send 40 or thereabouts A certain English Author has taken a great deal of Pains to let us know what Methods the Dutch made use of to raise their Commerce with Muscovy above that of England His Words are these The English Cloths are not valued in Russia because they are dearer than those of Holland which tho' they shrink after being wet above a sixth part yet the Russians prefer them to our Cloths because say they no Cloth will shrink but what is New It must be own'd that we are much in the wrong in not complying with their Humour and restraining our to that Commodity only while the Dutch bring them thither a vast Quantity of Toys things that sell better there than Cloths which begin now to be out of Fashion in that Country If the Dutch have entirely establish'd in Russia the Persian and Indian Silk Trade I am afraid the English will find it a a very difficult Matter to recover their Immunities and Privileges for the Russians are now grown cunning having been corrupted by the Dutch who know well how to distribute their Money to the best Advantage and being much richer in that Country and of greater Credit and more numerous than the English leave no Stone unturn'd to ruine them and have succeeded too well in their Project much better than could be imagin'd By Presents they gain the Friendship and Protection of the Nobility and make us despicable by scandalous Pictures and impudent defamatory Libels The only way in my Opinion to re-establish our Reputation and Commerce in that Country would be to permit only such Merchants to trade thither as should give no Credit for any Merchandize tho' the Russians fix a Time for Payment and to represent by Persons of Worth and good Understanding the flourishing Condition of the Dominions of the King of Great Britain Let us now come to the Trade of Norway The Riches of this Kingdom which is in subjection to the Crown of Denmark consist in Masts for Ships and other sorts of Timber as well for Ship-building as other Carpenter's Work Copper and Iron Mines Pitch and Tar dry'd Fish Furrs Buck-skins Ashes Butter and Tallow These are the Chief Commodities the Norway Merchants exchange with Foreigners for many things they want of absolute Necessity for the Support of Life The Dutch who have a greater Trade to Norway than all other Nations put together carry usually thither Spices Salt Canary Vinegar Brandy Cheese Tobacco Rolls Drapery and Small Wares Tho' this Kingdom is of vast Extent yet there is but very little Consumption being neither Rich nor well Peopled and it may be said that even Money would be entirely unknown here was it not for what the Dutch bring along with them to buy Timber But however inconsiderable the Norway Trade may seem it employs notwithstanding near 300 Dutch Vessels most of which come from the Towns and Villages of Friseland and those about Amsterdam they are commonly of 4 or 500 Tons Burthen and have not above 10 or 12 Hands a-piece Berghen the Capital of Norway has a good Port and is the Place of greatest Trade The Dutch resort to several other Ports as Drontheim and Copernick As Timber is the chief Commodity the Dutch deal for in Norway and which they bring in great Quantities from that Kingdom they have concluded many Treaties with the King of Denmark to secure that Trade viz. the Treaty of Christianople signed August 13 1645 and that of the Hague the 12th of February 1669. CHAP. V. Of the Baltick Trade THE Trade of this
The Trade of Holland to the Mediterranean is one of the most considerable that Republick enjoys as well on Account of the great Quantities of Merchandize they carry thither and vend at a high Price as in respect of the vast Number and Quality of those Goods they have thence in return and of which likewise they make a considerable Profit in the other Parts of Europe for which Reason the States-General are very careful and jealous of a Commerce so advantageous to their Republick They have establish'd a Chamber which they call the Chamber of Direction compos'd of six Deputies and a Register all the substantial Merchants of Amsterdam who have attain'd the Rank of Burgomasters have a particular regard to and are much interested in what concerns the Navigation and Trade of the Mediterranean This Chamber has Authority to see that all Orders from the States-General touching this free Navigation and the Trade thereon depending be duly observed and this Chamber takes Notice or Cognizance of all Differences that may arise at any time in pursuance of such Commerce It regulates in some Measure the Convoys that are necessary for Merchants Ships and nominates Consuls for the Sea-ports of the Levant with consent of the States-General They send every Year about 10 Ships that sail from Holland in three or four Squadrons to trade in the Dominions of the Grand Seignior Their Vessels of Freight cannot have less than 20 or 25 Pieces of Cannon and 60 or 70 Men each and because these Voyages are very dangerous by reason of the Corsairs of Barbary they allow them a Convoy of two Men of War of 50 or 60 Pieces of Cannon and 160 or 170 Men. These little Squadrons both going and coming touch generally at Leghorn one of the best and most convenient Ports in Italy there they take in fresh Provisions and Pieces of Eight things absolutely necessary for an advantageous Trading Voyage to the Levant The Genoese who are always well provided with this sort of Money are the People that furnish them tho' they very often furnish themselves with it at Cadiz There are other Dutch Vessels that go to several Ports of Italy Spain and the Coasts of Barbary with Merchandize which they dispose of there and then take in other Commodities for the Levant either on their own Account or for the Italians French c. and thence continue their Course to the Levant The same Method they take in returning that is to say they sell in those Ports the Commodities they bring from the Levant and lade themselves again with such as they judge proper for Holland either on their own or other People's Account Amongst all the Ports the Grand Signior has in the Archipelago Candia Cyprus Rhodes Greece Asia and Egypt those of Constantinople Smyrna Aleppo and Grand Cairo are Places of the greatest Commerce but Smirna exceeds them all by reason of the Carravans of Persia and the prodigious Number of Christian Vessels that resort thither This Town is the very Centre of the Engglish and Dutch Levant Trade and the principal Mart of their Cloths which are not only much admired and sought after in the Territories of the Grand Signior but in Persia and the greatest Part of Asia The Trade of Egypt is by the way of Grand Cairo this renowned City is not only the general Magazine of all sorts of Merchandize produced in that rich and vast Kingdom but also of what comes thither from the Coasts of the Red Sea the East-Indies Persia and Arabia Felix and some Provinces of Africa However notwithstanding all this the Trade of Grand Cairo is now only a Shadow in Comparison of what it was before the Portugueze discovered the East-Indies The Trade of this Place with Europe and Asia is carried on by the Nile Alexandria and Rhodes situated on the two Entrances of that famous River are the two Ports where ordinarily resort the Christian Ships Damietta which lies in the South-Entrance of the same River is frequented only by the Merchants of Africa and Turkey There is very little Consumption at the two former Places which are to be consider'd as Places of Staple for those who trade to Grand Cairo which City is about Fifty Leagues distant and that is the Reason that the Dutch Trade in Egypt is very inconsiderable Besides the Minister the Dutch always have at the Ottoman Port whose principal Employment is to see the Articles of Agreement between the two Nations put in Execution and secure and protect the Commerce of the Republick they have their Consuls and their Vice-Consuls in the chief Ports of the Levant who do Justice to the Dutch Merchants that live there without any Fee Salary or Perquisite The principal Merchandise that the Dutch carry to the Levant are Cloths of all sorts Spices Cochineal Indigo Drugs Woods fit for Dying Tin Lead Iron Steel Cotton Russia-Leather and Money both Gold and Silver Their Clothes and other Woolen Stuffs have ever made the greatest Article of what the People of Europe are used to send into the Levant the Venetians and French supply'd those Countries heretofore but the English and Dutch have long since made themselves Masters of that considerable Trade and it is said that those two Nations send thither every Year a prodigious Quantity of all sorts Qualities and Colours great part of which is presently taken off by the Caravans of Persia that come for that very Purpose to Smyrna and thence carry them to sell in their own Country and Tartary The great Fidelity and Exactness that the English and Dutch always keep in the Quality Measure and Colour of their Cloths added to their cheapness have been the principal Reason that this Trade runs only thro' the hands of those two Nations The Spices the Dutch bring into the Levant are Cloves Nutmegs Cinnamon Pepper to which I shall add Ginger and Sugar 'twas heretofore from the Ports of Syria they had all their Spices but now by a very surprizing Revolution of Commerce the Dutch a People of the North after a Navigation of many thousand Leagues which they constantly make to acquire this rich Merchandize supply those very Ports with Spices which heretofore used to furnish all Europe The Dutch bring likewise into the Levant the finest Woods and Drugs for Dying as Cochineel Indigo Gumlac Woods of Brazil Fernamboue Siampan Brazillet and Campechy All these Commodities and many others come from Africa except Gumlac and Siampon which are the Product of the Indies They bring likewise thither a great deal of Steel Iron tin'd Iron Iron Wire Brass Plates Russia Leather Lead and Tin But the English whose Country produces these two last in greatest abundance bring into the Levant much greater Quantities and the vast Consumption that there is made is none of the least Articles of the English Trade The Tin Men over all the East use a great deal of it in Kitchin Furniture which for the most part is made of no other Mettal but Copper
and they sell it to us at Ten Stivers an Ounce after they have mix'd with it half the Quantity of Rozin which makes their Gain exorbitant Rhubarb is the Root of a Plant of great vertue in Physick it grows in great Quantities in Tartary and particularly in the Kingdom of Bouton as well as in China however the most understanding Traders agree that which grows in the Kingdom of Bouton is the best I have said something of this in the Chapter of the Levant Trade The finest Musk comes also from the Kingdom of Bouton and there is no Country in Asia where there are so many of those Animals that produce it as in that Kingdom which is situated between the Great Mogul's Country and Tartary and little known to the People of Europe The Merchants of Asia go into this Kingdom to buy this Commodity there comes a great deal by the Way of Pattua a Town in the Kingdom of Bengal where the People of the Country and the Dutch and Portugueze generally buy it there is a far greater Consumption of it in Asia and especially in Persia Turky c. than in Europe it grows in a little Bladder of the bigness of a small Hen's Egg between the Navel and the Privities of those Animals that produce this precious Commodity Amber-greece is only to be had in the Eastern Countries of Africa but chiefly on the Coast of Melinda near the Mouth of Riosena the Portugueze Governours of Mozambique lay up great Quantities which they carry with them into Europe and sell for vast Sums Tea grows in some Provinces of China and is nothing but the leaves of a Tree that grows about Twelve or Fourteen Foot High and which they gather in the Spring Time taking only the Leaves about the Branches as soon as these Leaves are gathered they dry them in Copper Pans over the Fire continually shaking them till they are dry after that they put them in Leaden Boxes There is a great Quantity grows in Japan and the Dutch furnish themselves thence with this Commodity as well as from Cochin-China the Japan Tea is better than that of China and Cochin-China the best China Tea costs at Surat but twenty pence a pound which the Dutch sell in Europe for twenty Crowns and the worst Sort for 25 and 30 Livres The Dutch have been often accused of mixing with the Tea they bring into Europe the Leaves of young Sage which has a strong Taste and brisk Flavour and when dryed in an Oven is not unlike Tea but People may very easily be imposed on and I am pretty well assured that they bring a great deal of Sage prepared after this Manner into China where they sell it very dear I shall purposely omit what may be said of Borax Camphire Benzoin and Bezoar that I may come to the Raw and Woven Silks since these Commodities make One of the greatest Articles in their Indian Trade They have their Silk chiefly from China the Kingdoms of Tonquin Tripara Azem Bengal and Persia the Silks are of several Sorts That of China is the finest and whitest that of Tonquin is also very good and soft People are of Opinion that these of Tripara and Azem are much coarser the Bengal Silks are rough and without any gloss or lustre for which Reason there is not much Consumption made of them but in the Manufactures of Holland and Hamburgh That of Persia which is full and large is only good to make coarse Laces and Galloons Silk Thread and Twist and there is scarce Twenty Pound in any Bale whatsoever There is a Sort of Silk in China and in the Kingdom of Azem which is spun upon Trees and Bushes by a Kind of Animal like a Caterpiller but not round as that of the Silk-worm but in a flat thread of a vast length which by the blowing of the Wind fixes it self to Shrubs and Bushes Of this Silk they make Stuffs somewhat coarser than what are made of the other Sort though much stronger They weave Silks of all sorts in several Countries and Provinces of Asia where raw Silk is produced except in the Kingdom of Txipara which fends its raw Silks to China All this Empire produces a prodigious Quantity for l've been assured that the Province of Chang produces as much as all the World besides they weave Silks here in such great Quantities as is almost incredible They make Silk Stuffs Cloth of Gold and Silver Sattins of all sorts of Colours Damasks and other Silks which they call in China Pelings Gentings and Panfiens They make these Stuffs for the most Part in the Province of Canton where they are sold at a moderate Price One may get Cent per Cent to sell them again if bought at the First Hand I shall say nothing of their Beauty and Goodness for they are well known to all Europe The Chinese if One may credit their Historians have made Silk Two Thousand and Fourscore Years before the Birth of Christ however it is certain other Nations knew it long after the Chinese and it was by their Means that this Manufacture went from China into the Indies and Persia Two Monks who had travelled into that Country at their Return to Italy taught First the Romans in the Time of the Emperor Justinian the Manner of feeding and bringing up of Silkworms and since that Time the Italians who traded to the East brought this Secret into Europe In the Great Mogul's Country they make likewise a great many Sorts of rich Stusss of Silk some all Silk some with Gold and Silver as they do in Persia But enough of this Subject I come now to speak of Cotton and Callicoes which are a great Article in the Dutch East India Trade Cotton grows in great abundance in the Great Mogul's Country on the Coasts of Coromandel Bengal and China they make in all these Countries a prodigious Quantity of all Sorts of Callicoes but chiefly in the Empire of the Great Mogul The Callicoes are both White and coloured the White are generally the finest and have commonly a stripe of Gold or Silver running all along the Piece and many have those stripes at each End sometimes they are embroidered with Flowers These Callicoes are very dear and bought by Persons of Destinction for Scarves Quilts and Veils Handkerchiefs and Cravats they sell great Quantities in Persia and Turky There are some Callicoes wonderfully White and so very finely wrought that One can scarce see the Threads and these are generally kept for the Use of the Women in the Great Mogul's Seraglio The fine Muslins come from the Kingdom of Bengal where they are made the coloured Callicoes are called Chintz or Chittes some of which are printed with a Mould others painted with a Pencil and in reality the variety of the Design amd the fine colourings of these Cloaths are wonderful These that are painted the finest are made in the Kingdom of Golconda and in the Country about Mazulipatam that Sort which they call Basfas
are only Dyed with one Colour as Red or Black of which as well as the White there is a great Consumption on the Coast of Melinda and in the Emperor of the Abyssin's Country the Philippine Islands of Borneo Sumatra and Java c. Next to the Spices the Callicoes and other Cotton Stuffs make one of the most considerable Articles in the Dutch East-India Trade for besides those surprising Quantities they bring into Europe which may be seen by the Catalogues or Lists os their Cargoes the Company sells no less in the several Countries of Asia where they Trade to I take no Notice of Cotton Thread brought into Europe Cloth made of the Bark of Trees Persian Wooll and the fine Woollen Carpets made at Agra Tho' the People of Europe who trade to the Indies bring back neither Gold nor Silver but on the contrary carry both into these Countries I shall in few Words give an Account of the Places where these valuable Mettals are to be had and which are so very necessary for the Dutch Company to make their Trade flourish in the Indies There is a great Quantity of Gold in many Places of Asia especially in China and Japan in the Kingdoms of Pegu Siam Azem Tripara and Camboya and in the Islands of Sumatra and Macassar But China is the Country of all Asia where it most abounds not but that they have very rich Mines of Gold in Japan but there is none ever suffered to come out the Emperor having prohibited it under severe Penalties and his Commands are rigourously observed As the Chinese are very fond of Silver and have very little of it they make no Difficulty to give their Gold for Silver and there is vast Profit to be made by those who know how to manage this Exchange They omit no Pains to get the Piastres or Pieces of Eight of Mexico and they get good Quantities by the People of the Philippine Islands who Trade to Mexico Silver Mines are nothing near so numerous in Asia as those of Gold and indeed there seems to be but very little Silver there since there is scarce any Prince from the Great Mogul's Country to Japan that coins any Money In Truth the riches of the Mines in the Mogul's Country are so great that they pay for all Goods brought thither in Gold as they do in China and as the Dutch are the only Nation in Europe that Trade to Japan and their Trade to that Country is very considerable so they bring thence a great deal of Silver which generally is in Pieces of the Value of our Crowns they carry almost all that Money into the Great Mogul's Country where Commissioners of Money give them 3 per Cent more than they will for our Crowns The Dutch bring from Japan a sort of Red Copper which is excellent and much better than most of what is in Europe being softer and more malleable and pliant which makes it 25 per Cent dearer The Company carry much of it to the Coasts of Coromandel and Bengal and dispose of it to great Advantage that which they bring into Europe is sent to Aix la Chappel to be workt up there in small and large Vessels Copper Furnaces c. and good Quantities of it is employed in the Foundery for Cannons c. their Indian Fleet in the Year 1694 brought 27650 Pound Weight and those that have come since have brought Six Times as much Tin and Lead abound very much in the Kingdom of Siam and towards Malacca the Dutch have the Privilege to buy those Commodities at Ligor The Tin Trade is very profitable to the Dutch and they buy it with Bengal Carpets and Coromandel Linnen which they purchase very cheap Tin sells very well in other Sea Ports in the Mogul's Country and in Persia and Arabia The Dutch have often brought into Europe very great Quantities of Tin their Fleet in the Year 1694 brought about 28845 Pound Weight and what they have brought since is Five or Six Times as much which they sell with vast Profit though it is very fine and they sell it cheap What remains now is that I speak a few Words about Pearls and precious Stones Porcelain or China Ware The Diamond is no where to be found but in Four Countries of Asia The First Place is the Kingdom of Visapore the Second Golconda the Third the Kingdom of Bengal subject to the Great Molgul and the Fourth is the Isle of Borneo It is believed that the Mine of Bengal is the oldest in the World That of Visapore was only known about 200 Years ago The Mine of Golconda which is Seven Days Journey from the Capital of that Name has been known no more than 120 Years yet I have been inform'd that it is the richest and most frequented of any it employing constantly above 60000 People The Portugueze are supposed to bring into Europe the most Diamonds of any People perhaps on Account of their Trade which to this Day is still carried on in Goa the chief City of the Indies for Traffick especially for Oriental Pearls The other precious Stones of several fine Colours come likewise out of Asia but are only found in the Kingdom of Hava which is in subjection to the King of Pegu and in the Isle of Ceylan The Mine of the Kingdom of Hava is in the Mountain of Capelan about Two Days Journey from Ciren the Residence of the King of Pegu this Mine produces great Quantities of Rubies Sapphires Blue and White Topazes Hyacynths and Amethysts of which the King keeps always the most beautiful They find likewise Rubies Saphires and Topazes much finer and more beautiful than those of Pegu in a River which falls down the Mountains that are in the middle of the Isle of Ceylan Turquoize Stones come from Persia the Mine is in the Mountain of Pirouskoua three or Four Days Journey from the City of Mescheda The old Rock is now kept for the Royal Family only the Turquoize Stones of the new Rock being nothing near so good having not so fine and lively Colour as the old Rock The Mine of the fine Oriental Agates is in the Province of Camboya Pearls are fished for in the Persian Gulph round the Island of Barhem belonging to the King of Persia they fish for them also over against the Coast of Arabia-Felix near the Town of Catiff which belongs to an Arabian Prince The Pearls of these Two Places have a Yellowish cast the greatest Part of these Pearls they sell in the Indies the other in the Provinces of Asia and Muscovy where they are not so difficult as in Europe about the Shape and Water of Pearls There is also a Fishery for Pearls in the Streight of the Isle of Ceylan near the little Isle of Manar now in Possession of the Dutch Company they will have it that these are the finest in all the East for roundness and Colour but very few of them Weigh above Three or Four Carats There are Pearls to
Family which is a very considerable Expence He has a Key to every Magazine and can take out what he will without giving an Account to any One It may be said his Authority in some sort would equal that of the late Princes of Orange was it not in the Company's Power to revoke it when they pleased for in Effect he is Stadtholder Captain General and High Admiral of the Indies His Court is more Pompous his Train more Magnificent than was that of those Princes and surpasses even some Kings in Europe When he goes out 50 Horse Guards go before his Coach which is followed by a fine Company of Foot 12 Pages walk of each side of his Coach and all very richly and Magnificently drest When he gives Audience to the Ambassadors of the Indian Kings 'tis with extraordinary Pomp and Splendour All which serves very much to gain Admiration and Respect from the People of Asia who are mightily taken with outward show and finery In a Word there are few Kings in Europe who make so splendid a Figure and Appearance as his Governour General especially if he be a Man of good Sense for then it is in his Power to govern the Council as he pleases The World has seen an Example of this in the Person of Monsieur Speelman who did every Thing after his own Way made War and Peace when he pleased and the Company's General that stood in awe of him approved of every Thing he did The Director General who is the second Person of the Council of State in the Indies has every Thing in his Hands and is answerable accordingly The Votes of the extraordinary Counsellours are not reckoned in any Debate when the General and the six ordinary Counsellours of State are present When a Counsellor dies or any other Member of the Assembly 'tis in the Power of the Counsellours to appoint his Successor who must be confirmed by the general Company if I am not much mistaken Monsieur Champtiffe who succeeded Monsieur Speelman was chosen by the Council and confirmed by the Company Besides these there are Two principal Merchants whose charge is to see the Ships lade and unlade these are very considerable Posts and are esteemed the best next being of the Council There are six Governours of Provinces viz. The Governour of Coromandel The Governour of Amboina The Governour of Banda The Governour of Ternate The Governour of the Isle of Ceylan and The Governour of Malacca I have been assured that those six Governours are all Absolute in their respective Provinces and that they cannot be displaced by the Council of Batavia The particular Governours of all the Places from the Cape of Good Hope are called Commanders I don't know if the Council of Batavia has the Nomination of them or the Assembly of Seventeen however I am certain that the Assembly nominates the Governour of the Cape of Good Hope The General and his Council chooses all the Commissioners Merchants and Subaltern Officers however if any one is recommended by the Sharers they take care to provide for him very well Besides the Council of State at Batavia there is a Council of Justice who are Supreme Judges of all Process Civil and Criminal and have even the Power to try the Governour General and condemn him to Death if found guilty of Treason The Dutch Company the better to carry on Trade in the East-Indies to secure the Country and all Forts and Magazines or Store-houses they are in Possession of in those Places maintain a Hundred and Fourteen Vessels from Thirty to Sixty Pieces of Cannon and above Five and Twenty Thousand Men Officers Common Soldiers and Seamen in their Pay The Company maintains in the Indies in all Twelve Thousand regular Troops but in every Place where there is a Dutch Garrison there are always great Numbers of the Natives capable of bearing Arms which they always put in the Front when they go to Battle I have been informed that in these different Countries the Company have besides their regular Troops above a Hundred Thousand Men able to carry Arms. The Major General commands all the Troops under the Governour General he is the Second Person in the Indies The Company in Time of War augment their Forces both by Sea and Land and besides their ordinary Vessels can equip Fourty of the larger Sort there are many Crowned Heads in Europe who would find it very difficult to do as much However all the great Power that this Famous Company has in the Indies is nothing but the Result of the Industry of a small Number of Men of about 60 Substantial and understanding Traders firm and constant in their Undertakings and who want nothing of being so many Sovereign Princes but their Independance on the States General In other Respects this Famous Company is looked upon as absolute in Holland and in all other Places nominates all Magistrates Admirals Generals and all Governours sends and receives Ambassadors to and from Kings and Sovereign Princes makes Peace and War when ever it pleases and by its own Authority administers Justice institutes Officers to execute it absolutely in its own Name punishes and pardons Crimes gives Rewards and Presents worthy the Grandeur and Magnificence of Kings establishes Colonies builds Forts levies Troops maintains Armies and great Garrisons fits out Fleets of Men of War and coins Money It is easy to discover by this Account that the India Trade must bring immense Treasures to the Company besides the Dividend the Company makes every Year to the Sharers it supplies those exorbitant Expences which it is obliged to make in the Indies and Europe to pay all the Officers Directors Commissioners Soldiers and Seamen in building Fortifications buying Ammunition for all Places and an infinity of other Expences for Building Freighting and Victualling great Numbers of large and small Ships for the Maintenance and Augmentation of its maritime Forces The Gains of the Company more than their Expences and Disbursments amount generally to three Millions of Gold every Year including the Returns all Freight paid which comes to 15 or 16 Millions of Livres a Year reckoning one with the other amounting in the whole to 50 Millions of Livres The immense Gains of this Company since their Establishment excited the French in 1664 to undertake this Trade but Experience has made them know that what is proper for the Dutch is not always convenient for other People In short this Trade that has gain'd them such vast Riches being Masters of the Spiceries can never be of advantage to any Country or People who must employ ready Money in purchasing at very dear Rates and at second Hand such Commodities by which they get Twenty for One or else take from them such Goods as are destructive to their own Manufactures This has actually been the Case of France for when the King prohibited all painted Indian Stuffs to be worn in that Kingdom they saw in a Moment their Manufactures of slight Woollen Stuffs recover
Nutmegs The Advice we had from time to time assur'd us that the Affairs of the Company continued to be in a very good and quiet Condition and that the Spices grew as well as they could wish but then those same Advices brought an Account that they had several Earthquakes which threw down and damag'd many Houses and to which these Islands by their mountainous Situation lye exposed The nearest place to Banda is AMBOINA This Place was formerly taken from the Portugueze by our People and we have the Propriety of it to this Day which makes the Company the only Masters of the Cloves that are every Year gathered in this Island and which are delivered to the Company at a certain fixed Price and the Company are oblig'd to take the whole Crop how great soever it be whence it often happens that Company is supplied with much more than they can have vent for by which it appears that this Island produces more Cloves than can be sold or consumed the whole World over and 'tis for this Reason that it is now thought no longer necessary to oblige the Indians of Amboina to plant a certain Number of young Trees every Year as heretofore they were want to do and that Custom has been laid aside for many Years It appears by the last Letters that came from thence that the Company's Ships arrived safely at that Place and that there Peace and Tranquillity reigned that the Islanders indeed had received some Damage by Fires at several times but that they had given Orders for the future to prevent the like Inconveniences This Island and its Fort are very much more exposed to Attacks than Banda not only on Account of its Extent but also because there are above threescore Thousand Men besides Piracies and other Inconveniences which they are almost continually exposed to from the neighbouring Islands so that according to my Judgment I should think it absolutely necessary to provide very soon and that too with the greatest Caution the Peace and Quiet of of this little Province and its Inhabitants as one of the most important Possessions the Company has in the Indies Batavia is obliged to furnish this Country with Necessaries for Subsistance of Life in the same manner as the Island of Banda for the Inhabitants are so lazy it is almost impossible to make them plow and as there is but a very little Trade there for Linen and and other Clothing the Expences the Company are at to support them amount to much more than the Gain they can make by the Sale of such Commodities in that Island but then the Vent they have for their Cloves which is very great overpays that Charge with vast Advantage the Profits accruing thereby being six times more than the Expence of supporting that Province amounts to The third Government of the Company in in the East Indies is TERNATE This Place must be considered no otherwise than as a Frontier Town of the principal Government beforementioned the Company being obliged to pay the King and the chief Lords of his Court a certain Sum in Recompence for having heretofore consented that all the Clove Trees in their Dominions should be plucked up By the last Advices from Batavia and by the verbal Report of the Sieur Lobs who was Governour we were informed that our People lived quietly and in good Understanding with the Natives and that the Conduct of the King since the Company had so graciously restored him to his Throne was as they could wish There were great Complaints made that some Servants of the Company were much wanting in their Fidelity that they were very negligent and unqualified for their several Employments which was very prejudicial to the Company This is a Distemper which has some time since infected almost all the Dominions of the Company in the Indies and the Consequences will be very fatal if they do not take proper Measures to remedy these continued Abuses for Fidelity and Diligence in Servants joined with Experience and a certain Knowledge of Management of Affairs are after the Blessing of God the principal Pillars of this great Edifice of Trade they ought therefore to be maintained and encouraged as much as possible to bring Commerce to its utmost Height which cannot otherwise ever possibly be effected There is a great Consumption in this Government of coarse Linnen but the Profits arising thereby and other Incomes are not any ways proportioned to the Charge the Company are at The Returns are hardly worth mentioning The Tortoise Shell of this Place is as good a Commodity as can be desired and very profitable but the Quantities are so very small that the two Companies and their Servants do not find their Account in it and it is much the same with MACASSAR In this Place the Company has a good Fort well supplied with Ammunition and of great Strength and keeps there a good Garrison which is very necessary to awe those hardy and warlike People and hinder them from attacking us at unawares and driving us out of the Country The Reasons that engaged the Company to make War against the Maccassarians was the greatness of the Kings of that Country their Power which encreased daily and their underhand Workings against the Company's Interest insomuch that they were in perpetual Anxiety how to preserve their Possessions in those Kingdoms And as the frequent Murders and Robberies that Nation committed as well on the Officers and Servants of the Company as their Friends and Allies gave them more than sufficient Provocation to take up Arms against those People so the Company were not backward to send a strong Power against them and the Undertaking proved so successful that that Nation which was once so powerful was conquered and forced to accept of Peace from the Company on such Conditions as they would give them and by this means the Fort was scoured and that Possession together with the Change of the Government of Macassar has put that Nation entirely out of Condition to undertake any thing against the Company so that they are very easy on that Point If the Directors and proper Servants of the Company had not been negligent in keeping the Balance of Power which was very prudently and opportunely put into their Hands by the Division of Territories and by the Establishment of Radia Polacha who is now become so powerful by that Negligence of the Servants of the Company that at present they have reason to distrust and be afraid of him In this Island there is a considerable Trade for Linen and other Goods and it is certain if the Company could engross the whole Trade of that Country exclusive of all other Traders amongst which may be reckoned the Commissaries themselves the Gains they would then have would be more than sufficient to defray the Expences they are every Year obliged to bear and which at present are more than the Profits including the Income of the Corn the Company caused to be sown there
to the Company From this Trade I shall come to that of the Kingdom of BENGAL This Kingdom is a Country of the Indies on the Terra Firma and the Company have here several Storehouses to carry on their Trade which consists chiefly in selling Spices Copper Tin Lead Quicksilver and other Things which they sell at a great Advantage but yet in continual Danger to be molested by the Moors in Power whose Avarice is so exorbitant that it costs the Company every Year to keep them in Temper vast Sums of Money in Presents which are sent privately to them as the only Remedy against this dangerous Evil since the Company's Interest is to live in Peace and not break with a People from whom they gain such considerable Advantages in Trade which they would run the hazard of losing should they take up Arms to maintain the Liberties and Privileges of Commerce and which would not always square with the Interest of the Company and therefore as long as the Moors of Bengal shall not exact more than what is usual to give them 'twill be better to let things rest as they are This Method to me seems the most secure and certain for the Benefit and Advantage of the Company By the last Advices from Bengal before we left the Indies we heard that the Fleet called Strion coming from Malacca and which had on Board Monsieur Nicholas St. Kayen Councellor Extraordinary and new Director in the Streights of Bengal run aground tho' in pretty fair Weather on the Shoals of Isagli near the Mouth of the River and was actually lost on the Sands by the strong Seas the Men were saved with great Difficulty and 200 Chests of Silver but the Copper with which the Ships were laden worth 90000 Gulders sunk to the Bottom and was all lost Monsieur Wanrek Lord of Midrech Commissioner for Trade has given very good Orders in that Country and reformed a great many Abuses and bad Customs being well acquainted with the ill Conduct of the Commissaries in their several Employments and has dismissed several in this Country as well as Batavia to justify their Conduct and it is certain that the redressing these Abuses would have been attended with many others had not that Lord been a little short in providing proper Persons to fill up these Vacancies COROMANDEL The Sieur Wanrek was to go in the Month of May 1695 to Commandel to pursue the Execution of his Commission Coromandel is very near Bengal and where the Company have Affairs of highest Importance for besides the Town of Negapatan situated on the South-side of Coromandel which our People took from the Portugueze the Company has in Possession the Fort of Gueldria where the Governour resides and the Storehouses or Magazines of Guenapatam Sadrespatam Malispatam Pelicol Datskorom Beulispatam Nagurnantie and Golconda for the Advancement of Trade in those several Places which consists chiefly in Callicoes as also in the Sale of several Commodities our People bring into those Parts as Spices Japan Copper Tin Gold Ore and the like This Trade is extremely profitable and advantageous but yet exposed to the Violence of the Moors that are in Power for the Governments of these Countries are almost always farmed and these Farmers being protected by the Ministry take all Opportunities to extort Money from the Subjects insomuch that Foreign Dealers can never secure themselves from being pillaged by these Farmers who are very covetous and therefore to avoid being disturbed in their Traffick are forced to skreen themselves from these Evils by Presents which costs the Company very dear But these Evils are unhappily much augmented since about four Years ago and arrived to that Excess as obliged the Company to take up Arms and seize upon the Town of Mazulipatam to force the King of Golconda to give them just Satisfaction for the Violence and Injuries done the Company which in the End came to a very good Issue The Occasion of this Difference was thus The Resident of the Company in Golconda which is the City where the King resides became Security for a certain Pagan Merchant for the Value of a Million of Livres without having any Order or Power to do so and which was done without doubt in View of some considerable Interest and Advantage the First Minister of the Kingdom who was also a Pagan of the Race of Brammer took this Opportunity to make his Market imprison'd the Merchant and seiz'd on all his Effects under Pretence that he was indebted to the King in vast Sums of Money Our People saw very well how ill-grounded this Pretence was and represented accordingly the Agreement made with the Company that no Merchant whom the Company dealt with should be molested either in his Person or Goods and that the Company were not previously satisfied their Demands they had on those Merchants but all signified nothing and they were obliged to take up Arms and Matters were carried so far that the King engaged himself to pay this Debt out of his own Revenues and thus the Company obtained by Force that Satisfaction they were denied and freed themselves in a little time from a long War which was very expensive and would have been very prejudicial to them by interrupting their Commerce with this Nation the most Important and of the greatest Consequence of any they have in the Indies The frequent Quibbles of the Moorish Governours is the Reason why the Company cannot drive a free Trade in that Country but are obliged to make these Trade-Contracts with some certain Persons and even to trust them with the greatest Part of their Commodities all at once because of the Liberty and Easiness with which they Sell or Truck with the Natives of the Country and much more advantageously than our People can do These Dealers enter also into Societies amongst themselves and gain much more than our People and this is one of the chief Reasons that the Company could not get these sort of Contracts with the Moorish Merchants executed for vending their Linnens in Siam and other Countries The last Advices from Coromandel told us that our People were very uneasy at the Approach of the Great Mogul's Army who having made himself Master of the Kingdom of Visapore several Politicians and People of good Understanding believed he had an Intention in like manner to subdue Golconda Time will show this tho' it be much to be wish'd for the Good of the Company who will then have a free Commerce which to them will be of the greatest Benefit and Advantage CEYLAN Is a great Island separated from the South-side of Coromandel only by a small Arm of the Sea It is very Famous on the Account of the vast Quantities of Cinnamon it produces 'twas this Spice which tempted the Portugueze to conquer this Island first of all and after them the Company became Masters of it that is of the lower Part and of the Coasts round about the Highlands continuing still in Subjection to the King of
of the Sale of Linnens and other Goods for some time last past contrary to the Hopes they entertained of a Change which would be more advantageous than the last to the Trade of Batavia on Account of the great Privileges our People had obtained from Suzan Honnan on the Eastern Coast of Java in acknowledgment of the Supplies that Prince receiv'd from the Company against his Rebel Subjects to quell which Rebellion cost much Blood and Treasure for it is no strange thing that Subjects so rebellious as they were should do a great deal of Mischief to the Trade of our People and the Company because of those great Conveniences of having such a Number of good Ports and Havens all along the Eastern Coast and by the vast Gain they there made which induced them to cheat us as much as possibly they could Experience has shewn us that the too great Extent of our Territories and the too great Number of Maritime Places we have in the East-Indies are ever attended with immense Charges solid and always certain Expences at all times whereas the Profits they bring are casual and very uncertain which makes me believe that in time the farther we go the more clearly shall we see that the most compact Possessions are ever the best and most profitable and besides are more sure to be kept less envied and less subject to Revolutions and give less Trouble and Vexation to those who govern them particularly if their Neighbours are warlike and perfidious The Truth of this we have lately seen in the Case of Monsieur Tack Ambassador of the Company who departed for his Embassy attended with a good Number of Soldiers for that Purpose No Body doubts but Prince Honnan whom I just now mentioned was guilty of that Violence which is certainly a Piece of the greatest Perfidiousness and the most ungrateful Return from a Prince who ow'd to the Company under God his Life and Crown This Misfortune may always serve as a Lesson to our People for their future Conduct in like Cases Our Troops which were sent to those Parts to have Satisfaction for that Outrage and to bring those Infidels to Reason were still at Japura without being able to do any thing Sourapary then Chief having retired out of the Territories of Java into a Country whither 'twas impossible to follow him without Danger it being to be feared we should have a long War on that side which would be a prodigious Expence and very prejudicial to the Company and their Trade BANTAN The Malecontents who are dissatisfied with the Government of the present King attempted likewise a bold Enterprize against the Ministers of the Company residing in this Kingdom having a Design to Massacre them all but this wicked Project was discovered some small time before it was designed to be put in Execution by a great many of those Villains so that that Design was not only prevented but rooted entirely up by the Death of some of those principal Traytors and the King judged it proper to prevent the like for the future to send the old King his Father who was then Prisoner at Bantan and suspected to be acquainted with this pernicious Design to Batavia to be secured in the Castle where he now is and is like to be as long as he lives unless some unforeseen Change should happen to which all Affairs of State and particularly those of the East-Indies are most subject Most High and Mighty Lords THESE are the principal Things relating to the present Condtion of the Affairs of the famous Company in the Indies My Zeal to serve those Gentlemen and my Duty having obliged me to give you this faithful Account I presume to say that there are many things in those Parts one would desire should be otherwise which have great Occasion of being redress'd Notwithstanding generally speaking Trade prospers very well there for which we ought to thank the Almighty and earnestly pray him to bless and strengthen his great Work of the Dutch Company in the East Indies for the perpetual Good and Prosperity of the State I have only this to add that after living there thirty five Years I have at last obtained my being recalled from the East Indies upon my repeated Instances that I may return to my dear Country it having pleased the high Regency of the Indies to confer on me the Command of the Fleet of the Company in my Return and with which I left the Road of Batavia the 29 th Day of November 1696 with six Ships the Names of which are as follows viz. Castrikan Schelde Oestreland Honslaerdick Spaâ—dick and the Gilded Wane and came to Anchor the first of December following before Bantan this Place being appointed for us to wait for the Books and Papers which could not be got ready before we set Sail and which came to us the 25 th Day of the same Month. But as the Harvest of the West was then past we were forced to struggle against Wind and Tide in the Streights of the Sonde with a great deal of Danger till the 4 th of January 1697 when we happily passed the Streights of Java and Prince Island and sailed in open Sea continuing our Voyage without any Inconveniency or Stop till we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope where we happily came to Anchor the 20 th and 21 st Day of March in the same Year 1697 with all our Vessels and with them four other that came from the Isle of Ceylan viz. The Isle Schonen Pevisland Woorschotten and Languervich We likewise found in that Road the Alkmaar and Cressembourg which happily arrived from Coromandel and waited for us a long while at the Cape Some little time after we saw come into that Road the Fleet Mesmeleheder from Bengal consisting of 13 Vessels I can assure your High Mightinesses that the Port of the Cape is very well situated and as important as necessary both for those Ships that go to and those that return from the Indies It is a sure Refuge and a very convenient Place for refitting and cleaning Shipping and to furnish them with all necessary Provisions The Air is extremely wholesome and here the sick recover their Health Here are all Sorts of good Herbs and Fruits in Abundance excellent Beef and Mutton and in vast Plenty and by the Care of the present Governour there is a vast Increase of both these Sorts of Cattel and the Earth so well manured that this Place at present can subsist with its own Corn and nish its Inhabitants with necessary Provisions without any foreign Assistance and is in hopes in a little time to have such Quantities as may also supply other Places It is great Pity that so large and fertile a Country situated in a very happy Climate should be almost uninhabited where Millions of Souls might very conveniently subsist as being in a Place abounding with all Necessaries of Life and where they might mutually assist each other We staid there till the 9th of April in the same Year 1697 when we sailed with a favourable Wind from Tafel-Bay we accordingly passed the great Ocean and had the good Fortune to finish our Voyage very successfully without any unhappy Accident at all this was on the 17th of August in the Year 1698 when we arrived in this Country with the whole Fleet and the same Day every Vessel came into the Port they were ordered to with the greatest and richest Return that ever came from the Indies into this Country for which Blessing I shall never cease giving Praise and Thanks to the Almighty and beseech him that he would encrease the Honour and Glory of the Republick and this illustrious and powerful Company that it would please Him to take it into his Holy Protection and encrease its Commerce more and more in all the Climates of the habitable World FINIS