knee to the ground and then immediately a door is opened that he may appear before the King and the same Ceremonies are practised which I have already denoted There is a Golden Platter on the Table wherein lyes the letter translated and open having been received by the Ministers some days before in a Hall appointed for that purpose When the Ambassador is in his place the Minister's Deputy takes the Letter and reads it aloud which done the King asks the Ambassador some questions by his Minister his Minister by the Captain of the Nation and the Captain by the Interpreter as I have already observed Having learnt this manner of receiving Ambassadors which did not seem agreeable to the greatness of the Monarch by whom I was sent I desired two Mandarins who attended me by the King's order to inform him that I entreated him I might have the same reception which Ambassadors are wont to have in France which was granted me in the manner I related Departure from the Road of Siam Having given some account of the Religion Manners Customes and Situation of the Kingdom of Siam â— come now to relate my departure which was on the twenty second of December 1685. We hoisted Sail at three of the morning with a good Northern wind which continued all along the Coasts of Camboge which is a Kingdom adjoyning to that of Siam and Cochinchine The People of these two Kingdoms have the same belief and live after the same manner There past nothing remarkable to the Strait of Banca where I ran on ground on the side of an Isle called Lucapara on a Muddy bank where there were but three fathoms of water and our Vessel required above sixteen this did not much disturb me though it did much the Ships Crew whom I sent to sound about the Vessel I caused a small Anchor to be brought to which there was a Cable and we got off this bank in less than five hours and though I had a good Dutch Pilot yet I caused this Strait to be often souded I continued my course and arrived at Bantam the eleventh of January 1686. As soon as I had cast Anchor there I sent an Officer of my Ship to Complement the Governour and to have fresh provisions He sent me for a Present six Oxen Fruits and Herbs and I remained in this Road but thirty hours We weighed Anchor on the twelfth at night but the calm overtook us which obliged us to cast Anchor On the thirteenth I weighed Anchor and we had all that day calms and contray winds but at night there arose a small wind which made us double the point of Bartam and pass the Strait of Sonda in less than eight hours I was obliged to land at the Isle of Prince which is at the mouth of the Strait in expectation of the Maliâ—â— Frigat which could not follow us but at length joyned us On the fourteenth I held on my course directly for the Cape of Good Hope with a favorable North wind and North North-East The twenty third at break of day having made about an hundred and fifty Leagues we saw the Isles of Holy Cross which surprised us because the evening before I caused the Pilots point to be showed me who told me to be at farthest but fifteen Leagues of Latitude Southward and twenty of Longitude This Island lyes very low and had it been three or four hours in the night we had certainly run on ground but it pleased God to preserve us We attributed this error to the Tides which ran against us we past this Isle quickly the wind blowing hard and continued our course The Sea is full of Fish in these parts and there are a great many Birds the weather was fair and we every day made thirty forty fifty Leagues we were diverted by pleasant game we saw carried on by the Albucorps and Bonnitres and a small Fish called a flying-flying-fish who when he sees himself pursued gets out of the water and flyes as long as his wings â—ie moist which may be as far perhaps as the flight of wild Ducks but there is a Bird which carries a great feather in its Tail longer than the others by half a foot and which has the form and almost the colour of a Straw he is always in the air and when he sees this flying-flying-fish leave the water he lets himself fall down upon it as a bird of prey on his game and some times they go deep into the water after it so that this slying-slying-fish seldom fails being taken On the fifteenth of February we found our selves not far from the Isle of Maurice where we met with a blast of wind that lasted us three days the Sea was extreme rough and gave us a great deal of trouble the waves passing oft over our Ship which made as to ply our Pumps to clear it of water On the ninteenth the Weather grew fair and gave us leasure to set to rights what the Sea had disordered The first night wherein this bad weather happened the Frigat that was with me left us the rendesvouz being at the Cape of Good Hope Keeping on our course we had more hard weather which much incommoded us the waves beating against our Ship in such a manner as threatened great danger On the tenth of March about two hours after noon we perceived a Vessel at first I thought it was that which had left me but coming nearer we saw her carrying English Colours and being willing to hear News and supposing she came from Europe I came up to her and sent out my long Boat with an Officer to know if there were any Wars for when a man has been long at Sea one Knows not whom to trust word was brought me 't was an English Merchant-Man who had parted from London five months since and had touched now here and that he intended streight for Tonquoin that the Captain had told him that there was no War in France and that all Europe was at Peace but yet there had been some troubles in England occasioned by the Duke of Monmouth who had placed himself at the Head of ten or twelve thousand men but that the King's Troops had routed them and taken him Prisoner and that he was beheaded and several of his Followers hanged and so this rebellion was ended He also told us that he had seen Land the day before seven Leagues off which made us judge that we were thirty or thirty five Leagues off of it We held on our course the rest of the day and night and the next morning at ten of the clock we spied Land seven or eight Leagues off us I sounded and we found fourscore fathom and upward we clapt on all our Sail to endeavour to get before night to the Cape of Good Hope the next morning at break of day we saw it and doubled it about ten of the clock we espied a Vessel windward of us and drawing near we found 't was the Frigat which
great quantities We took one about eight foot long and four foot broad he had a hole on the to pof his head through which he breaths and throws up water into the air like a fountain he made a great noise and weighed about three hundred weight he is good to eat On the twenty ninth we took two more Fish which weighed about an hundred and fifty a piece We were on the Northern Coasts having a good wind I was about thirty two days coming from the Cape of Good Hope to the Line On the sixteenth of May about midnight we past the Tropick according to the best judgment our Pylots could make in taking the height On the seventeenth about noon this being the sixth time we past the Tropicks in this Voyage we left by the benefit of a good wind the Torrid Zone The first of June we saw Land when we thought we werea bove an hundred and fifty Leagues off it this surprised us because there arose great mists we were obliged to draw near it and the weather clearing we found it was the Isle of Flora which is one of the Aures and which lyes most Westward and stands high there falls from its mountains great water courses into the Sea We needed swift streams to carry us to the West which we gained above an hundred and fifty Leagues Eastward The fifth we saw a Vessel that came near us but it being night we knew not what she was on the seventh we saw another which advanced towards us I sent an Officer on board in my long Boat who brought me word it was an English Vessel that came from Virginia and was bound to London she was laden with Tobacco and there being a great wind and we out sailing her soon left her behind us We had variable weather till the twelvth but about six of the clock at night having a Western wind the Sea grew so boisterous it blowing hard also that we were forced to let down all our sail and cast Anchor being within an hundred Leagues distant from Brest The weather being very cloudy and showery we kept off the Land as much as possible for these blasts of winds lasts sometimes eight days together but about ten of the clock at night on the thirteenth the wind grew calm and we again set sail and on the eighteenth of June arrived in the Road of Brest at four in the afternoon where as soon as we had cast Anchor I made both our Ships fire their Guns to salute the Ambassadors of Siam which I brought along with me Departure from the Cape of Good Hope for Brest on the twenty sixth of March 1686. March Made to the North West 30 Leagues The same 14 Leagues The same 19 Leagues To the West North 12 Leagues To the North North West 15 Leagues To the North West 26 Leagues The same 20 Leagues To the North North West 29 Leagues To the North West 20 Leagues The same 31 Leagues The same 38 Leagues North West quarter West 38 Leagues To the North West 38 Leagues The same 45 Leagues To the North West ¼ West 35 Leagues To the North West 36 Leagues The same 46 Leagues The same 40 Leagues The same 34 Leagues The same 39 Leagues The same 42 Leagues The same 32 Leagues The same 31 Leagues The same 37 Leagues The same 36 Leagues To the North West quarter West 34 Leagues To the North West 33 Leagues To the North West 27 Leagues The same 28 Leagues To the North West 24 Leagues The same 24 Leagues The same 24 Leagues The same 21 Leagues The same 29 Leagues To the North ¼ North 27 Leagues The same 19 Leagues To the North West 17 Leagues The same 29 Leagues The same 24 Leagues The same 18 Leagues The same 30 Leagues To the North West quarter West 27 Leagues Between the North West and the North West ¼ North 37 Leagues To the North West quarter North 29 Leagues To the North North West 37 Leagues The same 33 Leagues To the North North West 40 Leagues To the North North West 35 Leagues To the North quarter North West 35⅓ Leagues To the North 36 Leagues To the North quarter North West 32⅓ Leagues To the North 31 Leagues To the North East 22 Leagues To the North East quarter North 29½ Leagues To the North East 26 Leagues To the North 29 Leagues To the North West ¼ North 12 Leagues The same 14 Leagues The same 27 Leagues The same 5 Leagues To the North East quarter North 22 Leagues The same 40 Leagues To the North East 38 Leagues The same 31 Leagues The same 39 Leagues The same 24 Leagues To the East quarter North East 20½ Leagues To the North 18 Leagues The same 30 Leagues To the North East quarter North 26 Leagues The North North East 25 Leagues To the North East quarter East 26 Leagues The same 30 Leagues To the North East quarter 53 Leagues The same 22 Leagues To the South East ¼ East 17 Leagues To the East 34 Leagues To the East 51 Leagues The same 50 Leagues The same 27 Leagues The same 35 Leagues The same 20 Leagues The total about 4200 Leagues A Memorandum of the King of Siam's Presents to the King of France TWO pieces of Cannon six foot long cast hammered cold set out with Silver mounted on their carriages garnished also with Silver made at Siam A Bason and Ewer of Tambac a Metal more esteemed than Gold which is made at Siam after that Countrey fashion A Golden Bason raised on four fronts with its Ewer upon a level for its support made at Japon A Golden Ship after the Chinoise fashion with all its Tacklings 2 Flagons of Gold embost of Japon to stand on a Cupboard which may be put upon occasion into a Japon Trunk A Javelin with embost work after the Japon manner Two small Golden Cups with their small Bowls on a high Stand Japon work Two small Golden Cups without a covering well wrought Japon work A Golden Porringer fine Japon work Two Chinoise Dames each of them on a Peacock carrying in their hands a Silver Cup enamiled the Peacocks by turning a spring walk on a Table Two Silver Trunks Japon work Two great Silver Flaggons with 2 gilded Lyons with 2 great Basons all of the same Japon work Two great Goblets of Silver Japon work A great Silver Goblet without a Cover with a Silver Bason A Bason and Ewer of Silver on four fronts of Japon Two Silver Bowls English fashion to drink Beer in with small Cups Japon work Two Chocholate Dishes with their Silver Covers Japon work Two large Japon Cups Two Cups with their Silver Dishes to drink out of Two great Silver Gargling Cups Chinoise fashion with their Dishes Japon work Two Chinoise Horsemen carrying in their hands 2 small Cups who have a motion by springs all of Silver Two Ewers on two Tortoises all Silver and wrought China work Two Silver Covers Japon work which have a motion by a spring and
A RELATIâ—â—â— Of the Laâ—â—â— EMBASSY OF Mons r. De Chaumont Kn t. TO THE COURT OF THE KING of SIAM With an Account of the Government State Manners Religion and Commerce of that Kingdom LONDON Printed for Henry Mortlock at the Phoenix in S. Paul's Church-Yard 1687. A RELATION OF THE EMBASSY OF Mon r. De Chaumont Kn t. TO THE COURT OF THE KING of SIAM With an Account of whatever past that was remarkable in his Voyage I Parted from Brest the third of March 1685. on the King's Ship called the Hawk accompanied by one of His Majesties Frigats named the Maline and that with so favourable a Wind that in seven days we arrived at the Madera Islands we thus happily past on till we came to four or five degrees northward of the Equinoctial line When we were overtaken by a calm and suffered extreme heats but which yet did not much incommode us the wind began again to blow and we past the line three hundred and fifty degrees five minutes of longitude thirty days after our setting out We found the water here to be as fresh and good as if it had sprang from some pleasant fountain which made us neglect to use that in our Jarrs At five degrees southward of the line we found the Winds very inconstant but the heats not troublesom and I left not off my winter garments in all this passage The Winds though variable yet carried us our course so that we arrived at the Cape of Good Hope the 31st of May to take in fresh water and other Provisions although my old store was not exhausted We cast anchor late at night and found in this road four Dutch Vessels that came from Holland and had on Board a Commissioner who was to order affairs in behalf of the East-India Company Monsieur St. Martin Major General a French man who has been in the Dutch service this thirty years was also in one of these Vessels intending for Batavia where his Employment lay The Commissioner General sent to complement me the first day of my arrival and the next morning his Nephew and Secretary came to offer me whatsoever 〈◊〉 might want The Inhabitants of the Countrey brought presents of Fruits and Cattle and the Dutch Vessels saâ—uted our Ships after the accustomed manner The Dutch have here a small Fort and near an hundred Houses about a Musquet shot off it which are well built and in good order The situation of this place is very pleasant although bounded by a great Mountain inhabited by an infinite number of Monkies which oft come down into their Gardens and spoil the Fruit. There are also several Summer-houses two three and four leagues off in the countrey and beyond this vast Mountain there is plain near ten Leagues long where are several Houses well inhabited and which are every day increasing The Climate is mild enough their Spring beginning in October and ending in December their Summer lastâ— January February and March their Autumn is in April May June and their Winter in July August September the heats would be very greatâ— were they not moderated by gentle Gales The Dutch East-India Company have here a most pleasant Gardenâ— whose great Walk is fourteen hundred paces long it is planted every where thick with Citron Trees This Garden is ordered into Apartments in one of them you may see Fruit-trees and the rarest Plants of Asia in the other the most exquisite of Africa in the third such as are choicest in Europe and in the fourth such Fruits and Plantâ— as grow in America This Garden is very well kept and of good use to the Dutch by a great quantity of Herbâ— and Roots which it supplies them with for the Refreshment of their Fleets when they come here to pass to the Indies or returning to their own Countrey I found there a French Gardiner who had heretofore learnt his Trade at the Gardens of Monsieur at St. Cloud The Soil is very good and yields good store of grain A person worthy credit has assured me he saw an hundred and sixty Ears of Corn on one stalk The Inhabitants of the Countrey have fair Countenances but herein deceitfull for they are mere bruits they go naked excepting that part which they cover with a nasty Skin of a beast They till not the Ground yet abound with Cattel such as â—ows Hogs and Sheep They scarce eat any of these their chiefest dyet being Milk and Butter which for cleanliness sake they make in Sheep Skins They have a root which hath the taste of the Kernel of one of our small Nuts which serves them for bread They are indifferently skilled in Simples which they can use in the Cure of Wounds and other Distempers The greatest Lords amongst them are they that have most Cattle which they watch and keep themselves They ofâ— have wars with each other about their pastures Are greatly annoyed with wild Beasts there being more than a few Lions Leopards Tygers Wolves wild Dogs Elephants and other savage Creatures All their Arms are a kind of poisoned Lance to strike these Beasts with They have a kind of Toyls wherewith they enclose their Cattel at night They trouble not themselves much about Religion yet observe some slight Ceremonies to the Full-moon which do not signifie much Their Language seems difficult to be understood They have much game as Pheasants Partridges three or four sorts Peacocks Hares Coneys and Deer in such abundance that sometimes a Man shall see near twenty thousand together in a plain We ate some of these before mentioned and found them admirable good The Sheep are here very large of fourscore pound weight commonly Here are great quantity of Cows and Oxen. The Sea in this Bay is full of Fish which are of good relish some of them having the taste of Salmon This place abounds with Sea-wolves and when in our Shallop we perceived an infinite number came tumbling by us of which we could not kill one Several wild Horses scamper along the plains which if I mistake not are inferiour to none in other parts both in strength and beautifull colours and shapes I brought along with me one of their Skins they are hard to be mastered This being such a good Countrey the Hollanders send continually fresh people to it who make every season considerable discoveries Some say they have found out Gold and Silver Mines of which 't is not to be expected they should say much themselves The water is here very good proceeding from several Springs near Rivers which abound as I already noted with Fish We parted from this Road the seventh of June with so favourable a North Wind and North North West that we soon got into the open Sea and that night steered to Bantam we endured vehement Rains and met with great Seas till we reached the Isles of Madegascar which was on the seventeenth of June On these Seas you perceive great quantity of Birds but find therein no Fish Till July we encountred
with boisterous Seas and met with variable Winds which forced us forty degrees southward where we found a Western Wind with which we made great way The twenty fourth the Maline Frigat was separated from us by bad weather being driven to the North. The third of August we found the Sea less troublesome and the weather more favourable and at break of day discovered an Island seven or eight leagues before us which surprised us it not being described in our Chart It is situated ten degrees nineteen minutes of latitude Southward This Isle lies convenient for the finding of the Isle of Java which cannot be distant from it above an hundred and fifty Leagues and since we understood 't is called the Isle of Money being ill set down in our Maps which place it near that of Java This Isle lies very high we coasted yet two days with a good gale and on the fifth about eight in the morning we discovered the Isle of Java which gave us much more Joy and the seventh following we found our selves between the Princes Isle and that of the Emperour which make the entrance of the Straits The Isle of the Emperour lies on the side of Sumatra and the Isle of the Prince on the side of Java We lay four days between these Islands the Winds and Streams opposing us in so violent a manner that what we gained in twelve hours we lost in four by means of calms which often happened Before we entred this Strait the Frigat which lost us on the twenty fourth of June came up to our Ship side this day before we knew who she was The thirteenth we left these Islands behind us and cast Anchor within a League of Java There came on board us several persons in little Boats who brought us the Countrey Fruits such as Coco's the water which is contained in them being excellent drink as also Melons Citrons and several otherlike Presents which much refresht our Men tired with the fatigues of the Sea and over-run with the Scurvy On the sixteenth in the morning we came to Bantam where I found the Maline Frigat which tarried For me two days The Captain of it came and told me that the Governour of the place would not give him entrance but onely presented him with some Fowl and Fruits whereupon I sent Mr. De Forbin my Lieutenant to compliment this Governour from me and entreat him to grant me leave to land my sick Men to take in fresh water and other necessaries He returned answer he was not the Master of Bantam and that there was a King of the place who would not admit any stranger to his Countrey The Hollanders make use of this King's Name being unwilling that strange Vessels should come amongst them especially the Europeans Since they have settled there they have driven all other Nations out 'T is a great Town and well peopled by the Natives before the Hollanders became Masters of it 't was the chiefest place of the Indies for Commerce people came there from Europe Persia China Japon the Great Mogol's Countrey and divers other parts but now the Hollanders have got all into their Hands which is of vast advantage to them for this place may be compared to what heretofore was Cales in Spain As soon as I received the Governour 's Answer who yet told me that if I would go to Batavia I should find there a kind reception I therefore weighed Anchor and set sail for that place to which there 's but fifteen Leagues I was three days before I arrived there for having no Pilot that was acquainted with those parts I fell on several Islands which caused me to cast Anchor every night and in the day time to move with small sail sounding all places I went over but I arrived on the thirteenth at night where assoon as I had cast Anchor I sent my Lieutenant to the General to complement him and to desire leave to bring my sick Men on shoar and take in refreshments He took my Complement in good part and returned answer he would take care I should be satisfied I sent next morning sixty five sick Men on shoar who all recovered their healths in seven days that I tarried at Batavia On the nineteenth in the morning the General sent me a Complement by three Officers the Summ of which was to desire me to come on shoar offering me his own House to lodgeâ— in After necessary Thanks I answered I wished my Orders would have permitted me that Liberty The General sent me a great Shalop laden with all sorts of Indian Fruits Herbs new Bread two Oxen two Sheep and thus continued for several days presenting us On the twenty second I landed incognito and viewed the Town in a small Boat 'T is like Venice having Chanels which run through every street and planted with great Trees which yield an agreeable shade as well to the Chanels as the Streets the Houses are built as they are in Holland there is a Citadel indifferently well fortified the Town in enclosed with a Wall and great Ditch but not deep The Houses round about it are extreme pleasant being related to curious Gardens and Fish-ponds wherein are admirable Fish of all sorts In this Town the Traders are exceeding rich and spare no cost â—or their Delight neither do they deâ—y themselves unlawfull satisfaction with Women I took the liberty my self to entertain four or five of them â—t divers times in my walks in the garâ—ens their dresses are like the French There is in Batavia about fifty Coaches some of which are very stately their Horses are none of the biggest but to make amends are in so good plight â—hat they need no spur This Town â—s a place of vast Commerce and its Riches are so great that the Inhabiâ—ants need not be sparing of their Money 't is well peopled and the Dutch keep a strong Garison they have there â—ear three thousand Moors who are â—laves and several of the Natives they â—eep under their Obedience who live â—bout the Town The Isle of Java in which this City is situated is very populous contains two hundred Leagues â—n length and forty in breadth it has five Kings over whom the Hollandersâ—re â—re Masters they are Mahometans I sent to the General for a Pilot for Siam mine having never been there he lent me one who had sailed there four times for these civilities I sent Mr. Forbin to thank him On Sunday being the twenty sixth of August at six of the Clock in the morning we set sail and steered our course to pass the Strait of Banca we advanced that day ten Leagues with a small Wind and at nine at night I was told of a Sail that made towards my Vessel whereupon I bid the Officer be prepared when immediately I saw out of my Window this Ship coming up to us we called out to know what she was but could have no answer and coming on the Deck I found all our Men provided for
her and the Bolt-sprit of this Ship laid on cross my Stern I caused about twenty Musquet Shot to be fired among her Men which immediately made her clear her self of us and taking the advantage of the Wind and clapping on all her Sails we knew not what Nation she was of for no body in the Ship spoke one word and we observed but few Men on board her I suppose her to have been some Merchant Ship guided by unskilfull hands they did our Ship some mischief but the damage was repaired next morning On Tuesday being the twenty eighth at night we discovered the entrance of the Strait of Banca and on the twenty ninth in the morning we entred therein Although we had a good Dutch Pilot yet we ran upon a muddy bank of Sand there being many of this kind in this Strait and ti being usual for Vessels to meet with them without much hurt therefore this did not much disturb us for I caused a small Anchor to be cast on the side of Sumatra and in less than two hours we got off clear from this Bank We were three days passing this Strait The Isle of Sumatra is on the left and contains two hundred and fifty Leagues in length and about fifty in breadth The Hollanders have four or five Fortresses here its people are Mahometans and under the Regiment of five or six Kings The Queen of Achem possesses one of the largest Countries and governs with great Authority and Regularity The Hollanders are in a manner Masters of all these Princes they deal with them for whatsoever the Island yields where 't is said there are golden Mines great quantities of Pepper Rice all sorts of Cattle and in some Cantons the people are very barbarous and the Kings are oft at war one with one another Those who receive the Hollanders protection are ever the strongest 'T is the same in the Isle of Java for three hundred Europeans do beat five or six thousand Men of these Nations who know not tho Art of War It lies four degrees Southward of the Equinoctial Line The Dutch have a Fort on the side of the Strait of Banca strengthened with twenty four pieces of Canon the Fort is built upon the River called Palembone which runs so violently into the Sea that three or four months in the year in rainy weather the water of it when in the Sea does yet keep its freshness The Isle of Banca lay on the right hand of us being about fourty Leagues long The Dutch have a Fort there and drive a considerable Trade with the Natives of the Countrey 't is said to be a very good and fruitfull Countrey when I sailed by the River of Palembone the Dutch were there lading two Vessels with Pepper On the third of September we past the Line again by the help of good weather the air being temperate and without excessive Heats so that I still wore my Cloth suit till I past over to the Coasts of Africa We came before the Strait of Malaca which has four or five passages or entrances but the Streams were so great and running sometimes against us that we were forced oft to cast Anthor for when the Calm took us the Streams forcibly carried us a great distance but we left not this Coast by reason of the Winds which always â—low from the land and greatly helped us in our course I believe this Countrey 's Air to be good for we had many sick who were all recovered by â—t On the fifth we discovered the Isle of Polimon which is inhabited by Malaises who are Mahometans This is a plentifull Countrey and obedient to a Prince by whom 't is governed The Queen of Achem has some pretensions to it and for this effect she sends thither every year some Vessels but this Prince being not willing to engage in a War against her his people pay her Tribute There came a small Boat to our Ship side which brought us some Fish and Fruits This Isle is distant from the Continent about six Leagues part of its Coasts was heretofore subject to the King of Siam but it has been since some years in the possession of two or three Kings one of which is the King of Malais This is a very unsociable Nation and will enter into no Commerce From the fifth to the fifteenth we had but small Winds and very variable and Calms which caused us oft to cast Anchor as also by reason of Streams which run along this Coast From the Strait of Banca to Siam the Land is not wont to be left The same day we found our selves before Ligor which is the chief place belonging to the King of Siam The Hollanders have a habitation there and liberty of Trade 'T is hard to express the Joy which the Siamoises whom we brought along with us had to see their own Countrey and it cannot be better compared than to that which we felt at our return when God brought us safe to Brest Here died a young Gentleman having been ill five months with a bloudy Flux whom the King sent to attend me in my Voyage he was a Youth of great hopes and I was much afflicted at the loss of him In short thanks be to God on the twenty fourth we cast Anchor before the River of Siam Our whole Ship 's crew were in good health I sent to the Bishop of Metellopolis Mr. le Vacher a Missionary who came with the Mandarins into France and whom I brought along with them with charge to entreat him to come to me that I might learn what had happened this eighteen months since the King of Siam sent into France On the twenty ninth the Bishop came on board with the Abbat of Lionne who informed me of whatsoever had past telling me that the King of Siam having heard at midnight of my arrival by Mr. Constance one of his Ministers he shewed great joy and ordered him to go and advertise the Bishop of it and to dispatch two Mandarins of the first rank who are in a manner as the chief Gentlemen of the King's Chamber are in France to assure me of the joy he conceived at my arrival They came two days after on board me whom I received in my Cabin the Bishop sitting by me and they and others sitting down on Carpets laid on the floor it being the custome of the Country to sit in that manner there being no person but the King who sits higher They told me the King their Master had commanded them to shew me the Joy he had at my arrival and at the News of our King 's having vanquished all his Enemies and become absolute Master of his Kingdom Having denoted to them how much I thought my self beholden to the King their Master and answered what they offered touching our Prince I told them I was extremely satisfied with the Governor of Bancok for his reception of those I sent him as also with the Presents he had made me They replyed
to fifteen hundred Tun laden with Cloth Coral and divers other Commodities from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte as Salt-petre Tin and Silver he draws thence raw Silks Satins Tea Musk Rubarb Purcelins Varnisht Works China-wood Gold Rubies They make use of several Roots in Physick which turns much to their advantage The King sends to Japon two or three small Vessels laden with Merchandise there being no need of sending Money such as Hides of all sorts which are good Commodities there for which they sometimes receive Wedges of Gold and Silver Copper and all sorts of Goldsmiths Work as also Tea Cabinets and other things He sends sometimes two or three to Tonquin of three hundred Tun at farthest with Cloth Coral Tin Ivery Pepper Salt-petre and other Commodities of the Indies for which he has Musk raw Silks varnisht Wood wedges of Gold To Macao the King sends a Ship for the most part laden with the same Merchandises as to China One may send there also to good advantage Fans of Gold Silver Silks and Arms for which you receive the same Merchandises as at China but not at the same rate At Laos the usual Trade is carries on as well by land as by water sometime Flat Boats go there in which are sent Cloth and Linen of Suratte and the returns are Rubies Musk Gum Elephants Teeth Rhinoceros Horns Buffalos Skins and here is great profâ—â— in this Trade because there 's no risâ—â— to run To Camboye the King sends small Barks with Cloth Suratte Linen and Kitchin Utensile which come from China for which he has brought him Elephants Teeth Benjamin three fortâ— of Gums Buffalo's Skins Nests oâ— Birds for China of which I shall speak hereafter They sometimes send to Cochinchim but seldom for this People is untractable being most of them unfaithfull which hinders Commerce they can when they go Silver of Japon to great Profit yellow Wax Rice Lead Salt-petre red and blackâ—Cloth white linen Vermilion and Quick-silver For which they have rawâ—Silk Sugar candied Birds Nests which are made like those of Swallows found on Rocks by the Sea-side they are a good Commodity for China and several other places for these Nests being well washed and dried they become as hard as horn and they are put into Broths they are of admirable virtue to the sick and languishing persons and to those who are troubled with pains in their Stomach I have brought some of them into France When there 's no Vessel to be had at Fret they send one to Suratte laden with Copper Tin Salt-petre Elephants Teeth Japon Wood and several other Merchandises which come from other parts of India and the returns are Linen-cloth and other European Commodities when there comes none from Siam You may also trade to the Coasts of Coromandel Malabar and Bengala the Commodities are Elephants Tin Salt-petre Copper Lead and the returns are Linen of all kinds There is seldom any trade to Borneo this is an Isle near that of Java where the returns are Pepper Dragons bloud white Camphire yellow Wax Gold Pearl Diamonds the best in the World The Prince that possesses this Island is not willing to permit a Trade fearing always some surprise and will suffer no European to settle in his Countries There have been some French Merchants there for he trusts them rather than any other Nation There is also a Trade driven to Timor an Isle near the Molucques whence is drawn yellow and white Wax Gold Slaves c. and thither is sent Linen of Suratte Lead Elephants Teeth Powder strong Waters some sort of Arms red and black Cloth and Silver The People here are peaceable and negotiate fairly Here are a great many Portugueses As to the Commodities of Siam there is onely Tin Lead Ivory Skins of wild Beasts and Elephants there will be store of Pepper in time that is to say the next Year L'arrek Iron good quantity of Rice but you may find here Commodities from all the places before mentioned and very cheap Here are brought pieces of English Cloth and Searges Coral and Amber Cloth from the Coasts of Coromandel and Suratte Money in Piastres which are truckt but as I now said most Merchants have left trading here since the King would turn Merchant there being brought few Goods for the Ships that were wont to come here came not the last year so that here 's little to be found all being in the King and his Ministers Hands who sell for what they please The Kingdom of Siam is near three hundred Leagues Long without reckoning the Tributary Kingdoms to wit Camboges Gehor Patavi Queda c. It 's bounded northward by the Kingdom of Pegu and by the Sea of Ganges on the side of the West and from the South by the little Strait of Malaca which was taken from the King of Siam by the Portugueses who have been Masters of it near sixty years the Hollanders have taken it from them and are the present Masters of it on the East it 's bounded by the Sea and by the Mountains which divide it from Camboges and Laos The situation of this Kingdom is advantageous by reason of the great extent of its Coasts lying as it were between two Seas which open the passage to so many vast Regions its Coasts are five hundred Leagues round and are every where accessible from Japon China the Philippin Islands Tonquin Cochinchine Siampa Camboge Java Colconde Bengala and from all the Coasts of Coromandel Persia Suratte Arabia and Europe and therefore the Countrey is capable of a great Commerce would the King permit all people to come and trade there as heretofore The Kingdom is divided into eleven Provinces to wit that of Siam Tanaserin Josalam Reda Pra Jor Paam Parana Ligor and Siama These Provinces had heretofore the Quality of Kingdoms but are all now under the sole power of the King of Siam who sets Governours over them There are some which may retain the Name of Principalities but the Governours depend on the King and pay him Tribute Siam is the principal Province of this Kingdom the Capital City is situated fourteen degrees and an half of latitude northward on the side of a great and stately River and Vessels laden come up to the City which lies above forty Leagues distant from the Sea and reaches above two hundred Leagues up the Countrey and 〈◊〉 this means it leads into part of the Provinces which I have above mentioned This River abounds with Fish and its sides are well peopled although they lie under water one part of the Year The Earth is indifferently fruitfull but ill drest the inundation proceeds from great Rains which fall for three or four Months together which makes their Rice grow apace so that the longer the inundation lasts the more Rice they gather and so far are they from complaining that their greatest fear is of dry weather There are several lands lie untilled for want of Inhabitants which has happened by the preceding
24¾ South West 18 South West quarter West 24 West South West 30 The same 39 South South West 24½ West South West 20 Same 42 Same 29â…“ Same 27 866 Leagues South West quarter of West 16 West South West 20 South West quarter West 25 West South West 23 The same 37 The same 25 South West quarter West 24 West South West 43 The same 49 The same 51 The same 51 The same 46 West quarter South West 40 The same 30 West South West 46 The same 60 South West quarter West 56 South West 42 West quater South West 5 West 43 West quarter South West 33 The same 10 West South West 19 West quarter South West 31 The same 33 The same 18 West quarter North West 10 West half quarter South West 20 West quarter South West 16 1796 Leagues To the West quarter South West 32 West South West 43 West 20 West 37 West quarter South West 45 The same 51 West South West 11 North West quarter North 11 North East quarter North 8 South West 28 West North West 20 North North West 20 Considering the Cape of Horn beaks and I made to the Bay of the Cape of Good Hope 33 The total 2158 Leagues On the twenty sixth of March at two in the afternoon I set Sail with a good Wind in leaving the Bay near the Dutch Fort of the Cape of Good Hope I saw three Vessels who made towards the Cape but I could not distinguish of what Nation they were I believe them to have been Dutch because this number was expected from the Isle of Ceilan After we had past forty Leagues from thence we found the Sea very boisterous which gave us much trouble but we continued on our course to pass the Line in the same longitude we did before Our Voyage must needs be pleasant for as I already noted the King of Siam sent with us Ambassadors into France to shew the King how earnestly he desired his Friendship his great Qualities and Renown having reached his Ears and been long since known in the Indies He told me in an Audience that he would give them no Instructions in point of Ceremony those of France being very different from his Kingdom 's because he was persuaded the King would not require any thing of them prejudicial to his Honour and that he would leave me to counsel them what they had to doe when they came to France that he relied upon me for this being sure I would not impose upon them We had then with us three Ambassadors the most considerable Persons in Siam The first is Brother to the late deceased Barcalon who was the King's Chief Minister a Man of sense having been ever concerned with his Brother in all his greatest Affairs this Person accompanied with another came and received me at the mouth of the River of Siam when I arrived and has been ever with me attending me wherever I went The first time I saw him he seemed to me an ingenious Person free from all affectation and reservedness which made me tell Monsieur Constans that he would be a very fit Man to be sent over Ambassador to France The second is aged and wants not wit having been Ambassador in China and acquitted himself to the King his Master's Satisfaction The third is aged about twenty five or thirty years his Father is Ambassador in Portugal these are the best natured People in the World very easie and obliging good humoured and their Friendship is not to be regarded as unprofitable They write down the smallest matters they see and I like that the better seeing they will have Observations enough in France neither do I doubt but they will give a true Account of them to their Master They should have had twelve Mandarins for their Retinue but they have but eight four of them being left behind at Siam because they came not soon enough on board they brought with them twelve young Youths to learn the Tongue and Trades but part of them are also left behind with the Mandarins The Abbat de Lionne was entreated by this King to go to France with his Ambassadors because he speaks their Language The King also told Mr. Vacher that he would be very glad that he would return with his Ambassadors which he has also done he will be to them of great use being an active Person We have also with us Monsr the Abbat de Choisy who went to Siam to reside there in quality of Ambassador in case the King should become a Christian he is a very honest Gentleman and wants no good quality He said his first Mass on board us and gave us several good Sermons Monsr the Abbat du Charter was of our company an able and honest Preacher Mr. Vaudricourt was the Captain of our Vessel he is a Gentleman admirably well qualified for his Place taking care of every thing that concerned him and gave us all content There have remained about twelve or fifteen French men at Saim in the Service of that King or Mr. Constans I Continued my course till I dame near to the Isle of St. Pleten which is inhabited by English such Ships as come from the Indies touch there that is to say when they go not to the Cape of Good Hope I was told it was a very good and fruitfull Island it lyes six Degrees Latitude Southwards I past on in sight of the Isle of Ascension which is eight degrees Southward of the Line This Isle is not inhabited most Vessels make some stay here to take Tortoises there being here great numbers of them and they are no small refreshment to Sea-faring men they live a month or six weeks without eating they can onely be taken a nights for in the day time they keep to the Sea and at night come to Land to lay their Eggs which they hide in the sand To take them you mustâ—ly hid with a great stick in your hand and surprise them when they come out of the water and throw them on their backs and then they cannot stir a man may strike fourscore or an hundred in a night Here Vessels come on purpose to take these animals and salt them and then carry them to the Isles in America being bought by the Inhabitants for their Slaves Having a good wind I tarried not long here not being willing to lose time in passing the Equinoctial Line for sometimes a man is forced to be long about it by reason of calms and rains to be met there The twenty eighth of April I past the Line most happily the heats no wise incommoding us this is the fourth time I past it without leaving my Cloth Suit all our men were in health excepting four or five who were sick of the Gripes which Distemper they brought from Siam this Distemper is seldom cured in that Countrey and I lost about ten or twelve men who died of it We saw but few Fish all along which is unusual for one commonly meets with