another and both their Skins were hung up for a memorandum Besides these there are many Elephants in that Country and a sort of Beast they call Bavians the same we call Baboons which very much resemble aged Men. Some of our Men had orders once to go into the Wood to cut down part of it Amongst them was one Comical fellow who had beaten one to death in a quarrel at Tirol and being forc'd to fly had listed himself a Soldier in the East-India Company and so made his escape He staid a little after the rest to ease Nature and laid his Satchel down at some distance from him we saw one of those Baboons coming towards him which made us stand still to see what he would do and laying hold on his Satchel away he went with it and robb'd the fellow of all his provision of Bread and Cheese and Tobacco which made very good sport for the rest Ostridges are here also very common the Eggs whereof are very good to eat And among many other sorts of Birds which they have that are uncommon with us there are a sort called Sea-Ravens but of these there hath been account enough given by several Writers In the Sea all round this place one may see abundance of great Fish called North-Capers but none of them are catched about the Cape they have a snout like that of an Hog thro' which they throw up Water as high as an house and in such a quantity as to fill almost a small Vessel and it comes down like a violent shower of Rain They are always to be seen about the Cape but they do no manner of harm There is a prodigious quantity of other sorts of Fish both in the Sea and in the Rivers too We went one night with a Net to have some sport and at two pulls we had so many we could not carry the tenth part of ' em The Fish we caught were made very much like our Carps and here are also abundance of Tortoises The natural Inhabitants of this place are called Hottentots meer Heathens of no extraordinary size for the most part very lean and meagre their Language very unpleasant rattling like Turkies when they speak They go stark naked only having a Sheeps Skin about them the Tail whereof comes before their Privities When a Ship is new come in assoon as the Boat lands any of the Men they get in as it comes back to beg Bisket of the Sea-men which they love exceedingly when they ask for it they cry Broqua which signifies Bread It is their custom to cut out one of their Testicles when they are young Their chief Ornaments if such may be so called is on their Legs they take an Ox or Sheep's guts and thrusting out the excrements a little just to let them lye close and flat and while they are moist they wrap them about their Legs and there let them stick These very guts is part of their food too for just in this same pickle they broil them a little over the fire and eat them So that it may properly be said that they are meat and cloth to 'em But to see them use-it either way might very probably give any man besides them a vomit They use to besmear their body with all manner of dirt and nastiness which makes them stink worse than a Goat Upon their heads they stick all sorts of little Sea-shells and small Copper Rings that come from Neurenbergh which the Sea-men bring with them to give them And for one of them they will shew you some of their Tricks among which one is to throw a Dart or long Stick with which they 'll hit within the compass of a farthing a mighty distance off As for their Religion little can be said of it their Language it not being understood by any that ever I heard of They use commonly to get together near to the Sea-shore in the morning by Sun-rising and there they get in a Ring holding each other fast by their hands and dance about upon the Sand looking up towards Heaven saying something in their Language and then write some strange unintelligible characters and figures in the Sand and so depart all which undoubtedly is intended in honour to some Deity I have asked some of them that could speak a little broken Dutch what thoughts they had of a God and whom they believed in they answered that they thought that there was one above that had made the Hills and that Sea which we saw and all that was in them and that Homage was due to him but I could not learn any thing further They are very good Footmen and run very swiftly which make the Dutch keep always a Troop of Horse there to catch them in case of any Insurrection For they dare not trust them in the least In mischief they are cunning enough tho' wonderfully stupid in any thing else If they are not hungry they 'll not work tho' you would beat them to death but when their belly incites them to it they 'll work like Horses It is not safe to break ones word with them and if one should not give them what was promised when their work is done a man would go in danger of his life Their Habitations are most on green Meadows and grounds that bear sweet Herbs for Pasture for their Cattle Their Houses are made of Sea-Reeds joyn'd together and fastned at top just like our Hop-poles when they are laid up for the Winter and when their Cattle hath eaten up the Pasture all about them then they remove their Houses to some fresh place and settle there again for some time As to what belongs to those we call Free-men of which I made some mention before they are such of our Men as have served the Company in the station of a Soldier or any other way during the space of ten or twelve years and then desired to settle there to trade or plant which they may then do paying a certain sum of Money and all Imposts and Customs to the Company These have dwelling-houses built after a manner like as in Holland but not so high nor so fine The chief Commodities which the Company trades in to quit the Costs of their Garrison there is Sea-Dogs which are catched here in vast quantities They boil the fat out of them and the Skins are hung up to dry which they send afterwards to Holland When any Ship comes there an Order is read to all the People that are on Board forbidding them all to buy any thing of the Hottentots except Ostridges Eggs and other like trifles All Commodities of any use or value as Rhinoceros Horns Elephants Teeth and Sea-Dog Skins are wholly ingrossed by the Company Justice here is very severe in respect to any of these Heathens especially one instance whereof I was an eye-witness of while I was there Three of them having ravish'd a Christian Maid-servant were hung up by the heels on a Gibbet and so ended their
Man ever saw In the 3d Watch called the Day-Watch about 3 of the Clock we chang'd our Course from West and by North to North and by East The 16th It was a very serene Calm But on The 17th 18th and 19th We had nothing but very unconstant Winds and Weather and very dark Clouds all about us The 20th and 21th We saw neither Sun Moon nor Stars from whence we concluded that we might expect a great Storm and for fear of it we took in our Sails and prepared our selves for it The 22th We had a smooth Gale of Wind at West Our Course being Northward we saw continual Lightning and heard much Thunder I was Amazed that it lasted so long and I enquired of our Master and of some of the oldest Seamen what could be the reason of it They told me That it was dark in that Country of West-Kust six months together that the Country afforded great store of Pepper and some Gold was to be found in the Mountains of it For that Reason the Dutch after a long War had built there some Fortisications and kept Soldiers there which hold it to this day That the Europeans cannot bear the Climate long it being very unhealthy and unless they are fetch'd away within three years time they generally Die. To prevent which they send fresh Men thither every year That those that Die there are commonly taken away suddenly as they are Eating or Drinking at Table Their Food is Rice instead of Bread Bufflars Flesh Beef and Pork and Fish in abundance Their Drink is Suri that comes from the Coco's and Sugar-Beer 3 or 4 years old which they keep under Ground The 23th The Wind blew hard at West We saw an infinite number of Fishes called Springers their length is generally about 6 or 7 foot and about as much in thickness Their Flesh is very firm they Swim always against the Wind. When they Leap very high out of the Water as they did then the Seamen expect a very great Storm and Tempest We catch'd several of 'em with a certain Instrument which they call an Ellegaer striking it into their Bodies This night the Polran parted from us but we could not tell whether it was done designedly by the Master or whether it was by the Carelessness of the Helms-Man whose turn it was to Watch. The 24th We were forced to take in our Main-Sail by reason of the hard Wind and defend our Deck all over with pitch'd Canvas from the Waves that were so boisterous that they almost overwhelmed our Ship The 25th 26th 27th and 28th We had stormy Winds but yet so tollerable that we made 25 or 30 miles of our way in 24 hours The 29th The Wind increased The Polsbroeck which still kept us Company gave us a Signal that she was so full of Water that she stood in need of our help When we came to be somewhat near the Master told us That his Pumps were good for nothing and begg'd of us to lend him some of ours which we did for our Ship was so strong and close that it receiv'd no Water and we did not want'em our selves but that night this Companion of ours lost us too The 30th We took in all our Sails and lower'd our Yards and made our selves ready for a Drift that is to bind the Helm fast and commit our selves to the Winds and Waves to drive us where they pleased This Drift we held out in till The 4th of November five days together Upon Consultation held we cut down our Main-Mast which with the force of its fall was like to have sunk our Ship Till that day we had not taken the height of the Sun so that we could not tell whither or how far we were cast The 5th The Wind fell and changed to the S. E. Then we hoisted up our Sails and took the height of the Sun whereby we found that we were close by the Equinoctial and not cast yet away so far as we were afraid we had been We sailed N. E. and by E. all this Voyage we had that kind of Birds flying about us that live upon the flying Fishes but upon the great Heat we were now come into they left us The 6th We had a brisk Wind and from six in the morning to six at night we made 20 miles of our way and found the next day being The 7th That we had pass'd the Line Two Soldiers and three Seamen died out of our Ship that day and were thrown after Prayers into the Sea And we had about 20 sick The 8th The Wind changed to the South and we were directly to go Northward The Boatswain's Mate catch'd a large Shark in which they found four Boys and some Bones of Men. The 9th We saw a little Vessel that made towards us in the afternoon it came near to us and we were big with the hopes of some News they brought but they were all vain For our Orlamen as we call them that have been before in the Indies spoke to them in the Malleyers Amboineses Cingulaish Malabarish and Maldavish Languages but neither would do and they answer'd us in a Language that none of us could tell what to make of but they made us to understand by Signs that they were in great want of Drink Our Master had their Vessel boarded and in it we found 24 Indians with long Hair ty'd up on the left side of their Heads They had with them 12 Muskets some Gun-Powder and Iron-Balls pretty good store of Rice Pepper and dry'd Fish but no Water We supposed them to be some Indian Robbers come from the West-Kust and drove thus far into the Sea by the late Storm Our Master order'd them to be taken into our Ship together with their Provisions and we drew their Vessel along after us ty'd with a strong Rope to our Ship We allowed them Bread and Water and we made them Pump the Water out of our Ship and Swab it The 10th 11th 12th and 13th The Wind continued directly for us at South we going on still Northward On the 14th We changed our Course to the N. W. and by W. the Wind kept where it was but something weaker This day one that sate on the Foremast holding by a Cord the Cord broke and he fell down Dead into the Ship The 15th We observed that the Water begun to change colour at night we used the Plummet to sound the Water but we could find no bottom tho' the Line was 200 Fathoms long The 16th The Water changed yet more and seemed whitish we made our Anchors and Cables ready if occasion should be to use them The 17th Our Master promised six Rixdollars to the first Man that should spy Land and a Flaggon of Wine The 18th We had a lovely Wind and good Sailing A Seaman that stood on the out-side of the Ship to draw up Water was wash'd of by a Wave We immediately tack'd our Ship and back'd our Sails and threw out our Long-Boat to go
nap there The 21th Three Soldiers came to meet us with three Horses sent from Manara for the Officers We got upon them with a very good will while the poor fellows were forc'd to drudge on without Shoes or Stockings in the same manner as they set out We arriv'd all at Aripen about 3 of the clock in the afternoon having gone about 22 Leagues in our three days march which was very hard for our Men who went all the way barefoot Aripen is a pretty strong place kept by 20 Dutch Soldiers provided with 4 Field-pieces and other Warlike Necessaries convenient for a place of that bigness Many Malabarians live about it of whom one may buy Flesh Milk Butter Eggs Fowls c. cheap enough And we bought here two pretty good Bullocks for one Rixdollar that serv'd both our Companies This place is chiefly design'd to keep the Pearl-bank from being sish'd by any one that hath no title to it which is an ossence punishable with death It is very unhealthy there and no European but must expect a Fever that will kill him it he stays there long For which reason they are exchang'd from Manara ev'ry four months and yet they lose generally half their Men. We staid there all night and On the 22th We march'd away again and at night came by the Island Manara to go to which we were to cross the Waters which is about a mile broad It is six miles from Aripen We were very kindly receiv'd by the Dutch Captain that lay there and treated very nobly with Flesh and Fish which is here in great plenty This Island as we mention'd before hath seven miles compass It is inhabited by several Malabars and abounds in Flesh Fowls and fruitful Trees and all the Water about it affords plenty of Fish In short it may be call'd an Earthly Paradise The Fort is well provided and is kept by near 100 Dutch Soldiers Each Soldier keeps a Boy to clean his Arms and carry them for him and a Woman to look after his Meat and serve him Proportionably to this the Officers live in very great State We lay here three days and The 16th We went in three Dutch Boats to Jafnapatan where we arriv'd on The 27th And were very well receiv'd and Quarter'd in the Fort that lies to the Sea The 28th 29th and 30th Our Men were exercis'd and 20 Elephants were brought upon the place whilst we Fir'd to use them to stand it without starting in War At first they were very fearful and untractable not being able to bear the noise and smoak of our Guns tossing up their Trunks and were very furious At last they were brought to it so that an Indian could get upon them and ride about a Furlong away from us and then drive them upon us we firing against them all the while at length they 'd break our Ranks take what care we could and tho' we shot in their very Noses and if the Cingulayans that rid them had not prevented them with their Instruments they would have trampl'd us under foot The 1st of December Two Companies of Soldiers came to us from the Coast of Cormandel out of the Fort Palliacate and Nagapatan They were Quarter'd in a Stable used generally to keep Elephants in The 2d Another Company came from Gala Battacula and Triconomala The 3d We had a general Muster and march'd with our 7 Companies and 8 Field-pieces drawn by Elephants and 20 others Elephants besides out of the Fort of Jafnapatan And being drawn out in the Fields there we were commanded to inclose our Leaders that is to form our selves into a Ring where we heard the Articles of War read to us Jafnapatan bears the Name of a small Kingdom which the Dutch took by surprize from the Portugueses It s Fort is well built and strong having four Bastions two Towers a Counterscarp and a deep Ditch It lies upon a Salt-water on the side of Manara where the Dutch have built a very strong fine Key All the chief Officers lodge within the Fort with their Wives The under Officers and Soldiers Wives live amongst the other Inhabitants in the Town which is about a League in compass But there are a great many Gardens in it and many poor small Hutts as also fair large Streets There are two different Market-places in it the one for Fish the other is for all sorts of Commodities as Silks Linnen Pearls Gold Silver Spices Salt Butter Allum Tobacco Rats and Mice Herbs all sorts of Colours in short all a Man can desire Their current Money is made of Copper and is either Shillings Two-pences Peny-pieces Damagasties Half-penies and Farthings One may buy 10 or 15 Figs for a Farthing that are almost a span long and sometimes 2 or 3 Pounds of Fish for the same price So that a Man that goes to Market with 4 or 5 Farthings may buy Provisions to serve a common Family two days for his Money I met here with an acquaintance of mine a Physician who was chief Chirurgeon to the Dutch Hospital and Physician to Min Heer Laurent Piil the Governor and was much esteem'd among the Natives of the Country for his Abilities and the great Cures he perform'd The 4th We march'd out Our Major Clebout went first carry'd by Slaves in a Palankin a sort of Sedan I have already mention'd After him march'd the 6 Companies with each an Elephant to draw the Baggage It was suppos'd that we were design'd to march to Wani where the Inhabitants had chosen a new Prince without consent of the Dutch their Prince Don Philip being Dead and design'd to free themselves for the future from paying Tribute to Jafnapatan But as soon as they understood that we were drawing towards 'em they sent to meet us with ten Elephants with offers to continue willingly a yearly Tribute of Elephants and Money on conditions we would secure them from the King of Candi The Major sent them to Jafnapatan with a Letter and we came at night to a place call'd Pas-Piil where a Dutch Garrison lay Here the Hutts were ready for our Men and provided with necessaries against our coming The 5th 6th and 7th We lay still here being much tir'd with going ten Leagues in a day in all that heat and so sandy a Country We found there three great Dutch Ships that were come from Batavia The 8th Four of our Companies viz. The two that came from Columbo the other two from Cormandel were to Embark secretly and the two other Companies were to remain in the Fort by reason of the Troubles that were in Wani That very evening we set forwards for the Coast of Cormandel The 9th Early in the morning we came before Negapatan Here a Dutch Yatch joyn'd us and two other Vessels together with three great Boats well Mann'd with Seamen With this Fleet we sail'd along the Coast by Krancko Baar a City belonging to the King of Denmark and lying 8 Leagues from Negapatan We sail'd by the Danish
that there was no danger of my repenting or of performing with any regret a thing I had resolved upon with so much deliberation At which they were very well satisfied yet could they not chuse but wonder to find me who was but a Youth so undaunted notwithstanding the dangers which they themselves represented to me I was then appointed to appear before the Chief Physicians and to undergo an examination which I accordingly did with twelve more with me who were like me Candidates to serve in several parts out of all which there were but six to be chosen three being designed to each Ship of which there were but two to go this Voyage Having been all examined we retired to the Hall belonging to the Hospital where we were order'd to wait for our answer The expectation and hope which every one of us were in of being one of those that were chosen and on the other side the fear of ill success and of disappointment made us all very uneasie We were not put out of our suspence that day but we were bid to come again and make our personal appearance before the Commissioners the next day following which we did and I was one of them that were chosen and my Post was assigned me aboard the Ship called the Ternate which was the only one that went the Voyage in company with the Europa I was not so very uneasie as the rest were during the time of our suspence because I was prepared against all disappointments in relation to my particular Profession for I was resolv'd to go upon any account rather than not to go at all and a Man so resolved may easily find admittance into some Post or other And indeed I utterly despaired of success as to my being chosen for a Physician being I was so very young and the number of the Candidates so very great but beyond all expectation I was one of the six Persons that were called in to give in their Names tho' indeed I was but the last of them And being all order'd to stand by the Secretary we were every one askt severally the second time whether we would promise faithfully to execute our Office and strictly to observe all and every the Articles enjoyned by the Company There were enter'd with the other Physicians and my self a Surgeon for each Ship and to each of them a Mate who serves as a Barber So that we were six in number who answering all in the affirmative were sworn and a Declaration was made to us of the several Offices we were all accepted into and what Salary each of us was to expect viz. Each Physician was to have 42 Gelders per month and his Table and a Shoar instead of it 6 Ricksdollers The Surgeons 28 Gilders and Diet and on Shoar 3 Ricksdollers The Barbers 14 Gilders a month and their Diet and on Shoar an allowance proportionable to the others instead of it Then we all subscribed to their Articles and the Cash-keeper paid us two months Salary before hand and three Dutch Skillings every day while we stayed on Shoar which was eighteen days After which a review being first made of all the Ships Crew we were all put on board three long flat Boats which are for that purpose and tho' small yet so close Deckt that in a rough Sea they will go quite under the waves and retain no water they carried us from Amsterdam to Texel where the two Ships bound for the East-Indies lay Texel is a Sea Port lying on the open Sea about 16 miles from Amsterdam we had a very fresh gale of Wind I call it so now tho' then I reckon'd it a hard Storm but it was not fair for us so that we made something more than four days before we could reach Texel Whither being come and having nothing to do but to Sail I will in the mean while give my Reader an account of the preparations that those Ships generally make for this great Voyage Before they go off from Holland they take a general review of every person that belongs to the Ship and each Man hath two months pay advanced him But the full and regular pay begins only after they are passed the Tonnen which is a place so called about a League out at Sea from that time the full pay is to continue whether the Fleet go forward or is forced back again by contrary Winds as they frequently are and sometimes kept there a great while insomuch that in the Winter they are laid up for several weeks the Water being frozen all about them so that they cannot stir and when that happens they do sometimes discharge their Ships Crew to lessen the charges which would otherwise be very great But when the Wind is fair and the Fleet hath been two or three days under Sail then there is distributed to each person little and great 5 Dutch Cheeses as a Present from the Company Then must all and every Officer Soldier and Mariner make his appearance upon Deck to be divided into their several Quarters which are two The one of them is called the Prince's Quarter the other Count Maurice's Each person is assigned into one of these Quarters in which he is always to be found on any occasion and there he is to keep the Watch by turns And that all may know to what part every Man belongs the names of them all as they are divided is affixed to the Main Mast on two distinct Tables where also is set the order and time that every Man is to watch in The Prince's Quarter hath the first turn and is therefore called the first Watch. There is a Provost whose Office it is to call them together and to set the Watch each Quarter watches four hours and then is relieved by the other Count Maurice's Quarter hath the second Watch and is also called the Dog-watch There is a Bell in the Ship by which notice is given them of the time It is rung at the setting of the Watch and with a loud voice charge is given by the Provost to every one to take care not to be drunk upon pain of punishment There are Hour-glasses put up conveniently for him that stands Centinel and the Helms-man to see and as soon as the first Glass which is but of half an hour is out they strike one stroke on the Bell when the second is out they give two and so on adding one for each half hour until the Bell is rung again Then another Officer comes and calls his Men together out of his Quarter and releases the other There is likewise one Man or two always to stand on the Main Top-Mast head but the Soldiers that go to the East-Indies are always free from that service tho' in their return from thence Home that duty lies upon them equally with the Sea-men Yet if they can afford it they may buy it off with a matter of 25 Ricksdollers tho' the Voyage should be a year in compleating When there are
Their way is to Truck for some of our Commodities so I agreed to what they ask'd me for the Fish which was some Nails Thread and Tobacco-Pipes which I immediately fetch'd for 'em and gave to the Javian who was then busie about something that others had bought likewise I was so pleased with the thoughts of the rare Feast I was to have and withal in such haste to be at it that I could not stay any longer but bidding the Fellow leave my Fish with any of our Men I ran down in the mean while into the Cook 's Room to get me some Water hung on ready and I think never went so chearfully about any business in my life But no sooner had I turned my back but the Dog push'd off his Boat and went off with my Dish of Fish and left me to Dine on my Water and I must confess that from that time I could never have a hearty love for one of the Nation It was a sort of a satisfaction to me that in three or four days after we were Landed I had an opportunity to be revenged on a Javian which I never let slip for his sake when ever it offer'd it self They are generally very great lovers of Shooting tho' they are so stupid as never to understand it as they should do And as I was one day Shooting at a Mark one of them comes up to me and wanted mightily to have a Shoot I told him he should So I shot and loaded again with a double Charge of Powder and a vast deal of Paper which I took care to ram down as hard as ever I was able and then offer'd it him He very joyfully received it and went to fire it But the Piece recoiled so furiously and gave him such a knock on the shoulder that down fell my Booby and could hardly stir his Arm for a fortnight or three weeks after it But to return to our purpose all our Affairs were in a very good posture at Bantam And there was a very good understanding between the young King and our Major General St. Martin But the Javans were ever and anon upon us in small Bodies and came quite up to our Rampiers So that we had many Skirmishes with them but so inconsiderable that they were not worth the speaking of One would admire how quickly our Recruits were made at Batavia for in a few months we had again a considerable Army on foot and they had got together Men from all parts of the Indies which were all sent to us with speed And as soon as they were got together it was resolved to go directly against the Royal Fort of Dorjasse Our Major General St. Martin left Captain De Ruyter to Command Bantam in his absence and himself went straightway with some of the best Ships thither and in some days after sent Orders for the rest of the Fleet and most of the Men to follow him leaving only what was necessary in Bantam for the security of the Place which had little to fear from the Enemy without and less to suspect from the young King within who had but a very inconsiderable number of Men of his own with him So three thousand Men were order'd to be imbark'd and of that Squadron I was and had that time the Command of the Ship call'd the Middleburgh When we had joyned the Major General we made together a very fine Fleet and indeed such a one as had never been seen before in those parts of the World For we had there fifty two fine large Men of War besides some hundreds of Prawen Fire-Ships Tenders small Boats c. Major General St. Martin soon after these were all come together went back to Batavia and we continued our way under the Command of the General and Admiral whose name was Tack As soon as we came to cast Anchor before Dorjasse the Javians got together in prodigious numbers to the Sea Shore and covered the ground for several Miles which was all level from the Sea to the Fort and all Fields of Rice Just by the Shore were several Sconces at some distance from each other Some big some little but all vastly strong being all made with a double Row of Trunks of Coco-Trees that were set very deep into the ground and the space fill'd up with Earth ram'd down very hard The space between each of these Sconces was all Ditches and Rampiers with Pallisado's The Sconces were so broad that two or three Waggons might drive abreast upon them In the middle of them within were the dwellings for the Soldiers Some of them were built up square and flat at top for the Soldiers to stand there and fight From all these places the Javians were continually firing upon us but to little purpose because we were far enough out at Sea yet were we near enough to hear them make many hideous Out-crys and to see their Troops hurry from one place to another In the mean time we made all ready to Land Admiral Tack going all the while from one Ship to another to give Orders to the several Captains Which done we went to Prayers and then the usual portions of Brandy Sack c. were distributed with strict Injunctions to be all ready Presently after they brought us some Schappons or Pontons which is a flat sort of Boat like a Horse-Ferry-Boat which were fenced with a kind of Breast-work and four Pieces for Small Shot to each and to these Gunners a sufficient number with some Sea-men with Hand-Granado's Then went in the Soldiers After this manner we kept our Easter which was now come but was none of the merriest for us The third day after Easter we unladed seven large Ships and sunk them in the place where we had a mind to Land at And upon them we raised Batteries upon which we planted above forty heavy Pieces of Cannon to shelter us when we Landed and to annoy the Enemy and their Sconces The next day after about two of the Clock in the Morning the Signal being given we all in general left the Ships upon which I went down into the Boat with the other Surgeons which were above seventy in number upon our Vessel which was attended always by two or three small Boats that were ready in case of any wounded that they might carry them off to any place and upon ever so shallow a Water All this while we kept a hideous Shooting with our great Cannon which was all we fired under the shelter of which we drew all the while still nearer and nearer to Land from whence the Enemy kept firing very hotly upon us When we came to have no more than knee-deep of Water we got out and then our Gunners played the more freely from their Schappons upon the Enemy and the Sea-men could then make the better use of their Hand-shells In this manner we Charged for above two hours and lost a great many of our Men Their Sconces lying so high that they had a
Oyl of Cloves of which I purchased seven Bottles of near two Quarts a piece This exchange of ours was to be kept as secret as any Robbery one should commit in Europe for both our Lives lay at stake Fortune favour'd me so far that I came away undiscover'd and brought 'em safe into the Road of Batavia where I began to have some hopes of running it ashoar and pleased my self with the thoughts of what it would yeild me among the Chineeses and the English But I reckon'd without my Host there for no sooner was I got into the Boat in order to get to Shoar with one of our Seamen whom I had made privy to the business and who understood that Trade but the Fiscael made towards us with his Caffers The Seaman had so contrived the business that the Bottles were under water well stopt and tied to a Cord but when we found the Caffers came directly to us the Seaman who stood ready with a Knife in his hand cut the Cord and dropt the Bottles into the Sea The Caffers were immediately with us who searched our Boat very narrowly and then with their Hooks groped all round the outside They found nothing but the end of a Cord which made them give us an Ugly Look but it was not sufficient to bring us into any further trouble But immediately upon this a poor Gentleman had much harder fortune than I had for these Caffars going from us to a Ship that was come along with us from the Western Coast they caught a Lieutenant there that had got a piece of Gold of some pounds weight And the Fiscael carried him strait away to Batavia and in two days time he was hang'd up in the Galgeveld This poor Man's hard Lot made me not regret my loss so much I rather hug'd my self that I had let my Tartar go But it cured me from ever attempting any thing of that nature This may serve to let you see how dangerous such undertakings are and that such Counterband-Goods are not so easily brought off So that if Men have no other end in going to the Indies I advise them as a Friend to stay at home while they are well But now to return again to where I was I ought not to omit giving the Reader an account which will not be unacceptable tho' the action will rather amaze than delight and must needs fill the Reader with horror For of all the Cruelty I ever heard of there I never met with any that could compare with this which was committed in my time tho' I must confess I think the Punishment that was inflicted on the Malefâ—ctors did in some measure out-do it Some of our Men went one day a little way up into the Country rather out of necessity than for pleasure designing to shoot some Birds c. notwithstanding they might know well enough that it was not very safe being we were not altogether reconciled with the Javians They were expected back at night but three days past and no news of 'em which occasioned many conjectures but most were of opinion that some Javians had faln upon them and murdered them Upon which Minheer Tack commanded a Lieutenant with some Men to go in search after ' em Having wander'd a matter of two hours they came to a lonesome place whereas they were thinking to go back and take some other Road. They heard a piteous out-cry which made them go forward to see what it was and there they found 'em all six and discovered the most dismal Spectacle that ever was One of them was stretch'd out between two Trees with his Arms tied to the one and his Legs to the other about three or four yards high from the ground with a great Fire still burning under him but he was quite roasted when we came Another hung by his Privities upon another Tree with his Arms and Legs tied together under his Back this was dead also The third was spitted upon a Bamboo-cane in at his Fundament and out at his Mouth he was dead too The fourth was buried up to the Neck his Eyes put out and his Nose and Ears cut off this was not quite dead The fifth and sixth were tied fast Back to Back each of them had their Right Eyes put out and their Privities thrust into the holes both these were still alive Our Men were so surprised at this sight that they were ready to sink down and finding no other remedy they came with all speed to Minheer Tack to give him this tragical account who sent straight some Blacks with a Barrow to fetch these poor Creatures and bring them to Bantam We were not a little concerned at this strange accident but what was an addition to our trouble was that we could not learn from these Men how they came to be thus served because they were deprived of their Instrument of Speech Admiral Tack sent immediately some Messengers to the Young King to acquaint him with all this and to desire him to have a search made among his people and to use all means possible to discover the Authors of this Fact This he did and with such good success that in less than a fortnights time we found the Rogues out and all of 'em being sixteen in number were apprehended and eight of them were forthwith condemn'd to be thrown to Serpents The manner of these Serpents destroying of Men is thus They catch hold of a Man and swallow him near half up and then suck all the Blood out of his Body then they tear him peace-meal and eat him up The other eight were confined to one Room where they had very good Diet afforded them but that was only in order to prolong their Pain for there were Men always attending them with Scourges and as soon as ever these Criminals begun to nod they lashed them severely and this continued for a fortnight and then they begg'd that we would knock them on the Head or put 'em to any speedy death they pleased tho' it were the most cruel they could invent But all their begging was in vain for the Young King was wonderfully pleased that he had found out such a Punishment as would probably terrifie the rest from committing such frequent Murders as they used to do Thus they continued in that misery and lived till the fifth Week then they fell asleep in spight of all their Whipping and continued so notwithstanding they were pincht with red hot Tongs and so they ended their miserable Lives So that how barbarous soever their Fact was yet it met with a Punishment which I think did rather out-do the Fact it self in Barbarity CHAP. VII How insolently the Javians behaved themselves at first towards the Dutch and how civilized The Dutch get the total Government of the Country into their Hands by consent of the Toung King The Old Kings Surrender Confinement and Death Rebuilding of Bantam and it's flourishing Condition It s Traffick Commodities Fruits and Provisions Tygers
will not permit them to be thrown so much as in the Water that is near them We had here such a Terrible Storm all on a sudden that if our Ship had not been well provided with Anchors and the Tempests lasted but a very little while it had certainly been lost For in that little while of four Anchors that we had we lost Two The English Ship I was just now speaking of foundered at that time 7 of her Men were drowned and the rest very hardly escaped The next day they refitted our Ship again during which time I had an opportunity of going on Shore again for three or Four days In that time there happened to come some Juglers to Nangato who shewed the finest and the most dexterous Tricks that I ever saw both of Legerdemain and of Activity of Body but of what they Showed of the latter an Instance or two will not be unacceptable One of these Fellows had a Bamboo Cane of about 6 foot length tied to his Middle and as he was Standing still another Fellow leaping on a sudden with his feet upon his Shoulders climbed up to the Top of the Cane and there lay'd himself out at length upon the Knob which was on the top of the Cane of about the bigness of a Goose's Egg stretching out his Arms and Leggs and whiring round 3 or 4 times The Man upon whom the Cane was tied fast walking all the while to and fro and never offering to touch the Cane with his hand After this there came a second who stood upon his head with his feet directly up in the Air and then a third came and got up and stood upon the Soles of his feet Then another set himself firm upon his Leggs and there came one of them and stood upon his head with his feet up in the Air. Lastly they took a Board all stuck with sharp Nails about two spans length over which a Fellow raised himself upon his hands so neatly that his head did not touch one of the Spikes These Tricks being somewhat extraordinary and far more surprising than what I have yet seen in Europe I thought it might not be amiss to give you an Account of them tho' I am sensible that some who think all Impossible which they have not seen will be apt to censure it rather than believe it This last time of my being ashore I chanced to come by one of their Religious Assemblys into which my Curiosity led me to go in hopes of seeing some strange Custom But there was nothing very peculiar There only came in one of their Priests who set himself down in the midst of the place and a great many People being gathered about him he made a kind of Sermon or Oration to them which I hearkned to very diligently but could not understand a word of what he said Nor would any one of that Assembly give me any answer when I asked them what it was that he had been saying to them but all went off like Mutes they do not at all care to enter into any discourse with Christians concerning Religion which I often attempted to bring them upon And indeed it is not safe for Christians to talk to them on that Subject as we had all sufficiently been Informed ' ere we came to Land here Yet I could not forbear to touch a little a upon 't sometimes with one particular Acquaintance I had got there who was a grave sober understanding Man And he would often express very favourable Sentiments of the Christian Religion and did not stick to tell me once fetching a deep sigh that he wished he could be at liberty to Embrace it but withal conjuring me not to discover him because it would cost him his Life if it was known that he had such a desire My time now grew short and I made haste to buy what I wanted but when I came to look about in their Shops and Ware-houses I was so Tempted with the sight of their Fine-works that I bought a great deal more than I at first designed to do What I bought tho' of the Finest-work I had exceeding Cheap Which was another Encouragement to me to lay out my Money These Work-men are but very poor as indeed all the Trades-men in the Country are Some of 'em do not live better than Beggers and a little Charity Transports them into such humble Acknowledgments that if at any time I gave any of 'em the value of Two-pence of our money I could hardly keep them from falling upon their knees before me to thank me There is no middle Rank of Men among them of any value even the Merchants being not lookt upon But on the other side their Gentry or Nobility are valued and Respected at a more than ordinary Rate And in their gate and behaviour one may observe such a Grandeur or rather Haughtiness as is scarce to be seen any where else Our Ship being now full laden with Copper Lacker'd work Jappan-money and other Commoditys the Japponeeses came again to us first to visit the Ship and then restored us all our Cannon Powder and Bullets and our Sails all which they brought us on Board again and the next day we set sail out of the Port tho' it snowed hard and the Wind was somewhat Rough. The next Morning we saw three Suns in the Heavens but the Brightness of the two unusual Phoenomenas the two seeming Suns was not comparable to that of the real Sun all three of them were seen within a large Rainbow The 2d 3d. and 4th day we failed by the Island Ximo and coming to a small Island of about 6 miles compass we cast Anchor to wait there for a Wind. Some our Men went on Shore and brought back some Eggs with 'em which Water-fowls lay usually about the Shore They were as large as Geese eggs and we found 'em extraordinary good The next day we went off with a good Wind 2 or 3 days after we were all of us Surprized to see something Floating and hundreds of Fowl upon it but coming nearer to it we found it was a vast big Fish cover'd with those Birds We found here but 18 or 20 fathoms Water so that we were dayly and continually forced to use the Plummet Till a fresh Storm came upon us which obliged us with all speed to hand all our sails The Tempest was so furious for a time that we thought no otherwise but we should have been swallowed up But God Almighty whose Compassions never fail towards them that call upon him faithfully was pleased to deliver us out of our distress by stilling the Winds and after some time we came to a small low sandy Island called Kruys Island where we dropt 2 of our Anchors In this stress of Weather we lost one Man who was Tossed off the Maintop Mast into the Sea The Billows carried him quite out of our sight else we had been obliged by our Sea Articles to have put out the long Boat
Boys one of about eighteen the other about twelve year of age were seized and layd up in Chains and upon Examination they all confess'd that they had been guilty of that abominable Sin ever since their departure from Batavia I and the other Master Surgeon were then of the Council and by them we were orderd to visit them and we found it but too true upon which the Sentence was pronounced against all three of 'em viz. that they should be cast into the Sea and accordingly early the next Morning after Prayers the Venetian was brought forth And one of the Boys tied to his right side and the other to his left and in that Manner thrown in altogether and were never more seen by us The Boys were very penitent and much affected with their guilt and Prayed with the Chaplain very heartily and shed Tears in abundance So that there were but few of us that could refrain weeping at the sight of ' em But the Venetian was not at all concerned and when he stood upon the Plank ready to be thrown off he begged for nothing but a draught of Arack The Master told him he should have drink enough in an Instant and desired him to consider of his latter end and to provide for futurity but all Remonstrances were in vain to the last and so he was thrown over There was another who was suspected of the same crime and upon Examination he confess'd he had intended it but never was guilty of the act him the Council order'd to remain in Chains and to be set on Shore on the next Wild Island we should come at which was Ouro which was accordingly done when we Landed him there we left him some Water Bisket and Tobacco to serve him some days and a Gun he begged heartily that we would rather take away his life But it was not granted So we went forward with so fair a gale of Wind that we lost sight of that Island before night We passed on between Ceylon which we left on the right and the Maldivy Islands which lay on the left and Steering round the Coasts of Malabar and Bisnagar we came with good speed to Surat after five Weeks sail where we cast Anchor Our Ship was immediately unladen to make room for other goods And our Merchants went on Shore to their apartment which is always ready for 'em here as it is in all those places where they have Factories And there they have all necessary Ware-houses Apartments Servants c. fit to receive them when ever they come Surat lyes about 800 Leagues from Batavia and belongs to the Emperour of Indostan otherwise called the Great Mogul who calls himself Lord of all the Indies It is remarkable and strange to observe how the Seasons of the Year are here divided their Winter only shows it self by its constant Rains for half a year in one part of the Country during which time it Rains almost daily more or less and while this sort of Winter lasts in one part it is Summer and fair in the other parts of the Countrey so that they have it by turns The days and nights are always near equal of twelve hours each what difference there is is not perceptible All this while our Ship was taking her lading in apace but it was not great most of it was Persian Money when she had all in we set Sail without delay with the first fair Wind and in fourteen days time we passed again by the Coast of Malabar now on the left Thence we sail'd about the Cape of Gomori which lyes extended to the South and after that we came to Punto de Galle which is very commodious for all the Ships that pass that way to take in any Refreshments There we took in fresh Water and other necessarys We found there an English Ship called the Sina come from Bengal and bound for Cameron in the Persian Sea We laid four days here before Punto de Galle And then the Wind blowing fair for us we run out of the Haven and passed the next day by the Maldivy Islands of which it is computed that they are above a thousand in number and in seven days sail we came to the Island Ouro where we had left the Souldier We cast Anchor there and sent out the long Boat with some Men to look after him but they could not hear or see ought of him So we continued our Course towards Great Java While we were in open Sea about 100 Leagues off Malacca we had during three Weeks time such a Calm that we thought we should never have had a breath of Wind more So that in all that time we did not get a League forwards only the Sea Wind moved us a little to and fro but did us no good For tho' it may seem strange to those that are Ignorant of it it oftentimes happens that the Main Sea especially that part of it where no Bottom is to be found is in a very great agitation tho' there be no Wind at all to be perceived And I my self have often seen in the stillest VVeather the VVaves heap'd up on Hills and so furiously high that no Storm can raise them higher and often times there is as great Danger and as many Ships are there cast away especially those that are not well laden During this Calm we suffer'd more than ever we could have done in the most Terrible Tempest for we were under the Line and the excessive heat caused several to fall Sick and what was worse still was that we had made no great provision of Water by reason it was lookt upon to be but a short Voyage So that with heat and thirst we were all in danger of being suffocated Our Water was now so far spent that a draught of it cold not be had under a couple of Rixdollars At least it came to that pass that there was a necessity of setting two Centinells to guard the Water-Cask out of which they used to distribute every man his portion and to set four Locks upon it And when the Portions were given out in the Morning it was not above one quarter of the measure that it used to be In this miserable Condition I have been forced to to give two dozen of my Silver Buttons off my Wastcoat for one draught of Water and to gnaw bits of Wood hoping I might suck some moisture out of it In short it put us all upon trying all the ways we could imagine to allay our excessive drought we had now but six Barrels of Water left and we saw no prospect of Relief so that many of us often wish'd that our Ship would sink down right with us we neglected not to call upon God and to send up our Prayers to him constantly thrice a day that he would have Compassion on us and as this was more becoming Christians than the rash wishes which our desolate Condition forced from some if not the greater part of us So it was that
Master the Chaplain of the Reformed Religion with his Wife and four Children four Steersmen one Book-keeper five Barbers and Chirurgions two Mates two Stewards two Cooks two Gunners four Carpenters three Coopers two Sail-Makers two Quarter-Masters one Serjeant two Corporals two Under-Corporals 150 Soldiers and 93 Fore-mast-Men nine Boys to Swab the Ship every day and one Boatswain the whole number was 297 men The Muster-Master having taken a view of all wish'd us a good Voyage and a good Wind. The 5th The Wind blew very strong at North-West so that we were obliged to drop four Anchors at one time of which each weigh'd 36 hundred Pound The 12th of January 1676. The greatest Trouble we had was caused by the Ice that came against us in great Flakes from the North and encompass'd us on every side striking continually against our Ship and did our Cables a great deal of Damage Therefore our Officers having consulted what to do resolved That if the Wind did not change in three days we should leave Ship and Goods and go back to Amsterdam with the light Vessels that the Men as well as Ships might not perish as it happen'd 15 years ago when 15 founder'd about the same place The 13th Ditto At Eleven a Clock at Night the Wind changed and blew very fair for us at S. E. upon which a Gun was fired from our Admiral all the Ships in the Fleet being to be govern'd by it and was a Signal that every one was to weigh Anchor and make ready to Sail. The 14th early in the morning sailed first the Admiral with Flags and Pendants on the Main-mast after him the Vice-Admiral with a Flag on the Foremast and then the Vtrecht with a Flag on his Mizen-mast and then the other common Ships The 15th An English Fisherman came to us and gave us Information that there were 16 Frenchmen of War cruising near Calais with two Privateers and two Fireships laying wait for our Fleet. We sent out immediately a Yatch for true Intelligence which came back to us on the 16th and brought us word that the Enemy was making up to us Then we fell back to the Rode of Duyns and lay under the Cannon of that place while we prepared our selves for Fight and to Consult what we were to do Upon this we had these following Orders agreed on I. That all Captains Seamen and Officers should carefully observe what Signals and Commands were given by the Admiral and Obey them punctually II. That as soon as the Enemy came in sight of us we should draw into the Form of a Half-Moon III. That if we should happen to find a strange Ship fall'n in amongst our Fleet we should give the other Ships notice of it by firing off three of our Demy-Cannon IV. In case a Ship should be ready to sink it should give notice of it by hanging a Lanthorn on the Foremast if it were night or by hanging out a yellow Flag if it were day V. Being the Admiral upon Pain of Death must not yield himself nor his Ship into the Enemies Hand the Vice-Admiral was in case of a Fight to be nigh and second him VI. The Admiral was to put up two bright Lanthorns and the other Ships but one that they might distinguish and follow the Admiral VII Upon all Occasions the Officers and common Soldiers were to behave themselves briskly and honestly and to observe very strictly these and all other Articles relating to the Fleet upon their Peril The 17th We lay still and a French Privateer came up the English Road and passed by our Fleet narrowly viewing it and struck in to Sea again The 18th instant in the morning Our Admiral shot off one piece and hung up a Blue-Flag for a Signal to hoist up Sail which was done accordingly with many discharges of our Cannon in Honour to his Royal Majesty the King of England which were answer'd from Dover-Castle The 19th We saw the French Fleet about a League distance from us but when they saw that we were so strong they did not dare to fall upon us but made home to Calais On the 20th We lost sight of England and France The Sea that lies between them two is call'd the Channel and is 96 miles long After this we came into the Sea of Spain The Water there looks extreamly blue by reason of its being so vastly deep About Noon the Admiral sets up a white Flag and fires a Gun to give notice to all the Captains Masters and Stewards belonging to the Fleet to come aboard his Ship which they did and whilst he treated them and all were mighty merry the danger of the French coming upon them being over the Macassar fell foul on our Ship and gave us a terrible shake The Macassar got a great Hole in her side by it but it was easily stopt again Towards Evening our Guests went to their respective Ships and the Cannon kept firing all the Night The 21th in the morning early The Ships that till then kept together parted each taking their several Course to the Places they were Bound for Some went to the West-Indies others to Smirna Spain Italy and Portugal We that were bound to the East-Indies being five Ships kept on to the South-West having a very good Wind at N. N. E. The 22th Our Men aboard the Asia were divided into two parts the one call'd the Prince's the other Count Maurice's Quarter one of these Quarters was to watch by turns four hours a piece at Night when the Watch on the one side wanted to be relieved by some body of the other two Men sung a Song to awake them In the Evening of this day The Rantsoen as we call it began that is we came to a set Allowance which was to every Person three Pound of Bisket a Week half a Pint of Vinegar a quarter of a Pint of Lisbon Sallad-Oil and every day a Gill of Brandy On some days we had Stock-Fish and Pease boil'd in Water upon which we us'd to pour a little Oil and Vinegar But the next morning we had a Wooden-Dish full of boil'd Barley allowed to every seven Men. On Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays our Dinners was Pork or other Flesh From the 23th of January to the 24th of February nothing remarkable happen'd except that the cold Weather had quite left us And we saw the Fish sometimes driving one another to and fro and particularly the flying Fish about the bigness of a Herring always in fear of being devoured The longest Flights they could take was about a Musket-shot and then they were forced to light on the Water to wet their Wings again By this Flight they escape indeed from their greatest Enemies the Dolphins and the Porpoises but then they often become the Prey of Sea-Birds call'd Boobys Here we saw Birds and Fishes flying together The 25th of February we saw Pico de Canaria or the Canarie Mountain We steer'd our Course thither and came pretty near it by the next
somewhat less and full of white spots Wild-Goats are a little bigger than our Hares The Hares less than with us Wild-Boars here as in Africa All these are in vast numbers because but few People Hunt 'em there being so great a quantity of Wild-Beasts there that are better Wild-Horses are very plentyful in the Isle of Manara and not far from thence in another Isle towards Jafnapatnam but they are less than our Horses in Holland Sometimes they catch some of the finest of 'em which they Break for the Saddle or else they use 'em for Carts and Waggons Among the Tame Beasts and Cattle Oxen and Cows are in so great plenty that one of 'em is not worth above two or three Gulders Bufflars are in abundance the Country Fellows use them in their Rice-Fields One of them is worth three or four Gulders Three sorts of Sheep there are amongst 'em one which comes out of Persia which for Wool c. are like those in Holland excepting that their Tails are so vastly big that some of 'em will weigh 20 or 25 Pound Another sort comes out of Africa with Horns about a Span long but no Wool only Hair like Calves A third sort hath Wool like the first but very long Ears Goats are in good store here and Swine such as in Holland One of the biggest and fattest in the Island Manara is not worth above a Rixdollar Now for the Wild-Fowl There are Peacocks of the same colour as here and besides those there are many as white as Swans Wild-Cocks and Hens are about the bigness of ours Water-Fowl Snipes Stock-Doves and others Two sort of Herons one of 'em bluish the other half black Geese and Ducks in great numbers I will not make any mention of their small Birds c. I will only give you some Account of the Parrots which are here of three sorts The largest are of a green colour mixt with blue and red with a black Ring round the Neck and are accounted the best A lesser size there is all green with a red Ring round the Neck which is but little valued and a less than that which is less esteemed too because it is the least docile They Eat Rice and Figs. They are best to be taught when they are young They are tied to a Cord or Chain and morning and night while it is duskish one talks to 'em half an hour or thereabouts till they get 'em at last to speak any thing after them There is also a great many Birds of Prey as Falcons Hawks and Ravens with a white Ring about their Neck Batts are of two sorts the one small as ours here that fly by night and the other as big as those I have spoken of in Java There is another sort of Bird which is call'd a Navi because it makes a noise which sounds like that word which when the Portugueses hear they expect the arrival of some Ships in a short time They have but few Geese except such as are brought hither from the Cape of Good Hope they have a Bunch growing on their Bill They cost a Rixdollar a-piece Other Tame Fowl is there in such plenty that one may Buy a Pullet for a Peny and 40 50 or 60 Eggs for the same price Ducks that lay 200 or 300 Eggs after one another without one days intermission will cost but Two Pence or Two Pence half peny Many keep Pigeons likewise which come from Holland which they Buy for 10 d. a pair Among the four-footed Animals in the Rivers There is the Crocodile which devours many Men that live near them as they are Fishing Washing or Bathing themselves if they do not take an especial Care But I will in short describe something of the Nature of them The Crocodile is not so very furious as some People imagine He seeks his Prey alone but when he is hungry he Devours any living thing he can Eat whether Man Fish Beast Dogs c. shews himself commonly and swims any part of the day at the top of the Water like a piece of Timber He sets open his Mouth for a certain Bird to pick his Teeth with his Bill which is about the length of one's Finger At night he comes upon Land to seek out for Meat These Animals lay their Eggs upon the bare Sand and leave the Sun to produce the young ones out of 'em who as soon as they come out are about half a yard long The Egg it self is about twice as big as that of a Goose They continually keep growing as long as they live and come to be some 20 some 25 some 30 foot long The Body is armed all over with a thick Scale Their Teeth are exceeding sharp and so much strength is in their Tail that they 'll kill any Fish or other Animal with a blow of it Upon Land they can run faster than most Men but in a short turning a Man may have the Advantage of 'em because they must take a great compass and being so long and thick without any bending in their Backs they are forced to take a large turn which affords a Man fair time to escape out of their reach Here is another sort of Beast much like the Crocodile which is call'd a Caprigoy but it hath neither Shells nor Scales on it and its Tongue is very long and pointed The longest I ever saw of these was not above ten foot Another not much unlike this but less yet call'd a Leguwan the Flesh of which many People Eat Now of Serpents there are several sorts one of 'em is called Worgers they are 10 or 15 foot long They will seize a Man and clasp themselves round about him and squeeze him so that he can't Breath and falls down Dead And to be arm'd against these no Man goes abroad without a good Knife about him to cut them in two which makes them let go their hold quickly Another sort which is called Chapel-Snakes because they keep in Chapels or Churches and sometimes in Houses These are very mischievous and venomous and without a timely Antidote they who are bit by them die Infallibly They are commonly from 4 to 6 foot long and they have a sort of Bladder or spot of white which shews it self on the top of their Head when they are vex'd There is another sort of 'em which they call Rat-Catchers which are not so dangerous They live all in Houses and destroy the Rats and Mice as much as any Cats would They are nine or ten foot long and will never hurt any Body unless one Anger 's them The Green Serpents keep upon the Trees and when any Man or Beast comes near them they dart themselves upon them and with their sharp Tongues endeavour to put out their Eyes They are about two yards long The most poisonous of all are the two headed ones which have a Head at each end Here are two sorts of Remedies against the Poison of those Animals The one which the Inhabitants use
frequently is Witchcraft The other which I have often used is a Serpent-Stone This Stone is laid upon the Wound and it sticks to it till it hath drawn to it self all the Venom out of it When it is come off it is thrown into new Milk which fetcheth all the Poison out of the Stone and grows black and blue with it Then the Stone is applied afresh to the Wound and if there be any Poison remaining it sticks on if not it falls off and the Person is secure I have seen many Scorpions here as big as a common Crab but their Stings are not dangerous and cause only a smarting for two days and never prove mortal The Hundred-Feet called by the Portugueses Cente-Pe because it hath a Hundred-Feet is about half a yard long and hath two Horns wherewith it Pinches It is so full of Venom that it is all over of a blew and yellow colour with it if one is pinched by 'em it may prove very dangerous besides the cruel Smart it causes unless the place is anointed quickly with Oil of Coco's There are three sorts of Pismires red black and white The first are the biggest and rid the Houses of other Vermine as Rats Mice and Serpents The black keep in the Fields if they touch a Man's Skin they make it Smart for about half an hour The white ones live amongst Houshold Goods they Eat through Chests and Trunks and damage Cloaths and Linnen very much Fleas are here in Shoals so that Men could not have any rest if they did not besmear all their Houses with Cow-Dung to keep them away The Air is full of little Flies and Gnats and in some places People cannot Eat for 'em but are forced to stay till night when they are settled Blood-Suckers or Leeches are the worst Vermine on the Island They are most towards the North between Candi and Columbo There are of two sorts of 'em the great and the small The first are the common Plagues of Bufflers The other of Men. They keep in the Water and are made much like our Hedge-Hogs When any Man or Beast goes into the Water they hang upon him till they have suckt their fill and swell three times as big as they were at first then they fall off If one goes to strike them off immediately they break off and leave the Head in the Flesh which makes the Wound the more dangerous But the best way to deal with 'em is to have some green Lemons with one or good Vinegar and Salt or Salt-Petre and wet them with it and they fall off immediately The small sort are about the bigness of a Straw and about three Inches in length and of a brown colour They have neither Eyes nor Feet In dry Weather they are seldom to be seen but after some Rain they fill the Ways and Shrubs They do not creep as Worms do but raise themselves up an end and throw themselves upwards If they lay hold of a Man they are not easily got off again nor without great danger Some Cingulayans say That these things were first brought over into this Country by the contrivance of one Lamammea one of the Kings of Candi's Sister whose Brother the Portugueses had taken away by violence to be a Plague to them but how much truth there is in the Story I leave the Reader to judge Amongst the Sea-Fish commonly catch'd here I place the Sword-Fish it is from 8 to 12 foot in length It is called by that Name from a sort of Sword it hath upon his Nose which is like a Saw with about 50 Teeth about the bigness of one's Finger The biggest of those Swords that I ever saw was an Ell long The Flesh of this Fish is fit to Eat but the younger the Fish is the better These Sword-Fishes are not of that sort which are so great Enemies to Whales for they never come so far into the North it being too Cold for them there Besides those that sight with the Whales have their Sword on their Back and keep about Greenland and Ysland in vast numbers Sharks are right Sea-Wolves and devour the Men they can catch but they are often catch'd and devour'd themselves The sail-Sail-Fish so called because it hath a large Finn which stands upon the Back of it above Water and lets the Wind drive it forwards hath a sharp long Head of about an Ell long and his Body is twice as long again tho' its Flesh is but course yet a great many People Eat it There is a Fish which they call Oan-Egbertsen half an Ell long and very full of Blood They are in so great plenty that they pull up 7 8 or 900 at one Draught The great time of Fishing for 'em is in February at which time not the Fish only is very cheap but all sorts of Meat and other Victuals are at very low Rates The St. Peter's Fish or Five Finger-Fish is called by some the Leather-Fish by reason of the thickness of his Skin Hath five white streaks on the Back in the shape of a Man's Fingers it is about two yards in length and very good to Eat It is most in season in March and then they catch likely 2 or 300 of them at once The old Portugueses will tell you that this mark on the Back came by St. Peter who drew up one of them in his Net and left the figure of his Fingers upon it But this I leave the Reader to believe at Discretion Jacks are here of the same kind as in Holland one two or three yards in length and are to be catch'd with Angles in April or May. The King's Fish is the best sort that is here and is something like our Carps Cablins are like our Herrings but a little broader there is vast plenty of 'em and one Buys 10 or 20 sometimes 40 for a Peny The Sertin is a small lean Fish They catch some thousands of them at one Draught because they go together in Shoals Sea-Swine or Sea-Hogs are catcht here in great numbers their length is five or six yards and half that about They have a sharp Snout like ordinary Hogs The Flesh of 'em is very fat and the Blood very hot In the Water they out-swim all other Fishes Sea-Devils or Sand-Creepers are 5 or 6 yards long with a frightful Head very broad but not thick black at top and white underneath There is much difficulty in catching of 'em with Angles because they lie 15 or 20 Fathoms deep Scaits are round and flat Have their Eyes in their Body and a thin flat Tail about two Yards long they are very good to Eat The Piil-Staert as they call it which signisies Arrow-Tail is much like it it is as good to Eat too But the Tail is of that Nature that if he wounds a Man with it 't is mortal to him Wherefore great Care is taken to cut that off as soon as they have catch'd ' em Tortoises are catch'd here of 200 pound weight They