which they throw about as well upon the Land as upon the Water For my Brother who has been present at all these Shews has told me that for these seven days together you would think the Air and Water all on fire Being at Bantam I once saw one of these artificial Firework-Shews which the Tunquineses that were there plaid off before the King and I must confess it was quite another thing from what we make in Europe The seven days being past the King returns to the City in the same order and with the same pomp as he went forth and being come to his Palace he goes directly to the Apartment of his Princesses where none but his Eunuchs accompany him where he stays all the rest of the moneth Every Evening he diverts himself with new Fire-works which are plaid off before the Womens Lodgings where also the Eunuchs together with the Comedians and Mummers contribute to divertise the Ladies CHAP. XIV Of the Funeral Pomp of the Kings of Tunquin and of their manner of Burying their Dead WHen the King of Tunquin dies he is presently Embalm'd and laid in a Bed of State where for sixty five days the People have liberty to come and see him All that time he is serv'd as he was when he was alive and when the Meat is taken from before the Body one half is given to the Bonzes and the other half to the Poor So soon as the King hath breath'd his last gasp the Constable gives notice thereof to the Governours of Provinces and orders them how long they shall Mourn All the Military Mandarins and Judges wear Mourning generally three years the King's Houshold nine moneths the Nobility six and the meaner sort three moneths During these three years there is a Cessation from all Divertisements except those that attend the Ceremony of the King's Advance or Elevation to the Throne All the Viands which are serv'd up to the King are vernish'd with Black The King cuts his Hair and covers his Head with a Bonnet of Straw as do likewise all the Princes and Counsellors of State neither do they leave off that Habit till the King's Body be in the Galley which is to carry him to his Enterment Three Bells which hang in one of the Towers of the Palace never leave tolling from the King's expiring till the Corps be put into the Galley The third day after his Decease all the Mandarins repair to Court to testifie their sorrow which they have for the Death of the deceased King and ten days after that the People are allowed to see the Body lie in State till it be put into the Galley During the sixty five days that the Body is thus expos'd the Constable is busie in preparing for the Funeral Pomp. From the Palace to the place where the Galleys wait for the Body it is about two days Journey and all the way The Order observ'd in the March of the Funeral Pomp at the Interment of the Kings of Tunquin 1. Two Messengers of the Chamber proclaim the deceased King's Name each of them bears a Mace the Head whereof is full of combustible stuff for Artificial Fire or Fusées 2. Next proceed Twelve Elephants on each of the four foremost is one bearing the King's Standard Then follow four other Elephants with Wooden Turrets on their Backs and in every one of these are Six Men some being armed with Musquets others with Fire Lances The four last Elephants do severally carry a kind of Cage some of which are on all sides shut up with Glass Windows the other with a sort of Grates the first being of a Square the other having six sides and facing 3. Then rides the Master of the Horse attended with two Pages on Horse-back 4. Twelve Horses are led by the Bridle two and two by as many Captains of the Guard The Harness of the first Six Horses is very rich the Bit and all the Furniture of the Bridle and Saddle are of pure Gold the Saddles are embroydered likewise with Gold But the Six other Horses Harness is all cover'd over with Gold Plates 5. The Chariot which bears the Mausolee wherein is the King's Corps is dragged by Eight Stags trained to this Service Each of these Stags is led by a Captain of the Life Guard 6. Then follows the new King afoot clad in White Satten with a Straw Cap on his Head If he hath any Brothers they attend on him in the like Attire and they are surrounded with Musicians and Players on the Hoboys and other Instruments 7. There proceeds afterwards Six Princesses in White Satten who carry Meat and Drink for the deceased King These are attended by two Ladies of Honour in Purple Garments and about these Ladies are several Musicians 8. Eight Princes of the Royal Bloud go in Purple Garments with Straw Hats 9. Four Governours of the four chief Provinces of the Kingdom each bearing a Stick on his Shoulder on which hangs a Bag full of Gold and several Perfumes and these Bags contain the Presents which the several Provinces make unto the deceased King for to be buried with his Corps that he may make use of the same in the other World 10. Two Chariots go next each drawn by Eight Horses and every Couple being led by Two Men. In each Chariot is a Coffer or Trunk full of Bars of Gold and other Riches for the deceased King's use in the Life to come 11. A great Crowd of the King's Officers and of the Nobility do follow this Funeral Pomp some afoot and some on horse-back according to their Offices and Qualities Place this Page 46. Representation of the Waggons and Boates which in forme of a Convoy carry the Beasts and provision necessarry for the sustenance of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—â—…end the Funeral Pompe at the interrment of y e Kings of Iuquin from Choco to Bodlego where the body is put in a Galley to be conveyd to y e Sepulâ—… A Continuation of the Order observed at the Funeral Pomp of the Kings of Tunquin setting out from the City of Bodlego The King's Body is put into a Galley which is drawn up the River This River is increased by several Brooks that come down from the Mountains and it runs through barren and Desart Countries In some of these places they are wont to bury the Corps very privately for six onely of the chief Eunuchs of the Court are to know where the King hath been buried An Oath is tendered to them never to reveal the place And this is done perhaps on some Religious Motive and likewise through Fear that the Treasures which are buried by him should be digged up These Riches are ordinarily some Massy Bars of Gold and Silver as likewise some Pieces of Cloth of Gold and Silver and such kinds of other rich Furnitures which he is to make use of as they say when he hath need of them in the other World Many Lords and Ladies of the Court will needs be buried Alive with him
Coals which yields a smoak and pleasing mist with which they perfume their Beards at the same time lifting up their hands to Heaven and crying Elhemed Illah or God be thanked If the Wood be oily the bigness of a Pea will serve to throw upon the fire which being a little moisten'd in Water will yield as much smoak as a dry piece as big as a Man's fist Which is the reason that if it be oily and good it wants no price One of the chief Presents as I have observ'd in another part of this Book which the Portugals of Goa sent to the Emperor of Japon was a piece of Lignum Aloes six foot long and two round It cost 40000 Pardo's or 54000 Livres It is so much the more pleasure and profit to trade with the People of Tunquin by how much the more faithful and frank they are in their dealing then the Chineses who will deceive you if they can so that it is a hard thing to be too cunning for them as I have often found by experience When you have sold them any Commodity and they find that their Bargain is not very advantageous their general way of getting off is this As they have generally three sorts of Reals one sort that is full weight others which are light four others eight per Cent if they have no mind to stand to their bargain they offer to pay you for your Goods in light Reals which they have clipt themselves and so you are deceiv'd There are no such People for Trade in the World they refuse to deal in nothing even in old Shoes and if you will sell them but one of them too they 'l buy it without ever enquiring why you will not sell the other But for those of Tunquin they are more blunt and plain in their dealing so that it is a pleasure to have to deal with them I have told you there are neither Mines of Gold or Silver in Tunquin neither do they Coin Money there So that in Trade they make use of certain Lingots of Gold as they are brought out of China some of which amount to 300 Livers of our Money others to six hunder'd They also make use of Bars of Silver as they are brought from Japon As for small Payments they either cut the large Bars into small pieces to which purpose they have their Scales like our Stelleers or else they pay in Foreign Coin which are the Reals of Spain generally This Gold and Silver is brought from China and Japon in lieu of those vast quantities of Silk which are exported out of the Country which with Musk and Lignum Aloes are the chief Riches of the Kingdom CHAP. V. Of the Strength of the Kingdom of Tunquin by Sea and Land THey who have written before me concerning the Kingdom of Tunquin have spoken largely of its Forces both by Sea and Land and allow it a prodigious number both of Souldiers and Galleys They write that the Forces which were usually wont to meet at the Rendevouz were 12000 Horse 2000 Elephants as well to carry the King's and the Nobilities Tents and Baggage as for the Service of the War 300000 Foot and 300 Galleys And in regard the Kingdom is well stor'd with Provision and Ammunition that in time of War the whole Army exceeds 500000 Men. But the number which my Brother The King of Tunquin's Setting out for the War 1. The King going out of his Palace is carried in his Palanquin or Chair by the Chief Officers of his Houshold 2. The Order of the King's March when he goes to the War 3. The Musicians and Trumpeters who follow his Chair 4. An Officer who carries a Bason full of Water on which doth float a Brass Boul with a hole in the bottom of it so that exactly in an hour this Boul becomes full of Water and suddenly sinks to the bottom 5. Then presently two other Officers do strike the Hour upon two great Brass Platters N. 5. of about a Yard Diameter and much after the Form of our Burning Glasses yet of the Metall that Bells are made of which causes that they are heard a very far off Afterwards he that carries the Bason of Water takes up the Cup from the bottom and sets it again a swimming atop of the Water just as it was before When it is full and sinks they after the same manner strike on the said Platters And this is their way of reckoning the Hour and Times in Tunquin as well as in the Indies and almost throughout the Eastern Parts betwixt the Tropicks for that the Clocks which are made in Europe become useless in those Countries during the Rainy Season the Air being there so heavy and damp that all Iron and Steel nay the very Knives and Watches in peoples Pockets do grow rusty though you wrap them up never so well in Cotton or Leather and take all the care imaginable to keep them dry yet it will be impossible otherwise to preserve them from Rust than by letting them lie in Oyl while that Weather lasts This Foggy Dampness of the Air is predominant as soon as you are past Persia in all the Mogol's Countrey from the Fifteenth of June to the end of September The further one goes on toward the East the later these Rains do begin and are met withall It 's good likewise to observe that in the Empire of the Great Mogul in Tunquin and in other Easterly Parts between the Tropicks they do as we divide the Day and Night into 24 Hours making the Day of 12 and the Night to be of as much so to proportion equally the Times of Working and of Rest But they do subdivide both the Day and the Night into 4 equal parts and this Division is made known by the Strokes given upon those Platters As for Example The first Hour of the first Watch of the Night is mark'd by one Blow the second by another and the third likewise by another In the second Watch of the Night the first Hour is made known by two Blows one after another and so of the rest untill the third Watch then at the first Hour of that they give three Strokes And this Order is observed till the last Hour of the fourth Watch which is mark'd by four Knocks In this manner they continue to marck the first Hour of the day with the same Regularity All Persons of Quality do keep Eight Officers on purpose for this Imploy who likewise are to have a care of keeping the Palace Gates This Engine for the marking of the Hours is ordinarily hung up at the Entry of great Palaces near the Porter's Lodge Place this Page 14. Order Of The March Of The king Of Tunquin When he goes Out Of his Pallice The Order March Of The king Of Tunquin When He goes To Warr The Order of the March of the Queen Mother and Reigning Queen of Tunquin when they goe abroad out of y e Palace The Order of the March of
for to serve him in the places where he is to go I have observed in passing through the Estates of the Raja or Prince of Velouche which border on the Easterly parts of the Kingdom of Visapour that the Wives suffer themselves to be buried Alive near their deceased Husbands instead of being burned as they practise in other Provinces of the Indies A. Here you see the Prospect of the City of Bodlego B. The Galley where the King's Corps is C. Two Galleys do carry the Lords who go to be buried Alive with the King That which is grated about is full of Ladies who likewise offer themselves to be interred Alive with him D. Other Galleys wherein are the Treasures which are to be buried with the Corps Place this next to The Order in the March of the Funeral Pomp c. spread with Violet-colour'd Calicut which is the King's Colour But in regard the King and all the Court march afoot both going and coming they make it seventeen days Journey At every quarter of a Leagues end are set up Huts where is ready prepar'd Water to drink and Fire to light their Tobacco After the Pomp is over and that the King is returned home the Cloth is taken up and given to the Bonzes As to the order of their March it is thus The two men that go formost of all are the two Ushers of the Door of the King's Chamber who go repeating aloud the Name of the deceased King carrying each of them a Mace of Arms the bole whereof is full of artificial Fireworks The twelve that follow are the twelve chief Officers of the Galley which draw the Tomb whereon the King's Name is written Then follows the grand Squire on Horseback attended by two others Next appear twelve led Horses which are led two by two six of which have their Bridles enrich'd with thin Plates of Gold and their Saddles embroydered The other six with Bridles of Gold and Housses embroidered and fring'd about with a Gold and Silver Fringe every Horse being led by two men Next to them follow twelve Elephants four which carry each of them a man carrying a Standard four others which carry each of them a Tower with six men apiece some with Musquets others with Fire Lances the four last carry each of them a kind of a Cage of which one is made with Glass Windows before and upon each side the other like a kind of a Lattice and the other with four kinds of Ruffs and these are the King's Elephants which he rode upon when he went to the Wars Behind them follow eight Horses every one of them led by a Captain of the Guard who draw the Herse The new King and his Brothers if he have any or the Princes of the Bloud follow the Herse clad in Robes of White Satten which is their Mourning Colour Lastly follow two Chariots each one drawn by eight Horses and carrying two Coffers wherein are the Panes of Gold Bars of Silver rich Tissues and Habits which are to be buried with the Body of the deceased King The Funerals of the Tunquineses AS fer the ordinary Funerals of the Tunquineses they are more or less pompous according to the Quality of the Persons At their Enterments they use great store of artificial Fire-works which are the Companions as well of their Sorrow as their Joy They set upon the Tomb of the deceased good store of Victuals and Comfitures out of a belief that the dead are the better for them For their Priests keep them in that blind Error for their own advantage and so well order their business that there is nothing left by morning The same thing is practised by the Chineses at Batavia where they have a place without the Town to bury their dead which puts me in mind of this Story Every evening the Guard is relieved as well in the City as in the Fortress At the same time also they put forth eight Souldiers and a Corporal at each Gate of the City who go the Rounds about the Walls of the City and as far as within Canon-shot of the Walls being fearful of being surprised by the King of Mataran or Bontam their Capital Enemies Now because the Chineses burying place lay in the Walk of these Souldiers when they saw the Provant upon one of the Tombs took it away to their Guard and there feasted themselves The Chinese Priests that usually came about midnight to take away the Victuals finding themselves several times bereaved of their Expectations and suspecting the Souldiers belonging to the Holland Garrison first complained to the General and Council but that not taking effect they resolved to poison both the Meat and the Drink to prevent the like Fraud for the future This took so good effect that afterwards many of the Dutch Souldiers being poisoned deterr'd the rest from any more such Licorish Attempts CHAP. XV. Of the Religion and Superstition of the Tunquineses THe Tunquineses as to matters of Religion are divided into three Sects The first takes its original from an ancient Philosopher called Confutius whose Memory is very famous over all China and the neighbouring Countries Their Doctrine asserts that Man is compos'd of two parts the one fine and subtil the other material and gross and that when Man dies the subtiler part goes into the Air and the grosser part stays in the Earth This Sect maintains the use of Sacrifices and adores the seven Planets But among all their Gods and Idols they have four in particular veneration the Names of these Gods are Rauma Betolo Ramonu and Brama They have a Goddess also whose Name is Satisbana which is she whom the Women adore but for the King and the Mandarins especially the more studious sort they adore the Heavens The second Sect had for its Founder a certain Hermite called Chacabout and is followed by the most part of the meaner people He has taught them the Transmigration of Souls and has enjoyn'd his Followers to observe 10 Commandments The first is That they shall not kill 2. That they shall not steal 3. That they shall not defile their Bodies 4. That they shall not lye 5. That they shall not be unfaithful in their words 6. That they shall restrain their inordinate Desires 7. That they shall do injury to no man 8. That they shall not be great Talkers 9. That they shall not give way to their Anger 10. That they shall labour to their utmost to get Knowledge As for them that design to live a Religious Life they must renounce the Delights of this Life be charitable to the poor overcome their Passions and give themselves up to Meditation He taught moreover that after this Life there were ten distinct places of Joy and Torment and that the Contemners of this Law should feel Torments proportionable to their Offences without any end of their Torments That they that endeavour'd to fulfill his Law and had fail'd in any point they should wander in divers Bodies for
thing to the Deputies deliver'd to L'Estoile the Letters which Monsieur de Lyonne had written to him the Inscription whereof was thus To Mr. L'Estoile first Valet du Chambre to the King of Persia or in his absence to Mr. Logis his Son in Law Which was not a little to be admir'd at by the Franks who had sojourn'd any time in that Country to find that Monsier Boulaye who had been before in Persia and should have better understood the Custom of the Court should be no better able to instruct a Secretary of State then to let him give L'Estoile the Title of Valet du Chambre to the King of Persia who has none to serve him in his Chamber but Eunuchs and never suffers a Christian to touch his Habits for fear of being defil'd The purport of the Letters was to admonish L'Estoile to support assist and protect the Deputies in the Business upon which the Company had sent them and in case of losses by the way to furnish them with such necessaries as they should want The King of Persia was then three days journey from Ispahan for which reason a Messenger was dispatch'd with a Letter to the Nazar or Grand Master of the House and another to the Mirzateker or his Lieutenant to know whether his Majesty would command them to wait on him there or whether they should expect his return to Ispahan In the mean while the Deputies could not agree amongst themselves For the three Merchants Beber Mariage and du Pont affirm'd that the two Gentlemen were only interested by the by in this Negotiation and that having no right to take cognizance of the Affairs of the Company they ought not to trouble themselves any farther then the King's Letters directed them in the affairs of the Company That the Effect of the King's Letters was no more then that two Gentlemen desirous to see the Court of Persia were joyn'd with the Deputies of the Company and therefore it belong'd to them only to treat with the Ministers of the King of Persia That the Gentlemen had no more to do then to deliver the King of France's Letter to the Persian King and to desire a nomination of Commissioners to treat with the Deputies This contest which all the Franks in vain endeavour'd to compose came at length to the Nazar's Ears who was strangely surpriz'd at it having then a design to procure an Order from the King to remove out of Ispahan and the Suburbs all the Christians of what opinion soever and place them over against Zulpha However the Deputies rais'd new objections and difficulties every day which Father Raphael of Mans Superiour of the Order of Capuchins in Persia employ'd all his credit and industry to accommodate He wrote them out several forms of a Letter which they were to send to the Nazar but those that pleas'd the one Party did not like the other At length Father Raphael weary of scribling and altering amending and correcting and all to no purpose told them seriously they did ill to act in such a manner and to insist upon idle formalities that the Persian Style wherein they ought to write to the Nazar ought to be concise and plain without superfluities or impertinencies and lastly that all their contentions did but redound to the disadvantage of the Company whose Interests they pretended to manage After several contests Father Raphael at last finish'd the Letter to the content of both Parties which was transcrib'd into the Persian Language with another to the Mirzateker and both were dispatch'd away The Nazar having read it presently inform'd the King of the French Companies design and of the arrival of the Deputies His Majesty commanded him to let them know that they were welcome and that in a short time he would return to Ispahan and give them Audience Some few dayes after the Court return'd to Ispahan and while the King stopp'd at one of his Houses near the Gates of the City the Nazar sent for Father Raphael to know of him who the French Deputies were and who had sent them into Persia to which the Father gave him the best satisfaction he could For the Nazar wonder'd that they were come into the Kingdom and sent as they said from such a potent Prince and yet that the Governours of Erivan and Tauris should know nothing of their passage through those Cities The Athemadoulet also was in the same Astonishment and it gave them reason to suspect both the Quality of their Persons and the Reality of their Commission For either they were ignorant of the custom of the Country or else they did ill to travel incognito like ordinary Tradesmen and Persons of mean condition But Father Raphael having assur'd them that they were sent by the King of France to settle a Company of Trade and that he had Letters of Advice thereof out of Europe the Nazar bid Father Raphael tell the Deputies they should be in a readiness for that the King would give them Audience in a few days But the former misunderstanding still continuing between the Gentlemen and Deputies Father Raphael fearing some mischievous consequence of it in the presence of the King or that they should make some dispute for priority the Father represented to the Nazar that whereas the Deptuies were of two Orders the one of Gentlemen and the other of Merchants therefore to take away all suspition of jealousie it would do well that His Majesty would be pleas'd when he admitted them to their Audience to permit the Gentlemen their seats on the one side and the Merchants on the other Which the Nazar approv'd and the King allow'd of the same day The 27 th of September the King being at his Palace of Scader-Abbas upon the bank of the River between the Bridge of Zulpha and the Bridge of Schiras caus'd a preparation of Artificial Fire-works to be made which came to above 2000 l. and early in the Morning caus'd notice to be given that he intended that day to give audience to the King of France's Deputies Father Raphael also had Order to be ready with the Deputies to the end the Mehemender or Master of the Ceremonies might not be oblig'd to wait Accordingly that very day the Mehemender came to L'Estoile's House and from thence conducted the Deputies with all their Train and the rest of the Franks then resident in those parts all mounted on Horse-back with a march so slow and grave and for the advantage of the sight so far about that it was almost Night before they arriv'd at Scader-Abbas at what time the Mehemender enter'd the Palace alone leaving the Merchants at the Door In the mean while the Merchants believing that Father Raphael did not favour them so much as the Gentlemen cry'd out aloud that they would have an Interpreter also for themselves or else would go no farther Father Raphael who acted only by the Nazar's Order and for the advantage of the French Nation told them that whither they went
to the King For he pretended to be the true Envoy from the King of France and that Beber was only sent to bear him company La Boulaye therefore believing that the business would take effect persuaded the Chyrurgion already mention'd to solicit the Nahab who had a kindness for him so close that thereby the Nahab permitted him to bring the Letter But Boulaye who thought he should give it himself to the King was much surpriz'd when he saw that the Nahab who had got the Letter into his own power gave it to one of the meanest Officers of his Court who by the Prime Minister's order gave it to another and he to a third who brought it back to the Nahab who at length presented it to the King but not in the presence of Boulaye And thus you see the Effect of the ridiculous pride of the Deputies Boulaye was forc'd to stay in an outer Court having two more to pass thorough before he came into the King's Quarter Where while he remain'd big with expectation word was brought him that the King would return an Answer to the King his Master so soon as the Ships should be arriv'd and so he was forc'd to go back to his Lodging with the melancholy dissatisfaction of a frustrate hope The wounded Gentleman being new cur'd but still very lame desir'd Audience of the Nahab that he might have justice for the mischief done him by an Assassination and a Robbery The Nahab readily admitted him limping when he came into his presence worse then when he first left his bed The first Compliment he made was of the Wounds he had receiv'd and then he demanded satisfaction for the loss of his Blood and the Goods which had bin stolen from him The Nahab promis'd him to inform the King of the business assuring him that he should have no wrong done him upon the high-way within the Territories where he had to do Four or five days after the Nahab sent to Beber to know how much the Loss which he pretended to have receiv'd amounted to Beber brought in an account of four and twenty thousand Roupies or 12000 Crowns and for the loss of his Blood he left it to the Kings Generosity His Accompt he made out thus Imprimis A Note for the value of six thousand Roupies which he had lent a Merchant when he departed for Marseilles which Note was among the Papers he had lost As to that the Nahab ask'd him whether the Notaries in France did not make an Entry of such publick Acts as were sign'd before them Beber made answer that he should never be paid if he could not produce the same Paper that had bin taken from him and that he could not demand his Money without it The Nahab replying that that was contrary to the Custom of all Nations and that he knew it could not be as he said added withal that he should take no care for his satisfaction in that particular After that he read on Item Five thousand Roupies in Gold and Silver Money Item Four thousand Roupies in Gold Lace and Galoon to trim his Clothes Item Two Diamond Rings at two thousand one hundred Roupies Item Two other Rings a Topaz and another of sea-green water which cost three hundred Roupies Item His Clothes his Linnen and for a Chest of Medicaments which might be worth 4000 Roupies of which he had procur'd his Chirurgeon to give in a Bill Item A Chain of Gold valu'd at 500 Roupies In all amounting to 24000 Roupies as I said before Two or three days after the King caus'd an Order to be deliver'd to him for the payment of his Money at the Treasury-Chamber Upon which Order he agreed with a Merchant to be paid at Surat And when he was ready to depart the King commanded 12000 Roupies to be paid him for the loss of his Blood But that sum he never receiv'd For being in haste to be gone to Surat and failing to present the Treasurer he drill'd him out so long that his patience was quite tir'd and so he was forc'd to go without it I could never understand the Policy of the Great Mogul to pay Beber the sum which he said had bin taken from him when the Nahab knew to a thread what he had lost and had given in an accompt thereof to the King the whole not amounting to 2000 Roupies And as for the Franguis so soon as they understood that he had demanded 4000 Roupies for his Chirurgeons Chest they all cry'd out that it was a meer cheat For a few days before Beber arriv'd at Agra the Chirurgeon had receiv'd 200 Roupies by the Charity of the Franks to return to Surat and he fell sick the next day that this Bill was presented to the Nahab After the Mogul had read the King of France's Letter the Nahab by order of his Master order'd a Lodging to be provided for the Deputies which overjoy'd the Jesuits who were by that means rid of two very troublesome Guests As for Boulaye in regard the King had signifi'd his pleasure that he would not return any answer to the King's Letter till the arrival of the Ships he never troubled himself any farther but staid till the waters were fallen that he might go to Bengale and from thence to Golconda to settle a Trade in those parts But Beber moil'd like a horse and did nothing but run to and fro to know the King's pleasure touching the settlement of Trade But the Nahab either laugh'd at him or took little notice of what he said For indeed by Beber's outward appearance and deportment no man could make any other judgment of him but that he was a poor spirited fellow and one that knew not what it was to live For all the Europeans that travel into Persia and the Indies are always richly habited nor would any of them keep Beber company who by his Habit look'd rather like a Footman than a Deputy of a Royal Company of Trade At length a whim took him to make himself a suit of painted Calicut after the French Fashion the like whereof had never been seen in the Country the whole Suit not standing him in above 13 Livres and 13 Sous For the trimming of his new Suit he took off the Ribbands of his old Cloaths which he was two days lathering and smoothing with a Taylers Goose When he had got this rare Habit upon his back he went to visit the Nahab who was then attended by the Principal Lords of the Court. Who when they saw him enter fell all a gazing upon him and ask'd one another whether that Frangui were turn'd Faquir or a Dervich of Hossen Mamout which they usually call the ragged Saint For you must know that all the Faquirs or Derviches that are of this Order never apparel themselves but with such rags as they pick up in the streets and if they meet with any pieces better than other they make of them a kind of Galoon to trim the rest
such Fathers who have perform'd any important Service for the good of his Kingdom He gives them Pains of Gold every one worth six hundred Livres and Bars of Silver amounting each to forty six Livres The same day he also releases all Prisoners both Criminal and Debtors provided the crime do not deserve death and that the debt do not exceed two Bars of Silver Also every year the three last days of the last Month the 40 Mandarins who are the chief Councellors of State take the Oaths of all the Lords and Officers of the Court and of their Wives causing them to swear to be faithful to the King and if they know of any thing that concerns the King's person or his Kingdom to discover it All Governours of Provinces give the same Oaths to the Lords and Gentlemen under their Jurisdictions and the Governours of Cities to the Citizens and other Inhabitants They that discover any Treason never fail of any reward only with this distinction in reference to the quality of the Persons that reveal it For as for the Mandarins and Gentlemen the King rewards them according to his own pleasure But as for the meaner sort whether Men or Women they are ennobl'd and gratifi'd with a reward of 50 Pains of Gold and 500 Bars of Silver which in all amounts to 53000 Livres But they esteem their Nobility far beyond their Money At certain times of the year there is a Muster of the Youth of the several Provinces and all those who are found not to be either of the Nobility or not to have learnt any Trade are presently enroll'd for the Service of the King who every five years make choice of such as he intends for his Guard and sends them to the Frontier Garrisons There are some who endeavour to get off by Money but if they be discover'd both the Officers and the Soldier are punish'd without redemption For they hang a little Bell about his Neck Fetter his Arms and in that posture send him to the Constable who presently orders his Head to be struck off But in regard the Tunquineses are very averse from seeing any Blood shed the Kindred or Friends of the condemn'd Person intercede that he may be hang'd believing that death to be most honourable which is not defil'd with Blood-shed wherein they seem to be of the Opinion of the Turks CHAP. XIII Of the Ceremonies observ'd when the Kings of Tunquin are advanc'd to the Throne BEfore we speak of the Enthroning the Kings of Tunquin and of the Ceremonies that attend it it behoves us to relate the manner of their setting out of the Palace when they go at any time to take their pleasure The King is seated upon a most magnificent Palanquin carry'd by eight Men where he may be beheld by all the People the Lords and Officers of the Court attending him on foot provided he do not go out of the City for when he goes into the Country he rides upon an Elephant and the Lords follow him on Horse-back When the Queen Mother or his first Wife go abroad they are likewise carry'd upon a close Palanquin with Lattice-Windows to the end they may see and not be seen and behind the Palanquin follow the Maids of Honour on foot The Mandarins and great Princes solemnize their Birth-days every year with great Feasting Pastimes Comedies and Fire-works and all their Friends and Kindred fail not to attend them to honour the Solemnities In the year 1645 the eldest Son of the King who was by his Father appointed for his Successor upon one of his Birth-days shew'd the Court all the divertizements he could imagin and the King who had a great affection for him sent him a thousand Pains of Gold and five hundred Bars of Silver to the value of 120000 Livres At which time large Alms are distributed especially to poor Widows and Prisoners When the King dies and leaves several Sons they set up him whom when alive he chose for his Successor The third day after the Decease of the King the Constable with all the Military Mandarins the Lords of the Council and all the Governours of Provinces repair to the Prince's Appartment where they present him with a Chinese Habit after which having mounted him upon an Elephant they bring him into one of the great Courts of his Palace which is all covered with Cloth of Gold and Silver as with a Tent. There it is that being placed upon a Throne magnificently enrich'd all the Mandarins prostrate themselves upon the Earth with their Heads downward in which posture having lain for some time they rise and closing their Hands together with their Arms and Eyes lifted up to Heaven they swear to the new King to be faithful to him till death This first Ceremony being over the new King to shew himself liberal upon his first coming to the Crown causes four Panes of Gold and six Bars of Silver to be given to every one But to distinguish the Constable from the rest he gives him twenty Panes of Gold and forty Bars of Silver and to the President of the Council or Chancellour ten of Gold and twenty of Silver These Presents being thus made several Pieces of Artillery are fired round the Palace accompanied with several Volleys of small Shot there being then in Arms above 30000 Horse and Foot and then the King is set upon a magnificent Palanquin and the Constable and chief of the Council ride before upon lovely Horses Sixteen of the principal Officers of the Court carry the King viz. eight Military Mandarins and eight of the Council And in this manner they set forward to the Apartment of the deceased King from whence all the Lords retire for two hours except the Eunuchs and then it is that the Princesses Ladies of the Court and chief Wives of the Mandarins come to kiss the King's Hand and congratulate his Advancement to the Throne Which done all the Lords return again to a noble Feast after the manner of the Countrey ready prepar'd Their Viands are not so delicate nor so deliciously dress'd as ours neither have they so much variety 'T is true they have those Birds-nests already mention'd which they mix in the most part of their Dishes which gives the Meat a tast of almost all sorts of Spices Of all the Meats which they eat Colts Flesh is in most esteem and Dogs Flesh neither of which agree with our Palates The Festival is concluded with Comedies and Fireworks which la allst the night The next day the 30000 Men that gave their Volleys of small Shot the day before are drawn up in good order in a Field next and all the principal Officers of War Colonels Captains and Lieutenants leave the Frontiers to be at the same place Then the King mounted upon his Palanquin and carried by sixteen of his principal Officers the Constable and grand Squire riding before and attended by several other Commanders on foot with several Mummers that play and dance before the
the use of Batavia But happy for him General Vanderlin's Lady falling into a hard Labour before the time of Execution and desiring his Pardon at such a solemn Juncture easily obtain'd it seasonably recovering him from the Misfortunes of Folly and Necessity A RELATION OF JAPON AND Of the Cause of the Persecution of the Christians in those ISLANDS THE Modern Geographers have made Descriptions of Japon by means of such conjectures as they have drawn from the Relations of certain Merchants who have traded in those Countries But in regard there are very few Merchants who are skilful in Geography as being such who only mind the profit and advantage of their Voyages those Descriptions have prov'd very uncertain As to the knowledge of the Ancients in reference to this part of the World it is no less imperfect and it is but only by conjecture to this day that we believe the Abadii of Ptolomy to be that Island which is now call'd Niphon That which I could learn of most certainty was by the Relation of several persons who have Travell'd these parts that the Empire of Japon is at present compos'd of several Islands of which some perhaps may not be absolute Islands but rather Peninsula's and particularly those that make a part of the Land of Yesso the Inhabitants whereof are Vassals and Tributaries to Japon Nevertheless a Holland Pilot who has been industrious to discover whether the whole Country it self were an Island or a Continent adjoyning to that vast Tract of Land call'd Corea unknown to this day in those parts where it extends it self behind China to the bottom of Tartarie Niulhan saith that it is separated from Japon by a narrow Sea which at this day is call'd The Streights of Sanguar Through all the Islands of Japon where formerly were accompted to have been 66 Kingdoms there are three remarkable for their largeness of which that of largest extent is called Niphon the next Ximo and the third Xicock The Japonners accompt it a Journey of twenty seven days from the Province of Quanto to the Country of Yesso and they say farther that this Country of Yesso in those parts which are remote from the Sea is so full of inaccessible Mountains that those Japonners who have attempted a discovery by Land could never accomplish their design being discourag'd by the length of the Journey and the difficulties and badness of the ways The Island of Niphon is four times as big as the other two and there is also a Mountain therein that vomits up Flames of Fire like Mount Etna in Sicily formerly it was distinguish'd into thirty five Kingdoms but at this day it is only divided into five parts the names whereof are Jamasoit Jetsen Jetsesen Quanto and Ochio lying all in order as you travel from West to East These five parts are again divided into several Provinces The Island of Ximo or Saycock is situated to the South-West of Niphon being about 160 Leagues in circuit The Island of Xicock is seated by the South of Niphon being about 120 Leagues in compass The other Islands that lye round about are not so considerable for in those Seas lye several Islands scatter'd up and down as in the Archipelago between the Morea and the Coasts of Asia the less As to the rest I refer the Reader to the Map annexed believing it to be very true as having been made upon the places themselves The Emperour at present keeps his Court in the City of Yeddo in regard the Air is there more temperate and the Heats not so violent but when he has a Son that is arriv'd to the Age of fifteen years he sends him to Surunga there to reside till the death of his Father makes him way to the Throne Since Yeddo has been made choice of for the Seat of the Empire it has so greatly enlarg'd it self from day to day that it is at present three Leagues in length and three in breadth very populous and the Houses standing very close together When the Emperour rides through the City or that there is any publick shew to be seen it is impossible to get by the crowd of the people though the Women are not permitted to be of the number The Emperours Palace is cover'd with Plates of Gold to which the Palaces of the Lords are every way correspondent in Magnificence so that afar off the City affords the richest and most magnificent Prospect that was ever beheld Though it be not so beautiful within by reason that the ordinary Houses are built only of Wood. The Great Dairy keeps his residence at Meaco which is also a very large City containing above a hundred thousand Houses it was formerly the capital Seat of the Empire at what time the Dairy's were laid aside So soon as he is Crown'd by the Bonzes who are the Priests and Lawyers he is then no more to expose himself to the light of the Moon nor to shave his Head or cut his Nails The Natives report that the Empire of Japon was formerly govern'd by a Prince call'd Dairy who had acquir'd so high a reputation for Holiness that his Subjects ador'd him as a God and that to increase the awe and reverence of the people he suffer'd his Hair and Nails to grow affirming that it it was a piece of Sacriledge to make use either of Razor or Sizzars The Princes that succeeded him though they had only the name of Kings have still preserv'd the same custom believing that it becomes not their Grandeur to appear in view of the Moon as being Sons of the Sun If he have a Daughter that is ripe for Marriage the Emperour is oblig'd to Marry her and she it is that bears the Title of Empress though she should happen to have no Children which is contrary to the Maxims of all the Eastern Monarchs who give the Title of Queen and Sultaness only to her among all the rest of their Wives that is first brought to Bed of a Male Successor to the Crown At the end of every seven years the Emperour sends one of the chief Princes of his Court to the Dairy with a Basket full of Earth and to tell him that all the Lands which the Emperour commands are at the Dairy's Devotion and indeed the Empire belongs to him by right of Succession though at present he enjoys only the Title and very large Revenues which render him highly considerable in the Empire The Japonners are Idolaters and adore the Sun but though they have a great number of Temples and different Idols yet they are not over obstinate in their Devotion only the Emperour is very severe against all other Religions They never stir out of their Native Country to travel unless it be to China and the Land of Yesso and within these few years the Emperour has prohibited his people under extream penalties from having any Commerce with Foreigners the Chineses and Hollanders excepted He had receiv'd Ambassadours at several times from several Princes but
in pieces This Victory wrought the Conversion of several of the Idolaters and the Christians after they had given thanks to God three days together prepar'd themselves for a second Combat not doubting but the other Army would set upon them while they were weary and weaken'd by the last Battel But that General more prudent then the former only posted himself where the Christians could not come at him and writ to the Court the particulars of the Defeat of the first Army upon which he expected the Emperour's Orders In the mean while the Army of the Christians daily encreas'd so that in a few days they were above fifty thousand strong The Emperour resolv'd to stifle this Revolt in the beginning sent Orders through all his Empire to make new Levies and all the while the Dutch President 's Confederates ceas'd not to aggravate him against the Christians not suffering the other Courtiers to open his Eyes and prevent so unjust a prosecution The defeat of his Army had put him into such a rage besides that though the Captains of the Christians Army did all they could to clear themselves from the false accusations laid upon them and to obtain their pardons there was no possibility of being heard The Emperour call'd his Council where the wisest were of opinion that it would prove the best way to receive the submissions of the Christians who offer'd to lay down their Arms upon a general pardon and the free exercise of their Religion But the President 's Cabal carry'd it beyond this sober advice and the Emperour exasperated by his Impostures took the wrong course Thereupon the Council resolv'd with all speed to raise a vast Army which was to joyn with the other and so to ruin the Christians all at a blow The Dairy also who is consulted upon all important affairs approv'd this Council Thereupon the Lords who are oblig'd to furnish the Emperour with Men strove who should bring their Troops and Companies first to the Randevouz appointed which was neer the place where the second Army lay so that when both Armies were joyn'd together there was in the Field a Body of 150000 Men. The Brother of the General who was slain in the first Battel commanded under the Emperour who resolv'd to go in person But first of all he caus'd a Proclamation to be made in his Camp whereby he forbad any Quarter to be given to any Christian unless it were the two Brothers whom he intended to punish openly and that they who left the Field before the Christians were banish'd should be put they and their Kindred to the most cruel Deaths that could be imagin'd but that they should be rewarded that brought the Head of a Christian to the Emperour The Copies of this Proclamation were scatter'd in the Army of the Christians though they did no harm but only encourag'd them against the Idolaters seeing there was no hope of pardon Nevertheless the youngest of the two Brothers offer'd to go and throw himself at the Emperour's Feet to implore his clemency in the name of the whole Army saying withall That he should accompt himself happy to suffer Martyrdom to shew his Innocency but they would not suffer him to stir All he could obtain from them was to write a Letter full of respect submission and repentance for what had been already done declaring that they were ready to lay down their Arms if the Emperour would grant them pardon and the free Exercise of their Religion offering with the hazard of their Lives to make out the falsity of all those things wherewith they had been accus'd This was by an Idolater carry'd to a certain Lord who secretly favour'd the Christians but the Emperour toar it without reading it vowing at the same time that he would never return to his Court 'till the Idolaters were all extirpated The Christian Army understanding the Emperour's resolution minded nothing more then their own defence 'T is true the Ground where they lay was advantagious enough for the smallness of their Number but the Idolaters were three to one besides that the Idolaters of the Country who favour'd the Christians before now declar'd all against them so soon as they saw the Imperial Army So that now both Armies lying so near together several hot Skirmishes pass'd between 'em and at length it came to a general Battel At first the Christians overthrew the Idolaters not able to stand before them with so much vigour did the youngest of their Chieftains assail them He was remarkable for his Habit that day but more remarkable for his courage so that the Field was cover'd with the Bodies of the slain fear and dread possessing the yielding Enemy But while the Victor forgot his Brother's advice and pursu'd too far from the Body of the Army he was encompass'd on every side wounded and being carried away by the press of his Enemies was at length taken and lead before the Emperour His eldest Brother more experienc'd in War rally'd and recall'd those that had follow'd his Brother and till Night maintain'd the advantages which he had got over the Imperialists who were still supply'd with fresh Succours as necessity requir'd The next day the Fight was renew'd again by break of day and with a success as honourable but more bloody to the Christians The third day the Emperour enrag'd at such a resistance caus'd them to be set upon in several places at one time The General of the Christians Army rode from Rank to Rank encouraging the Souldiers both by his Exhortations and his Example but at length having receiv'd several wounds he was overlaid by the multitude of his Enemies that crouded to his destruction And now the General being lost and the Christians having no person to command them it ceas'd to be a Combat and became a Massacre However resolving to dye with their Swords in their hands they flung themselves into the thickest of their Enemies and Sacrific'd themselves to their own Innocency Their Camp was soon forc'd and all the old Men Women and Children put to the Sword except some few that escap'd and hid themselves in the Mountains who afterwards made a relation of this bloody Story to them who rehears'd it to me This was the deplorable end of the Christians and indeed of the Christianisme of Japon which the President procur'd by his impostures and fallacies And it has been made appear by three exact accompts that there has perish'd either in Battels or by Tortures above 60000 Christians The eldest of their Captains suffer'd a most cruel Martyrdom for seven days neither could any offer that the Emperour could make him for his Brothers and his own Valours sake induce him to renounce the Christian Faith After that there was a kind of Inquisition set up thorough the whole Empire which lasted for several years whereby those that persever'd in the Faith were condemn'd to most intolerable Torments in so much that the Relation which Van Varen a Hollander whose credit it
Men of discretion and conduct While I was at Goa in the year 1648 I met with some of these Fathers who gave an exact accompt of the Embassy They made a prosperous Voyage and arriv'd happily at their intended Port. But you must understand that when any Ship arrives at Japon no persons are permitted to come ashore 'till the Governour of the place have an accompt who they are that they may give notice thereof to the Emperour and know his pleasure whether they shall be received or no. In the mean time the Ships rode in a very dangerous place at the entry of the Haven into which there was no steering without the assistance of the Native Pilots The Governour of Nangasaqui surpriz'd to understand that they were Portugueses wrote in all hast to the Emperour The Dutch President being inform'd of the news play'd all the pranks he could us'd all the contrivances imaginable to frustrate the success of the Embassy and to ruine the Vessels that brought the Embassadour and his Presents To which purpose he found a way to bribe the Courrier who was sent with the Emperours Orders so that instead of twenty days which were sufficient for his journey he made it above two Months before he deliver'd his dispatches During which time the two Ships had suffer'd very bad weather upon the Coasts and endur'd many a severe Storm At length the Orders came that none should be permitted to Land but the Embassadour the two Captains and the two Pilots to give an accompt of the subject and cause of their coming The Embassadour being Landed acquainted the Governour that he came to compliment the Emperour in the behalf of the King his Master and to assure him that they were no longer under the Power of the King of Spain That about a year since a lawful Heir of Portugal had recover'd the Diadem of his Ancestors which the Spaniard had usurp'd That this new King was so just and generous a Prince that understanding that some of his Subjects had deserted the Island of Japon without paying their Debts he had now sent to make a general satisfaction but chiefly out of that respect which obliges all Soveraigns newly come to the Crown to give notice thereof to those Princes whose friendship they desire The Governour inform'd the Emperour of all these things but the President having as good intelligence by means of his Friends at Court alledg'd to the Emperour that they were Rebels who came from the utmost parts of the West to bring the News and Example of their Revolt to Japon That the natural restlesness of this Nation caus'd frequent disturbances and revolutions among them That they were never long at rest themselves nor would suffer others to be at quiet That considering the experience he had had he could not be either too cautious for the security of his person or the tranquillity of his Empire Lastly that the Emperour and the Empire would be ruin'd past recovery if those people were ever admitted to set footing therein This Counsel well seconded by the rest of the Cabal easily made an impression in the Heart of the Prince naturally Barbarous and an Enemy to the Christians Thereupon he sent an Order to the Governour to invite all the Whites aboard and to treat them for eight days in the best manner he could At the end of eight days they were order'd to repair aboard again and at the same time he made a Present to the Embassadour and chief of his Train consisting of six great Cabinets and six Coffers lacker'd with black with Figures in Relief intermix'd with spangles of Gold all the Embellishments being of Massie Gold With them were six Cabinets and six Coffers lacker'd with Red Embellish'd after the same manner with Silver I saw some of them when I was at Goa and I must confess I never beheld any so rare and beautiful in that kind which made me admire the ingenious Industry of the Artists of Japon Our European imitations of their workmanship being no way comparable to them The Embassadour having receiv'd his Present had Order to remove all the Goods in the second Vessel into the Admiral He would have made great Presents to the Governour who refus'd them telling the Embassadour withall that he had express command to refuse them and to declare to the Embassadour that if he did not make hast away he would sink his Ship That the Emperour his Master had made a new prohibition forbidding all Portugals and Spaniards to venture near his Dominions upon any pretence whatsoever nay though it were upon pretence of an Embassy upon pain of being crucifi'd upon the place without liberty to speak for themselves As for the Debts of the Portugals he had undertaken to discharge them himself only he had sent that Present to the King his Master to thank him for that Embassy The Embassadour had no sooner remov'd the Goods out of the second Vessel into the Admiral but they sank her before his face And not contented with that affront the Governour sent for all the Blacks that were in the Admiral and cut off their Heads pretending they were Indians and that as such they could not be ignorant of the Rigorous prohibitions which the Emperour had put forth forbidding all Strangers except the Hollanders to set footing in Japon After the Portugal Embassadour was thus harbarously frustrated and dismiss'd he sent News thereof to the General at Batavia urging him to execute the design which the Hollanders had upon Macao telling him also That though there were a probability of a League between the Hollander and the Portugal against the Spaniard yet that it could be no harm to seize Macao beforehand as they had made themselves Masters of several places while the Portugals were under the King of Spain The General taking the President 's advice was ready to set Sail upon this enterprize when a Messenger from Portugal brought him the News of the Treaty concluded between Portugal and Holland as also of the Navy which the Hollanders had sent to Lisbon to aid the Portugals At first he made as if it had been a false Rumour and put the Messenger in Prison nevertheless while he delay'd the departure of the Fleet he receiv'd express Orders from his Superiours to Treat the Portugals as Friends and Allies So that he was constrain'd to turn all his Forces against the Molucca Islands then in the possession of the Spaniards The President was very sorry for the last News by reason that the General and he had great designs upon the Conquest of that place and had promis'd the Company by that means to make them absolute Masters of the Trade of China and of all the East True it is that Macao is very advantagiously seated for those that design to be Masters of those Seas especially upon the Coasts of Quantung and Fockien which are the Provinces whither are brought down all the Merchandizes of this Empire It lies at the Mouth of the Gulph
his Men to retreat by degrees 'till they had drawn the Chineses into the Ambuscade at what time the Tartars encompassing them on every side kill'd 80000 upon the place Coxinga with his Navy not being able to relieve them During this War the Hollanders took their opportunity and made themselves Masters of the Island of Fishers between Formosa and the Coast of Fockien In a short while after Coxinga dy'd and Savia his Uncle the richest Merchant of China who out of his own revenue had disburs'd the expences of the last War grew weary of the charge and was desirous to make Peace with the Tartars Of which one of the Sons of Coxinga being advertiz'd seiz'd upon his Uncles person and shut him up in a close Prison where he kill'd himself for madness The Hollanders overjoy'd at the Dath of Savia who had always hinder'd them from the Trade of the Province of Fockien sent a Navy against his Nephew in favour of the Tartars who made War against him all along the Sea-Coast Several Combats happen'd between the Juncks of the Islanders and the Holland Vessels in view of the Tartars who satisfi'd themselves with being only Spectators But all the benefit which the Hollanders reap'd from the advantages which they obtain'd over the Islanders was only to put into the Hands of the Tartars the Cities of Bemos aed Quesmoy and all the places thereabouts which Coxinga's Party possess'd before For notwithstanding all their kindness the Tartars would not assist them to retake Tayovan so that they only were content to build certain small Forts in the small Islands adjoyning to Formosa and since my return from the Indies I never could inform my self of the truth of the issue of that Enterprize But the Hollanders were not content with their settlement at Firmando which was an Island both desert and barren seated upon a Streight which separates the Point of the Land of Corea from Japon a place no way commodious for their Designs of Engrossing the Trade of China as being too remote from Nangisaqui Besides that the North and South Winds are so violent at their Seasons in this Streight between the two Coasts that it is impossible to come near the shoar when they blow The President therefore having such good luck in the Expulsion of the Portugals out of Japon doubted not but that he might obtain the small Island of Kisma an Island that had been wholly deserted ever since the Habitations of the people had been destroy'd At first he only desir'd leave to build a small Tenement for the conveniency of the Factors Now between this Island and Nangisaqui there is only a narrow Frith not above a Musquet Shot over Here the President desir'd the Governour that he might make a Bridge of Boats for a more easie intercourse between the City and the Port. The Governour gain'd by Presents gave him leave to build the Bridge but seeing that the Hollanders made an ill use of it and that they came too frequently and numerously into the City he built two Forts at both ends of the Bridge and furnish'd them with Souldiers who were to take notice who pass'd to and fro He also publish'd an Order That such Hollanders as came by day into the Town should return to their Lodgings before night upon pain of Death This Order and the little conveniency which they had for Lodging in their own Quarters very much troubl'd them so that the President made new Applications at Court and obtain'd leave to build a Factory and Warehouses for their Goods The Governour thereupon sent a Surveyor to the Hollanders to mark out the Ground which the Emperour had given them to build upon This person being largely rewarded made them good measure and yet they were not contented so that in the Night-time they had enlarg'd their Quarters by removing the first marks The Governour being advertiz'd thereof began to be very angry but they found means to appease him with their Presents so that he easily condescended to the slight reasons which they gave him for what they had done Thus in a short time they finish'd their work which was without encompass'd with a Wall much like a Garden Wall but within contain'd a real Fort flanck'd and lin'd according to all the Rules of Art and which the outward Wall being beaten down not only defended their Bridge but commanded the entry into the Haven of Nangisaqui They took great care not to admit any but Hollanders for fear their Design should be discover'd So that when the whole was finish'd the President gave advice to the General at Batavia what he had done desiring him to send him eight Brass Guns so broken as to be easily put together in the places where they were broken He adviz'd him also to put them up in Hogsheads pack'd up like other Goods and instead of Mariners to send a good number of Souldiers habited like Mariners for the security of the Factory But this Stratagem had not that success which he expected for about that time the Emperour had sent a new Governour to Nangisaqui So that when the Ships arriv'd at Batavia the new chang'd Officers being more vigilant then the former coming to weigh the Bales as they were put ashore and finding certain Hogsheads at the bottom of the hold which they could not remove by reason of their weight they presently brake them up and perceiving there the broken pieces of Canons carry'd some of them to the Governour who immediately sent intelligence thereof to Yeddo of which the President had as suddain notice by his Pensioners He having his invention at command repairs forthwith to the Emperour's Court and there tells the Emperour That he had receiv'd Orders from his Superiours to present him with certain Peeces of Canon made according to the newest Invention of his Country the use whereof was so convenient that they were with little difficulty and trouble to be drawn up and made use of where others could not possibly be brought to play and that he thought no Present could be more acceptable or serviceable to him to render him Victorious over his Enemies Upon this the Emperour was very well satisfi'd and sent to the Governour of Nangisaqui to send him those Guns and withall not to molest the Hollanders either in their Factory or in vending their Wares Having so fortunately disengag'd himself out of these Briers he lays another design and sends to the General at Batavia a person of a turbulent and unquiet Spirit like himself to set out two Vessels to make a discovery of all the Coasts of Japon and particularly of those Coasts which were next the Gold Mines and to see if they could find any safe Harbour for Ships to ride in in those tempestuous Seas or any places proper to fortifie that they might no longer depend upon the uncertain humour of the Court of Japon which was as inconstant as their Seas The General provided two Ships and furnish'd them with excellent Pilots good
Souldiers expert Mariners and Provisions for two years with all other Necessaries and Instruments as well for delving as building One of the seven of the General 's Council was chos'n Supervisor of the Enterprize 'T is said that those two Vessels skirted all along the Coast of Japon from the East to the South and from the South to the North fetching a compass about the Islands to the 47 deg of Northern Latitude and that they discover'd one Island which they call'd The States Island and afterwards touch'd upon another Land which they nam'd The Company 's Land inhabited by White people with long Hair habited after the Japon fashion which they found to be a Continent adjoyning to Niulhan and Corea and that after they had wander'd a long time upon the Sea without any other design then to make new Discoveries they pass'd through the Streights of Sanguar which separates the Land of Yesso from Japon and kept along those Coasts of Japon to the East to observe the Bays of Aizu and Xendai where are the Gold Mines In that part a furious Tempest took them in sight of the Mountains where the Gold Mines lye which lasted four days together The second of these Vessels run full against a Rock and split her self with the total loss of every Mothers Son in the Vessel The Admiral held out a longer time but coasting the Land where the Mountains of Sataque appear the Tempest grew so violent that she also brake against the Rocks In this second Shipwrack only the Admiral and thirteen persons more escap'd partly by the help of the Planks and partly by Swiming The Japonners upon the Coast presently ran to view them and wonder'd to see people in those parts whose Language they did not understand Nevertheless they entertain'd them civilly enough but in regard they were Strangers and that there was a strict prohibition not to receive any Strangers among them upon any pretence whatsoever they were at a great loss what to do with ' em One wiser then the rest advis'd his Brethren to carry them to the Emperour whose counsel was follow'd and so they took their journey toward Yeddo which was above a hundred Leagues off The Emperour being inform'd of their arrival order'd that they should be civilly us'd and at the end of eight days sent for them and caus'd them to be ask'd of what Country they were and what Design brought them into his Seas The Admiral who was a person of a ready ingenuity answer'd That he was a Hollander who all his life time had serv'd his Country as a Souldier where he had the command of a thousand Horse and two thousand Foot at what time Fortune or rather the care of preserving his Honour forc'd him from his Native Soyl. I was said he one of the chief Commanders in the Army and though I say it my Service had gain'd me a fair reputation The Prince who commanded us had a great confidence in me which made one of his near Relations jealous of me so that he was not only content to do me all ill Offices with the General but sought all occasions to pick a quarrel with me I dare be bold to say that had he not been so nearly related to the Prince I should not have taken his affronts so long patiently But at length he provok'd that patience to such a degree and so deeply and openly affronted me that I was constrain'd to meet him with my Sword in my hand His misfortune and mine so order'd it that I kill'd him at the first push My Friends assisted me to make my escape and kept me hid for some days thinking to have appeas'd the Princes anger but it continu'd so violent that they advis'd me to absent my self for some years Therefore to render my Exile less tedious and that I might be still doing something for the Service of my Country I desir'd my Friends to furnish me with two Ships with a resolution to seek out and destroy all those Pirates that infested the Indian Seas I have been in chace of them for a whole year together and sometimes we met with Tempests so violent that drave us we know not whither our selves my Pilots not being experienc'd in the Eastern Seas Soon after meeting with another Tempest no less rude and boystrous we were forc'd to let our Ships drive as the Winds themselves were pleas'd to force them which at length drove us upon the Coasts of this Empire where we have suffer'd Shipwrack not having sav'd above fourteen of four hundred which I brought along with me Happy in such a misfortune to be cast upon the Territories of a Prince so potent and generous that no question will have compassion upon our miseries When the Interpreter had repeated this Relation to the Emperour the Prince and all the Lords of the Court were very much concern'd and admir'd both the Courage and Aspect of the Stranger The Emperour sent him very rich Presents and to all those of his Company and gave Order that he should be conducted to Kisma to the Holland Factory and that he should be well treated upon the way during the whole journey which was five and twenty or thirty days Travel There this famous Champion stay'd four Months in expectation of the Ships that come every year from Batavia to Japon so that he had time enough to make a full Relation of the Lands which he had observ'd and of all the particulars of the Shipwrack One day as he was telling how he had cajoll'd the Emperour and that the President was applauding the quickness of his wit for inventing such an imaginary piece of Knight-Errantry a Japonese Boy that serv'd the President heard all the discourse without being observ'd by his Master Some Months after the President had beaten this Boy which he as all the Japoneses are of a fiery and vindicative Nature resolving to revenge went to the Governour of Nangisaqui and repeated to him the whole Discourse between his Master and the Admiral The Governour finding it to be a business of importance sends advice thereof to the Court The Emperour was so enrag'd at the injury and affront put upon him that he commanded the Governour to stop the Admiral and his Train and to send him with a good Guard to Yeddo and not to let any Ship enter the Harbour 'till he had had a full Examination of the matter This Order was not so secret but that the Presidents Friends had notice thereof who presently gave him intelligence of it so seasonably that the Admiral was sent away before the Order came to the Governour Eight days after three Holland Vessels arriv'd at Kisma to whom the Governour sent express command to keep out at Sea and not to come ashore The President feigning to be surpriz'd at this Prohibition went to the Governour to know the reason who gave him this Answer The Emperour said he is acquainted with your tricks you shall have no more kindness from me I
to Strangers One day that they were in Discourse together he told them that if they would follow his Counsel he adviz'd them not to go to Court till their Ships were arriv'd But seeing that they were resolv'd to the contrary he offer'd them Money Horses and Souldiers to attend them with Letters of Recommendation to some of the Grandees of the Court The Cha-bander or Provost of Merchants made them the same offers that the Governour had done all which they refus'd very obstinately More then this they behav'd themselves very ill in reference to the Presents which the Governour and the Cha-Bander sent them for they gave their Servants that carry'd them not a Doight which is look'd upon as a very dirty action in the Indies For the Indians never give their Servants any other Wages then what they get by carrying Presents from their Masters And the more they have given them the more Honour it is both for him that receives and him that sends the Present The Deputies then being resolv'd for Agra hir'd their Waynes and their Oxen to carry their Luggage and five and twenty Souldiers for their Convoy They likewise made a great noise of their being honour'd from so Great a King and so Noble a Company Upon which score they ought to have had five or six Wains for their Baggage every one their Pallaquin and a Led-horse and every one a Flag with their Arms or their Cyphers which is the gentile way of Travelling in India and as I was always wont to travel But they took but five and twenty Souldiers whereas they ought to have hir'd an hundred and fifty at the rate they talk'd But instead of so doing three Days Journey from Surat Beber began to quarrel with Boulaye that they had too great a Train at their heels for which he blam'd the Advise of Father Ambroise and the Merchant of Aleppo That for his part he would pay for no more than four Souldiers and that if he would not send the rest back he should pay them himself Upon which they agreed to send back the six Souldiers which the Governour had order'd to attend them as far as Brampour upon their dismissment not giving them so much as the Worth of a Pipe of Tobacco When they came to Agra the Nephew of Chelebi the Aleppo Merchant fail'd not to wait upon them and to offer them his service There was at that time a French Chirurgeon whose Name was James he spake good Indian and was married in the Country to the Daughter of a Portugal The Nahab the King's Uncle and Grand Vizier had a great kindness for this Chirurgeon and by his procurement it was that the Deputies had Audience of Giafer-Kan for so was the Nahab call'd They requested of him that by his favour they might present a Letter from their King to the Great Mogul as also that they might be admitted to treat concerning the Settlement of a French Trade in the Countrey The Nahab told them that he would speak to the King and take care that they should be admitted to their Audience in a little time With that he order'd them to be conducted to the Lodgings appointed for them which they found ready furnish'd with all necessary provision for the Belly but their Lacqueys and Servants were to cook it themselves for it is not here as it is in Persia where the Meat is sent ready drest out of the King's Kitchin to the Embassadors Table The Nahab who understood that they had brought no Presents neither for him nor any of the Grandees of the Court nor for the King himself was not over hasty to admit them to their Audience So that it was above a Month before the Deputies could set Eyes upon the Nahab again though the Chirurgeon and other Franguis us'd all their Interest in their behalf Being very weary of this Delay they gave it out that they could stay no longer at Agra in regard they were to be at Surat upon the Arrival of the French Vessels Upon which false Report the Nahab sent to them for the King their Master's Letter that he might present it to the Great Mogul himself Upon this Demand of their Letter they were quite blank not being acquainted with the manner how the Kings of India receive those Letters which are brought them by Embassadors For they never receive any with their own hands but such as come from the Grand Signior All other Letters according to the Grandeur of the Kings that send them are put into the hands of the Grand Officers of the Court who present them to the King And the more potent the King is from whom the Letter comes through the fewer hands it passes before it is presented to the Great Mogul For the present State of Europe and Asia is very well known in the Court of the Great Mogul and the Difference between the Soveraigns of both in reference to their Grandeur and Puissance Neither is there a Stranger that enters into the Kingdom of whom the Governour of the Frontier Province does not give advice to the Nahab and if he appear to be a person of Ingenuity there 's no help for 't but he must go to Court where he is caress'd on purpose to get information of the Country from whence he comes But to return to the Deputies they obstinately refus'd to send the Letter to the Nahab At which he was not a little troubl'd fearing lest upon the Arrival of the French Vessels it might be the occasion of a Rupture and hinder the conclusion of the Treaty of Commerce Moreover he was not a little jealous lest they should seize upon the Great Mogul's Vessels in their Voyage to Mecca as Hugh Lambert the Holland Pyrat did who took all the Baggage belonging to the Queen of Visapour when she was going to Mecca and Medina The Nahab having made these Reflexions to himself so wrought with the King that he consented that the Deputies contrary to custom should be admitted into his presence there to give the Letter into the Hands of the Prime Minister to be by him presented to the King This as I said before was an unusual favour and yet the Deputies were so obstinate as to reject this Proposition saying that they would rather return home and carry back their Letters then not present them to the King themselves This obstinacy of theirs to maintain their own conceited humour against the Custom of the Countrey was very much blam'd by all people that admir'd at the patience of the Nahab who at length sent them word they might take their own course since they refus'd the Honours which he would have done them After that the Deputies staid ten or twelve days in the City flattering themselves that the Nahab would comply with their Folly but they were deceiv'd For the Nahab offended at their idle carriage took such order that not one person living either Merchant or other went to visit them all the while So that they
Governour of Dia's Passport who made it in the Name of the Viceroy that liv'd at Goa The Imposition which the Ships paid was sufficient to maintain the Fleet and Garrison and to enrich the Governour besides When the Rain-Seasons are over that the wind sits at North and North-east you may sail from Dia to Surat in three or four Tides with light Vessels but great Ships that are laden must fetch a compass about the Bank The City has no Land belonging to it but what it stands upon yet it would be no difficult thing to agree with the Raja or Govervour of the Province and to obtain as much as should be sufficient for the Inhabitants Neither is the Land about it very fertile and besides the people are the poorest in the whole Empire of the Mogul Nevertheless the Country is so well stor'd with Cattel that an Ox or a Bufalo will not cost above two Piasters The English and Hollanders make use of these Cattel to feed their People and to spare the Provisions of their Ships while they stay at Souali But it is observable that the Bufalo's flesh in those parts causes frequent Dysenteries which the Bullocks flesh or Beef never does The Raja that commands the Country has only the Title of Governour for life Which is common to most of the Raja's in the Mogul's Empire whose Ancestours were Lords of Provinces where now their Descendants only enjoy the Titles of Governours Having thus got possession of a good Post the next thing of Importance is to choose out two men considerable for their Honesty Prudence and Skill in Trade who are to be allow'd the full of their Expences These two persons are to serve the Company the one in the nature of a President with a Council consisting of a certain number of persons to assist him The other in the quality of a Broaker who must be an Idolater of the Country and not a Mahumetan in regard all the Workmen he has to deal with are Idolaters Civility and Faith of Promise are altogether requisit to gain Credit among strangers And these particular qualities are requir'd in the particular Broakers who are under the Broaker-General in the Provinces where the Factories are settl'd Good Intelligence is necessary for these two persons to understand the alteration of Manufactures This alteration happens either through the craft and subtilty of the Workmen and the Merchants themselves or by the correspondence of the Broakers and Workmen Which alteration may cause so much dammage to the Company that the Broakers shall gain ten and twelve i' the hundred by it If the President and Broaker-General combine with the particular Broakers and Merchants it will be a difficult thing for the Company to avoid being deceiv'd but if these two persons are but faithful and honest the fraud may be easily remedi'd by changing the particular Broakers The Officers of a Company may be unfaithful to their Trust in this respect When a Vessel arrives in Port the President for the Nation receives the Company 's Letters and the Bills of Lading upon which he calls his Council sends for the Broaker and gives him a Copy of the said Bills The Broaker shews them to three or four of the principal Merchants of the Country who are wont to buy by whole sale If the President and the Broaker hold together for their own profit the Broaker instead of facilitating the sale as he ought to do advises the Merchants to be shie and to offer only such a price Then the President sends for the Broaker and these two or three Merchants and in the presence of the Council he asks the Merchants what they will give for the Goods in the Bills of Lading mention'd If the Merchants are resolute to give no more then so much The President puts off the sale 15 days longer more or less as he pretends himself press'd to sell In the mean time he sends for the Merchants several times for a shew and at length to avoid suspicion and to discharge himself he asks the advice of the Council and as they approve orders the delivery of the Goods to the Merchant But though the Temptations be very great to which these two Officers are subject by reason of their pow'r their frequent opportunities and their distance from their Superiours the Company besides their being wary in their Election may remedy these disorders by depriving them of that pretence which the Dutch Commanders and Broakers have of being constrain'd to sell off presently to the Merchants in gross to avoid the expences of delay The Errour which the Hollanders commit in this respect is That their Officers bespeak every year upon Credit all the Goods which they have occasion for in the Empire of the Mogul according to the Orders which they receive from Batavia The credit of this Advance costs them sometimes twelve sometimes fifteen per Cent so that so soon as their laden Vessels are arriv'd in the the Port where they are to be sold they are oblig'd to sell them presently off at the Merchants rate first offer'd to their Broakers to make up a present stock to pay off their credit for the Goods bespoke for their Ships to carry back again and to get more credit for the next year This is that which cherishes that confederacy between the President the Broaker and the Merchant who makes advantage enough of this necessity of selling Whereas the better way were for them that carry the same Commodities which the Hollanders do to carry Money also to pay the Workmen for the Goods bespoken for the next year The Company making this advantage shall not be put to pay that great Interest of 12 and 15 per Cent. and besides they shall have better Goods and better cheap The Ships loading shall be ready before they arrive in Port and being quick laden they may return before the bad Season Neither shall the Company be put to sell their Goods at a low price because their Broakers will have time to stay for the coming of Merchants from other parts or else because they have time enough to send them to other places where they are sure of a quicker sale Observe also That it is far more profitable to carry to the Indies Gold and Silver in Ingots rather then ready coin'd for being coin'd the Money is valu'd only according to their Alloys and there is always a defalcation made for the charge of Coinage The Broaker also if he be dishonest may combine with the Master of the Mogul's Mint which is settl'd in several parts of the Empire and put a lower value upon the Gold and Silver then it deserves by telling the President and Council that upon the touch it appears to be no more worth But it is an easie thing to avoid this deceit provided the President be a person of credit and prudence by sending for one of the Refiners of Gold and Silver that live in the Country who perfectly understand the Touch of Metals