1690. Departure from Batavia. S. Paul. particular Favour, that their Resident may every Year appear at Court in order to pay their Respect to the Emperor. This is the only Opportunity at present, an European can have of going thither, and viewing the Majesty of that Court and Empire. Our Ship was bound first to Siam, there to dispose of Part of her Cargo, and to take in Goods of that Country, whereby I had an Opportunity of seeing also this famous Kingdom and its magnificent Court. I went on Board on Sunday the Seventh of May 1690 early in the Morning. We weigh'd Anchor the same Day and set Sail with a small, but favourable Breeze. About Noon we made the small Island Eidam, lying a few Leagues off Batavia, along which we coasted till late at Night, when we lost sight of it. On Monday the Eighth we lost Sight of the high Land of Java, but not of the neighbouring Islands. We were becalm'd in the Afternoon and advancing but slowly, cast Anchor in Twenty nine Fathoms, lest the Currents, which run here very strongly, should carry us too much out of our Course. About half a League off us we saw a small Portuguese Vessel at Anchor, with Chinese Sailors on board, which set Sail from Batavia two days before. She was call'd the St. Paul, and had the Image of this Apostle painted upon her Stern. She had been in Japan about five Years ago, notwithstanding that by order of the Japanese Emperor all Portuguese whatever are forbid entring his Dominions under Pain of Death and Forfeiture of their Ships and Goods. I flatter myself the Reader will not be displeas'd to be inform'd of the Occasion and Event of this Voyage, which I particularly enquir'd into at Batavia, the rather since it bears a near relation to the main Subject of this History. About six Years ago, a Japanese Vessel was forc'd away, in a violent Storm, from the Coasts of Japan towards China, and having suffer'd many Incommodities, was at last wreck'd near Macao, a famous trading Town in China, belonging to the Portuguese. The Portuguese Govern ment at Macao thought this an excellent Opportunity, to recommend themselves to the Japanese Emperor, and perhaps, which they had more at heart, to recover their former advantageous Trade. For this reason it was resolv'd to relieve the twelve Japanese, whose Lives had been sav'd, to treat them with kindness and civility, and generously to send them back to Japan on board one of their own Ships. But the Event fell far short from answering their Expectation; for when they got into the Harbour of Nangasaki, all the Japanese without exception were committed to Prison, and the Portuguese Vessel strictly guarded, without permitting any Body to set foot on shore, till the Governors of Nangasaki could give an Account of this nice Affair to the Imperial Court at Jedo, and Orders sent from thence as to their further Conduct. The Portuguese were like to be put to Death and to have their Ship burnt, pursuant to the standing Imperial Orders on this head; but the Severity of the Court being somewhat allay'd, partly by length of time, partly by the intercession of Mr. Buteman, then Resident of the Dutch East-India Company, they at last, in consideration of their good Intention, obtain'd leave to return to Macao, and Provisions were offer'd them consisting chiefly in Rice and Water. The unhappy Japanese, after a rude Imprisonment of two years, were set at Liberty, and under a strict Guard sent to their native Towns. One of our Residents, upon his return from Jedo to Nangasaki, met some upon the road. Thus this Voyage ended without the least advantage to the City of Macao. But to proceed on our own Voyage. We weigh'd anchor after midnight, and on the Ninth in the Morning made the Thousand Islands, as they are here call'd. We were in Sight of the high Land Lampon, in Sumatra opposite to Bantam. We saw likewise the Western Mountains both of Java and Sumatra, and particularly one in Sumatra, remarkable for its height, which to our great Grief we had had so long in Sight, some Months before in our Voyage from Atsijn to Batavia. 1690. 1690. Voyage from Siam dangerous. Straits of The Wind was variable, mostly S. We were almost It was cloudy all the Tenth. The Wind E. S. E. We steer'd North out of sight of Land or Islands, excepting some few of the highest Mountains in Sumatra, the tops of which we perceiv'd indistinctly through the Clouds. We cast Anchor late at Night in six Fathoms, to avoid running against Land in the Night, which was seen from the great Mast the evening before, and suppos'd to be the Island Lucipara, lying at the mouth of the Strait of Banca. On the Eleventh of May we weigh'd anchor early in the morning, but a Calm ensuing forc'd us to drop it again, and to lie by for some hours. About two hours after Sun rising, a brisk Gale sprung up at S. and we steer'd North between Land, which we saw last evening, and found to be the Island Lucipara, and the Coasts of Sumatra towards the Straits of Banca. Before I proceed further, I cannot forbear observing in general that the Voyage from Batavia to Siam is attended with no small difficulties and dangers, because of the many small low Islands, Rocks, Shoals and Sands. A careful and prudent Pilot must always keep at a due distance from Land, that is, neither too near it, nor too far off, that in case of strong stormy Winds and Turnado's, which frequently and unawares arise in this Passage, he may have an opportunity of coming to an anchor, and by this means preserve the Ship from running a-ground, or from being cast away too far out of her Course. For this Reason Ships commonly lie at anchor over night, the rather if Land was seen the day before, or some Signs appear'd of its being near. The most dangerous Passage because of its Narrowness, Shoals and Rocks, are the Straits of Banca, form'd by an Island of this name, and the Coasts of Sumatra. The Coasts of Sumatra all along the Straits are low, without Hills or Mountains, but well stor'd with Woods. Banca, on the contrary, is ragged and broken with high Hills and Mountains in some Parts, and low verdant ground in others. It seems in the main to be a very fruitful Island. All the Ships bound for the Eastern Coasts of Malacca, for Siam, Cambodia, Cochinchina, China and Japan, pass these Straits. The Coasts of Sumatra, opposite to Banca, have two or three remarkable points running out into the Straits. We got within half a League of the said Coasts, because there is a good soft Clay at the bottom and even ground in six Fathoms Water and more. We made the second Point of the Coasts of Sumatra before Sun set, and lay by against the next morning. On the twelfth of May we weigh'd anchor before Sun rising, and this morning got as far as the third and furthermost Point of the Coasts of Sumatra. The St. Paul (of which above) which was hitherto far astern of us, was now got considerably ahead us. We steer'd along the Coasts to N. N. W. The Sky was thick and cloudy, the Wind variable, mostly S. The Coasts of Sumatra and Banca appeared much as yesterday. In the Afternoon the Wind turn'd contrary, which made us take in part of our Sails, and tack about for a while. 1690. On the Thirteenth of May in the Evening, we got safe to the End of the Straits, between the Mouth of the River Palimbang on our Larboard, and a very high Rock call'd Monapin, upon the extremity of Banca to the Starboard. The Mouth of the River Palimbang, which was about Palimbang three quarters of a League distant, seem'd to be at least River. half a League broad. We could see no Land beyond it, whither for its extent, or because of the dusk of the evening. We made the best of our way towards the said Mouth, and the Coasts of Sumatra in seven fathoms and a half, to avoid a dangerous Rock, call'd Frederic Henry, Frederic which lies hereabouts, and upon which a Dutch Ship call'd Henry, a Prince William, bound for Siam, unfortunately stranded, some Years ago, but the Captain and Crew sav'd themselves in the Boat. The Wind proving favourable, and we being past the Straits of Banca, we sail'd all night. Rock. 1690. Seven On the Fourteenth of May in the morning, we came in sight of the Islands Poele Tsju, that is the Seven Islands, otherwise the Seven Brothers. We directed our Course so as to leave the said Islands to the Starboard. It was clear and cool, and a good favourable Gale all Day long. We lost sight of the Coasts of Sumatra, and in the Puli Saya. Evening made the Island Puli Saya. We advanc'd considerably all Night, and on the Puli Saya. Fifteenth in the Morning left Puli Saya so far a-stern that we could scarce perceive the Top of one of its Mountains, remarkable for its great height. About Noon we made Puli Lingan, and cross'd safely the Equinoctial Line. It now clear'd up, having rain'd pretty hard the Night before. We were almost becalm'd in the Afternoon advancing but little; about four we had a strong Turnado, the Wind blew hard out of N. W. We run with incredible Swiftness in these dangerous Seas for about two Hours, when the Wind ceasing we came to an Anchor, having been cast pretty much out of our Course. We set sail again on the Sixteenth in the Morning, with low variable Wind, and clear Weather, after a rainy Night. We advanc'd but moderately, and could not get out of sight of Puli Lingan till Evening, when we cast Anchor. On the Seventeenth of May we weigh'd Anchor two Hours before Sun-rise: We steer'd N. W. but saw no Land all Day long: The Currents carried us with great Violence N. and N. N. E. It blowing but little, we came to an Anchor towards Evening in Thirty Four Fathoms, and set sail again about Ten at Night. The Wind was variable all the Eighteenth, and sometimes it blew hard. We steer'd to N. W. without Sight of Land, and resolv'd to pass by Puli Timon, where pursuant to the Company's Instructions our Ships commonly put in for Wood and Water, and with these favourable Southerly Winds, to proceed directly North for Siam. We were under Sail all Night, and on the Ninteenth in the Morning, perceiving the Top of a Mountain on our |